Chapter 781 – "Under Siege"
Far from the calm within Alex's tent, chaos erupted across the Frost Moon Palace's position. The once serene clearing was now churned earth, splintered trees, and the stench of blood.
Several massive beasts — each radiating the oppressive aura of the 9th level — had descended upon them in a sudden, coordinated attack. Their roars shook the air, sending waves of pressure that threatened to crush even the strongest disciples to their knees.
Blades flashed, spells flared, and the Frost Moon Palace disciples fought desperately to hold their ground. Even the elders found themselves pressed to their limits, their robes torn and blood-stained from the relentless onslaught.
By the time the last beast collapsed with a thunderous crash, the survivors were panting, their limbs heavy, and their faces pale from mana depletion. Many bore wounds — some deep, others hastily bandaged — but by some miracle, not a single life had been lost.
That miracle had a name.
Two figures stood at the heart of the battered group, their clothes marked with blood and dust but their eyes still sharp — the Master of Frost Moon Palace, and Lan Xueya.
The Master Sect's sword dripped with the blood of the final beast, his breathing steady despite the effort it had taken to fell it. Beside him, Lan Xueya lowered her weapon, her usually composed expression softened by relief.
"It's over," she said quietly, scanning the survivors. "Everyone's alive. That's what matters."
The Master Sect gave a short nod, though his gaze swept the tree line warily. "But this was no random attack. They were driven toward us."
Lan Xueya sheathed her weapon, her expression firm despite the lingering exhaustion in her movements. "At this rate, continuing the treasure hunt is reckless. We've lost too much mana, and too many are injured to fight at full strength."
The Sect Master of Frost Moon Palace nodded in agreement, wiping the blood from his blade before returning it to its scabbard. "You're right. Pushing forward now would only make us easy prey for the next attack. We'll halt here."
He turned to the gathered disciples, his voice steady but carrying enough authority to silence the groans and murmurs. "Form up! We're finding a place to rest and recover before we take another step."
Lan Xueya stepped forward, scanning the surrounding terrain. Her gaze caught on a ridge to the east where the forest thinned, revealing a small rise ringed by natural stone outcroppings. "There," she pointed. "The elevation will give us a defensive advantage, and the rocks can block at least one side from approach."
Within minutes, the group began moving, helping the injured and keeping the more able-bodied at the perimeter. The Master Sect and Lan Xueya led the way, cutting through the undergrowth until they reached the sheltered rise.
The place was far from luxurious, but after the chaos of the battle, it felt like a haven.
Lan Xueya's eyes swept over the group as they settled in. "We'll rotate shifts for keeping watch. No one rests until we're certain it's safe."
The Sect Master gave a short nod of approval. "Agreed. We regroup now — the treasure will still be there when we're ready."
Night had fallen over the camp, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the sparse canopy above. The disciples rested in small clusters, some tending wounds, others quietly meditating to restore mana.
At the edge of the camp, the Sect Master of Frost Moon Palace stood watching the perimeter. When she saw Lan Xueya pass nearby, she called softly, "Xueya, walk with me."
They moved a short distance away from the others, their footsteps muted on the grass. For a while, there was only the faint whisper of the wind through the trees, until the Sect Master spoke.
"I know," she said quietly, her tone measured but certain. "You like Alex."
Lan Xueya froze for a fraction of a second before her composure faltered, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "We've… never spoken of this before, Sect Master…"
The older woman's sigh was soft, but it carried the weight of long experience. "You know our sect's rules as well as I do. To master the Frost Moon Palace's ice techniques to their peak, one must remain a virgin. It is the path we have walked for generations." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And yet… you would not give up your precious right to love a man."
Lan Xueya's lips pressed together, her blush lingering. She didn't deny it.
The Sect Master's gaze turned briefly toward the campfire, the light reflecting in her eyes. Outwardly, she was always the picture of calm and courtesy when dealing with other Sect Masters, but in her heart, she harbored little respect for them — particularly the men. Centuries of watching them posture, scheme, and take what they pleased had left her with a quiet disdain.
She was over five hundred years old, yet the years had not touched her beauty. Her skin was flawless, her form graceful, and her face as fresh as a woman in her twenties — much like Shi Lian, untouched by the erosion of time.
