I looked at the other women.
One was still blindfolded, wrists bound in silk.
The other lay unconscious, her breath slow, her body slack—
Spent from what I'd given her.
She hadn't stirred.
But the blindfolded one had shifted.
Her cheek pressed to the pillow, her body untouched.
She was starting to tremble.
Not from fear.
From need.
"And you trust them to keep quiet about this?" I asked.
"If not, I can wipe their memories."
"No," she said.
"I trust them.
I might be number one here—
But those two are my closest friends.
Second and third behind me.
They won't speak.
Not unless I do."
I nodded.
"Fine. Why not.
I'll take your idea to the woman who hired you three for me.
If she agrees—
And she might—
She'd rather choose something that actually benefits our sect.
Something stable.
Something clean.
If Xu Xiao isn't as valued as he claims,
If he's not as helpful as he lets on—
Then he's expendable."
She stepped forward.
Her fingers found the belt I'd just fastened.
She didn't hesitate.
She saw it.
She knew.
And she gave me her best.
Not out of obligation.
Not out of fear.
But because I'd listened.
Because I'd accepted.
After a while, we both finished.
She was tired, but awake.
The one who'd fallen unconscious stirred again.
I untied them.
Removed the blindfold.
She blinked, slow and steady, then looked at me.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"You said I should take responsibility.
I need to know the woman who's bearing my son."
Her breath caught.
"Son? How did..."
She paused.
"My name is Shuyin."
I looked at the other woman—the one I hadn't touched.
She didn't hesitate.
She sat on my lap.
Her breath wasn't steady.
It was shallow.
Pent-up.
She'd been blindfolded, tied, and listening—
Not just to the sounds,
But to the shift in loyalty.
To the intimacy they'd received.
To the pleasure they hadn't faked.
She leaned in, her voice low.
"My name is Sura," she whispered.
"I want what you gave them both. The pleasure that made them speak without shame.
I want that."
After a while, I had been with all three.
No protection.
No restraint.
I let loose inside them—more than once.
When it was done, I fastened my belt again.
Drew the folds of my Black Dragon robes across my chest.
The mark of my sect.
The weight of my name.
I looked back.
All three were asleep.
Soundless.
Exhausted.
Not broken—
Spent.
Their bodies bore the truth of what had passed between us.
Not just pleasure.
Recognition.
I stepped out.
The door opened into silence.
Men and women stood gathered near my room.
They had paid for the company of the prostitutes in this brothel—
But they'd never heard those women sound like that.
With them, it was quieter.
Composed.
Contained.
What they heard tonight was different.
It made it worse.
I hadn't chosen at all.
I was given the three best—by Lingxue.
The prostitutes looked at me with hungry eyes.
Not for coin.
For the echo.
For the truth they'd heard through the walls.
They wanted what I gave.
Not the act—
The aftermath.
Then I saw him.
Xu Xiao.
Smiling.
His sister-in-law is beside him.
And Lingxue.
She looked at me, eyes sharp.
"What the hell did you do to those women?" she said.
"They screamed so loud, moaned so deep—
Everyone here heard what was happening in your room."
I didn't answer Lingxue's question.
I looked past her—
Past Xu Xiao's smile,
Past his sister-in-law, his lover,
Past the gathered crowd.
I searched for the woman in charge.
She was there.
Standing at the edge of the hallway,
Smiling, waving gently with her fan.
A mortal woman.
This was a mortal brothel, after all.
She looked to be in her mid-twenties.
But her true age was forty-two.
She took care of herself—
Not with illusion,
But with discipline.
I walked toward her.
No words.
I handed her enough silver to retire the three best women in her brothel.
She weighed it in her palm.
Smiled—coily.
"You have deep pockets, young man," she said.
"I wonder… would you be interested in seeing me in private sometime?"
I didn't reply to the madam's flirty implication of a meeting in private.
The silver was already in her hand.
The people behind me hadn't moved from their spot.
They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
I had bought all three of the best prostitutes in this brothel—
Without hesitation.
They were expensive.
Very expensive.
And I hadn't flinched.
Whispers stirred behind fans and folded sleeves.
"I can't believe he bought all three," one woman said.
