Chapter 67 | Moonlight Without Chains

Xu followed the passage the clerk had indicated, Feng beside him, and found the tournament office still open.

It gave him exactly nothing useful.

The clerk behind the narrow counter studied the entry, frowned at a page he wasn’t allowed to hand over, and finally looked up.

"The objection is real," he said. "That’s all I can confirm from this copy."

Xu rested his hand on the counter. "Who filed it?"

"Not written here."

"Grounds?"

The clerk shook his head. "Not on my copy. The full record isn’t at this desk tonight."

Feng Lianzhu stood beside Xu, arms folded beneath her black sleeves. "Useful office."

The clerk gave her a tired look. "I didn’t file the damned thing."

"I know. You’d probably have written down why."

His mouth opened, then closed. Xu almost smiled.

Almost.

"When will the full record be available?" he asked.

"I don’t know. The challenge clerk handles it. He isn’t here."

Xu held the clerk’s gaze for a moment, then let his hand fall from the counter.

"Fine."

He turned away.

Feng followed him out beneath the cooling blue-gray sky. Behind them, the tournament quarter remained noisy, though the worst of the afternoon crowd had thinned. Workers were pulling loose notices from the outer boards. Somewhere farther down the concourse, a vendor was still trying to sell the last of his buns by shouting that cold food built character.

Feng glanced back over her shoulder. "You gave up quickly."

"There was nothing left to get."

"Mm. Sensible." She sighed. "Very dull."

"You’ll survive."

"Probably."

They took the lower path toward the guest grounds.

By the time the courtyard arch came into view, evening had settled over Azure. Lamps burned beneath the covered walkways. A few disciples crossed the distant paths in pale-blue robes, their voices fading uphill.

Ruoxue waited beside the covered walk outside the north room.

Her silver hair was loose down her back. She wore a plain white robe, and her white-sheathed sword rested in her hand. Her gaze found Xu first.

Then it shifted to Feng walking close beside him.

Only for a heartbeat.

Ruoxue’s fingers tightened around the sheath.

Feng saw it.

Of course she did.

Her lips twitched upward.

"Nothing useful," Feng said before Ruoxue could ask. "Apparently Azure can file an objection more efficiently than it can explain the damned thing."

Ruoxue looked at Xu. "You still don’t know why?"

"No."

She came closer and stopped at his side.

Feng’s eyes moved between them. Her smile thinned.

"I’ll leave you together with your mysterious objection." She touched the knife at her belt as she turned toward the west room. "If someone decides to crawl through a window tonight, shout loudly enough to be entertaining."

"Sleep, Lianzhu."

She glanced back. "Yes, Tianlong."

Then she disappeared into the west room with her knife still at her hip.

Xu crossed to the north room first.

He unfastened his sword belt and rested the sheathed blade on the wall hooks. When he came back out, Ruoxue was still waiting.

Her attention dropped briefly to his empty left hip.

"Come."

He led her across the courtyard to the east room.

Ruoxue entered first. She leaned her sword against the wall near the door, then walked to the window.

Moonlight lay pale across the paper screen.

Xu closed the door behind him.

For a moment, Ruoxue only looked outside.

Then she asked, "Can they simply remove you?"

"Maybe."

She turned.

Xu leaned a shoulder lightly against the bedpost. "I know an objection was filed. I don’t know who filed it, what ground they’re using, or what they expect me to answer. That’s all."

Ruoxue’s brows drew together. "That’s irritating."

"Yes."

Ruoxue let the silence sit for a moment. "Feng looked irritated too."

Xu raised an eyebrow.

Ruoxue kept her face composed until the corner of her mouth twitched.

"Lianzhu always looks a little irritated."

"Not with you."

Xu’s mouth curved. "Jealous?"

Ruoxue looked back toward the window. "A little."

Xu crossed the room and stopped behind her. "What did you do today?"

The change of subject made her glance back.

"Walked."

"That sounds dangerous."