Lan Xueya lowered her gaze for a moment, fingers curling slightly at her sides. "I know the rules, Sect Master… but knowing them doesn't change how I feel. Alex is… different." Her voice softened, though the blush still lingered. "I don't believe he would ever look at me the way other men do."
The Sect Master studied her for a long moment before asking, "And what if you are wrong? What if he rejects you?"
Lan Xueya's breath caught, but she lifted her chin. "Then… I will accept it. But I would rather know the truth than live wondering."
The Sect Master's expression shifted — not quite disapproval, but something more complex. She looked away, her gaze fixed on the dark treeline as memories stirred. "Your words remind me of myself… long ago."
Lan Xueya blinked, surprised. "You?"
A faint, bitter smile touched the older woman's lips. "Yes. I once fell madly in love with a man. I believed we were meant to be. When the wedding day came…" She paused, her voice cooling. "…he left me. Chose another woman — one more powerful, with a stronger backing. My love meant nothing in the face of his ambition."
Lan Xueya's chest tightened at the quiet steel in her teacher's voice.
The Sect Master turned back to her, eyes sharp with an edge of protectiveness. "I will not allow my disciples to face the same fate. If a man cannot value you above status, wealth, or power, then he is not worth your heart — no matter how different he may seem."
The Sect Master's eyes seemed to grow distant, her voice lowering as if she were speaking more to herself than to Lan Xueya. "Back then, I didn't even hope to be his wife. I would have been content to be one of his mistresses… even a secret lover. I would have followed him quietly, without demanding anything more than his presence."
Her lips tightened, a flicker of something raw crossing her usually composed face. "But instead, he left me. After all his promises, after all the words meant to make me believe… he simply walked away. Chose someone else, without so much as a goodbye."
Lan Xueya listened in silence, sensing the rare vulnerability beneath her Sect Master's calm.
"I did not hate him for marrying another woman," the Sect Master continued, her tone sharpening. "I hated him for being irresponsible — for toying with my heart and then discarding it without the courage to face me. That… is what I cannot forgive."
She turned her gaze fully on Lan Xueya now, her usual poise returning, though her eyes held the faintest shadow of that old pain. "Understand this, Xueya — it is not the loss of love that wounds deepest. It is betrayal of trust. That is what will break you, if you give your heart to the wrong man."
The Sect Master's gaze drifted away again, as though she could still see that day in her mind as clearly as if it were yesterday. "His name… was Mu Qing."
Lan Xueya's eyes widened slightly — the name was not unknown.
"He married an elder of the True Void Sect," the Sect Master continued, her voice calm but laced with a quiet bitterness. "It was a grand ceremony, full of pomp and ceremony, every notable figure of the time in attendance."
She let out a slow breath. "That day… I was not at the ninth level. I was not the Sect Master of Frost Moon Palace. I was simply a woman who loved him — foolish enough to think that mattered more than alliances and cultivation realms."
Her eyes narrowed faintly, not at Lan Xueya but at the memory. "And in his eyes, I was nothing compared to what the True Void Sect could offer him."
The Sect Master's voice lingered on that name — Mu Qing — as though tasting the bitterness of it even after centuries. Then, with a small shake of her head, she turned her thoughts back to the present.
"These tournaments… they remind me just how much has changed between the continents."
Lan Xueya tilted her head slightly. "You mean the balance of power?"
"Yes," the Sect Master replied, her tone cooling into the voice of a strategist. "The Western Continent is stable, unified under the Heavenly Sect. They dominate without fail — the rest of their peers are little more than background players. Azure Spirit Sect, Iron Fist Sect, Golden Root Sect, White Lotus Sect… all strong in their own ways, but rarely a threat."
Her gaze hardened slightly. "The Northern Continent is another story. Blood Moon Sect, Savage Fang Hall, Ghostfire Abyss Sect, Thousand Fangs Pavilion, Shadow Claw Sect… demons and beast tamers. They thrive in chaos, and their tactics make them dangerous for anyone who underestimates them."
