"I'll leave the story there for now. If you want to know what happens next, wait until I'm in a better mood."
"Please, Lord Lin Yi! Finish the story! Tang San's wife, Little Five, died three times and came back to life three times. What happened after that?"
They had already reached the gates of Liyue Harbor, but Xingqiu kept pestering him with questions, having forgotten all about their actual business.
Xingqiu had stayed up several nights listening to the story and jotting down its broad outlines. Seeing this, Lin Yi took pity on him, since he was still growing.
At a meaningful glance from Lin Yi, Keqing circled behind Xingqiu and knocked him unconscious with a chop of her hand, letting him get a good night's sleep.
"I have to say, Master, your story really was interesting. But why did Tang San's wife sacrifice herself so many times?"
Lin Yi smiled without answering and led everyone into the city.
Since he had left without telling anyone, there was no grand welcoming party to greet his return to Liyue.
Ningguang, however, had received word long before.
Once the first party Lin Yi had ever assembled disbanded, everyone hurried off to their own business.
He had not walked far before he spotted that familiar, captivating figure across the street.
"Honey, what brings you here?"
Lin Yi jogged over, the wind whistling in his wake.
When he reached Ningguang, she looked a little surprised.
"What level are you now?"
"Character level ten, weapon: handgun, no Artifacts. Why?"
At his answer, confusion flickered in Ningguang's beautiful eyes.
The speed Lin Yi had just displayed was something only someone at least level twenty, or even past the level-twenty-five ascension, could achieve.
Her husband was only level ten, yet he already had stats like that?
"What, curious about your husband's strength? Then let me show you!"
Lin Yi smiled, and before Ningguang could react-
He took hold of her soft, slender hand.
Their fingers interlocked, and Geo runes appeared on the backs of their hands.
The runes flickered and merged. Ningguang gave a startled cry as Lin Yi's stats appeared directly in her mind.
Of course, she could see neither the system nor any trace of it.
"Well? Isn't my strength far beyond anyone at my level?"
"Baiwen, make the arrangements immediately. I want to dissect Lin Yi for research!"
"Hey, hey! That's murdering your husband!"
They returned to the Jade Chamber.
Even the little toad ornament Lin Yi casually picked up to play with was worth five hundred thousand Mora.
Seated, Ningguang studied Lin Yi thoughtfully, still unable to believe that his stats were three times the normal range...
Unexpectedly, Lin Yi leaned toward her, until barely two inches separated their faces.
Ningguang wanted to pull back, but felt that would make her seem weak.
For the first time, she summoned the courage to meet Lin Yi's gaze at such close range, even leaning a little closer herself.
"What, you're not afraid of me anymore?"
"Afraid? When has the Tianquan ever feared anyone?"
"You said it!"
At such close quarters, her fragrance drifted into his nose. After gazing into her beautiful eyes, he looked down at her red lips, like two rose petals.
Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he leaned forward to kiss her.
!
Ningguang realized what Lin Yi intended, but was a little too slow to dodge.
She distinctly felt his soft lips brush against hers.
His hot breath washed over her face, bringing a strange pleasure.
It made her want to resist, yet was unbearably tempting.
"Mmh, no." Ningguang had barely pulled back when Lin Yi slipped an arm around her neck.
The next instant, their soft lips pressed tightly together, hormones flooding both their bodies.
They said a brief separation made a reunion sweeter than newlywed bliss. Now, caught in the depths of passion, even the composed Ningguang grew a little intoxicated.
Lin Yi kept pressing closer until he had her against the wall, his left arm around her waist while his right hand gently explored her enticing legs.
The unprecedented thrill made Ningguang resist, yet she could not stop a soft moan from escaping.
No one had ever seen Ningguang so overcome with passion. Today, Lin Yi was truly fortunate.
The beauty in his arms was soft and delicate, and their kiss continued.
But just as Lin Yi wanted to go further and part her pearly teeth-
A perfectly timed cool breeze swept through the window.
Lin Yi was the first to regain his composure.
Perhaps it's best to stop here. Any more, and it might backfire.
"All right, sweetheart. Shall we leave it there for today?"
When Lin Yi pulled away, Ningguang had yet to emerge from those intoxicating sensations.
She even craned her graceful neck forward, seeking more.
Only after several seconds passed without her red lips receiving any response-
Did Ningguang realize something was wrong!
!?
"What did you do!?"
Her eyes flew open to find Lin Yi gazing at her tenderly.
His long leg was even pressed between her thighs, barely a fraction away from her most intimate place.
At last, Ningguang realized that her defenses had fallen.
Feeling the lingering warmth of Lin Yi on her lips-
Her heart clenched, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
"Lin Yi, you deserve to die!"
!?
The next instant, Ningguang summoned countless motes of star dust.
An overwhelming aura immediately filled the room.
Realizing he was in danger, Lin Yi cried out.
"Honey, calm down! This is perfectly normal between husband and wife!"
Having lost her first kiss, Ningguang had lost some of her reason as well.
He could even feel a scarlet, bloodthirsty aura spreading.
Together with the star dust, it drove Lin Yi into a corner.
"Normal? As if I'd believe you! Star Dust Explosion!"
"Ah! Honey, don't!"
Boom!
A thunderous crash rang out from the Jade Chamber, audible throughout all of Liyue.
By that very afternoon, rumors were circulating that the Geo Archon and the Tianquan expressed their love through blows and scoldings.
That night, Lin Yi was covered in bandages. Even the Statue of the Seven could do nothing about his injuries.
The Jade Chamber's doors were locked tight. It seemed Lin Yi would have a hard time getting home to rest for a while.
Ningguang had even ordered that none of the servants were allowed to help him.
"It was just a kiss. Did she really have to react like that?"
Lin Yi pouted. He had already gotten what he wanted, anyway. Surely Ningguang would not actually kill him?
Naturally, he would not go looking for trouble.
Even the lights in the Jade Chamber had all been extinguished. Lin Yi certainly would not make a racket and disturb everyone's rest.
He left the gift box he had prepared earlier, containing the four-star weapon Solar Pearl, at the door.
Then he stretched, nearly tugging at his wounds, and prepared to take a stroll around Liyue Harbor.
He had barely left when someone hurried out after him.
There was no one in sight, only the gift at her feet.
Opening the box, she discovered a priceless four-star weapon inside!
And it was even Ningguang's signature elemental weapon!
"Where did he get something like this? You can't buy it even if you have the money."
There was a note beneath the weapon.
[You'll have to make do with a four-star weapon for now, honey. Once I strike it rich, I'll get you a five-star signature weapon and a full set of gold Artifacts!]
[-Your husband, Lin Yi]
As she read it-
Conflicting emotions rippled through Ningguang's eyes as she thought of how harshly she had struck him and his lonely figure leaving.
Her heart ached as though cut by a knife.
In a panic, she searched barefoot around the outside of the pavilion, but still found no sign of Lin Yi.
Ningguang panicked. She could not shake the feeling that tonight, she was about to lose something.
Before you continue