Chapter 717: Chapter 717: 718 A Night of Romance

“Husband, come in please, I’m washing myself, kindly wait for a moment,”

Long Xue’s voice came from inside the room.

Li Xiaobai’s heart pounded fiercely, and this was the first time he had experienced such a scene. He felt a little nervous, wondering how to proceed on the bed. Should he start with this and then that?

He felt somewhat inexperienced, regretting that he hadn’t sought advice from the more seasoned visitors of the pleasure houses.

He untied his robe and sat on the bed. This was Long Xue’s boudoir, simply furnished, with a large bed covered in pink bedding, exuding a girlish charm.

Perhaps to set the mood, all the Luminous Pearls had been taken away, and now only a single candle flickered in the room.

There was also a faint, pleasant fragrance in the air, and behind the curtain lay the bathing Long Xue. Li Xiaobai’s thoughts ran wild as he listened to the trickling sound of water, feeling agitated by the mere wall separating them.

His mind uncontrollably imagined the water gliding over skin as smooth as white jade, unable to shake the image from his thoughts.

“Husband,”

Just then, the beauty behind the curtain called out, startling Li Xiaobai, whose guilty conscience made him shiver, picturing some inappropriate things and feeling less sure of himself.

“Ahem, my wife, please speak,”

“I forgot to grab a bath towel, it’s on top of the bed. Could you hand it to me?” Long Xue said with a giggle.

“It’s no trouble at all,”

Li Xiaobai grabbed the neatly folded bath towel from the bed with some stiffness and walked excitedly towards the curtain. He extended the towel inside, but no one took it.

After a short pause, Long Xue’s somewhat helpless voice came from behind the curtain, “Husband, you’re standing so far away, how am I supposed to take it? Come in and give it to me.”

“Okay.”

Li Xiaobai took a deep breath, pushed aside the curtain, and stepped inside. This too was a room, quite spacious, with steam swirling and hot air rising. A large bathtub stood in the center. Long Xue had her back to Li Xiaobai, revealing just a glimpse of her fragrant shoulder. Water dripped down her delicate neck, leaving him parched and flushed.

Approaching two steps, Li Xiaobai averted his gaze, not daring to look at her, and handed over the bath towel, “My wife, please use this.”

“You seem a bit nervous, husband?” Long Xue teased playfully.

“Ahem, it’s my first time handing someone a bath towel, naturally, I’m a bit nervous,”

Li Xiaobai said somewhat embarrassingly, noticing his own hand shaking slightly as he stretched it out, silently cursing himself for his weakness.

“There’s a scoop over there, could you help rinse me with it?”

Long Xue didn’t immediately take the bath towel, but instead turned her head and winked at Li Xiaobai.

Li Xiaobai was startled by her action, his eyes suddenly unsure where to look, his blood rushing to his head, his face blushing to the tips of his ears. His mind scrambled as he involuntarily moved to the side, picked up a wooden scoop from the table, specifically meant for bathing.

He gently scooped up a scoop of water from the tub and poured it over Long Xue’s body, his movements extremely gentle, not even daring to breathe heavily.

He also noticed that when the water hit Long Xue’s body, she too shivered slightly, her ears already blushing, the woman as nervous as he was at this moment!

Realizing this relaxed him somewhat and he was no longer as tense as before.

With each passing second, he continued to ladle water onto Long Xue’s body, and before they knew it, it was late into the night.

“Husband, I’m done washing; hand me the bath towel,”

Long Xue seemed to have calmed down as well, speaking slowly.

“My wife, please use this,”

Li Xiaobai handed her the bath towel, but to his surprise, the lovely woman in front of him suddenly stood up. He quickly closed his eyes and turned aside.

He heard the sound of rustling next to his ear and then felt someone taking his hand.

“Husband, it’s time to retire to our bridal chamber,” Immortal said.

“Ahem, yes, it is,” Li Xiaobai replied.

…

The candlelight flickered in the room. On the bed, Li Xiaobai and Long Xue stared into each other’s eyes, the atmosphere charged with an ambiguous tension.

“Husband, there are no maids in this bamboo house today, just the two of us, husband and wife,” Long Xue said.

“Mhm, I felt that when I came in,” Xiaobai nodded and said.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Wrapped in a bath towel, Long Xue stretched lazily, tracing a breathtaking curve with her body. Her long legs were placed casually, and her cheeks, under the candlelight, were captivating and enchanting. It was at this moment that Xiaobai truly understood what was meant by a wedding night—an evening of beauty lit by candles, where his bride seemed nothing short of an Immortal.

“Er, shall we start now?” Xiaobai said.

“What else?”

“Ahem, it’s my first wedding night, I don’t have much experience. What do you think we should do, my dear?”

“I will follow your lead, husband.”

“Sit or lie down?”

“Whatever you like, husband,” Long Xue replied.

“Do you prefer it bright or dimmer, my wife?”

“I’ll like whatever you like,” she said.

“Then let’s make it dimmer.”

With that, Xiaobai blew out the candles and plunged the small bamboo house into darkness, with only the moonlight gently spilling into the room.

…

The next morning came.

Xiaobai opened his eyes, his mind and body brimming with pleasure. A night of passion had afforded him the luscious taste of forbidden fruit, something that made him crave for more.

He reached out to touch Long Xue’s cheek, still in a deep slumber next to him; the corners of her eyes glistened with tear drops, and she curled up like a kitten in his embrace.

He had gained a lot of insight that night.

There were many things in the world that could make a person grow up in an instant—perhaps it was the taste of victory, maybe the sense of achievement from amassing wealth. But from that night, he experienced responsibility. Getting married wasn’t about being tethered to one place or losing his freedom, but rather, it provided a spiritual pillar, a sense of mission, and someone he needed to care for.

His future actions would be even more decisive and clear-cut, with a clear goal in mind.

He got up quietly, dressed, and left the room. The bamboo grove around the small building added to the tranquility, and in the distance, he could see buildings emitting a soft glow.

The Sea Dragon Palace was timeless, the Luminous Pearls shining incessantly, and although the view remained unchanged, Xiaobai found it exceptionally magnificent.

“People say that a gentleman finds joy in the simplest things, and whether one’s wishes are fulfilled or not depends on one’s thoughts. The world is seen by the heart, and it assumes the heart’s hue!”

Old folks used to say that the rustling of bamboo wasn’t caused by the wind, but by the stirring of one’s heart. Today, he finally understood the truth behind this saying. Indeed, when one’s mood is jovial, they see the world in a different light. As he stepped out of the room, it felt as though the whole world had taken on a glorious sheen.

Perhaps this was the joy of newlyweds.

“I’ll take a walk around the Dragon Palace, pay my respects to the Old Dragon King, and by the way, ask when he can help me snatch the Immortal Spirit Qi.”

With a cheerful heart, Xiaobai walked out of the cabin and headed slowly towards the Imperial City.