Marcus slipped through the mansion gates just before dawn. The array disc touched down without a sound. Xuan Ao gave him a quick nod and flew off into the fading night.
Marcus moved quietly through the corridors. No one saw him. When he finally closed his bedroom door behind him he let out a long breath. Relief washed over him. He had made it back without anyone stopping him.
He dropped onto the bed. His body still buzzed from the night with Feng Yue. Every muscle felt heavy and satisfied. He closed his eyes for a moment. Then he opened his system panel.
A glowing notification appeared.
Congratulations, Host. You have earned 10 Kama Points.
Favorability with Feng Yue has exceeded 80%.
First-time bonus triggered: Heavenly Kama Scripture Skill Collection Lucky Draw awarded.
Marcus tapped the lucky draw option without hesitation.
A roulette wheel spun in front of him. Colors blurred. Symbols flashed past. It slowed. Stopped.
Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a skill book: Profound Yang Resonance Thrust.
A small jade-like book materialized in his palm. He opened it. Detailed diagrams appeared. Meridians glowed on the pages. Lines of qi flow showed clearly. They all converged toward his manhood. Explanations followed in precise script. How to channel yang qi. How to vibrate it. How to amplify penetration.
Marcus stared at the diagrams. His brow furrowed. What exactly did this do?
The dark voice inside his head laughed low and rough. "You stupid ass. Can't you see where the meridians are going? It is for pounding women. For tearing them apart from the inside."
Marcus ignored the voice. Arguing with it never helped. He sat cross-legged on the bed. He followed the instructions. Qi flowed from his dantian. It moved along the described pathways. Heat built slowly. Then it rushed toward his groin.
The warmth turned into vibration. Slow at first. Then stronger. Faster. His cock hardened instantly. It swelled. The fabric of his robe strained. A sharp tear sounded. The cloth ripped open. His shaft sprang free. It stood straight up. Thick. Veined. Glistening. Nearly ten inches long now. The head throbbed dark purple.
Marcus stared in shock. Then he closed his eyes. He circulated the qi back. The erection slowly subsided. The vibration faded.
He smiled. This was a gift. With this skill he might actually stand a chance against Xue Lian.
He was still lost in the thought when the voice spoke again. "You are about to be fucked. Prepare yourself."
Before Marcus could react a sharp pulse flared deep inside his bones. The slave seal in his soul ignited. Pain exploded through every nerve.
Then her voice came. Cold. Clear. Cutting through his mind like ice.
"You have become quite rampant."
Marcus froze. Did she hear his thoughts? Could she see everything?
Xue Lian spoke again. "Dare to spend the night outside the mansion."
Marcus exhaled in relief. She could only sense his location. Not his thoughts. Not the details.
Then the pain returned. It came from deep inside his bones. Sharp. Unbearable. Far beyond what his current body could endure. His nervous system overloaded. His vision darkened. He collapsed onto the bed. Unconscious.
A final whisper echoed from the pulsing seal.
"I think you need more punishment when I get back. I will train you properly into my toy."
The seal quieted.
Marcus's main consciousness went dark. But something else rose. His darker side took control of the body.
It opened his eyes. They glowed faintly red.
"Xue Lian," it growled. "Wait. Even though Marcus is weak right now I am here too. One day you will be underneath my balls."
The darker side sat up. It began circulating qi. It smoothed the disordered channels. It forced recovery. After an hour Marcus's real consciousness woke.
He sat up fast. Shock hit him. His darker side had taken over his body. Completely.
The voice spoke once. Calm this time.
"I am not your enemy. You do not need to be wary of me."
Marcus gathered his thoughts. Then the crisis crashed over him again. The blood seal. The pain. Xue Lian's return. He needed to remove it. At any cost.
The next day he met Xuan Ao in the courtyard.
Marcus told him everything. The seal. The pain. Xue Lian's voice. The threat.
Xuan Ao listened quietly. Then he thought for a long moment.
"There is only one place we might find a way to break that seal. The dark market in the northern district. But it is dangerous. Golden Core cultivators handle the big deals there. With our strength we would be looted. Killed. Or worse. Sold as slaves."
He paused.
"And we do not have the money. You would need at least a couple thousand mid-grade spirit coins. Maybe more."
Marcus nodded slowly. He started thinking.
"I need to earn first. Then hire a Golden Core cultivator to protect me while I make the deal."
A plan formed.
"Let us go to Black Quill Press."
Xuan Ao pulled out the flying disc. They stepped on. It rose smoothly. They flew toward the southern district.
They landed in front of the press gate. They hurried inside. The tall manager Bruce stood at reception. He smiled wide when he saw them.
"Hello Mr Lin Mo. Your order for five thousand books is ready. We are waiting for the delivery address."
Marcus got straight to it. "Can you sell these books for me? Through your channels?"
Bruce's smile grew bigger. "Of course sir. Please follow me."
They went to a private guest room. Sat opposite each other. After a short haggle they settled. Ten low-grade spirit coins per book. Two coins per book went to Black Quill Press for selling and storage. The rest around five coins per book went to Marcus.
Bruce had no idea yet. But this deal would change his business forever.
Marcus did quick math in his head.
One thousand low-grade spirit coins equal one mid-grade spirit coin. To be safe he needed to sell at least one million copies.
After finalizing the deal Marcus asked casually. "Where is Feng Yue today?"
Bruce chuckled. "I heard she got a rich boyfriend. So she took the day off."
Inside Marcus's head the sinister laugh echoed. At this rate the entire city would soon know him as the skirt chaser.
Marcus felt a wave of embarrassment. He thanked Bruce and left quickly. Bruce made nothing difficult for him.
Outside Marcus turned to Xuan Ao. "I will meet you at the rented courtyard house later."
Xuan Ao nodded and flew off.
Marcus headed toward Feng Yue's home. He needed to check on her.
And perhaps push things further.