Chapter 75 | First Wife, First Claim

The north room was dark when Xu Tianlong slipped inside.

He shut the door behind him with his shoulder, sword in his left hand and the folded semifinal diagram in his right. The guest courtyard outside had gone almost silent. Somewhere beyond the tiled roofs, a night watchman struck wood and moved on.

Lin Yueyao slept against the inner side of the bed.

Her white silk inner robe had loosened at the throat. Most of her black hair lay across the pillow, and the natural white streak at her left temple caught a thin wash of moonlight from the paper window.

Xu set his sword against the north wall and placed the diagram on the low table beside the bed.

The paper stayed folded.

He had stared at the first pressure line enough for the night.

A silver chime sounded inside his awareness.

[Ding!]

[Daily Output Received]

[Lin Yueyao — Frost Essence +3]

[Xu Qing’er — Life Sap +2]

[Feng Lianzhu — Shadow Venom +2]

[Xiao Ruoxue — Lunar Veil +2]

The panel faded.

Xu checked his Qi Sea. Still thinner than he wanted. The new Trait Resources hadn’t replaced the ordinary qi he’d actually spent.

Lin remained asleep.

His muscles carried no meaningful fatigue. Tireless Genesis Engine handled that part. Tomorrow’s platform would demand qi as well as legs, though, and the folded diagram on the table wasn’t going to change that.

Xu sat cross-legged on the clear floor between the bed and low table and began the Basic Breathing Method.

He drew ambient qi in with measured breaths, refined it through the familiar meridian path, and let each completed cycle settle into his Qi Sea.

The silver chime returned.

[Ding!]

[Qi Absorption Detected]

[Amplification x2 Applied]

[Cultivation Progress Accelerated]

The method itself didn’t change. The next cycles simply gathered and refined qi faster, filling the thin places without turning the current wild.

Xu stopped when his Qi Sea felt ready for tomorrow.

He rose quietly and slipped beneath the blanket. Lin shifted toward the warmth, brows tightening for a moment before she settled against him.

Xu put an arm around her waist and closed his eyes.

Morning light had already warmed the paper window when Lin opened her eyes.

Xu was awake beside her.

She blinked at him, then at the robe folded over the chair near the door.

"You came back late."

"Mm."

Lin’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Did Qing’er finally sleep?"

"She did." Xu brushed a strand of hair away from the white streak at her temple. "Everyone she was fussing over is settled. I made her eat, then she passed out."

"That last part sounds suspiciously specific."

Xu looked at her.

Lin held his gaze for a breath, then the corner of her mouth moved.

"Hmph. Fine. At least she ate."

"She tried not to."

"Of course she did." Lin sat up and gathered her hair over her shoulder. "She’ll spend all morning telling Ruoxue not to overwork herself, then forget food because someone has a bruised wrist."

Xu’s hand settled on her thigh beneath the blanket. "You sound annoyed."

"I am."

"With Qing’er?"

"With everyone who makes work for her." Lin paused, then glanced toward the low table. "And with people who keep deciding where my husband should stand."

Xu followed her gaze to the folded diagram.

"The tournament?"

"The tournament. Clerks. Formation people. Whoever thinks writing your name on a board means they can move you around however they please." Her tone stayed calm, but he knew that calm. "Women looking at you is one thing. Strangers acting as if your place is theirs to assign is another."

Xu slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her close enough to kiss her forehead.

Lin’s irritation faltered.

"You walk beside me," he said. "That’s your place because you’re my wife. No clerk gets a vote."

She looked at him for a moment.

Then she leaned in and kissed him.

It was brief. Deliberately brief.

When she pulled away, her eyes were warmer.

"Good answer, husband."

Xu smiled. "You sound pleased with yourself."

"I usually am."

"Get dressed."

Lin raised a brow. "There it is."

"What?"

"The part where you ruin a perfectly nice moment by giving an order."

"And yet you’re moving."

She was already reaching for her robe.

Lin gave him a look over her shoulder. "Insufferable."

Xu laughed.

Late-morning sun lay bright across the guest courtyard.

Xu set the semifinal diagram on the stone edge beside the north-room doorway and weighted a corner with the sheath of his sword.

The opening geometry was simple enough on paper.

That was exactly why he didn’t trust it.

He stepped onto the packed earth and imagined the first pressure line where the diagram placed it.

His natural movement was clean. Front foot committed. Hips followed. Rear leg drove. It was the sort of first step that made sense when he had already decided what came next.

He stopped halfway through it.

Lin stood near the doorway with her arms folded.

"You lean into it."

Xu looked at her.

She nodded toward his front foot. "Not every time. Only when you think you’ve already understood the opening."

Xu reset his stance.

"You’ve been watching my feet?"

"I’ve been watching you for years."

There was no embarrassment in the answer.

Xu moved again.

