Inside the cabin of the Dharma Boat, a stunningly mature and seductive noblewoman leaned her voluptuous body against a handsome young man, her luscious, full red lips pressed against his.
Qu Qirong responded to her Tianyu with the utmost tenderness, using her softness to express her affection, conveying the deep-seated feelings within her heart.
She enjoyed this intimacy with him. She could feel her heart swaying, its rhythm gradually synchronizing with Deng Tianyu’s heartbeat.
Burning breath fanned against Qu Qirong’s face. Her emotions grew harder and harder to restrain. Her toes pointed, and her arms, like clear jade moonlight, tightened around Deng Tianyu’s neck.
Unconsciously, her ten delicate fingers moved to his back, grasping at his clothes and leaving faint creases in the fabric.
At this moment, Qu Qirong’s beautiful face was as lovely as peach and plum blossoms. A charming, seductive blush spread across her cheeks. Unable to resist, she opened her beautiful eyes, the allure and misty wateriness within them reflecting her Tianyu’s visage.
His nose filled with an orchid-like fragrance, Deng Tianyu met Aunt Rong’s gaze. In that moment, silence spoke louder than words. The synchronized beat of their hearts was like an immortal melody infused with Tender Affection, gently knocking on the deepest parts of their souls.
Over their time together, he had long sensed his feelings for Aunt Rong changing quietly.
From the budding of an initial attraction, it had grown increasingly deep, and now it was a love difficult to restrain. He could feel every step of it.
Although his ‘plot armor’ dictated he couldn’t initiate, because of this accidental kiss, Deng Tianyu subconsciously expressed the truest feelings within his heart.
After an unknown length of time, a sense of breathlessness arose. The two reluctantly parted.
Qu Qirong’s expression was dazed. She felt weak and boneless all over, her mature and voluptuous body leaning into Deng Tianyu’s embrace, her beautiful face resting against his shoulder as her breathing came in slightly hurried gasps.
She said nothing. Her soft, boneless hand subconsciously sought out her Tianyu’s palm, her slender white fingers threading through his, gradually interlocking into a tight clasp.
Perhaps spurred by that dream last night, perhaps driven by the surge of emotion in her heart, she shed a woman’s reserve and made this move on her own initiative.
“Tianyu!”
Feeling the warmth at her fingertips, Qu Qirong revealed a comfortable, light smile and softly called out the two words her heart so desperately wanted to voice.
Although Tianyu hadn’t spoken any words, she had felt the burning and lingering affection within that kiss.
In that moment, her feelings were reciprocated.
The hesitation and bewilderment she once felt were gone. Now, there was only firmness and resolve.
He and she both held each other in their hearts. This point was beyond doubt!
“Aunt Rong!”
Looking at the mature noblewoman in his arms, Deng Tianyu also softly responded, reaching out to straighten her slightly disheveled hair strands.
In his heart, he silently condemned himself. He was just like a central air conditioning unit—Deng the Sentimental Warm Man!
Why would he say that?
Because even though he already had such an intimate relationship with Shizun Ning Wan, he had still, without even realizing it, allowed his feelings for Aunt Rong to change in nature. It even felt like the natural course of things.
Quietly nestled together for a while, Qu Qirong felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
During this time, she didn’t let go of her Tianyu’s hand; their fingers remained intertwined.
A long time passed. Her breathing gradually steadied. Qu Qirong’s red lips parted slightly, “Tianyu, the beauty scene of West Rime Lake isn’t finished yet. Shall we continue painting?”
“Yes.” Naturally, Deng Tianyu found no reason to refuse Aunt Rong’s request.
Qu Qirong smiled charmingly, looking at the beautiful scenery outside. She picked up her brush and began to paint.
Deng Tianyu held her, grasped her slender hand, and offered corrections from time to time.
This scene was the same as before, but not entirely so.
Because, while the hand they used to paint together was their right hand, their other hands were intertwined, palm against the back of her hand, fingers nestled together.
Deng Tianyu didn’t mention it, and Qu Qirong didn’t bring it up either. By unspoken mutual understanding, they simply savored the tenderness within.
After some unknown time, West Rime Lake was increasingly crowded. A red glow tinged the horizon, the white expanse of day fading as the darkness of night spread.
It was at this moment that numerous multicolored figures appeared within the lake.
They were like brilliant streams of light, sometimes swimming up and down, sometimes left and right. Wisps of radiance appeared at their tails.
“The spirit cods in the lake are starting to stir!”
“It should be about time!”
At this sight, many people around West Rime Lake became instantly excited, their eyes burning with intensity as they fixed their gaze on the unfolding scene.
Deng Tianyu and Qu Qirong also noticed the change and turned their attention towards the lake.
Even Yingying the little fox, who had been utterly immersed in her delicacies, jumped onto his shoulder, raised her head, and looked into the distance.
Under the watching eyes of the crowd, at some point, West Rime Lake began to tremble. The world’s spiritual energy quivered, and a Stone Gate etched with ancient patterns condensed out of nowhere, rising from the lake.
This massive Stone Gate rose from the water, coming to stand imposingly in mid-air.
“What is that? Why has a Stone Gate appeared?”
“Where does this Stone Gate come from?”
Many people who hadn’t witnessed such an event before were at a loss, exchanging confused glances.
“This Stone Gate actually appeared?”
“How is this possible?”
Those who had seen it before, however, stared wide-eyed in utter shock.
One cultivator came to his senses, took a deep breath, and explained:
“The Dance of the Flying Cod happens once every year at the end of Mysterious Winter, but this Stone Gate appears roughly once every hundred years. The exact interval, no one knows.”
“According to legend, a spirit cod becomes a Spirit Cod King precisely by crossing this Stone Gate, undergoing its transformation there.”
“There have been those who scoured the entirety of West Rime Lake, seeking to claim this Stone Gate for their own use, but all their efforts ended in failure.”
“So this is the secret behind it!” Many cultivators suddenly showed expressions of dawning realization.
Even as the crowd buzzed with discussion, streams of multicolored light began leaping from the lake, streaking towards the ancient Stone Gate.
Almost simultaneously, the Stone Gate trembled. The world’s spiritual energy coalesced into an incredibly pure Spiritual Qi Tide, which then cascaded down like a celestial river.
“Such pure spiritual energy! This is a stroke of fortune!”
Without a second thought, some of the cultivators present immediately sat cross-legged and began to cultivate, borrowing this tide’s power.
The Spiritual Qi Tide condensed by this Stone Gate was immensely pure and potent. Even absorbing a single wisp into their bodies could directly boost their cultivation base.
How could they possibly pass up such a golden opportunity?
Other cultivators, however, didn’t sit down to cultivate. Instead, they stared intently at the Stone Gate, their eyes revealing a glint of greed.
At this very moment, a breathtaking, unforgettable scene was unfolding in West Rime Lake.
Tens of thousands of multicolored spirit cods leaped from the lake simultaneously, trailing brilliant streaks of light. Arcing gracefully into curves, they soared against the Spiritual Qi Tide, hurtling towards the Stone Gate.
The world, already having descended into night, was suddenly infused with waves of multicolored radiance. A sky full of otherworldly splendor shimmered, making it seem like broad daylight.
