Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Absorbing the Gift
Upon returning to their quarters, Luo Suyi had already instructed the maid to prepare hot water. She gently slipped from her husband's arms and began helping Lu Chengfeng remove his armor, attending to him for his bath.
When she saw the dark red stains on his armor, her face paled slightly. She quickly took his hand, worry written across her face. "Husband, are you hurt?"
Lu Chengfeng gently patted her delicate hand and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's just beast blood. I haven't suffered any injuries."
Only then did Luo Suyi breathe a sigh of relief. She lightly patted her chest, which caused a slight, mesmerizing ripple. "That's good. You must be careful in your battles, prioritizing your safety above all else. Your safe return is my greatest blessing."
As she fussed over him, she continued helping him remove his armor and outer garments, down to his inner clothing.
Once he was undressed, Lu Chengfeng stepped into the tub on his own. The warm water instantly relaxed him, and he leaned back against the edge, half-closing his eyes.
From the early morning running around, to the fierce battles all day, and finally his trip to Houde Pavilion that night, even with his cultivated strength, he felt a bit worn out.
Luo Suyi, seeing the unmistakable exhaustion on his face, felt a pang of sympathy. She removed her outer robe, leaving only a light, moon-white inner garment, and personally began to wash him.
Her soft, delicate hands moving over his body gradually relaxed him. Remembering Tan Xiong's advice, Lu Chengfeng mentioned, "Suyi, we killed a demon beast today, and there's still some residual demon energy on me. Have Wang Po bring over some soapwort and sulfur stone."
Luo Suyi nodded, ringing a bell in the room. Shortly after, the maid responded from outside.
"Wang Po, please bring us some soapwort and sulfur stone," Luo Suyi called out without opening the door.
Soapwort was commonly stocked in the yard and often used by servants for washing clothes or cleaning. The storage also kept sulfur stones, as they helped repel snakes and insects, which were common on the mountain.
Soon enough, Wang Po delivered the items, and Luo Suyi added the soapwort and sulfur stone to the bath. She carefully washed her husband from head to toe, ensuring every bit of residual demon energy was cleansed.
After finishing her task, she was covered in a light sheen of sweat. Her thin undergarments were soaked, clinging to her, revealing glimpses of her fair skin.
This wasn't the first time she had tended to him this way. Although Lu Chengfeng had initially tried to dissuade her out of concern, Luo Suyi was insistent, and seeing her determination—and admittedly enjoying it himself—he stopped protesting.
"Husband, let me dry you off. Go rest on the bed, and I'll freshen up and join you," Luo Suyi said softly, making sure he was completely taken care of before slipping away to wash up herself.
On a typical night, Lu Chengfeng would likely enjoy lingering in the tub with her, indulging in playful embraces and intimate moments. Tonight, however, his mind was preoccupied with absorbing the elder's gift.
Once he was in bed, he recalled that Luo Suyi usually took a long time to freshen up—at least half an hour. Unable to hold back any longer, he closed his eyes, allowing his consciousness to touch the golden light at his brow.
In a flash, he could feel the golden light in his brow blazing like fire. As he willed it to spread, it rippled out like golden waves, washing over his body.
At the same time, countless memories surged into his mind, accompanied by a sharp pain in his brow, as though a needle was piercing deeply into his consciousness.
Holding his focus steady, Lu Chengfeng avoided looking directly at the fragmented memories and instead focused on maintaining his composure, letting the golden light spread and the memories unfold.
The last time he'd absorbed Zhao Changzhen's gift, it had taken only a few breaths to complete, though fully digesting it took several days. But this time, absorbing the gift of an Inner Peak elder took nearly a full cup of tea's time before the golden light dimmed, coalescing into a dark star suspended in his brow.
Lu Chengfeng slowly opened his eyes, rubbing his still-throbbing brow. "It seems that the stronger and richer the gift, the greater the toll it takes on me."
"If I ever received a gift from a truly exceptional figure, my current cultivation level wouldn't be able to withstand it. It might actually burst my mind."
Only now did he feel a sense of caution. Much of his ability was still something he was discovering step by step. He realized he couldn't recklessly absorb the gifts of just anyone, no matter how powerful.
"However, if I can already absorb an Inner Peak elder's gift with just my modest tenth-level cultivation, this talent of mine is extraordinary indeed."
"Once I fully assimilate this gift and reach the elder's level, there won't be many people whose gifts I cannot absorb."
With this thought, Lu Chengfeng felt a deep sense of peace and hope. All his previous anxieties, hidden fears, and concerns seemed to melt away.
After a brief pause to gather himself, he began sifting through the memories of Elder Li Guan, only to quickly realize the vastness of them.
"There's too much here. It's going to take time to sort through it all. I'll focus on locating the Xuanhe Phantom Sword Technique for now. The rest can wait."
Guided by his talent, it didn't take long for him to extract all the memories related to the Xuanhe Phantom Sword Technique.
He worked on organizing these memories, losing track of time in the process.
Just as he finished, he felt a soft presence beside him. He opened his eyes to find Luo Suyi slipping into his arms, her eyes a bit misty, her face tinged with a bashful, yet irresistibly alluring expression.
"Husband... I... I need you…"
Her face flushed red all the way to her earlobes, and she quickly buried her head in his chest, unable to look at him.
Lu Chengfeng felt all other thoughts fade away, the weight of the elder's gift pushed to the back of his mind. He cupped her hips with one hand, drawing her closer as he whispered in her ear, "My little enchantress, daring to seduce me—let's see how I deal with you."
Before she could respond, he rolled on top of her.
Soon, the room filled with gentle waves of movement, her dark hair cascading across the bed, her hands clutching his back, her fingernails pressing deeply into his skin as time went on.
Outside, the full moon hung high, the night wind whispered through the trees, and even the sparse clouds were swept away.
The trees on the mountainside swayed in the wind, creating a rustling sound that mingled with the soft melodies emanating from the room, making the moonlit night all the more enchanting.
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