272: Chapter 272 I'm with you, just thinking of me is enough.

Time flowed like water, and another half-year passed in the blink of an eye.

During this half-year, the Three Saints Sect submitted, and the entire Chaotic Demon Sea came under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Hall.

Gu Yuan broke through his bottleneck and stepped into the Immortal Grade, while Xiao Xiao, after dismantling half a Spirit Array in the Martial Arena, also stabilized her cultivation at the Immortal Grade, and Xue Wei silently reached the threshold of the Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign.

The aura of Heavenly Supremes above the Imperial City grew even denser, and the disciples guarding the hall were long accustomed to it.

As for Hun Feng himself, he had done almost nothing of substance over this past half-year.

He threw all administrative duties to Hun Qian and the four Hall Masters, emerging from his secret chamber after only one hour of cultivation each day to lounge on the soft couch in the flower hall, resting his head on Xun'er's lap to read idle books, occasionally opening his mouth to catch a spirit fruit tossed by Yao Yao, living the life of an absolute tyrant.

The women were somewhat helpless at how clingy he had become, but none of them truly minded—compared to the Hun Feng of the past, who was always so busy he barely touched the ground and was nowhere to be seen for weeks at a time, they preferred this clingy version.

That evening, the candlelight flickered in the bedchamber.

The dark red glow from the volcanic ranges outside the window shone through the gauze curtains, bathing the room in an ambiguous and languid light.

Hun Feng rested his head on Cai Lin's lap, eyes half-closed, chewing on a spirit fruit she had peeled for him.

Cai Lin remained her usual cold and elegant self, the golden crown worn perfectly straight atop her head, the hem of her white-gold ceremonial battle dress spread out on the couch, one hand resting casually on his chest, her fingertips tracing circles lightly through his clothing.

Hun Feng's mind wandered as he chewed.

He was calculating the days.

Mu Chen's last letter had arrived over a month ago, saying that he and Luo Li were currently pushing toward the peak of the Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign.

According to the original timeline, the battle with the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan would follow immediately after their breakthrough.

He remembered it very clearly—Mu Chen would win, but it wouldn't be easy.

That old bastard Budu Xuan would use the Ancestral Pagoda at the final moment, Qing Yanjing would be suppressed, and then Mu Chen would fight desperately to save her.

This was the turning point he had been waiting for.

The best opportunity to make his presence felt.

To descend from the heavens at the most critical moment for Mu Chen and put on a grand show!

Then, with a single palm strike, knock over Budu Xuan and block the Ancestral Pagoda for Qing Yanjing.

Let her see with her own eyes that her son was not fighting alone.

Let her see with her own eyes what kind of man he, Hun Feng, was.

The more he thought about it, the more engrossed he became; his lips curled up involuntarily, and he even stopped chewing.

Qing Yanjing's face became clearer and clearer in his mind—an oval face, phoenix eyes, a golden forehead ornament between her brows, cold white skin, elegant eyebrows, a woman who had been imprisoned for over a decade yet remained too proud to bow her head.

He imagined her weak yet stubborn appearance when suppressed by the Ancestral Pagoda, and decided that when the time came, he would catch her and say, in the calmest tone possible, "It is alright now; I am here."

"What are you smiling like an idiot for, you bastard!"

A cold voice came from above, dragging him back to reality from his fantasy.

Hun Feng opened his eyes abruptly, meeting Cai Lin's purple snake-like eyes looking down at him, close at hand, cold and peerlessly beautiful.

He realized that his expression just now must have been truly unsightly, and quickly reined in his smile.

"Nothing. I was thinking about Mu Chen."

"You were thinking about another woman." Cai Lin's tone was not a question, but a statement.

Hun Feng was silent for a moment.

Having been husband and wife for so many years, he could not lie to her, nor was there any need to.

"...Yes."

Cai Lin did not speak.

She simply placed the spirit fruit in her hand onto a golden plate nearby, then looked at him quietly with those purple snake-like eyes.

The candlelight danced in her eyes, making it impossible to see what she was thinking.

Then she raised her hand, her slender fingers resting on the gold-threaded soft armor belt at her waist.

The metal buckle made a subtle, crisp sound, which was exceptionally clear in the quiet bedchamber.

She pulled out the belt and placed it gently on the head of the bed.

She straddled him.

The high-slit hem of her white-gold ceremonial battle dress slid to the sides like water, revealing two long, fair legs.

The golden crown was taken off and placed by the pillow, its flame-feather pattern emitting a faint, matte glow under the candlelight.

