The carriage was drawn by a team of powerful horses at the front. Behind them sat the driver's seat, where a maid controlled the reins with practiced ease. Beyond that were three rows of seating, each accommodating four people.
In the driver's seat, a maid guided the carriage through the bustling streets. The first row held four women, while in the second row sat Long Chen alongside Bao'er and the Head Maid. The last row was occupied by four more women. Though all the women wore delicate silk veils covering their faces, their beauty was still evident—porcelain skin, graceful postures, and an ethereal elegance that drew every eye. They possessed the kind of beauty that could topple cities and captivate emperors.
As the carriage entered the busy market street, it attracted countless gazes. Merchants paused mid-transaction, and pedestrians stopped in their tracks to admire the procession.
"Miss, you look so beautiful, can you spend—" A young man was saying this before he could finish. A middle-aged man near him swiftly covered his mouth.
"Young Master Long, I am deeply sorry! He didn't know about the maids," he said loudly while bowing deeply and forcing the young man to bow as well.
Long Chen didn't react, his expression remaining as calm as still water. Neither did his maids respond to this comment, maintaining their dignified silence.
As the carriage passed, the middle-aged man released his hand from the young man's mouth and asked urgently, "Young boy, are you new here?"
"Yes, Mister," the young man replied politely, confusion evident in his voice.
"What is your name, young boy?"
"Qin Chen."
"Qin Chen, do you realize you were just moments away from meeting the gods?" The middle-aged man's voice trembled slightly.
"What? Who was he? From what I know, even a prince cannot commit murder in public. How could he kill me? Who was he?" Qin Chen asked, his expression shifting to shock.
"So you truly don't know him. Have you heard about the Living Demon?"
"Yes, I have heard about him. He is truly a living demon—to kill so many people at such a young age for a girl named Luo Ling'er. Ruthless enough to send chills even to evil martial artists. But he cannot commit murder in public, right?"
"So you don't know about Duke Long's family. Those were Long family maids. Once, a young man from the Duke Wang family was pestering and embarrassing one of them in public. When Duke Long learned of this, he killed the young man in front of the Wang family mansion. The Wang family, seeing this as an unforgivable insult, declared war on the spot. In the ensuing battle, many members from the Wang family perished, but Duke Long's soldiers were only slightly injured. The disparity was so great that the Emperor himself had to intervene. Can you guess what happened after that?" The middle-aged man's eyes gleamed with the weight of the story.
"Of course, Duke Long would have to apologize and compensate for the losses," Qin Chen said confidently.
"No." The middle-aged man shook his head. "In the end, Duke Wang himself apologized to the maid in public. After that, the Emperor made a decree that if anyone is caught pestering or embarrassing the Long family, they would be executed without trial. There will be no exception—not even an Imperial prince."
Hearing this, Qin Chen's face paled as understanding dawned. The young man's face showed both fear and comprehension of why the middle-aged man had acted so desperately.
"Thank you, Mister, for your timely intervention. This young man owes you his life. Please, let me treat you to a meal and fine wine for this assistance," Qin Chen said earnestly while bowing deeply.
The carriage continued through the winding streets until it reached the Xue Family manor, an elegant estate surrounded by towering walls and beautiful gardens.
"Liu Mei, you take Bao'er to Xue Xianxian's dressing room. I will send her there shortly. You two will also be helping Bao'er to dress. As for the rest, call the Xue family maids and prepare the items for the presentation," Long Chen instructed, his voice carrying natural authority.
They all nodded their heads in understanding. Only Bao'er looked confused, her innocent eyes blinking in bewilderment.
She asked hesitantly, "Master, why must I dress specially?"
"Bao'er, go and dress nicely. It's my order," Long Chen said seriously, though his eyes held a hint of warmth.
With that, Long Chen entered the Xue family mansion.
To Long Chen, this mansion was intimately familiar. He made his way to Xue Xianxian's private garden, a tranquil sanctuary filled with blooming flowers and the gentle sound of a flowing stream. There, two young women sat on elegant chairs, engaged in pleasant conversation.
One was Luo Yan, the sect master of the Ice Cold Palace. She possessed an otherworldly beauty—skin like fresh snow, eyes like frozen lakes that held hidden depths, and long silver-white hair that cascaded down her back like a frozen waterfall. Her presence carried an air of coldness and untouchable nobility, yet there was a gentle warmth in her eyes when she smiled. She wore robes of ice-blue silk that accentuated her slender figure and graceful bearing.
The other was Xue Xianxian, Long Chen's beloved. She was a vision of pure elegance—lustrous black hair that fell like a silk waterfall to her waist, enchanting phoenix eyes that sparkled with intelligence and mischief, cherry-red lips that curved naturally into a gentle smile, and skin so fair it seemed to glow softly in the garden light. Her figure was perfection itself—a slender waist that could be grasped with one hand, long graceful legs, and a voluptuous chest that strained against her jade-green robes. Everything about her exuded feminine grace and aristocratic refinement.