"I wish I were that lucky.
Maybe I'll get lucky next time he comes around."
"I doubt it," said another.
"You're dreaming.
Those three were the best for a reason.
He must've been impressed by their skill.
And after what I heard—
I doubt they'll be complaining.
You could tell it was real.
They weren't faking."
She scoffed.
"Lucky bitches."
"What a lucky son of a bitch," one man muttered.
"He got all three of the best blooming flowers.
I wish I were that rich."
"I won't allow this," said another.
He stepped forward, ready to interrupt—
Until the madam of the brothel turned to him.
Her eyes were cold.
Dead.
He stopped.
She looked back at me with a smile.
"As I said," she whispered near my ear,
"Please do come see me sometime in private."
She pressed her chest against me—
Not by accident.
"A woman my age gets lonely at night," she said.
"I need a man like you to keep me warm.
I've been quite bored of late."
I grabbed her waist.
Then lower—firm, but soft.
She kept her body in shape.
That much was clear.
Impressive for a mortal woman,
Especially the madam of a brothel.
She nearly moaned.
Eyes wide.
Surprised at how forward I was.
But she didn't pull away.
She leaned in.
Licked her lips.
Anticipation flickered across her face.
Lingxue studied Shen.
Something felt off.
For a moment, she swore she saw something behind him—
A shadow.
Xu Xiao stepped in, voice half-amused.
"Lingxue, who is that man you brought?"
He glanced at Shen, then back.
"For someone so plain-looking, he draws stunning women like moths. Even the madam of this brothel flirted with him. That's a first—she's always strictly business. I tried to bed her, and she flat-out rejected me with a cold and serious business stare.
A sharp pinch caught his cheek.
He turned.
His sister-in-law stood there—annoyed, jealous.
"I apologise, Lingling," he said, smiling.
"Forgive your brother-in-law for his words."
I let go of the madam's waist and bum.
She seemed disappointed.
But she smiled.
"Thank you for the money," she said. "They're yours now. Do with them as you like."
She adjusted her sleeve, voice light.
"Do come again. I'll make sure to see you straight away when you do."
She smiled—not for coin.
For something else.
I watched her hips move as she left.
The curve of her bum, the sway of her walk—measured, deliberate.
Then I looked away.
The Emperor's shadow whispered in my ear.
"What a wasted opportunity, Ren.
You should've bedded her—then and there.
With that mature body, those looks…
She would've birthed us another child."
His voice sharpened.
"You've already got three of those women we just slept with pregnant.
Why not her?
You and your restraint…
You've held back for far too long."
I was in Lingxue's carriage.
It was quiet.
Then Xu Xiao spoke.
"I must admit, Shen—you're full of surprises.
Tell me, what's your technique in bed?
You had those three girls screaming, moaning, saying everything under the sun."
He glanced at the women seated near Ren.
They wore proper robes now.
No longer dressed to reveal.
No longer performing.
They didn't look at Xu Xiao.
Their faces showed nothing.
I turned to the window.
Outside, the world moved.
People flew—on mythical beasts, on swords, or simply through the air, wingless.
Mountains rose in the distance.
Waterfalls spilt like silk.
The Xu Market buzzed below—vendors shouting, banners fluttering, deals struck in the open.
Then I saw her again.
The old woman.
She was with her family.
It looked like she'd sold everything.
She smiled—joyful, radiant.
Her son stood beside her, sad and worried.
Not for coin.
For her health.
She'd sold everything precious—everything that belonged to her and her departed husband.
Xu Xiao continued, voice low and amused.
"You even had the madam flaunting herself at you.
She looked like she wanted a taste of whatever you gave those three.
You're a lucky man, Shen.
No looks to your name—
But charm?
Plenty."
"I'm surprised you haven't seduced Lingxue," Xu Xiao said, smirking.
"She's picky about her taste in men—especially in bed.
Maybe you'll be the one to melt the ice.
Not just outside… maybe inside."
He didn't finish.
Lingxue struck him.
"Shut your mouth, Xu Xiao," she snapped.
"Don't you dare slander me—especially not in front of me.
Me and Shen? We will never happen.
You hear me? Never.
Now shut up—so I can speak."