Xiao Tian felt four small hands gently caressing his waist. He could even feel the warmth of their fingers and the faint fluctuations of Dou Qi lingering at their fingertips.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Xiao Tian, pouring down like rain. His mind raced, but every idea he had was ultimately overturned. Although he and Han Yue hadn't defined their relationship yet, she had certainly entered his heart, and he undoubtedly held a place in hers. He didn't want to lie to them, because one lie would require countless others to cover it up.
"Hehe, you look so good like this!" Ya Fei chuckled, covering her mouth.
"Actually, Sister Xun'er already told us. With your main wife's approval, we naturally have no objections," Qing Lin said playfully to Xiao Tian.
"Haha!"
Just as Xiao Tian was trying to think of a solution, Ya Fei and the other girls beside him burst into laughter. Xiao Tian looked up and saw that they all wore playful smiles, and he instantly realized they had teamed up to tease him.
"Oh? You dare to joke with me? It seems I need to show my authority as the head of the family."
Xiao Tian was about to grab them and give their bottoms a good smack, but the girls already knew his personality and habits. Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Medusa immediately shielded Ya Fei and Yun Yun.
Xiao Tian looked at their actions, his mind instantly filled with dark lines. Was this "holding the emperor to command the lords"? Watching their movements, he smiled bitterly to himself. He sighed softly, as if they had found his weakness, and reluctantly lowered the hand that was about to "punish" them.
He looked at Yun Yun and Ya Fei standing at the forefront, protecting each other like cubs, then at the three girls on either side tilting their heads to look at him, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"So you're all ganging up to bully me now," Xiao Tian said, feigning hurt.
Xiao Yi Xian and the other girls secretly smiled at his act, while Medusa's lips curved slightly upward.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Seeing that their attention was diverted, Xiao Tian instantly appeared behind them and landed firm smacks on the shapely bottoms of the three who had been hiding.
"Ow, it hurts! You're cheating!"
Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin clutched their bottoms, looking at Xiao Tian with resentful expressions. Queen Medusa's face, however, was tinged with a blush, and she dared not look at him.
"So, do you want me to rub them for you?"
Xiao Tian pulled Ya Fei and Yun Yun, who were standing, onto his lap, looking teasingly at the three girls clutching their bottoms.
"Pah, don't think I don't know your little schemes!"
Xiao Yi Xian, as expected, rejected his offer, with an expression that said, "You think I don't know what you're trying to do!"
"Hmph, you wish. You want to have your cake and eat it too."
Medusa also snorted softly, leaning against a pillar and looking at the scenery outside, her thoughts wandering elsewhere.
The conversation gradually turned toward Han Yue. The girls spoke lightly of how the cold beauty had finally softened, and how her steps had been unsteady that morning.
Xiao Yi Xian listened for a moment, then looked at Xiao Tian with a calm, serious expression.
"Husband, since we are speaking of these matters… you should also think about Xiao Yu."
The other women fell quiet.
"Everyone already knows," Xiao Yi Xian continued softly. "Cousin Xiao Yu has loved you for a long time. She has waited long enough. You should accept her properly."
Xiao Tian was silent for a few breaths. Then he nodded.
"Alright."
That same night, inside Xiao Tian's palace.
Xiao Tian lay on the large bed, shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose black pants. His upper body was bare, muscles smooth under the soft night-pearl light. He sent a quiet sound transmission.
A short while later, Xiao Yu arrived.
On the path leading to the palace, she met several of the other women. Ya Fei, Yun Yun, Medusa, and Qing Lin were standing together. When they saw her, they all smiled gently. Qing Lin stepped forward, took Xiao Yu's hand, and said softly,
"After tonight… we will truly become sisters."
Xiao Yu's face turned bright red, but she still nodded.
She entered the room.
Xiao Tian was still lying on the bed, one arm behind his head, eyes half-closed. When he heard the door close, he opened his eyes and looked at her.
Xiao Yu stood beside the bed, hands clasped in front of her, cheeks flushed.
"…Why did you summon me?"
Xiao Tian did not answer immediately. He pointed toward a small table.
"First, get me a drink."
Xiao Yu obediently poured a cup of clear spiritual tea and brought it to him. He took it, drank a sip, then set the cup aside. His gaze met hers.
"Xiao Yu. Do you love me… or are you only acting like a cousin who cares?"
Xiao Yu's face burned hotter. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She looked down, fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve.
Xiao Tian's voice remained calm.
"If you love me, then tonight you will become my woman completely. If you don't, leave now. From this day on, we will live only as normal cousins, and I will never ask again."
Panic flashed across Xiao Yu's eyes. She raised her head quickly, her voice trembling but clear.
"I… I love you! I want to be your wife!"
Xiao Tian's expression softened. He reached out, took her wrist, and pulled her onto the bed. He guided her so that she sat astride his lower belly, fully clothed, looking down at him.
Xiao Yu bent forward and kissed him on the lips, still shy, still wearing every layer of her clothing. Xiao Tian returned the kiss, then gently bit her lower lip. His hands began to caress her body over the fabric — sliding along her waist, up her back, then cupping her soft breasts through the dress. He lowered his head and sucked her nipples through the thin cloth until the fabric grew damp and the peaks stood out clearly.
