Cipher, the catgirl in a fiery red dress

Cipher fell into a deep sleep in Lin Hai's warm embrace.

Her breathing was slow and even.

The fatigue she had accumulated from fighting and rushing about was finally released completely.

Like a cat that had finally found a home, Cipher nestled against him and let go of all her outward strength.

Lin Hai lowered his gaze, gently brushing his fingertips through her loose hair.

He knew that deep down, this seemingly strong and independent girl had a soft side that needed care too.

The thought stirred something in Lin Hai's heart.

It suddenly occurred to him that he could perhaps learn some simple massage techniques to help her relax when she was tired.

Lin Hai carefully took out his phone with his free hand.

The screen's faint glow lit up the dim room.

He looked up some professional massage instructions, from basic fingertip pressure to soothing kneading along the meridians...

Lin Hai studied them carefully, silently committing the key points to memory.

Then he began trying to put the theory into practice.

His movements were a little clumsy and hesitant at first, his warm palm coming to rest tentatively on Cipher's shoulder and neck.

Recalling the instructions, Lin Hai used the pad of his thumb to feel for areas where her muscles might be tense, then tried applying moderate pressure in circular motions.

His technique might not have been professional, but the care and concentration he put into it were more precious than any skill.

The gentle touch gradually roused Cipher from her deep sleep.

At first, she was only dimly aware of gentle pressure moving over her body. Once her mind cleared, she immediately realized that Lin Hai was giving her a massage.

Cipher did not open her eyes. Instead, she relaxed completely, allowing herself to sink into his clumsy but sincere care and enjoy the rare peace and comfort.

Feeling her body relax beneath his hands, Lin Hai seemed encouraged.

His movements gradually became smoother, and he grew increasingly adept at controlling the pressure.

In the past, Lin Hai could never have mastered the force and technique so quickly.

But things were different now.

He was no longer who he had been!

Lin Hai slowly moved his hands down Cipher's shoulders and back, rubbing with the heels of his palms. Then he moved on to her arms, gently kneading the muscles.

Finally, Lin Hai's hands reached Cipher's calves.

He pressed the muscles with his palms, helping her relax muscles tired from standing or running for long periods.

Before he knew it, Lin Hai had gently lifted one of Cipher's feet in his hand.

He pressed the sole with the pad of his thumb.

There were many acupoints on the sole, and Lin Hai remembered reading that massaging the Yongquan acupoint helped relieve fatigue and improve sleep.

So he spent a little longer on that spot, applying moderate pressure.

The tingling sensation in the sole of her foot brought a blush to Cipher's cheeks. A warm current, accompanied by a ticklish feeling, rushed from her foot straight to her heart.

Her heart was full of sweetness and shyness, but she resisted the urge to pull her foot back and kept even the slightest smile from showing. She simply kept her eyes closed, silently enjoying his intimate care.

In that quiet moment, an unspoken understanding flowed between them.

With his newly learned, still clumsy hands, Lin Hai conveyed his silent protection.

Cipher responded to his care with complete trust and acceptance.

Cipher awoke on the living room sofa, the morning light filtering through the window and casting a soft glow over the room.

She had slept especially deeply and peacefully that night, laying down all her burdens.

Here, there were no disputes within the Senate, no Flame-Chasers pressing her at every turn, only a reassuring peace.

Cipher gently sat up, and her gaze was immediately drawn to the breakfast neatly arranged on the coffee table.

A golden fried egg, several plump white buns, and a steaming bowl of bright red spicy soup...

She recognized the fried egg, but it was her first time seeing the buns and spicy soup.

She was very curious.

Cipher first took a bite of the fried egg, and the familiar taste brought a slight smile to her face.

She picked up the bowl and took a small sip of the spicy soup.

Its spicy, rich flavor instantly stimulated her taste buds, and a warm current spread through her entire body.

Then she took a bite of a bun. The soft dough and savory filling complemented each other perfectly.

Delicious!

Even more delicious than she had imagined!

After finishing breakfast, Cipher looked around but saw no sign of Lin Hai, and could not help wanting to look for him.

At that moment, Lin Hai was in a secluded clearing outside the residential complex, feeling the power surging within him.

He called upon the Harmony Path Power within him, merging it perfectly with his own strength.

His gaze sharpened, and a heavy stone lion not far away was slowly lifted by an invisible force.

That was not all. He manipulated it further, tossing the stone lion into the air, flipping it over, and catching it steadily.

Even he was a little surprised by how effortlessly and skillfully he could control it.

What followed was indescribable delight!

"I've gotten stronger!"

"Stronger and stronger."

"Phew... when will I be able to shatter stars with my own power?"

Lin Hai shook his head and continued his morning training.

After finishing, he returned home feeling refreshed.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Cipher waiting eagerly.

"Where did you go?" Cipher asked, concern in her voice.

Lin Hai smiled. "I just went outside to exercise for a bit."

Cipher thought for a moment, then said, "Next time... can you take me with you?"

"Of course... were the buns and spicy soup to your taste?"

"They were delicious! I love the taste of the spicy soup. It's a great stress reliever!"

"I'm glad you liked it. I can buy it for you often, or take you to try other good food."

Cipher thought for a moment and asked, "Then what are we having for lunch?"

"Let's go have mutton. It's just right for this weather."

"Okay!"

Lin Hai took out his phone, found a well-reviewed mutton restaurant, and booked a table in advance.

Once that was settled, he sat down comfortably on the sofa, crossed his legs, and started scrolling through short videos.

Cipher curiously leaned over to watch with him.

On the screen, a dancer in a stylish, eye-catching outfit was dancing energetically to lively music.

As Cipher watched, she said quietly, a little surprised:

"She's wearing... so little. Do you... like watching girls in revealing clothes dance?"

"Yes."

His answer was utterly frank.

His directness left Cipher unsure how to respond, so she turned her attention back to the screen.

A thought suddenly occurred to Cipher.

If she changed into an outfit like that and posted a video, would she attract lots of viewers too?

Would she get lots of fans too?

Cipher asked quietly, "Where can you buy clothes like that?"

"You can buy them online."

Lin Hai opened a link to the item, and the price appeared.

"You like it?" he asked.

"I want to try it, try wearing it."

"No problem."

Lin Hai promptly placed the order.

He also very much wanted to see the visual impact of Cipher in a super-hot red dress.