After sensing that the room had fallen silent, Chu Qingyi quietly opened her beautiful eyes.
She silently recited an incantation to activate her spatial storage ring, and moments later, a bathtub large enough for two people to sit cross-legged appeared in the empty space of the room.
She stepped forward, her delicate hands gently stirring the clear water, causing the temperature to rise abruptly. Wisps of steam curled upward.
After a moment's thought, she set up a barrier around the room, isolating all images and sounds from within. Only then did she feel at ease, removing her clothes and stepping naked into the bathtub.
The rising steam drifted upward as a flawless, enchanting body slowly settled into the water. Her full, perky breasts, a waist as graceful as the Seine in spring, and the plump, shapely curve of her buttocks were nothing short of perfection, as if crafted by divine hands.
Her cascading black hair, unadorned and naturally elegant, flowed down to her waist, accentuating her delicate charm.
Amid the hazy mist, the faint outline of a woman's figure could be seen, her alluring curves enough to drive any man in the world to madness.
"Mmm..."
The warm water enveloped Chu Qingyi's body like a gentle, flowing current, bringing such comfort that she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
The clothes soaked in white filth were carelessly tossed aside, yet the lingering, pungent scent still teased the air, faintly tickling her nostrils and tempting her to recall the scene from earlier.
Images of that wanton, debauched moment surfaced in her mind, and a subtle reaction stirred in her lower body. A silky, honeyed fluid began to seep from her depths.
"Why does it feel so pleasurable..."
Chu Qingyi murmured as if bewitched, her small hand reaching toward her intimate area, gently pressing against her delicate labia.
"Ah..."
A soul-stirring moan escaped her lips, as enchanting as celestial music and as potent as an aphrodisiac. Even the most devout disciple of Buddhism would find it hard to resist.
Her fingers instinctively sought out the sensitive nub of her clitoris, feeling its tremors and delicate form. As her fingertips glided gently, her inner lips grew increasingly moist. Like an explorer discovering new territory for the first time, she continued her exploration, her body trembling slightly with each movement as desire began to spread.
Her fingers now coated in her honeyed essence, she slowly guided them toward that mysterious entrance.
"Mmm..."
Her middle finger barely slipped in a single knuckle, yet she could already feel the tightness and narrowness of the passage. A wave of pleasurable numbness surged from within, awakening every dormant cell in her body, making them dance and leap with joy.
Her cheeks bloomed like a radiant flower, a flush of crimson creeping upward. In the depths of her starry eyes, the flames of desire ignited, revealing a seductive charm. Her body took on a faint rosy hue, like a bewitching rose swaying in full bloom, utterly irresistible.
The sticky, honeyed fluid seeping from her depths mingled with the clear water, and a rich, intoxicating fragrance spread through the rising steam. In an instant, the entire room was filled with a refreshing, heart-stirring aroma.
She had practiced the "Great Way of Heartlessness Art" since childhood, mastering the skill of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. For over a decade, she repeated the cycle of refining essence and expelling impurities day after day, year after year, until all impurities in her body were completely cleansed. Supplemented by the essence of the sun and moon to aid her cultivation with immortal energy, her body became as pure as a mountain spring, free of any blemish and naturally fragrant. Whether it was her sweat or the honeyed dew seeping from her delicate parts, all carried an exquisite aroma.
At this moment, her naked, delicate form appeared even more elusive in the hazy mist, as if veiled by a translucent gauze, enticing one to part the clouds and behold the verdant peaks.
Chu Qingyi's slender, jade-like fingers remained at her honeyed entrance, pressing inward until they had penetrated more than an inch.
A warm, slick sensation transmitted from her fingertips, and she couldn't help but move her fingers, brushing against the densely packed folds inside. A warm stream slowly flowed out, mingling with the clear water as it trickled down her fingers.
The tight, narrow passage was completely filled by her finger, and in that moment, her desires seemed satisfied, bringing waves of pleasure. Her body felt as if it were floating among soft clouds in the sky, filled with an indescribable ecstasy.
Slowly withdrawing her finger, the honeyed passage gushed with fluid like a breached dam, intensifying the fragrant aroma in the air.
Raising her snow-white, tender arm, she carefully examined the finger that had just delved deep into her honeyed core.
Transparent, sticky fluid coated her jade-like finger, forming silken threads that glistened with a crystalline sheen as she moved it.
Even something of this thickness brought such continuous pleasure—what if it were that fleshy rod invading...
In her mind, Chu Qingyi involuntarily pictured Li Xuan's thick, long, and rigid member, veined and throbbing. How could such a tight, small passage possibly withstand its intrusion...
Startled by the sudden, provocative thought, her cheeks flushed. She quickly washed the sticky fluid from her hands, took several deep breaths, and forcibly expelled the distracting thoughts from her mind.
But do men truly suffer such discomfort when aroused...
Chu Qingyi narrowed her beautiful eyes, recalling Li Xuan's pained expression.
Based on her understanding of him over these days, his words were a mix of truth and falsehood, not to be fully trusted.
