Chapter 74: A Quiet Conversation (1)

The war that had come so suddenly was finally over. Ji Yue left to fulfill her duties as sect master, while Gu Yuan, still injured from his battle, returned to his cave abode.

He swallowed a few healing pills and began to recuperate, though his mind kept drifting back to the last battle.

He had fought someone in the Embryo Realm, and won. Even now, it surprised him.

Perhaps he had underestimated the strength of the Crimson Fire? That was one factor. But the others were likely his techniques and treasures. All of them were of high grade, and all of them had been given to him by the twins.

Should he really go on like this, being carried by them?

Gu Yuan couldn’t deny that he appreciated everything they had given him. Their help had not only helped him grow faster, it had also helped him overcoming opponents who would otherwise have been beyond his reach.

But, receiving so much from them, while giving literally nothing in return... wasn’t he drifting further and farther away from the equal relationship he wanted? Gu Yuan wondered.

He wanted to stand beside the twins, not behind them, and being handed everything was not what he had in mind. Yet when powerful techniques or treasure lay within his reach, refusing them for the sake of pride would be foolish.

What was the solution? No, was there even one?

Unable to find an answer, time slowly passed.

One month later, when no trace of the battle remained on his body, Ji Yue visited him.

Instead of sitting on the mat in front of him, she sat directly on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"When we became Dao Companions, I didn’t think I would feel something like this. But after watching you interact with Yan lately, I felt a little jealous."

"What do you think the problem is?"

How would I know that? I’m simply being swept along by you two sisters!

Unable to give such an answer, Gu Yuan had to seriously consider how he should respond.

If you truly loved your partner, then feeling jealous was probably natural, even if the other person involved happened to be your own sister. Gu Yuan considered giving that simple answer, but ultimately dismissed it.

Instead, he decided to be more honest and say something he had actually thought about many times.

"I don’t know about your jealousy, but interacting with Ji Yan is easy. She’s free-spirited and more honest. You, on the other hand, still seem distant. Most of the time, I’m unable to understand what you’re thinking."

Actually, you’re more scary...

Gu Yuan had decided to be honest, but he still couldn’t bring himself to say that part so bluntly, so he softened it.

"Then ask me. If there’s something you don’t understand, ask."

Her voice was serious, which clashed with the way they were sitting. She was pressed against his chest, her body warm against his, close enough that the tip of her nose nearly touched his. It was a very intimate pose for such a serious conversation.

Regardless, Gu Yuan still asked, "Then why me? You talked about divination and Fate."

"But let’s be a little more clear and personal... why me?"

Yes, for the two reincarnated Empresses, why did they have to settle on someone like him? Gu Yuan didn’t like to belittle himself, but there were plenty of men in the cultivation world who were more handsome and more talented than him.

The only thing he had that could truly tempt the twins was his Orb of Creation... but it didn’t seem like they knew of its existence.

Ji Yue thought for a moment as she looked into his eyes from such a close distance. "Hmm, we sisters want to cultivate and eventually ascend."

Ascension.

Gu Yuan was reminded of the Ascension Door. Could the two be connected?

"You don’t mean to the Immortal Realm, right?" he asked.

For two Empresses who had descended into the mortal world, returning to the Immortal Realm shouldn’t be such a difficult matter for them.

At least, that was what Gu Yuan assumed.

Ji Yue nodded. "Yes. Something higher."

"You may hold the key to our ascension... and you may not."

She smiled slightly and added, "Actually, I’m not certain about this part either."

"But even if we hadn’t deliberately tried to find you like this, our paths would eventually have crossed. Things would have developed much more slowly, but we would still have ended up together."

"I could have avoided such a fate..." She shook her head and corrected herself. "At least, I could have tried. But I’ve walked the path of Fate all my life. It’s the only thing I know."

"That’s why I moved the way Fate decreed."

Seeing his cute expression, still unconvinced by her words, Ji Yue chuckled. "Well, I also find you pleasing to the eye."

She ruffled his hair. "For now, please be satisfied with this much. I’ll explain everything in more detail when the time is right."

Gu Yuan nodded slowly. Ji Yue, unable to hold back any longer, leaned in and kissed him.

"Let’s make up for the time I was away."

Before she could kiss him again, Gu Yuan moved first and stole her lips.

Just like that, the initiative she had worked so hard to seize was taken from her. She responded passionately, but no matter how she tried, she was still the one being devoured.

Saliva slipped from the corner of her lips. Her tongue fought fiercely, but in the end, it was defeated.

Gu Yuan left no part of her face untouched. From her lips, his kisses traveled over every inch of her, down to her neck, then to the swell above her breasts. At some point, she had locked her legs around him, and she could feel his hardness pressing against her stomach.

Ji Yue was tempted to go further, but, thinking of her sister, she pulled away. "Let’s continue later."

She slipped away from his embrace and straightened her clothes. Even then, her eyes still lingered on him for a moment before she leaned over and gave him a few more quick kisses.