She glanced briefly at Lan Xueya. "The Southern Continent — our home — is the most diverse. Frost Moon Palace stands at the top, and we've earned that place. Radiant Sun Palace, Serpent Song Sect, Sky Feather Hall, Ocean Soul Sect… all strong, but none match our unity or our will to defend our own."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "The Eastern Continent is a mess — constantly rising and falling, always birthing upstart sects like Emerald Jade Sect, Scarlet Halberd Sect, Nine Waves Sect, Fallen Star Sect, and Heaven's Edge Sect. Dangerous only when underestimated."
"And the Central Continent…" Her tone dropped a fraction, as though speaking of an apex predator. "The strongest overall. Celestial Dragon Sect, Immortal Flame Pavilion, Heavenly Phoenix Hall, True Void Sect, Mountain Sea Sect. Every one of them produces elite fighters by the dozens. True Void Sect especially… is a threat few can match. Third strongest in the Central Continent, but more feared than most in first place."
Lan Xueya nodded quietly, taking in the measured cadence of her Sect Master's words.
"And Frost Moon Palace," the Sect Master added with calm certainty, "is the strongest in the Southern Continent. We will keep it that way."
Chapter 782 – "The Fall of Mu Qing"
Lan Xueya hesitated for a moment, then spoke the thought that had been quietly forming. "Sect Master… do you expect me to face fighters from the True Void Sect? Perhaps even people connected to… Mu Qing?"
The Sect Master's lips curved faintly, though the smile held no warmth. "You do not have to concern yourself with that."
Her tone grew sharper, almost mocking. "Mu Qing made a mistake in that marriage. He thought wedding an elder of the True Void Sect would give him the power and influence he craved. But he overestimated himself… and underestimated the politics of the Central Continent."
Lan Xueya listened closely as the older woman's voice dropped with cold satisfaction.
"He didn't become a leader, or even a respected figure. He became her concubine. A kept man." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "And he has no followers, no influence, nothing that would make him a threat. All his ambition, all his arrogance — reduced to serving a woman whose power eclipses his own in every way."
There was no pity in her expression, only the cutting edge of long-delayed vindication. "It is what he deserves."
The Sect Master's gaze softened slightly, though her voice retained its calm authority. "There is no need for revenge, Xueya. Mu Qing has already received his karma. A man like that will rot in the shadow of his own choices — nothing we could do would be more fitting than the life he now leads."
She turned her eyes toward the moonlit canopy above, letting the subject drop as if it were nothing more than an old, irrelevant story. "What matters now is the Celestial Paradise. This place is rich with resources that could benefit Frost Moon Palace for centuries if we gather them wisely."
Lan Xueya nodded slowly. "So… focus on recovery, then resume gathering."
"Exactly," the Sect Master replied. "Our priority is to let our disciples rest, restore their strength, and then harvest what this secret land offers us. The treasures here are worth more than any grudge. We will take what is ours while others waste their energy on pointless battles."
The older woman's tone carried a serene finality. "Leave the past where it belongs. The present is ours to shape."
The Sect Master's lips curved in a wry smile, though there was a faint twitch in her brow as she added, "But if there is one thing that truly annoyed me…"
Lan Xueya tilted her head. "What's that?"
"Two days ago," the older woman said, her voice edged with a dry tone, "the Heavenly Sect's Sect Master, his wife, and their elders… were strolling through Celestial Paradise like they were on a shopping trip."
Lan Xueya blinked, then gave a short laugh. "I saw that too."
"They weren't even looking around cautiously," the Sect Master went on, shaking her head. "Just walking and flying wherever they pleased, plucking treasures off the ground as if they were picking fresh fruit."
The memory made her sigh — half irritation, half disbelief. "And of course, they were completely unbothered by the 9th-level beasts. Do you know why?"
Lan Xueya smirked knowingly. "That black barrier."
The Sect Master nodded with a sharp little gesture. "Exactly. A thick, black sphere of energy surrounding them, turning aside every attack like swatting away flies. A ninth-level beast would charge in with all its fury… and bounce off like it hit a wall. Meanwhile, they kept browsing for treasures, not even glancing up from whatever they were looking at."
Lan Xueya covered her mouth to hide her grin. "It really did look like shopping."
The Sect Master's eyes narrowed just a little. "Shopping in a place where everyone else is fighting for their lives."
