The golden rays of dawn filtered through the silk curtains, casting a warm glow over the disarray of the bedchamber.
Huang Shi slowly blinked his eyes open, feeling a pleasant, heavy weight anchoring his right side.
Having just experienced the transition from boy to man in this new life, he felt a profound sense of satisfaction.
As his vision cleared and he looked toward the source of the weight, he was met with a sight that he knew would remain etched into his memory forever.
Lying beside him was his stepmother, Li Mei. She was fast asleep, a look of peace gracing her features.
Her long, ink-black hair was sprawled across the pillows like a silken fan, framing a face that looked ethereal in the morning light.
Her small, delicate mouth was slightly parted as she breathed in a slow, rhythmic cadence.
Damn... I always knew I was a badass, but this is a new record even for me, right? he thought, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
He had intended to remain still and savor the moment for a while longer, but a soft rustle of the sheets signaled that her slumber was ending.
Just as he anticipated, his beloved stepmother began to stir within his embrace.
"Mhmm..."
The moment her eyelids fluttered open and her gaze met his, her pupils dilated in sudden shock.
The hazy comfort of sleep evaporated, replaced by the vivid, staggering realization that the events of the previous night had been no dream.
A flush, as deep and vibrant as a ripening peach, crept up her neck and flooded her cheeks. Realizing her state of undress, she instinctively clutched the silk sheets to her chest, trying to shield herself from his intense gaze.
"Sh-Shi'er... what happened last night... was it...?"
Hearing the frantic tremor of anxiety in her voice, Huang Shi felt a surge of protectiveness.
He let out a low, melodic chuckle and leaned in, pressing a firm, lingering kiss against her forehead.
"Don't worry, Mother," he whispered, his voice smooth and reassuring.
"It wasn't a dream. From this moment forth, you are my woman. I will not permit you to belong to any man other than me."
The sheer possessiveness in his declaration acted like a balm to Li Mei's frayed nerves.
The tension bled out of her shoulders as tears of relief glistened in her eyes.
She leaned her head against his chest, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Shi'er... Mother is yours. Only yours."
They bathed in the comfortable silence for a time, but the peace was soon interrupted by the dark clouds of Huang Shi's memories.
He needed answers regarding the assassination attempt that had nearly claimed his life.
"Mother," he began, his tone shifting to one of cold seriousness. "Do you know what really happened to me? Why did I almost die?"
The transformation in Li Mei was instantaneous. The soft, lovestruck smile vanished, replaced by a mask of frigid rage.
She remained silent for a long moment, her eyes darkening with a murderous glint that actually unnerved Huang Shi.
"Mother? Can you not tell me?" he probed, his voice steady despite the tension.
Li Mei ground her teeth, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the sheets.
"From what I have uncovered so far, it was a treacherous scheme orchestrated by your elder brother, Huang Long, and that bitch Yan Fei.
Your brother had initially only planned to have you crippled to remove you from the line of succession and lower your standing within the sect, but Yan Fei... that bitch felt that wasn't enough. She conspired to ensure the job was finished permanently."
Hearing his theories confirmed by her lips caused Huang Shi's blood to boil.
Motherfucker... I just got a second chance at life and people are already lining up to put me back in the ground. Why would they even bother with a useless wastrel like me?
Restraining his anger, he forced his voice to remain calm.
"Mother, do you have any idea why they went to such extremes? Based on my previous performance within the sect, I was no threat to them. I held nothing that would warrant such a violent response."
Li Mei looked at him, her eyes wide with astonishment.
She knew her stepson well—or so she thought.
To her, he had always been a shiftless scoundrel who neglected his cultivation in favor of squandering his father's allowance on wine and chasing girls.
He was the weakest of the Sect Master's sons, which made him an easy target for everyone to mock.
Even so, she still loved him deeply; she felt that if his own mother wasn't on his side, he would have no one else in the world.
Yet, sitting before her now was a man who seemed to have matured a lifetime overnight.
His gaze was sharp, his mind calculating, and his demeanor carried a weight of authority he had never possessed before.
The memory of their passionate encounter the night before flashed through her mind, causing her to blush once more.
Seeing her drift off into her thoughts, Huang Shi reached out and playfully flicked her forehead. "Focus, Mother."
Startled back to reality, Li Mei regained her composure, though her heart was still racing.
"You're right. In the past, you were no threat. Killing you wouldn't have gained them anything of value. But that status changed recently..."
Huang Shi felt his heart hammer against his ribs. Did she find out? Does she know that I just possessed this body?
Trying to mask his internal panic, he pressed on. "What do you mean by that?"
Li Mei's expression shifted again, this time into a pout of genuine jealousy.
She looked at him with a spoiled air, as if begrudging the words she was about to say.
"It's because of that woman! The fiancé your father arranged for you the day you were born... she has finally sent word. She is demanding to meet you!"
Huang Shi gaped, the revelation catching him completely off guard.
A fiancé? I'm supposed to marry some stranger I've never even seen? What if she's some harridan or an eyesore? What the hell am I supposed to do then?