Chapter 284: Calling Him Husband
The sound of a hairpin gently tapping against the headboard faded into silence as dawn approached, marking the end of a long, tender night. Sunlight seeped through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. On the bed, Feng Wutong's bare shoulder peeked from beneath the blanket, bathed in the golden light that gave her an almost sacred glow. Her peaceful expression was filled with contentment and bliss.
The cat-ear hair accessory she'd worn, imitating Zhu Zhuqing, had long since fallen off during last night's passion, yet the wooden phoenix hairpin still rested at a tilt in her hair.
As the morning light brightened, Dai Yao squinted against it, then carefully opened his eyes fully. Taking in the rustic wooden room he hadn't seen in half a year, he glanced at the beautiful woman beside him, feeling a mix of emotions. He hadn't planned to accept Feng Wutong so quickly; he'd wanted to wait until their relationship naturally deepened. But to his surprise, Feng Wutong had taken the initiative, catching him off guard in a moment when he was struggling with the intensity of his battle-driven energy.
Yet Dai Yao wasn't one to deny his own feelings. Feng Wutong, transformed and stunning after receiving the Red Lotus, had been loyal and devoted. Now, as he looked at the fiery-haired figure beside him, he gently brushed her hair from her face, inadvertently waking her.
Opening her eyes, Feng Wutong was met with his affectionate gaze, and memories of the previous night rushed back, bringing a blush to her cheeks. Avoiding his gaze, she stammered, "Young Master…I…do you want to get up? I'll prepare everything for you."
As she moved to get up, Feng Wutong realized her state and let out a surprised, embarrassed gasp as she fumbled to find her clothes scattered from the night before. Noting her dutiful insistence, Dai Yao pulled her back to him, holding her slender waist firmly and gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze.
"Why the formality now?" he murmured.
With her chin gently held in place, Feng Wutong had no choice but to look into his eyes, filled with a fierce yet soft warmth despite the lingering hint of his intense energy. She couldn't hold his gaze for long and shyly looked away.
"I'm just your attendant, Young Master. Even serving you in bed is a duty. I can't let myself interfere with your affairs," she managed to say, her voice trembling slightly.
"Look at me," Dai Yao said, cutting her off. She hesitated, then turned her eyes toward him, meeting his intense, slightly reddened gaze. After a long moment of silence, Dai Yao smiled and asked, "Still calling me 'Young Master' now?"
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel her voice tremble. "Then…what should I call you?"
"Why not what Zhu Zhuqing calls me?" he teased, "Husband. Or if that's too much, maybe 'beloved'?"
"No, I couldn't… My spirit, my appearance, and even my life all belong to you. I'm honored just to be your servant, and I can't overstep my place by calling myself your wife," she said earnestly. "Just hearing you say such things is enough for me. But please, don't let anything change between you and Zhuqing."
Her hand reached to gently hold the arm that was still under her chin, a sign of her genuine resolve. With the transformation to her Phoenix Martial Spirit, her strength was considerable, and Dai Yao could feel her determination through her grip.
His heart softened as he thought of their time together at Star Luo Royal Academy. Tightening his embrace around her, he said warmly, "Silly girl. Just as Zhuqing has walked beside me through so much, so have you. Back at the academy, who was it who shielded me from all those jealous stares?"
He looked into her eyes, holding her face gently. "The Red Lotus I gave you—that wasn't a debt to be repaid; it was a gift to my future wife. If I still treated you as my servant, it would be unfair to Zhuqing, and even more unfair to you. For me, both Zhuqing and you, as well as Yan Yan, are all my wives, and there is no difference in status between you."
Feng Wutong's eyes shimmered with emotion, and her heart swelled with gratitude and joy. After a long silence, she whispered, "Thank you… Husband."
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow, feigning anger. "Still hesitating?"
"L-Lord…" she murmured, her face flush with shyness as she buried her head in his chest, unable to meet his eyes.
"That's better. Next time you're disobedient, I'll have to enforce some 'house rules,'" he teased with mock severity.
Recalling the "house rules" from the previous night, Feng Wutong's gaze turned dreamy, her cheeks flushed as she let out a soft, embarrassed "Mm."
Finally, lifting her face to his, her eyes filled with love, she said softly, "Lord, when we're alone, I'll call you that. But in front of others, I still want to address you as 'Young Master.'"
"Why is that?" he asked, curious.
Resting her head on his chest, her voice took on a reflective tone. "You see, my lord, I grew up in poverty, a girl born to parents who only valued my younger brother. My entire childhood, I was invisible."
"Until the day your spirit awakened?"
"Yes," she replied with a nod. "It was the one thing that changed everything. My spirit mutated, and a teacher from Star Luo Royal Academy noticed me. They offered me a place in the academy despite my background. But even there, nobles looked down on me."
"Though some of the commoner Spirit Masters stuck together, there were always a few willing to become lackeys for the nobles. And with the side effects of my spirit mutation, even those who were commoners turned against me."
"You gave me something priceless when you entered my life," Feng Wutong began softly. "Even as a prince of the Empire, you treated me with rare respect. Your relentless dedication inspired me, gave me the strength to face those hostile gazes."
"Just being near you is my greatest joy," she continued, her voice filled with gratitude. "To have caught your eye, to be called your wife—it feels like a dream. I fear every morning that I'll wake to find it was all just that, a dream. Someone like me, from a poor family, doesn't deserve the honor of being your wife. A wife of yours should be like Zhuqing, with noble status and exceptional talent—not a commoner like me."