They shared a small laugh — one part amusement, one part exasperation — before the Sect Master shook her head. "I suppose that's the Heavenly Sect for you."
Chapter 783 – "The Crystal Sanctuary"
Two days of careful rest had done its work. Wounds were mended, mana reserves restored, and the camp's atmosphere had shifted from tense survival to quiet readiness. When the Sect Master gave the word, the Frost Moon Palace contingent — twenty strong — set out once more into the depths of Celestial Paradise.
At the head of the group walked the Sect Master herself, flanked by four elders. Behind them followed Lan Xueya and fourteen other disciples, their steps light, movements coordinated, and eyes sharp for any sign of danger or treasure.
Their journey took them across frost-lined ridges and through valleys where the air hung heavy with ancient cold. It was Lan Xueya who first felt it — a subtle, almost calling pull in the air, an icy aura that resonated with her cultivation.
"This way," she murmured.
They soon found themselves before the yawning mouth of a vast cave, its entrance rimmed with frost so pure it glittered like silver under the light filtering in from above. A faint mist rolled from within, carrying the unmistakable energy of condensed ice essence.
The Sect Master's eyes narrowed in appraisal. "This aura… it's perfect for cultivation."
Without hesitation, they stepped inside. The further they went, the colder and purer the air became, until even seasoned ice cultivators felt their cores hum in harmony with it. The walls shimmered faintly with veins of frozen spirit energy, and the floor crunched underfoot with crystallized frost.
The cave was deep, and the path sloped steadily downward. Their breath misted in the air as they descended, following the twisting corridors until the darkness ahead suddenly gave way to light.
They emerged into a breathtaking open space — a cavern so vast it felt like standing beneath the sky itself. Towering spires of ice crystals, some as large as houses, rose from the ground and hung like frozen stalactites from the ceiling. The light refracted through them in a thousand shifting hues, painting the chamber in cold, ethereal beauty.
The Sect Master exhaled slowly. "This… is perfect."
The Sect Master's declaration seemed to settle it. Without wasting time, the elders began organizing the disciples, marking out cultivation spots where the ice essence was thickest. The air was crisp, invigorating — every breath felt like it carried threads of pure mana directly into their meridians.
Lan Xueya sat cross-legged near a gleaming pillar of ice, letting the cold flow through her body, refining her core. Around her, the others were already beginning their meditations, the sound of deep, steady breathing filling the cavern.
For a time, everything went smoothly. The glow of the crystals bathed them in tranquil light, and the icy aura seemed to wrap around each cultivator like a perfect partner for their training.
But then…
A subtle shift in the air. The cold grew sharper, no longer merely invigorating but biting — invasive. Lan Xueya's eyes snapped open just in time to see the frost beneath her hands begin to crawl up her arms.
"Wha—" Her voice cut off in a gasp as her legs went numb.
All around her, the disciples of Frost Moon Palace sat frozen in place — literally. Their skin paled, their expressions locked in serene concentration as ice crept over their forms, encasing them in crystal-clear prisons. In moments, they were statues, glittering under the refracted light.
"Stop cultivating! Now!" the Sect Master's voice rang through the chamber, but her words came too late for most. Only she and two of the elders remained unfrozen, their higher cultivation levels keeping the invasive frost at bay — for now.
Then the Sect Master's gaze fell on one of the towering ice crystals at the far side of the chamber… and her blood ran cold.
Inside it… was a person. Perfectly preserved, eyes closed, as if asleep. Another crystal held another figure. And another.
Her jaw tightened. "These aren't just formations…" Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "…these crystals are prisons."
The Sect Master's eyes darted from crystal to crystal, the bitter truth settling in. "We have to—"
But the words froze in her throat as a wave of cold unlike anything she had ever felt surged through the cavern. It wasn't the ordinary chill of ice essence — this was alive, purposeful, sinking into her very soul.
She summoned her full strength, ice mana erupting around her in a brilliant defensive aura, but the cold pierced through it like a blade through silk. Frost bloomed across her fingertips, racing up her arms in jagged patterns before she could shatter it.
"Elders—!"
