Her lips still glistened as she drew back from between his legs, eyes half-lidded in the candlelight. For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the slowing rhythm of their breaths. Then, Han Jie sat upright, running her fingers through her hair before fixing her gaze on him.
"Brother Shi," she said, her voice low but steady.
Shi Yang blinked, his chest rising and falling, his body still tingling from the aftershocks of release. He waited, silent, though inside his heart burned with triumph.
Han Jie leaned closer, her lips brushing the edge of his ear. "I have to confess—I've been testing you. I feared your so-called scripture was mere boasting, another false path like countless men before you. But… my dantian responded. It truly resonated with your Yang. My cultivation surged further in one night than it has in months with others."
Her hand traced his chest, her nails faintly biting into his skin. "Brother Shi, I propose we make this… arrangement lasting. A partnership of dual cultivation."
The candlelight flickered, shadows painting her curves as her eyes glowed with hunger—not just carnal, but for power. "You give me what I desire, and in return, I give you strength, protection, and opportunities you could never find alone. Together, we can climb faster than either of us would apart."
She pressed her forehead to his, whispering like a vow. "What say you?"
Inside, Shi Yang's heart roared. Heaven has not forsaken me. It has handed me a beauty, a partner, and a path to rise above all. I doubted you, Heaven, and I was wrong. Forgive me. From this day forth, I will grasp beauty, power, and eternity with both hands.
But outwardly, he remained silent, only meeting her gaze with steady eyes.
Han Jie smiled faintly at his composure, taking it as agreement. She pulled herself against him once more, her warmth pressing into his side, and whispered, "Good. Then let this night be the first of many."
—
Half an hour later.
The candlelight flickered gently over the private chamber, painting the bedsheets in warm gold and amber. Shi Yang and Han Jie lay sprawled together beneath the tangled sheets, their limbs intertwined in comfortable exhaustion. Her head rested against his chest, her breath slow and steady, while his fingers idly traced patterns across her back.
After a long moment, she spoke softly, her voice curious but gentle. "Brother Shi… what's on your mind? You've been silent ever since we… finished."
Shi Yang shifted slightly, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. "I-it's nothing," he muttered, cheeks warming. He hesitated, then added quietly, "I've… never been in a situation like this before. It's… strange for me."
Han Jie let out a soft laugh, pressing her warmth closer to him. "Me neither," she admitted, her tone tinged with amusement. "It's… different from what I expected. But… I don't hate it."
Silence returned for a few more heartbeats, only the sound of their synchronized breathing filling the space. Then Han Jie stirred, rolling slightly to stretch her arms above her head. "Ugh… my bones ache," she murmured, glancing down at the sheets. "I need a bath."
She looked at him, a faint flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "I didn't book a room in the pavilion… do you think I could use your lotus cauldron?"
Shi Yang smiled, feeling a small pride bloom in his chest. "You're free to use it," he said, his voice warm but casual.
Her lips curved into a sly smile, and she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hm… your words are kind, but I can tell your wallet's tight. Don't worry, I'll repay you properly next time," she teased, leaning forward to press a soft, lingering kiss to his cheek before rising from the bed.
Shi Yang watched her go, a strange mixture of awe and excitement twisting in his chest. This world sure is incredible, he thought, smiling. "But I could have done without the heart attack in between."
He sat up on the mattress. Should I join her? No, that'd come off as desperate.
Then what should I do now? he thought, while enjoying the afterglow of yin-yang union. I've technically just been dropped into a new world, with a solid enough foundation, basic cultivation efficiency, and my own half-hearted claim.
He pulled the sheets from him, standing up and moving toward the windowsill. Shi Yang walked barefoot, his feet moving against the polished wood, as he paid attention to the quiet murmurs beyond the curtains.
The wind blew gently, particularly letting him glimpse out into the starlit night.
Shi Yang leaned against the windowsill, letting the cool night air brush against his heated skin. The starlight shimmered across the city below, painting the rooftops in pale silver. For a moment, the world felt impossibly vast, yet intimate, as though every shadow held a secret waiting for him to uncover.
Curiosity tugged at him, and he eased himself onto the narrow ledge of the fifth-floor window. His legs dangled over the side, toes brushing the tiles just beneath, heart quickening with both thrill and caution. From this height, the streets stretched out like a living map of the city, lanterns flickering along cobbled paths, the soft murmur of footsteps, laughter, and distant conversations filling the quiet night.
He expected to see only the rugged, muscular men of the rogue cultivators—warriors hardened by a cruel world, faces marked with scars, eyes sharp with suspicion. That had been his assumption of life here: male dominance, struggle, and constant competition.
But his eyes betrayed him.
There were figures walking gracefully among the streets, moving with the ease and poise of women. Their robes flowed, their gait elegant. Shi Yang's brow furrowed. He blinked, looked again, convinced that the dim lantern light was playing tricks on him.
And then the truth hit him with slow clarity: every figure he'd been watching was a man.
Men dressed as women, with delicate features painted in makeup, hair adorned in elaborate styles, and even their voices softened to mimic the tones of the fairer sex. The city had built a strange, intricate illusion of normalcy—a hidden masquerade where gender and identity were warped to maintain order in a world still recovering from the chaos of the Immortal Road Sage's decree.
Shi Yang leaned further forward, eyes drinking in the meticulous choreography of the streets below. Some men walked alone, heads bowed as if to avoid attention; others moved in pairs or small groups, laughing lightly, carefully maintaining the delicate deception. A few rogue cultivators patrolled the streets, unaware—or willfully ignoring—the truth of those they passed.
He shook his head slightly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. So this is the world I've been thrown into.
The quiet thrill of discovery sent a ripple through him. Here, amidst the masquerade, were opportunities and secrets beyond imagination. Hidden clans, lost techniques, beauties veiled in plain sight… and perhaps even treasures for those bold enough to seek them.
Shi Yang settled back on the ledge, letting the night wind play with his hair. His thoughts wandered back to Han Jie, to the warmth of her body, to the pulse of cultivation that still hummed through him. If even this city hides so much in plain sight… what else does the world conceal?
The streets below continued their subtle dance, and Shi Yang watched, silent, calculating, and ever aware that every step in this strange new world was a step toward power, pleasure, and mastery.