Shen Yuxin gently exhaled, “It was because Huo Rong sent me a message about your Tribulation, so I rushed back here.”
Shen Yuan nodded his head while gently patting her back, “I see, so you informed your family about the Abyssal Calamity?”
She nodded her head, “Yes, and they have started their preparations for the war.”
“That’s good,” Shen Yuan sighed in relief. “Now I just need to get stronger myself.”
She raised her head and looked straight into Shen Yuan’s eyes. “You’re already pushing yourself too much, Yuan’er. There is no need for you to do this. I alone am enough to ensure your safety even if the calamity strikes.”
Shen Yuan looked straight into her eyes before slowly asking, “Are you sure you can ensure the safety of our entire family?”
Shen Yuxin’s eyes flashed with nervousness, but before she could say anything, he continued, “I’m not alone now. I have many things and many people that I want to protect, and I have the perfect plan to make that happen.”
Her eyes softened as he gently caressed her cheeks. “Just believe in me, okay?”
Shen Yuxin’s eyes flashed with surprise. ‘…He really grew up, huh,’ she thought, gently smiling as she leaned forward and gave a soft kiss on his cheek. “Then I will believe in you.”
Shen Yuan smiled, his eyes flashing with a playful yet determined light. As Shen Yuxin leaned back from her soft kiss, he gently cupped her chin, tilting her face toward him.
“Good,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a seductive tone. “Because I need you to trust me with everything.”
Before Shen Yuxin could respond, Shen Yuan closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a wild kiss.
The kiss was deep and fiery, a surge of emotions and unspoken desires pouring out between them. Shen Yuxin’s breath hitched, her body responding instinctively as her arms wrapped around his neck.
Their lips moved together in a heated rhythm, the room filling with the faint sound of their breathless exchange.
Shen Yuan’s hand slid up her back, his fingers tracing her slender figure as he pulled her closer, leaving no space between them.
Shen Yuxin’s hands trembled slightly as they tangled in his hair, her initial surprise melting into a mix of passion and surrender.
A soft moan escaped her lips, and Shen Yuan took it as encouragement.
His tongue teased her lower lip, seeking permission to enter, and she yielded without resistance, their kiss growing even more intimate.
The soft heat of their shared warmth filled the room, and Shen Yuan’s other hand trailed down, fondling her soft, creamy white butt playfully.
Shen Yuxin broke the kiss momentarily, gasping for air, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. “Yuan’er…” she whispered, her voice trembling with both affection and need.
Shen Yuan smirked, his gaze intense and unwavering. “I told you, Mom,” he murmured against her lips, his tone dripping with confidence. “I’ll protect everything. That includes you.”
Her response was cut short as he claimed her lips again, this time with even more fervor. The room seemed to grow warmer, the atmosphere heavy with the growing lust in the room.
Shen Yuxin’s body melted into his embrace, her soft moans blending with his deep groans as the kiss grew increasingly passionate.
The sound of her soft sighs and the occasional moan filled the space, creating an intimate music that only they could hear.
Shen Yuan’s hands roamed freely, fondling her ass, thighs, and boobs as he pleased while Yuxin continued the deep kiss.
Their exchange continued for a moment longer, their breaths mingling as they finally broke apart, both panting softly.
Shen Yuxin rested her forehead against his, her eyes half-lidded and dazed. “You’re so reckless sometimes…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Shen Yuan chuckled, his voice low and teasing. “And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Shen Yuxin couldn’t help but laugh softly, her lips curving into a tender smile as she tightened her arms around him. “Pervert. Your body still needs rest.”
“You aren’t any less wild than me in bed. As for rest, I guess that’s true. My spirit has yet to heal,” Shen Yuan replied, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before pulling her into a warm embrace.
The fiery passion of their moment was now replaced with a comforting sense of closeness.
The two stayed like that for a moment, savoring the intimacy they just shared.
“Do you know anything about the ceremony that will be held?” he softly asked.
Shen Yuxin gently rested her head against Shen Yuan’s chest, softly breathing in his enchanting scent.
“The ceremony will be held tomorrow morning,” she began softly, her tone shifting to a more serious one.
“It’s an important event, not just for you but for the entire sect. The Sect Leader, the Grand Elder, and the Core Elders will be present, along with all the Core Disciples and the top Inner Disciples.”
Shen Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s quite a gathering. Are they expecting something unusual?”
Shen Yuxin tilted her head. “I’m not too sure about it as well. This is indeed abnormal, as this level of gathering did not happen for the previous Core Disciple ceremonies.”
“But it might be due to your Tribulation as well as your possession of the Ancestral Pagoda. They are also not sure why you faced the Tribulation, so they might want to ask about that.”
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smirk. “So, it’s half recognition and half inspection?”
Shen Yuxin laughed softly, tapping his chest with her fingers. “You could say that. Mei Hua will likely want to ensure that your breakthrough hasn’t caused any instability or unusual side effects. They’ll also use this opportunity to officially welcome you as a key figure in the sect.”
“And the Inner and Core Disciples?” Shen Yuan asked. “I imagine some of them won’t be too pleased about the attention I’m getting even after everything I have done for the sect.”
“You’re not wrong,” Shen Yuxin admitted. “There may be some jealousy or rivalry brewing, especially among the Core Disciples.
“Many of them have spent years cultivating to reach their current level, and seeing you advance in mere months may unsettle them. But they won’t do anything outrageous. At most, they’ll challenge you for a fight later. After all, you have earned your current rank.”
Shen Yuan leaned back slightly, his fingers tracing idle patterns along Shen Yuxin’s arm. “And the ceremony itself? What does it entail?”
“It will begin with a formal acknowledgment of your achievements,” Shen Yuxin explained. “The Sect Leader will deliver a speech, praising your contributions and accomplishments. After that, there will be a series of symbolic rituals, including the Lighting of the Radiant Lotus Flame.”
Shen Yuan tilted his head. “The Radiant Lotus Flame?”
“It’s a ceremonial flame that represents the sect’s unity and light,” Shen Yuxin said. “You’ll be asked to light it using your Radiant Qi as a sign of your commitment to the sect and its ideals. It’s a simple task, but it carries great symbolic weight.”
“Simple, huh?” Shen Yuan mused. “What else?”
“After the rituals, there will be a more informal gathering,” Shen Yuxin continued. “The elders, disciples, and other sect members will have the chance to interact with you. It’s an opportunity to build connections, though I imagine some might take the chance to test you.”