One by one, the elders faltered mid-step. Their defensive barriers flickered, cracked, then shattered entirely as the frost consumed them. Their eyes widened, the last flicker of movement before their faces stilled and the ice sealed them completely.
The Sect Master was the last to fall. Her breath misted in frantic bursts, her body trembling as the frost spread over her chest, up her neck, and finally across her face.
In seconds, she stood among her people — a flawless, glittering statue, her beauty preserved in cold perfection, her expression still caught between determination and shock.
The cavern fell utterly silent, the only movement the faint shimmer of light refracting through dozens… perhaps hundreds… of human-shaped ice prisons.
Some of them were ancient.
Some of them… still looked warm enough that they could have been alive only moments ago.
Chapter 784 – "The Spy's Return"
The crystalline forest of Celestial Paradise stretched endlessly around them, its frost-covered ground crunching softly under each step. Alex led the way with a casual confidence, Shi Lian walking close at his side, her hand occasionally brushing his as if to reassure herself he was still there.
Yu Mei followed a half-step behind, her eyes constantly scanning the horizon for threats… or opportunities. Elder Mei Suhua trailed in their wake, the choker at her throat glinting faintly in the pale light.
After a time, Yu Mei's lips curled into a sly smile. "Mei Suhua."
"Yes, Mistress?" the elder replied immediately, her voice low and obedient.
"You will return to the Emerald Jade Sect's group," Yu Mei ordered without hesitation. "There are twenty of them here in Celestial Paradise, counting you. You will blend in… and you will watch."
Mei Suhua's eyes lowered respectfully. "You want me to be a spy."
Yu Mei's smile widened just slightly. "Exactly. You'll observe their movements, their finds, their alliances… and report everything back to me. Use the choker to send messages whenever you have something worth telling."
Alex glanced over his shoulder, one brow raised. "Is this about the upcoming tournament, or something else?"
"Both," Yu Mei said lightly, her gaze never leaving Mei Suhua. "It never hurts to know what the others are holding. And if they stumble onto something valuable, we'll be ready to take it before they can use it."
Mei Suhua's lips curved faintly — the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes betraying that she relished the idea. "Understood, Mistress. I will not fail you… or Master."
Shi Lian gave a quiet hum, half amused. "Sending her back as a spy, hm? You really do think several steps ahead."
Yu Mei's tone was sweet, but her smile remained sharp. "Always."
Mei Suhua bowed once more to Yu Mei and Alex, then turned on her heel, vanishing into the pale mist that clung to the frozen ground.
The journey back to the Emerald Jade Sect's position was swift; the choker's faint, protective aura seemed to smooth her path, warding off the more curious spirit beasts that lurked in the crystalline woods.
When she finally stepped into view of her sect's camp, nineteen pairs of eyes immediately turned toward her. The moment she entered the perimeter, the change in her appearance became impossible to ignore.
The black choker at her throat gleamed softly in the cold light, the simple, perfect curve of it somehow drawing the eye and making her already striking features seem sharper, more radiant. Even her posture radiated a quiet, commanding allure that hadn't been there before.
One of the elders — a man in his mid-level eighth rank — frowned faintly. "Elder Mei… that necklace. Where did you get it?"
Mei Suhua let a small, self-assured smile touch her lips. "An artifact I found during my exploration," she replied smoothly, her voice carrying just enough pride to make it believable. "It… enhances my presence, as you can see. And it has a few protective properties."
A younger disciple leaned in slightly, unable to hide his curiosity. "Protective properties? Like a shield?"
Mei Suhua tilted her head with a mysterious air. "Something like that. Let's just say, should a ninth-level beast come near, I won't be the one running."
Several of them exchanged impressed looks, the faint edge of envy in their eyes.
Inside, however, Mei Suhua's thoughts were far from pride over her "find." The choker's link to Yu Mei thrummed softly against her skin, reminding her with every beat of her pulse who truly owned her — and who she would be serving here.
As the group's attention lingered on her choker, one of the elders — Elder Han, a sharp-eyed woman who rarely spoke without cause — suddenly stiffened. Her gaze narrowed, sweeping Mei Suhua from head to toe before locking onto her aura.
Her eyes widened. "You… you're at the 9th level now?"
