That night, Yinxue sat within her private chambers. The brazier burned low, shadows dancing across the walls, yet her thoughts remained sharp and unsettled.
Ziyue.
Only yesterday, word had spread that Elder Ziyue had broken through to peak Nascent Realm after cultivating the Moon Lotus Codex in the bathhouse. It was a cause for celebration, proof that the sect's new path under Haotian was bearing fruit.
And yet, this very morning, Ziyue had stepped out of her chambers beside Haotian — her aura unmistakably that of the Soul Transformation Realm.
Yinxue's brow furrowed. Two leaps in two days… that is not a natural progression.
She thought back to the way Ziyue looked — flushed, glowing, her steps unsteady as though her body carried the remnants of a storm. The disciples had seen it as a miracle. But Yinxue had seen something else.
Her fingers tightened around her cup of tea.
"Dual cultivation…" she whispered to herself.
It was common knowledge among sect leaders. The fastest, most dangerous path to temper the spirit. A man's yang chi entwined with a woman's yin chi, a harmony of opposites fueling swift breakthroughs. But such methods always skirted the line — some called them righteous when built on harmony and devotion, others condemned them as corrupt, indulgent, and unstable.
And now, her mind could not escape the simplest of conclusions: Ziyue had dual cultivated with Haotian.
Yinxue closed her eyes briefly, exhaling. Was she angry? No. Ziyue's loyalty to Haotian was plain for anyone to see. That she would take such a step was unsurprising.
But still… to see her trusted elder walking out of her chambers at dawn, glowing with newfound power, her aura bursting with vitality — and beside her, Haotian with that faint smile — it unsettled her in ways she did not expect.
Relief, yes. The sect was stronger. Ziyue had reached a new height, and the Moon Lotus Sect could stand taller among the great powers of the world.
Envy, perhaps. Ziyue had gained what others dreamed of — both the strength of a realm leap and the embrace of the man who now carried the sect's fate in his hands.
And something else. Something Yinxue dared not name.
She rose from her seat, walking to the open window. The moonlight bathed the snowy courtyards below, where disciples still cultivated diligently, their voices carrying hope into the night. The sect was blossoming faster than she had ever believed possible.
At the center of it all — Haotian.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Even dual cultivation… you are willing to cross every boundary for the sake of strength, aren't you, Haotian?"
Her gaze lingered on the moon above. She would not confront Ziyue. She would not question Haotian. The sect needed unity. The sect needed him.
And yet, in the quiet chambers of her heart, a thought whispered: perhaps she, too, was not as immune to him as she believed.
The days that followed were marked by a subtle shift in the air of the Moon Lotus Sect.
Where once Haotian moved freely through the sect as a senior brother returned from afar, now his figure was often seen in the company of Elder Ziyue. The two walked together through the courtyards, discussed matters side by side within the library, or stood quietly overlooking the snowy peaks. Though neither flaunted intimacy, their closeness was plain to see.
The disciples noticed.
Whispers spread swiftly through the ranks.
"Did you see Elder Ziyue yesterday? She was with Senior Brother Haotian again."
"Not only that — they were speaking as though no one else existed."
"But… Elder Ziyue broke through to the Soul Transformation Realm just days after him returning. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?"
Jealousy lingered beneath the surface. Haotian's brilliance had already marked him as dazzling, unattainable. His alchemy, his formations, his sword, his presence — each facet brighter than the last. Many disciples admired him in silence, some even nurtured quiet infatuations. Yet now they saw that Elder Ziyue, of all people, walked beside him openly.
Some were resentful. Others were envious. But none dared to speak aloud in defiance.
For Ziyue was no ordinary elder. Her cultivation had soared, her authority within the sect was second only to the Sect Master herself, and her history with Haotian stretched back to the very day he first arrived at the Moon Lotus Sect. She had guided him, stood by him, even defended him when others doubted. Their bond was not new — it was simply now revealed in ways none could ignore.
Thus, the disciples whispered in their chambers, jealous hearts stirring, yet when they bowed to Ziyue in the courtyards, they did so with respect. None could deny her strength. None could deny that she was, by right, closer to Haotian than they could ever hope to be.
