Eloquent Ascent

The next morning, the sun peeked through the windows of Xu Qi's quarters, casting a soft glow on the disheveled bed where the two lay entwined. The bustling sound of the outer court couldn't be muffled by the thin walls, stirring him up.

He lifted his hand, feeling the enhanced qi surging through his veins from his dantian. "... Was that what they called dual cultivation?"

He wondered as he only read about it in the novels he read. Furthermore, there should be a technique for it. And yet… the moment he claimed Ling Lian's first time, plucking her primal yin, both of them experienced a significant boost in their cultivation.

He looked at his side and saw Ling Lian's skin flushed a delicate pink. Her breaths were slow and steady as she slept in the crook of his arm. The night had been a whirlwind of passion for both of them, their qi resonating in ways they had never felt before.

Her hair, dark as the night sky, was spread out on the pillow like a pool of ink, framing her pale, moon-like face. Her eyes, which had been vibrant and full of desire only hours ago, were now closed, revealing the long, thick lashes that lay peacefully against her cheeks. Her lips were plump and red, still swollen from their kisses, and her breasts rose and fell gently with each breath, their peaks still sensitive from his attention.

Xu Qi didn't disturb her sleep as he quietly waited until the young woman woke up.

The moment her eyes fluttered open, she was met with his soft gaze, filled with warmth and affection they shared. He gently kissed her forehead, the tender gesture causing a blush to bloom across her cheeks.

Ling Lian smiled shyly as she looked up at Xu Qi, her eyes still glazed over from the afterglow of their union.

But their morning was just starting.

The first hour was spent with them just relishing the night that they had shared. At first, there was an awkward silence as if they both didn't know how to approach the subject but it eventually led to both of them teasing each other, Xu Qi making Ling Lian blush and vice versa.

And by the end of it, their lips did the talking, starting their day with a sweet exchange of passionate kisses.

After that, they both prepared for their day with a newfound energy and understanding between each other.

Xu Qi felt like he had just discovered a treasure that could only be found once in a lifetime. Ling Lian, on the other hand, had a skip in her step as she walked out of Xu Qi's quarters, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

"I'll report my breakthrough to the elders, Behave yourself, alright? Don't provoke Zhang Han recklessly," Ling Lian warned with a playful smack on Xu Qi's butt as she dressed herself, the fabric of her robe swishing around her legs with every movement. Xu Qi helped her with it, drawing a faint blush from their passionate night.

Xu Qi chuckled, "You know me, Ling Lian. I've got a silver tongue. If I had to, I can sweet-talk my way out of a dragon's lair."

Her laughter was like the tinkling of a wind chime, light and melodious, and it filled the room with her delight.

"But seriously, be careful. I don't want to see you hurt." Ling Lian repeated her warning.

Xu Qi nodded, his eyes twinkling with the same playfulness and confidence as before alongside a touch of assurance. "Trust me, I've got a plan. I'll make him a laughingstock if need be."

He leaned in to kiss her, his words a gentle caress against her lips. Ling Lian accepted it, her face charged with another blush.

After that, Ling Lian stepped out, leaving behind only her scent and the traces of what happened between them on the sheets. Xu Qi couldn't help but smile as he watched her go, her figure retreating into the hallway with a grace that belied the fiery passion she had shown in the night.

Their relationship grew closer but there seemed to be no definite label to put on them. Lovers? Close friends? Or something more? Either way, it was clear that Xu Qi and Ling Lian shared a bond that went beyond the typical camaraderie found in cultivators.

An hour later, Xu Qi was also ready to start his day.

He walked through the bustling corridors of the Wandering Palace, his mind still lingering on the sweet memory of Ling Lian's warmth and her untainted moans of pleasure. The way she looked at him, it was like she saw something in him that no one else did. The confidence he once had in his telemarketing days returned tenfold, his words now not just selling products. He knew that with his silver tongue and the power of Celestial Eloquence, he could charm anyone, even the most stoic of elders.

Shortly after, as he was on his way to a spot in the outer court where he'd seen an abundance of primal elements, Xu Qi noticed a familiar presence approaching him from the direction of the inner court.

Who else was it but Xiao Yue? Her movements were as graceful as the first snowfall of winter. Her eyes, a vibrant blue that pierced through the morning fog, searched for him intently.

Her visit was unexpected, yet not entirely unanticipated. If the Elders like Elder Sun heard about him, there's no way Elder He and this senior sister of his would not know about his day-to-day progress.

He looked up and smiled at her but deep inside, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement and a hint of apprehension. How much did she know?

Did she know that he spent last night with Ling Lian? Will she chide him for getting close to another woman after what happened between them?

He was from modern Earth but he knew that he couldn't truly bring the morals of a peaceful world in the middle of a place where power was law. Xiao Yue was his benefactor and he would always be indebted to her. What happened between them would also continue to remain precious. He wouldn't be going to throw it just because he'd grown closer to Ling Lian.

He shook his head, trying to ignore that he might have also been influenced by the difference in surroundings, making him bold.

In his mind, his relationship with the two women wasn't that much different. An intimate and special one.

Audacious he might be for being a toad who wanted to eat swan meat, he was certain about the genuine affection and bond he shared with Xiao Yue.