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In the backyard of Bibi Dong's bedchamber, there was an open-air marble hot spring pool, enveloped in warm rising steam.
Under the hazy moonlight and the glow of palace lanterns, it resembled a fairyland on earth.
Approaching the edge of the pool, Dai Chengfeng stepped into the water first. Then, with leisure and anticipation, he gazed at Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong, meeting Dai Chengfeng's fervent eyes, softly parted her red lips. "Rebellious disciple!"
"Isn't it because Teacher is too beautiful?" Dai Chengfeng smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering and unashamed.
"Hmph!"
Bibi Dong shot him a glare but no longer hesitated…
She turned slightly sideways, her back to Dai Chengfeng, and began to slowly remove her elaborate Pope's ceremonial attire, her movements somewhat hesitant.
First, she gently removed the purple-gold crown that symbolized supreme authority. Her cascading purple hair instantly fell loose, reaching down to her waist, adding a touch of languor and allure.
Next, the luxurious purple outer robe slid smoothly off her shoulders, revealing a form-fitting silk blouse underneath that accentuated her stunning curves.
Each delicate button was carefully undone by her slender fingers, each one unveiling another layer of mystery.
When the last piece of her intimate garment slipped past her smooth, creamy skin to pool at her feet, the perfect silhouette, as if crafted by the gods themselves, was fully revealed before Dai Chengfeng.
Under the moonlight, her skin gleamed with an ethereal glow. The lines of her neck and shoulders were elegant and fluid, her back defined yet gentle, leading down to an impossibly narrow waist…
Her curves were voluptuous yet free of any excess, her legs straight and long.
She didn't fully turn around, but her profile alone was the ultimate temptation.
"Have you seen enough…"
Bibi Dong quickly stepped into the hot spring pool, letting the warm water rise to her collarbone, leaving only her back and her floating purple hair visible.
And that side profile, which turned slightly with a hint of shyness and reproach, was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Not enough. Teacher is truly beautiful…"
Dai Chengfeng praised her, and a smile tugged at the corners of Bibi Dong's lips.
After a while, Dai Chengfeng took a deep breath, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and slowly approached Bibi Dong from behind.
"Teacher, let me scrub your back for you."
Dai Chengfeng picked up a soft towel prepared beside the pool, his voice slightly hoarse.
Bibi Dong lightly hummed in acknowledgment, not refusing.
She leaned forward slightly, exposing her smooth back completely to him.
Dai Chengfeng soaked the towel in the warm water and gently wiped her jade-like back. Occasionally, his fingertips brushed against her delicate skin, causing her body to tremble slightly.
"Teacher," Dai Chengfeng said softly while wiping, his voice filled with sincere longing, "I missed you so much when I was in the Great Star Dou Forest."
"Whenever I faced a formidable spirit beast or during the quiet hours of the night, all I could think about was your image."
The rising steam from the hot spring blurred Bibi Dong's vision and softened her defenses.
Hearing her disciple's unreserved confession of longing, her heart swelled with emotion and a sense of indescribable pride.
This disciple, who possessed extraordinary strength and a deep mind, this man who made her experience complex emotions, ultimately held her dearest in his heart.
Silently, she responded in her heart: "Actually… I often thought of you too."
But given her character and status, these words would never be spoken aloud. Only the slight upward curve of her lips and her more relaxed posture leaning backward betrayed her true feelings.
After an unknown amount of time, Dai Chengfeng stopped his actions, placing the towel aside, his voice tinged with playful teasing:
"Teacher, your back is scrubbed clean."
Bibi Dong softly acknowledged him, still lazily leaning against the edge of the pool, enjoying the soothing warmth of the spring and the previous tenderness.
However, Dai Chengfeng's next words caused her body to stiffen slightly.
"So," Dai Chengfeng's voice drew near her ear, carrying heated breath, "now it's Teacher's turn to help me."
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong instinctively turned around, reaching for the towel, and responded:
"Alright…"
But before her words finished, Dai Chengfeng caught her wrist, stopping her movement.
His eyes sparkled with mischief and fiery intensity. He shook his head and chuckled lowly:
"Teacher, what I want… isn't using hands~"
"Not using hands?"
Bibi Dong was momentarily stunned, looking at him with confusion.
But when she met Dai Chengfeng's gaze, filled with aggression and suggestive meaning, she instantly understood.
A striking flush rapidly spread from her cheeks to her ears, down her fair neck, and even to her collarbone submerged in the water.
Annoyed, she glared at Dai Chengfeng. Her gaze was full of charm, reproach, and an unspoken shyness, finally squeezing out through clenched teeth:
"Rebellious disciple!"
"You… don't even think about it!"
She turned her head away, trying to mask her embarrassment with a cold tone, but her flushed cheeks and slightly trembling voice betrayed her.
Seeing this rare flustered look on Bibi Dong, Dai Chengfeng's heart burned even hotter.
He knew Teacher's pride and reserve; forcing her would only have the opposite effect.
But instead of releasing her, he moved closer with the flow of the water, almost encircling her from behind, resting his chin lightly on her smooth shoulder. With a tone of grievance and deep longing, he whispered:
"Teacher… do you know how I got through those days in the Great Star Dou Forest?"
His voice grew deeper, losing its playful edge, leaving only pure 'confession'.
"Every day, I faced ferocious spirit beasts, damp and cold jungles, and omnipresent danger."
"Several times, I almost didn't make it back…"
"Each time I was exhausted or injured and in pain, the only thing on my mind was Teacher."
"I thought of Teacher's appearance, Teacher's voice, and… how wonderful it would be to return to Teacher's side."
"For three months and seven days, I counted every single day."
Dai Chengfeng buried his face in her fragrant purple hair at her neck, taking a deep breath. His tone carried a subtle vulnerability and attachment.
"Now that I've finally returned, Teacher… can you really be so heartless as to deny me this small wish?"
His words struck Bibi Dong's heart one by one.
She could feel the warm body temperature radiating from her disciple behind her and the genuine longing in his words.
She remembered her worry when he left, the momentary panic upon hearing he encountered powerful spirit beasts deep in the forest, and the occasional… loneliness she felt in the empty Pope's Palace.
He had indeed been gone for a long time and faced dangers.
And he…
Feeling the stiffness in her body gradually ease and even lean slightly back toward him, Dai Chengfeng knew his words had worked.
He no longer urged her, simply holding her quietly, waiting for her response.
The surface of the hot spring water rippled slightly, reflecting the hazy moonlight and lantern glow, also mirroring the complex expression of struggle and shyness on Bibi Dong's exquisite profile.
After a long while, a barely audible sigh escaped her red lips.
"…Just this once."
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, heavy with shyness, almost drowned out by the sound of the water.
Bibi Dong slowly raised her hands to that pair…
And then…
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