Cui Shao was unaware that her lord had returned. When she came in again to refill the tea, she noticed the shattered wine bottle in the courtyard.
On the stone table, there was still a piece of osmanthus cake, seemingly left for a long time, as it had already cooled.
Frowning, Cui Shao picked up a broom and carefully swept up the shards.
She carefully took the osmanthus cake from the table and glanced at the tightly closed main hall doors.
The osmanthus cake would soon grow cold. Was the madam resting?
Cui Shao hesitated, and from inside the main hall came a faint, low moan.
The sound was soft and brief, forcibly stifled by the master soon after.
Cui Shao frowned. The voice sounded somewhat repressed, but she could tell it was Sang Dai’s. Sang Dai had always been able to endure—why would she make such a sound?
Shattered porcelain in the courtyard, untouched osmanthus cake on the table…
Could it be that a thief had broken in?
Cui Shao’s expression changed, and she summoned a curved blade in reverse grip, preparing to charge into the main hall.
“Madam—”
“Stand down!”
Two voices rang out simultaneously.
An invisible barrier blocked Cui Shao’s way, cutting off her path. That earlier sharp rebuke…
Cui Shao suddenly understood something, her face flushing scarlet in an instant. “My lord, this servant deserves death!”
“Cui Shao, leave. The madam is fine!”
This time, the voice clearly carried a restrained tone. While it wasn’t angry earlier, now there was a trace of irritation.
“Understood!”
Cui Shao bent down to retrieve her blade and bolted.
It’s over, it’s over. How could she be so foolish to dare disturb her lord and lady while they were… creating little foxes?
Inside the main hall, a few Hellfire orbs illuminated the room, casting a warm glow. The windows were tightly shut, not allowing even a wisp of breeze to enter.
The sword cultivator lay on a thin blanket, her bare back adorned with nothing but a few delicate ribbons. Her entire back was smooth and unblemished, her scapulae sharply defined and her white jade-like spine now covered in faint marks.
The room was filled with heat. Sang Dai buried her face in an embroidered pillow, too embarrassed to meet anyone’s eyes, like a turtle retreating into its shell.
The little fox had shed his outer robe, wearing only a black long garment. Its collar hung loosely, revealing a collarbone glistening with fine beads of sweat.
Su Xuan bent down and kissed her back, one hand clasping the sword cultivator’s in an interlocked grip, the other gently caressing her side waist. The calloused edge of his palm pressed against the smooth, tender skin of the sword cultivator.
She trembled. Su Xuan’s silver hair, sleek like satin, flowed past his waist and cascaded over her shoulders, landing on her back. Unlike her flushed, burning skin, his hair was cool to the touch.
He kissed her nape again, his lips brushing against the base of her ear, holding himself up to avoid pressing his weight onto the sword cultivator.
“Dai Dai, Cui Shao is gone. It’s fine now.”
Su Xuan trailed soft kisses along her earlobe.
Sang Dai suppressed her rapid breaths and asked, “Did Cui Shao… did she hear us?”
Her face was far too thin-skinned, and she had kept her voice suppressed, daring only to let out faint gasps. Earlier, Su Xuan had used his canine teeth to nip at her, and the sword cultivator couldn’t hold back for a moment. Neither of them had noticed when Cui Shao arrived, and by the time they realized, the young maid was already rushing toward the Spirit Beast Hall.
Su Xuan soothed her, “It’s fine, it’s perfectly normal.”
“No, it can’t be heard… stop kissing—”
Sang Dai turned her head slightly, glancing at the person behind her who was pressing kisses to her skin.
The two ears atop his head had appeared, betraying the fact that his heightened emotions made it difficult for him to maintain his human form.
Forget it, let him kiss. He was just too persistent, and she could never be hardhearted toward him.
Especially with those fox ears—he really was too cute.
The little fox seized the moment to press his lips to hers, nibbling at her lower lip as he murmured, “Darling, they all know. You’re the Beast Queen, I’m the Beast King; this is perfectly normal for us.”
Sang Dai clung to his shoulders. The effects of the wine had long since dissipated, but she was still caught up in his kisses. From the moment they entered the main hall, he wanted to kiss her, and she, emboldened by the wine, kissed him back. Neither could stop once they started.
The sword cultivator was left dizzy from the kisses. After a long while, the little fox flipped her over, shifting his focus to her collarbone.
As he kissed, he spoke, “In our Spirit Beast Hall… everyone is eagerly awaiting the birth of a little fox cub…”
Sang Dai, her mind clouded, unconsciously asked, “A little fox cub?”
Su Xuan’s lips trailed to the sword cultivator’s waist.
“Our cub,” he said, lifting the edge of her thin inner garment slightly and kissing further up. “If you want a cub, we’ll have one. If you don’t, that’s fine too. I just want you. The throne can be passed to Liu Lixue’s future child.”
Sang Dai couldn’t comprehend his words; she only felt that he was becoming increasingly teasing. The little fox’s lips were hot, and although her body temperature wasn’t high, she had been warmed up by his relentless advances.
