After their tranquil night of rest, Xiaobai was the first to stir from her sleep.
However, she found herself unable to rise—not because she lacked the strength, but because her waist was tightly encircled by Li Chen's arm, as though she were his only pillow.
This situation wasn't unique to her. Her sisters, Xiaona and Xiaoji, were in similar positions, held in their husband's embrace and unable to escape.
Xiaobai's emotions were in disarray. Her body, soul, and heart had been thoroughly conquered by Li Chen.
His limitless strength, his tenderness, and his unwavering love for all his women—even those considered mere concubines—were all qualities she had once hoped for in an ideal man. Now, they were all embodied in her husband.
Her eyes lingered on this once-in-a-lifetime moment. The morning hues of sunlight danced across his handsome features, making his face even more alluring and divine.
Her cheeks flushed as she reached out, gently brushing his face as though even the lightest touch might rouse him from his slumber.
She couldn't help but study him more closely. Her slowly beating heart began to race, and an irresistible urge to kiss him welled up within her.
Gathering her courage, she leaned in toward him.
Her lips trembled as they hovered near his—she felt as if they belonged there, as if they truly deserved to be united.
The moment her lips met his, Li Chen's eyes opened. Yet he didn't startle or interrupt her mischievous act.
Her kisses didn't stop—she pressed her lips to his again and again savouring the moment, as if willing them to stir, hoping to relish these fleeting moments before he fully awakened.
Suddenly, the arm that had been holding her waist moved. Xiaobai was unaware that something unexpected was about to happen.
Li Chen cupped the back of her head, biting her lip gently before kissing her more deeply—drawing a trace of her sweet blood.
"Ssshh... ah... Master...!"
Her eyes fluttered as she moaned, half in pain and half in surprise, calling out to him in protest.
Li Chen tightened his embrace, teasing her by rubbing his nose against hers.
"Hmmm... still not calling me 'husband,' huh?" he murmured, his voice filled with amusement.
He kissed her again, more wildly than before.
Xiaobai's breath became ragged, and she immediately realized her mistake. She tried to correct it with her next words.
"Ahh... my lord... no—husband!"
He pulled away slightly, his tone firm and commanding.
"Yes. Remember to always call me 'husband.' And never think of yourself as just a concubine. You have every right to speak and be heard."
"You're a member of this family, just like Lingxue and Qingci—and your sisters too."
He paused, then continued with a more solemn tone.
"Now that you're my woman, there are some family rules you must follow."
"First—never disrupt the harmony of this family. All members are equal, with both rights and responsibilities."
"Second, and most important: you must never have any kind of relationship with another man."
His tone turned heavier than ever.
After hearing from Qingci about the fates of countless men in the Immortal Realm, a hidden fear gripped Li Chen's heart—that one day, one of his women might bear another man's child... or worse, elope with someone else so it's necessary to establish the family rules first.
"I will always respect your choices," he said softly. "That's why I asked you yesterday—were you truly willing to become my concubine?"
"And once you agreed... you became mine. My woman, and mine alone. No other man is allowed to touch you."
"Had you refused, I would've let you go, and never laid a finger on you."
"But if, one day, your heart changes... if you fall for someone else or wish to be with him, I won't stop you."
He paused, gaze firm.
"Just know—on that day, we'll walk separate paths. No hatred. No punishment. Just silence. As if we never knew each other."
Inside, however, his thoughts were a storm.
I know they're loyal. None of my women would ever harm me. But in a world where emotions twist with time, what if one day... one of them changes?
What if guilt becomes resentment? What if she strikes, thinking I would never accept her love for another man?
No... It's better to speak the truth now, before time turns it into poison.
Lying beside him, Xiaobai could barely hear the words.
To her, his voice buzzed like wind through trees—soft, distant, sacred.
In her heart, Li Chen was her master, her sky, her everything. No one else would ever touch her. No one else was worthy.
Quietly, she made her choice:
She would wear the veil. Her beauty belonged to one man alone.
Back when she worked at the Silvercloud Trade Hall, countless men had pursued her, offering precious gifts just for a single night in her company.
Though no one dared say such things aloud — since she served directly under the branch manager — their intentions were always clear in their eyes.
Even city lords and royal princes had tried to woo her, hoping to taste her beauty.
But now that she belonged to Li Chen, none of them would ever have another chance. In her mind, the second rule simply didn't apply—because breaking it was never a possibility.
Li Chen added, "There's no third rule—for now. But in the future, I may introduce more."
"And since you are now my woman, it's my duty to help you grow stronger... and to care for your needs."
"Here—"
At his words, a surge of powerful energy erupted from her body.
The system granted her a cultivation boost: her Golden Core Stage, once at the initial level, now soared to the peak of the 4th Stage in an instant.
She was stunned. How could a few words of her husband grant her years' worth of cultivation in seconds? But the truth was there—undeniable.
She asked with a mix of curiosity and excitement,
"Husband, how can you boost my cultivation with just a few words?"
He replied without hesitation,
"Just remember—when your heart holds only me, your strength will continue to grow."
"Huh…"
She couldn't help but chuckle. She knew it was a lie, of course—but she didn't press him.
After all, it's her husband's secret, isn't it a wife's duty to keep it safe?
Her imagination again started to travel across different possibilities and thought many scenarios where she and her husband fought together against enemies for their secret, had children and then ...
Overwhelmed, she dashed into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Husband, I will always be loyal to you. I will never harm our family or tarnish your reputation."
Li Chen gently ruffled her hair, his voice soft and full of trust.
"I believe in you."
"Mmm…"
She looked up at him tenderly. Her eyes shimmered with emotion, and a smile bloomed on her face.
She smiled, easing the tension in the air.
"Husband… were you satisfied with yesterday? If not... maybe we could... we can still... you know…"
Li Chen chuckled at her bashful fumbling.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Well, there are things we need to take care of today. But for now, just help me bathe."
The moment she heard the word bathe, her cheeks turned scarlet. Her mind drifted into fantasies.
I'm going to bathe... with a man... no—with my husband.
Her face flushed even more.
But she quickly snapped out of her reverie and took his hand.
"Okay, husband… I'll help you bathe."
Fingers still entwined, the two made their way toward the bath area.