"I'm going to start the incision now."

    Lalita spoke into the recorder placed near the autopsy table. Nearby, the diener was raising a camera to capture images, while another person took notes according to the doctor's report. Lalita reached for the scalpel, focusing her mind. Though she had some experience, she was still considered a novice. There was a moment of hesitation before she made the incision. The body lying in front of her was that of a tall, large, and naked man. Dr. Lalita pressed the scalpel into the skin, making a U-shaped incision from the left shoulder down under the breastbone and then to the right shoulder in one smooth, swift motion. She then made a straight cut from the bottom point of the U, from the abdomen below the sternum directly towards the left of the navel.

    The skin separated, revealing a depth like an abyss. A small amount of blood flowed out due to the lack of pressure from the heart. When she cut through the bone, the scalpel lost its sharpness. The internal organs revealed before her spoke volumes about the deceased's personal habits. Judging by the liver, muscles, and bone density, it was evident he was healthy despite his drinking habits, and his muscle tone was impressive.

    "The muscle color is normal. He was stronger than a bull."

    From the condition of his muscles, it was predicted that he would have lived a long and boring life, which made it Lalita's duty to determine the cause of his premature death. While using tools to cut the ribs to examine the heart and lungs, her soft hands reached inside to find the fist-sized heart. But no matter how hard she searched, she couldn't find it. The body she was examining lazily stretched and laughed as if tickled.

    "You naughty one, here… my heart is right here."

    Lalita jolted awake as if pulled from sleep. Her slender body breathed rapidly, her pulse racing as she tried to figure out where she was. Everything around her was dark. She guessed it would be morning soon. She lay still, unsure of what was real and what was a dream. It was all mixed up and confusing. Oh… dear heavens, that person was terrifying. Even awake, she could vividly remember the feeling of those sharp eyes staring at her.

    "Like being stared at by a snake."

    Lalita was about to get up but wasn't sure what her hand was touching. She felt the heat radiating from a muscular chest, rising and falling gently with each breath. Her hand was precisely positioned over the heart.

    "Daddy, mommy..." Lalita moaned.

    The owner of this robust body had to be much bigger than her. His warm breath blew against her cheek, and the strange scent emanating from his skin made her feel flushed. Lalita closed her eyes with a calm expression before suddenly punching the mysterious man's face.

    "Shh, will you punch everything that moves?" Li Xuanyue easily blocked her. Lalita had to exert so much force that her arm trembled to hit his face, but it was all in vain against him. So, she struck his abdominal muscles with her other hand, but he caught her wrist even in the dim light, putting her under his control. The room was so dark that if she couldn't see him, he shouldn't be able to see her either. So why...

    "Can we talk first?"

    The tall figure tried to use a friendly tone, but it was pointless if they couldn't understand each other. The strength of this small woman wasn't even on Li Xuanyue's radar. Lalita felt like she was up against a mountain and being pinned on the bed put her at a disadvantage. So, she mustered all her strength and headbutted him with full force.

    "Ouch!"

    The one who cried out in pain was Lalita. Li Xuanyue laughed heartily. With a slight movement, he flipped her, causing Lalita to straddle his muscular body. Something stirred against her hip with heated intensity. Li Xuanyue let out a small "oh" and murmured an apology. Lalita stiffened, her naturally flushed cheeks turning beet red. She quickly lifted her hips to move away from it. Although her wrists were held, Lalita fought back and managed to stand, then stomped on his abs repeatedly.

    "You pervert! Die, you menace to society, you filthy worm!"

    "Usually, I'm a good-natured person, but it won't end well if you keep hurting others like this."

    Lalita ignored his words, kicking and wriggling until she broke free and tumbled off the bed. Despite the pain, she hurried to escape. She scrambled to her feet, only to bang her knee against something with a loud thud. Objects clattered and rolled across the floor.

    "Hey, hey, you've wrecked my stuff." Lalita suppressed her pain and tried to limp away quickly, only to trip over a step she didn't see. This time, she screamed loudly and fell flat on her face, utterly humiliated.

    Li Xuanyue sat up on the edge of the bed, stretched his neck to relieve the stiffness. Meanwhile, Lalita was trying to get up, her heart pounding as she realized she was wearing nothing but a thin robe. This realization made her even more frantic, and she tried to cover herself with her arms.

    A light flickered from the ignition... He was lighting a lantern.

    "Wait! Don't..."

    The room lit up, revealing a spacious chamber decorated with exquisite items, all intricately carved from jade. The piece of furniture that had bruised her knee was a gleaming gold table, reflecting the light blindingly. Nearby, a large sword had fallen, likely knocked off the golden table when she bumped into it. Further away, a screen painted with a scene of a cavalry hunting a tiger caught her eye. The lines and expression of the wounded tiger were so vivid it seemed to roar from the picture. Lalita had seen her father's antique collection many times, but compared to the items in this one room, her father's collection seemed insignificant.

