That night, the bridal chamber was prepared with the same meticulous care as the ceremony. White lotus petals covered the floor and bed, their fragrance subtle but intoxicating. Candles flickered, casting warm shadows across the room, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and passion.
Li Jue entered first, his heart racing in anticipation. He turned as Li Feng stepped in, her veil still covering her face. She closed the door behind her, the soft rustle of her gown the only sound.
"You're stunning," he said, his voice husky.
"And you," she replied, lifting her veil to reveal her radiant face, "are mine."
He moved toward her, his hands gently tracing the curve of her face. Their gazes locked, and for a moment, the weight of their ambitions and battles fell away. They were just two souls who had found each other in a chaotic world.
Their first kiss as husband and wife was slow, deliberate, and filled with longing. It deepened quickly, their mutual hunger igniting. Li Jue pulled her closer, his hands sliding down her back, while her fingers threaded through his hair.
As they moved to the bed, their passion grew. Clothes were shed, revealing bare skin that seemed to glow in the candlelight. Their touch was both tender and urgent, each caress a promise of devotion. They explored each other with an intimacy that went beyond the physical, their energies intertwining as their bodies did. The act of consummation was not merely physical; it was spiritual, their cultivation energies merging and amplifying in perfect harmony.
In the aftermath, they lay tangled together, their breathing uneven but their hearts steady. Li Feng rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Li Jue," she murmured, "I have a question."
"Anything," he said, his fingers tracing patterns on her bare shoulder.
"Do you ever think about children? About what a family would mean for us?"
He tilted her chin to meet his gaze, his expression serious yet loving. "I've thought about it. But I've come to a decision. I don't want children, Li Feng."
Her eyes widened slightly, and then a soft smile graced her lips. "Neither do I."
They shared a moment of silent understanding before he continued. "Children would be a distraction, a third presence in what we have. Our ambition is too great, our love too consuming. I want to spend eternity with you, undivided and undistracted."
She nodded. "The path we walk is not one for families. I would never want anyone, not even a child, to come between us. This love, this bond—we've built something that can't be shared."
"Then we're agreed," Li Jue said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "No children. Just us, forever."
"Forever," she echoed, her voice filled with conviction.