After the battle against the dark cultivators, the estate felt strangely quiet. The tension that had gripped everyone earlier had faded, but for Li Tian, a new restlessness took its place. The confrontation with the dark leader had left more questions than answers. Who were these dark forces, and why were they targeting the Li family? More importantly, how deep did this threat go?
Sitting alone in his room, Li Tian pondered these thoughts. His mind wandered to the system's latest prompt:
[New Quest: Investigate the Dark Cultivator's Return.]
The system had been crucial in guiding him through his challenges so far, but even with its support, this new mission felt more ominous. The dark cultivators seemed organized, their leader strong and determined to seek revenge. But Li Tian wasn't the type to back down. A sense of duty—mixed with the thrill of new power—drove him to press forward.
Just then, the system chimed again, pulling him from his thoughts.
[Special Task: Investigate the Cult of Shadows.]
[Hint: Follow the trail of dark energy detected in the northern mountains.]
[Reward: Shadow Step Technique.]
The description intrigued Li Tian. Shadow Step? A technique that sounded both powerful and mysterious. It was exactly the kind of tool he needed to deal with enemies who moved in the shadows. Without wasting time, he rose from his seat and prepared to set off toward the northern mountains.
As he gathered his things, there was a soft knock on his door.
"Come in," Li Tian called, assuming it might be one of the servants or even Zheng Wei with an update on the post-battle situation.
To his surprise, the door creaked open to reveal Liu Mei, her slender form framed in the dim candlelight of the room.
"Liu Mei?" Li Tian's voice softened, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. He hadn't expected her to visit at this hour.
Her gaze met his, a hint of mischief playing in her eyes. "I figured I'd drop by since you've been avoiding me," she teased, closing the door behind her. There was no anger in her tone, just the lightheartedness that he had grown accustomed to.
"Avoiding you?" Li Tian smirked, shaking his head. "Not at all. I've just been... busy."
"Busy saving the family, fighting dark cultivators, and winning battles? Yes, I've heard the stories," she said with a playful smile as she stepped closer. "I've also heard rumors about other women…"
Li Tian's smirk grew wider, sensing where this conversation was headed. "You've heard, have you?"
Liu Mei stood just a breath away now, looking up at him with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "So, tell me, Li Tian… how many women do you actually have by your side?"
Her tone was teasing, but there was a glint of something deeper in her eyes—perhaps a touch of insecurity. Li Tian, however, wasn't one to hide the truth.
He chuckled softly. "More than a few. But none of them can take your place."
The playful glint in Liu Mei's eyes faltered for just a moment, replaced by a flicker of emotion. "Is that so?"
Li Tian didn't waste another moment. He closed the distance between them, gently placing his hand on her cheek. "Liu Mei, I won't lie to you. There are women in my life, and there will probably be more as time goes on. But that doesn't change how I feel about you."
Liu Mei blinked, taken aback by his honesty. For a moment, she said nothing, her mind clearly wrestling with her emotions. But then, as if all at once, the tension melted from her features. She smiled—soft, genuine, and just a little bit sad.
"I suppose that's something I'll have to get used to," she whispered, leaning into his touch.
Li Tian's thumb brushed against her skin, his voice low. "You will. And I'll make sure you never regret being by my side."
Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was soft at first, a gentle press of lips, but it quickly deepened as the intensity between them grew. Liu Mei's arms found their way around his neck, pulling him closer as she melted into the embrace.
Their bodies pressed together, the heat between them undeniable. Time seemed to slow as they held each other, the weight of their connection deepening with every second. Li Tian's hand trailed down her back, pulling her even closer until there was no space between them.
Without breaking the kiss, he guided her toward the bed, and as they sank down onto the sheets, their movements grew more urgent. The air was thick with the promise of what was to come.
In that quiet, intimate moment, words became unnecessary. The way their bodies responded to each other spoke volumes, more than any confession could. They surrendered to the heat, the passion between them building until there was no doubt where the night would lead.
And when morning came, they would wake up knowing their connection had changed—deepened into something unspoken but understood.
Hours later, the first light of dawn filtered through the window. Li Tian lay in bed, Liu Mei nestled beside him, her head resting on his chest. The warmth of the early morning sun cast a soft glow over the room, but Li Tian's mind was already racing with thoughts of the challenges ahead.
The Cult of Shadows… the system's task still weighed heavily on his mind. He knew he couldn't linger here for long. But for now, he allowed himself a brief moment of peace.
Liu Mei stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open as she looked up at him with a sleepy smile.
"You're awake already?" she asked, her voice soft.
Li Tian chuckled. "I'm always awake early."
"Of course you are," she teased, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. "You always have something to do, don't you?"
"I have to head out soon," Li Tian admitted. "There's something I need to investigate. Dark energy… up in the northern mountains."
Liu Mei sighed, clearly not thrilled by the idea of him leaving so soon, but she didn't protest. "I understand. Just promise me you'll come back in one piece."
"I promise," Li Tian said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
And with that, the moment of calm was over. Li Tian knew the path ahead was fraught with danger, but as he prepared to leave, he felt stronger than ever.