Chapter 97 - 96: Wedding Dress
Night came and the lingering tension that Envoy Zhao Wuhen had violently dragged into Lin Yuan’s home earlier that day had finally faded.
Lin Yuan walked slowly through the quiet corridors of the grand estate, his footsteps making no sound against the polished floorboards. He had spent the last few hours meditating beside the koi pond, consolidating his cultivation while reflecting on the sweeping geopolitical changes unfolding around him.
But as he approached the Master Pavilion, his expression suddenly changed. The moment he drew near the room, a faint but unmistakable sensation stirred within his perception. Something was different.
He then gently slid open the doors of the master pavilion.
The vast bedroom was bathed in the warm, ethereal glow of the embedded luminous pearls. And there, bathed in that soft light, was Bai Qingyue.
She was seated on the edge of the massive bed, exactly where she had been for hours. Across her lap lay the magnificent, gold-embroidered crimson silk wedding dress. She was entirely motionless, her eyes completely captivated by the intricate threads that formed the soaring phoenixes and blooming lotuses across the fabric.
Lin Yuan paused at the threshold, a soft, affectionate smile curving his lips. He had expected to find her wearing it, perhaps admiring herself in the large mirror on the other side of the room.
"You haven’t tried it on?" Lin Yuan asked, his rich voice breaking the quiet stillness of the pavilion.
Bai Qingyue looked up, startled from her deep reverie. A delicate, beautiful blush instantly rose to her cheeks, and she looked back down at the dress, her slender fingers lightly tracing the golden hemline.
"I couldn’t," she answered softly, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I simply cannot stop looking at how beautiful it is. It feels like a fleeting dream, Husband. To even touch silk of this magnitude, woven with such exquisite mastery... I was afraid that if I moved too quickly, or if I actually put it on, I might somehow ruin it. Or worse, I might wake up and find that none of this was real."
Lin Yuan felt a pang in his chest, a stark reminder of the deep psychological scars the Bai Clan’s cruelty had inflicted upon her. He crossed the room with slow steps, closing the distance between them until he was standing directly in front of her.
"It is real, Qingyue," Lin Yuan said smoothly, his tone leaving absolutely no room for doubt. "This estate is real. And this dress was woven specifically for you, the future empress of my Dao. You could never ruin it."
He reached out, lightly placing his hand over hers.
"Let me put it on for you," Lin Yuan offered, his deep purple eyes locking onto hers. "Is that okay with you?"
Bai Qingyue’s breath hitched. Her heart began to race wildly against her ribs, the overwhelming intimacy of the request washing over her entirely. She looked into his eyes, finding no lustful greed or arrogant possession—only pure, unconditional love. Slowly, her blush deepening to match the crimson of the dress, as she gave a small, trusting nod.
Lin Yuan carefully lifted the wedding dress from her lap, folding it neatly and setting it aside on the mattress.
Then, the scene shifted into a moment of breathtaking intimacy.
Because of the Soul Transformation restriction, her lower body lacked the strength required to easily maneuver. Lin Yuan stepped in close, his strong frame becoming her support. He reached forward, his hands finding the delicate sashes of her daytime robe.
With a slow, reverent gentleness, he untied the knot.
The white outer robe slipped from her shoulders, pooling softly around her waist on the mattress.
Lin Yuan’s movements were remarkably gentle, a striking contrast to the devastating force those very same hands were capable of unleashing.
He then carefully removed the remaining layers of her daytime clothing, leaving her only in her pristine, snow-white undergarments.
The cool night air caressed her skin, but it was immediately chased away by the radiating warmth of his body. Lin Yuan’s hands moved over her bare shoulders and down her arms, his touch impossibly soft against her flawless skin.
Her skin was a testament to the absolute purity of her Physique, luminous, flawless, and breathtaking. Wherever his fingertips grazed her collarbone or the curve of her waist, a shiver of profound electricity traveled through her nervous system, entirely unrelated to his Thunder powers.
She leaned her forehead against his chest, her eyes fluttering shut as she completely surrendered herself to his care. The sheer vulnerability of being stripped down to her undergarments in front of him was entirely eclipsed by the absolute safety she felt in his arms.
"You are flawless," Lin Yuan whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
Reaching over, Lin Yuan picked up the crimson wedding dress. The luxurious silk rustled softly in the quiet room. He guided her arms through the flowing sleeves, ensuring the fabric settled perfectly over her shoulders. The vibrant, blood-red color of the dress created an astonishing contrast against her skin and her long black hair.
He moved to the front, meticulously tying the sashes around her waist, securing the gown perfectly to her slender frame. He adjusted the sweeping collar and smoothed out the golden phoenix embroidery that danced across her chest and hemline. He did not rush a single movement, completely absorbed in the act of clothing his bride.
When the dress was perfectly in place, Lin Yuan placed one arm securely around her waist, supporting her weight entirely, and gently guided her to her feet.
Together, they walked the few short steps across the room to the massive mirror that stood in the corner of the master pavilion. Lin Yuan stood closely behind her, keeping his arm securely wrapped around her waist to ensure she did not have to strain her body to remain standing.
Bai Qingyue opened her eyes and looked at their reflection.
She gasped softly. The woman staring back at her no longer resembled the broken, discarded cripple she had once believed herself to be. Clad in magnificent crimson silk, illuminated by the gentle glow of the pearls and framed by Lin Yuan’s tall figure standing behind her, she looked like a goddess descended from the upper realms.
The dress hugged her curves perfectly, its golden phoenixes seeming to come alive beneath the flickering light. For a moment, Bai Qingyue could hardly recognize the woman reflected in the mirror.
"You look stunning, my love," Lin Yuan murmured softly.
He lowered his head, pressing a warm affectionate kiss against the side of her neck. The touch of his lips against her sensitive skin sent a beautiful jolt of pleasure straight to her core. Bai Qingyue sighed happily, leaning her head back against his broad shoulder, her hands coming up to rest over the arm that held her waist. This was exactly where she belonged, in the arms of her husband, ready to face eternity.
At that exact moment, the silence of the room was punctuated by the usual chime that echoed within Lin Yuan’s mind.
[Ding!]
[Host has invested: Time helping Dao Companion put on clothes. Exhibited profound intimacy, and emotional devotion to Dao Companion.]
[Triggering critical multiplier... calculating...]
[Congratulations to the Host! You have triggered a 800,000X Primordial Artifact Return!]
[Reward generated: The River of Years Pagoda! (Primordial Dao Artifact)]
Lin Yuan’s inner gaze widened. Eight hundred thousand times!
[The River of Years Pagoda! (Primordial Dao Artifact)]
[Description: An artifact forged from a fragment of the legendary River of Time. Within the nine-story Pagoda, the flow of time is entirely separated from the outside world, allowing the Host and designated allies to cultivate for decades while only a single day passes outside.]
[First Floor: 730:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Core Formation Realm
Second Floor: 1,825:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Nascent Soul Realm
Third Floor: 3,650:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Spirit Severing Realm
Fourth Floor: 7,300:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Soul Transformation Realm
Fifth Floor: 18,250:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Void Refinement Realm
Sixth Floor: 36,500:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Body Integration Realm
Seventh Floor: 182,500:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Grand Ascension Realm
Eighth Floor: 365,000:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Tribulation Transcendence Realm
Ninth Floor: 3,650,000:1 | Minimum Cultivation: Late-Stage Tribulation Transcendence Realm]
"River of Years Pagoda..."