A soft breath left her nose. Not quite a laugh.

"I went to the lower practice court. I watched for a while. Then I went to the herb terrace with Qing’er." Her fingers touched the window frame. "She spent too long arguing with a woman over dried roots."

"That sounds like Qing’er."

"Then I came back alone."

Xu’s attention sharpened slightly. "Alone?"

Ruoxue nodded.

"Not far. Through the lower courtyards." She looked down at the wooden frame beneath her hand. "People looked at me."

Xu waited. Ruoxue had learned that he would.

"I still notice every person behind me," she said. "Every doorway. Every turn where I can’t see what’s ahead. Sometimes I hear steps and..."

Her fingers went still.

She didn’t finish.

Xu didn’t finish it for her.

After a few breaths, Ruoxue looked over her shoulder.

"But I knew where the gate was."

"Mm."

"I knew I could turn around. I could go back here, or keep walking, or sit down somewhere until they stopped staring." Her voice lowered. "No one decided it for me."

Xu watched her. Her fingers were still pressed flat against the window frame.

Ruoxue turned fully toward him.

"Being watched still feels ugly," she said. "But it isn’t the same as being owned by people I never chose."

Xu lifted a hand and touched the side of her neck.

Her pulse beat beneath his thumb.

"Good."

Ruoxue’s eyes held his.

"That’s all?"

"What else do you want me to say?"

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

Xu drew her closer by the back of the neck.

"If you want to walk somewhere, walk. If I need you beside me, I’ll tell you." His thumb moved against her skin. "Those aren’t the same thing."

Ruoxue stared at him.

Then something in her expression eased.

"I know."

She stepped the last distance herself.

Her hands settled against his chest.

"Tianlong..."

Xu kissed her.

Hard.

Ruoxue inhaled sharply into his mouth. His hand tightened behind her neck, holding her where he wanted her as he kissed through the gasp and took her mouth with his tongue. "Mmh..."

Her hands bunched the cloth over his chest.

Xu kissed her until the quiet thoughtfulness left her face and heat took its place. When he pulled back, her lips were wet and slightly swollen.

Ruoxue looked up at him through lowered lashes.

"Again... please."

He bent to her mouth again.

Ruoxue rose onto her toes to meet him this time. "Mmm... ngh..."

Xu’s palm traveled down her spine and closed around her ass through the white robe. He squeezed, pulled her hips against him, and felt her breath catch when his hard cock pressed between them. "Ah..."

"Bed."

Ruoxue obeyed.

She sat on the edge first. Xu loosened the white robe and pushed it from her shoulders. Pale skin appeared beneath the cloth, then the full shape of her breasts.

Moonlight silvered the edge of her hair. The lamp warmed everything else.

Xu laid her back.

Her knees opened for him.

He kissed her mouth again, slower for a moment, then moved down to her throat.

Ruoxue tilted her head aside. "Mmh... Tianlong..."

Xu sucked the soft skin below her jaw. SLURP. "Ah..."

He stayed there until warmth reddened beneath his mouth, then moved lower. His lips found another place near the base of her neck.

Ruoxue’s fingers slipped into his hair. "Ngh... please... don’t stop..."

He didn’t.

By the time Xu reached her breast, red marks already stood against her pale skin.

He closed his mouth over her nipple. slurp. "Ahhn...!"

Her back lifted from the mattress.

Xu sucked harder, rolling the swollen nipple under his tongue. His free hand filled with her other breast, kneading the soft weight before his thumb rubbed over its stiff peak. "Mmh... ah..."

Ruoxue’s thighs shifted restlessly around his hips.

He switched breasts.

His tongue circled. His lips closed. SLURP. "Nghh... Tianlong..."

Her nipple hardened between his lips. Xu drew on it until another flush spread over the pale skin around his mouth.

Ruoxue tugged lightly at his hair.

"Kiss me... please."

Xu rose and covered her mouth. "Mmph..."

Her arms locked around his neck.

