The silver moon bathed the courtyard in its soft glow, illuminating the pair who stood beneath the swaying branches of an ancient willow tree. A gentle breeze carried the scent of night-blooming lotus flowers, adding an intoxicating sweetness to the air.
Qing Yue's body was taut, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as they rested against Ling Tianxiao's chest. She had trained for millennia, cultivated her Dao to perfection, and yet… this moment unraveled her completely.
"Tianxiao…" Her whisper was fragile, unsure.
He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing against her lower lip, sending an electric shiver down her spine. "Tell me to stop," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.
She should. She was his guardian, his elder, his aunt—yet none of those titles could hold back the emotions that surged through her like a tidal wave. She had loved him since he was a child, watched over him, protected him. But he was no longer the boy who needed her protection.
He was a man.
A man who now stood before her with a gaze that burned with devotion, tenderness, and something far deeper.
"I… can't." The confession escaped her lips before she could stop it.
Tianxiao's golden eyes darkened with something primal. "Then don't."
His lips descended upon hers, soft yet demanding in their need. The moment they touched, Qing Yue felt her mind blank. She had never known such intimacy, had never allowed herself to crave another person's touch.
But now, as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against his firm body, she lost herself in the feeling.
A soft gasp escaped her when he deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing against hers, teasing, coaxing her into responding. Hesitantly at first, then with a hunger that startled even herself, Qing Yue surrendered to the fire igniting within her.
Her hands moved of their own will, tracing the hard lines of his chest beneath his robe. The sensation of his firm muscles tensing under her touch sent a thrill through her veins. He was strong—undeniably powerful—yet here, he was completely hers.
Tianxiao let out a low groan, pulling her even closer, his hands sliding down to her slender waist, then lower, tracing the curve of her hips.
"Yue…" He breathed her name like a prayer, filled with reverence and longing.
She shivered as his lips left a trail of heated kisses down the side of her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin just enough to make her gasp.
Her knees grew weak, but before she could falter, he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her into the private pavilion. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of sandalwood and jasmine.
As he laid her upon the silk-covered bed, he hovered above her, his gaze searching hers for any sign of hesitation. "Do you regret this?"
Qing Yue reached up, cupping his cheek, her violet eyes shining with a love she had buried for too long. "No."
That was all he needed.
With a slow, reverent touch, Tianxiao loosened the sash of her robes, the fabric slipping from her shoulders to reveal porcelain skin that seemed to glow under the candlelight.
He paused, drinking in the sight of her, his breath uneven. "You are… divine."
A blush crept up her neck, but there was no time for embarrassment as he leaned down, his lips tracing a path over her collarbone, then lower, worshipping every inch of her.
Her fingers tangled in his dark hair as he continued his exploration, each touch, each kiss, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body.
Tianxiao was not rough, nor was he greedy—instead, he took his time, his movements filled with devotion, as if he were committing every part of her to memory.
When he finally entered her, it was slow, deliberate—a joining of souls rather than just bodies.
Qing Yue gasped, her back arching, her nails digging into his shoulders as pleasure and emotion overwhelmed her. "Tianxiao…!"
"I'm here," he whispered against her lips, his pace steady, coaxing her, guiding her, letting her adjust to the new sensations.
He cherished her. Worshipped her. And for the first time in her long life, she felt truly desired—not for her power, not for her status, but for who she was.
Their movements were slow at first, each thrust deep and intimate, but as their bodies adjusted, the passion grew. Their breaths mingled, their moans filled the chamber, and for the first time, Qing Yue let herself fully embrace the love she had denied for centuries.
The night stretched on, filled with whispered confessions, tangled limbs, and endless pleasure.
When they finally collapsed into each other's arms, their bodies slick with sweat, their hearts beating as one, Qing Yue knew there was no going back.
She had crossed the line.
And she would do it again.
Because she belonged to him now, as much as he belonged to her.
