Shen Yu drifted back to consciousness as the midday sun carved golden paths through the shutters, and the room warmed to a comfortable, lazy heat.

As his eyes flickered open, he found himself staring into three pairs of eyes, all fixed on him with a depth of adoration that could melt spirit-stone.

"Good morning, my loves," he rasped, his voice still thick with the remnants of sleep.

He leaned up slightly, placing a soft, lingering peck on Lixue’s forehead as she lay curled on his chest, then reached over to brush his lips against Meng Yan’s temple and Xu Yi’s cheek.

"Good morning, husband," they whispered in a soft, melodic chorus, their faces glowing with a post-coital radiance that transcended their status.

Feeling the familiar, snug heat of Lixue still wrapped around him from the night, Shen Yu gave a slow, deliberate thrust of his hips while his hands found the soft, rounded curves of Xu Yi and Meng Yan’s backsides.

The sudden contact drew a trio of synchronized, airy moans that echoed through the quiet chamber.

"Mhmmmmmm"

A flicker of genuine concern crossed Shen Yu’s face as his gaze swept over the faint bruises and red marks still visible on their pale skin.

"I’m sorry," he murmured, his thumb tracing a mark on Meng Yan’s shoulder.

"I think I went a bit too far yesterday."

Lixue let out a bright, crystalline laugh, propping herself up on his chest.

"Haha! There is no reason to apologize, Yu’er. If you hadn’t gone that far, we wouldn’t have seen heaven, would we?"

She reached over and playfully nudged Xu Yi’s shoulder. "Isn’t that right, Sister Yi?"

Xu Yi winced dramatically, rubbing the spot with a smirk. "Ouch! But yes, Lixue is right. Being fucked by you as if it were the end of the world... it was the best experience of my life. My dragon-bloodline is still singing from the impact."

Meng Yan reached out, her fingers gently ruffling his pristine white hair with maternal tenderness mixed with a wife’s devotion.

"It was brutal, certainly," the Matriarch admitted, her eyes softening. "But we are cultivators, husband. We can afford to be broken by you once or twice a month. It’s good for the soul."

Meng Yan leaned in closer to his ears, her voice dropping to a sultry, possessive whisper that sent a thrill through the room. "Besides, you ought to remind us every now and then exactly why you are the sovereign of this house."

Shen Yu offered a faint, enigmatic smile, but his expression shifted as he turned his attention toward Lixue. His gaze became heavy and serious, the playful light of the morning vanishing instantly.

Seeing the sudden change in him, Lixue’s heart skipped a beat. She straightened up, her voice cautious. "Yu’er? What is it? You’re looking at me so strangely."

He reached out, gently caressing her hair, his touch uncharacteristically solemn. "Lixue, there is something I need to tell you. It concerns Aunt Yilan."

"Mother?" Lixue’s brow furrowed, her worry manifesting as a sharp intake of breath. "What is it? Is she not recovering? I thought your pill was effective."

"She is fine, but the situation is more dire than she lets on," Shen Yu said, his voice level. "Her Golden Core... it has fractured."

"What?!" Both Lixue and Xu Yi cried out in unison, their faces draining of color.

Meng Yan, who had already sensed the truth during dinner, remained silent, though her gaze sharpened. She watched Lixue with worry.

"How is that possible?" Lixue’s voice trembled with rising panic.

"A fractured core is a death sentence, Yu’er! Why are you only telling me this now? Her days are numbered, she’ll wither away if it isn’t repaired!"

"I didn’t want to worry you before I had a solution," he replied calmly. "But the fractures are deep. A standard pill can only mask the symptoms; it cannot mend the foundation of her soul."

"Then we have to find a way!" Lixue gripped his arms, her eyes searching his. "Think of how hard we searched just to fix your meridians back then. A Golden Core is ten times more complex. Where do we even find a treasure capable of—"

She stopped mid-sentence. She looked at his calm, unwavering face, and then at the wry, knowing smile playing on his lips. A sudden, terrifying realization dawned on her.

"Don’t tell me..." Her gaze narrowed, her voice dropping to a dangerous hiss. "You’re going to heal her the same way you healed yourself, aren’t you?"

"You are going to fuck my mother?"

Shen Yu didn’t flinch. He looked her straight in the eye. "Yes."

"How can you say that with such a straight face?" Lixue’s voice rose in disbelief. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"She is my mother, Yu’er! Your aunt! Your own mother’s sworn sister! She is your mother-in-law!"

"I am aware of the titles, Lixue," he said, his tone turning dominant. "But titles do not mend shattered cores. Only my Yang essence, refined through the demonic path, can bridge those cracks."

"You—!"

Before she could launch into a tirade, Shen Yu gestured for Xu Yi and Meng Yan to move aside. In one swift, authoritative motion, he pinned Lixue beneath him. He loomed over her, his golden eyes burning with an intensity that demanded her absolute focus.

He didn’t give her a chance to speak. He lowered his head and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss, one that tasted of fire and absolute possession. Lixue struggled for a fleeting second before her resistance crumbled, her body melting into the mattress as she hummed against his mouth.

When they finally broke apart, Lixue was breathless, her eyes misty. "Don’t think... just because you kissed me... that you can have your way with my mother," she whispered, though the fire in her voice had died down to a flicker.

Shen Yu placed a finger over her lips, a soft but firm command for silence. "Shhhh. Just listen to me for a moment."

Lixue went still, looking up at the man who had claimed her soul.

"Lixue," he whispered, his voice dropping to a low, nostalgic hum. "Do you remember the very first time we met?"

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A/N: Monthly GT Goal: 30 Tickets = 1 Bonus Chapter.