Chapter Twenty-Seven: Approaching Matrimony

At night, the grand bed, which had previously been bare, was now layered with thick quilts. Two naked bodies were engaged in the most primal of movements upon them. Her snow-white, supple body and long, flowing hair swayed like waves with the rhythm of their motion, all within the chamber of the City Lord, shielded by various protective barriers.

After a long while, Gu Linglong, now as soft and weak as clay, lay draped over Li Chengzhu.

Although the darkness blurred everything, Gu Linglong still managed to find Li Chengzhu’s face, gently wiping away the sweat with her hands.

Never cultivate inner energy during intimacy—this was Li Chengzhu’s golden rule.

To truly enjoy this primal pleasure, one could not approach it as a cultivator. To conquer the woman beneath him using only his natural strength was what made a man a man. If he were to use his cultivation to resist the sensation, he could certainly last until his physical stamina was spent, but what would be the point of that?

The grueling exertion left even Li Chengzhu gasping for breath.

"Zhuzi," Gu Linglong whispered, resting on his broad chest, her large eyes wide in the darkness as she stared at his face.

"Yes?"

"Let’s get married." Gu Linglong gritted her teeth; it didn't matter, in the darkness, no one could see anyone else’s expression anyway.

"Ahem..." Boss Li shuddered violently.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about the promise he made to Gu Linglong on the road home, but ever since that business with Xiaoying, he felt he couldn't truly face both women.

Li Chengzhu wanted it all, yet he felt utterly despicable. He was ashamed of his own inner desires. For an ordinary person, possessing just one of them would be a blessing earned over several lifetimes, yet he, Boss Li, was actually hoping to kill two birds with one stone.

Besides, even though Xiaoying said nothing, didn't he owe her some kind of explanation?

He had intended to find an opportunity to clear things up before discussing marriage with Gu Linglong, but the girl had lost her patience.

"Well, let's hold off on that for a bit," Li Chengzhu said, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"You promised me," Gu Linglong replied, her voice filled with grievance that was still audible in the darkness.

"Silly girl." Li Chengzhu reached out and pulled her back into his embrace. "I will marry you, but there are some things that need to be handled first."

"Then when can we get married?" Gu Linglong was as docile as a kitten, curling into a ball against his chest and draping a jade-like leg over his waist.

Caressing her smooth, soft back, Li Chengzhu couldn't help but sigh. "Two months from now."

Two months—surely that was enough time to change his mindset, right?

"Okay." Gu Linglong nodded slightly, her soft hair tickling his chest.

Lying in the dark with his eyes open, Boss Li despised himself. He used to be able to flirt with Xiaoying openly and crack half-suggestive jokes, so why was it that after they had been intimate—no, after he had been seduced—he felt such a sense of guilt?

Shouldn't that despicable woman be the one feeling this way?

Yet, the image of those tear-filled eyes haunted him incessantly.

Damn it, stop thinking about it!

A month passed quickly. Even though the others didn't know the truth, they could sense the tension between Xiaoying and Li Chengzhu.

The two, who used to bicker all day long, had gone an entire month without a single word, creating an unnatural atmosphere that lacked their previous harmony.

Yuan Mu spent his days squinting like a thief, observing their progress, or taking his brothers out to cultivate and temper their hearts.

As for Qiu Feng, he stayed indoors all day; it seemed the union of the City Lord Gu and Li Chengzhu had dealt him a heavy blow.

After a month of chasing and cornering Xiaoying, Li Chengzhu finally managed to block her path in the City Lord’s mansion while Gu Linglong was out settling a dispute.

Looking into those sorrowful eyes, the words he had intended to say vanished, leaving only a deep, aching pain in his heart.

"How have you been?" Li Chengzhu licked his dry lips, grasping for words.

"I’m fine," Xiaoying said, forcing a smile and answering softly.

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

"Have I?" Xiaoying offered a bitter smile. "I haven't been avoiding you."

Seeing her indifferent expression, Li Chengzhu grew angry. He stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "No? Hmph, the things that happened that day—was I dreaming?"

Xiaoying’s body trembled. She stared at him, a cold sneer playing on her lips. "What? Do you want me to take responsibility?"

Damn it. Li Chengzhu was rendered speechless, left only to glare at her fiercely.

After a long while, he sighed. "Why? I know I’m not the kind of man you’d go out of your way to seduce into bed."

"There is no 'why'!" Xiaoying wrenched her hand away. "I wanted to. It’s just a body, isn't it? What’s the big deal? Anyone who wants it can take it." She then stomped hard on his foot and fled.

Watching her retreating figure, Li Chengzhu felt a stabbing pain in his chest that made it hard to breathe.

Girl, what on earth happened? If you won't tell me, how am I supposed to know? He lifted his foot, rubbing the spot where she had stepped.

That night, when everyone returned to the mansion, Li Chengzhu sat on his chair, watching them all.

"Brother, if there's something to say, just say it. Why gather us all here?" Yuan Mu asked, eyeing him sideways.

Li Chengzhu turned his gaze toward Xiaoying, who sat quietly to the side with a blank expression. He slowly stood up, walked over to Gu Linglong, and reached out with a smile.

Gu Linglong shot him a playful, reproachful look, but she docilely took his hand and stood up.

"I have an announcement!" Li Chengzhu looked around, drawing the eyes of the Yuan brothers, Qiu Feng, and the steward, Uncle Cai. "In half a month, I am going to marry Linglong."

"Good!" Yuan Mu shouted. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time. You finally wised up, kid."

"Is that true?" Gu Linglong looked up at her man, her face glowing with joy.

"Yes," Li Chengzhu said, wrapping his arm around her waist. "We’ll be married in half a month."

"Congratulations," Xiaoying said, standing up and forcing a smile for the pair.

But as she turned away, Li Chengzhu caught a glimpse of a lingering, tearful reluctance in her eyes.

*Sigh,* Li Chengzhu thought to himself.

And in her heart, Gu Linglong felt a slight bitterness: a man is never truly leashed.