To ask her to get up now…
She lazily cracked open one eye, glanced at the scattered clothes on the floor, then at that infuriatingly handsome face—smug and radiant with victory—and huffed before shutting her eyes again.
"Go yourself."
Her reply was curt, laced with post-intimacy drowsiness. She turned her head slightly, burying half her still-flushed face into the pillow that still carried his scent—clearly intending to stay right where she was.
But Dai Chengfeng wasn't about to let her have her way.
After all, hadn't he laid the groundwork for nothing?
He propped himself up, reached out, and gently pinched her soft shoulder, then let his fingers trail slowly down the elegant dip of her spine.
"Really not getting up? That Soul-Warming Jade Marrow is excellent—but paired with a medicinal bath, its effects multiply."
"I had them prepare 'Snow Spirit Orchid' specifically for you. It's perfect for calming your soul power and nourishing your spirit after all that Asura Power exposure."
He paused, voice dropping lower, breath ghosting over her ear:
"Or… would you prefer I carry you there, Erlong?"
Liu Erlong's eyes snapped open. The lingering moisture in her phoenix eyes hadn't fully faded, but now they held clear, flustered annoyance.
"Dai Chengfeng!"
She swatted at his wandering hand—but he caught her wrist effortlessly.
"Can't you just be still for a moment?"
"Not a chance."
As he spoke, he'd already snatched a large, plush blanket from the bedside and, without waiting for consent, wrapped it snugly around her from shoulders down.
Half-supported, half-lifted by him, Liu Erlong sat up—warm, cocooned, far more comfortable than bare.
She knew he'd made up his mind. Today, resistance was futile.
Besides…
The medicinal bath did sound appealing. Lately, her constant contact with the Asura Force had left her nerves frayed. She truly needed relief.
"Annoying," she muttered under her breath, turning her face away—a quiet surrender.
Yet the heat in her cheeks refused to fade—whether from lingering arousal or embarrassment at being swaddled like a helpless child, dependent on his strength just to sit upright.
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly.
He didn't rush her. Instead, he patiently waited until she was steady, then swung his legs off the bed.
Morning light now flooded the room, outlining his lean, powerful frame with sharp clarity. He gathered their scattered clothes with easy grace—completely unselfconscious.
In moments, he was dressed—only his golden hair remained loose, spilling carelessly over his shoulders.
The look softened his usual sharpness, lending him an unexpectedly relaxed, domestic charm.
Once ready, he turned and offered her his hand.
Liu Erlong eyed it, then her own blanket-swathed form—shoulders and calves peeking out—and sighed in resignation.
How was she supposed to walk to the bathhouse like this?
Still, she couldn't win against him. Slowly, she lifted her hand and placed it in his.
Their fingertips met—he immediately closed his fingers around hers, firm and secure.
With a gentle pull, he helped her rise.
Soon, Liu Erlong stood barefoot on the cool, smooth floor.
The blanket trailed to her ankles—long enough not to hinder walking, yet…
The warm jade marrow was still active within her. With each step, her footing felt strangely unsteady.
She took one tentative step—her body swayed almost imperceptibly.
One step. Two steps…
At first, her movements were stiff—but soon, her body adapted to the rhythm of walking.
Yet her gait was undeniably different from usual.
The blanket wasn't tightly bound. With every stride, its soft hem fluttered, revealing flashes of long, pale legs—smooth, elegant—before concealing them again.
She walked slowly—deliberately so. Each step seemed measured: toes touching ground, ankles rotating subtly, then settling with languid precision.
That initial weakness, tempered by conscious control, transformed into something strangely mesmerizing—a lazy, hypnotic grace.
Strands of damp hair clung to her neck, rising and falling faintly with her soft breaths and measured steps.
Dai Chengfeng followed half a pace behind, eyes wide with quiet awe.
He'd seen her fierce in battle, composed in command, and tender in private—but never like this.
She resembled a crabapple blossom after night rain—slowly unfurling in morning light, drowsy yet luminous, radiating an unconscious, bone-deep sensuality.
It wasn't affectation. It was the natural allure of a body utterly relaxed, tinged with sweet exhaustion.
Every sway of her hips and waist beneath the blanket carried a slow-motion, heart-stopping rhythm.
"What are you staring at?"
Though she didn't turn, Liu Erlong clearly felt his burning gaze. Her ears warmed; she couldn't help but chide him softly.
"At my Erlong," he replied, voice thick with admiration. "Even the way you walk is so beautiful I can't look away."
"Flatterer," she huffed—but her step faltered almost imperceptibly.
Annoyed with herself, she bit her lip and quickened her pace slightly, trying to escape both the lingering sensation and his watchful eyes.
Unaware that this tiny, flustered shift only made her more captivating—the blanket's sway more pronounced, the sudden flush blooming at her nape even more enticing.
"Slow down," Dai Chengfeng murmured, tightening his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. His voice still held laughter. "The bath isn't going anywhere. Watch your step."
Liu Erlong ignored him, focusing ahead.
The inner bathing chamber wasn't far. Past a sandalwood screen painted with misty mountains and rain, warm, humid air washed over them—carrying the crisp, slightly bitter-sweet fragrance of medicinal herbs.
The pool itself was carved from a single block of warm jade—not huge, but spacious enough to stretch out comfortably.
The water glowed faintly milky-white, steam curling gently from its surface. Floating atop were petals of pure white "Snow Spirit Orchid"—the source of that clean, calming scent.
On a low table beside the pool sat a jade teapot, matching cups, and a few delicate pastries—already prepared.
Pearl lamps hung at each corner, veiled in gauze, casting soft halos that blended with morning light, wrapping the entire space in serene, dreamlike tranquility.
At the pool's edge, Dai Chengfeng finally released her waist—but instead, began unwrapping the blanket.
It pooled at her feet. Liu Erlong instinctively flinched—not from cold (the air was warm and moist), but from the sudden exposure.
"Test the water," he said gently.
"Mm." She nodded.
As the warm current slid over her skin, carrying the orchid's herbal bitterness, Liu Erlong couldn't suppress a soft, contented sigh.
Seeing her tension melt, Dai Chengfeng's eyes softened with quiet joy.
He set down the wooden dipper, reached out, and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear.
"Go on. Soak well. I'll be just outside—call if you need anything."
Liu Erlong blinked up at him, surprised.
Had this man actually changed?
Was he really just here to give her a bath?
Dai Chengfeng read the doubt in her eyes and laughed lowly. "I said this time is only for bathing. When have I ever lied to you?"
True to his word, he turned and walked toward the screen—but paused at its edge, leaning against the sandalwood frame. With a teasing arch of his brow, he added:
"Though… if Teacher needs someone to scrub her back, I'm always at your service."
In response, Liu Erlong scooped up a handful of water and splashed it at him—half-hearted, but full of exasperation.
Dai Chengfeng laughed loudly, dodging with ease before vanishing behind the screen.
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