"Do you like what you see?" Princess Shan whispered, her lips brushing against Xuefeng's ear like a silk ribbon gliding over skin. Her warm breath, soft and teasing, sent an electric jolt down his spine.
It took every ounce of willpower not to yield to the moment. The thin silk of her nightdress clung to her, accentuating every curve as though it were part of her skin. Her body pressed against his, intoxicating and maddening all at once, the heat of her breath on his neck unraveling what little composure he clung to.
"You're crossing a line," Xuefeng said, his voice strained as he tried to pull back. But despite her delicate frame, she was stronger than she looked. His efforts were in vain, his body pinned beneath hers as if she were testing both his strength and his resolve.
Her soft laugh sent a shiver through him. She leaned closer, her teeth grazing his ear. "Is it wrong for a tigress to hunt when she's hungry?" she murmured, the edge in her voice both playful and predatory. Her lips trailed to his neck, pressing a kiss there—gentle, but deliberate—leaving behind a faint red mark that burned like a brand. "Unlike you, I don't hesitate when I want something."
She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, her gaze intense and unreadable. Then, before he could form a response, her lips claimed his with a fierceness that left him reeling. The kiss wasn't just passionate—it was consuming, a deliberate unraveling of his defenses. His mind went blank, his heartbeat thundering in sync with hers.
As her grip on his arms loosened, Xuefeng managed to pull away, gasping for air. His chest heaved, his cheeks flushed. She, too, was breathless, and though she carried herself with an air of experience, the slight tremble in her fingers betrayed her inexperience. For both of them, this was uncharted territory, a realization that only deepened the strange connection between them.
Xuefeng's thoughts swirled as he held her face gently in his hands, searching her eyes for answers. "Am I really what you want?" he asked, his tone urgent but steady. "Or is there something else you desire?"
For a moment, Princess Shan's playful smirk wavered. It was fleeting, like a shadow passing over her face, but it was enough to betray the vulnerability she fought to conceal. Xuefeng's chest tightened. There it is, he thought. She's hiding something.
His hands steadied her, grounding her as he leaned in closer. "What is it, Princess? We met yesterday, and now you're throwing yourself at me. As much as I'd love to think it's because I'm impossibly handsome…" He offered her a small, wry smile. "…I don't buy it. You don't strike me as the type to act without a purpose."
Her features hardened defensively, but the vulnerability in her eyes lingered. She shifted slightly, creating a sliver of space between them while still holding her ground. "Tell me," Xuefeng pressed. "If you want my help, be honest."
For a moment, she hesitated, her gaze darting away before locking onto his again. "Promise me first," she said, her voice quieter now, almost fragile. "Promise me you'll help, no matter what I ask."
Xuefeng frowned. "How can I promise you that without knowing what you want?" He shook his head, his tone firm. "I'm not stupid."
Her eyes narrowed, but her lips curved into a sly smile. Without warning, she grabbed his forearms again, pinning him down. "Then I'll just have to convince you," she whispered.
Before he could respond, her lips met his once more. This time, the kiss was slower, more measured—like she was savoring each moment, chipping away at his defenses with every brush of her lips. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a weapon, and he felt himself sinking deeper into her trap.
"Princess," he murmured against her mouth, his voice strained as he tried to pull back. But her grip held firm, her resolve unyielding.
"I'll keep kissing you until you promise to help me," she said softly, her lips hovering just over his, her breath warm against his skin. "I'll be yours, Xuefeng. Completely. You can touch me, kiss me… whatever you want. But only if you agree to help me."
Her words sent a jolt through him, her offer both tempting and unsettling. What could she possibly want that she'd go this far? The thought tugged at the edges of his mind, but her lips brushed his again, scattering his focus like leaves in the wind.
Isn't this exactly what we wanted? Ling's voice scattered his resolve further. Securing the neckless is the most important. Whatever she wants, you can worry about that later.
He stared into her eyes, searching for deception, but all he saw was determination. She wasn't going to stop. And maybe, just maybe, having the Princess's favor wouldn't be such a bad deal. He sighed heavily, his resistance crumbling. "Fine. I promise to help you. Whatever it is, I'll do my best."
Relief washed over her face, softening her features. "Thank you," she said, her voice gentle now. "That's all I wanted to hear." She pressed a soft kiss to his lips, more a whisper of affection than seduction, before slipping off the bed. Picking up the breakfast he'd brought, she took a delicate bite.