His hand traced the warm line below her navel.

Ruoxue gasped into the kiss when his fingers reached her pussy.

Wetness met his fingertips at once.

Xu dragged 2 fingers slowly through the slick folds. squelch. "Ah...!"

Her hips moved into his hand.

"Already this wet?"

Ruoxue’s cheeks warmed. "You... know why."

"I want to hear you say it."

She swallowed.

"Because I want you."

"Good girl."

His thumb settled over her clit.

Ruoxue jerked. "Ahhn...!"

Xu kissed her again while he rubbed the swollen pearl in slow circles. Her tongue met his, less hesitant now, and her breath broke every time his thumb pressed harder. "Mmh... ngh... ah..."

Xu slid 2 fingers inside. squelch. "Ahh... Tianlong..."

Her pussy closed around them, hot and soft. Xu curled his fingers and felt her stomach tighten beneath his wrist.

"There?" Xu asked.

Ruoxue’s thighs twitched around his hand. "Mmh... yes..."

He worked the spot again. "Ah!"

Again. "Nghh... ah..."

His thumb never left her clit.

Ruoxue’s legs opened farther as her body gave up trying to hold still. Wetness coated his fingers and spread across her inner thighs. squelch. squelch. "Ahhn... Tianlong... mmh..."

Xu bent to her neck again, sucking the already warmed skin while his fingers kept moving.

Ruoxue’s breath turned ragged. "Ngh... I... ah..."

Her pussy tightened around his fingers.

Xu increased the pressure on her clit.

"Come."

"Tianlong...!"

He kissed her hard enough to swallow the rest. "Mmph... ngh...!"

Her body locked beneath him.

Then broke. squirt!

A hot spray burst over Xu’s hand and the bedding. "Ahhh...!"

Ruoxue shook through it, thighs tightening around his wrist before falling open again. sprutt.

Another wet rush followed. "Nghh... ah... Tianlong...!"

Xu left his fingers buried while the hard pulses ran themselves out. Her pussy kept fluttering around them, drenched now, every small movement pulling another wet sound from her. "Mmh..."

Ruoxue’s chest rose quickly. Red marks stood on her neck and breasts. Her nipples were swollen. Between her pale thighs, her pussy had gone deep pink, slick and soft, the folds flushed redder around the entrance.

Xu pulled his fingers free. squelch.

Ruoxue shivered.

Before she could catch more than a breath, Xu’s left hand closed around her thigh and held it open. His wet right palm came down across her breast. slap! "Ahh...!"

The soft weight bounced under the impact. Xu bent over the fresh flush at once, dragging his tongue across the stiff nipple before sucking it deep into his mouth. SLURP. "Nghh... Tianlong...!"

Her thigh trembled under his left hand. Xu released her breast with his mouth and looked lower.

Xu parted the soaked folds and looked.

"Ruoxue... your pussy is fucking beautiful. So pink, so soft, and you’re completely soaked."

Her face went scarlet.

She still didn’t close her legs.

"You made it like that," she murmured.

Xu looked up.

Ruoxue’s mouth curved, small and shy.

"So... you can keep looking if you want."

He laughed under his breath.

"I want more than looking."

Her eyes softened.

"Then... please, Tianlong. I want you."

Xu stripped the rest of his clothes away and settled between her thighs.

He dragged the blunt head of his cock through her soaked folds.

Ruoxue’s breath caught. "Mmh..."

Xu pressed forward. squelch. "Ahh...!"

Her pussy stretched around the thick head, then opened farther as he drove deeper. Ruoxue’s fingers tightened against his shoulders. "Ngh... Tianlong..."

He sank deeper until Ruoxue could take no more. clap! "Ahhn...!"

Her legs wrapped around his hips.

Xu paused only long enough to feel her loosen around him.

"Good?"

Ruoxue nodded quickly. "Mmh... please... move."

He did. squelch. clap. "Ah..."

He pulled back and drove in again. clap. "Nghh..."

