As the first rays of the morning sun filtered through the window, the soft golden light fell across the room, casting a warm glow over everything it touched. Yue Liqin lay soundly on my chest, her soft breaths rhythmic and peaceful, her face serene.
Her silky black hair spilled over her shoulders, a dark contrast to the pale sheets, and she snuggled even closer into me, her warmth comforting in the early hours of the day. I couldn't help but smile as I gazed down at her, the woman who, in two lifetimes of my life, had first ignited feelings in me in the second life, I never thought I would have.
My first love. The woman who had stolen both my heart and my sanity.
And, amusingly, the woman who had taken all of my firsts.
A laugh bubbled up in my throat as the thought of it settled in. The great Yue Phaelo—cold, unapproachable, feared, and admired—had been a virgin this entire time, in both body and soul. More so a virgin even in his first life.
While Long Zhen and Bai Lifen fumbled around with their half-baked plans to win the affections of their respective crushes, I'd kept my own secret well-hidden. I wasn't any different from them, really.
The only difference was that I knew how to play it cool. That smirk I gave them every time they stumbled through a love confession? Pure bravado.
And yet, in this moment, as Yue Liqin shifted against me, her body pressing closer, I knew that none of that mattered now, I was virgin no more.
This woman had given me something that went far beyond the superficial. She had awakened something deep within me, something that even all my cultivation and mastery couldn't suppress.
The Forbidden Dao though...
I could feel it flickering within me, an undeniable force that hummed beneath the surface, waiting. There was always a temptation to let it loose, to see what would happen if I truly embraced it.
But for now, I pushed it back. That was something to deal with later—perhaps after breakfast.
Speaking of which… breakfast in bed. The idea hit me like a stroke of genius. My mind instantly shifted back to the old days on Earth one of the romantic things I learnt in my life there, a smirk played across my lips.
Yue Liqin deserved everything after last night. And a proper wake-up, well, that was only the beginning.
I slowly untangled myself from her embrace, careful not to disturb her peaceful slumber. As I slipped out of the bed, the cool morning air kissed my skin, my body brimming with power and shine of the happy night I had with my aunt, now woman.
The power and responsibility I could think of did little to dampen my excitement.
I glanced back at her one last time before I stepped out of the room, my steps quiet as I headed toward the small kitchen nearby.
It wasn't long before I had everything prepared. A tray laden with fruits, pastries, and the finest tea the sect had to offer—Yue Liqin deserved nothing but the best. I carried it back to the room, balancing it with ease as I pushed the door open with my foot rather than my powers, it gave an ordinary-life-feeling.
When I returned, Yue Liqin had begun to stir, her lashes fluttering as she shifted beneath the sheets. She was waking up. I set the tray down on the side table and sat at the edge of the bed, leaning over her as I brushed a lock of hair away from her face.
"Good morning," I whispered, my voice soft and gentle, watching as her eyes slowly opened to meet mine.
A slow, lazy smile spread across her lips as she gazed up at me. "Mmm… Yue Phaelo," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep, "good morning." She hugged me before giving me a deep kiss sharing her morning sweet taste.
She broke the kiss and looked directly into my eyes.
The warmth of her gaze, the way she looked at me like I was her entire world, made my chest tighten. It wasn't often that I let myself feel vulnerable, but with Yue Liqin, it was different.
She made me want to be soft, to be gentle, to protect her in ways that went beyond mere strength.
"I made you breakfast," I said, motioning toward the tray, trying to hide the swell of pride in my chest, yes this was the best time to show off my hardwork, I wasn't just good in bed only, I was romantic too!
Her eyes widened slightly, a look of surprise crossing her face before she laughed, the sound light and musical. "Breakfast in bed?" she teased, sitting up slightly as she propped herself on her elbows. "You've certainly changed after last night, haven't you?"
I grinned, leaning closer as I kissed her forehead, then her lips. "Only for you my beautiful woman." Even as I called her that, she didn't seem to not like it, rather she loved it.
Her smile softened, and she looked at me with that same expression, the one that always made me feel like the luckiest man alive. "Yue Phaelo… thank you."
I didn't respond with words. Instead, I picked up a slice of fruit from the tray and held it up to her lips. She took a bite, her eyes never leaving mine as she smiled.
There was a quiet intimacy in that moment, a connection that went far beyond the physical. It was something I had never experienced before, not in this life or the last.
As we shared the breakfast, she reached out and took my hand, her fingers lacing with mine. "Last night… it was—"
"Perfect," I finished for her, smiling as I squeezed her hand gently.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked down at the bed, a small, shy smile playing at the corners of her lips. It was a rare moment to see her like this, vulnerable, after the confidence she always carried with her.
I had washed away, the trophy... Her virgin blood, with my spiritual qi.
"I never thought…" she trailed off, her voice soft, "that I could feel this way. Not about anyone. But with you… it's different."
I knew what she meant.
The connection between us wasn't something that could be explained easily. It went beyond mere attraction or affection. It was something deeper, something that had been there all along, waiting for the right moment to surface.
And now, it was undeniable.
"You don't have to explain," I said, my voice low as I leaned in closer, pressing my forehead to hers. "I feel the same way."
Her breath hitched slightly, and for a moment, we sat there in silence, our foreheads pressed together, our hands intertwined. The weight of everything—the Forbidden Dao, the future, the challenges ahead—it all faded away in that moment.
All that mattered was us, here, now.
But the flicker of the Forbidden Dao inside me didn't completely vanish. It lingered, a quiet reminder of the power that lay within, waiting to be acknowledged. I would have to deal with it soon enough. But not now.
For now, Yue Liqin was all I needed.
She looked up at me, her dark eyes soft yet filled with an intensity that matched the feelings swirling inside me. "Whatever happens next, Yue Phaelo… I'm with you. Always."
I kissed her again, softly, savoring the moment. "And I'll always be with you, I will protect you from anything my woman."
The morning sun continued to rise, its rays warming the room as the two of us stayed wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment.
The rest of the world, with all its dangers, secrets, and power struggles, could wait. For now, it was just us—two souls intertwined in a way that defied reason, and yet, made perfect sense.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for today, we had each other.