After finishing his lunch, Lin Xuan did not immediately return to his courtyard.
Instead, he adjusted his sleeves and changed direction, his steps measured as he made his way toward his mother's estate within the inner compound of the Lin Clan. The sun hung high above, casting warm light over the stone pathways and manicured gardens, yet his thoughts remained layered and deliberate.
There were two matters he intended to address.
First, the timing of the clan's upcoming monthly assembly.
Second, Qing'er's breakthrough.
The latter was not merely a personal milestone. Early Foundation Establishment was a visible threshold within the clan hierarchy. With it came eligibility for increased cultivation resources, greater recognition, and a subtle but undeniable shift in status.
He knew how the servant world operated.
Jealousy was quiet but persistent. Qing'er's closeness to him, the heir of the Lin Clan, had already drawn attention. Most would not dare act openly, but subtle obstruction, deliberate disrespect, or quiet sabotage were not unheard of in large clans.
Foundation Establishment changed that dynamic.
Even if she remained technically a servant, strength commanded instinctive caution.
And strength, within the Lin Clan, translated to influence.
As he walked, another thought formed beneath the surface.
Ironcliff City.
After Gao Ren was dealt with, the city would require stability—not only in administration but in unseen forces. Official channels could only see so much. Information often flowed fastest in shadows.
He would establish something there.
An undercurrent.
An organization loyal not to the city officials, but to him.
It would serve as intelligence, defense, and silent enforcement—ensuring that corruption or external threats did not take root again. If structured correctly, it could eventually expand beyond Ironcliff City, branching into other cities within the Yunqing Region.
Not openly.
Not as a faction challenging his father's rule.
But as a hidden network operating beneath it—strengthening it in ways formal systems could not.
With these layered plans quietly settling in his mind, he arrived at his mother's residence.
Two attendants stood outside the entrance to her private quarters. One, a middle-aged woman with sharp but disciplined eyes, acted both as guard and personal aide.
She noticed him immediately and bowed respectfully.
"Young Master."
Lin Xuan inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment and walked past her without ceremony.
He did not knock.
Inside, his mother sat near a low wooden table, a stack of documents laid neatly before her. Sunlight filtered through the silk curtains, illuminating the elegant yet restrained furnishings of the room. The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.
She did not look up immediately.
Her brows were faintly furrowed, attention absorbed in whatever she was reading.
Then she sensed his presence.
Her gaze lifted.
For a brief moment, surprise flickered across her face—no one entered her private quarters without announcement. But that surprise dissolved instantly when she saw him.
Her eyes softened.
A gentle smile curved her lips.
"Xuan'er."
She set the documents aside without hesitation and stood up.
He walked forward and greeted her respectfully, though before he could fully bow, she had already closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him.
Her embrace was warm and unguarded.
He paused only a fraction of a second before returning it.
Once, such gestures would have felt unfamiliar—almost awkward. In his previous life, affection had been transactional or distant.
But now…
Now, it came without condition.
She pulled back slightly, hands resting on his shoulders as she looked him over carefully, as if assessing whether he had lost weight or gained strain since she last saw him.
"Are you eating properly?" she asked. "Is your cultivation stable? You're not pushing yourself too hard, are you?"
"I'm fine," he replied calmly. "Everything is progressing well."
She studied his face another moment before nodding, satisfied for now. Then she guided him toward the bed, sitting down and patting the space beside her. He complied without resistance, sitting close enough that her sleeve brushed against his arm.
"So," she said softly, "what brings you here?"
He did not rush into the topic.
"I wanted to ask about the clan's monthly meeting. When is it scheduled?"
"In five days," she replied. "Your father intends to review regional reports and resource distributions. Why? Are you planning to attend?"
"I should," he said. "It's time I observe more closely."
A faint trace of pride flickered in her expression, though she masked it quickly with composure.
"That would be good," she said. "Understanding how the clan operates is just as important as cultivation."
He nodded.
"There's another matter."
Her attention sharpened subtly.
"Qing'er has broken through to Early Foundation Establishment."
For a moment, her eyes widened slightly.
"She has?"
"Yes. Recently."
A slow smile formed on her lips.
"That girl has always been diligent."
"She has," he agreed.
His tone remained calm, but she could sense that he had more to say.
"You're concerned about her position," she observed gently.
He glanced at her, surprised only faintly by her perception.
"She's close to me," he said. "There will be people who resent that. With Foundation Establishment, she qualifies for increased resources and formal recognition. It would secure her standing."
His mother regarded him quietly.
"You're thinking like a clan leader," she said after a moment. "Not just as someone protecting a companion."
He did not respond to that directly.
"I'd prefer she not become a target of petty jealousy."
She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead—an unconscious gesture she had performed since he was a child.
"I'll see to it that her breakthrough is formally recorded and acknowledged. Once it's recognized, no one will dare treat her lightly."
"Thank you."
