Deviant: No Longer Human

Chapter 408: Tiger that ate its own cub!

As the bike roared to life, its engine humming with the deep resonance of ancient earth spirits, they embarked upon a path that wove through majestic mountains, each curve a brushstroke of nature's grand design.

The sun draped the peaks in golden robes, and the skies, a canvas of orange and purple hues, seemed to bow in reverence to the evening's serenity.

Wenxi, her ethereal white hair cascading behind her like a banner of light, was the very image of celestial grace.

Her light blue attire, whispering tales of the sky and sea, fluttered elegantly against the wind, mirroring the tranquil yet vibrant spirit of the world above.

Her eyes, wide and luminous, drank in the sublime beauty of the verdant mountainscape enveloping them, a scene worthy of the heavenly realms.

As they glided along a particularly bend, Wang Xiao, seated securely behind his daughter, reached forward with the stealth and gently removed her helmet.

Whizz!

The wind immediately swept through Wenxi's hair, allowing it to dance freely around her face, playing to the tune of the rushing air.

"Dad... what are you doing...?" Wenxi's voice rose playfully, a mix of surprise and mild reproach threading through her words.

"It's better like this," Wang Xiao responded, his voice a calm echo over the song of the wind, carrying the wisdom of 'sages'.

"What about the safety then...What if we crash?" The concern in Wenxi's voice was evident, her hands gripping the handlebars tightly.

Wang Xiao's nod was solemn, his features momentarily clouded by the shadows of a past memory—of a deadly clash with destiny when a truck, driven by the dark hand of Maliketh, had threatened to end his earthly journey.

Yet, that chapter was behind him.

He reassured her with a confident tone, "The mountain would collapse, not us."

"Sigh..." Wenxi was left speechless, caught between a chuckle and a tear.

Why did her dad always have to be so theatrical?

Had she really asked him to showcase his powers like this?

Is following the rules simply too mundane for him?

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The sound of the wind echoed their swift passage through the mountain paths.

As they navigated the winding mountain path, the once-clear skies began to shift, cloaking the afternoon in an increasingly somber mood.

Gradually, clouds amassed above them like ancient guardians whispering secrets across the heavens, their gray forms swelling.

The sun, previously bathing the landscape in golden hues, retreated behind these gathering storm-sentinels, casting the world beneath in a dim, silvery light.

Ka—boom!

The sudden roar of thunder shattered the tranquility, echoing through the mountain corridors with the authority of celestial drums.

It was a primal sound, resonating deep within their chests, as if the heavens themselves were announcing the arrival of the rain.

Pat-pat-pat... the first drops fell, tentative at first, like the hesitant steps of a wandering spirit.

Soon, the rhythm increased, a steady drumming on their bodies and the bike's body.

The road beneath them glistened, each stone and leaf washed anew in the downpour, the world transformed into a realm of liquid silver.

"the rain..." Wenxi's voice broke through the din, her words carrying a mix of wonder and concern. The droplets clung to her lashes, each one a prism reflecting the storm's muted light.

"Did you summon it?" Wenxi's eyes flickered towards the road, her gaze questioning as she pondered whether the chill droplets splashing upon them were his doing.

Wang Xiao offered a casual shrug, his voice laced with a hint of laughter, "If I could command the rain at will, I might as well be an immortal."

Wenxi pursed her lips thoughtfully. 'Is it a yes or a no, then?' she wondered silently, her head tilting ever so slightly as Wang Xiao's grip tightened around her waist, drawing a slight frown from her.

"Now, my mysophobic daughter need not worry about the dirt," he hummed, his breath warm against her neck, sending a shiver through her despite the cold rain.

"What mysophobia... I only like cleanliness," Wenxi countered, her voice slightly strained as the fabric of her dress clung to her form.

His hand rested on her waist—seemingly inert, yet evoking a sensation as if a thousand subtle touches were exploring her.

A blush of embarrassment tinted her neck, her voice emerging shyly, the pale luminescence of her skin unable to conceal her flush.

"Yeah... Yeah..." Wang Xiao responded, clearly unconvinced.

"Dad... you are so..." Wenxi found herself at a loss for words, her embarrassment evident as she shook her head dismissively. "Whatever... You should feel happy," she added somewhat proudly.

"Eh, happy? For what?" Wang Xiao's voice carried a note of genuine surprise, his curiosity piqued by her cryptic statement.

Wenxi's lips curled into a delicate pout, her cheeks blooming with a soft radiance as she confessed, "I don't even allow others to touch me; it's only you and mother."

Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, his voice tinted with curiosity, "Is it so? Then what about Yue?"

"Obviously, she's included," Wenxi responded, her initial speechlessness giving way to a soft chuckle, her laughter weaving through the air like a gentle breeze through willow leaves.

She knew well that evading her sister's touch was as impossible as escaping the pull of the moon on the tides.

Her laughter, both gentle and melodious, resonated in Wang Xiao's mind like the clear ring of a temple bell, momentarily stunning him with its clarity and sweetness.

He harbored no desire to commit crimes, yet he felt as if their actions continually forced his hand.

Wasn't that, in itself, a form of crime?

Thump... thump...

The bike's engine roared beneath them, or perhaps it was their hearts beating in unison; in that moment, the distinction blurred.

Just then, Wenxi felt a gentle brush against her back, causing her to stiffen momentarily.

"So... I am allowed to touch," Wang Xiao's voice murmured, his breath warm against her skin as he nestled closer, his face finding a sanctuary between her shoulder and neck.

She gasped softly...

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the fragrance of white roses mingled with the fresh rain assaulting his senses, a blend of natural purity and the ethereal.

"Mmmm..." Wenxi's hum returned, filled with a mix of astonishment and a trace of bashfulness.

Her words hung suspended, her lips pressed tightly together, her face flushed—a delicate flower bathed in the soft glow of light, her expression beautifully awkward in the intimate silence.

He had never been so forthright before, yet perhap the storm had stirred the air with unexpected instigator.

His hands wandered with an uncharacteristic boldness to the bare skin of her waist, lifting her top ever so slightly to deliver a tender caress.

This touch ignited a warmth that spread rapidly across her abdomen, rendering her breaths deep and ragged, her eyelids heavy with a sudden flush of warmth.

After a moment that seemed to stretch like the timeless mist, Wang Xiao withdrew his hand and gently placed it over hers on the handlebars.

"You would crash the bike like this," he cautioned, his voice a low rumble against the symphony of the rain.

Yet, Wenxi's cheeks blazed a crimson hue, her breath coming in heavy torrents.

Her vision blurred with the gathering mist and the splashing rain made it difficult to keep her eyes open.

But his actions had rendered it utterly impossible to focus ahead.

"Huh?"

When she felt the firm, securing grasp over her hands, her eyes snapped open, only to discover they had narrowly missed a dangerous curve.

Had it not been for his intervention, they might have met with the cold embrace of the barrier.

Embarrassed yet touched, Wenxi's complaint emerged as a melodious grumble, her voice carrying the fragility of cherry blossoms in the wind, "Dad... even a tiger doesn't eat its own cub~!"

Wang Xiao's laughter was soft, he retorted, "That's why we are not tigers."

Wenxi, momentarily speechless, couldn't suppress a smile that blossomed like a lotus in the mud, the earlier awkwardness dissipating into the ether.

"You are so evil, Dad~!" she exclaimed.