Chapter 103: Frenzied Advancement (Part Two)

The four maids stood to the side, wanting to laugh but not daring to. Catching the scene out of the corner of her eye, Tao Ming chuckled, “Go ahead and laugh if you want—I really am starving.”

Liuli bit her lip, forcing back her smile, and asked, “Young madam, is there anything else you’d like to eat? Just tell us, and we’ll prepare it.”

Tao Ming mulled over the events of the past few hours. The same amount of time and effort, yet cultivating within the Revolving Stars and Shifting Planets array was far more worthwhile. She had originally planned to wait until after the sealing ceremony to find time for cultivation, but now that she had such a convenient method, she might as well seize every moment to train! She was determined to strengthen herself so that, whatever happened, she would not become the burdensome teammate.

Without further ado, Tao Ming turned to Su Nanxing, pouting, “Husband, let’s go cultivate again.”

Su Nanxing’s eyes twinkled as a beautiful smile curled on his lips. “Alright, let’s cultivate together,” he said, putting extra emphasis on the word “cultivate.”

Tao Ming wasn’t fazed—she knew from the books that this kind of cultivation could only happen once a month. She feigned ignorance of Su Nanxing’s innuendo and instructed, “Liuli, prepare more food for us. We might need it at any time.”

Liuli replied, “As you wish, madam.”

Tao Ming thought a moment and added, “And since I bathe frequently, keep extra water ready in the bathroom.”

The four maids responded in unison and cleared away the dishes. With no outsiders left in the room, Su Nanxing sidled up to Tao Ming and perched on her lap, wrapping his arms around her neck and playing coy. “Wife, have you fallen in love with cultivating with me?”

Tao Ming embraced his waist and pressed a light kiss to his lips. “I’m addicted—can’t quit it.”

Su Nanxing hadn’t expected this response. He thought Tao Ming would glare at him or brush off his teasing, but instead she said something so suggestive that it made his heart race wildly. He kissed her, sometimes gentle, sometimes ardent, savoring every moment.

When they finally parted, Tao Ming’s cheeks were tinged with red as she laughed, “I didn’t know you liked hearing these things.”

Su Nanxing, still unsatisfied, lifted her onto his lap and kissed her again.

“Young ma—” Amber burst in, but at the sight inside, she quickly turned and fled.

Unperturbed, Su Nanxing slowly released Tao Ming and said, “You’ve never said it before. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if you married me just because I wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“I keep asking for reassurance, hoping to prove that you married me out of love.”

Tao Ming felt a pang in her heart. She hadn’t realized how sensitive he was inside—she’d always assumed men never cared about such things.

“Are you silly? Would I have your child if I didn’t love you?” She meant to say something sweet, but somehow this came out instead.

Su Nanxing had been waiting for more words of affection, but her bluntness was a blow. He pouted, “Wife…”

Her face burning, Tao Ming’s voice was so soft she could barely hear herself, “If you like hearing it, I’ll say it to you every day.”

Su Nanxing’s eyes lit up as he continued to act pitiful, “I want to hear it now.”

Tao Ming’s lips opened and closed, but no words came. Finally, she pinched herself and blurted, “Husband, I want to be with you every day.”

Su Nanxing wasn’t satisfied. “Wife, it has to be like the things I usually say to you.”

Recalling his usual words left Tao Ming’s heart fluttering and her whole body weak. Leaning into his arms, she gazed at him tenderly. “Husband, I love you.”

“Wife, I love you too.”

They kissed again.

Outside, Amber peeked in, her cheeks flaming as she saw them still wrapped up in each other.

Tao Ming stood and made a face at Su Nanxing. “I think I just heard one of the maids.”

Su Nanxing called out toward the door, “Come in.”

Amber entered with her head bowed. “Young master, young madam, just now Sister Si Chai came to deliver a message from madam. She wants you both to make the most of your time cultivating, and she’s taken the two ladies to Rose Fragrance Court. They’ll stay there until the sealing ceremony.”

Su Nanxing knew at once his mother wanted a grandchild soon.

Tao Ming had just caught her breath, but at these words her face flushed again. Doing her best to sound calm, she said, “Understood. Tomorrow morning before seven, you four find something to do. We’ll be cultivating.”

Amber withdrew obediently.

Su Nanxing grinned mischievously. “Cultivating, cultivating.”

Tao Ming’s heart leapt as they entered the Revolving Stars and Shifting Planets array once more.

Inside the little building’s bedroom, Tao Ming sat cross-legged in the spirit-gathering formation, but Su Nanxing scooped her up and placed her on the bed. “Balance work and rest.”

Tao Ming rolled to the side. “Didn’t the book say it? That kind of cultivation can only happen once a month!”

Su Nanxing pinned her down with a smirk. “I never said I wanted to cultivate.”

Tao Ming pressed her hands against his chest, glanced around, and said, “In here, Star is everywhere. Do you want him to watch a live performance?”

At her words, Su Nanxing looked around as well. “He’s not even human anyway.”

At first, Star didn’t understand what was happening, but soon realized and quickly retreated from the bedroom, thinking, Even if I’m not human, I wouldn’t dare peep! I don’t want to be blamed afterward!

...

Tao Ming had planned everything carefully—every moment before the sealing ceremony would be spent on cultivation. But with Su Nanxing, her wayward partner, nearly half the time was wasted. All told, the two of them managed just over twenty hours in the spirit-gathering array.

As their power increased, each new star level required even more spiritual energy. By six o’clock on the morning of the sealing ceremony, Tao Ming had just reached Level Three of the Sun Rank. Su Nanxing, however, thrived in the Revolving Stars and Shifting Planets, advancing to Level Eleven—on the verge of breaking through to Level Twelve.

Tao Ming was indignant and complained to Su Nanxing, “I just don’t get it. I’m supposed to be the master of this place, but my cultivation speed can’t keep up with yours! Does this place favor men over women?”

Su Nanxing tried to comfort her. “The stronger I am, the better I can protect you. Besides, if things ever get so bad that you have to intervene, then the whole of Weishui would be overturned.”

Tao Ming pouted, “Boss, let me cling to your leg!”

Su Nanxing kissed her. “You can cling to whichever leg you like.”

Feeling his growing power, Su Nanxing mused, “Wife, I have a faint sense that after Level Twelve of the Sun Rank, there’s still more beyond. But Weishui has no records of such a thing—no one knows what comes next.”

Tao Ming thought for a moment. “I’ve always wondered why the cultivators of Weishui live so long, yet none can fly. Maybe only by breaking through Level Twelve will we find the answer.”

She paused, then added, “You once said the Heavenly Emperor’s power was unfathomable. Could it be that he’s already reached that level?”

Su Nanxing frowned lightly. “No one knows for sure. After the sealing ceremony, let’s keep working. Once I break through Level Twelve, we’ll see what truly lies ahead.”

“That’s all we can do.” Tao Ming smiled and said, “Husband, I miss Softy—I feel like I haven’t seen her in ages. Let’s go out.”

Su Nanxing lowered his head and kissed Tao Ming. “Let’s savor these moments together, just the two of us.”

Tao Ming wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and lost herself in the exquisite sensation of his kiss.