"Splash."
A small mishap caused the porcelain bowl to tap in the basin, splashing a few drops of water that landed right on Haiyue's smooth cheek.
Haiyue was about to raise her arm to wipe it.
Qianyu reached out her hand first.
His fingertips, with their slightly rough texture, gently wiped Haiyue's cheek, removing the few drops of water.
This action is extremely natural, just like a husband wiping away the sweat from his wife's brow after she has worked hard.
Haiyue suddenly raised her head, her eyes, which had always exuded an air of superiority and aloofness, were now filled with panic and emotion.
In the cloud-shrouded desert, she is the revered Queen of the Sea Moon.
Outside Jialing Pass, she was an invincible, ruthless killing machine.
But in front of Qianyu, she discovered that all the pretenses and defenses she was so proud of were as fragile as phantoms, shattering at the slightest touch.
Qianyu did not immediately withdraw her fingers, but instead gently stroked Haiyue's fair and tender cheeks twice.
"What's wrong?"
"You can turn yourself into a little cat just by washing the dishes?"
Qianyu's tone was undisguisedly teasing.
Haiyue's cheeks flushed red at a visible speed.
She lowered her head, not daring to look into Qianyu's deep eyes, and could only speed up the washing of the dishes.
"Young master, please don't make fun of Yue'er."
"Yue'er is just... just not used to this kind of life without divine power."
Qianyu chuckled softly, withdrew her hand, leaned against the kitchen door frame, and quietly watched as she dried the washed dishes one by one and neatly arranged them in the cupboard.
Take your time.
"We have plenty of time."
"How boring it would be if all we did during these long years were fighting, killing, and secluded cultivation."
By the time Haiyue finished tidying up the kitchen, it was completely dark.
Several soft lanterns were lit in the courtyard.
Qianyu walked into the courtyard and lay down on a large bamboo recliner.
The recliner creaked softly with his movements. He closed his eyes contentedly, enjoying the rare tranquility of the night.
Haiyue retrieved an exquisite tea set from the house.
She knew that Qianyu liked to drink tea.
She carried the tea tray to the recliner and knelt down naturally beside Qianyu.
Although the bluestone slabs were a bit cold, it had no effect on her.
She placed the tea tray on the small wooden table beside her, and then extended her slender hand.
This time, Chiba did not stop her from using her power.
A faint moon-white light appeared in Haiyue's palm, and a ball of extremely pure water condensed out of thin air in the teapot.
Immediately afterwards, she controlled a tiny wisp of soul power to heat the water to the perfect temperature.
Brewing tea, rinsing tea, pouring tea.
Haiyue's movements are fluid and graceful, making them extremely entertaining to watch.
The shimmering, long dress spread out on the ground like a lotus blooming under the moonlight.
A delicate aroma of tea permeated the courtyard.
Haiyue picked up a white porcelain teacup with both hands and handed it to Qianyu.
"Young master, please have some tea."
Qianyu slowly opened her eyes, but did not take the teacup.
His gaze passed over the teacup and landed on Haiyue's flawless face.
On Haiyue's brow, the crescent moon mark emitted a faint yet enchanting halo against the backdrop of the night.
Seeing that Qianyu didn't answer for a long time, Haiyue tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"Young Master?"
Qianyu suddenly reached out her hand.
He wasn't holding the teacup, but rather Haiyue's delicate hands that held it.
Haiyue's hands were extremely beautiful, with slender fingers, skin so white it was almost transparent, and a faint pink tinge at the fingertips.
Enveloped tightly in Qianyu's large hand, Haiyue's fingers instinctively flinched, but she did not break free.
The tea in the teacup rippled slightly as it was gently shaken.
Qianyu lowered her head slightly and took a sip of tea from the rim of the cup, using Haiyue's hand as a guide.
"The tea is good."
"The person who brews the tea is even better."
Qianyu's straightforward words were like a pebble thrown into Haiyue's calm lake, stirring up towering waves.
Qianyu released her hand and patted the empty space on the edge of her recliner.
"Don't kneel on the ground."
"Get in."
Haiyue hesitated for a moment.
But Chiyu's words were an absolute decree to her.
She placed the teacup back on the small wooden table, then lifted her skirt and carefully sat down on the edge of the recliner.
