Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 163 – Night Watch

The bonfire in the cave crackled.

Long Yan squatted by the fire and dragged a large slab of wild boar meat out of a pit he had dug near the cave entrance.

It was from a level-four giant wild boar he had hunted three days ago, weighing a full half-ton.

He had wrapped the uneaten portion in animal hide and buried it in the pit, where it could be preserved for several days.

Long Yan skillfully scraped off the bloodstains with a dagger, skewered the chunk of meat on a sharpened wooden stick, and propped it over the fire.

Grease dripped into the flames, making a sizzling sound.

Soon, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.

Lin Fan sat on a pile of hay, cupping her chin in her hands, her amber eyes fixed on Long Yan’s back.

This guy’s roasting technique was quite professional.

He timed the flips just right, and his control over the heat was precise.

It seemed his year of hardship had maxed out his wilderness survival skills.

Long Yan turned his head and glanced at Lin Fan.

“It’s almost ready.”

Lin Fan nodded, her fox tail swaying gently.

“Brother Long Yan is so amazing.”

Her voice was very soft, carrying a natural sense of admiration.

Long Yan froze for a moment.

He remembered how Ning Shuang used to look at him like this when they were children.

Those golden, vertical pupils had been filled with adoration and reliance.

Long Yan shook his head, forcing himself not to think about it.

Ning Shuang was Ning Shuang.

This little fox in front of him was just a stranger who needed help.

He couldn’t let her gaze lead him to any improper associations.

Long Yan tore the roasted meat in half and handed a piece to Lin Fan.

“Eat.”

Lin Fan took the meat and began to eat in small bites.

The roasted meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the juices bursting in her mouth.

“Delicious.”

Lin Fan’s eyes narrowed, and her fox ears twitched.

Seeing her look of contentment, a smile touched the corners of Long Yan’s lips.

The two finished the roasted meat in silence.

Long Yan then dug out a clay pot from the pit, which was filled with water from a small stream.

He handed it to Lin Fan.

“Have some water.”

Lin Fan took the pot and tilted her head back, taking a few sips.

The water was cool and had a hint of sweetness.

She handed the pot back to Long Yan.

Long Yan also drank a few sips before placing the pot back in the corner.

The light from the bonfire danced within the cave.

Lin Fan glanced at the entrance; the sky had already turned completely dark.

“Brother Long Yan.”

Long Yan turned his head.

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“Hm?”

Lin Fan bit her lip.

“Will… will Demonic Creatures come at night?”

Long Yan shook his head.

“No.”

He pointed to the cave entrance.

“This cave is well-hidden, and I’ve set up some traps at the entrance.”

He paused.

“Even if a Demonic Creature gets close, the traps will alert us. I’ll wake up immediately.”

Lin Fan nodded, a trace of relief flashing in her amber eyes.

“That’s good.”

She paused.

“Brother Long Yan, you should rest.”

She pointed to the simple pallet in the corner.

“I can keep watch.”

Long Yan was stunned.

“You’ll keep watch?”

Lin Fan nodded.

“Mhm.”

Her voice was very serious.

“Brother Long Yan hunted Demonic Creatures all day; you must be tired.”

She paused.

“Besides… Brother Long Yan needs to rest well to protect Xiao Rou.”

Long Yan looked at her, his expression complicated.

This little fox…

She was clearly the one who needed protection the most.

Yet she was still thinking of him.

Long Yan was silent for a few seconds.

“It’s too dangerous for you to keep watch alone.”

Lin Fan shook her head.

“It won’t be.”

She pointed to the entrance.

“Didn’t Brother Long Yan say? There are traps at the entrance.”

She paused.

“Besides, I can’t sleep.”

She lowered her head, her voice tinged with helplessness.

“I… I’m afraid of having nightmares.”

Long Yan frowned.

“Nightmares?”

Lin Fan nodded.

“Mhm.”

Her voice was very soft.

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“I always dream of… the scene where my sisters were captured.”

She paused.

“They were chained up, locked in iron cages…”

Her voice choked with sobs.

“I want to save them… but I’m too weak…”

Looking at her, a complex emotion surged within Long Yan.

He thought of himself a year ago.

His Dragon Bone dug out, reduced to a slave.

He, too, would have nightmares every night.

Dreaming of Long Ao and Long Yanran’s faces.

Dreaming of being scorned by everyone.

He knew that feeling of powerlessness all too well.

Long Yan took a deep breath.

“Alright.”

He nodded.

A smile appeared on Lin Fan’s face.

Long Yan turned and walked toward the simple pallet in the corner.