    The man in front of her watched her silently, yet intensely.

    His face was strong, with a straight, prominent nose and eyes full of wisdom and determination. He was the most powerful-looking man Lalita had ever seen at the gym, surpassing even her brothers who trained and served in the Arintaraj unit. Li Xuanyue was different, molded by an environment far harsher. His wrists were large and strong enough to wield that massive sword effortlessly.

    And he was completely naked.

    From her lower position, Lalita couldn't help but notice what she shouldn't. But her medical curiosity took over, and she stared intently. Typically, the left testicle hangs lower than the right, but for this man, the right was lower, indicating that...

    "Situs inversus[1], no wonder I couldn't find the heart."

    Lalita muttered, as she had never encountered this condition before and examined it closely. Her intense scrutiny made him feel self-conscious, a feeling he had never experienced when alone with a woman. Li Xuanyue began to frown and cleared his throat to warn her, but Lalita continued staring.

    "In the place you come from, do women commonly stare at men so openly?"

    "At that time, the professor said the anatomical structure would..."

    "Hey, are you listening?"

    He couldn't tolerate her investigative gaze any longer, so he grabbed a cloth to cover himself. Finally, Lalita looked up from below to meet his eyes. He seemed quite displeased. The scent of the man stirred Lalita's heart, causing it to race. Her entire body felt hot, and she sensed a continuous electric current running through her. She imagined herself naked beneath his muscular body, his beautiful muscles glistening with sweat and moving rapidly, their contact growing deeper and panting until...

    Um...

    Both froze, especially Lalita, whose face was crimson, spreading over her whole body, and they both knew the other was thinking about wild lovemaking.

    "Oh my! Damn… I'm so sorry... I didn't mean anything by it. My apologies for being rude. Cases of situs inversus are rare, but don't worry, you're healthy and can live normally. I work in forensic pathology, focusing on autopsies to determine causes of death. This field might not exist yet. Eh! Or maybe it does. In Roman times, a doctor named Antistius performed an autopsy on Julius Caesar and reported to the Forum that Caesar had 23 stab wounds, but only one was fatal. Modern autopsy practices began in England, probably in the... I can't remember the century. Your case is rare... Uh… I swear I was looking for educational purposes only. I... I... I shouldn't be here. Uh… excuse me, goodbye."

    "Calm down, you're talking so fast I can't understand you."

    "Could you please tell me how I ended up here? Maybe I can find a way back. Uh… thank you very much if you can tell me. Oh… I read a lot about you. You're amazing, you love your wife, and you have many children. I'll let you in on a secret; your first child is a daughter. Oh… and your first son, I think his name is..."

    "Stop right there and..."

    Li Xuanyue tried to calm her down, but Lalita kept talking and backing away, cautiously watching the luxurious furniture but not noticing the objects scattered on the floor. She tripped over a teacup and landed on her butt with a loud thud.

    "I was going to tell you to be careful."

    It was clear he was amused, but Lalita wasn't. She was facing Wang of the Li Region in a precarious region, her hair disheveled and her face weary, both of them naked. He surely didn't know her, but Lalita knew him, at least from books... The slender figure limped along the wall to hide behind a silk curtain, pulling it down and wrapping it around herself awkwardly.

    He remained seated, seemingly giving Lalita the opportunity to decide what to do next. She hugged herself with a frustrated expression, genuinely clueless about what the man in front of her had done.

    "You don't have to stare at me like that. Come here, let's talk," he beckoned with a soothing voice.

    "No!"

    "I don't understand what you're saying, but I'm sure we can start communicating. Come to the bed; it's much warmer than where you are," he whispered in a deep, husky voice, soft yet electrifying, stirring her bare skin. Lalita shivered from the cold, each breath stinging her nose, making her wonder how he managed to make the bed so comfortably warm as if it had a heating system.

    "Come back to me, and I'll teach you how to speak."

    Li Xuanyue glanced back at the warm bed, now disheveled, vividly recalling himself holding her, her soft hands resting on him, their heads close together, breathing in unison. The image still sent shivers down his spine. Li Xuanyue was silent. Her warm, soft body was so enticing that he wanted to coax her back into his arms.

    Lalita clenched her fists, assuming a defensive stance.

    "Rest assured, I haven't violated you," he began negotiating, trying to speak slowly while looking at the red mark on her forehead, which made people fearfully compare her to a fox demon that transformed into a human and lured kingdoms into ruin, leading to calls for her execution. "Right now, your status isn't safe. It would be better if I show everyone that the Qilin’s Daughter is mine."

