Marcus woke at noon with the heavy, pleasant ache of a man who had claimed two women in one night. His body felt stronger, fuller. The new qi at Stage 3 Peak circulated smoothly through widened meridians. He could still taste Rose on his tongue and feel the ghost of Shen Yao's nails on his back. A slow grin spread across his face as he rolled out of bed.
In the bathhouse steam curled around him while hot water poured over his shoulders. He closed his eyes and let the heat soak into sore muscles. Then the sinister voice slithered into his mind, low and mocking.
"Do not get too full of yourself. You still cannot compare to Xue Lian. If she finds out what you have been doing behind her back, she will ram you straight into the ground. Do not say I did not warn you. Hahaha."
Marcus's heartbeat spiked. His hand clenched against the stone wall. Xue Lian. The name alone sent a cold thread through the warmth of his new power. He needed to grow stronger, much stronger, before she returned. Otherwise the dark side's taunt might become reality.
He stepped out, dried himself, and slipped into a sleek black silk robe that whispered against his skin. Then he headed to the dining hall for a late lunch.
Both Shen Yao and Rose were absent.
The other maids moved around him with quick glances and hushed whispers. Some blushed when their eyes met his. Others looked away too fast. Marcus felt heat crawl up his neck.
The voice chuckled inside his skull. "You did excellent work last night. Both of them are properly banged up. Those thin walls could not hold back the screams. Everyone heard. You are fucked, Marcus. Hahaha."
He cursed silently. Shut up, you bastard. I already knew that.
He finished his meal quickly, embarrassment burning under his skin, and left the hall as soon as he could.
Outside he waited near the courtyard gate. Soon a flying disc appeared in the sky, streaking toward him. On it sat Xuan Ao, waving enthusiastically. The disc landed with a swirl of dust. Xuan Ao stored it in his spatial ring and bounded forward.
"Brother Lin Mo! How are you today?" he called with genuine excitement.
Marcus gave a small nod and a smile. He noticed Xuan Ao's eyes flick to his neck, searching for marks.
Xuan Ao grinned wider. "I guess your luck finally ran out, but it is good. You are starting to look like a normal man now."
Marcus snorted. "I curse you with that thick shell of yours. One day you will be more battered than me." He had no idea how prophetic those words would prove.
Xuan Ao laughed. "It would be my honor, brother."
Marcus asked about the work. Xuan Ao's face lit up. "We finished the product. You will not believe it. Taste this chocolate. It is a thousand times better than the sample you gave me."
Marcus nodded. "Let us see."
Xuan Ao's gaze fell on the thick bundle of papers Marcus carried. "What is that?"
"You will know soon. First, let us head to the printing shop."
Xuan Ao pulled out array disc. They stepped on and flew toward the southern district, landing smoothly in front of Black Quill Press.
Inside the reception hall marble floors gleamed under rows of tall bookshelves. The tall manager recognized them at once and ushered them into the special guest room with extra politeness. Thanks to Marcus's previous order, this visit meant serious business.
"How may we serve you today, Sir Lin Mo?" the manager asked.
Marcus set the bundle on the table. "I want to print this novel I wrote."
The manager's smile grew. "We would be delighted. We can even offer a twenty percent discount for you."
He called for Feng Yue.
When she entered, her eyes brightened at the sight of Marcus. "We meet again, Sir Lin Mo. So you wish to print your novel?"
He nodded.
She asked for details. "Title?"
"Bound by Desires."
"Genre?"
"Action, adventure, romance, cultivation."
She showed him paper samples. He started with the cheapest, but the quality felt too thin for what he wanted. In the end he chose mid-grade, smooth, durable, easy on the eyes. After discount each copy would cost about three low-grade spirit coins. Acceptable.
"Now the cover design, Mr. Lin Mo?"
He described it carefully: a male cultivator gently tucking a flower behind a woman's ear, soft moonlight, subtle intimacy. As he spoke the air in the room grew warmer. Feng Yue's cheeks flushed faintly.
Inside Marcus's mind the voice purred. "You lucky bastard. The woman in front of you wants to be rammed by you so badly. Do not let her escape. Ask her out tonight."
Marcus gritted his teeth silently. What do you want, you horny bastard? I told you not to interfere with my work.
The voice laughed. "Who are you calling horny? What will you do tonight? Both your little maids are already badly banged. What happens when your fucking Yang physique erupts? You have two days at most, but eruption can come sooner. Then you will take whoever is closest, even cross species. I almost feel sorry for Xuan Ao if he is nearby. Hahaha."
Stop, you motherfucker.
The voice finally quieted.
Feng Yue noticed his brief daze. "Mr. Lin Mo? Are you alright?"
He met her eyes and smiled gently. "It is nothing, Miss Feng. I was just captivated by your beauty. If you are free tonight, would you join me for dinner?"
Her cheeks turned deep red, but she kept her professional composure. "I am flattered to hear that from you. I am free tonight and would be happy to have dinner with you."
Marcus's smile widened. "Then please choose the best restaurant in the city. I am still new here."
Xuan Ao sat frozen, mouth slightly open. A moment ago they had been talking business. Now it felt like he had stumbled into two adults meeting at a bar.
Feng Yue cleared her throat. "How many copies?"
Marcus thought for a second. "Five thousand."
They settled the bill, signed the order, and left. Feng Yue watched them go, heart beating faster than it should. She had never agreed to a second meeting so quickly with someone she barely knew. She picked up the manuscript to review formatting and started reading.
Three chapters later her face was burning. The scenes were vivid, heated, impossible to look away from. What an interesting novel. It will be a hit.
Without realizing it, she was already infatuated.
Marcus and Xuan Ao flew back to the rented courtyard house. There they met the old man and the two sisters. Xuan Ao handed Marcus a small box of chocolates.
He took one bite.
It melted on his tongue, rich, smooth, impossibly perfect. Better than anything from his old world. He nodded slowly. The spirit energy here, the special plants, it had transformed the recipe.
Satisfaction settled in his chest. He already had a plan: sell chocolate boxes with a complimentary copy of Bound by Desires inside. Maximum impact. Maximum Kama points.
But that would take time. The shop opening was still four days away. First he would test the market with a few thousand novel copies. If readers' desires generated Kama points, he would know the method worked. If not, he would find another way.
Night fell.
Marcus dressed carefully, black silk robe with subtle silver embroidery, hair tied back, a faint scent of clean yang essence clinging to him. He stepped out to meet Feng Yue at Moon Night Palace.
The hunt was not over. It had only changed shape.
One step closer.