In the bathroom of the inner hall, Han Wu performed a Water Summoning Technique, filling the tub with hot water. After scattering a layer of petals, she helped Zhu Nanzhi into the bath.
As Zhu Nanzhi removed her Hezi skirt, her fair skin was revealed, and the kiss marks on her body added a touch of bewitching allure of descending into the mortal world.
When she stepped onto a small stool and lifted her leg into the bathtub, her fair, plump thighs tensed slightly, outlining the smooth curve of her legs as they slowly submerged into the petal-covered water.
As the water covered her graceful body, leaving only her elegant shoulders exposed, the water lightly rippled across her alluring clavicles. The whiteness peeking through the petals seemed more vivid than the petals themselves.
Her fingertips lightly grazed her neck, and not knowing what she recalled, Zhu Nanzhi's sky-blue eyes filled with warmth: "Husband is also addicted to me..."
Han Wu, not having any liking for Lu Jin'an, pretended not to hear and continued helping the Holy Daughter manage her long hair.
After her murmur, Zhu Nanzhi closed her eyes and sighed regretfully: "Unfortunately, I can't bring Husband back to Qingmiao Palace."
While helping to wet her hair, Han Wu pursed her lips. Was the Holy Daughter still hesitating?
Thinking of this, she, determined to keep the Holy Daughter true to her original intention, quickly asked: "Miss, when did you start thinking of turning him into a 'Sword Spirit'? Was it because of Zhan Ming's choice?"
Every disciple of Qingmiao Palace goes through a process of Red Dust Heart Refining, where the location and method of the experience are influenced by their Lifebound Spiritual Treasure. That's why Han Wu asked this question.
After a moment of thought, Zhu Nanzhi smiled: "The location was chosen by Zhan Ming, but I set my eyes on Husband at first sight."
"Is Zhan Ming's training method a fake marriage?"
"Although Husband and I didn't have a wedding ceremony, this isn't a fake marriage," Zhu Nanzhi emphasized, "Besides, I don't have to follow Zhan Ming's methods; I'm the one who owns Zhan Ming."
Han Wu blinked: "So, Miss fell in love at first sight?"
"Yes." Zhu Nanzhi chuckled lightly, "He's good-looking... I knew it the first time I saw him, this feeling of a heartbeat is unmistakable."
Han Wu's eyes widened: "Then do you think he can withstand Zhan Ming's sharpness?"
Zhu Nanzhi scooped up some petals, "Husband, he has Saint Cultivation."
"Ah?" Han Wu looked at Zhu Nanzhi in disbelief, "In this remote place, the strongest is merely a Yun Dao Stage Real Person. How could a Saint emerge?
Is he also from outside, like Miss? Has he been deceiving you all along?"
"It doesn't matter," Zhu Nanzhi said nonchalantly, "Getting the person doesn't mean I can't get his heart. He can't escape."
Han Wu nodded in confusion, watching Zhu Nanzhi throw the petals in her hand into the water, "Both Husband and bringing back the 'Flawless Immortal Body' are in this Nanzhuo Domain, it's destined fate."
Fate?
Clearly, it's a forced matter...
Han Wu secretly grumbled while also wondering. If that guy genuinely had Saint Realm Cultivation, why didn't he resist the Holy Daughter back then?
Was it also driven by lust?
As she thought about it, she heard Zhu Nanzhi speak with a hint of joy: "In two or three days, we can leave this place. The first thing I'll do when we return is have a wedding with Husband..."
Han Wu stared dazedly at Zhu Nanzhi. Since Qingmiao Palace usually doesn't allow men inside, is the Holy Daughter going to marry a sword?
This is too incredible...
Zhu Nanzhi said no more, timing her bath to finish as Lu Jin'an was about to end his morning practice. She changed into a blue and white chiffon embroidered Hezi skirt, with an outer layer of sheer light azure long-sleeved shirt. She simply tied her hair into a bun with a gilt flower-stepping-on-pearls hairpin, then walked gracefully into the courtyard.
Dressed impeccably, she was like the thin mist in morning light, faint and clear, untouched by the world's dust.
Her refined charm stood out, with her dark green hair gleaming between black and azure in the sunlight, like clouds between dusk and nightfall.
Her lightly powdered face was like snow brushed with rouge, with thin willow-like eyebrows like distant mountains dusted with green, and sky-blue eyes distant and serene, her lips blush pink, not overly ostentatious.