Although bamboo recliners are spacious, when two people squeeze together, physical contact is inevitable.
Haiyue's thigh was pressed tightly against Qianyu's side.
The burning heat transmitted through the fabric made Haiyue feel a little hot.
She placed her hands on her knees, her posture upright, appearing very reserved.
Seeing her looking so frightened, Qianyu reached out and wrapped her arms around her slender waist.
With a slight exertion, Haiyue lost her balance, cried out in surprise, and fell directly into Qianyu's arms.
"Young Master!"
Haiyue panicked and tried to get up.
Qianyu tightened his arms, holding her firmly in his embrace, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Don't move."
"Let me lean on you for a while."
Qianyu's voice carried a rare hint of languor and weariness.
Upon hearing this, Haiyue stopped struggling instantly.
She leaned quietly against Qianyu's chest, listening to the strong, powerful heartbeat behind her.
thump.
thump.
Each sound seemed to strike the depths of her soul.
"When you were in the Cloud Desert, did you ever imagine that one day you would be like this, in a mortal's courtyard, nestled in a man's arms, watching the moon?"
Qianyu raised her head, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and asked in a calm tone.
Haiyue followed Qianyu's gaze.
She remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, her voice carrying a hint of distant reminiscence.
"Yue'er never thought of that."
Before meeting the young master, Yue'er's world consisted only of endless yellow sand and that lonely island that was forever shrouded in moonlight.
"I thought I would keep that mission and walk alone in the illusion forever."
"Until death and the cessation of one's spiritual path."
At this point, Haiyue turned her head slightly, her clear, cold eyes now filled with an intense, unyielding affection.
Looking at Qianyu's profile so close to hers, she continued:
"Until the young master appears."
"You broke the illusion and entered the world of the moon."
"To the moon, you are the only light."
Haiyue spoke these words with utmost seriousness, without the slightest concealment or affectation.
That's just her nature.
Persistent, determined, and even with a touch of moth-to-a-flame resolve.
Qianyu lowered her head and met her clear eyes.
He raised a hand and gently stroked the crescent moon mark between Haiyue's eyebrows.
The cool touch on my fingertips was quite wonderful.
"From now on, we won't have to guard that isolated island anymore."
"Stay with me."
"Cook for me, make me tea, and occasionally take me for a walk."
Qianyu's voice was soft, yet it carried a calming power.
Haiyue's eyes were slightly red, and she nodded heavily.
"Moon is willing."
"As long as you don't mind, I will serve you for all eternity."
Qianyu smiled, her fingers sliding down from between her eyebrows, across her high nose bridge, and finally resting on her full, soft lips.
He gently stroked that rosy patch.
"I don't treat you like a maid."
"In this Douluo Continent, there is no maid who possesses the strength to be invincible in a one-on-one fight."
Qianyu's words carried a hint of mockery.
Haiyue was captivated by his intimate gesture. She parted her lips slightly, her warm breath brushing against Qianyu's fingertips.
"Outside, the moon is the sharp blade that clears away all obstacles for you."
"Here..."
Haiyue's voice grew fainter and fainter until it was almost inaudible.
"Here, Yue'er is merely the young master's woman."
Upon hearing this, Qianyu's smile deepened.
He lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over Haiyue's jade-like feet exposed to the air.
Haiyue has always maintained the habit of going barefoot.
Those small, delicate feet had round, full toes and toenails with a healthy pink sheen.
Qianyu reached out a hand and grabbed Haiyue's ankle.
Haiyue let out a short gasp and instinctively tried to pull her foot back.
Her ankles were an extremely sensitive spot, and the sudden touch of a man's hand on her ankle sent a jolt through her body.
"Young master... please..."
Haiyue's voice carried a hint of pleading.
Qianyu did not let go, but gently lifted her foot and placed it on her thigh.
"Although you are a god-level powerhouse, impervious to heat and cold."
"But it's not good to walk barefoot on stones in the middle of the night."
As Qianyu spoke, a gentle warmth flowed from her palm.
The warm current traveled quickly from the soles of Haiyue's feet throughout her entire body.
The slight chill brought by the night breeze was instantly dispelled without a trace.
Haiyue stared blankly as Qianyu warmed her feet.
The supreme being who is the lord of all gods, and who tramples countless powerful beings under his feet.
At this moment, he willingly held her feet, trying to ward off the chill of the night.