It was something he had made from animal hides and dry grass, only big enough for one person.

He lay down and closed his eyes.

Lin Fan sat by the bonfire, her fox tail swaying gently.

She looked at Long Yan, a smile playing on her lips.

Time passed bit by bit.

The light of the bonfire gradually dimmed.

Lin Fan added a few more pieces of firewood to the flames.

She turned her head and looked at Long Yan in the corner.

His breathing was steady; he must have fallen asleep.

Lin Fan stood up and walked silently to the side of the pallet.

She squatted down, her amber eyes staring at Long Yan’s face.

This face was much more weathered than the one in Long Ningshuang’s memory.

A year of torment had left its mark on his face.

But that resolute temperament was still there.

Lin Fan reached out, her fingertips gently touching Long Yan’s cheek.

A warm sensation spread from the point of contact.

She sat down beside him, bored, took off her shoes, and wiggled her toes in their lace-trimmed socks.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The bonfire’s glow grew dimmer and dimmer.

Lin Fan yawned.

She stood up and walked over to the pallet.

Long Yan was still fast asleep.

Lin Fan looked at the pallet, which was only big enough for one person, and a smile touched her lips.

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She gently lay down.

The pallet was narrow; there was no way two people could lie on it.

Lin Fan turned on her side, pressing herself tightly against Long Yan’s back.

His warmth radiated to her.

She reached out an arm, wrapping it around Long Yan’s waist.

Through the coarse linen clothes, she could feel his firm muscles.

Lin Fan closed her eyes.

The power of her incomplete Nine-tailed celestial fox bloodline slowly circulated within her.

That spiritual fluctuation, like countless fine threads, gently drilled into Long Yan’s sea of consciousness.

It wasn’t control.

Merely… guidance.

Guiding him to feel warmth in his dreams.

To feel dependence.

To feel Long Ningshuang’s… indispensability.

Early morning.

The first ray of sunlight shone through the cave entrance.

Long Yan opened his eyes.

He felt something soft and warm in his arms.

He looked down.

An exquisitely beautiful face was pressed against his chest.

Long, orange-and-white hair was scattered across his chest.

Her fox ears twitched gently.

The coarse linen clothes hung loosely on her body, the collar wide open.

Long Yan’s pupils contracted abruptly.

He shot up.

“You… How did you…”

Lin Fan was startled awake, her eyes opening blearily.

Her amber eyes were full of sleepiness.

“Brother Long Yan…?”

She rubbed her eyes, then saw Long Yan’s beet-red face.

She froze for a moment.

Then she looked down at herself.

Her coarse linen clothes had nearly slipped off.

Lin Fan’s face instantly turned red.

“S-Sorry…”

She hurriedly pulled her clothes straight, her voice on the verge of tears.

“I… I was too cold last night…”

She lowered her head, her fox ears pressed tightly against her head.

“So I… I just held onto Brother Long Yan to sleep…”

She paused, her voice growing smaller and smaller.

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“Brother Long Yan… please don’t hate Xiao Rou…”

Long Yan was stunned.

He looked at the Fox Clan Girl before him.

Her small body was trembling slightly.

Her amber eyes were filled with unease and fear.

Long Yan took a deep breath.

“I… I don’t hate you.”

His voice was a little stiff.

“It’s just… you’re a girl… this isn’t proper…”

Lin Fan looked up, her amber eyes meeting Long Yan’s.

“But… Xiao Rou was really cold…”

She bit her lip.

“And… Brother Long Yan’s body… is so warm…”

She paused.

“It’s been so long… so long since Xiao Rou has felt this kind of warmth…”

Long Yan looked at her, his throat moving.

He remembered the dream he had last night.

In the dream, there was a warm embrace.

It made him feel safe.

It made him feel… no longer alone.

Long Yan was silent for a few seconds.

“Don’t… do this again.”

Lin Fan nodded.

“Mhm…”

She lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance.

“Xiao Rou understands…”

Seeing her aggrieved look, a complex emotion surged in Long Yan’s heart.

He stood up and walked to the cave entrance.

He took a deep breath.

In his mind, a face appeared.

Long, dark green hair, golden vertical pupils.

Ning Shuang.

Long Yan clenched his fists.

He couldn’t betray Ning Shuang.

Absolutely not.

But…

He turned his head and looked at Lin Fan inside the cave.

The petite Fox Clan Girl was curled up on the pallet.

Her fox tail was wrapped tightly around her body.

Her amber eyes were filled with anxiety.

Long Yan’s heart clenched painfully.