The palace lanterns slowly flickered to life as the sun sank below the horizon, their warm glow fading into the creeping chill of night. Though the day had been warm, the imperial palace turned frigid, with delicate snowflakes and thin ice coating the high walls of the palace grounds. Snow fell softly, and a clear moon rose gently in the sky.
The winter night stretched endlessly, the cloudless sky sparkling with countless stars.
The cold made people shiver, and many palace maids and eunuchs huddled under eaves, warming themselves by small fires.
Yet the chill could not quench the burning desire in Elder Mu's heart.
Qing stood quietly in the orchid pavilion, the evening breeze carrying a faint chill that lifted strands of her dark hair. Her flowing dress swayed gracefully, highlighting her otherworldly beauty.
Elder Mu stared at her, his eyes tracing her divine figure. Her silhouette was like a painting: long, elegant legs and a youthful yet firm, rounded backside that made him swallow hard. His heart raced with unease, but desire overwhelmed him, pushing him to speak. "Princess…"
Qing's beautiful eyes flickered, her face calm as still water, but a subtle glint in her gaze revealed the turmoil within. She wasn't as composed as she seemed.
She knew exactly what Elder Mu was thinking.
Her heart remained clear, yet it wavered, caught in a fog of indecision.
Did she reject the idea entirely? Not quite.
Yet a faint, unspoken weight lingered in her chest, perhaps the hesitation others called shame.
After a moment of silence, the wind paused.
Elder Mu, itching with anticipation, watched Qing's back, scratching his head as if a cat were clawing at his heart. "A bath…"
Qing's steps were light, her voice soft and fleeting as a breeze. Before Elder Mu could react, she moved, turning to leave.
"What?" Elder Mu blinked, stunned briefly. Then his eyes gleamed with cunning, and he gave a sheepish smile, as if testing the waters. "Shall I prepare your clothes, Princess?"
He had restrained himself for days, but now boldness took over.
Qing paused for a moment but continued walking.
She remained as distant as the moon above, cold and silent, her lack of words carrying an icy detachment.
She didn't agree… but she didn't refuse either.
Elder Mu's heart surged with joy. No refusal? That was as good as approval.
"This old servant will prepare everything at once."
He hurried to the side hall to fetch her clothes.
After days of close interaction, Elder Mu had learned Qing's temperament and limits. Though she appeared aloof and unfeeling, her heart wasn't as cold as it seemed. As long as he didn't cross her boundaries, her tolerance was greater than most would expect.
Qing's delicate frame trembled slightly, but she walked on in silence, glancing at the sky above.
Her beautiful eyes held a fleeting trace of complex sorrow, gone as quickly as it came.
From the high vantage point of the palace's rear mountain, the view stretched far, revealing a faint chill in the distant waters. The evening breeze carried winter's desolation, and the cold wind added a touch of bleakness.
The moon glowed brightly, stars slowly emerging in the darkening sky. The full moon hung on the horizon.
Tonight was a night of fullness, a time when thoughts of separation and reunion lingered, carried by the moonlight.
Who else was gazing at this moon, sharing its quiet beauty?
---
"Ho ho ho! What a rare Guest! Isn't this the rising star, Feng, the talk of the town these days?"
In the grand Golden Lotus Hall, atop a towering pavilion.
A woman of striking allure stood before Feng and Xian. She wore a vibrant pink gauze robe, her voluptuous figure exuding a foxlike charm. A fan covered half her face, revealing only her delicate chin and a pair of long, enchanting eyes that seemed to spark with electricity. "This humble lady greets you, Young Master Feng."
"Uh…" Feng looked confused.
Noticing his bewilderment, the captivating woman lowered her fan, revealing a refined jawline and a small, cherry-like mouth. Her eyes misted over suddenly. "What? Does Young Master Feng dislike me?"
Tears slid down her delicate chin, falling to the floor.
Her voice trembled, her eyes glistened with tears, and her stunning face took on a pitiful air, transforming her into a fragile woman wronged by the world.
"I… uh…" Feng stammered.
Seeing her weep, Feng's heart softened, and he instinctively wanted to comfort her. "Please, don't cry…"
"Enough, Gu ," Xian said coldly, unimpressed. "Stop with the theatrics."
"Wasn't I just teasing Young Master Feng?"
The woman, who had been sobbing moments before, instantly shifted her demeanor, her change so swift it left Feng dizzy.
"I'm Gu San Niang, delighted to meet Young Master Feng. Your reputation precedes you, truly as handsome and gallant as they say." Gu smiled warmly, adding, "Xian and Young Master Feng, your visit brings great honor to my humble Golden Lotus Hall."
