As the banquet continued to roar with a cacophony of laughter, clinking crystal, and booming music inside the grand palace, Haoran took the chance to silently sneak out from the high tier.

He moved like a ghost passing through a crowd, leaving Huo Yue to deal with the flock of clinging noblewomen surrounding his previous seat—a task she was currently performing with an icy aura and sharp words.

He walked completely outside the palace doors, stepping into the crisp, cool night air of the upper terraces.

The overwhelming scent of alcohol and heavy perfumes was instantly replaced by the gentle fragrance of night-blooming spiritual lotuses.

Haoran strolled down the stone steps, wandering the labyrinthine imperial garden until he arrived at a small, secluded kiosk standing quietly in the middle of a tranquil pond.

He looked up to the night sky, "...you can come out now."

At that moment, the shadows beneath the kiosk’s wooden eaves shifted, and Shangguan Mu’er suddenly appeared beside him, already back in her human form.

She didn’t say a word, merely stepping into the moonlight, with her skin gleaming softly.

Haoran took out two elegant jade glasses from his spatial ring and handed her one, before taking out a premium wine bottle and filling their glasses to the brim with a rich, crimson vintage.

"Thank you, young master."

"Never mind that. Let us enjoy this rare peaceful moment instead."

They drank silently, the quiet sloshing of the pond water and the distant hum of fireworks serving as their only background music.

Together, they stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the sprawling night sky filled with cold, distant stars.

"Are you leaving now?" Asked Haoran, breaking the silence without turning his head.

Shangguan Mu’er nodded slowly, her yellow eyes reflecting the faint starlight. "Yes, young master. Apologies if I cannot accompany you back to the Central Region. And it will probably be awhile before I can return to your side. But I can promise you this, I will always remain loyal to you."

Haoran waved his hand in a dismissive, casual motion. "I understand. It’s fine. You have your own path to walk, and the Gula Clan’s inheritance is not something you can afford to delay."

He took another slow sip of the wine, twirling the glass between his fingers as he watched the crimson liquid swirl, before turning his gaze to stare directly at her.

"You mentioned back then, before we even set foot in the Eastern Region, that before you leave, you wanted to ask me for something. We are alone now. Speak freely. As long as it’s within my power, I will do it."

Shangguan Mu’er bit her lower lip, her fingers tightening around the stem of her jade glass as she looked incredibly conflicted.

The fierce, terrifying demoness who had just slaughtered giants hours ago vanished, replaced by a hesitant young woman.

"Go on," Haoran encouraged softly, his golden eyes locking onto her. "There is no need to hesitate before me."

Shangguan Mu’er stared at him, her heart pounding against her ribs.

After taking a deep, stabilizing breath, she placed her glass on the stone table as she traced a complex, circular rune directly under her feet using the tip of her boot, channeling her dense, dark spiritual energy into the ancient patterns to set up a powerful concealment formation.

Haoran stared at the shimmering, translucent barrier of black qi that erupted around them, completely sealing the kiosk away from the rest of the imperial grounds.

"A formation that conceals everything inside it from the outside world, cutting off both vision and divine sense... is there something you want to say that you don’t want others to know? Or perhaps, something you want to do?"

He turned towards her, already having an idea on what she planned to ask.

Shangguan Mu’er remained silent, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson that stood out drastically against her ash-pale skin.

Instead of answering with words, she reached for the silk ties of her dark robes with trembling but deliberate fingers as she undid her garments, letting the heavy layers of silk fall loosely to the wooden floor of the kiosk.

She stood entirely bare under the moonlight, shyly concealing her privates with her slender hands as her demonic horn and wings twitched with a nervous, electric energy.

"Young master... before I leave for the wilderness, would you give me the ultimate honor of embracing you?" she whispered, her voice shaking with an intense, long-suppressed devotion.

Haoran simply smiled at her, a warm, indulgent expression softening his features as he stared at this woman whose face look like it was about to explode from embarrassment.

"So this is what you want to ask," Haoran murmured, his voice echoing beautifully within the boundaries of the dark barrier. "Very well. Tonight, I am all yours."