And as for Haotian… he did not address the whispers. He walked his path as he always had — steady, tireless, eyes fixed on preparations for the storm to come. Yet even he could sense the shifting glances, the undercurrents that spread through the sect.
The Moon Lotus Sect was flourishing. But within its heart, rivalries and desires quietly grew.
Shuyue sat alone in her chambers, moonlight spilling across the floor. Her hands were clenched upon her knees, her eyes trembling despite their cold attempt at focus.
All day she had heard them — the whispers. The disciples in the courtyards, the elders in hushed tones. Haotian and Ziyue walking together. Haotian and Ziyue speaking closely, side by side. Ziyue's breakthrough, Ziyue's glow, Ziyue's aura that marked her as Soul Transformation Realm.
The words echoed in her heart, like knives pressing against the seal she had forged within herself.
When she had first seen Ziyue's feelings for Haotian, she had suppressed her own, cultivating the Heart-Seal Method to bury what should never be. She told herself it was enough to admire from afar, enough to devote herself to the sect. But now, watching Ziyue so openly stand beside him, her heart-seal wavered and cracked.
Why… why her? she thought bitterly, staring into the cold night. Why not me?
But no matter how the questions burned, she had no answer. Only the hollow ache of a heart breaking against its own walls.
That night, within Ziyue's chambers, Haotian and Ziyue once more entered the Union of Dual Souls Sutra.
This time, Ziyue was no longer timid nor overwhelmed. Her body had learned the Sutra's rhythm, her spirit attuned to the cycles of merging chi. With each intertwining of golden and blue threads, rainbow sparks flared brighter, the cycles deepening.
Forty-eight times the cycle completed, each wave carrying her higher until, at the final peak, her voice rang out in a cry of surrender. Her body trembled violently in Haotian's arms, her sea of consciousness swelling wider than she had ever dreamed.
She collapsed against him, breathless, exhausted, yet radiant. The two of them lay together in the quiet that followed, until sleep claimed them both.
The sun rose softly, painting the chamber in pale light.
Ziyue stirred awake first, her body heavy from the night's cultivation, yet her spirit clear. Haotian opened his eyes soon after, smiling faintly at her disheveled hair and flushed cheeks.
They exchanged only a few words — simple, quiet — until a sudden sound broke the silence.
Grrrrr…
Ziyue froze, her face turning crimson. Her stomach had growled.
Haotian chuckled, low and amused. "It seems someone is hungrier than she admits."
She covered her face with both hands, flustered beyond measure. "Don't say it like that!"
They rose to dress, but as Ziyue fastened her robes, Haotian's gaze lingered. Her movements were graceful, her body luminous in the morning light, every curve enhanced by the Sutra's harmonized chi. Heat stirred within him again.
Before she could tie the last ribbon, Haotian stepped forward suddenly, his arms sliding around her from behind.
"Ah—!" Ziyue gasped, startled, her body tensing as his warmth enveloped her. He angled her chin gently upward, his lips finding hers in a firm, lingering kiss.
Her eyes fluttered shut, her hands rising instinctively to press against his arm. When his hands teased lightly along her body, she trembled, a soft sound slipping from her throat. The kiss deepened — until Haotian finally drew back, his breath steady, his smile infuriatingly calm.
"Now you're ready," he said lightly. "Let's go eat."
Ziyue blinked at him, cheeks blazing. She pounded his arm once in mock protest, her voice flustered. "How am I supposed to meet the others like this…?"
Haotian only laughed, adjusting his robes with ease.
Reluctantly, Ziyue gathered herself and followed him. Her heart raced, her cheeks still flushed, but she had no choice but to walk beside him as they opened the chamber door — and stepped out to confront the curious eyes and murmurs waiting in the morning light.
When the chamber door opened, the morning air grew still.
Disciples walking past faltered in their steps. Some froze, others tried to look away, but their eyes inevitably lingered.
From Elder Ziyue's chambers stepped two figures.
Haotian emerged first, his robe immaculate, his expression calm and faintly amused, as though the world's gaze carried no weight. Beside him was Elder Ziyue. Her aura glowed steadily with the unmistakable might of the Soul Transformation Realm — not a new breakthrough, but a cultivation she now carried with poise. Yet her cheeks held a faint, unshakable flush, her composure tested by the eyes of those watching.