The camp fell silent, several disciples turning toward Mei Suhua with open shock. Even the other elders exchanged looks; this kind of advancement would normally require years of accumulation and a perfect opportunity.
Mei Suhua let the silence stretch just a little longer before a playful laugh slipped from her lips. "Oh? You only just noticed?" She brushed her fingers along the choker lightly, as if it were the source of her newfound strength.
"It wasn't easy," she continued, her tone light but full of feigned mystery. "I stumbled upon a treasure — something… rare. Let's just say it gave me the final push I needed to break my bottleneck."
A few disciples gasped quietly. "A treasure that can help someone at the peak of the eighth break through to the ninth…?"
One of the elders frowned. "And you're keeping it for yourself?"
Mei Suhua tilted her head, her smile turning just a shade sharper. "Wouldn't you?"
That answer drew a ripple of awkward laughter through the group. The tension eased slightly, but the air was now thick with curiosity and perhaps a little envy — exactly the kind of distraction that would keep them from suspecting anything else about her sudden advancement.
Mei Suhua let her fingers linger on the choker a moment longer before sighing softly, as though recalling a bittersweet memory. "Of course… it's a pity there was only one."
She gave a small shrug, her smile tinged with mock regret. "And I've already used it. So even if I wanted to share, I couldn't."
The ripple of interest in the camp faltered slightly, replaced with murmurs of disappointment. A few disciples who had been leaning forward with hope in their eyes sank back, their expressions cooling.
One elder muttered under his breath, "Figures… something like that would never be passed around."
Mei Suhua's smile never wavered, but inside, she noted how easily their envy had been turned into resignation. With that one line, she had both explained her sudden breakthrough and closed the door to further questions — leaving her free to observe without the weight of constant demands.
"Anyway," she said lightly, moving past them toward the campfire, "we should focus on what's ahead. This place is full of opportunities if you know where to look."
Several nodded in agreement, and just like that, the conversation shifted, leaving Mei Suhua comfortably in the center of things without a single hint of suspicion.
Chapter 785 – "The Question"
The crackle of the small campfire was the only sound in their temporary shelter. The faint blue glow of the surrounding ice seeped in through the cave entrance, painting their faces in a cool light.
Shi Lian rested comfortably against Alex's chest, her eyes half-lidded with contentment. Yu Mei sat cross-legged across from them, chin resting on one hand, watching them both with that familiar, unreadable smile.
Then, without warning, she asked, "Husband… tell me honestly — what kind of sex slave excites you the most?"
Alex blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
Yu Mei's gaze didn't waver. "The innocent ones who've never touched a man… or the experienced ones who think they can control you until you prove otherwise?"
Shi Lian's head tilted slightly, her eyes shifting between them, clearly curious about the answer.
Alex coughed into his fist, a faint heat creeping up his neck. "…That's… not exactly a casual question, Mei."
Her smile deepened. "I'm not in the habit of asking casual questions."
Shi Lian chuckled softly, resting her cheek back against him. "Now I'm curious too…"
Alex didn't answer right away. His gaze shifted toward the fire, lips pressed in a faint, thoughtful line, but no words came.
Yu Mei's eyes narrowed just enough to catch the hesitation. Slowly, her smile curved into something more playful. "You didn't answer," she murmured, leaning forward slightly, "which must mean… various types."
Shi Lian gave a soft laugh against his chest. "Ah, so our husband is greedy after all."
Yu Mei tilted her head, her tone dripping with mock scandal. "Greedy… or simply appreciative of diversity?"
Alex let out a quiet sigh, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips despite himself. "Maybe I just know better than to give you a single answer you'd hold over me forever."
Yu Mei's expression lit with amusement. "Oh, I would hold it over you," she said, her voice warm with both promise and mischief.
Yu Mei's eyes gleamed as if she'd just decided on something deliciously troublesome. "Then I suppose," she said slowly, "I'll just have to find you all types… just to test you."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "All types?"
She ticked them off on her fingers, her tone turning almost mock-academic. "Shy little flowers who blush if you look at them too long… arrogant ones who think they can tame you… experienced women who've had dozens of men and believe they've seen everything… and even the ones who swear they'd never submit, until you make them kneel."
