Chapter 104: The Ninth Prince's Imagination

“What’s wrong? I’m just roasting a rabbit!” Baili Tianchang was utterly baffled.

Could it be that simply roasting a belly and cooking a game bird had moved this Ninth Prince to tears, completely winning him over?

“I truly cannot imagine how much hardship my little fairy has endured...” Nalan Dijiu’s voice was choked with restraint. His heart ached deeply—he was so pained for his little fairy!

Baili Tianchang stared blankly. Could it be that the Ninth Prince had imagined her difficult childhood from the skillfulness of her movements?

In truth, she herself did not know how Baili Tianchang had lived these past ten years.

But as for her wilderness survival skills, Baili Tianchang genuinely did not consider them hardships.

As a female mercenary, self-reliant and possessing strong survival abilities, this was merely the baseline. Otherwise, how could she fill her own stomach and maintain her combat effectiveness?

Of course, none of this could be revealed to Nalan Dijiu.

Yet, Ninth Prince, have you considered my feelings when you hold me like this, overwhelmed with sorrow? When I see you like this, I feel terribly guilty!

“How much suffering have you truly endured... I... I deeply regret not meeting you sooner. Why couldn’t I have protected you earlier...” Nalan Dijiu’s voice choked with emotion.

“Uh, Ninth Prince, let’s not dwell on the past. Isn’t everything fine now? Look, there’s fire and water, and with just a wave of your energy, we have rabbit and wild chicken. Having you by my side is like carrying a fully equipped mobile kitchen!” Baili Tianchang thought for a moment. Though unsure how to comfort Nalan Dijiu, she offered a few words nonetheless.

But instead of soothing him, her words only deepened the ache in his heart.

He dared not imagine how his little fairy had survived those harsh days without water, fire, or resources.

Before him, an involuntary image formed: a frail, small Baili Tianchang struggling to lift a massive wooden bucket, her steps faltering as water spilled from it.

At last, one misstep sent the bucket crashing to the ground, yet she clung tightly to it, the bucket falling like a hat over her head, drenching her in icy water.

The scene faded only to be replaced by another.

In his mind’s eye, Baili Tianchang was painstakingly trying to kindle a fire. Her once pale face was now smudged with black soot.

She crawled on the ground, blowing desperately at the flames to make them burn brighter. Suddenly, she leapt up and hurried into the dense woods to gather firewood.

From deep within the forest came the cry of wild beasts, wrenching Nalan Dijiu’s heart.

He imagined Baili Tianchang hunting alone with bare hands.

She was so slight and small that she could hardly catch any prey, not even a single rabbit could she chase down.