The moment his lips brushed her cheek Lin Zhaoyue's body stilled.

For a brief second, her breathing paused and hen, slowly, her lashes trembled before fully opening her eyes.

Crimson pupils, still hazy with sleep, reflected his face at an extremely close distance.

Staring straight at him before her arms tightened Fang Yuan felt the pressure instantly increase.

"…Kiss me," she said quietly.

Her voice was soft, but there was a strange weight behind it.

Fang Yuan blinked once. "I just did."

There was a small pause as her gaze didn't leave his face for even a moment.

Before Fang Yuan could ask what, she leaned in closer, their foreheads nearly touching.

"…I was asleep, that doesn't count," she whispered.

Her grip tightened slightly, as if this was not a request but a command she fully expected to be obeyed.

Fang Yuan smiled faintly.

Then he leaned in and kissed her again.

This time, Lin Zhaoyue didn't stay still. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Her fingers tightened in his robes as she pulled him closer, closing the already nonexistent distance between them.

The brief stillness from before vanished, replaced by something warmer… deeper.

Her breath grew uneven.

Her gaze softened, yet carried an intensity that refused to let him go.

"…I love you," she whispered against him.

Fang Yuan didn't answer.

He simply stayed there, close enough that neither of them could pretend there was any distance left.

Lin Zhaoyue slowly lifted her hand, resting it against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm beneath her palm.

Then, without another word, she leaned fully into him.

The tent grew quiet and the morning light softened.

And as their bodies drew closer, the world outside seemed to fade away until even the silence itself blurred into something else.

By the time the tent flap opened, the sun was already high in the sky.

Fang Yuan stepped out first, looking as composed as ever.

Behind him, Lin Zhaoyue followed shakily.

For someone as astute as her, maintaining her usual cold and steady posture had suddenly become… difficult.

Her steps were slow and unsteady.

Fang Yuan glanced at her once, then the corners of his lips lifted.

"…Do you want me to carry you like a princess?"

Lin Zhaoyue didn't even hesitate.

"Mn."

She answered immediately. Not a care for how others would react to her actions.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Fang Yuan let out a quiet chuckle before bending down and lifting her into his arms.

Lin Zhaoyue settled in without a word, one arm wrapping around his neck, her head resting lightly against his shoulder.

Her expression remained calm.

But the faint flush on her face had yet to fade.

Not far from the main tent, a small crowd had gathered for a while.

This small crowd was made up of Xiao Pei, Fang Mei, Fang Lian and the others.

Meanwhile, in the middle was the centre of target.

Zhu Huan stood there stiffly, surrounded on all sides, feeling as though she had fallen straight into a den of wolves.

"So…" Xiao Pei leaned in first, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What exactly are you to Brother Shouge?"

Fang Mei tilted her head, studying her carefully and comments. "Mother didn't even try to kill you despite walking in the same road as Master."

"…Is that strange?" Mu Qing asked from the side, clearly innocent.

Zhu Huan: "…"

She felt the pressure from all directions.

"Where did you meet him?"

"How strong are you?"

"Are you really a servant?"

'I'M NOT!'

'MY SISTER IS THE SECT BEST DISCIPLE HOW CAN I BE A MERE SERVANT!'

She wanted to scream her thoughts out yet her instinct won't let her and she could only forced a stiff smile.

"I… am just someone sent by elder Zhao to assist the clan," she said carefully.

"Assist?" Xiao Pei raised a brow. "With what?"

"…Various things."

"Like what?"

"…Things."

Mu Qing crossed his arms. "That's vague."

Zhu Huan's eye twitched slightly.

What do you want me to do? Come up with a list of tasks I don't wanna do?

She cleared her throat.

"I… have knowledge," she added quickly. "About higher realms. Cultivation. Techniques. Resources…"

That finally caught their attention.

"Oh?" Xiao Pei leaned forward.

"How is the higher realm like, is there a lot of strong people?" Fang Lian's eyes lit up.

Zhu Huan straightened slightly, regaining a bit of confidence.

"Yes. There are a lot, when you enter the higher realm, I—"

She paused and then slowly looked around before recalling that every single person here was in the Hollow Spirit Realm.

Her confidence immediately deflated again.

"…I can still be useful," she finished weakly.

Xiao Pei squinted at her.

"…You're acting a bit suspicious."

"I'm not!"

"You are."

"I'm not!"

"What's going on here?"

A calm voice cut in.

Everyone turned at once.

Fang Yuan was walking toward them yet no-one dare to breath out loud.

As all of their attention was grabbed by the matriach who was making herself comfortable in the arms of a man, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The entire group froze and slowly, one by one they forced out a response.

"…Sister Zhaoyue?"

Fang Mei called out, as if to really verify if that was the matriach.

Fang Lian blinked rapidly, clearly trying to process what she was seeing.

"…Mother?"

Lu Yi immediately straightened his back.

"Matriarch Fang!"

Xiao Pei followed half a beat later.

"Matriarch Fang!"

Lin Zhaoyue didn't seem the least bit bothered.

In fact, she even adjusted herself slightly in Fang Yuan's arms, settling more comfortably, one arm loosely draped around his neck.

Fang Yuan, however, paused.

"…Huh?"

He glanced around at everyone, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Wasn't it customary to greet both the Patriarch and the Matriarch?

Then it clicked.

Ah… right. For him, it had only been a short while but for them, three full years had passed.

In that time, seeing only the Matriarch, they had long since grown used to her presence. It wasn't negligence, just habit, quietly formed through absence.

But that wasn't what really baffled him as he turned his gaze towards Fang Lian.

"…Hey, Zhaoyue," he said, raising a brow. "Why is my disciple calling you 'mother'?"