The first rays of dawn painted the horizon in soft hues of gold and crimson, spilling through the silk curtains of the pavilion. The lingering scent of sandalwood and jasmine clung to the air, intertwined with something deeper—something intimate.
Qing Yue stirred, her long silver lashes fluttering as her body awakened to a foreign yet undeniable warmth.
She was no longer alone in her bed.
The realization sent a shiver down her spine. Last night had been real.
She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling upon Ling Tianxiao, who lay beside her, still lost in slumber. The golden sunlight caressed his sharp features—the perfect lines of his jaw, the slight furrow in his brows even in sleep, the way his dark hair fell messily over his forehead.
He looked… peaceful.
But Qing Yue knew the storm that raged beneath that calm facade.
Last night, he had not only claimed her body—he had laid bare his heart.
And she had done the same.
A flush crept up her neck as memories of their union surged through her mind—the way he had touched her, worshiped her, whispered her name with such reverence.
She felt sore in the most delicious way, a lingering reminder of their passion.
Yet, alongside the lingering pleasure was a flicker of uncertainty. What now?
She was his guardian, his elder. The Dao forbade such attachments, and their very bond defied tradition. If the Immortal Clans discovered this… the consequences would be severe.
But even as those thoughts clouded her mind, she did not regret it.
Because for the first time in her endless life, she had chosen something for herself.
And she had chosen him.
A low groan broke her thoughts as Tianxiao shifted beside her, his golden eyes slowly blinking open. His gaze immediately found hers, and for a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then, a slow, lazy smirk curved his lips. "You're staring, Yue."
Qing Yue's breath caught, her blush deepening. "I was not."
He chuckled, voice still husky from sleep. "Lying doesn't suit you."
Before she could respond, he reached out, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face, his fingers lingering against her cheek. "You're still here," he murmured, as if he had half-expected her to vanish like a dream.
She swallowed, unable to look away. "Did you think I would leave?"
"I wasn't sure." He traced slow, lazy circles on her bare shoulder, his touch featherlight yet intensely possessive. "You've always been distant… always holding yourself back."
Qing Yue exhaled softly. "I was afraid."
Tianxiao's gaze darkened. "And now?"
She hesitated for only a moment before answering, her fingers intertwining with his.
"I am still afraid. But… I will not run."
Something flickered in his expression—relief, warmth, something deeper. Then, his smirk returned. "Good."
Before she could react, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him, his bare skin pressed against hers.
A soft gasp escaped her lips as his weight settled over her. "Tianxiao, we shouldn't—"
His lips brushed against hers, cutting off her protest. "Do you truly want me to stop?"
Her body betrayed her. She arched into him, her fingers clutching his arms.
"…No," she whispered.
His smirk widened. "Then let me love you again."
And as the morning sun rose over the Lower Realm, the world outside faded away, leaving only the tangled sheets and the sound of their shared breaths.
---
Later That Day
By midday, the city of Yunhai was already alive with activity, unaware that two of the most powerful beings to ever set foot in the Lower Realm were walking its streets.
Qing Yue walked slightly behind Tianxiao, her usual cool demeanor somewhat undone by the events of the past night.
He, on the other hand, seemed entirely unbothered, his expression relaxed, his stride confident.
As they moved through the market, Tianxiao's gaze flickered toward a group of cultivators wearing the robes of the Azure Sky Sect—the same sect as Ye Tian, the protagonist figure he had identified yesterday.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"It's time to have some fun."
Qing Yue raised an eyebrow. "You're going after that fate-bound individual, aren't you?"
"Of course," Tianxiao said smoothly. "He has an ancient inheritance waiting for him in three days. I'd hate for him to waste it."
She sighed, though a hint of amusement danced in her violet eyes. "Do as you wish. But be careful. Fate always tries to correct itself."
He chuckled. "Then I'll just have to break fate itself."
And with that, Ling Tianxiao took his first step toward rewriting destiny—this time, as the villain who would no longer play by the world's rules.