241: Chapter 241 Put it on and let me see!

He had hesitated at the time, but eventually gritted his teeth and bought it.

For no other reason than to make this girl happy.

At this moment, he took that Dharma robe out of his Storage Pouch, gently unfolded it, and placed it before Lu Shiqing.

"Shiqing, look at this, do you like it?"

Lu Shiqing, who had been turning her back to him in a huff, tilted her head slightly and stole a glance out of the corner of her eye.

Then, she couldn't look away anymore.

It was an extremely bold Dharma robe.

Though called a Dharma robe, it was actually closer to the style of form-fitting lingerie. Woven from incredibly light and soft Sky Silkworm Silk, it was a deep indigo blue with exquisite patterns embroidered in silver thread along the edges. The neckline was cut extremely low, the waist was cinched tight, and the hem was so short it barely reached the tops of her thighs.

Most fatally, the fabric... was translucent.

Once worn, it would be semi-transparent, even more alluring than wearing nothing at all.

Lu Shiqing's pretty face instantly turned beet red.

She whipped her head around and stared fixedly at the Dharma robe. A hint of bashful annoyance flashed in her beautiful eyes, along with a trace of... liking it that she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Wh... what is this?!" Her voice changed pitch. "Ye Changge! Why... why did you buy something like this!"

Ye Changge found it amusing to see her looking both bashful and annoyed, yet unable to resist stealing a few more glances.

This girl, her mouth said no, but her eyes were honest.

"I saw it back in Qingxuan Immortal City," he said casually, as if talking about something perfectly ordinary. "I thought it would suit you, so I bought it."

"S... suit me?!" Lu Shiqing's voice rose another octave. "What... what do you mean! I... I would never wear something like this!"

"You don't like it?" Ye Changge sighed with feigned regret. "That's a pity. I thought you'd like it. Since you don't, I'll just give it to Shiyin then—"

"You wouldn't dare!"

Before he could finish, Lu Shiqing bolted upright, snatched the Dharma robe away, and hugged it tightly to her chest. She glared at Ye Changge with her beautiful eyes.

She looked just like a little kitten protecting its food.

Ye Changge couldn't help but chuckle.

Only then did Lu Shiqing realize what she had done, her cheeks turning a deep red all the way to her ears. She lowered her head and bit her lip hard, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

So embarrassing!

She was clearly still angry, so how could she... how could she...

Seeing her so shy and flustered, Ye Changge's heart softened completely.

He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.

This time, Lu Shiqing didn't struggle. She just buried her face in his chest and muttered, "...Bad man."

Ye Changge chuckled low, his palm resting on her back, slowly stroking her through the thin sleeping gown.

"Shiqing, if you like it, put it on and show me."

Lu Shiqing's body stiffened slightly.

How could she not know what he meant?

This bad man clearly wanted to see her wear that... that embarrassingly shameful outfit!

She bit her lip, feeling shy and annoyed, yet for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

These past few days, Ye Changge had been away, and she had been home alone. Although she didn't say it, she felt empty inside.

She was afraid.

Afraid that Ye Changge would see more beautiful women while away and forget her; afraid that she would gradually become less important in his heart.

Her anger today wasn't so much because Ye Changge went to see Liu Yiyi first, but rather because she was angry at herself... angry at why she cared about him so much, why she couldn't bear to be without him.

But now, held in his arms, feeling the warmth of his palm and hearing his steady, powerful heartbeat, those insecurities and anxieties melted away like ice and snow.

He still loved her.

Just as before.

A muffled hum came from Lu Shiqing's small, delicate nose, but she didn't speak. She just kept her head down, her fingers gently stroking the indigo Dharma robe.

After a long while, she finally looked up.

Her face was flushed, her beautiful eyes shimmering with moisture. Biting her lip, she said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "...Turn around."

"...Turn around."

Ye Changge turned around as told.

Rustling sounds came from behind him, mixed with Lu Shiqing's occasional low grumbles—likely a button she couldn't fasten or a ribbon she couldn't tie properly.

Ye Changge waited patiently, a smile lingering on his lips.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed.

"...Okay."

The voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.

Ye Changge turned around.

Then, his breath hitched slightly.

Lu Shiqing stood by the edge of the bed, her hands instinctively folded in front of her, head lowered, not daring to look at him.

The indigo Dharma robe looked even more stunning on her than Ye Changge had imagined.

The deep blue set off her already fair skin, making it look as lustrous as jade. The translucent Sky Silkworm Silk shimmered faintly under the candlelight, outlining her graceful curves in a tantalizing, semi-transparent way.

Her slender collarbones, rounded shoulders, a waist that could be held in one hand, and long, straight legs...

Every part was just right—any more would be too much, any less would be too little.

Sensing his gaze, Lu Shiqing was so shy her whole body trembled slightly.

"Have... have you seen enough!" Her voice was shaking. "I... I'm going to change out of it—"

Before she could finish, Ye Changge had already stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

"Shiqing," he whispered in her ear, "you're so beautiful."

Lu Shiqing's body shuddered, and her eyes actually turned a bit red.

She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled and carrying a hint of a nasal tone:

"...Stop your sweet talk. I... I don't believe you."

Ye Changge didn't argue; he just held her a little tighter.

His palm pressed against her bare back, slowly sliding down, passing her slender waist, and landing on...

Lu Shiqing suddenly threw her head back, a suppressed soft moan escaping from deep in her throat.

"Mmm—"

Ye Changge lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Lu Shiqing closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck and responding passionately.

The indigo Dharma robe was crumpled and discarded in their passion, falling by the bedside, forgotten.

The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of two intertwined figures onto the bed curtains.

Soft moans and gentle songs, intermittent and plaintive, echoed in the quiet night.

...

The next morning.

...

For the next three days, Ye Changge didn't handle any official business. Instead, he took his wives and concubines for a good outing around Longmai Mountain.

The path of immortal cultivation was long and arduous. Blindly focusing on bitter cultivation wasn't necessarily the right way.

If one's state of mind remained tense for too long, it would be like a bowstring drawn too tight; it would snap sooner or later. Relaxing at the right time was actually more beneficial for cultivation.

Ye Changge understood this deeply.

He took his wives and concubines to travel through mountains and rivers, admire flowers and the moon, and taste tea while discussing the Dao.

Looking at the scene before him, a wave of warmth welled up in Ye Changge's heart.

This was the home he wanted to protect.

This was the meaning behind his desperate struggle to become stronger.