She leaned down, her long hair falling like a waterfall, shrouding the tiny space between them.

Her nose almost touched his, their breaths mingling, warm and damp.

"Then don't think about it." She lowered her head, her voice remaining in that indifferent tone, but the end of her sentence sank slightly, carrying an irresistible possessiveness, "When you are with me—thinking of me is enough."

Her lips descended, sealing off any answer he might have had.

It was not a light peck, but a deep, somewhat punitive kiss; the tip of her tongue pried open his teeth, as if she wanted to drive all those unrealistic fantasies out of his mind.

Hun Feng's hands instinctively rose, gripping her slender waist, his fingertips sinking into the dimples of her back.

Her waist was very slender, so thin that he could almost wrap his hand around most of it, yet the parts that should be full were astonishingly voluptuous, pressing against his chest through the thin clothing, soft and searingly hot.

Cai Lin's breathing faltered for a beat, then immediately regained its composure.

She bit his lip lightly, not hard, just enough to make him wince, then kissed her way down his jaw, past his Adam's apple, over his collarbone, and across the old scar on his chest that had been caused by her.

The quilt rose in a beautiful arc behind her.

The candlelight cast alternating light and shadow onto her smooth back; her skin took on an almost unreal, lustrous texture in the warm yellow glow.

Her fingertips slid slowly along the contours of his abdominal muscles; every inch she passed felt like she was measuring a territory that belonged solely to her, while her lips left a trail of moist marks on his chest, unhurried, as if she were savoring a delicacy that belonged only to her.

Hun Feng closed his eyes.

Qing Yanjing's face gradually blurred in his mind, replaced by Cai Lin's purple snake-like eyes, which were right before him—within them lay possessiveness, a trace of faint annoyance, and even more deep affection that had been hidden for too many years and never spoken aloud.

His hands moved slowly up her spine, his fingertips tracing a very light arc across her smooth back, feeling her tremble slightly.

Then he rolled over and pinned her beneath him, taking his turn to lower his head.

"I have never been able to win against you." He said, his voice low and honest.

Cai Lin did not answer.

She simply raised her arms to wrap around his neck, pulling his head down so their foreheads rested against each other.

Those purple snake-like eyes gazed at him from inches away, the corners of her lips curling into a faint arc—a smile that only he could see.

Then, she closed her eyes again.

Outside the window, the volcanoes roared as before.

The candlelight in the bedchamber flickered gently, and the silk quilt rose and fell like waves.

I do not know how much time had passed when Cai Lin poked her head out from under the covers, her dark hair scattered, a few strands sticking to her sweat-dampened forehead, making that cold and peerlessly beautiful face look breathtakingly stunning under the candlelight.

She lay on her side beside him, one hand resting on his chest, her fingertips tracing circles idly on his collarbone.

"Are you still thinking about it?" She asked, her voice carrying a hint of satisfied languor.

"—Wife, you win." Hun Feng lay on his back, his chest heaving violently, and it took him a long moment to squeeze out this sentence.

Just then, a familiar sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

Crisp and hurried, they stopped abruptly outside the door of the bedchamber.

Hun Jing's lowered voice penetrated the hall door: "Hall Master, urgent report. Young Master Mu Chen and Young Lady Luo Li have broken through to the peak of the Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign. He says in the letter—he will soon set off for the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan to save his mother."

Hun Feng leaped from the bed.

He walked barefoot to the door, opened a crack, took the secret letter presented by Hun Jing, swept his divine sense through it, and a light suddenly ignited in his eyes.

Mu Chen's handwriting consisted of only a few lines, but he read them back and forth three times.

Then he closed the letter, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth—in that smile were gratification, anticipation, and a trace of nervousness he himself had not even noticed.

"Tell Hun Qian to come to the study. Prepare for battle."

The rustling sound of getting dressed came from behind him.

Cai Lin had sat up from the couch, retied her belt, and placed the golden crown perfectly straight back atop her head.

She walked behind him, straightened his collar, tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear, and then patted his back lightly.

"Go on. Don't scare his mother." She said, her tone remaining in that indifferent manner, but her lips were clearly curled up.

Hun Feng pressed a kiss to her forehead and pushed open the door to leave.

The night wind poured into the bedchamber, causing the candlelight to flicker violently for an instant before standing steady once more.

Cai Lin leaned against the doorframe, watching that black-clad figure disappear at the end of the corridor, raised her hand to tuck back her disheveled hair, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Qing Yanjing. She was actually curious to see what the woman who had kept this man on her mind for over half a year actually looked like.