Marriage Alliance Completed, Bridal Chamber Unfinished

Shen Wen fell silent for a moment after hearing her out.

He had not expected Cao Ying to have been thinking along those lines.

To continue the Dou Di bloodline?

It was indeed a fairly good reason.

He looked at Cao Ying with a somewhat strange expression, then suddenly found it rather amusing. "My wife is worrying so much for my sake—even personally arranging concubines for me. You truly are virtuous and magnanimous. But...

"Since you are concerned about continuing the bloodline, why not choose yourself and bear me children first?"

Cao Ying had not expected him to ask so bluntly. Her seductive cheeks flushed scarlet with a whoosh, the color spreading all the way to her ears.

How could she not have considered it deep down? She simply had never felt ready.

Or rather, the shyness and pride unique to a young girl made it difficult for her to take the initiative and say it aloud.

Now that Shen Wen had exposed her thoughts, she could only pretend to be calm, habitually using a prickly tone to hide the panic in her heart. "Y-You really are pushing your luck!

"Medusa is such a peerless beauty, and a Dou Zong expert besides. Now she is willingly becoming your concubine. You must be overjoyed, aren't you?

"And yet you're still putting on an act here!"

Before she had finished speaking, Shen Wen suddenly rose. Before she could react, he opened his arms and gently drew her into his embrace.

Cao Ying's entire body instantly stiffened, her mind going blank.

This embrace was unlike the support he had given her in the critical moment amid the underground lava.

It was also unlike the domineering plunder of that forceful kiss. Instead, it carried a clear, gentle tenderness.

His scent instantly enveloped her, while the firm, warm chest beneath his clothes transmitted a reassuring warmth.

This pure intimacy, tinged with cherishing affection, struck her far more deeply than anything that had happened before.

Her cheeks burned fiercely, her heart pounded like a drum, and even breathing became somewhat difficult.

The hands that had originally meant to push him away instead rested limply against his waist.

Feeling the stiffness and faint tremors of the delicate body in his arms, Shen Wen smiled. "Ying'er, thank you. Thank you for thinking so much for me."

Cao Ying buried her face against his chest, her nose filled with the crisp Medicinal Fragrance on him. Still stubbornly trying to keep up her front, she muttered, "W-Who was thinking for you?!

"I... I was only afraid that Master was too eager to hold a grand-disciple, always going on and on about it until it drove me to death!

"It wasn't specially for you..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was nearly inaudible.

The little bit of haughty pride she had forced herself to maintain seemed so pale and powerless before Shen Wen's sudden embrace and straightforward gratitude.

Shen Wen chuckled softly and tightened his arms slightly, pulling her deeper into his embrace.

Then he asked a question that made Cao Ying's heart seem to stop:

"But, my wife, even if you are so 'magnanimous'... are you truly willing to let Medusa become my first woman?"

Those words were like the sharpest arrow, instantly piercing through all of Cao Ying's defenses and pretense.

Willing?

How could she possibly be willing!

She was his properly wedded wife!

Pushing another woman toward his side

was already the greatest concession and sacrifice she could make for him, for that ethereal yet unbearably weighty responsibility of continuing the bloodline.

But to make her give up the symbolically significant position of being "the first" as well...

Cao Ying abruptly raised her head. Her Bewitching Eyes shimmered with tears, filled with struggle, unwillingness, and intense possessiveness.

All her haughty pride shattered at that moment. She stared at Shen Wen's handsome face, so close at hand.

Her lips parted, yet she realized she could not say a single word.

An ambiguous atmosphere silently spread through the Pill Room, growing warmer and warmer, as though it would swallow them both whole.

She said nothing more.

She merely gazed straight at Shen Wen with those Bewitching Eyes misted with moisture, the affection surging within them nearly overflowing.

Her delicate body unconsciously grew scorching hot and soft in his arms, as though she were about to melt into his embrace.

Shen Wen clearly felt the change in the beauty in his arms.

Meeting her gaze, so full of complicated emotions, he found all words unnecessary.

He lowered his head and gently covered her delicate red lips with his own.

This kiss

was entirely different from the forceful kiss he had given her when he had lost control.

