Under the brilliant blue array, Zhao Tian sat cross-legged in the serene courtyard, his eyes closed as he focused on cultivating the astral energy coursing through his body.


    The light from the array pulsed faintly, casting a soft glow around him.


    Inside the hall, a cozy warmth filled the air as the women sat together, their chatter light and filled with laughter.


    Fei Ziyu glanced at Li Jia and gently bowed her head. "Thank you, Sister Jia. Without you bringing the decorations and the ingredients for the cake from the outside, none of this would have been possible."


    Li Jia, reclining casually on the couch, waved her hand dismissively, her lips curving into an easy smile. "Oh, come on, Ziyu. You don’t have to bow your head for something so small... we are sisters after all."


    Yao Lian who was in her fox form, curled in Li Jia’s lap, purring, "Bring more, Li Jia... the cake was yummy."


    With a chuckle, Li Jia patted the cute fox "Alright... I will." Enjoy more content from novelhall.Co?m


    A few hours later, Zhao Tian stood up from the array and stepped outside.


    Raising his hands, he combed his long hair to a man bun.


    With a sigh, he stretched his body after hours of sitting "Ughh... in three more days, I can reach the 2nd level of Heavenly Tribulation stage."


    His gaze squinted in thought ’I still have some stuff to do, I need to melt Hanyue’s heart, need to investigate the deaths around her.’


    ’And the tournament for that Astral Mine is also coming; I also need to visit my new teacher...’


    ’Velnorah should miss me too.... Uffff, she refused when I invited her to the marriage.’


    ...


    It was already evening-


    Zhao Tian walked through the royal hallways with a bouquet of yellow flowers in his hands.


    The flowers swayed gently as he moved, their vibrant petals glowing in the evening light


    He soon arrived at a particular door, and raising his free hand, he pushed the door open without knocking.


    "Hanyue..."


    The room was bathed in warm lamplight, the rich fragrance of freshly brewed tea mingling with the faint scent of sandalwood.


    Zhou Hanyue sat gracefully by a low table, her back straight and her demeanor poised, sipping tea from a delicate cup.


    Behind her, Lan Shuqin stood silently, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, the very image of a dutiful maid.


    Zhou Hanyue didn’t react upon his arrival and continued sipping her tea.


    However, Lan Shuqin’s eyes softened and she bowed her head in respect.


    As he walked in, Zhou Hanyue’s gaze flickered to the bouquet in his hands "I am sure I already told you to stop bringing me flowers... you can’t-"


    Zhao Tian cut her off with a smile on his lips "Who told you that I bought flowers for you.."


    "Huh?" Zhou Hanyue’s eyes narrowed slightly, her composure slipping just enough to reveal a glimmer of surprise.


    Before she could respond, Zhao Tian turned to Lan Shuqin, holding the bouquet out toward her. "I bought these flowers for my maid. Here, Shuqin."


    E-Eh?


    Lan Shuqin was quickly flustered as a blush crept upon her cheeks and she could already feel Zhou Hanyue glaring at her.


    Her body tensed in panic ’I don’t even need to look... i am sure she is glaring at me.’


    Seeing his soft gaze, Lan Shuqin tentatively reached out to receive the bouquet "Thank you, Master Tian... i really appreciate it."


    As her fingers brushed the flowers, a pleasant warmth bloomed in her chest, a warmth that made her blush deepen.


    Zhou Hanyue’s grip on her teacup tensed slightly seeing this as she felt a light squeeze in her chest.


    With a *clank* she placed the cup on the table and abruptly stood up, walking to her inner chambers.


    "U-Uh.. Lady Hanyue."


    "As expected of you," she murmured, her tone laced with teasing. "You managed to get closer to the maid so easily, huh?"


    Zhao Tian let out a soft chuckle, his breath warm against her skin. "What can I say? I’m good with people."


    Li Jia raised an eyebrow, though she didn’t stop stroking his hair. "Well, she’s just a maid. With your charms, it must have been a walk in the park for you."


    Zhao Tian pulled back slightly, just enough to glance at her, "She’s more than just a maid, you know. She’s a good woman. Beautiful, too."


    He paused, a faint smile curling his lips. "Her antics are... quite cute."


    The words hung in the air for a moment, and Li Jia’s hand froze mid-motion.


    Slowly, her narrowed eyes slid down to meet his gaze.


    "Wait a minute." Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge of suspicion. "Tian, don’t tell me..."


    Her eyes narrowed further "You’ve fallen for the maid, haven’t you?"


    Zhao Tian closed his eyes and said nothing, burying his face in her neck once more as if hoping to escape the weight of her piercing gaze.


    "Oi, oi." Li Jia’s hand moved swiftly, pinching his cheeks and pulling his face away from her neck.


    Her strength was gentle but firm enough to make him wince slightly. "Bastard, tell me... do you love her?"


    Zhao Tian let out a soft sigh as he relented. "As I said... she’s beautiful. And, well..."


    He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I maybe... like her."


    Li Jia’s lips twitched, her expression shifting between frustration and amusement. "You really can’t keep your dick in your pants, huh? Always looking for new women. Every time I blink, there’s a new one in your sights."


    Zhao Tian laughed softly, the sound vibrating against her skin as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her. "What? You’d get a new sister out of it. Isn’t that a good thing?"


    Li Jia rolled her eyes dramatically, though a small smile tugged at her lips as she resumed patting his head, "Yeah, yeah... you idiot."


    Silence settled between them for a moment, broken only by the faint rustling of the sheets and the distant chirping of crickets outside.


    Li Jia tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening as she stared at the ceiling. "You know, sometimes I wonder if there’s any end to your appetite for chaos."


    "Chaos?" Zhao Tian muttered, feigning innocence like a child.


    "Yes, chaos." She glanced down at him, her tone matter-of-fact.


    "Every time I think you’ve finally settled, you find a way to complicate things. Like now... adding another woman into the mix."


    Zhao Tian just smiled and looked up at her "Jia..."


    Li Jia opened her mouth to reply, but her words caught in her throat as Zhao Tian leaned closer.


    His lips brushed hers gently at first and then, before she could react, he deepened the kiss, his hand sliding to the back of her neck to pull her closer.


    Li Jia gasped softly against his lips as his tongue sought hers, the kiss growing bolder and more passionate.


    Her initial surprise melted away, and she responded in kind, her arms slipping around his neck as she pressed herself against him.


    Zhao Tian’s other hand slid down her back, his fingers tracing the curve of her spine through the thin fabric of her robe.


    "Mmn.." Li Jia shivered under his touch, a soft moan escaping her as the intensity of the kiss left her breathless.


    "Haah.."


    When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other as they caught their breath.


    Li Jia’s cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen from the kiss.


    "You’re so infuriating," she whispered, though her voice was softer now, almost trembling.


    "Yeah.. bear with me," Zhao Tian replied, his grin widening as he leaned down to kiss her jawline, trailing soft kisses down to her neck.


    Li Jia let out a soft laugh, her hands threading through his hair as she tilted her head to give him better access. "I always will."


    --------------------------------------------------


    I hope you guys liked this chapter!