    Li Xuanyue pondered silently as he looked into her eyes. She still had to prove herself to the courtiers to be accepted as the Qilin’s Daughter. If she couldn't, she might be killed to ease the people's fears. At the very least, if he took her as his consort, he could use his power to protect her.

    "Li... Li..." Lalita pointed to the ground, trying to ask if this was indeed the Li Region and wanted to know what time period it was. "Um... year... um... time," she rotated her finger in a circle, trying to indicate a clock, but clocks wouldn't be invented for thousands of years. She grew frustrated with the communication barrier.

    "I don't understand you. It might take us several months before we can talk to each other." The tall figure rose to his full height and slowly approached Lalita. She retreated, deciding to fight by kicking, but the curtain she had wrapped around herself got in the way, causing her to lose balance and fall. Before she could cry out, the tall man was beside her, his rough, hot hands lifting her… into his arms.

    The night was cold and the path unclear, but Lalita felt safe in this man's embrace. His prominent nose pressed against her cold forehead repeatedly, and he was surprised at how much he cared for her.

    "The first thing you need to do is stop hurting yourself."

    Lalita almost disappeared into his muscular chest, her face buried in his strong pecs. The heat radiated intensely with fluttering sensation, making her exclaim “wow”. His muscles were even more impressive than her brothers', and oh my... that thing was pressing against her stomach!

    Her small hands clenched tightly, and Lalita shut her eyes tightly.

    Couldn't stand it anymore.

    "May I... touch your muscles... please?"

    Lalita's heart was pounding wildly, her entire body twitching as if electrified. She slowly placed her hand on his muscular skin, feeling the warmth and vitality, a stark reminder that this world was not only filled with cold, stiff bodies like those she encountered at work. His eyes were as sharp as steel, and even the lips of gods were not as fiery and luscious as this handsome man's. Lalita touched and massaged his body, first his strong shoulders, then wandering to his chest, sides, and abdominal muscles. Though she stayed clear of the more intimate area, her touch still ignited his masculine desire.

    "Your muscles are amazing. Excellent, like a living anatomy textbook on muscle structure. Could you raise your arms… like this?" She lifted both arms above her head. "Raise them like this. Okay, hold it."

    Li Xuanyue followed her instructions, bewildered, standing still as the muscle-crazed woman examined him like a guinea pig with sunflower seeds, nibbling away without pause. He struggled to contain the heat in his body, forcing himself to stay still and focus on the flickering lantern flame among the glittering gold artifacts. He fought against the rising desire, but the flames of passion only grew stronger.

    "Stop your hands," Li Xuanyue ordered through gritted teeth. It was so… frustrating. But Lalita pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

    "Your heart really is on the right side..."

    The closer she got, the more his masculinity strained, becoming almost painful. Clenching his jaw, his strong, hot hand stroked her bare arm, sending warmth coursing through her body, making both their pulses quicken. Realizing she had crossed a line, Lalita's cheeks flushed, and she started babbling again out of embarrassment.

    "I have three brothers. They have nice muscles too, but I think I like... um..." Lalita traced her finger along the cut lines on his chest and stomach. "If I were to make an incision, there are two methods: removing all the internal organs at once, but I prefer taking them out part by part and examining them immediately. The organ I least like to examine is the brain because it involves peeling back the scalp. Uh… I mean no harm, really. Oh… what am I even saying?"

    "Be quiet."

    "I'm being too rude right now... My brothers always say I'm weird, but actually I..." She didn't get to finish her sentence as his strong hand grabbed her neck, pulling her in for a kiss.

    Lalita's eyes widened, not understanding what was happening. He pressed his lips to hers before she could protest. Li Xuanyue's lips moved over hers, parting them to slip his soft tongue inside. They exchanged kisses slowly, receiving and giving, both overwhelmed by the sudden eruption of fiery passion.

    Li Xuanyue kissed her gently and slowly, like a skilled lover who could make any woman succumb. Lalita's soft lips were pressed firmly against his, pulling away only to catch a breath before locking lips again. Her sweet lips parted under the pressure, breathing heavily as his tongue invaded her mouth, exploring deeply. Despite her attempts to resist, one of his hands tangled in her soft hair, the other cradling her face as he kissed her more fervently.

    Lalita breathed heavily, not out of shock but because her body accepted his touch so easily. The kiss was intimate, intense, and scorching, as if it would burn.

    "Tell me your name, let my lips utter your name."

    He whispered softly, wrapping her delicate body like a warm blanket. Lalita stared into his eyes, her cheeks flushed too red to hide. Her body felt hot, her pulse pounded so loudly she could hear her own heartbeat. She was confused, unprepared for the heated touch.

