Xuefeng decided to bring breakfast to Wuying before heading back to his room to refine the Fate Fragment.
As he approached her door, a pang of guilt struck his heart. He had just kissed Princess Shan, and now he was acting as if nothing had happened. She would find out sooner or later.
Summoning his courage, he knocked on the door, which suddenly opened to reveal Wuying, already dressed and ready.
"Oh, you're already up? I was just about to wake you," she said with a sweet smile. Seeing her so happy to see him only made him feel worse.
"I brought breakfast for you," he said, producing a pancake from behind his back.
"Wow, since when did you start waking up early and buying breakfast?" She looked surprised as she took it and unwrapped it, taking a bite. "Yummy, thank you." She reached out, hugged him around the neck, and kissed him on the cheek. "That's your reward."
"No problem. I'll go to my room for a while. After I'm done with something, we can start our training." Xuefeng turned to leave, but Wuying's voice stopped him.
"Wait, what's that on your neck?"
'Oh no, I've been discovered.' He pretended not to hear her and hurried toward his room. Closing the door behind him, he sighed in relief, feeling momentarily safe.
But when he turned around, he was startled to see Wuying standing there, looking at him suspiciously.
"What did you do? Show me," She demanded as she stepped closer.
"Eh, I wanted to present it to you later, but I guess I can give it to you now. Turn around," he said with a smile.
"Why?" She still looked doubtful.
"Just turn around. You'll like it, I promise."
After she finally complied, he pulled out a second necklace and placed it around her fair neck, not bothered by the intimate touch.
When she looked down and saw the beautiful crystal, her mouth opened, but no words came out.
"I saw it and instantly thought it would match your beauty," Xuefeng said, turning her to face him. "And I guess I was right."
"Thank you, I like it a lot…" She buried her head in his chest as she thanked him, already forgetting about the mark on his neck.
He placed his arms around her, enjoying the moment. He felt bad for hiding the truth but didn't want to hurt her either.
"…iss me…" Wuying said quietly.
"What did you say?" Xuefeng didn't hear her clearly.
"Kiss me," she said weakly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
This time he heard her clearly and knew he couldn't refuse her.
He moved his hand to the back of her head and leaned in for the kiss. She stood on her tiptoes and received him wholeheartedly.
With his previous experience, he felt more confident this time. She expected a short kiss, but he didn't let her go for a long time.
Wuying had thought their first kiss would be awkward, but she enjoyed it so much that she didn't want to separate from him. She had dreamed about it many times and finally got the courage to ask.
Xuefeng felt a completely different sensation than with Princess Shan. She had been more aggressive, limiting his actions. This time, he had full control.
Just when she thought their moment would end, Xuefeng deepened the kiss. She opened her eyes in surprise but didn't push him away.
The room seemed to shrink around them as the kiss intensified, the world beyond the door forgotten. Xuefeng felt the warmth of Wuying's body pressing against his, her arms wrapping around his neck tighter, drawing him closer. Her lips were soft and yielding, moving in rhythm with his, creating a perfect harmony of tenderness and passion.
His hands began to explore, moving from the back of her head to trace the curve of her spine. The touch was light at first, hesitant, but as her response grew more fervent, his caresses became bolder. He felt the delicate fabric of her dress beneath his fingers, the smoothness of her skin where it was exposed. Every touch elicited a small sigh from Wuying, fueling his desire further.
Wuying's hands were not idle either. They roamed over his shoulders, tracing the muscles beneath his shirt, before settling on his chest. She could feel his heart pounding as rapidly as her own, a silent testament to the intensity of their shared moment. Her fingers moved upwards, entangling in his hair, pulling him even closer if that were possible.
Xuefeng broke the kiss momentarily, his forehead resting against hers, both of them breathless. Their eyes met, a silent conversation passing between them, filled with unspoken words of affection and desire. He could see the longing in her eyes, the vulnerability that she rarely showed to anyone but him.
"I won't give up on loving you no matter what..." she whispered, her gaze locked on his. "I was always yours and that will never change..."
Xuefeng couldn't take it anymore, suddenly pressing their lips again as he picked her up, carrying her to the bed. He covered her body with his body as his hands moved to cup her face, thumbs brushing away the tears that had begun to fall.
As their kiss deepened, the world outside ceased to exist. All that mattered was the here and now, the electric connection between them. Wuying's heart raced, every nerve ending in her body alive with sensation. Xuefeng's touch was everywhere, exploring, claiming, worshipping. She never wanted this moment to end.
