239: Chapter 240 Like a flame, never extinguished

The water in the bathtub eventually turned cold.

Dai Qisi rose from the water, droplets sliding down her fair skin.

The commotion next door had stopped at some unknown time.

The night on the grasslands returned to its rightful silence, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional chirping of insects.

She dried her body, changed into clean clothes, pulled Xiao Zhao into her arms, and lay down.

She slept without dreams that night.

Life went on.

The green grass beneath the horses' hooves gradually thinned and withered, eventually replaced by endless yellow sand.

The wind no longer carried the scent of fresh grass, but rather dry, scorching sand and dust.

The desert.

The scorching sun hung in the sky like a giant furnace, baking the earth.

The air was distorted, and as far as the eye could see, there was only a monotonous, soul-crushing expanse of gold.

Yet, the style of Lu Chen and his entourage was completely out of place in this land of despair.

"Clatter—"

In the evening, inside the pitched felt tent, the sound of ice cubes clinking against a wooden tub was crisp and pleasant.

That's right, ice cubes.

In the heart of the desert, where even water was as precious as nectar, Lu Chen had somehow produced bucket after bucket of ice.

The massive bathtub was piled high with crystal-clear ice, and wisps of cold air rose up, completely dispelling the sweltering heat inside the tent.

Yin Susu hummed in comfort: "How refreshing! Husband, you are truly a deity!"

Yang Huangyi followed suit, scooping up a piece of ice to press against her face: "An ice-chilled beauty—that describes me perfectly!"

Ji Xiaofu's cheeks were flushed; she tentatively tested the water, shivering from the cold, yet unable to resist the temptation of that coolness.

Fang Yanqing seemed not to have had enough; she picked up an exquisite glass cup, had Lu Chen pour her half a cup of chilled wine, and sipped it slowly with elegant poise.

What a quintessential mature woman she looked like.

"You all rest here. I'm going to check on Dai Qisi and Xiao Zhao. Don't let them get overheated; since we have ice, we can't let them suffer." With that, Lu Chen went to find Dai Qisi.

Delivering ice—is that even a reason?!

Perhaps it was a meeting of minds.

The further west they traveled, the more Dai Qisi felt an atmosphere that was both familiar and strange.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered scattered merchant caravans or tribes, whose languages, attire, and expressions were vastly different from those of the Central Plains.

She gathered information without drawing attention to herself.

The once-powerful Ilkhanate was no longer what it used to be; Mongols, Persians, Turks, Kurds... various forces were intertwined, engaged in endless warfare.

The Persian Manichaeism, which had once flourished on this land, was now in decline. Facing the rapidly rising Islam, it was retreating step by step, its living space constantly being squeezed.

Many followers were displaced, and some were even forced to change their faith.

Most of the Mongol nobles had also converted to Allah.

This land was no longer the place she remembered.

Dai Qisi's heart sank little by little.

Revive the Ming Cult.

This thought, like a flame, burned within her heart and had never been extinguished.

But now, it seemed the hope was slim.

Unless...

Her gaze involuntarily turned toward the tent next door, from which bursts of laughter could be heard.

It turned toward that man who seemed capable of anything.

The Ming Emperor?

No, while this status was noble, in Dai Qisi's heart, Lu Chen's other identity—ethereal yet one she firmly believed in—as the Sect Master of the Xiaoyao Sect, was even more important!

Moving mountains and filling seas, scattering beans to create soldiers, conjuring ice, fine wine, and food out of thin air... How could a mere Mortal achieve all this?

Just as Dai Qisi was lost in her wild thoughts.

The tent flap was lifted.

It was Lu Chen. Lu Chen had actually come to her tent for the first time, and he brought out a large cauldron filled with ice from the vast sea.

"Don't let yourself and Xiao Zhao get overheated... We aren't short on ice." Lu Chen nodded at Dai Qisi.

"Thank you, Sect Master... Your Majesty, thank you." She spoke, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling, her heart filled with gratitude.

Dai Qisi looked up, meeting his gaze.

In her eyes, there was shyness and nervousness.

"Dai Qisi... has not performed any meritorious service... why does Your Majesty worry about me every day?" After speaking, she knelt to thank him.

She bowed down, her smooth forehead gently resting on the carpet.

The tent was silent.

Only the occasional sound of ice cracking and Dai Qisi's slightly rapid breathing could be heard.

Lu Chen looked at the woman prostrate on the ground, a flash of complexity in his eyes.

This chaotic Middle Eastern land indeed needed a force to counterbalance the rising Islamic influence.

Divine Skill?

He knew quite a few martial arts; just bringing out a few would be enough for Dai Qisi to use.

He reached out and gently lifted Dai Qisi's chin.

The skin his fingertips touched was delicate and slightly cool.

"Look up." Lu Chen's voice was calm.

Dai Qisi slowly raised her head, tears shimmering in her eyes, carrying a trace of pleading.

Lu Chen looked into her eyes: "Do you know why I came here?"

"Was the hot bath two days ago comfortable?"

"You must have known that I have coveted your body for a long time." Lu Chen was direct; this was the style of a War God.

Dai Qisi bit her lower lip and said nothing, only closing her eyes. Her slightly trembling eyelashes revealed her inner turmoil.

How could she not know His Majesty's intentions? That naked gaze...

Yes, she was already drunk—drunk on the grasslands, and drunk in the desert.

Dai Qisi's heart beat rapidly, almost ready to jump out of her chest.

Lu Chen looked at the stunningly beautiful, yet slightly melancholy face before him.

Soon, the purple robes fell away like flower petals.

Ice and fire merged at this moment.

The sandstorm outside the tent seemed to grow stronger.

It faintly drowned out some subtle sounds.

...

...

Who knows how much time had passed.

Lu Chen glanced at Dai Qisi, who lay on her side on the blanket with disheveled hair and a dazed look in her eyes.

Her white-porcelain-like bowls were large and round, and there seemed to be a drop of overflowing milk.

As for her waist-to-hip ratio... it was invincible!

"I have taken on the matter of the Persian Manichaeism for you, so do not worry." He said calmly.

That night, Lu Chen used the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic and the Marrow Washing Classic to thoroughly cleanse Dai Qisi's marrow and open up all the acupoints in her body.

Then, using the Internal Energy of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, he empowered her. With this foundation of Internal Energy, Dai Qisi easily mastered the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.

Of course, he also had to teach her the illustrated version of the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic poses; this was the foundation for Dai Qisi to improve day by day in the future.

Only then did Dai Qisi realize the power of the man before her; it was far beyond her imagination, like a mayfly seeing the vast blue sky.

She only felt that her own body, like a faded flower and a fallen willow, seemed unworthy of such favor.

Lu Chen leaned into Dai Qisi's ear and teased softly, "Why am I competing with Xiao Zhao for a meal? But to be honest, this white porcelain bowl is truly delicious!"

"I regret not acting sooner..."

Hearing this, Dai Qisi was incredibly shy, yet her eyes were like silk, knowing that Lu Chen did not mind that she was no longer a virgin.

Lu Chen brought Dai Qisi to his large tent. The other women naturally knew what had happened last night; they had all achieved Major Achievement in their divine skills, so how could their hearing not be sharp?

However, everyone was already accustomed to it, and inevitably, they each displayed their divine skills, exchanging pointers and sparring.