So Yuan Shu was this beautiful now!
He should have realized it long ago. The first time he saw her face in that pitch-black cave, he had been stunned by her beauty, as if she were a goddess.
When Yuan Shu had covered his mouth beneath Qingyun Peak and held him in her arms, he should have known that she had a wonderful figure.
But he had never imagined it would be this wonderful!
Her full, rounded curves were all the more tantalizing without the obstruction of clothing, a sight that seized the eye.
Below them was her slender waist, narrow enough to fit in one hand—and at that moment, it was clasped by that man…
Her jade-white skin, bathed in the warm yellow lamplight, carried a faint rosy hue. It was alluring and beautiful.
Helan Zhao could not tear his gaze away. He let the cold wind on the rooftop blow over him again and again.
Yet his entire body felt as though it had been thrown into a furnace, burning with restless heat.
He tugged at the collar of his robe and glanced down irritably, but he still could not bear to move his eyes from Yuan Shu.
Only when the eastern sky began to pale did the sounds inside finally cease, after the fifth time.
The hand Helan Zhao had wrapped around the roof tile stiffened and trembled. He hurriedly circulated his spiritual energy to soothe his meridians before carefully replacing the tile.
Then he left the rooftop without making a sound.
…
In a quiet, secluded cave, Helan Zhao removed his outer robe and lifted the hem of his clothing for a look. He found it almost too embarrassing to face.
But only for an instant. The moment he recalled that scene, his lean waist moved involuntarily.
If—he meant, if—if that man had been him…
Helan Zhao immediately shook off that filthy fantasy of putting himself in the other man’s place.
He turned and walked out of the cave, then dove headfirst into the chilly pool before the entrance.
…
Helan Zhao did not return, and Yuan Shu did not care. She continued her usual life of cultivation with Yun Sheng.
During the day, Yun Sheng remained very restrained.
Even when desire stirred, he would only lower his head to kiss her and tease her until her emotions churned.
Only when evening fell and the moonlight grew hazy would he transform into a perpetually ravenous wolf, devouring her completely.
Every night, the rooftop beneath the warm yellow lamplight would gain an uninvited guest, who would quietly peer inside through the roof tiles.
He watched them move from the round table to the corner, from the corner to the bed…
Helan Zhao’s eyes grew bloodshot. At last, he could no longer restrain the desire in his heart, and a wild thought took hold.
If that man were him, would Yuan Shu enjoy herself just as much?
He had only come secretly to the Immortal Ascension Sect because his family had pressured him into marriage. If he could bring Yuan Shu home, would his parents stop forcing him to marry?
He clearly did not like those women who kept throwing themselves at him!
But whom did he like?
Helan Zhao blinked in confusion, his gaze slowly settling on Yuan Shu inside the room.
For the first time, he had felt such an urge toward a woman.
Although another man was already at her side…
So what?
His father had once told him that if he wanted something, he had to fight for it himself.
His mother had also said that once he had an idea, he needed to put it into action. Empty fantasies would lead nowhere!
What if Yuan Shu came to like him after experiencing him, and stopped liking the others?
The moment this thought arose, Helan Zhao’s eyes lit up. Even his gaze at Yuan Shu grew two degrees more heated.
In any case, he had yet to find the person he was looking for, and his parents had never insisted that he find his elder brother.
Taking advantage of this opportunity to find himself a wife was not entirely unreasonable.
With this thought, Helan Zhao wished he could glue his eyes to Yuan Shu.
He had even begun imagining that he was the one pressing her down!
…
Tonight, the night was hazy, and the silver moon spilled a faint radiance over the world.
Behind Medicine Cloud Peak lay an artificial hot spring into which fire elements had been channeled. Warm yellow luminous stones were set into the tops of the stone pillars, giving off a gentle glow.
White orchids, exuding a delicate fragrance, had been planted all around. A single breath was enough to refresh the heart and mind.
Yuan Shu leaned against the wall of the innermost, private hot-spring pool. Wearing only a thin undergarment, she relaxed her body and submerged most of herself in the water.
Although this hot spring was not as good as the natural spring she had once enjoyed in the Hehuan Sect, soaking in it now and then was still quite comfortable.
Helan Zhao did not possess a guest token like Yuan Shu. Sneaking in had taken considerable effort and cost him a bit of money.
But when he saw that graceful figure in the hot spring, he felt it had all been worth it!
Helan Zhao’s heart pounded. The scenes he had spied on over the past few days appeared one after another in his mind.
He was in the prime of youth, with a body surging with passion. His body had already reacted beyond his control.
Seeing Yuan Shu lying against the edge of the pool with her eyes closed, he trembled slightly. With furtive rustling sounds, he stripped off every piece of clothing.
Then he carefully raised one foot and stepped into the hot spring.
The water rippled, sending layer after layer of waves outward.
Yuan Shu keenly sensed someone approaching.
However, she did not open her eyes.
After all, Yun Sheng also possessed a guest token, and if he had come to find her, it would have been strange for him not to enter the water.
Helan Zhao moved closer to Yuan Shu bit by bit.
When he saw that she remained lying against the pool wall without moving and had not refused his approach, he grew uncontrollably excited.
Once he reached Yuan Shu’s back, he imitated Yun Sheng and wrapped his arms around her waist.
His large hands moved through the water, caressing her smooth skin and making Yuan Shu let out two soft hums.
“Yun Sheng?” she called with her eyes closed.
Helan Zhao’s hands froze.
He realized that Yuan Shu had mistaken him for that junior disciple in the courtyard.
He secretly ground his teeth, but did not dare expose the deception. Imitating Yun Sheng’s voice, he answered softly, “Mm.”
Hearing the response, Yuan Shu thought nothing of it. She allowed the man’s powerful arms to pull her into his embrace.
Their skin pressed together, smooth as jade.
Helan Zhao trembled from head to toe. Unable to resist, he lowered his head and inhaled deeply against Yuan Shu’s neck.
The familiar fragrance of pear blossoms was just as he remembered it from that dim cave—fresh and elegant, yet alluring and bewitching.
Helan Zhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He placed a kiss on Yuan Shu’s shoulder, light and fleeting, while the hand around her slender waist began to drift upward of its own accord.
Yuan Shu gave a soft hum and continued to rest with her eyes closed, making no attempt to resist. After all, she and Yun Sheng had long since kept no secrets from each other.
She could feel the heat radiating from the man behind her.
Night had fallen, the spring water was warm, and it was the perfect time for dual cultivation.
Yuan Shu deliberately leaned back into the arms behind her.
Helan Zhao’s entire body tensed, and he hurriedly tightened his hold around her slender waist.
Their skin touched, and an ambiguous atmosphere flowed between them.
His movements grew bolder. He imitated what he had seen on the rooftop, gradually putting it into practice on Yuan Shu.
Kisses landed beside her ear. He caught her earlobe between his lips and toyed with it before slowly moving forward.
Until he could no longer restrain himself, lowering his head to kiss Yuan Shu’s red lips.
The instant their tongues touched, the scent of dragon salvia—one that did not belong to Yun Sheng—spilled into her mouth.
In that instant, Yuan Shu’s eyes flew open. She met Helan Zhao’s handsome, flushed face.
Her eyes widened slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through them. As she recoiled, she raised her hand and struck him in the chest.
Caught off guard, Helan Zhao staggered backward several steps, a glistening trace still clinging to the corner of his lips, before barely managing to steady himself.
“It’s you!”