To think this woman was the mastermind behind the capital's infamous pleasure den, Golden Lotus Hall, shocked Feng. He quietly sent a message to Xian. "Who's this Gu? She runs Golden Lotus Hall? Why didn't you mention her? Is she an Evil Heart Sect operative in the capital?"
"It's complicated. She's my senior sister from the same sect and master. We had some conflicts in the past."
Xian explained briefly.
Though they shared some bond in childhood, after a certain incident, their relationship had soured, becoming as distant as strangers. Not drawing swords at the sight of each other was already a sign of restraint for Evil Heart Sect sisters.
Were Xian and Gu truly sect sisters under the same master? Indeed, they were. Their master was the previous saintess of the Evil Heart Sect.
As for why their relationship deteriorated, it was simple. There could be many candidates for saintess, but only one could claim the title.
Since Xian had become the Evil Heart Sect's saintess, how could the others look kindly upon her?
Even in righteous sects, disciples vied fiercely for the title of true successor. In the ruthless Evil Heart Sect, such rivalries were even more cutthroat.
Gu might seem all smiles now, but who knew what schemes she was plotting?
Gu noticed the subtle glances between Xian and Feng, as if they were whispering secrets. She remained composed but began to speculate about their relationship.
"After braving such dangers in the secret realm, why not sit and let me show you some hospitality?"
Her interest in Feng deepened, her eyes brimming with charm. She led them to a table, summoning a feast of delicacies and fine wines.
One doesn't strike a smiling face. Feng and Xian took their seats.
After a few sips of wine, Gu seemed to succumb to the alcohol, her cheeks flushed, her eyes softening like melting water. Her rosy lips and delicate face glowed like a lantern in spring, alluring and bright.
Though her beauty didn't rival Xian or Qing, she had a unique allure that caught Feng's eye.
Gu, sensing his gaze, chuckled inwardly but kept her expression neutral. She turned to Xian. "Junior Sister, I know you've had some disputes with the sect. It's been messy, and no one looks good from it."
"But you didn't come here just to catch up with your senior sister, did you?"
Feng and Xian remained calm. They weren't fools; rarely interacting, their visit clearly had a purpose.
As an outsider, Feng stayed silent. Xian spoke softly. "I hear you're quite close to the Grand Elder's faction."
Close? That was an understatement. Gu was practically the Grand Elder's kept woman, a fact not widely known but a quiet rumor within the Evil Heart Sect.
Gu's expression stiffened briefly before she laughed it off. "Under someone else's roof, I have little choice."
Inwardly, she seethed. How dare this little vixen act so lofty when she's been used by others?
Noticing Xian's thoughtful look, Gu's eyes flicked to Feng, who seemed to share a special bond with her junior sister. An idea sparked.
Feng froze as he felt a soft, delicate foot brush against his knee under the table.
He stole a glance at Xian, whose stunning, slightly demonic face was lost in thought. Then he looked at Gu.
The alluring woman's face held a hint of mischief and excitement, her long, hazy eyes narrowing like a fox that had stolen a prize. Though less breathtaking than Xian's blend of demonic allure and youthful purity, Gu's seasoned charm, honed by experience, was unmatched by Xian or Feng's other innocent companions.
Feng glanced Guiltily at Xian, trying to stay composed.
But under the table, things escalated. The soft foot, emboldened by his silence, crept higher, sliding toward his inner thigh.
"Hmph…"
The warm, jade-like foot grazed his groin, making Feng sit ramrod straight, frozen in place.
Through the layers of fabric, the foot teased, swaying like a cat's tail, rubbing against his sensitive flesh. Her delicate toes pressed lightly against the growing bulge in his pants.
Feng's dormant desire stirred, swelling rapidly, straining against the fabric, pressing back against Gu's foot.
Feeling the hardness and heat, Gu's expression didn't change, but her heart raced. She glanced at Feng, then Xian, smirking inwardly. Your man's not so pure, Junior Sister.
Her tender foot pressed harder, flattening against the tent in his pants. Her smooth heel rested on his heavy, pent-up balls.
"Tch, not bad," she thought, sizing him up through the fabric. Even restrained, she could tell Feng's endowment was impressive, fifteen or sixteen centimeters, a standout among men.
Gu was no novice. She'd seen her share of men, and her heel confirmed Feng had been holding back for a while.
Glancing at Xian, still deep in thought, Gu sneered. She could tell their relationship hadn't crossed that final line.