As Long Chen entered the garden, Xue Xianxian's eyes lit up instantly. Seeing him, she stood gracefully and moved toward him with swift, elegant steps, her robes flowing like water around her. She wanted to introduce him formally, but Long Chen raised his hand gently, stopping her.
"Sister Yan, I am your master's lover," he said with a slight smile, his tone casual yet respectful.
Hearing him introduce himself so directly, both women couldn't help but smile—Xue Xianxian with fond exasperation, and Luo Yan with surprised amusement.
"Young Master Long—" Before Luo Yan could continue, she was interrupted by Long Chen.
"Sister Yan, you don't have to be so formal with me. Just address me as Brother Long. Although I am your master's lover, there's no need for such distance between us—after all, we're not officially married yet," Long Chen said with a playful smile.
Hearing him say this so shamelessly, Luo Yan couldn't control herself from laughing, her cold demeanor melting into genuine warmth. Even her icy aura seemed to soften in the face of his brazen honesty.
"Sister Yan, I have something important to discuss with Xianxian. I will be back in a few moments," Long Chen said, his expression becoming more serious.
After saying that, he gently took Xianxian's delicate hand in his, his fingers intertwining with hers naturally. He led her away from the garden, through the elegant corridors, until they reached her private chambers.
Once inside, he closed the door behind them and turned to face her.
"Xianxian, are all the preparations ready as I instructed?" His voice was low and serious.
"Yes, everything is done," Xianxian replied, her expression matching his seriousness, though curiosity danced in her eyes.
Long Chen took out two watches from his cloth one he weared whil the other he gave to Xue Xianxian.
"Good. I will do my best. Now, you should go and help dress Bao'er—she's waiting in your dressing room."
Hearing this, confusion flickered across Xianxian's beautiful face. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Why does Bao'er need to be dressed ?" she asked softly.
Instead of answering immediately, Long Chen took a step closer. In one fluid motion, his arm wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her toward him. With his other hand against the wall beside her head, he pinned her gently but firmly against it.
Their faces were now mere inches apart. Her ample, soft chest pressed against his firm body, and he could feel her rapid heartbeat through the thin layers of silk between them. Her sweet, intoxicating fragrance—like jasmine and orchids—filled his senses.
Xue Xianxian's phoenix eyes widened slightly, her long lashes fluttering. A delicate blush began to spread across her porcelain cheeks like blooming roses. Her lips parted slightly, her breath becoming shallow and rapid.
Long Chen gazed into her enchanting eyes, losing himself in their depths. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned forward. His hand moved from the wall to cup her soft cheek, his thumb gently caressing her smooth skin.
"Xianxian..." he whispered her name like a prayer.
Then his lips met hers in a tender kiss. It started gentle, almost reverent, as if he were afraid she might disappear. Her lips were incredibly soft, warm, and sweet—sweeter than the finest wine.
Xue Xianxian's initial surprise melted away. Her eyes slowly closed, her long lashes resting against her flushed cheeks. She didn't show any resistance. Instead, her delicate hands moved up to rest against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat beneath her palms. She surrendered completely to him, returning his kiss with equal passion.
The kiss deepened. Long Chen's hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, his fingers threading through her silky hair. His other arm tightened around her waist, pulling her even closer, eliminating any space between their bodies. She fit perfectly against him, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle meant to be joined.
Xianxian's hands moved from his chest to wrap around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. A soft, barely audible moan escaped her throat, sending shivers through Long Chen's body.
Time seemed to stand still. The world outside ceased to exist. There was only the two of them, lost in each other, expressing with actions what words could never fully convey.
After what felt like both an eternity and merely a moment, Long Chen reluctantly pulled back, though he didn't release her from his embrace. They were both breathing heavily, their hearts racing in synchronized rhythm.
He gazed down at her, gently raising her chin with his fingers so their eyes met. Her face was flushed a deep crimson, spreading from her cheeks down to her slender neck. Her lips were slightly swollen and glistening from their kiss. Her eyes were misty, filled with love and desire, making her look even more enchanting than usual. She appeared both innocent and seductive—a combination that made Long Chen's heart pound even harder.
"Xian," he said softly, his voice husky with emotion. His thumb traced the outline of her soft lips. "Today, I will give you a big surprise, okay? Trust me."
Xue Xianxian's eyes cleared slightly, though the blush remained on her cheeks. She nodded shyly, unable to form words, her heart too full of emotions.
Long Chen placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then reluctantly released her from his embrace. He took her hand, intertwining their fingers once more, and together they walked back to the garden.
When they returned, Luo Yan looked up, immediately noticing Xue Xianxian's flushed face and slightly disheveled appearance. A knowing smile played at the corners of her lips, though she said nothing.
"Master," Xue Xianxian said, her voice still slightly breathless, "I have some important tasks to attend to. I will be going now. In the meantime, Brother Long will be entertaining you."
With a final glance at Long Chen—one filled with love, curiosity, and anticipation—she gracefully left the garden, her steps light as she headed toward her dressing room to help Bao'er.