Shen Yuxin nodded her head. “Yue Lan is correct. You haven’t even learned to partially transform your body to your bloodline. Everyone who is born with a bloodline learns this from their family, and they can activate it at the Dao Core Forming Realm.”
[But as you are, we don’t know what bloodline you have, nor do we know how you can activate it. Otherwise, it will be one hell of a transformation.]
Shen Yuan got silent as he contemplated their words. After a while, he asked, “Then what about physiques? I should be able to do something with them as well, right?”
[Of course. Similarly, at the Dao Core Forming Realm, you can form a Battle Armor with your physique. And it will be powered by your Intent and Qi. You should be able to form a variety of them, hehe.]
Shen Yuan’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Finally, something nice.”
Yuxin nodded her head with a smile. “And that’s why the peak disciples of sects can battle way above their levels—because they have good physiques that can form Battle Armor. And a Battle Armor is not merely for protection; it boosts your overall ability.”
“Hmm, it will be interesting to see how many I will be able to make.” He chuckled, thinking about it.
Yue Lan’s gaze turned toward the cherry tree before she vanished into a blur of petals and went back to his consciousness.
Shen Yuan and Shen Yuxin continued chatting, their conversation drifting from his training and Yuxin’s sect work to gentler, more personal topics.
A calm breeze rustled the courtyard’s cherry tree, its faintly glowing branches lending a serene atmosphere.
Gradually, the mood shifted. Shen Yuan rested his hand on her waist and looked at Yuxin, who looked back at him with a small, knowing smile.
Neither spoke for a few moments; the quiet was comfortable yet filled with an unspoken warmth.
Yuxin was the first to break the silence, brushing a lock of his hair aside. “Sometimes I wonder how you find the will to work so hard. You hardly rest.”
He reached for her hand, his touch light but firm. “With you around, it doesn’t feel like a burden.” A playful glint danced in his eyes.
“And since I’ve barely seen you in three years of seclusion, I’d say we’re due for at least a little time together before you dash off again.”
Yuxin’s face softened. “You’re not wrong,” she murmured. She leaned in, placing her free hand gently on his shoulder. “I did miss you, Yuan’er.”
He pulled her closer. Their gazes locked, and the world around them seemed to slow down.
The sound of the rustling cherry tree faded into the background as Shen Yuxin inclined her head, and Shen Yuan tilted his.
With the lingering warmth of the sunset coloring the courtyard, they met in a tender kiss—a soft, lingering contact that soon started to become intense.
He pulled her tighter for the hug, her curves melding into his body as he felt her soft mounds pressing against his chest.
For a moment, it was just them: mother and Dao Partner, as the sect recognized, sharing a quiet affection that transcended their usual hectic lives.
Yuxin’s lips curved into a faint smile against his. She pulled back slightly, pressing her forehead to his.
“Well…” she breathed, a fond twinkle in her eyes, “I suppose I’d better not linger too long, or I’ll never want to leave.”
He chuckled, his voice filled with affection. “Stay as long as you like. But from the look of it, you won’t be able to stay here for long.”
Experience tales at empire
Yuxin gave him another small, affectionate peck on the cheek, then gently stood up from his lap. “As much as I’d like to linger, you’re right. I’ve got tasks waiting. I’ll move our things and settle in later, once everything’s arranged.”
He sighed, half in playful resignation. “At least promise me you’ll come back soon. And send Qingyu over when you see her. I’d like to teach her a bit of alchemy if she’s up for it. The timing seems good now that I’ve refined new techniques.”
Yuxin’s eyes sparkled. “Oh? Taking on a real apprentice this time?”
He chuckled lightly. “She is my wife as well. There is nothing wrong with me teaching her, same as you have been teaching her.”
“Oh? Should I call her Sister then?” Her eyes glinted playfully.
He raised an eyebrow. “So, do you call Sister Bing Rong and Huo Rong as daughters since I call them Sisters?”
She shrugged slightly. “They are the same as daughters to me, though, hehe.”
He shook his head. “Fine, you win. Just bring her here, and I will see if she’s interested or if she’s just dabbling. But if she’s got the talent, I’d be glad to guide her.”
“Very well.” Yuxin smoothed her robes, stepping away while giggling. She glanced at the cherry tree before turning back. “I’ll let her know. And… I will come back soon.”
He walked her to the courtyard’s edge, where a gentle spatial ripple shimmered in the air.
With one last affectionate wave, Yuxin passed through, her figure vanishing into the space.
He stood at the courtyard’s edge, still feeling the lingering warmth of Yuxin’s presence and her teasing comments.
A light smile lingered on his lips as he took a slow step back toward the house, intending to tidy up and prepare for whatever came next.
But before he could even turn around, a flash of spatial energy flickered near the courtyard entrance. He halted mid-step.
A playful laugh drifted through the half-open portal—clearly Yuxin’s voice.
“Go easy on her. It’s her first time… learning alchemy, of course.”
His smile turned wry. “Of course, she’d say it like that,” he muttered.
When the spatial ripple settled, Han Qingyu emerged. She stumbled slightly as the portal winked shut behind her, wearing an expression caught between mild surprise and embarrassment.
She quickly collected herself and approached, noticing Shen Yuan standing there with arms loosely folded.
“Qingyu,” he greeted, voice calm and welcoming. “Did Mom just—”
“—send me over?” Qingyu finished, cheeks tinted slightly pink, though it could’ve been the portal’s after-flash.
“Yes, she more or less dropped me off here,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck in a sheepish gesture. “She thought we’d get started on alchemy right away.”
He couldn’t help but grin at the way Yuxin had orchestrated the timing. “It seems so.” He waved her over, beckoning toward the courtyard’s center. “I was going to head inside and finish putting things in order, but if you’re interested, we can begin now.”
Qingyu glanced around the garden—she spotted the faintly glowing cherry tree, the table, and the chair near it.
Her eyes widened as her attention caught on the tree’s subtle luminescence. “Your courtyard has changed a lot since the last time I visited,” she commented softly, then looked back at him. “I’m… a bit excited for this. We never really spent time working together before… alone.”
He chuckled. “Did you forget those sparring sessions?”
She moved forward. “That was not really working together, right?”
He nodded with a smile. “I guess that’s true. Come inside first.”