There was no violence, no plundering—only exploration and response.

Cao Ying responded awkwardly yet passionately, feeling an indescribable warmth spread from where their lips and tongues entwined to every inch of her body.

It left her whole body numb and tingling, as though she had returned to the scorching state of refining the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Yet this heat was gentle and lingering, carrying a bewitching power that drew one into its depths.

At some unknown moment, their robes quietly slipped away, revealing without reservation the breathtaking beauty Shen Wen had only glimpsed before.

Under the soft light of the Pill Room, it became all the more heart-stirringly seductive.

With no outsider present this time, Shen Wen was able to properly appreciate the sight.

The black undergarment beneath suited Cao Ying's personality well, forming a striking contrast against her fair, rosy body.

Shen Wen's blood immediately began to race.

Cao Ying's lovely face flushed crimson, her gaze brimming with allure as she took the initiative to move closer to Shen Wen.

Her warm, soft body pressed against his solid chest. Breathing out a fragrance like orchids, she spoke in a trembling yet exceptionally clear voice. "The ceremony we... didn't complete during the Marriage Alliance... can be made up for now."

A beauty extended an invitation, and their passion blazed like fire.

The next moment, the brocade quilt churned like waves, and spring filled the room.

After one night, Cao Ying opened her beautiful eyes and felt as though her body were about to fall apart.

She could not help but push Shen Wen, who was sleeping beside her. Thinking of last night, Cao Ying gritted her silver teeth.

She felt as though she had passed out several times, yet this guy still had not let her go.

Shen Wen opened his eyes, amusement in them. "My wife. I originally wanted to let you off. But this was a matter of a man's dignity."

Shen Wen had originally been rather soft-hearted. Seeing that this was still her first experience, he had planned to stop there.

Yet Cao Ying had refused to concede at the time, directly turning over and taking the lead, stubbornly challenging Shen Wen.

She had even said, "No way, you're done just like that?"

Naturally, Shen Wen had to let Cao Ying witness the physique brought about by cultivating the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art.

"Hmph!"

Cao Ying gave a cold snort, but soon leaned against Shen Wen like soft spring water. "This grand Demoness of the Cao Family has let you have your way!"

"Oh? Who was it that made a Soul Contract before, saying you couldn't force her to consummate the marriage? You practically became a simp!"

"At the beginning last night, you were the one forcing me!"

Listening to Cao Ying continue to argue stubbornly, Shen Wen could no longer suppress the fondness in his heart.

This little thing was truly adorable. Who had invented her?

"You're not allowed to mention that again!!" Cao Ying bit Shen Wen's shoulder.

"What does 'simp' mean?" Cao Ying looked at the bite mark on Shen Wen's shoulder, nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly asked in confusion.

"Uh, it's a term I heard before. It means giving endlessly to a woman while getting nothing in return, yet continuing to give anyway."

Remembering that this world had no such term, Shen Wen gave a rough explanation.

"Huh? Then you really were a little like that before, hahaha!" Cao Ying laughed at Shen Wen's explanation. "But I gave you the essence blood of an Ancient Void Dragon back then, so you weren't exactly... a simp."

"You!"

"Fine, fine, you're not a simp! You were pursuing me, then! Hehe. I won the first round!"

"A simp is someone who gets no response at all. Now I've already given myself to you."

Shen Wen pinched Cao Ying's cheek. "Alright, time to get up. I remember Dan Chen goes to discuss pill refining with you every morning."

"Oh, right!"

Cao Ying got up, felt as though her body were about to fall apart, and shot Shen Wen another glare. "I'm not a Demonic Beast! Did you really have to use all your strength on me the whole time?"

After putting on her robes, Shen Wen also got up and dressed. Stretching lazily, he said, "I need to make a trip to Mo City today. I nearly forgot about Hai Bodong."

He had only remembered that fellow yesterday while refining the Spirit Fusion Pill.

"Perfect. I'll also start the furnace. I haven't refined any pills since obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame."

Cao Ying nodded. The Po E Pill required Heavenly Flames to refine, so this was the perfect chance for her to give it a try.