Shi Lian laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're really turning it into a challenge."
Yu Mei smirked. "Of course. If my husband is going to have sex slaves, toys, and pets, I want to see how each one breaks under him. And I want them to know exactly who gave them to him."
Alex chuckled under his breath. "You're trouble."
She leaned back with a self-satisfied smile. "And you love me for it."
Alex's smirk faded into something more serious. "But don't do it with a pure and innocent girl who's never known desire," he said firmly, his gaze locking with Yu Mei's. "If they want it, ask them. But don't force them."
Yu Mei blinked, then gave a slow nod, her smile softening just a little. "You mean the truly untouched ones — the ones who don't even understand what they're agreeing to."
"That's right," Alex replied. "I'm not interested in breaking someone like that against their will. If she wants it, that's her choice… but I won't take it from her."
Shi Lian's eyes warmed at his words, her fingers curling lightly against his chest. "That's very much like you," she murmured, almost proudly.
Yu Mei leaned back, tilting her head as she studied him. "Husband… sometimes you make it very hard to play the villain when you insist on being the hero."
Alex smirked faintly. "Then you'll just have to adjust your plans."
Yu Mei's lips curved again, but this time with a trace of genuine affection beneath the mischief. "Fine. I'll keep your rule in mind."
Alex gave a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "I'm not a hero, Mei. I'm just a selfish person who wants to make my lover and those around me happy. That's all."
Yu Mei raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Selfish, you say?"
"Helping someone," Alex continued, his tone even, "isn't about some grand ideal. If I see someone suffering and I can do something about it, I just… do it. Not because I want to create world peace, or change the fate of the universe, or whatever noble nonsense people like to imagine." He shrugged slightly. "I just help the person in front of me, because I can."
Shi Lian smiled faintly, her gaze on him warm and steady. "That's exactly why I trust you," she said softly.
Yu Mei tilted her head, a playful glimmer still in her eyes, but tempered now with something gentler. "So… you're selfish enough to make everyone around you happy. I think I can live with that kind of selfishness."
Alex smirked faintly. "Good. Because I'm not changing it."
Alex's gaze sharpened slightly, the flicker of steel in his voice breaking through the warmth of the moment. "But if I pass by and come across someone who's too evil… someone who harms others, or kills people just for fun—" He paused, his expression turning cold. "—then I'll kill them. Without hesitation."
Yu Mei's smile curved into something darker, approving. "So, you do draw a line."
"I draw it where it matters," Alex said simply. "I don't hunt down every villain in the world, but if they cross my path… I'll make sure they don't hurt anyone else."
Shi Lian looked at him with quiet admiration. "It's not about playing hero… it's about protecting what's right in front of you."
Alex nodded once. "Exactly. Nothing more, nothing less."
Yu Mei leaned back, her eyes glimmering with a mix of affection and pride. "Husband… you might call yourself selfish, but I think you're more dangerous than any so-called hero."
Yu Mei's gaze lingered on him for a long moment, her playful smirk giving way to something far more intense. "You know," she said softly, "this is part of what I've just discovered… and it makes me even more infatuated with you. Even more obsessed."
Alex raised an eyebrow slightly, but she continued before he could speak.
"Since I was a child," she went on, her voice steady but carrying a thread of emotion, "I've loved you because of your gentleness… your kindness toward the people around you. Even when you didn't realize I was watching, I saw how you treated others." Her lips curved faintly, but there was no teasing in it now. "That hasn't changed. You still have that side of you, and it hasn't disappeared."
She leaned in just a little, her eyes locked on his. "But now… there's also this dangerous side. This strength, this decisiveness. And that…" She drew in a slow breath. "…makes me love you even more."
Shi Lian glanced between them, her own expression softening, sensing the raw truth in Yu Mei's words.
Alex gave her a faint smile. "You're starting to sound like you're the one who's selfish now."
Yu Mei's lips curved into a slow, knowing grin. "Maybe I am."
Yu Mei's expression softened in a way that only those closest to her ever saw. "You know," she began slowly, her voice low and sincere, "this is part of what I've just discovered… and it's made me even more infatuated with you. More obsessed."
Alex glanced at her, one brow slightly raised.
