A Lie's recovery was astonishingly swift. Within just two days, he could stand and walk, though his injured leg still made him stagger slightly. The hot springs seemed to possess special healing properties, as his wounds closed at a pace far exceeding Gu Liang's expectations.
Over these days, a strange tacit understanding formed between them.A Lie no longer treated Gu Liang as an object to be disposed of at will. Instead, he began "communicating" with him through simple gestures and syllables. He taught Gu Liang to identify edible plants and berries, demonstrating how to set rudimentary traps for small animals. In return, Gu Liang shared some modern survival skills—how to build fires more efficiently, how to weave stronger ropes from vines.
One evening, A Lie dragged back a small deer. While processing the game, he unexpectedly handed Gu Liang a freshly sharpened stone knife, gesturing for his help. It wasn't an order, but more like an invitation.
Gu Liang hesitated before taking the stone knife. They worked side by side, silent yet in perfect rhythm. When Gu Liang accidentally cut his finger, A Lie immediately grabbed his hand. After inspecting the wound, he skillfully tore leaves from some herb, chewed them into a paste, and applied it to the cut.
This natural tenderness stunned Gu Liang. Watching A Lie's focused profile, he suddenly realized this male might never have intended cruelty—in his understanding, branding, possession, and protection might all be one and the same.
By nightfall, the cave no longer held its tense atmosphere. A Lie still slept near the entrance, but no longer confined Gu Liang deep within. The warm mist from the hot spring softened every sharp edge in the cavern.
A Lie's dreams seemed to grow peaceful too. Sometimes he would unconsciously drift closer to Gu Liang, as if seeking warmth. Once, Gu Liang woke in the middle of the night to find A Lie's arm resting unconsciously around his waist, his breath steady and deep.
Gu Liang should have pushed him away, should have recoiled from such contact. But strangely, he didn't. Perhaps it was sheer exhaustion, perhaps the hot spring's warmth had loosened his resolve. He simply lay still, listening to the distant beast howls outside the cave and the steady breathing beside him.
Dawn broke, and Gu Liang awoke first. A Lie still slept, his arm still draped over him. In the morning light, Gu Liang had his first chance to study this male closely—sharp brow bones, a high, straight nose, tightly pressed lips, and that scar running from his forehead to his cheekbone. Without the sharpness of his waking hours, this face could even be called handsome.
Just then, A Lie opened his eyes. His golden pupils glowed like amber in the dawn light, clearly reflecting Gu Liang's figure. Both froze, maintaining their intimate embrace, neither moving immediately.
Instead of withdrawing, Ah Lie's hand gently traced Gu Liang's spine, sending a shiver through him. His gaze settled on the mark beneath Gu Liang's collarbone, then slowly rose to meet his eyes.
There was no coercion, no resistance—only a steamy silence, like that of a hot spring, flowing between them.
Finally, A Lie moved first. He pushed himself up, his injured leg causing him to frown slightly. Gu Liang reached out almost instinctively to steady him.
This simple gesture seemed to please A Lie. He emitted a low, almost contented syllable. He gestured toward the hot spring, then toward the two of them, making a motion that suggested togetherness.
When they submerged themselves in the hot spring once more, the atmosphere had shifted completely. A Lie drew closer to Gu Liang, his fingers gently combing through the wet black hair. The motion was awkward yet no longer rough. His gaze held a new intensity, as if examining a precious object that belonged to something greater than himself.
Gu Liang did not pull away. The warm water enveloped his body, slowly melting away the tension and fear that had built up over days. When A Lie's lips tentatively touched his forehead, he closed his eyes.
Boundaries blurred, hostility faded, and something far more dangerous began to quietly take root.
Outside the cave, the forest remained fraught with danger. But within this warm cavern, the game between hunter and prey had paused. In its place emerged a far more intricate gambit.