“I’m fine.”

Chu Qingyi gently shook her head and said.

She had merely felt uncomfortable just now.

“I don’t believe it. If you’re really fine, smile for me and let me see.”

Lu Changsheng said quite naturally, “By the way, I haven’t seen what you look like when you smile.”

Chu Qingyi: “…”

She could smile, of course.

After all, in her daily life, there were always moments of happiness and joy.

But being suddenly asked to smile on demand, she truly didn’t know how.

Her lips twitched slightly before she softly said, “I don’t know how.”

“You don’t even know how? Then allow your husband to show you a smile.”

Lu Changsheng reached out with two fingers to pull at the corners of his lips, making a silly face and a grinning expression.

“Pfft!”

Even though Chu Qingyi’s mental state was tightly wound, she couldn’t help but laugh at Lu Changsheng’s antics, completely ignoring the fact that he referred to himself as “your husband.”

“See? Didn’t you end up smiling after all.”

Lu Changsheng watched her reaction and smiled, saying, “You should smile more often; you look beautiful when you do.”

Chu Qingyi, realizing she had lost some composure, toned down her smile slightly.

She then looked up at the man before her and said, “Lu Daoist, Qingyi truly appreciates your great kindness and willingness to step in to save me.”

“But you are Dao companions with Xiao Xiyue, and she is my sister-disciple. I cannot do anything that would betray her.”

“Moreover, my heart is devoted to cultivation, and I am uninterested in matters of romance between men and women. I hope that the matters between us will end here.”

“As for your kindness, Qingyi will always remember it. Should there be a time in the future when you require my assistance, I will not hesitate to risk boiling waters or shattering bones.”

“Your secret will also remain locked in my heart. I won’t tell anyone.”

Chu Qingyi summoned her courage, looked at Lu Changsheng, and spoke earnestly.

She had thought over these words for a long time, but hadn’t known how to bring them up.

With the way things were between them—ambiguous, overly intimate—it had stirred turmoil in her heart and cast a shadow over her Sword Heart. She no longer wished to delay and finally mustered the courage to make everything clear.

“Boiling waters, shattering bones? Why not simply offer yourself to me instead?”

Lu Changsheng reflexively blurted out.

However, noticing the woman pressing her lips into a tight line and looking solemn, he immediately adopted a serious demeanor and said, “If Xiao Xiyue were to know the circumstances at the time, I believe she would have wished for me to save Qingyi as well. Therefore, Qingyi, there is no need to feel guilty. Afterward, I will explain everything to Xiao Xiyue.”

“As for matters of affection, such things should never be forced. Although I fell for you at first sight, it doesn’t mean you are obliged to reciprocate. There’s simply no such reasoning in this world, so Qingyi, you shouldn’t feel any guilt.”

“If Qingyi feels indebted for the events that transpired and forces yourself because of that, it would make me feel ashamed instead.”

“In the days ahead, Qingyi, you may regard me as just an ordinary friend. There’s no need to strain yourself.” Sёarᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and spoke.

Indeed, while Chu Qingyi was troubled by her connection to Xiao Xiyue,

even without that connection, someone like Chu Qingyi was unlikely to easily be moved.

Therefore, Lu Changsheng hadn’t deluded himself into thinking that saving her through Dual Cultivation would instantly make her fall for him.

However, since he was already on board the metaphorical “car,” getting her to buy a ticket afterward would become much easier.

“Sigh…”

Chu Qingyi heard his words but didn’t feel any joy or relief.

There’s a saying: the hardest debts to repay are those of a beauty’s grace.

She felt that, in her case facing Lu Changsheng, it was the hardship of repaying a handsome man’s favor.

From their first meeting, he had openly revealed his feelings—his affection, admiration, and pursuit of her beauty—without any attempt to hide.

Though previously… he had indeed taken so many liberties with her,

now his measured restraint and gentlemanly demeanor made him seem like a noble and courteous man, warming her like the spring breeze. It left her utterly at a loss.

“Thank you, Lu Daoist.”

After saying what was on her mind, Chu Qingyi felt as if a weight had lifted off her shoulders.

She decided that once they were done wandering around these next few days, she would bid farewell to Lu Changsheng and leave.

Otherwise, continuing to spend time with Lu Changsheng like this would keep disrupting her flawless Sword Heart, stirring up chaotic thoughts and emotional turbulence.

“Let’s eat first. Just relax and be natural.”

Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

“This woman is so idiotic. Do you think this dog of a man will let you off so easily?”

In the Formless Domain, Nangong Mili watched the scene unfold, her face full of disdain.

However, seeing how Lu Changsheng treated Chu Qingyi while she herself remained suppressed in the domain, Nangong Mili couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable sense of frustration rising in her heart—sour, bitter, and vexed.

She immediately sneered and cursed at Lu Changsheng, “Dog of a man!”

“Mili, are you jealous?”

The old ancestor Lu, multitasking at once, maintained an outwardly calm appearance with a gracefully serene smile.

“Scram!”

Nangong Mili instantly cursed coldly.

“Heh.”

Lu Changsheng merely chuckled, planning to educate her about family discipline at some later time.

…

Regularly accustomed to the finest delicacies, this meal was only mediocre to the old ancestor Lu.

Chu Qingyi, perhaps afraid that Lu Changsheng might initiate a conversation with her again, ate very seriously, and in doing so presented a pleasing scene to behold.

“Let’s go.”

After finishing the meal, Lu Changsheng effortlessly reached for Chu Qingyi’s hand, preparing to continue shopping and visit a few merchant shops.

Being held by Lu Changsheng in such a manner caused Chu Qingyi to tremble slightly, and she instinctively pulled her hand away, speaking softly, “Lu Daoist…”

Didn’t they just clarify everything moments ago? Why was he still being so close?

“What’s wrong, Qingyi?”

Lu Changsheng’s gaze remained pure, his demeanor unperturbed, as he replied, “I’m still planning to purchase some spiritual materials. Qingyi, do you need anything?”

“Sigh.”

Chu Qingyi inwardly sighed, thinking that with the situation as it was, she might as well go along with it for these few days. She lightly shook her head and said, “I don’t need anything.”

After speaking, she paused and then softly added, “If Lu Daoist requires any materials, Qingyi can help.”

Being a Nascent Soul Immortal of the Qingyun Sect, she typically only exchanged Heavenly and Earthly Treasures from the sect’s treasury when needed.