Chapter 109 - 108: Golden-Silk Peach Congee
Inside the room of the master pavilion, Lin Yuan lay perfectly still beneath the blankets. His eyes were open, his pupils completely devoid of the lethal feel of a Nascent Soul expert. Right now, they were filled only with adoration as he looked down at the woman resting securely against his chest.
Bai Qingyue was still fast asleep, her breathing slow, steady, and incredibly peaceful. The exhaustion of the wedding, combined with the emotional whiplash of the day and the deep warmth of his body throughout the freezing night, had coaxed her into the deepest slumber she had experienced in years. Her flawless cheek was pressed against his collarbone, and her slender fingers were lightly curled into the fabric of his inner garments.
Lin Yuan watched her for a long moment, committing the flawless tranquility of her features to his memory. Then, not wishing to disturb her rest, Lin Yuan carefully began to disentangle himself from her embrace. To avoid shifting the mattress and waking her with his movement, he decided to teleport instead.
Zzzzt.
With that, Lin Yuan’s physical body materialized beside the mattress, leaving the blankets perfectly undisturbed around his sleeping wife.
He waved his hand, summoning a set of simple grey morning robes from his wardrobe. The comfortable silk draped smoothly over his shoulders as he dressed with effortless ease. He then glanced back at Bai Qingyue one last time, making sure she was warm and comfortable, before turning his attention to the tasks of the morning.
He knew she would need proper nourishment to recover her strength. The previous day’s wedding banquet had been lavish, but neither of them had eaten much. After all, they had been the ones at the center of the celebration, with countless obligations demanding their attention throughout the day.
Zzzzt!
Lin Yuan instantly vanished from the master pavilion, bypassing the corridors and the grand main hall entirely, and materialized directly in the center of the estate’s culinary pavilion.
The kitchen was completely empty. The mortal artisans and chefs who had prepared the wedding feast had meticulously cleaned the counters the night before and departed before the storm arrived.
Lin Yuan walked to the central counter.
Today, he was cooking for his wife.
He opened a drawer and took out a handful of plump Sun-Kissed Spirit Peaches, placing them on the counter alongside a small sack of translucent, pearl-like Hundred-Year Silver-Thread Rice and a sealed gourd filled with Cloud-Dew Spring Water.
He intended to prepare Golden-Silk Peach Congee, a dish renowned not for its explosive Qi-enhancing properties, but for its gentle and warming nature. It was especially effective at settling a frail stomach and soothing a weakened body.
With a series of rapid and precise movements that would have left even a master swordsman ashamed, Lin Yuan effortlessly peeled and diced the Sun-Kissed Spirit Peaches. Each piece fell onto the cutting board in perfectly symmetrical cubes, their sweet, ambrosial juices slowly pooling beneath them.
He poured the Hundred-Year Silver-Thread Rice into a pot and rinsed it carefully with water. He then added the diced peaches and Cloud-Dew Spring Water, following the proportions perfectly according to the recipe the System had previously granted him.
After placing the pot over the stove, Lin Yuan held his palm beneath it and summoned a tiny fraction of his flame.
He remained there for the next half hour, thoroughly enjoying the simple task. He slowly stirred the congee with a wooden spoon, watching as the rice gradually softened and dissolved into the sweet peach juices.
Before long, a warm and comforting aroma filled the entire culinary pavilion.
Satisfied with the consistency, Lin Yuan carefully ladled the congee into a delicate bowl and placed it on a tray alongside a matching spoon.
Rather than teleporting, Lin Yuan picked up the tray and chose to walk back to the master pavilion. He moved through the corridors of the estate, listening to the morning birds and the rushing waterfall, thoroughly soaking in the realization that this estate was entirely his to protect and enjoy.
When he reached the doors of the bridal chamber, they slid open silently at his command.
Lin Yuan stepped inside. The room was brighter now, and Bai Qingyue was just beginning to stir.
She let out a soft sigh, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly opened her eyes. She blinked against the morning light, instinctively reaching out a hand across the mattress, searching for the warmth of her husband. When she found the space empty, a brief, fleeting moment of panic crossed her features—until her gaze found him walking toward her.
"Good morning, my love," Lin Yuan said smoothly, his rich voice instantly banishing any lingering fears from her mind.
Bai Qingyue pushed herself up into a sitting position, pulling the crimson silk of her nightgown up over her shoulders. A beautiful, radiant smile broke across her face. "Good morning, Husband. You are already awake... I did not even feel you leave the bed."
"I did not want to disturb your rest," Lin Yuan replied, walking over and placing the tray onto the small bedside table. The sweet, warm aroma of the Golden-Silk Peach Congee immediately washed over her, making her stomach give a soft, polite rumble.
Bai Qingyue looked at the steaming bowl. "You went to the kitchen... you cooked for me on the very first morning of our marriage?"
"I cooked for you before our marriage, and I will cook for you a thousand years from now," Lin Yuan stated simply, taking a seat directly on the edge of the mattress beside her. "There is no title or realm of cultivation that will ever prevent me from taking care of you."
He picked up the bowl, feeling the gentle heat radiating through it. He took the spoon, scooped a modest portion of the rich congee, and blew on it softly to ensure the temperature was absolutely perfect.
He held the spoon up to her lips.
Bai Qingyue’s cheeks flushed a beautiful crimson. Even after everything they had been through, the profound intimacy of him feeding her still made her heart race wildly. She parted her lips and accepted the food.
The taste was absolutely exquisite. The sweet flavor of the peaches melted flawlessly with the comforting texture of the rice. As she swallowed, a gentle, soothing warmth radiated through her chest, completely erasing the lingering, phantom chill of the previous night’s rainstorm.
"It is delicious," she whispered, her eyes shining. "You spoil me too much, Lin Yuan. I am a grown woman... I should be the one preparing your morning meals."
"Nonsense," Lin Yuan chuckled. "Allow me this privilege."
For the next ten minutes, the master pavilion was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft clinking of the spoon against the bowl. Lin Yuan meticulously hand-fed her every single bite, his eyes completely focused on her comfort, wiping a stray drop of sweetness from the corner of her lip with his thumb.
When the bowl was finally empty, Bai Qingyue let out a soft, contented sigh, leaning her head against his shoulder.
At that exact moment, a familiar chime echoed lightly within Lin Yuan’s mind.
[Ding!]
[Host has invested time and meticulous care in hand-feeding Dao Companion, demonstrating consistent affection.]
[Triggering multiplier... calculating...]
[Congratulations to the Host! You have triggered a 5X Return!]
[Reward generated: The ’Evergreen Silk Robe’]