Whispers crackled in the silence."Senior Brother Haotian… with Elder Ziyue…""They came out together… at this hour…""They've been seen often in each other's company these past days…"
The disciples exchanged glances filled with astonishment, envy, and unspoken jealousy. Many had once admired Haotian from afar, drawn to his brilliance, his heroism, his unshakable resolve. Now, seeing him beside Elder Ziyue — walking as though it were the most natural thing in the world — left hearts unsettled.
Some tried to rationalize."Elder Ziyue has always been close to him. Even when he first arrived, she was the one who guided him.""With her strength now… perhaps only she can stand at his side."
Yet beneath the words lurked bitterness. For all the sect's disciples, the truth was plain: Elder Ziyue had something they could not reach.
Ziyue felt their gazes burn against her. She stood tall, walking with dignity, but inside her chest her heart fluttered furiously. She could still feel the memory of Haotian's teasing kiss that morning, the warmth of his embrace. The whispers made her cheeks warm all over again.
Haotian, however, was unmoved. His steps were steady, his smile faint, as though the entire sect's suspicion were but passing wind. He carried himself as he always did — with a quiet majesty that turned unease into silence.
By midday, the story spread across the courtyards.
Some disciples whispered in envy, others in admiration, still others in jealousy too sharp to voice. None could challenge Ziyue — her authority as an elder, her cultivation, and her long history with Haotian made her untouchable.
Yet in every corner of the sect, one truth became clear: Haotian and Elder Ziyue were no longer distant figures bound by formality. They were close, too close to be ignored.
And that closeness sent ripples through the hearts of every disciple, stoking admiration… and quietly, hidden rivalries.
Shuyue had risen early, her steps light as she made her way across the courtyard. Morning frost clung to the stone path, and the air was sharp with yin chi. She had hoped to cultivate before the day's duties began, to still her restless heart.
But as she turned the corner, her eyes fell upon a scene she could not escape.
From Elder Ziyue's chambers, two figures emerged together.
Haotian, calm and composed, his robe neat as though he had prepared himself for all eyes upon him. And beside him — Elder Ziyue. Her aura steady, luminous, her cheeks faintly flushed in a way that no elder's dignity could conceal.
The disciples around them whispered, stunned, but to Shuyue the voices blurred into silence. Her gaze fixed only on the two of them, walking side by side as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her heart lurched painfully.
She had known. The whispers of the last few days, the sightings of them together — she had buried them beneath her Heart-Seal Method, pressing her feelings into stillness as she always did. But seeing it with her own eyes… the sight was a blade to her chest.
Her hands clenched at her sleeves. So it's true…
The Heart-Seal she had cultivated so diligently quivered. A crack split across it, faint but sharp, the pressure of her suppressed emotions breaking through.
She remembered the night she had caught Ziyue confessing to Haotian, and the words that had haunted her ever since:Why do you cultivate the Heart-Seal Method? For what purpose?
The question echoed now, cruel in its timing. What purpose indeed, when the seal only trapped her in agony, forcing her to watch from the shadows as another woman claimed what she longed for?
Her vision blurred, but she blinked hard, forcing the tears back. She could not show weakness, not here, not in front of the disciples.
Haotian's back came into view as he walked past, broad and unshakable, the back that bore the burdens of the world. Ziyue walked beside him, glowing, her expression caught between dignity and hidden joy.
And Shuyue… she stood frozen, unable to move, her heart-seal trembling on the verge of collapse.
I want to follow that back too, she thought desperately. But I can't… I can't…
The whispers of the disciples grew louder again, tugging her back into the moment. She turned away abruptly, her steps quick, her breath shallow. Behind her composure, the storm raged on.
That morning, the Heart-Seal Method that had kept her steady for years cracked further than ever before.
The whispers had not stopped since Haotian and Ziyue entered the hall."Why are they sitting together?""Elder Ziyue's face is so red…""They… seem closer than before, don't they?"
The disciples tried to keep their voices low, but in the wide, echoing hall even murmurs carried. Still, none dared speak too loudly.
