Afternoon.
Marcus's stomach growled. Woke him from sleep.
He blinked. Opened his eyes. Stared at the ceiling.
Something was different.
He moved his arm. No pain. No stiffness. The muscles responded smoothly.
He sat up. No dizziness. No nausea. No exhaustion weighing him down like chains.
His body felt... good. Actually good.
For the first time in days his body didn't scream when he moved. Didn't punish him for existing.
What happened last night had helped. Somehow. Fed the addiction. Satisfied the craving.
The thought made him sick.
Marcus stood. Walked to the mirror. Studied his reflection.
A young vibrant man looked back. Twenty-five. Healthy. Not hollow. Not drained. Not the broken thing he'd been yesterday morning.
Clear eyes. Color in his cheeks. The way he was supposed to look.
The Supreme Yang Physique had absorbed Yin energy from Rose. Processed it. Used it. Healed him completely.
And all it cost was his morality. His self-control. His humanity.
Small price. In the cultivation world.
Marcus's hands gripped the edge of the wash basin. Knuckles white.
He'd crossed a line last night. Not just crossed it. Obliterated it. Ran past it without looking back.
He'd entered her room. Taken what he wanted. Used her body to feed his addiction.
That she'd enjoyed it didn't matter. That she'd thanked him afterward didn't matter.
He'd been out of control. An animal. A beast driven by need.
And the worst part. The truly horrifying part.
He'd barely felt guilty until now. Barely cared in the moment.
The craving had been too strong. The need too overwhelming. Everything else was secondary.
What was he becoming?
Marcus splashed cold water on his face. Again. Again. Trying to wash away the shame.
It didn't work.
He bathed. Dressed. Forced himself to function. To move forward. To pretend everything was fine.
Went to lunch.
---
The dining hall. Head maid Shen Yao waited at her usual spot.
Marcus walked to her directly. No hesitation. No avoidance.
Face what you did. Own it. Deal with consequences.
He greeted her normally. "Good afternoon Miss Shen."
Like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't violated one of her staff last night.
Shen Yao turned. Grey eyes found his. Sharp. Penetrating. Knowing.
She studied him for a long moment. Took in his appearance. His health. His energy.
Then spoke. Direct. No games.
"Were you with Rose last night?"
The question hit like a punch to the gut.
Marcus froze. His mind raced. Considered lying. Denying. Making excuses.
Saw no point. She already knew. This was a test.
"Yes."
One word. Simple. Honest. Damning.
Shen Yao's expression didn't change. Professional mask firmly in place.
But her voice. Her voice turned cold. Sharp. Edged with something darker.
"Next time be gentle with her. Don't act like some horny beast rutting without thought."
Repulsion. Disgust. Clear in her tone. Not hidden. Not softened.
The words cut deeper than any blade.
Shame flooded through Marcus. Hot. Overwhelming. Suffocating.
She was right. Completely right. He had been a beast. Mindless. Driven by base need.
No different than the cultivators who'd slaughtered the cruise ship passengers. Who took what they wanted because they could. Because power meant freedom from consequence.
He'd become what he hated.
"Where is Rose now? Is she alright?"
His voice was quiet. Strained.
"In her room. Resting. Recovering from your... enthusiasm."
Another cut. Surgical. Precise.
"I need to see her. To apologize."
"She's resting now." Shen Yao's voice was firm. "Check on her tonight. After dinner. Give her time to process."
Marcus nodded. Swallowed. "I'm sorry. For what I did. For putting you in this position. For failing to control myself."
Shen Yao studied him. Long moment. Evaluating sincerity.
Then nodded once. Sharp. Decisive.
"Actions matter more than words Marcus. Prove you're better than what you showed last night."
She'd used his real name. Not Lin Mo. His actual name.
When had she learned it? Had Rose told her? Had she been listening through walls?
"I don't know your name. Your full name."
Shen Yao smiled slightly. First time he'd seen it. Small. Controlled.
"Shen Yao. Just Shen Yao. No fancy clan name. No cultivation backing. Just a woman who's good at managing households."
"It's a beautiful name."
"Flattery won't undo last night." But her tone softened. Slightly. "Eat your lunch. You look half-starved despite your... activities."
She turned away. Dismissing him. Conversation over.
Marcus sat. Ate mechanically. Food tasted like ash.
---
Marcus's room.
He sat at the desk. Picked up the pen. Opened to where he'd left off.
Chapter forty-one. Yesterday he'd written forty chapters. Today he'd push further.
The pen moved across paper. Words flowed from memory. From Earth. From a story he'd read three times in his previous life.
Chapter forty-two. The family's rage. The father's ultimatum.
Chapter forty-three. The secret meetings. Stolen moments.
Hours passed. Marcus's hand cramped. He switched hands. Kept writing.
The romance intensified. The stakes rose. Conservative cultivation society meeting passionate forbidden love.
Chapter fifty. The attempted separation.
Chapter fifty-five. The desperate escape.
His hand ached. He ignored it. Kept pushing.
Chapter sixty. The pursuit. The capture.
Candles burned. Wax dripped. Evening arrived. Marcus barely noticed.
Chapter sixty-five. The trial. The public shame.
His vision blurred. He blinked. Refocused. Kept going.
Chapter seventy. The exile. The new life.
Almost there for today. Just a bit more.
Chapter seventy-five. The reunion. Years later.
Marcus set the pen down. Stared at the pages he'd written today.
Thirty-five chapters. From forty to seventy-five. About seventy pages.
A full day's work. Exhausting. His hand could barely hold the pen anymore.