She smiled again, but this time there was something softer beneath it.
"You don't have to thank me for caring about the people you care about."
He fell silent briefly.
There was warmth in her words—steady, unforced.
He found himself accepting it more naturally than before.
After a few more exchanges about minor clan affairs and his daily routine, he stood.
"I'll head back now."
She rose with him, adjusting his collar lightly as if he were still a child preparing for lessons.
"Don't overexert yourself," she reminded him.
"I won't."
This time, when he left her quarters, there was a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips.
From there, he made his way toward Shen Yao's residence within the inner compound.
Before he even reached the door, he heard it.
Laughter.
Light. Unrestrained.
It was Qing'er's voice intertwined with Shen Yao's—soft but bright.
The sound paused abruptly as his footsteps approached.
He raised his hand and knocked lightly.
A brief silence followed.
Then he spoke calmly, "It's me."
There was a rustle inside before Shen Yao's voice responded, slightly flustered but composed.
"You may enter."
He pushed the door open.
Inside, the room was modest but tidy. Shen Yao and Qing'er sat on the bed facing each other, clearly mid-conversation. Their expressions held the remnants of amusement, though Shen Yao's cheeks carried a faint flush.
Lin Xuan stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
He allowed his gaze to sweep over Shen Yao briefly—not invasive, but analytical.
Early Body Tempering Realm.
Still stable at the initial stage.
Which was expected.
The cultivation manual he had given her possessed extraordinary potential—but its true acceleration relied on dual cultivation synergy. Without it, progress would be steady yet limited, unable to break bottlenecks rapidly.
Even so, her aura felt different.
Cleaner.
More vibrant.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
Shen Yao straightened slightly.
"I feel… different," she admitted. "More aware. As if my senses are clearer. My body feels lighter."
"That's normal," he replied. "The manual refines more than just physical strength."
She nodded.
As she shifted slightly, his gaze caught subtle changes—her figure had grown more defined. The awakening of cultivation often enhanced natural features, and in her case, it had softened her edges while emphasizing her curves.
He registered the observation subconsciously.
Across from her, Qing'er noticed the slight pause in his gaze.
She said nothing.
Only smiled faintly.
The atmosphere remained natural.
After a brief exchange about her cultivation rhythm and breathing techniques, Lin Xuan's expression grew slightly more serious.
"There's something I need to discuss with you," he said.
Shen Yao blinked.
"It concerns the cultivation manual."
Her fingers tightened slightly over her sleeve.
"The manual you're practicing," he continued calmly, "is designed for dual cultivation. Used alone, it remains beneficial. But its full potential—rapid breakthroughs without bottlenecks—requires synchronized cultivation with a partner."
Color crept up her neck.
He did not avert his gaze, nor did he press forward aggressively.
"I'm not telling you this to pressure you," he said evenly. "Qing'er is cultivating the same manual. I'm simply ensuring you're aware of all options available to you."
Her eyes flickered briefly toward Qing'er, who maintained a composed expression.
"There is no drawback if you choose not to engage in the dual aspect," he added. "Your progress will simply be slower. I don't want to withhold information that could benefit you."
Qing'er bit her lip, her own body responding to the vivid description—memories of Lin Xuan's cock stretching her, pounding relentlessly until she screamed in orgasm. ''He's right,' Qing'er added softly. It's intimate, but empowering''.
Shen Yao lowered her head slightly, clearly embarrassed but not distressed.
"I… need some time to think about it," she said softly.
"That's fine," he replied immediately. "Take as much time as you need."
He stood.
"There is no requirement. No loss of privilege. Nothing changes based on your decision."
His tone was firm but calm.
"I don't operate that way."
Shen Yao looked up at him then, relief evident in her eyes despite the lingering blush.
"Thank you."
He inclined his head slightly.
"I'll return to my room. If you wish to speak further—whether to accept or decline—you can do so anytime."
He turned toward the door.
Qing'er rose halfway before pausing.
"I'll stay here a bit longer," she said lightly. "We haven't finished talking."
He glanced at her, noticing the subtle glint in her eyes.
Mischievous.
But outwardly innocent.
''I have work to attend to. Return to our room later, Qing'er.'' He brushed her cheek in passing, a possessive spark that made her knees weaken. As the door closed, Qing'er turned to Shen Yao with a conspiratorial glint.
After he left, the door closed softly behind him.
Inside the room, Qing'er's smile deepened just slightly.
Externally, she resumed chatting casually.
Internally, however, her thoughts were far less simple.
Serving him alone was fulfilling.
But serving him together with Shen Yao…
The image lingered pleasantly in her mind.
Meanwhile, Lin Xuan walked back toward his courtyard.
Tonight, he would travel to Ironcliff City.
Before that, he would visit the system store.
And he had 250 system coins to allocate.
Earned from last night's successful dual cultivation session.
Plans layered upon plans.
And beneath it all—
The quiet expansion of foundations.