"Even as saintess, you'll end up a plaything," Gu thought bitterly, recalling her own past. She'd been through countless men by Xian's age, cast aside when Xian won the title. If not for the Grand Elder's protection, she'd have faded into obscurity or worse.
Yet here was Xian, still keeping her distance from this handsome young hero. How could Gu not resent her?
"Soon, the Second Elder and Dan Hufa will have their way with you, maybe even make you a living furnace," Gu mused, her toes pressing the tip of Feng's erection.
The sensitive head twitched under her touch, and Feng's neck tensed, veins bulging, his eyes flickering.
"A virgin?" Gu wondered, her teasing intensifying.
She added her other foot, both now bridging the table, resting on Feng's groin.
One foot pressed rhythmically, while the other toyed with his balls, her toes as nimble as fingers, kneading the heavy sacks.
"Senior Sister," Xian said suddenly, looking up. "I need a favor. I want to contact the Grand Elder's faction."
Feng's heart skipped, his head dipping lower, Guilt pounding in his chest. Yet he didn't stop her.
"Oh?" Gu's smile held, her feet still working. Propping her chin on one hand, she asked, "What business do you have with the Grand Elder?"
Her toes rubbed faster, sensing Feng's pulsing arousal. A sticky warmth seeped through the fabric, coating her heel with his essence.
"Hm?" Gu pressed harder, flattening his iron-hard shaft. It throbbed wildly under her toes, and she glanced at Feng, noting his strained neck. She knew the signs.
"Already?" she scoffed inwardly. "Big, but a quick shot?"
She paused, aware the scent of his release would give them away.
Xian, after a moment's thought, looked at Gu seriously. "I've found Azhur Wan."
The air froze.
Feng felt Gu's foot stiffen on his groin. She laughed, as if joking. "That's not funny, Junior Sister."
Xian didn't reply. Instead, she tapped into the faint connection with the dark power of Azhur Wan, drawing on its primal force.
Her eyes glowed purple, her aura shifting into a chilling, abyssal demonic energy.
Her presence became oppressive, her power suppressing Gu's own, forcing it to retreat like a mouse before a cat.
"The power of Azhur Wan?!" Gu gasped, her foot halting its mischief.
As the warm foot left his groin, Feng felt a pang of regret, his erection aching at the interrupted climax. His hand instinctively grabbed her slender ankle under the table.
"Ah!" Gu's face twitched.
Xian mistook her reaction for fear of the demonic power, paying it no mind.
Gu shot Feng a coy, reproachful look, her eyes teasing yet annoyed, brimming with allure.
Feng's shaft twitched, desire flaring, but fear of Xian noticing made him cough awkwardly.
"This boy's a lecher," Gu thought, reassessing his impressive size. A young, dashing hero like him was far more appealing than the old men she dealt with.
Xian, focused on controlling the demonic energy, missed Feng's unease. Her sharp mind would've caught it otherwise.
Gu withdrew her feet, processing the revelation. She turned serious. "Where is Azhur Wan?"
"That's not your concern," Xian replied.
Joking aside, Azhur Wan's state was precarious, neither dead nor alive. Xian wouldn't let the sect's schemers near him.
Yet, even as a husk driven by instinct, Azhur Wan was a force to be reckoned with, capable of crushing the sect single-handedly, a palm-teaching-level monster. This was why Xian dared approach Gu to reach the Grand Elder's faction.
"Hmph…"
Xian started to speak, but her purple eyes flared, gold glinting in their depths. Her body trembled.
A suppressed sensation surged, overwhelming her. Her limbs tingled, heat pooling in her abdomen. Beneath her thin gown, her pale skin flushed, a pink pattern blooming below her navel, a seductive, demonic mark.
The sensation spread like lightning, weakening her legs. Her full breasts tightened, nipples hardening against the delicate fabric of her undergarment, hypersensitive to the lightest touch, like petals battered by a storm.
"Mmm…" Xian bit back the electric pleasure coursing through her. Heat surged from her core, a sticky, honeyed fluid seeping from her flower, soaking her inner thighs.
She clenched her legs, her cheeks flushing as the wetness spread.
After a moment, she severed the connection to Azhur Wan. The purple and gold faded from her eyes, and she exhaled shakily. "Haa…"
Neither Feng, lost in Guilt and avoiding attention, nor Gu, reeling from the news, noticed her state. Otherwise, Gu's experience would've recognized Xian's aroused flush.
"I'll inform the Grand Elder," Gu said after weighing her options.
"Thank you, Senior Sister," Xian said, lowering her gaze in gratitude.
Feng sat silently, head bowed, saying nothing.
The tense meeting ended, each lost in their own thoughts.