Ruoxue’s wet pussy dragged along his cock with a soft, tight pull. The flush across her chest deepened.

Xu set a steady pace. clap. clap. "Ah... ahhn... Tianlong..."

Her breasts moved beneath him with each impact. Xu cupped her breast and squeezed, thumb rolling the swollen nipple while he kept his weight off her chest. "Mmh... ngh..."

He kissed her.

Ruoxue answered hungrily. "Mmph... ah..."

Somewhere between strokes, Xu felt something cool move through the contact between them. At first it could’ve been the room or sweat cooling on skin. Then the sensation threaded inward through the bond.

A faint silver trace gathered close to Ruoxue’s body, soft enough that the lamplight still ruled the room. It threaded through the Genesis Bond with the familiar quiet chill of Lunar Veil Essence.

Ruoxue shivered under him.

"Tianlong... I feel..."

"I know."

Xu let only a thin stream of ordinary qi enter the bond, enough to answer the silver current without forcing it.

The current reached Ruoxue, passed through her, and returned carrying that cool silver edge.

Her eyes widened. "Ah..."

Xu thrust again. clap. "Mmh..."

The qi moved with them.

Breath. Heat. Contact. A narrow current passing through the bond while her pussy squeezed around him.

Xu kept it smooth.

Ruoxue’s forehead touched his.

"It’s... warm, then cold."

"Breathe."

"Mm."

He kissed her.

The next circulation came back cleaner.

The following return caught.

The returning current snagged inside Ruoxue’s meridians. Pressure gathered where the qi should have passed cleanly.

Ruoxue’s breath hitched. "Ngh... Tianlong... the qi..."

Xu stopped the qi from rising farther at once.

His hips didn’t stop.

He slowed the circulation, thinning it until the pressure eased while the physical rhythm continued. squelch. clap. "Ah... mmh..."

"Better?"

Ruoxue closed her eyes for a breath. "Yes. It pulled... here."

Her fingers touched low along her side, then returned to his shoulder.

Xu kept the qi current at the lower level and didn’t test the resistance again.

The next return moved through without catching.

"Good. Stay there."

Ruoxue nodded.

Xu drove deeper. clap! "Ahhn...!"

Her pussy tightened hard around him.

"That’s... ah... deeper..."

"You can take it."

Ruoxue’s legs tightened around his waist. "Mmh... yes."

He increased the pace.

The qi stayed controlled. clap. clap. squelch. "Ah... ah... ngh..."

Ruoxue’s legs locked tighter around his waist.

Long after Ruoxue’s breathing had turned ragged, Xu’s own remained even. His heart beat steady. His thighs and abdomen kept answering stroke after stroke without the heavy burn that should have been gathering there.

The qi was different. He still had to control that.

Ruoxue’s breath came faster. "Mmh... Tianlong... ah..."

Xu caught her mouth. "Mmph..."

His hand squeezed her breast, then slid up to her hair.

Her pussy began to pulse around him. "Ngh... I’m..."

"Come."

Ruoxue’s cry broke high as her body arched. "Ahhn...!" squirt!

Wetness burst between them as her pussy clamped down in hard waves.

"Ahh... Tianlong... nghh...!"

Xu drove through every contraction. clap! clap! "Ah... ah...!"

The squeezing dragged pleasure hard through him.

"Fuck... Ruoxue."

He buried himself deep.

Her pussy tightened around the base.

Xu came. spurt. spurt. "Ahh...!"

His semen filled her in thick, forceful pulses.

Ruoxue’s fingers dug into his back.

"Mmh... inside... Tianlong..."

Another pulse. spurt.

Her pussy squeezed again as if trying to pull the last of it deeper.

Xu stayed buried until the release finished.

Ruoxue trembled beneath him, breath soft against his mouth.

He stroked her silver hair away from her damp cheek.

"Your pussy is soft and tight at the same time." His thumb traced her cheek. "That wasn’t enough."