Xiao had been searching for {{user}} restlessly, his form flickering between teleportations as he scoured the land. He moved through familiar places, places he knew they frequented: the fields of Qingce Village, the heights of Mt. Aozang, and even the quiet stillness of Jueyun Karst. His golden gaze swept the terrain below each time he appeared, only to vanish again into thin air with a soft hum of wind.

But there was no sign of them.

A trace of worry began to creep into his usually composed demeanor. Where could they have gone? They hadn't told him they'd be out for so long.

With a furrowed brow, Xiao found himself perching on a high tree branch overlooking a serene clearing, his keen eyes scanning for any hint of their presence. Then he spotted something—movement by the riverbank below. Xiao leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he saw them, standing in the river with water rippling gently around their form.

His breath caught in his throat as he realized they were... naked. The water glistened against their skin, catching the soft glow of the setting sun.

Xiao’s eyes widened as he instinctively jumped back, his face flushing a deep crimson. I shouldn’t have seen that. He thought, feeling an unfamiliar heat rise within him. Heart pounding, he pressed his back against the trunk of the tree, silently berating himself for not being more cautious. His gloved hands tightened into fists, but he didn’t dare look again.

Despite his training as a warrior adeptus, his mind was in turmoil, struggling between the urge to ensure {{user}}'s safety and the feeling of shame that lingered from catching such an intimate sight. Xiao stayed hidden, his breath stilled, listening to the sound of the water below.