A few days had passed since the incident at the Spirit Water Springs, and the atmosphere within the Orchid Palace had shifted from one of regal authority to a stifling, secretive oppression. The nights were no longer peaceful; they were filled with the heavy, musk-scented air of the Sect Leader's private quarters, a sanctuary that had been thoroughly desecrated. The ancient wards that were meant to keep intruders out now served a darker purpose: they kept the screams of pleasure and the sounds of absolute domination locked within.
It was deep into the Hour of the Rat. The moon hung high and full, a silent witness casting silver beams through the intricate latticework of the windows. The light illuminated the sprawling bed where Hua Yimei, the most powerful woman in the Fragrance Melody Sect, was currently on her knees, reduced to a vessel for a man's desire.
