Chapter 108 - 107: Reward for Cuddling
With the Lord of the Zhao Province gone, Lin Yuan teleported out of the main hall and materialized seamlessly within the center of the master pavilion’s bridal chamber.
The heavy weight of the outside world was entirely gone, perfectly replaced by the sweet, intoxicating scent of blooming lotus and the warm, flickering glow of dozens of red spirit-candles. The silence of the room was profound, shielding them from the distant cheers of the thousands of cultivators still celebrating their union in the outer courtyards.
Lin Yuan’s gaze immediately turned toward the massive bed.
Bai Qingyue was sitting up, resting against the plush pillows. She had removed the outer layers of her wedding dress, now draped comfortably in a soft, flowing crimson nightgown that clung perfectly to her delicate curves. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, framing her flawless features.
The very moment her eyes locked onto his tall, imposing figure, a breathtaking smile bloomed across her face.
"You have returned, Husband," Bai Qingyue said.
Lin Yuan walked slowly toward the edge of the bed, the stoic lines of his face softening into an expression of boundless warmth. He reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"I told you I would not be long," Lin Yuan replied softly, sitting down on the edge of the mattress. "The master of the house could never abandon his bride on the night of their wedding."
"Was Lord Zhao Shenming angered?" she asked, a faint trace of worry briefly shadowing her beautiful eyes. She knew that to keep the absolute Lord of the territory waiting, or to deny him, was usually a death sentence for any orthodox sect or clan.
"He was not angered. He is a pragmatist, a sovereign who sees the board for what it truly is," Lin Yuan reassured her, his thumb lightly tracing her cheekbone. "He came to make a request. A tournament is approaching in the Central Continent, and he requires someone to represent the province. In exchange for my participation, he has offered something entirely priceless."
Lin Yuan looked deeply into her eyes, his voice carrying the certainty of a man who commanded the heavens. "He offered me the exact path to breaking the Soul Transformation restriction binding your cultivation. The Emperor, who’s at the void refinement realm can remove the restriction, Qingyue. You will cultivate again. You will soar."
Bai Qingyue’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in profound shock. For months, she had accepted her fate as a mortal cripple. But to hear that the Emperor could restore her lost foundation was almost too much to process.
"Lin Yuan..." she whispered, tears of gratitude welling in her eyes. "You would fight in the tournament.... just for me?"
"I would burn the Central Continent to ash if it meant bringing the color back to your cheeks," Lin Yuan answered without a single ounce of hesitation. "But you do not need to worry. The tournament will be held right here, in Sky Jade City. I will not have to leave you, and I will not fail."
Before she could express the overwhelming depth of her love, the ambient atmosphere outside the pavilion suddenly shifted.
The clear, starry night sky above the valley was abruptly swallowed by a sweeping front of heavy clouds. A low, distant rumble of thunder echoed through the mountain peaks, completely unrelated to Lin Yuan’s Dao.
Patter. Patter. Tap.
Rain began to fall.
It started as a light drumming against the tiles of the pavilion’s roof, but within moments, it escalated into a downpour. The heavy rain washed over the courtyards and the koi pond, creating a continuous, rushing sound that completely drowned out the distant noise of the wedding banquet.
With the sudden storm came an abrupt drop in the ambient temperature.
Without her cultivation to naturally regulate her body temperature, Bai Qingyue was particularly sensitive to the change. The sudden, damp chill of the rainstorm seeped through the walls, gradually filling the room with a penetrating cold.
Bai Qingyue shivered slightly, her slender shoulders trembling as she instinctively pulled her arms inward, rubbing her skin to ward off the sudden cold.
Lin Yuan noticed it instantly.
Without saying a word, he stood up and quickly stripped away his outer crimson Daoist robes, tossing them carelessly onto a nearby chair. Dressed only in his soft inner garments, he pulled back the blankets and climbed into the bed beside her.
He did not just lie next to her; he moved in close, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and pulling her flush against his chest.
"Husband..." Bai Qingyue murmured, a beautiful blush coloring her cheeks as she felt the sheer, overwhelming heat radiating from his physical form.
"You are cold," Lin Yuan stated simply, his voice a low, comforting rumble against her ear.
Bai Qingyue relaxed almost immediately, the tension slowly leaving her body as she settled against him. She could feel the steady warmth radiating from his chest, wrapping around her like a natural barrier against the cold. Lin Yuan gently pulled the blankets higher around them, making sure no trace of the chill could reach her again.
For a while, neither of them spoke. There was only the soft rhythm of the rain outside and the steady warmth of his embrace. Bai Qingyue quietly rested her head against his chest, listening to the calm beat of his heart, while Lin Yuan simply held her without saying another word.
In that moment, the storm outside seemed very far away, and Lin Yuan’s thoughts drifted back to another night when he had held her just like this, using the warmth of his body to keep the cold from settling into hers.
"I am warm now," Bai Qingyue whispered sleepily, her eyelids growing heavy.
"Sleep, my love," Lin Yuan murmured, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the crown of her head. "I am right here."
With that, Lin Yuan lay there, holding his wife, perfectly content to exist solely in the present moment.
They cuddled in silence. The rain continued to batter the roof of the pavilion, but inside their room, there was only warmth and peace. Hours bled into one another. The red spirit-candles slowly burned down to their bases, their flickering light casting long shadows over the bed.
Lin Yuan held her through the hours of the night, his steady breathing perfectly synchronized with hers. He guarded her rest with the vigilance of a dragon coiled around its most precious treasure.
Eventually, the rainstorm passed, leaving the air of the valley crisp, cool, and purified. The darkness of the night sky slowly began to fade, giving way to the soft golden rays of dawn. Morning light filtered gently through the pavilion windows, bathing the newlywed couple in a warm glow.
Just as the first true ray of morning sunlight touched the foot of the bed, a familiar chime echoed within Lin Yuan’s mind.
[Ding!]
[Host has invested: Time spent cuddling Dao Companion through the night.]
[Triggering critical multiplier... calculating...]
[Congratulations to the Host! You have triggered a 50X Return!]
[Reward: +250 points to comprehension ability!]