Sweat beaded on her skin. The sword cultivator felt a bit embarrassed and pushed at his shoulder. “I’m sweating.”
Su Xuan brushed aside her hand and wrapped it around his neck, raising himself to kiss her lips. “You’re not dirty.”
To him, everything about Sang Dai was extraordinarily pure.
The sounds of swallowing and breathing were particularly distinct. After kissing for a while, Sang Dai would find it hard to breathe, and the little fox could only release her with a helpless expression.
“Why can’t you still figure out how to breathe while kissing?”
Sang Dai found it difficult. No matter how gently Su Xuan started, his kisses always ended with such intensity. She felt like a prey caught in the jaws of a predator—once he bit down, he refused to let go, leaving her unable to withstand him.
The sword cultivator turned her head away and mumbled sullenly, “You’re really good at this. Who did you practice with?”
Su Xuan raised an eyebrow and bit her lower lip. “That little mouth of yours really knows how to jab. Your words sting.”
Sang Dai muttered back at him, “If they sting, then stop teasing me.”
The little fox nibbled at the sword cultivator’s ear and mumbled in response, “When it’s time for serious business, Dai Dai, that mouth of yours won’t be able to say such hurtful things.”
“…Shut up!”
Sang Dai’s face burned, and she pulled the thin blanket over her head to cover her eyes.
She always liked to deceive herself. Whether crying, laughing, or feeling shy, she would always cover her eyes.
Su Xuan kissed the softness beneath the thin garment, his voice hoarse as he said, “I’ve only kissed you, and I’ll only ever kiss you.”
Sang Dai’s grip on her face loosened slightly.
Her entire body was feeling hot, and as she felt his kisses trailing across her upper body, she realized she had never experienced something so advanced. When it came to matters like this, she was no match for the nine-tailed fox who had been educated on mating rituals since childhood. Naturally, she was utterly defeated, unable to put up any resistance.
At first, it felt pleasant, but later it became a bit uncomfortable.
Su Xuan was even more uncomfortable than she was, but his attention remained entirely on her. He could discern, from every breath she took, whether she felt comfortable or uneasy.
The little fox asked, “Does it feel uncomfortable?”
Sang Dai murmured, shaking her head. “…I don’t know.”
They had been like this for nearly half an hour. This time, it wasn’t just kissing. Their clothes were thin and loose, with Sang Dai’s upper body covered only by a small garment, and they were entwined in each other’s arms.
The sensation rising from deep within her was indescribable. The more Su Xuan kissed her, the more uncomfortable she felt, though it seemed more like a kind of longing.
She felt like she wanted something, though she didn’t know what.
The little fox pulled away the thin blanket she was using to hide her face, his dim, shadowed eyes meeting hers.
“Look at me.”
Sang Dai looked at him.
The sword cultivator’s black hair was disheveled, her face flushed crimson. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, her long lashes glimmering with droplets. The emotions in her gaze were no longer as cool and detached as before; now, they were hazy and filled with intense emotion.
He knew what was happening to her because her body was burning.
Su Xuan spoke plainly, “Dai Dai, you want it.”
Sang Dai: “…What?”
She asked in confusion, “Want what?”
“Me.”
Sang Dai: “…”
She seemed to understand.
The sword cultivator turned her head away with difficulty, avoiding the fox spirit’s gaze. “I… This is just a normal reaction, I’m not…”
Her words were incoherent, and she was clearly flustered.
The little fox lightly nibbled on the base of her ear, his voice low and raspy. “Let me help you, alright?”
Sang Dai stammered, “No… give me a little more time…”
Su Xuan chuckled softly, his body vibrating with laughter. “Helping you doesn’t necessarily mean doing that thing. For example, using my hand…”
He guided the sword cultivator’s hand, lightly kissing the pad of her finger, his voice so hoarse it was almost unintelligible.
Sang Dai looked at him, bewildered.
What did he mean? Could there be another way to handle something like this?
The little fox enjoyed taking care of her, including in this regard.
He loved her, served her, and considered it his duty to bring her joy.
“Or, if Dai Dai prefers another way, we can try something else. There are many ways. If you don’t like this one, we’ll switch to another,” Su Xuan said, lifting himself slightly. The corners of his lips still carried a smile. His striking features, combined with his grin in such a moment, exuded an inexplicable wickedness, making him appear almost like a demon.
The little fox clasped the sword cultivator’s ankle, lifting it slightly. The hem of her skirt and the thin trousers underneath slid down from her ankle. He removed her thin socks, brushing his lips lightly along her jade-white ankle and trailing kisses up her slender calf, clearly intending to go further.
Sang Dai kicked him squarely on the shoulder. “Su Xuan!”
She had finally come to her senses.
The sword cultivator scrambled up faster than she ever had in her life, retreating to the corner of the soft couch. By now, her entire upper body, not just her face, was flushed pink.
Wearing only a small garment, she hastily pulled down the hem of her skirt that Su Xuan had pushed up. Her bare arms, shoulders, collarbone, and waist were all marked with traces. The little fox knelt on the couch, his Adam’s apple bobbing wildly, his gaze deep and inscrutable.