Initially, she had been quite averse to Li Xuan's character. However, through gradual interaction, she discovered that although he was glib and lacked seriousness, he always proved useful at critical moments. This had significantly changed her opinion of him.
More importantly, he was Li Ye's son. Li Ye had repeatedly urged her to look after Li Xuan. As an orphan, Li Xuan had no one else. Li Ye, cultivating immortality at the Celestial Master Manor, had been away for years, unable to care for his son. Now that he had finally returned, he was constantly busy hunting demons, with no mind to attend to Li Xuan.
Thus, this heavy responsibility fell upon Chu Qingyi's shoulders. However, having been pampered since childhood, she had no idea how to care for someone. Moreover, Li Xuan often looked at her with a strange gaze, leaving her at a loss. Helpless, she could only comply with all his requests.
This led to such intimate contact between the two of them, making Chu Qingyi increasingly uncomfortable, yet unable to outright refuse Li Xuan.
What astonished her even more was that, deep down, she felt no resistance to this kind of contact—instead, it even brought her pleasure.
By now, she had gained some understanding of matters between men and women. If she were truly forced into an intimate relationship with Li Xuan, she would naturally be utterly unwilling. However, if the person were to be replaced by Li Ye, she would feel a faint sense of anticipation.
Yet, to better comprehend the "Great Way of Heartlessness Art," she absolutely must not share a bed with Li Ye at this moment, or all her previous efforts would be wasted.
Moreover, although her injuries had mostly healed, her foundational immortal energy still remained unstable. If she were to lose her purity carelessly, it would not only slow the recovery of her foundational energy but could also lead to various lingering complications.
In short, the cost was far too high, and it would be best to postpone any thoughts of intimacy for now.
Chu Qingyi, lost in her troubled thoughts, stared blankly at the clear water in the bathtub, her eyes filled with complexity.
Perhaps even she hadn't anticipated that the desires between men and women, which she had never considered before, would frequently occupy her mind in just a few short months, even leading her to make various plans for it.
...
Meanwhile, Li Xuan returned to his room reluctantly but with a heart full of joy. He examined his refreshed appearance repeatedly in the bronze mirror, his mouth stretched into a grin so wide it nearly reached his ears.
He gazed fondly at his new outfit, caressing the sleeves with great care. The fabric felt smooth and cool to the touch—a luxury Li Xuan, who had lived in poverty for over a decade, had never experienced before.
He couldn't resist running his hands over the clothes, but his eyes suddenly fell upon his worn-out cloth shoes.
The shoes were old and tattered, patched up and barely holding together after years of use. They had been washed so many times that the color had faded completely, and the uppers were separating from the soles.
The shabby shoes clashed starkly with his elegant attire, making him feel like a ridiculous toad, foolishly proud of a superficial change and forgetting his true self.
After a moment of stunned silence, he carefully took off the new clothes, folded them neatly, and gently placed them in the wardrobe.
Such exquisite garments deserved proper matching shoes, which he didn't have. Besides, he couldn't bear to treat them like his usual coarse, patched clothing. It was better to treasure them and save them for important occasions in the future.
Suddenly, he remembered—his old clothes were still with his mother!
Li Xuan slapped his forehead in frustration. How could he have forgotten?
What should he do now?
Frugal by nature, Li Xuan had almost never bought new clothes. Only when his garments were too tattered to cover his body would he seek out the cheapest tailor for the most affordable set. As a result, his clothes were always covered in patches, stained, and rarely washed. Even in the harsh winter, he relied on a single threadbare cotton coat to keep warm.
Amid his annoyance, a thought brought him a flicker of joy—this gave him another excuse to visit Chu Qingyi.
Just as he hurriedly pulled on his old clothes, Chu Qingyi's indifferent voice sounded from outside the door.
"Your clothes."
As soon as the words fell, a rustling noise came from the doorway, followed by fading footsteps.
Li Xuan shuffled in his shoes and rushed to push the door open, but all he could catch was the lingering fragrance in the air. The graceful figure was already walking away into the distance.
Unlike her appearance in the afternoon, Chu Qingyi now wore a light purple immortal gown. Instead of her usual cross-collar dress, she had changed into a fitted gauze skirt with a waist-cinching design. From behind, a purple silk ribbon tied around her waist accentuated her slender figure, making it seem as if her waist could be encircled with just one hand. With each graceful step, her movements were enchanting, stirring the imagination.
Looking again at her three thousand strands of black hair, it seemed as though droplets of water were dripping down one by one.
Li Xuan's mind involuntarily conjured an image of a beauty emerging from her bath. Through the hazy steam, he could vaguely make out Chu Qingyi's delicate, naked body. Her partially visible face was enchanting and alluring as she leisurely played in the water, sometimes teasing the surface, sometimes caressing her hair. Glittering, round droplets rolled down her jade-like arms one by one, splashing into the clear water and creating ripples.
