The walk back from the Academy felt different. The cobblestones that usually felt rough beneath his thin soles now seemed to pave a path toward destiny. Kai moved through the evening shadows of Azure Wind City, the fading orange light casting long, distorted shapes against the crumbling walls of the lower district.
He was still buzzing. The adrenaline from his confrontation with Instructor Li Hua was fading, but it was being replaced by a heavier, darker hunger. He had challenged a tiger. He had tasted the milk of a neighbor. And now, he was returning to the den.
He pushed open the creaking front door of his small, dilapidated home.
"Mom?" Kai called out, his voice echoing slightly in the empty main room.
Silence answered him.
The main room was dim, the fire in the hearth burned down to glowing embers. There was no sign of Ye Rou. No rhythmic chopping of vegetables, no soft humming.
Market? Kai thought, frowning slightly. No, it's too late. The stalls close at sundown.
He stepped further inside, his senses on high alert. His Charisma attribute had sharpened his perception of people, but his instincts were purely primal. He scanned the room. Her shawl was on the chair. She hadn't gone out.
Then, he heard it.
Splash.
A soft, rhythmic sound of water being disturbed. It came from the back of the house, from the small, damp room they used for washing.
Kai froze. The sound was unmistakable. It was the sound of a ladle pouring water over skin. The sound of a wet cloth sliding over flesh.
His eyes darted to the bathroom door.
It was a flimsy thing, made of warped, rotting wood that had seen too many winters. The poverty of the Ye family was etched into every splinter. Weeks ago, the iron latch that held the door shut had snapped off, rusted through by the humidity. They hadn't had the copper coins to replace it.
Usually, when someone was bathing, they would wedge a chair against the door or sing loudly to warn the others. But tonight, the house was silent save for the water. Ye Rou must have thought he was still at the Academy, celebrating or sulking. She thought she was alone.
She's naked, Kai thought. The thought hit him like a physical blow to the chest.
His heart began to hammer against his ribs, a heavy, thudding rhythm that drowned out the noise of the street outside. He remembered the feeling of her earlier that day—the accidental fall, the softness of her breasts against his face, the give of her ass under his hand. That had been through clothes.
Now, there was only a broken door between him and the truth.
He took a step forward. Then another. His movements were silent, the stealth of a predator waking up in a new territory. The floorboards, which usually creaked, seemed to conspire with him, remaining silent under his weight.
He reached the hallway. The air here was thicker, humid and heavy with the scent of cheap rose soap—the only luxury Ye Rou allowed herself. It smelled like her. Sweet, floral, and suffocatingly womanly.
Through the cracks in the warped wood, a faint, flickering light spilled out. A candle was burning inside.
Kai stood before the door. The gap where the latch used to be was a dark, inviting hole, about the size of a coin. It was perfectly positioned.
I shouldn't, a tiny, dying part of his old conscience whispered. She's your step-mother. She raised this body.
She's a woman, the new, darker voice countered. And you are a conqueror.
He leaned in. The sound of water grew louder. He could hear her breathing—slow, relaxed exhales. The sound of water dripping from a sponge back into the wooden tub. Drip. Drip. Drip.
Suddenly, the air in front of his eyes shimmered.
[Ding!]
The blue System screen materialized, hovering silently in the dim hallway, illuminating Kai's face with a ghostly neon glow.
[New Quest Available: The Forbidden View]
[Description: The path to the Supreme Dual Cultivation is paved with broken taboos. To conquer the heavens, one must first conquer their own hesitation. Your target is vulnerable. She believes she is safe. Prove your resolve.]
[Objective: Observe Ye Rou (Step-Mother) in the bath without being detected.]
[Bonus Objective: Use the System Interface to capture "Visual Evidence" for the Collection.][Requirements:]
Target: Ye Rou
State: Fully Nude
Required Captures:
[ ] The Twin Peaks (Breasts)
[ ] The Jade Gate (Pussy)
[ ] The Moon (Ass)
[Reward: +30 XP][Bonus Reward: Unlock "Gallery" Function.][Failure Penalty: Detection leads to -50 Affection and "Pervert" Status.]
[Do you accept?][YES] / [NO]
Kai stared at the text. The System wasn't just encouraging him; it was arming him. It wanted him to document it. To own it. The idea of capturing her—of having a permanent image of his step-mother's naked body stored in his mind's eye, accessible whenever he wanted—sent a jolt of electricity straight to his groin.
His blood ran hot. His cock, already twitching from the memory of Mrs. Lin, hardened instantly, straining painfully against the rough fabric of his trousers. He felt heavy, full, and dangerously aroused.
The morality of Earth felt a million miles away. Here, XP was god. And pleasure was the prayer.
He looked at the gap in the door. He looked at the glowing button.
The water splashed again, followed by a soft, contented sigh from Ye Rou. She was right there. Just inches away. Wet. Naked. Waiting.
Kai licked his dry lips. His hand trembled slightly, not from fear, but from anticipation.
He reached out and pressed the button.
[YES]