[So beautiful, unbelievably stunning.]
[I want to kiss somewhere else. This small garment is such an obstacle. Soft and fragrant—next time, I’ll have to take it off.]
Sang Dai shouted, “Get lost!”
She covered her chest and reached for the thin blanket, but Su Xuan’s knee pressed against it, rendering her efforts futile. She had no choice but to grab the black outer robe that Su Xuan had taken off earlier to cover herself.
That made her look even better.
The black robe, embroidered with luxurious gold patterns, contrasted starkly against her pale skin, making it appear even more radiant.
[Absolutely gorgeous. It’s unbearable. I really want to…]
Sang Dai: “…”
She was utterly impressed by how thick-skinned he could be.
The soft couch was small, and Su Xuan easily closed the distance between them. He pulled Sang Dai into his arms and began kissing her face, planting a dozen pecks like a woodpecker.
Finally realizing he might have gone too far tonight, Su Xuan sat at the edge of the couch, holding her in his lap. Her chin rested on his shoulder.
He spread his outer robe over her, wrapping her up entirely as he cradled her in his arms, lightly patting her back to soothe her.
Sang Dai, still flustered from earlier, didn’t dare look at him.
Su Xuan sighed, offering an explanation. “Dai Dai, I like you. Doing these things for you is my duty. Don’t be shy.”
Sang Dai muttered, “But you’re too… too…”
“Too what?”
“…Too shameless.”
Su Xuan froze, then pressed his nose against her shoulder and burst into laughter.
Sang Dai murmured softly, “Stop laughing. I can’t sit still.”
His body shook every time he laughed, causing Sang Dai, who was perched on his lap, to bounce along with him.
Su Xuan tried to suppress his laughter, holding her tightly as he explained, “It’s not shamelessness; it’s just that you’re too reserved. We demons are naturally free-spirited and uninhibited. What you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Sang Dai looked horrified. “This doesn’t count as shameless?”
Su Xuan kissed the side of her face, his voice low. “Just an appetizer. Once the little sword cultivator is full, it’ll be my turn to eat.”
Sang Dai slapped his shoulder. “Shut up!”
The things he had just said completely upended her understanding—Sang Dai had never realized there could be so many variations to such matters.
They locked eyes. The little fox’s gaze was filled with love and amusement, but Sang Dai couldn’t help hearing his inner thoughts… those words.
She averted her gaze and buried her face into his neck, flustered.
If she didn’t look at him, she wouldn’t hear his thoughts. This mind-reading ability wasn’t meant for hearing him think such things.
Su Xuan gently patted her back, holding her close and comforting her.
For him, her willingness to let him get this close tonight was already more than enough. He couldn’t bear to see her feeling even the slightest discomfort and only wanted to take care of her.
He paid no mind to his own discomfort and softly asked, “Does it still feel uncomfortable?”
Sang Dai didn’t answer.
Su Xuan understood her nature. If she stayed silent, it meant she was still feeling uneasy. Even though she typically cultivated a detached and ascetic demeanor, she was still a normal person. With feelings for him, it was natural for her to be stirred by his actions.
The little fox felt a pang of pity and whispered, “I won’t look at you. I’ll turn off the light and use my hand. Would that be alright? I’ll go wash my hands and come right back. This kind of heat is hard to endure.”
He had experienced countless such heats himself and knew just how excruciating they could be. During his mating seasons, he couldn’t even maintain his human form. He could endure it, but he didn’t want Sang Dai to suffer through it as well.
Sang Dai shook her head firmly, refusing. “I don’t want that.”
“I’ll be gentle. It’ll be over quickly, and you won’t feel uncomfortable anymore.”
“…I said no, and I mean no.”
“Still so shy?”
“Su Xuan… why do you like this kind of thing so much?” Sang Dai asked, genuinely puzzled. She admitted it was pleasurable, but as a cultivator, her focus should be on cultivation. Yet he always seemed to enjoy clinging to her for intimacy.
He was so clingy. Once he started kissing her, he’d often get stuck on it, and if they were ever fully together and did that thing, Sang Dai felt like she’d lose half her time for practicing swordsmanship.
Su Xuan stayed quiet for a long time, prompting Sang Dai to lift her head from his neck and look at him.
The little fox’s expression was unusually serious. He brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and said, “It’s not about liking the act itself. I like doing these things with you.”
He wiped away the sweat from her face, his voice soft. “Because it’s you, I like doing this. I like holding you, kissing you, hearing your voice, seeing you lose yourself in me. This is the most intimate thing between Dao companions—being wholly and completely each other’s. That knowledge excites and moves me.”
[Because I really, really like you, I like every inch of you, from head to toe.]
Sang Dai lowered her eyelashes slightly and murmured, “Do you really like me that much?”
Su Xuan kissed her forehead. “Yes, I like you very much. I’ve liked you for a long time.”
If she hadn’t lost her memory, he would have successfully won her over more than a hundred years ago, back when he sought her out as a youth. How could they have misunderstood each other for so long?
“Su Xuan, I’m actually really boring. I don’t know how to do anything; all I’m good at is fighting.”