"This is good," she remarked, lying back beside him, her head resting on his arm as though the heated exchange from moments before had never happened.
Xuefeng exhaled deeply, a tangled mix of guilt and longing twisting in his chest. For all her brazenness, he couldn't deny the electric pull of her presence. He prided himself on his discipline, his ability to remain composed, but Princess Shan had dismantled it in mere moments. And the lingering question nagged at him: Would I have fallen just as easily for Wuying if she tried this?
He glanced at the Princess, now munching on her pancake roll with a casual ease that made the intensity of earlier seem like a distant memory. Her composure unnerved him. It was as if she were always ten steps ahead, pulling him into her plans without ever letting him glimpse the whole picture.
"So?" Xuefeng broke the silence, his voice even but edged with impatience. "What is it?"
Princess Shan's smile faltered, her confidence dimming just enough to reveal a flicker of vulnerability. "There's a prince in the Sacred Sword Kingdom," she began, her tone clipped. "A Spirit Lord. He's 28, and he's already collected more concubines than any man has a right to. He's decided I should be one of them—whether I agree or not." Her jaw tightened, a flash of defiance in her eyes. "I'd rather stay here with you than let myself become another one of his trophies."
Xuefeng leaned back, rubbing his temples. The weight of her words settled over him like a storm cloud, heavy and unrelenting. "So, let me get this straight," he said, his voice laced with dry amusement. "You spotted my potential and figured your best bet was to stay here, seduce me, and have me protect you from some royal playboy in another kingdom? Do I have that right?"
"Pretty much, yeah." Princess Shan nodded, her tone as nonchalant as if she were discussing the weather. She took another bite of her pancake, chewing thoughtfully. "You won't break your promise, right? I plan on holding up my end of the deal."
Xuefeng exhaled slowly, already feeling the thunderheads brewing in his future. Protecting her from a power-hungry prince wasn't the real issue—it was the daily war of attrition he'd have to wage just to keep up with her unpredictable whims. And yet, he knew he couldn't back out now.
"If your life's in danger, I'll protect you," he said, the words more weighty than they sounded. He paused, a glimmer of strategy sparking in his mind. "If you don't believe me, how about we exchange something to commemorate the promise?"
Princess Shan tilted her head, curiosity lighting her expression. "What kind of exchange?"
Without a word, Xuefeng pulled out one of the Spirit Necklaces from the Spirit Treasury. The polished metal caught the light, and the embedded gem shimmered faintly. "Here," he said, holding it out. "I got this for you."
"Wow," she exclaimed, putting the pancake away to take it gently in her hands. "Where did you find this?"
"I saw it in the Spirit Treasury and thought it would look good on you," he replied with a sly smile, "It's not just pretty but also enhances cultivation speed. I'll give it to you, and in exchange, you can give me yours."
Her hand instinctively rose to her chest, her fingers brushing against the golden crystal hanging from its chain. "You mean this?" she asked, pulling it out from beneath her gown.
"Yeah," he said, nodding.
Princess Shan hesitated, her gaze dropping to the crystal. "It's the only thing my grandmother left me…" Her voice softened, the confidence slipping away to reveal something raw, almost fragile.
Xuefeng's tone gentled, matching hers. "If it means that much to you, I won't push. I just wanted something that remind me of you."
For a moment, she said nothing, her thumb brushing over the crystal as though it held some unspoken memory. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. You can have it. But you have to keep it safe. I like to look at it sometimes and think of my grandma."
"Deal," Xuefeng said, a quiet satisfaction in his voice as she unclasped the necklace. "Let me help you with mine."
He moved behind her, the warmth of her skin brushing against his fingertips as he fastened the new necklace. It settled around her neck like it had always belonged there. "There," he said, stepping back. "You look even better now."
"Mhmm." She ran her fingers over the pendant, her smile soft but pleased. "I like it, too."
Xuefeng reached to embrace her, but before his arms could close around her, she slipped away with a sly grin. "Alright, you can go now. I need to change and get ready."
"I'll see you later, then," he said, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and anticipation. Ling's voice buzzed in his mind, brimming with excitement over the newly acquired Fate Fragment.
After he left, Princess Shan sat back on the bed, her fingers tracing the lines of her new necklace. A small smile curved her lips as she gazed at the golden crystal in her hands.
I made the right decision, she thought, hugging the crystal to her chest. Now, I just have to keep him all to myself.