They moved together, rolling around the bed without breaking their kiss. The intimacy of their position heightened the intensity of their kiss, each movement synchronized as if they were one. His hands slid down her sides, memorizing the curves of her body, while her fingers traced the lines of his face, committing every detail to memory.
Time seemed to stretch and bend around them. Each kiss, each touch, each shared breath felt like an eternity and yet passed too quickly. They were lost in each other, their connection deepening with every passing second. The guilt that had gnawed at Xuefeng earlier was replaced by a profound sense of rightness. This was where he was meant to be, who he was meant to be with.
Wuying felt a sense of completeness she had never known before. Every dream, every fantasy paled in comparison to the reality of being with Xuefeng. She knew there would be challenges ahead, truths that needed to be faced, but in this moment, none of that mattered. All that existed was their love, pure and untainted, binding them together in an unbreakable bond.
As they finally pulled away, both gasping for air, they lay there in each other's arms, a silence filled with unspoken promises and a newfound understanding. Wuying nestled her head against Xuefeng's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a smile playing on her lips.
"I wish we could stay like this forever..." She muttered just before sitting up and pursing her lips. "Unfortunately, there is lots of work ahead of us so it's best we get up. We need to work on this body of yours so you can become a proper cultivator."
"Cough, I can't wait..." Xuefeng almost choked imagining the training she prepared. "I will finish the rest of my Spirit Arts and I will join you soon, alright? I still have one left."
"Alright then, I will go out to avoid disturbing you," She nodded happily as she got up from the bed. She only took a step before coming back for one last kiss.
"Hurry, I'll be waiting."
Xuefeng sat on the bed, a helpless smile on his face as he watched her leave.
'Don't get addicted you virgin,' Ling commented as soon as the door closed behind her. 'You are only going to get burned if you play with fire.'
'Okay, no one asked for your opinion. I have everything under control...' Xuefeng replied, not believing his own words. 'Do you still want your Fate Fragment?'
'Yes, I can't wait. It's still sealed, so you can bring it into my space,' Ling said excitedly.
'Okay.' Xuefeng sat cross-legged on the bed and entered his dantian. Once inside Ling's space, he willed the necklace to appear. As soon as it did, Ling trapped it in a golden sphere.
'But don't destroy it. I'm supposed to wear it from now on,' he reminded her.
'No worries. Actually, I might keep it for myself. If I'm inside your spirit all the time, I can't help you if you're in danger. This crystal is a perfect Spirit Artifact for me. After I subdue this Fate Fragment, I will be able to move inside it,' Ling explained after examining the crystal.
'As long as it's in one piece,' Xuefeng agreed.
'I'm currently weak, so you have to lend me all your Spirit Qi,' Ling called out.
'Go ahead. Meanwhile, I'll refine more since I already used some today. Call me when you need me,' he said before leaving the space.
He pulled out a few spirit stones from his ring and started absorbing their essence. He needed to practice it anyway since he only relied on Ling's help so far.
It was much easier to cultivate with spirit stones than with normal methods. He didn't need to look for Spirit Essence in the air as it was already concentrated in the stones.
Suddenly, he felt his Qi being drained rapidly. He quickly pulled out a whole box of spirit stones and began madly absorbing their essence.
One by one, the stones broke apart as they were sucked dry. His spirit was refining to its limits, but he still couldn't keep up with Ling's needs. He only hoped she would finish before his Qi level hit rock bottom.
Fortunately, after ten minutes and three boxes of spirit stones, Ling gave him good news.
'I did it! You can take it outside,' she said before the golden necklace appeared in his dantian.
It looked much brighter than before, with all the scratches on its surface fixed. He pulled it out and put it around his neck.
'You won't guess what new ability I gained from this Fate Fragment,' Ling said playfully.
'Well, the threat is gone, so I'll be pleased with anything,' he replied, happy that he met the deadline. Anything extra would be a bonus.
'You are no fun. My new ability is rapid regeneration! I also learned from the fragment's memories that Princess Shan's grandmother was a Fate Fragment Holder and a famous healer. Before her death, she sealed it and gave it to her. You're lucky because the seal would have broken on Princess Shan's 18th birthday if we hadn't done anything,' Ling explained happily.
'Princess, I'm sorry, but I had no other choice,' he thought, apologizing for stealing her future. 'I guess I should keep the promise I made to her as payback.'