This time he shortened the first step and angled it slightly. His center stayed farther back. The rear foot remained loaded instead of following immediately.

He halted before his weight crossed fully, cut right, then returned to the mark. On the next attempt he shortened the step again and reversed instead of completing it.

The motion felt less decisive.

That was the point.

Lin tilted her head. "Better."

"You sound very certain for someone who doesn’t study formations."

"I don’t." She walked closer and tapped his chest with 2 fingers. "I study this stubborn man."

Xu caught her wrist before she could pull away.

Lin’s eyes flicked to his hand.

"Useful difference."

"Hm." Her lips curved. "I know."

He pulled her in and kissed her quickly.

A servant crossing the far side of the courtyard immediately found the opposite wall fascinating.

Lin waited until Xu released her.

"You’re shameless."

"Inside my own courtyard?"

"It isn’t our courtyard."

"It is while they’re lending it to us."

Lin gave him a quiet laugh.

Xu returned to the diagram.

He rehearsed until the shorter step stopped feeling like hesitation and started feeling like a choice. Then he stopped.

The diagram could be honest or it could be bait. He would know when his foot touched the real stone.

Until then, memorizing too much was another kind of trap.

The afternoon stayed quiet.

Xu ate, rested, and let Lin handle a message from the guest-house steward without calling him over. Qing’er stayed out of sight. Feng came and went on her own business. Ruoxue kept to her own recovery and training.

By night, the north room belonged to Xu and Lin again.

Lin sat at the edge of the bed in her white silk inner robe, combing out her hair with her fingers after removing the last ornament.

Xu watched her from a few steps away.

She noticed almost immediately.

"You’re staring."

"I’m appreciating."

Lin’s hand paused in her hair.

For a heartbeat, she looked exactly like the woman who had said the same thing to him years ago, except there was no nervousness left in her now. Not the old kind.

"You’ve used that excuse before."

"It worked before."

"Hm."

Xu crossed the room.

Lin tipped her chin up when he stopped in front of her.

He touched the white streak at her temple, then let his fingers slide into the black hair behind it.

"You saw my first-step habit before I did."

"I saw you committing too early."

"Same thing."

"No." Lin’s eyes sharpened with familiar pride. "You saw the formation. I saw you."

Xu smiled.

"What?"

"My proud wife."

Her lips pressed together, but he saw the warmth reach her ears.

Xu bent and kissed her.

Slowly.

Lin’s hand rose to his chest. She didn’t push. Her fingers curled into the front of his robe and held him there while his mouth moved over hers.

"Mmm..."

He kissed her until her shoulders loosened.

Then he kissed the corner of her mouth, her cheek, and the pale streak at her temple.

Lin closed her eyes.

"Tianlong..."

"Mm?"

"You were with Qing’er last night."

Xu’s hand slid down her back.

"And?"

"I didn’t say I was complaining."

"You were about to."

Lin opened her eyes. "I was about to say you still came back here."

Xu looked at her.

The words had been quiet. Secure. No question hidden behind them.

He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her again.

Longer this time.

Lin leaned into him, the last of her composure softening as his other hand closed around her waist. He pulled her against his chest and held her there without rushing to open the robe.

Her breath warmed his mouth.

"Mmh..."

Xu kissed her lower lip, then drew it gently between his teeth.

"Ngh..."

His hand moved up beneath the silk at her back. Bare skin met his palm.

Lin shivered.

"You’re cold," he murmured.

"No."

"No?"

Her mouth brushed his. "Your hand is."

Xu laughed under his breath.

"Then warm it."

Lin’s arms went around his neck.

He kissed her again until neither of them had much reason to speak.

His mouth moved down her jaw, then her neck. He sucked lightly beneath her ear.

"Ahn..."

Her fingers tightened behind his head.

Xu worked lower, opening the top of her inner robe enough to bare her shoulder. His lips followed the new skin.

"Mmm... Tianlong..."

He drew the silk farther aside and cupped her breast through the loosened robe.

Lin inhaled sharply.

"Ngh..."

His thumb found the nipple beneath the cloth and rolled it until it hardened.

She looked at him through lowered lashes.

"Husband..."

Xu squeezed slowly enough to feel the soft weight fill his hand.

Then he stood straight.

"Kneel."

The change in his voice made Lin’s eyes lift.

A faint flush deepened across her cheeks.

She slid from the bed and knelt on the clear floor in front of him.

"Yes, husband."

Xu loosened his trousers and pulled his hard cock free.

Lin’s gaze dropped.

Her hand wrapped around the shaft.

The first stroke was slow.

"Mmm..."

Her thumb spread the wetness at the head, then her fist moved again, firmer now.

Xu rested a hand in her hair.

"Use your mouth."

Lin leaned forward and dragged her tongue over the tip.

SLURP.

"Mmh..."

Her lips closed around the head.

Xu exhaled through his nose.