Still forty-five chapters to go. To reach one hundred twenty. To finish the first volume.
Two more days like this. Maybe three. Then it would be done.
Bound by Desire. A romance novel adapted from Earth. Changed names. Adjusted setting. Made appropriate for cultivation world.
But the core was the same. Forbidden love. Social pressure. Triumph through adversity.
It would sell. He knew it would sell.
Conservative cultivation society suppressed sexuality. Controlled relationships. Marriages were alliances. Love was secondary.
Women would buy this secretly. Hide it. Read it in private. Dream of passion their world denied them.
Men too. Younger ones. Those who hadn't grown cold yet.
One low-grade spirit coin per copy. Cheap. Accessible. Mass market pricing.
If ten thousand people read it. Ten thousand Kama Points. One hundred spirit coins profit.
If a hundred thousand read it. A hundred thousand Kama Points. Cultivation resources for years.
If a million...
Everything was moving forward. The chocolate business. The novel. The path to power.
But at what cost?
Marcus looked at his hands. They shook slightly. From exhaustion. From shame. From the knowledge of what he'd done to get here.
He'd puonded her even after she had passed out. Used her body. Fed his addiction.
And he'd do it again. When the craving returned. When the withdrawal started.
Because the alternative was worse. Loss of control. Complete breakdown. Hurting someone even more violently.
Feed the beast on his terms. Or let the beast choose its own prey.
That was the choice. The only choice.
---
Dinner passed quickly. Simple meal. Marcus ate alone.
After he went to Rose's room. Knocked quietly.
"Come in. Door's unlocked." Sweet voice. Young. Tired.
Marcus entered.
Rose sat on her bed. Chestnut hair down. Loose simple dress. Pretty face. Alluring curves despite her exhaustion.
She looked tired. Used. Marks on her neck he recognized.
His marks.
Guilt stabbed through him again.
Marcus walked forward. Took her hand. It was soft. Cold.
"I'm sorry. For last night. For what I did. For hurting you."
His voice was sincere. Meant it.
Rose looked at him. Then smiled. Threw her arms around him. Kissed his cheek.
"Don't worry. I... I enjoyed it too."
Marcus controlled himself. The urge to grab her. To take her again. To feed the craving.
He pushed it down. Hard.
They separated. He stepped back.
"Rest. Recover. I won't bother you again."
"You're not a bother." Her voice was soft. "You can come back. When you want."
Marcus left before he could respond. Before he could change his mind.
Back in his room he breathed. Steadied himself.
The physique's side effects had subsided. For now. A few days maybe.
Feeding the addiction had bought him time.
He sat at the desk. Stared at the completed novel.
A thought struck him. Dark. Unwanted.
What if Rose hadn't been there last night? What if he was with Shen Yao instead?
Would he have...?
A voice answered. Not his voice. Darker. Deeper.
*Yes. She wants you. She knew you were there. She was disappointed you didn't come in. That's why she scolded you.*
Marcus jolted. "What the fuck?"
*She's waiting. She needs you. Just like you need her.*
"Who are you? What is this?"
Laughter. Inside his head. Sinister. Familiar.
*I'm you. And you're me. The part you've been suppressing. The part Xue Lian created.*
Paranoia. Split personality. Hallucination.
Marcus's hands shook. He couldn't sleep. Couldn't think clearly.
He needed to move. To walk. To clear his head.
He left his room. Wandered the mansion halls. Empty. Dark. Lady Xue was gone. He could explore without fear.
Thirty minutes of aimless walking. His mind slowly calming.
Then he heard it.
Soft moaning. Rapid breathing. Female.
Coming from Shen Yao's room.
Marcus froze.
*See? I told you. She's calling for you.*
"Shut up. She's not. That's private."
*Then why are you walking toward her door?*
Marcus looked down. His feet had moved. Without his command. Toward her room.
He stood outside. Could hear it clearly now.
She was masturbating. Alone. In the dark. Trying to satisfy needs that wouldn't be satisfied.
*Go inside. She needs you. You need her. Everyone wins.*
"Fuck off. This is wrong."
*Is it? Rose didn't complain. She thanked you. Said she enjoyed it.*
"That's different. That was..."
*That was what? Consensual? She was unconscious halfway. You took what you wanted. And she loved it.*
Marcus's head pounded. His thoughts fractured. The voice was right. The voice was wrong. He couldn't tell anymore.
*Open the door. Or suffer. You know what happens if you don't feed it.*
The withdrawal. The pain. The need that consumed everything.
Marcus gritted his teeth. Made a calculation. Cold. Practical. Disgusting.
If he didn't open the door he'd suffer for days. Maybe longer. The addiction would grow. Get worse.
Feed it now. Control when and how. Or lose control completely later.
The system's unknown side effect. The locked drawback. This was it.
Supreme Yang Physique required constant Yin energy. Regular dual cultivation. Or the body broke down.
Xue Lian was gone for a week. He needed a source. Any source.
His hand touched the door handle.
*Good boy. Now turn it.*
"I hate you."
*You hate yourself. I'm just honest about what we are.*
Marcus turned the handle. Slowly. Quietly.
The door opened.
Moonlight from her window. Silver light casting shadows.
Shen Yao lay on her bed. Blanket pushed aside. Hand between her legs. Eyes closed. Lost in sensation.
Orange hair spread across the pillow. Her dress hiked up. Curves visible in the dim light.
Beautiful. Desperate. Unaware.
Marcus stepped inside. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
She gasped. Eyes snapped open. Saw him.
For a moment neither moved.
Then she spoke. Voice husky. Breathless.
"Took you long enough."