Yue Shen: No matter how powerful Yan Fei is, you still have to drink my foot-washing water.

"Look at the map! You're going the wrong way! Just a bit above the Tropic of Cancer..."

"Why is the soul-power barrier of this ancient ruin so thick...!?"

Two hours passed in silence.

When the bathroom door opened again, it was Yue Shen who walked out, carrying Zhao Linchuan, who was wrapped tightly in a large bathrobe and seemed too lazy to even move a finger.

Her own long hair hung down in damp strands, a lingering flush remained on her cheeks, and her eyes were misty and languid, yet the corners of her mouth curled into a satisfied smile, as if she had just stolen a taste of honey.

Though her steps were slightly unsteady, her spirit and vitality were surprisingly good.

She carefully placed Zhao Linchuan back on the bed, let him rest his head on her lap, and picked up a dry, soft towel to meticulously wipe his still-damp hair.

Her movements were incredibly gentle.

"Little man~ You were amazing~" She lowered her head and pressed a light kiss to his sweat-dampened forehead, her voice so sweet it could drip honey.

Zhao Linchuan was too exhausted to even lift his eyelids, merely letting out a vague "mm" in response.

After a long while, as if remembering something, he asked in a voice thick with weariness:

"Yue Shen... didn't you say before... you wanted to find me... for something? What exactly... do you want?"

Yue Shen's hand paused in its motion of drying his hair, and then, an even more captivating smile bloomed on her lips.

She leaned down, pressed her warm, soft red lips against the shell of his ear, and whispered in a breathy voice: "Husband~"

She drew out the tone, filled with infinite satisfaction and tenderness, "I have already... received it~"

"Hm?" Zhao Linchuan was dazed and didn't hear her clearly.

"Get some good rest~" Yue Shen didn't explain further, simply patting his back gently as if coaxing a child, "Later... I will wake you~"

"Then I... will rest..." Zhao Linchuan mumbled vaguely before his consciousness sank completely into darkness.

However, his consciousness did not immediately fall into a deep sleep; instead, it sank into that system space only he could reach.

The moment he entered, a clear system prompt appeared before his "eyes."

[Detected that 'Yue Shen's' feelings and reliance toward the host have transcended the scope of the system bond, causing a qualitative change in loyalty values.]

[Current Loyalty: 100 (Locked, will never decrease).]

[Do you wish to remove the system's initial loyalty control module for 'Yue Shen'? Note: Once removed, her actions will be based entirely on her own will.]

Looking at this prompt, Zhao Linchuan's consciousness remained silent for a moment.

A maximum loyalty of 100 points meant that Yue Shen's feelings for him had surpassed all external factors like profit, fear, or reliance, becoming an unreserved identification and sense of belonging that originated from the depths of her soul.

This emotion might be a complex mix of love, worship, habit, and the feeling of treating each other as their only reliance, but there was no doubt it was now solid enough that it no longer required the restraint of any external force.

'Remove.' Zhao Linchuan thought silently, making his decision.

True bonds should not be built upon the coercion of a system.

[Command confirmed. The loyalty control module for 'Yue Shen' has been removed. All her future actions and emotions will be entirely governed by her own will.]

Outside, on the large bed in the luxury suite.

Yue Shen, who was gently stroking Zhao Linchuan's back, felt her delicate body tremble slightly.

An extremely subtle sensation, like ice melting and shackles breaking, surged from the deepest part of her soul.

That invisible thread that had existed vaguely since she arrived in this world, the sense of restraint that subtly limited some of her more extreme thoughts... had vanished.

She froze for a moment, and then, a light mixed with ecstasy, emotion, and a complex, indescribable glow erupted in her misty, beautiful eyes.

She realized... she seemed to... truly be able to "act" against him now.

Not the kind of acting that meant harm, but rather... her will was now completely free.

She could love him, hate him, leave him, or even... in certain extreme circumstances, defy his "wishes."

Of course, she knew she would never do such a thing.

This sudden "freedom" instead allowed her to see her own heart more clearly—it was already filled to the brim with him, leaving no space for any other possibility.

She lowered her head, looking at the defenseless profile of the man sleeping in her arms, his long eyelashes, his straight nose, his slightly pursed lips... A surge of unprecedented, aching tenderness rose in her heart, along with an indescribable possessiveness.

She extended the tip of her tongue to lightly lick her own slightly dry lips, then leaned down and whispered against his ear.

"Little man~ I can no longer... live without you,"

"But still..." She changed her tone, a hint of coquettishness and a sense of "settling scores" creeping into her voice, "I still remember how you favored Yan Fei and neglected me before."

"You must treat me better from now on~ Otherwise... hmph~"

She didn't care whether Zhao Linchuan was truly asleep or just pretending; she simply spoke to herself, her hands moving even more gently as she stroked his back.

And in the deepest part of her heart, a voice filled with triumphant laughter rang out joyfully.

'Yan Fei, oh Yan Fei~'

Yue Shen imagined that woman who was always so gentle and dignified, who seemed to win the "Young Master's" favor more than her in every way, and her heart was filled with the joy of a victor.

"In the end, you will still have to drink Yue Shen's foot-washing water..."

"From today on, in this household, I am the 'big' one! You just wait to be the little one obediently!"

She thought blissfully, gently pressing her face against the top of Zhao Linchuan's head. Feeling his steady breathing and warm body temperature, she slowly closed her eyes, the smile on her lips lingering for a long time.

The next morning, a glimmer of light filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting long, thin spots of light onto the carpet of the luxury suite.

The sound of trickling water came from the bathroom, where Zhao Linchuan was washing up.

In the outer room, in front of the vanity mirror, Yue Shen sat upright on a stool, dressed in a simple and elegant moon-white nightgown.

She held a smooth white jade comb in her mouth, her hands reaching behind her head to deftly gather her cascading purple hair into a loose, elegant bun.

In the mirror, her fair skin glowed with a moving flush, and the lingering passion and satisfaction of the previous night remained in her features. As her eyes shifted, they sparkled, adding a breathtaking charm to her usual cold demeanor.

Xiao Wu stood beside her, looking somewhat dazed, her large eyes filled with confusion.

Just a moment ago, Xiao Wu had been in her own room, concentrating on cultivating her soul power, when a flash of deep blue moonlight appeared without warning.

Her vision blurred, and she was whisked away to this unfamiliar hotel room, standing right before Lady Yue Shen.