"When we're alone, calling you my husband is already a privilege, but in public? I could never forgive myself for stepping beyond my place. Let me remain your servant when others are around; simply being near you is enough to make me happy," she concluded, her gaze full of quiet satisfaction.
Dai Yao felt a pang in his heart. Despite her strength, her beauty, and her talents—qualities the Red Lotus had amplified—Feng Wutong still harbored an insecurity that felt unshakable. The fiery spirit he remembered, the young woman who had once stood her ground against nobles, now appeared humble before him, hiding her fears.
Gently caressing her smooth back, feeling her silken skin under his touch, Dai Yao sighed and, after a moment of thought, resignedly replied, "Very well, I'll respect your wish."
"Thank you… my husband," Feng Wutong said softly, her voice full of happiness. Slowly, she rose from the bed. Her injuries had healed well by now; as the possessor of the powerful Vermilion Bird martial spirit, the minor wounds she'd sustained were trivial. She put on her regal crimson gown, letting her long hair flow freely, giving her an air of mature elegance.
"I should help you get ready," she said with a gentle smile, approaching him.
"Is there really a need for all this?" Dai Yao asked, half-amused. He didn't quite understand her desire to serve him in this way. Having someone who would cater to his every whim, someone whose eyes were filled with nothing but adoration, was undeniably pleasant, especially with such a stunning woman as Feng Wutong. But he couldn't help feeling that, in her desire to please him, she was sacrificing some part of herself.
But Feng Wutong merely laughed lightly. "But this is what I enjoy doing," she replied, continuing to arrange his clothes with care.
Seeing her dedication, Dai Yao chose to let her continue, understanding now that it was something she genuinely wanted. Glancing out the window, he spotted Zhu Zhuqing seated by the waterfall, her figure quiet and serene, almost blending into the peaceful landscape.
"I'll be back shortly," he said to Feng Wutong.
She had also noticed Zhu Zhuqing's presence, and a subtle tension crossed her face as she nodded. "Yes, Young Master. Go to her." Though Zhu Zhuqing had urged her to act last night, Feng Wutong still felt a pang of guilt. No woman could easily watch another share in her husband's affections.
As Dai Yao approached, Zhu Zhuqing, alerted by his footsteps, turned her head and greeted him with a smile. "Brother Yao."
"I'm sorry, Zhuqing," Dai Yao murmured, settling beside her.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, her gaze fixed on the waterfall, her thoughts seemingly as deep as its endless flow. "Brother Yao, maybe I overstepped. I encouraged Wutong, knowing it would bind her to us completely, drawing Ling Yuan and Qing Luan to our side as well."
"This wasn't your burden to carry," Dai Yao replied. He would never scold her after last night, and he knew her actions had a purpose. "But I'm sorry that you had to go through that."
With a soft smile, Zhu Zhuqing leaned her head against his shoulder, savoring his warmth. "Brother Yao, do you know what I was studying while you trained under the waterfall back at Star Luo Academy?"
"What was it?" he asked, curious.
"All sorts of knowledge about the world of spirit masters, the most advanced theories," she replied. "But as a future royal consort, I also studied how to be a proper consort and, if needed, an empress. A queen must learn to accept that the emperor's heart belongs to many. Look at the current emperor of Star Luo and the number of his consorts. If the queen were envious of each one, she'd have worn herself out years ago."
"Just knowing I hold such an important place in your heart, Brother Yao, is enough to make me happy," she added gently.
Dai Yao felt a surge of gratitude. Zhu Zhuqing had endured and sacrificed so much for him. "Thank you, Zhuqing."
"Thanking me? Come now, when have we ever needed that between us?" she said, giving him a playful wink.
He laughed, his tone mischievous as he leaned in close to whisper, "In that case, dear wife, I hope you won't elude me tonight. No excuses this time."
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed, and she gave a shy nod, her voice barely a whisper. "Mm."
Dai Yao couldn't hide his anticipation. Though he had no intention of pressing them to share every moment together, he knew both women had shown him incredible generosity. They didn't need to share him constantly, but he treasured their bond all the more for it.
"All right, Zhuqing," he said, "it's time we head back to Spirit City."
Zhu Zhuqing would continue her training with Ghost Douluo, while Feng Wutong's mentors, Qing Luan and Ling Yuan, awaited her in Spirit City. And as for himself, Dai Yao had his own plans for the Spirit City's library, where he hoped to deepen his understanding of the spirit master arts to control the energy coursing through him.
Returning to the cabin, he gave Feng Wutong a nod as she awaited him. He then took Zhu Zhuqing in his arms and, with his eight wings unfurled, they both soared toward Spirit City.
In Spirit City, after bidding Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong farewell, Dai Yao repressed his energy and slipped back into his reserved, solemn demeanor. Alone, he made his way to the largest library on the continent. As he gazed up at the massive building, nearly as grand as the Heaven Dou Great Arena, he felt awe at the sight of so much knowledge.
Over the centuries, the Spirit Hall had amassed a staggering collection of wisdom from the most distinguished elders and the leading minds in spirit master studies. Thousands of rare manuscripts and original texts, filled with knowledge from spirit masters who had left their mark on history, awaited him here. For anyone serious about the path of the spirit master, this was a sacred, legendary place.
Above the entrance hung an enormous sign with three characters: "Library Pavilion."
After a moment of silent reverence, Dai Yao steadied his resolve and stepped inside.
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