The belt at her waist fluttered gently, highlighting her poised, elegant yet profound and clear beauty, prompting anyone to declare her stunning.
The morning breeze gently lifted a few strands of hair from her forehead. Seeing Zhu Nanzhi's outfit, Lu Jin'an, who was finishing his practice, couldn't help but grow alert instead of appreciating her charm resembling peaches in spring and chrysanthemums in autumn.
Because Zhu Nanzhi's attire was identical to that night when she began crafting the Sword Spirit.
"Husband has worked hard~" Zhu Nanzhi beamed, approaching him to gently wipe his forehead's sweat with a square handkerchief, "Go take a bath... Husband won't mind sharing my bathwater, will he?"
Somewhat relieved, Lu Jin'an accepted the handkerchief, catching a whiff of her refreshed scent. His gaze brushed past her fair chest as he softly said, "You just washed, don't dirty it again."
"I don't mind," Zhu Nanzhi smiled even brighter, original husband's scent is also pleasant.
Moreover, Husband increasingly cares about me more, making me want to grow closer to him...
"Then, I'll go wash up first."
"Alright~" Zhu Nanzhi stepped aside, watched him enter the room, then headed to the kitchen to quickly prepare a soup, planning to help give Husband a back rub later.
In the bathtub, Lu Jin'an ignored the petals, closed his eyes, and used the partially recovered Soul Power to visualize the past through the temporal chapter of the Great Freedom Visualization Technique.
Zhu Nanzhi concealed poison within herself, so logically, she was also poisoned, but she had the antidote. Thus, he wanted to look for any clues about the antidote from the past half-year.
After delving deeply into the river of time, Lu Jin'an discovered Zhu Nanzhi's figure for the first time.
Her manifested figure appeared extremely blurry.
This phenomenon wasn't solely due to his own lacking cultivation, but also because of Zhu Nanzhi's extraordinary talent and abundant destiny, making her hard to scrutinize.
Even he couldn't predict his future—since the lines of fate were entangled yet independent, impossible for one person's strength to completely explore.
The past, being events already happened, was comparatively easier to see... although only slightly easier.
Lu Jin'an knew Zhu Nanzhi confirmed his Saint Realm Cultivation through multiple tests, hence anticipating her behavior over a limited period.
Yet, being physically intimate with her every night made finding clues difficult.
'For someone who appears so cold and detached, how does she have such an interest in that kind of thing?'
Grumbling inwardly, Lu Jin'an continued his cautious visualization of the time river, until his replenished Soul Power was once again exhausted, still having found no useful hints.
Sighing lightly as he abandoned his temporal visualization, Lu Jin'an thought, surely, Zhu Nanzhi would enhance her caution after discovering his Saint Cultivation.
Moreover, her significant position in the temporal river meant he saw fragmented, mosaic-covered images, rendering this approach futile.
'How come I've never heard of such undetectable poison before? Could Qingmiao Palace really have such treasure hidden?'
'Could it have been specifically concocted to aid disciples in refining their lovers into Sword Spirits during their Red Dust Heart Refining process?'
Lu Jin'an mused silently, only withdrawing his thoughts upon hearing soft footsteps approaching.
As Zhu Nanzhi lightly stepped in, her smile widening; it was the first time she saw Husband while he bathed... This morning, Husband's newfound intimacy made her wish to seize each first encounter anew.
The footsteps ceased, and delicate fingers gripped his shoulder, Lu Jin'an immediately felt a weight behind his head, guessing easily what it was.
"Husband seems a bit tired, what are you thinking about?" Zhu Nanzhi asked softly.
Lu Jin'an opened his eyes, tilting his head back to meet her gaze: "Thinking about something concerning my wife."
Zhu Nanzhi's initial startled expression quickly turned to one of unconcealed joy—since their marriage, it was the first time her husband addressed her as "wife!"
"Hus—h-husband..." Zhu Nanzhi's voice trembled, her sky-blue eyes welling with joy like a neglected wife finally released from the cold palace.
Right now, she was so enticing that Lu Jin'an quickly remembered her intent to refine him into a Sword Spirit to regain his calm.
Maintaining eye contact with Zhu Nanzhi, Lu Jin'an decided to fool her a bit.
As long as she delayed the Sword Spirit refining plan, he could earn more time to detoxify.
"Wife, actually I've deceived you."
...