Chapter 237: Alliance of Three
Ye Wen lingered another month with Bibi Dong before finally returning to Tianxing Academy. Back at the academy, however, he noticed the amused looks on Ah Yin and Bo Saixi's faces and couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Seeing his suspicious expression, Ah Yin was the first to laugh, gently pushing him into a chair and whispering in his ear, "Did you enjoy your time with Dong'er?"
Ye Wen's face fell in shock as he glanced from Ah Yin to Bo Saixi, who was stifling a chuckle. "Wait… you both knew?"
Seated gracefully beside him, Bo Saixi chimed in, "Of course we knew, dear. Dong'er has had feelings for you for a long time; it was hardly a secret to those close to her. What surprised us was her boldness."
Ye Wen's expression twitched. "Can we not bring up those ancient memories?" he muttered.
Suddenly, he thought of the dagger that Bibi Dong had used on him. Could it be something Bo Saixi had given her? His gaze sharpened as he looked at Bo Saixi. "That dagger wouldn't happen to be something from your… collection, would it?"
Bo Saixi blinked, looking genuinely puzzled. "What collection?"
Relieved that she seemed sincere, Ye Wen explained Bibi Dong's underhanded approach. Far from appearing upset, the two women listened with rapt amusement, delighting in the story's every detail.
With a sigh, Ye Wen looked at them both, half disbelieving. "Aren't you two… upset?" he asked, almost expecting one of them to feign jealousy. Yet instead of reproach, he found himself enveloped by Ah Yin, who nestled against his shoulder with a gentle smile.
"Ye Wen," she murmured, "Dong'er visited us not long ago, sharing her feelings. At first, neither of us was thrilled about sharing you, but over time, we both realized something."
Bo Saixi, on his other side, took his other arm, leaning her head against his as well. "Do you want to know what changed our minds?"
Ye Wen nodded, suddenly curious about their thought process.
Exchanging a look of shared understanding, Bo Saixi gestured for Ah Yin to continue. "The truth is, Ye Wen, you're just too remarkable. You've shared your vision for the future with us so many times, and Saixi and I both know that for you to fulfill your destiny, it won't just be us by your side. Powerful leaders rarely have only one partner, and we realized that instead of opposing that reality, we could unite. Dong'er, Saixi, and I have formed an alliance," she explained. "No matter how many women you may end up with, we three will always be the most cherished in your heart… I hope that doesn't upset you, Ye Wen?"
Ye Wen fell silent for a moment, slowly withdrawing his arms as he stood up. For a brief moment, the two women glanced at each other, unsure of his reaction.
With a long sigh, he finally turned back to them, drawing them both into his embrace. "I've never sought anything more than the life we already have," he whispered, "but it seems the path I chose carries other demands."
Ah Yin's heart settled, comforted by his embrace. Stroking his back gently, she responded, "This isn't your fault. Saixi and I reached this decision because of what we know lies ahead. Consider it the 'new and improved' Ah Yin. We're both here to support you."
"Indeed, Ye Wen," Bo Saixi agreed, relishing the warmth of his closeness. "We're here because we want to be by your side, wherever that takes us."
Ye Wen felt the last of his doubts and guilt over Bibi Dong melt away. Smiling, he pulled back slightly, noticing the flush on their cheeks. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he whispered, "Well then, I'm afraid you'll both need to make it up to me…"
Without further ado, he whisked them away to their private quarters, where a playful evening unfolded between the three, leading into days of rediscovering each other. Ye Wen, determined to make his role as the head of the household known, held nothing back, intent on showing his beloveds what their alliance had won them.
Days passed as Ye Wen spent time with Ah Yin and Bo Saixi, perfecting a cultivation method that allowed the three of them to complement and strengthen each other's powers. It was here that Ye Wen realized his true advantage. Though he'd trained rigorously on his own, cultivating through mutual enhancement proved exponentially more effective.
In fact, each of their energies seemed to amplify the other's: Ye Wen's balanced, neutral power harmonized seamlessly with Ah Yin's wood and life attributes, while Bo Saixi's pure water essence brought an oceanic depth to the exchange. Together, their energies fueled one another, producing a growth rate that astonished even Ye Wen.
He couldn't believe he hadn't discovered this earlier. Reflecting on it, he almost lamented all those years of arduous solo cultivation. Luckily, it wasn't too late. With each session, Ye Wen grew more convinced of the untapped potential of their cultivation method, though he refrained from sharing it widely until he could refine it further.
And if his newfound enthusiasm for spending extended hours in their company raised some eyebrows at Tianxing Academy, well, Ye Wen was more than prepared to explain that it was purely for research purposes nothing more.
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