Xiao Yu's breathing quickened. After a moment she gathered her courage, bent lower, and began to suck on his nipples in return, soft and tentative.
Only then did Xiao Tian slowly undress her. Piece by piece her clothes fell away until she was completely naked in his arms. He removed his own pants. Now she lay beneath him, and he was above her.
He spread her thighs, positioned the thick head of his cock at her entrance, and pushed in slowly. Xiao Yu's eyes widened; a soft, pained cry left her lips as her virginity was taken. Xiao Tian moved carefully at first, giving her time to adjust, then began to thrust deeper and steadier.
When he finally buried himself fully and released inside her, a brilliant golden light flared across the back of Xiao Yu's right hand.
An intricate Purple-Gold Dragon Mark bloomed on her skin — scales of living light, the dragon's head rearing proudly. The mark pulsed once, then settled permanently into her flesh.
Xiao Tian held her close afterward. Their bodies remained intertwined, her head resting on his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her. Exhausted and content, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
…
The next day.
Xiao Tian appeared in his room at Jia Nan Academy. Upon arriving in the main hall, he saw Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Yu already seated there. Today was the day for Heart Flame Body Tempering, and Xiao Tian had already told Cousin Xiao Yu that he would give his spot to her.
Cousin Xiao Yu, not seeing Xun'er behind Xiao Tian, asked, "Where's Xun'er?"
The others also cast questioning glances, for they too had noticed Xun'er's strangeness recently.
"Xun'er has returned to her clan. She might not return to the Academy for a short time, or perhaps not at all," Xiao Tian said softly, looking at the others.
"Returned to her clan?" Cousin Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan were slightly startled, then remembered what their elders had told them before—that Xun'er was not a member of the Xiao Clan but was essentially fostered.
Wu Hao and Hu Jia were both stunned, especially Hu Jia, who looked utterly heartbroken. "Then I won't be able to see such a beautiful Xun'er anymore?"
"You might see her again soon. Going back doesn't mean never coming out again, Tiger Girl," Xiao Tian said, teasing Hu Jia with a smile as he looked at her exaggerated reaction.
Hearing Xiao Tian's address, Hu Jia was so annoyed she nearly burst into flames. Forgetting her sadness, she shot to her feet. "I'm going to kill you! Ah ah ah ah!"
Xiao Tian watched Hu Jia flailing her arms and reached out to press her head, preventing her from getting close.
The slightly oppressive atmosphere caused by Xun'er's departure gradually dissolved amidst Hu Jia's shouts.
"Alright, Cousin Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan Zi, are you both ready?"
Xiao Tian looked at Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Yu before him. Hearing his question, both instantly became serious.
"No problem. We've already adjusted our states. We're just waiting for today."
Xiao Tian noticed Wu Hao and Hu Jia both wearing envious expressions and gently patted Hu Jia's head. "With your rate of growth, there will definitely be a place for you in the top ten next year."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Hu Jia instantly reverted to her usual Little Witch demeanor, patting her ample assets. "Of course! We're only losing because we're younger. If you give me time, I'll definitely be fine."
"Since that's the case, let's set off. I imagine it's about time."
Xiao Tian's number one cultivation room and Zi Yan's number two cultivation room—after some "friendly" communication with Zi Yan regarding elixirs—he had "amicably" obtained the right to use them. When Zi Yan wasn't using them, he lent them to the three girls. Xiao Yan had his own, but sometimes he would occasionally swap with them and go to the number one cultivation room.
On the day they had discussed it, Zi Yan had left with a skip in her step, her eyes curved in a smile as she clutched a dozen jade bottles.
When Xiao Tian led the Boundless Gate members to the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda, many people were already standing outside the tower. Among them, he saw Liu Qing's Split Mountain Gang and Lin Xiuya's Wolf Fang. Although Lin Xiuya's Wolf Fang had fewer members—less than twenty—every single one of them was at least a One-Star Dou Ling.
When the others saw Boundless Gate led by Xiao Tian, they all made way, clearing a path directly to the largest open space inside. Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan exchanged glances. What they had discussed earlier had now been achieved.
After standing firm, Xiao Tian nodded amicably to Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing. Both of them quickly responded.
"Xiao Tian, why are you so slow? I'm almost bored to death!"
Zi Yan, dressed in a white dress, came to Xiao Tian's side, looking thoroughly weary and helpless.
Xiao Tian couldn't help but smile at Zi Yan's expression and patted her head. "That's because you came too early. Besides, this Heart Flame Body Tempering might actually help you grow up."
"It really does. Every time I absorb the energy inside, I feel like I'm a little closer to growing up. It's just that Old Su is too stingy. He only gives so little. If he hadn't hidden them so well, I would have eaten them all already."
Zi Yan pouted helplessly upon hearing Xiao Tian's words, finally smacking her lips.
If Su Qian had heard Zi Yan's words, he would probably be jumping with anxiety. It took the Inner Academy a long time to collect that much, and if she saw it, it would likely vanish without a trace.
Xiao Tian chuckled and shook his head at Zi Yan's adorable manner.
"Junior Xiao Tian!"
A clear, cool voice rang out behind Xiao Tian. He turned and saw Han Yue, leading the members of Moon Spirit, approaching him.