Under the vast, ink-black canvas of the night sky, the small kiosk stood as a solitary haven, its roof offering little more than a symbolic shelter from the world.

The only light came from a distant streetlamp, casting long, distorted shadows that danced across the pavement as the wind whispered through the empty garden.

Haoran stared at Shangguan Mu’er who stood there, her body bathed in the pale, silvery glow of the moon that peeked through scattered clouds.

Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, a futile attempt to conceal the soft curves of her breasts that heaved with each nervous breath.

One hand shyly pressed against the smooth skin of her lower belly, fingers splayed just above the dark, neat triangle of hair between her thighs.

Her skin, usually so composed and graceful, was now flushed with a rosy heat that seemed to radiate from her very core.

Her eyes were wide, fixed on the ground as if the concrete could offer her an escape.

Her lips were parted slightly, trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

She could feel the cool night air against her nipples, which had already tightened into hard, sensitive peaks.

The sensation was alien, thrilling, and terrifying all at once.

Haoran approached slowly, his footsteps deliberate and unhurried, each step a gentle promise rather than a demand.

He could see the way her fingers curled into her own skin, the slight tremor in her shoulders, the way her breath hitched as he drew closer.

His gaze was soft and patient, offering her a quiet reassurance.

He stopped mere inches away from her, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her body, close enough to hear the faint, ragged edge of her breathing.

Without a word, he lifted one hand and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his knuckles grazing the delicate curve of her jaw.

Her skin was warm, almost feverish to the touch.

Leaning in, he pressed his lips to hers—a soft, tender kiss, unhurried and gentle.

His mouth was warm, his movements slow and deliberate, tasting the faint salt of nervousness on her lips.

When she remained frozen, he pulled back just enough to nuzzle the corner of her mouth, his breath hot against her skin.

"It’s okay," he murmured against her lips, his voice a low, soothing rumble. "Just follow me. Don’t think about anything, and just feel my lips."

She nodded, a tiny, jerky motion, and when he kissed her again, she tried to do as he said.

Her lips parted hesitantly, awkwardly pressing against his, not quite sure of the rhythm.

It was clumsy, her teeth accidentally grazed his lower lip, and she flinched, a quiet gasp escaping her throat.

But Haoran didn’t pull away. Instead, he cupped her face in his hands, thumbs stroking her cheekbones, and deepened the kiss ever so slightly, guiding her with the gentle pressure of his mouth.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips, asking without forcing, and after a moment of hesitation, she parted for him.

When his tongue slipped inside, it was slow, exploring the warmth of her mouth with a patience that bordered on reverence.

She tasted of mint and something sweet, and her own tongue met his with a shy, tentative curiosity.

It was a fumbling dance of discovery.

One of his hands slid down from her face, tracing the curve of her neck, her collarbone, until it rested just below her shoulder.

His thumb brushed the swell of her breast, and she inhaled sharply, her whole body tensing.

He paused immediately, his lips still against hers, letting her adjust before he moved further.

When he felt her relax, just a fraction, he skimmed his palm over the curve of her breast, cupping its weight with a tenderness that made her moan softly into his mouth.

Her nipple grazed his palm, and he felt it stiffen even more.

He broke the kiss to look down at her, admiring the way the moonlight painted her body in shades of silver and shadow.

Her breasts were full, the nipples a deep, dusky rose, pebbled and aching for touch as he ran his thumb over the peak, a featherlight caress, and she gasped, her hips twitching forward involuntarily.

The hand that had been covering herself slickly slipped down, fingers curling around his wrist, but not to push him away.

She was bracing herself, clinging to his arm as if he were the only solid thing in a world that had suddenly become liquid and strange. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Haoran leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her shoulder, then trailed his lips along her collarbone.

His tongue darted out to taste her skin, it tasted a bit salty and warm as her pulse hammering beneath his lips, a frantic, beautiful rhythm.

"You’re doing so well," he whispered against her skin, his voice thick with desire and admiration. "Just let go. I’ve got you."