A tremendous sense of happiness and unreality completely overwhelmed Haiyue.
Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she turned around, opened her arms, and hugged Qianyu's neck tightly.
She buried her face in Qianyu's neck, greedily inhaling his scent.
"Young Master..."
Qianyu gently patted her back, as if soothing a docile cat.
"Why are you acting all cute and clingy?"
Haiyue didn't say anything, but simply hugged Qianyu even tighter.
The night breeze rustled through the bamboo grove.
The moonlight, like water, poured down into this quiet courtyard.
Qianyu wrapped one arm around Haiyue's waist and played with her long, smooth hair with the other.
The two of them quietly embraced each other on the recliner.
There were no earth-shattering battles between gods, and no scheming and intrigue.
This rare beauty and tenderness is a rarity amidst the chaos of the world.
"Oh, right."
Qianyu suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
"Your outfit won't do if we go for a walk at Jialing Pass tomorrow."
Haiyue looked up, her face full of confusion.
"This dress... doesn't the young master like it?"
Qianyu shook his head, his gaze sweeping over her long dress that perfectly accentuated her curves.
"I like it, that's all."
"But it's too flashy."
"I don't want to walk down the street tomorrow with all those defeated soldiers staring at you."
Qianyu's slightly domineering words did not offend Haiyue; on the contrary, they made her feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
"Then Yue'er will listen to the young master."
"I will wear whatever the young master tells me to wear."
Qianyu pinched her pert nose.
"That's right."
"It's late, come inside and rest with me."
Haiyue blushed and nodded obediently.
Qianyu stood up and picked Haiyue up in her arms.
Haiyue gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around Qianyu's neck.
Under the moonlight, their shadows overlapped as they slowly walked towards the main house of the villa.
The candlelight inside the room flickered gently.
And beyond this secluded courtyard lies the Jialing Pass.
Under Qian Renxue's supervision, the elders of the Spirit Hall were washing away the bloodstains on the city wall overnight, fearing that they might anger the terrifying being who would be taking a stroll the next day.
Who could have imagined that the man who made the entire continent tremble?
At this moment, he is embracing the stunningly beautiful empress, enjoying the most ordinary yet most ambiguous moments of worldly life.
As dawn broke, the soft morning light pierced through the thick clouds, scattering like fragments of gold across the Jialing Pass, a place scarred by war.
After a night of cleaning by the elders of the Spirit Hall under Qian Renxue's supervision, not a trace of blood could be seen on the towering walls of this majestic pass. The massive, bluish-gray bricks were washed clean, gleaming with a cold, clean sheen in the morning light, and the pungent smell of blood in the air had been replaced by fresh moisture.
The heavy wooden door of the villa was slowly pushed open from the inside out, making a slight grinding sound.
Qianyu casually placed his hands behind his back and stepped into the courtyard, his feet glistening with the morning dew. His expression remained as languid and calm as ever, radiating no pressure whatsoever, yet perfectly blending into the world around him.
Haiyue followed quietly to his side and behind, maintaining an absolutely respectful distance of half a step behind.
She followed Qianyu's arrangements from the previous night, changing out of the dazzling and flamboyant gown that symbolized her status as an empress in the Cloud Desert, and into a simple, elegant light blue robe.
Her long hair was still tied back with a wooden hairpin made from the ancient sacred wood, revealing her smooth and slender swan neck.
Even though her clothes had become so simple, her flawless beauty and refined temperament still made the surrounding morning light pale in comparison.
Qianyu led Haiyue through the invisible isolation array barrier surrounding the courtyard. With one step, the scene before them instantly transformed from a quiet and peaceful secluded retreat into the solemn and grand main battlefield of Jialing Pass.
At the very moment Qian Yu stepped out of the formation and truly revealed his aura to the world of Douluo Continent, a dramatic change occurred in the sky.
The celestial golden list, which had been quietly suspended deep in the sea of clouds and radiating a soft golden light, suddenly began to tremble violently.
Immediately afterwards, the golden list burst forth with unparalleled, dazzling light.
The light was the purest and most dazzling dark gold, carrying a terrifying power that surpassed all the heavens and myriad realms and crushed countless ages. It swept across every corner of the entire Douluo Continent in an instant with overwhelming force.
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(End of chapter)