    "I... I don't..."

    "Is your name 'I'? That's strange. I..."

    He touched her shoulder and called her, making Lalita shake her head. He kissed her again, this time more fiercely and passionately, without any compromise or preamble. He just pressed his tongue inside, wrapping around hers sensually. When he finally pulled back, Lalita realized she had sighed with a quiver.

    As if living for this moment, as if finding something long awaited.

    It was so good...

    "You're not very good at kissing yet. Let me teach you," he slowly caressed her flushed lips. Lalita felt dizzy.

    "What is your name?" His eyes sparkled but carried a tense, unstable look. Lalita's mouth opened and closed, feeling his hot hand stroking her shoulder and down to her waist, moving slowly. The heat between them was shockingly intense. "I want to call your name."

    "Xuanyue," he said, touching his own chest, then touching the hollow of her pulse. Lalita flinched, unsure how to say her name. Her mind had forgotten how to form words. She nervously pointed to a jade teapot.

    "Are you thirsty?" Li Xuanyue grabbed the teapot and poured tea into a cup, handing it to her. But Lalita shook her head, trying to communicate through gestures. They both stared at each other's swollen lips, hearts pounding with the desire for them to touch again. Li Xuanyue drank several gulps of tea, then pulled her by the neck, pressing his lips to hers to share the tea.

    Lalita nearly choked. Suddenly, the Lindian mark on her forehead heated up, making her cry out. She clutched her forehead and collapsed. The next moment, she felt herself being lifted as Li Xuanyue picked her up. She waved her hands and nodded in some way that made him brush aside the curtain wrapped around her, letting it fall, followed by the thin robe slipping from her shoulders, exposing her full breasts, which were so precariously revealed it was frightening.

    "Wait! Wait, I... I'm not..."

    He used his hand to gently push her down, propping himself up on his arms over her. Lalita's breathing grew heavier as his warm lips pressed against her soft white neck, moving slowly up to her cheek, as if he wanted to absorb her warmth. And above all, his rough, hot hand cupped her beautiful breast, massaging gently, making Lalita shiver and quickly push his hand away as if it were burning.

    He lowered his head and kissed the peak of her breast, caressing tenderly.

    "Stop! No, stop, stop. Xuanyue, Xuanyue, Chen... Chenbao."

    He froze immediately and looked up at her with a changed expression.

    "Chenbao is my nickname. Only my father calls me that when we're alone. How do you know this name?"

    "Well, I read..."

    "Oh, you can understand me now."

    "Yes, I understand," Lalita began to realize that her presence in ancient times could distort history. She needed to think carefully before acting or speaking… Wait a minute... Why could she suddenly understand him and respond so fluently? Lalita flinched and met his gaze, which was fixed on her just as intently.

    "What did you read... I know you understand what I'm saying."

    "I can't tell you..." The thin figure clamped her hand over her mouth and shook her head.

    "Speak now!"

    Lalita decided to stay silent, refusing to say anything more. She needed to endure... Lalita decided to knee him in his strategic spot with all her might. Despite his large, muscular build, he couldn't avoid the pain. Li Xuanyue groaned and cursed incoherently.

    "You...!"

    "Sorry."

    Lalita grabbed her robe and quickly fled the bed. He gritted his teeth and followed her, stumbling. The sound of their lord's cries drew the attention of eunuchs and maidservants, who rushed in and saw Li Wang being hit right in the groin. It broke… Everyone winced in shared pain, while the person who kicked, panicking, covered her mouth to keep from babbling incoherently again.

    Why... why could she suddenly understand their language...

    The sun was about to rise, bathing her skin in a beautiful glow. Lalita felt the red mark on her forehead heat up again for no apparent reason. Her eyes sparkled as if seeing through everything. The looks from the people around her were unfriendly; some were scared, shouting that their Wang had been harmed. The one person who could help her, she had just hit twice, and he was glaring at her fiercely.

    "Uh..." The doctor from the future was speechless, inwardly lamenting that things had gone terribly wrong. She grabbed whatever she could—mosquito nets, curtains—to wrap herself. Cheng Mou, the elderly eunuch, signaled to two other eunuchs to handle the situation. They threatened her with various punishments for her audacity. As they approached to strike her, a thunderous voice boomed like a crack of lightning, followed by a gust of wind that made the silk curtains billow.

    Lalita stood still in the bright light and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the woman with the red mark on her forehead exuded an aura that was untouchable.

    The Qilin’s Daughter.

[1] The internal organs of the body are reversed. The heart is located on the right side instead of the left, and the liver is on the left side instead of the right, and so on.