Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 42: The Stolen Kiss

Chapter 42: The Stolen Kiss

I once heard people say: After death, even if the body decays, the soul remains. It lingers where the body died. It is unwilling to leave for a long time.

The eyes still gaze at the world, the mind still clings—clings to those people and things it cannot let go of.

Luo Shen.

Luo Shen.

Just like this moment—though I’m dead, my consciousness remains. Only now do I realize those people weren’t speaking nonsense. My heart is completely filled with her white figure; even my breath still longs for that lingering cool fragrance unique to her. I can’t help but wonder—could our corpses be entangled at this moment, turning to ash, scattering together beneath this abyss?

If so, I think, that wouldn’t be so bad.

Like now, if I could stay with her like this forever, I would never go anywhere. I’d just keep watch here in the abyss—forget reincarnation, forget rebirth.

Images flickered repeatedly in my mind. Everything in front of me was hazy. And the surroundings were silent. But I vaguely felt something soft beneath me. Warm air was seeping into my skin—a gentle tickle. It was like when I was young and brushed the palm of my hand with reed grass.

I thought I was lying on a cloud. As I lightly moved my hand, I suddenly touched something cold. That coldness was so familiar it struck a chord in my heart. Instantly, my body jerked. And I jumped off that soft, warm cloud.

Opening my eyes, faint light seeped in and flickered. In that instant, a real world stumbled into my vision.

A dazzling white lit up my eyes. I stood there stunned. I shocked by what I saw—and then, in the next moment, tears of joy fell from my eyes.

The woman in white that I had thought about countless times—she was curled up and lying peacefully in front of me. Silky silver fur surrounded her. She lay quietly within that silver. She was like a pure snow spirit. Her beautiful eyes were closed. They were hidden under soft lashes. They were so serene that it seemed nothing in the world could disturb her beautiful dream.

As my gaze shifted, I saw a giant silver wolf. It was adorned in the most regal and noble armor. It was lying silently on the ground. Its head rested on crossed paws. It allowed Luo Shen to sleep within its long and soft fur. A flame on its forehead burned brightly. In its crimson eyes, my astonished face was reflected.

“Aoyue!” 

I called softly. I was squatting before its massive head. I reached out to touch it, and my lips began to tremble.

The heat radiating from its beastly body—it was real.

It let out a low hum and stretched out a warm tongue. It was gently licking my palm, as if in response. The sensation was too familiar. Just like how it used to, it lay in front of me. It shedded its dignity as a battle wolf and became a gentle big white dog. It softly licked my hand.

I used to feed it the best meat. And it would happily accept it, like a child.

“You saved us, didn’t you?”

Aoyue hummed low again. Warm breath was exhaling from its nostrils.

It felt like I had just awakened from a dream. I took a deep breath and looked around at the new world beneath the abyss.

You couldn’t see the sky here. So it was unclear whether it was day or night. Yet, the light remained gentle. Tiny glowing specks floated in the distance. They were as lovely as fireflies. Green grass covered the ground, soft and plush. And here and there, delicate little flowers peeked out shyly. The entire area was silent. It was as if it was removed from the mortal world—a world all its own.

I wandered the area. I was getting a sense of the surroundings. Not far away, I even found the swords we had fallen with. This place was nothing like the treacherous ancient forest and labyrinth we entered—it showed signs of life. It was so peaceful that it seemed like the opposite of the world above.

I even found a fresh spring. Delighted, I realized all our water and rations were lost—only a few tools close to the body remained. Finding clean water meant we wouldn’t need to worry about thirst for now. There were no water containers nearby. So I washed large leaves, folded them into cups, and hurried back. Though I spilled some along the way.

When I returned, Luo Shen still lay beside Aoyue. She was just as she was when I left. Her body had always been cold. And she had recently fallen ill with cold symptoms again. Afraid she might be chilled, I pulled Aoyue’s fluffy tail over her like a blanket. Now she was curled beneath silver-furred light. Her brows were peaceful. They were so tranquil it would be a shame to disturb her.

I stood by her with the water. Droplets were trickling through my fingers to the ground. Suddenly I felt foolish. She wasn’t even awake—why had I fetched the water so early? Wouldn’t it all be spilled before she even got to drink?

I crouched and leaned in to look at her sleeping face. That faint, cool scent greeted me—it was something I could never tire of. I thought to myself: this must be the most calming fragrance in the world. It flowed through my life. It was making it impossible for me to ever let her go.

The abyss was still dimly lit. It was neither bright nor dark. The fireflies had now gathered around her. Her face, under Aoyue’s silver fur, looked even more translucent. Light danced on her long lashes. It was like a serene gem—pure, quietly elegant.

I found I couldn’t look away. Then she softly moaned and gently pursed her pale lips. I watched closely, thinking she might be thirsty. Carefully, I brought the leaf cup to her lips. One of my hands supported her thin waist, and the other let droplets fall on her lips. She seemed to notice and subtly drank the spring water. Her lips were now moistened. They appeared plumper and even slightly flushed.

Looking at those soft lips, my hand trembled. The leaf cup fell to the ground. Suddenly a heat surged up my spine—a burning urge pulled me down. And I gently leaned in. I brushed my lips against hers.

I softly kissed her lips. A cool fragrance exuded from them. It was making me tremble. Her lips were still icy cold. I thought—when I was little and mischievous, I’d sometimes touch snow on tree branches with my tongue. It felt just like this coldness, but not nearly as sweet.

Greedily savoring the cool scent of her lips, my heart was in turmoil. What I had done—was shameful. She was like untainted snow, untouched by anyone. How could I take advantage of her unconscious state like this?

Quickly, I pulled away and turned my head aside. My heart ached. And my eyes grew dry. We were both women. Even if I loved her—so what? If she found out, she would surely be terrified.

I could only sit helplessly. I rested my head on my knees. My heart was in a storm. Aoyue seemed to notice and turned its head to stare at me with crimson eyes.

I looked at it and sighed. 

“Aoyue, do you think what I just did… was disgusting?”

The huge creature lowered its head and quietly looked at me. It was completely calm. I gave a bitter smile. Of course—it’s just a wolf. It can’t understand human feelings. How silly of me.

“Yes… it was disgusting.”

Suddenly, behind me, Luo Shen’s cool voice rang out. It carried a trace of weariness. But it also brought about something I couldn’t quite understand. To my ears, it sounded like… teasing?

Before my mind could react, a cold hand gently wrapped around my waist like a swimming fish. Her breath was fragrant like orchids. It was brushing my ear. Then I heard her say:

“And… extremely annoying.”

My body froze.

Then—her soft, cool lips pressed against my neck.

A shiver ran through me like flowing water.