Transmigration: A Farm Girl's Brocade

Liang Jinzhao soothed Qian Yixiu, who was crying softly, without slowing his pace. Her tears fell onto his left shoulder, quickly forming a patch of ice. Frightened to cry any further, Yixiu shifted her head to his right shoulder instead.

Going up and down hills, traversing through caves, the following caves presented no danger and they made their way relatively smoothly. Owing to the delay earlier, it was completely dark before they reached Cave Sky Pool.

They didn’t dare to use their limited torches continuously for illumination and only ignited them in completely dark caves. Although there was no moon, luckily, the stars were bright enough to illuminate the path under their feet. Moreover, Monkey Brother, with his excellent memory, had firmly memorized the routes from his past journeys.

Still, an accident happened. On the way down a hill, Qing Feng slipped and rolled down the slope. Thankfully, the slope was not steep and the thick snow cushioned the fall, preventing any injury.

The next cave was the longest, over three hundred meters. After that cave, and another one, they would arrive at Cave Sky Pool.

Upon entering the cave entrance, they were hit by a wave of humid heat. Despite the warmth inside, the combination of heat, humidity, and stuffiness was uncomfortable.

Yixiu knew there was a hot spring in the center of this cave, exceptionally hot with one area bubbling continuously.

As they moved further inside, the cave widened, and upon reaching the center, they saw a pool with even higher temperatures. Even under the dim torchlight, vapor could be seen rising and condensing on the water’s surface—a mist so substantial that it reached the cave’s ceiling.

Liang Jinzhao and Wu Ming understood the danger and kept their distance from the pool, softly instructing the animals from the House of Animals to be careful not to fall in, or they would be scalded.

After passing the pool, they were startled by a loud cry from Shan Dian. Turning around, they saw Shan Dian, at the end of the group, already in the grip of a giant spider half a person tall, being dragged up the cave wall towards a half-meter wide hole at the top. Monkey Brother flashed by, pulling Shan Dian down. Wu Ming flicked his wrist, sending a dagger flying into the spider’s body. The spider paused for a moment and then vanished into the hole with the dagger.

The group wasted no more time and hurried towards the exit of the cave.

By the time Yixiu, nearly numb from the cold, thought she had lost all feeling, they finally reached Cave Sky Pool.

The warmth was like spring. Under the brilliant starlight, the mountains around were lush and verdant, and the Peach Grove before them was laden with thick green leaves. Arriving there, Monkey Brother immediately burst into laughter, somersaulting into the grove, followed by Shan Dian and Yin Feng barking joyously as they ran ahead. The cheerfulness infected Wu Ming and Liang Jinzhao, who laughed heartily toward the sky.

Suddenly, the quiet valley bustled with noise as the awakened birds started to chirp and chirp.

Crossing Peach Grove, they arrived beside Cave Sky Pool. The shimmering water reflected the silver glow of the stars, with Monkey Brother already splashing in the ripples.

Liang Jinzhao hurriedly squatted down, placed Yixiu on the ground, and spread a small blanket from his pack for her to sit on. He propped her against a peach tree.

He removed her leather gloves and took her hands in his large ones, blowing warm breath on them from time to time.

Yixiu felt paralyzed from the cold, unable to move her hands or feet and her teeth chattering so much she couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even muster a thought. Only when his warmth slowly transferred to her hands and spreads throughout her body did she feel his warm palms, rough with thick calluses, gently rubbing and tickling her hands.

Once he felt warmth return to her hands, Liang Jinzhao took off her leather boots and warmed her feet through the felt, using his large hands.

After he warmed her feet, he gently massaged her limbs stiff with cold.

Yixiu offered no resistance. As soon as she felt sensation coming back, her whole body chilled as if dropped into a frozen pit, especially the lower half, which felt like she was sitting on ice blocks. Reminded she had changed into a homemade sanitary pad that morning, she hoped to regain strength quickly to address her personal hygiene.

Watching Liang Jinzhao, who was diligently massaging her with his head bowed, reminded her that beauty under lamplight grows lovelier by the stare. So it is with handsome men under starlight.

The first time she saw Liang Jinzhao, she found him quite handsome. Of course, he wasn’t as beautiful as her grandfather, Old Master Pan, whose beauty verged on otherworldly charm. Nor did he have the defined features and sun-kissed handsomeness of Zhu Sujin, or the gentle, pleasant warmth of Little Monk. Even among his fellow military officers, the attractive men Father Jiang and Wan Dazhong, he stood uniquely apart.