She took more, her hand still working the base while her tongue moved along the underside.

slurp.

"Nnnh..."

Xu stroked the crown of her head.

"Deeper."

Lin’s eyes lifted to his.

Then she obeyed.

gulk.

"Nghmm..."

The head reached the back of her mouth. She held it, throat working.

gulp.

Xu’s fingers tightened gently in her hair.

"Good."

She drew back for breath.

"Hah..."

Saliva shone over her lips and his cock.

Lin swallowed, looked at him, and went down again without waiting.

slurp. gulk.

"Mmm... ngh..."

He guided her deeper.

ghk.

Her throat tightened. Her eyes watered.

Xu let her rise before the strain became stupid.

Lin breathed through parted lips, then smiled faintly.

"Again?"

"You know the answer."

"Mmh... yes, husband."

She took him deeper.

ggk.

"Nghhmm..."

Her hand tightened around the base while her mouth worked the rest. Xu kept his palm on her head, guiding her with the rhythm her throat gave him.

slurp. slurp.

"Mmh... ngh... mmm..."

Pleasure gathered low and hard.

His abdomen tightened. Lin’s eyes lifted again.

"Keep going."

She did.

Her hand quickened.

slurp. gulk.

"Nghmm..."

Xu’s jaw tightened.

"Yueyao."

Lin pushed down, throat opening around the head.

ghk.

He came in her mouth.

spurt.

Lin’s eyes widened.

His cock pulsed again.

spurt... spurt.

She swallowed around him.

gulp.

"Mmh..."

Xu kept stroking her hair as the last pulse passed.

Lin pulled back slowly, breathing through her nose. She swallowed what remained, licked the corner of her mouth, then looked up at him.

At his raised brow, she opened her mouth.

Xu smiled and brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"Good girl."

The pride that flashed in her eyes was ridiculous considering the position she was in.

Xu liked it.

"Stand."

Lin rose.

"Take everything off."

Her gaze held his for a moment.

Then she reached for the ties of the white silk robe.

The cloth loosened slowly. She let it slide from her shoulders and down her arms, then stepped free of it without hurrying.

Xu didn’t touch her yet.

Her gaze sharpened under his stare.

"What?" she asked, suddenly more self-conscious under his stare than she had been on her knees.

Xu looked from the pale line of her shoulders to her large, soft breasts, narrow waist, full hips, and long legs. The generous curve of her ass balanced the slender frame he knew so well. Her black hair fell almost to her waist, the white streak bright against it.

"You’re beautiful."

Lin’s throat moved.

Xu stepped closer.

"Very beautiful." His hand settled at her waist. "And this body..."

His palm slid over her hip and squeezed her ass.

Lin’s breath caught.

"Ngh..."

"Perfect."

"Husband..." Her voice had gone softer. "If you keep saying things like that while staring, I’ll start believing you’re trying to embarrass me."

"I am."

Lin’s eyes narrowed.

Xu kissed her before she could answer.

"Mmh..."

Her hands caught his shoulders.

He pulled her against him and kissed her with no hurry at all, an arm around her waist while his free hand moved through her hair. Lin leaned into his chest. Her bare breasts pressed against him.

"Ngh... mmm..."

Xu let his mouth travel down her neck.

He sucked at the soft skin above her collarbone, then lower.

Lin’s fingers threaded into his hair as his lips closed around a nipple.

slurp.

"Ah... Tianlong..."

He sucked harder.

"Ahn..."

His hand kneaded the other breast, thumb circling the pink peak before he pinched it lightly.

"Nghh..."

Xu released the nipple with a wet sound and moved to the other.

slurp.

"Mmm... husband..."

He licked around it, sucked, then gave the soft side of her breast a light slap.

slap.

"Ah!"

The flesh bounced under his palm.

Lin’s thighs pressed together.

Xu looked down.

Wetness already shone between them.

He smiled.

Lin followed his gaze and immediately flushed.

"Don’t."

"Don’t what?"

"Look so pleased with yourself."

"I haven’t done much yet."

"That is why you’re pleased."

Xu laughed and kissed her again.

Then he lowered himself to his knees.

Lin looked down at him.

"Right leg."

Her breath caught.

She lifted her right leg and held it beneath the knee with her own hand, opening herself to him while balancing on her left foot. Xu steadied her hip with a hand.

The view made him pause.

Her pussy was already swollen with arousal, pink against her pale skin, slick enough that wetness had gathered along the folds and inner thigh.

Xu ran a thumb slowly through it.

squelch.

Lin shivered.

"Ah..."

"Ohh, my lovely wife." Xu looked up at her. "Your pussy is beautiful. There’s nothing else like it."

Her entrance tightened in a small visible pulse.

Fresh wetness slipped lower.

Lin turned red all the way to her ears.

"Mm... husband..."

Xu smiled against her thigh.