Then, a body so enticing it could make one's blood boil and nose bleed slowly emerged from the water—first a flawless, slender neck, then irresistibly seductive collarbones, followed by a pair of perfectly rounded breasts adorned with two ruby-like peaks, and finally a slender waist as soft as spring water, with a charming, delicate navel...
Li Xuan shook his head fiercely, pulling himself out of that stimulating scene.
He glanced at the fresh, clean clothes placed by the window—the stains had completely vanished, clearly having been deliberately treated.
A warm feeling surged in his heart as he looked at the flickering candlelight in the eastern chamber, smiling like a three-year-old child.
...
Mornings watching the water flow east, evenings watching the sun sink west—in the blink of an eye, half a month had quietly passed. The life shared by mother and son was simple and uneventful. Chu Qingyi spent her free time tending to medicinal herbs and flipping through ancient texts, while Li Xuan sometimes secretly watched his dream goddess and sometimes went to great lengths to improve his cooking skills to win her favor.
However, what puzzled him from beginning to end was that since that day, Chu Qingyi's attitude toward him had grown much colder. Not only did she resist his deliberate attempts to get close, but she also reduced opportunities for them to be alone together, clearly avoiding him intentionally.
This left him extremely frustrated. The flesh between his legs often swelled unbearably without any relief. He deliberately paraded in front of Chu Qingyi when he was aroused, but she acted as if she didn't notice him at all, treating him like air. Left with no choice, he could only retreat to his room alone to relieve his pent-up desires.
During these two weeks, Li Ye returned home only a handful of times and never stayed overnight. Each time, he would hurriedly take a look, use busy official duties as an excuse, and leave before the chair even had a chance to warm up.
Moreover, his concern for Chu Qingyi dwindled. Each time, he would only offer a few perfunctory words of greeting, his dismissive attitude leaving her somewhat dissatisfied.
Several times, she wanted to question him, but just as the words were about to leave her lips, she would look at Li Ye's weary, travel-worn face and feel nothing but heartache. In the end, she swallowed her doubts, gently caressing his increasingly gaunt cheeks with deep affection.
"Sigh…"
During her idle moments, Chu Qingyi often thought of Li Ye's tall figure, his smiling face gazing at her, arms outstretched as if inviting her to rush into his embrace.
Now, she sat despondently by the window, watching the western sky painted in shades of orange and red, as even the white clouds reflected the warm, golden hues of the setting sun.
The gentle warmth of the twilight sun softly caressed the earth—another dusk had arrived. It seemed Li Ye would not be returning today.
Just as she lit a candle for illumination, a cheerful shout rang out from outside the house.
"Xiao Xuan! Qingyi! I'm back!"
Li Ye, looking overjoyed and walking with an exceptionally light step, jogged into the house.
Hearing the commotion, a rare trace of delight appeared on Chu Qingyi's face. She quickened her pace, eager to welcome the husband she had been longing for.
"Qingyi, I won't be leaving tonight." Li Ye pulled Chu Qingyi into his embrace, planting an excited kiss on her forehead.
"Mhm." A faint smile touched Chu Qingyi's lips as she gazed at Li Ye with overflowing affection, her arms encircling his waist.
Only in Li Ye's presence would she reveal such a delicate, dependent side—shedding all her defenses, casting aside her cool exterior, and truly becoming an exceptionally gentle wife.
However, nestled in Li Ye's arms, Chu Qingyi suddenly caught a faint whiff of fragrance.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked at him with surprise.
Memories surfaced in her mind—Li Ye had once told her personally how he disliked those worldly women with heavy makeup, finding their pungent perfume and powder overwhelming enough to make him dizzy, let alone getting close to them.
For this reason, Chu Qingyi had given up her lifelong habit of burning incense and even instructed her maids to stop scenting her clothes, all to accommodate Li Ye's sensibilities.
So why did he now carry the scent of perfume?
Though faint, the fragrance was unusual. Having grown up surrounded by various scents, Chu Qingyi quickly identified that each component was exceedingly rare—clearly not something an ordinary woman would possess.
Moreover, this type of fragrance was notoriously difficult to remove. Even with the use of immortal arts, most of it could be dispelled, but residual traces would linger for days.
Could it be that he had accidentally come into contact with it while hunting demons? Or perhaps he had bumped into some young lady?
No, that didn't seem right.
This particular fragrance was extremely rare and would only transfer to someone through prolonged, close contact.
Could it be...?
Chu Qingyi felt as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over her from head to toe. All the joy in her heart vanished, replaced by an even colder aura than before. Even her gaze toward Li Ye grew noticeably frostier.
"Qingyi, what's wrong?" Li Ye immediately sensed the sudden stiffness in the woman in his arms. Her entire demeanor had transformed drastically, and even the immortal energy within her began to surge uncontrollably, threatening to leak out. Bewildered, he quickly asked.
"Where did you go today?" Chu Qingyi's expression was icy, the immortal energy swirling around her carrying a palpable chill that seemed to drop the temperature in the surrounding space by several degrees.
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