Li Yichen PoV
Waking up, I yawned before stretching, my body feeling surprisingly alright for what should have been a straining night spent beneath Gao Chen.
Speaking of, I glanced over to the woman in question, my now lawful wife, who was reading a book beside me, her orange eyes narrowed as she scanned the text before glancing at me, raising a well trimmed and sharp brow.
Blushing, I looked away as she said "Good morning, little bunny... did you rest well after squealing all night?"
Gulping, I nodded as I slid out from under the warm, inviting covers, exposing my bare skin to the cool air and shivering instantly.
Reaching for the drawer beside me, I opened it and withdrew some clothing, moving to stand in front of the mirror.
Staring at myself, I looked over my clean, lithe body, before my eyes fell towards my small bump and swelling breasts.
Gao Chen appeared behind me, also nude, and she tilted her head as she looked me over from the mirror, her orange eyes raking over me before she nodded.
Laying her hand on my stomach, she said "I was thinking either Li Yue or Li Xiaoxiao. Afterall, since we're both women, the only thing growing inside you is a girl."
Nodding, I hesitantly reached up and laid my pale hand over Gao Chen's tanned one, my eyes flickering towards hers as I wondered if she would be upset by that action.
Meeting her gaze, I shivered as it remained piercing, but there were no movements nor any words about it.
"W-Whichever one you l-like best, Gao Chen..."
Rolling those orange eyes, she sighed as she muttered "It's your child as much as it is mine, Yi'er. I'm not... heartless enough to ignore your input entirely. Not anymore..."
She frowned slightly at that, before shrugging as she said "Alright, well, if you can't decide just yet, that's fine. There's something more... pressing anyways."
Taking my hand, she guided it down to her member, making me shudder as she forced me to begin pleasuring her, though I willingly took the next step further, enjoying the taste of ginger so early in the morning.
After that, Gao Chen led me out towards the courtyard again, where we ate a large array of dishes to prepare our bodies for the months spent cultivating.
The Qi in the air could sustain our bodies need for energy well enough, as well as keeping us functioning like normal, but most people still liked to eat to top everything off easily, whilst sleeping was still just as common, though it was mainly a deep meditative state that rested ones mind for a few hours at a time.
With us being stationary and cultivating, we would have no real need for food besides earthly desires, so Gao Chen was placing us both into closed door cultivation, wanting to boost me up a Realm or two if possible, which would strengthen the baby growing in my womb.
The higher the Realms of the parents, and the stabler those Realms were, the stronger and more talented a baby was supposed to become.
Obviously, it wasn't an exact, perfect process, but it worked almost all the time.
I was just... an exception.
One that I hoped had no impact on the baby girl inside my womb.
Devouring the feast, I stared at Gao Chen for a few moments as she leisurely sipped on her wine, my thoughts turning towards our wedding yesterday.
It felt... surreal, knowing that yesterday actually happened.
Even more so when I saw Gao Chen herself grow irritated as people gossiped about me inside our own wedding.
I still held some doubts about whether or not Gao Chen would be capable of change, as well as wondering if the gifts I received from that Deity actually worked, but it would seem that Gao Chen was truly changing.
This morning only added to my assurance; she was calm and gentle with me, her eyes no longer haughty and hard as she looked at me, her lips no longer pulled into a sneer.
Something... had sprouted between us, and while I was under no illusion that it was entirely real, strong, or grown yet, I hoped that this little seed of caring that was inside her would remain.
If I needed to unlock her heart via my body, then so be it; although it started on a terrible note, I was becoming more and more enthralled by the pleasures of the flesh that she showed me to, and I wasn't against learning more.
With the technique I had received, I hoped that Gao Chen would continue pursuing me with lust as well, which would help germinate that seedling and let it sprout into one of love as well.
That was all I wanted now, and I was determined to get it.
First, though, came the birth of our child.
And before that, I needed to give said child as good a foundation as I could give, which meant cultivating.
Watching as Ci cleared the tables and took them away, I tracked Gao Chen's eyes, gritting my teeth slightly as I saw her ogling the Snow Woman's backside, before the tanned prodigy smirked back at me, her orange eyes alight with mirth.
Pouting, I turned away and made my way towards the center of the clearing, sitting down and enjoying being surrounded by the lush vegetation that grew in the courtyard.
Seeing, smelling, and hearing the plants around us in the calm breeze made me miss my Willow, and I realized I had neglected it recently.
Sighing, I glanced at Gao Chen, my lips pursed as I hesitated, the woman instantly turning my way as she asked "What?"
Remaining silent for a moment, I took a deep breath before I asked "Could... could I have my Willow tree moved here?"
Gao Chen raised a brow at that, before she shrugged and said "Sure, why not. Now, close your eyes. Let's begin."
Nodding, I watched as she easily slipped into her cultivation, her concentration on her Qi making her furrow her brows slightly, whilst her lips pursed and angled downwards.
Observing her for another few moments, I sighed as I began to cultivate as well, beginning the first of many such days spent inside this courtyard.