"Since childhood," she continued, a faint smile tugging at her lips, "I've loved you because of your gentleness. Your kindness toward the people around you. You never made anyone feel small, you never ignored someone's suffering if you could help it." Her eyes glimmered faintly, the firelight catching their depth.
"And now…" She leaned in slightly, her gaze unwavering. "…now I see that side of you hasn't disappeared. It's still here, just as strong as before. But now it's joined by another side — a sharper, colder one that can kill without hesitation when it's needed."
Her smile deepened, warm and possessive all at once. "And I love you even more for it."
Shi Lian looked between them, the corner of her mouth curving upward, as if silently agreeing with every word Yu Mei had spoken.
Yu Mei leaned back slightly, her eyes shifting from Alex to Shi Lian. "Auntie, you know what makes him different from other men?"
Shi Lian tilted her head. "Besides the obvious?" She gave a faint smile, but her tone carried genuine curiosity.
"There are two sides to him," Yu Mei said, her voice calm but certain. "One is the man I fell in love with when I was a girl — gentle, patient, and kind. He's the type who will notice if you're tired before you even say it, who will protect you without asking for thanks, who will step in if someone's suffering… simply because he can help. That part of him hasn't changed at all."
Shi Lian's eyes softened as she glanced up at Alex.
"But there's another side," Yu Mei continued, her gaze sharpening. "One that appears when he meets someone truly vile — the kind of person who kills for amusement or lives to hurt others. With people like that, his kindness disappears completely. He doesn't hesitate. He doesn't give warnings. He just ends them, right then and there."
Shi Lian's expression shifted — not to fear, but to a quiet respect.
Yu Mei's lips curved faintly. "And with strangers? He's neutral. No prejudice, no baseless hatred. He speaks little to them, but he doesn't dismiss them either. He treats everyone the same… until they give him a reason to treat them differently."
Shi Lian let out a soft breath, a faint smile touching her lips. "Then I understand why you've loved him for so long. And why… I'm starting to feel the same."
Shi Lian's gaze lingered on him, the firelight catching the faint shimmer in her eyes. The more Yu Mei spoke, the clearer the image became — the man who could be both a shelter and a sword, who could smile gently one moment and kill without hesitation the next.
And instead of frightening her… it made her heart ache in the best way.
She shifted closer to Alex, resting her hand against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm. This is the man who restored me… who held me… who would protect me without asking for anything in return.
Her lips curved into a soft, almost shy smile. "Knowing this… it makes me love you even more," she said quietly, her voice carrying a rare tenderness.
Alex looked at her, surprised for just a moment before his expression softened. Yu Mei watched them with a knowing glint in her eye, clearly pleased at how her words had deepened Shi Lian's feelings rather than stirred any doubt.
The warmth between the three of them settled like a quiet flame, steady and unshakable.
Shi Lian's fingers traced lightly over Alex's chest as she spoke, her tone firm but filled with affection. "You don't have the so-called heroic spirit of someone who blindly helps everyone… while ignoring the people they love." Her eyes held his, unwavering. "And you're not some evil, cruel man who kills anyone who displeases you over petty things."
She smiled softly, the expression carrying both warmth and certainty. "You're just… a selfish person who wants to make his lovers happy. And to me, that makes you the perfect lover, the perfect husband, the perfect spouse… and perfect, simply as you are."
Yu Mei's gaze lingered on her aunt for a moment, a rare, genuine smile tugging at her lips. "Well said, Auntie."
Alex exhaled slowly, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "You two make it sound like I'm far better than I really am."
Shi Lian shook her head gently. "No… we're just telling the truth."
Yu Mei leaned back slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "And this," she said, gesturing between Shi Lian and herself, "is exactly why you have such a very large harem, husband."
Shi Lian gave a quiet laugh, her hand still resting over his heart. "She's right. It's not just your strength or your looks. It's the way you are — the way you treat those who matter to you. That's why so many women are drawn to you… and why they stay."
Alex raised a brow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "So, I'm to blame for my own harem?"
Yu Mei smirked. "Completely."
Shi Lian nodded in agreement, her tone teasing but affectionate. "And we wouldn't have it any other way."