Haotian, unmoved by the undercurrent of attention, finished a portion of his meal before glancing again at Ziyue's plate. Too bare, too light, still untouched. He gave a soft sigh, then without a word picked up a slice of seasoned spirit-beast meat with his chopsticks.
"Here," he said simply.
Ziyue froze, her eyes widening as she realized what he was doing. "H-Haotian…" she whispered urgently, darting a glance around. Too many eyes. Too many whispers.
But he only held the morsel steady, his gaze calm and steady, waiting.
Her cheeks burned crimson, her chest tight. For a heartbeat she hesitated, her pride warring with the warmth in her heart. And then, slowly, almost against her will, her lips parted.
She accepted the bite.
The hall stilled.
Every disciple watching felt their hearts lurch at the sight. A hush swept the room, sharper than any shout. Elder Ziyue, the sect's proud, untouchable figure — accepting food directly from Senior Brother Haotian's hand.
Whispers erupted again, fiercer than before."Did you see—!?""She… she let him feed her!""They must… they must be…"
Ziyue's face flamed hotter than ever, her hands clenched tightly around her chopsticks. Yet she did not spit it out. She chewed silently, lowering her gaze, and in that silence her acceptance spoke louder than any words.
Haotian, for his part, showed no change. He placed another piece on his plate, eating with the same composed expression, as though what had just transpired was nothing unusual.
From the far end of the hall, Sect Master Yinxue set down her cup of tea. Her gaze had not left the two of them since they entered.
The feeding — that single, unmistakable act — confirmed everything she had already suspected. The closeness, the whispers, the blush upon Ziyue's face. There was no denying it now.
Around her, disciples squirmed and whispered in disbelief, but Yinxue remained still. Her expression was unreadable, serene as snow, but inside her thoughts turned.
So. It is true. Ziyue has chosen him, and he has accepted her.
She did not interrupt. She did not reprimand. For the sect, this was not shame but strength — another elder bound to Haotian's side, another pillar firm in loyalty. Yet as she raised her tea once more, she could not quiet the faint, subtle stirrings in her own chest.
The Moon Lotus Sect had entered a new dawn, but it was clear: Haotian's presence did not only change their cultivation. It touched their hearts, their desires, their very bonds.
The heavy doors closed with a dull thud, sealing the three of them within the Sect Master's chambers. The room was quiet but for the crackle of incense and the faint whisper of the mountain winds outside.
Yinxue sat at the head seat, her gaze sharp as a blade. Across from her stood Haotian and Ziyue. Neither spoke first.
Finally, Yinxue's voice cut through the silence."You two… have dual cultivated."
Ziyue flinched, her breath catching, but Haotian's expression remained calm. He did not deny it."Yes," he said evenly. "I accepted Ziyue's feelings. We cultivated together."
The calm admission only deepened the frost in Yinxue's eyes."You—!" she rose from her seat, her hand trembling slightly. "Haotian, you already have a wife. A wife and a child! And yet you would take another woman into your bed so openly?" Her voice lowered, heavy with disappointment. "This… this is beyond reckless."
Ziyue bowed her head, her cheeks crimson, her heart pounding. She had expected suspicion, but not such direct confrontation.
Haotian met Yinxue's gaze, his tone steady but firm."Lianhua knows. She gave me her approval to dual cultivate with others… if it means strengthening the sect."
The words struck like thunder. Both Yinxue and Ziyue froze, their eyes widening.
"With… the entire sect?" Yinxue repeated, her voice trembling, her fingers curling against her robes.
"Yes," Haotian said simply.
For a long moment, the room was silent but for the sound of Yinxue's shallow breaths. Then her composure broke, and she scolded him sharply."Do you understand what you are saying? That is not dual cultivation for survival — that is a harem! A reckless indulgence hidden behind the guise of righteousness!"
Haotian faltered. The words lodged in his throat. He thought of the truth — of how exhausting such a path would be, of how impossible it would be to hold the weight of so many hearts. His mind raced. She's right. To dual cultivate with the entire sect… I would break before they ever did.
He exhaled slowly, then shook his head."That is why I have chosen only Ziyue," he said firmly. His eyes softened as he turned toward her. "Only her. No one else."
Ziyue's face went scarlet, her lips parting as if to protest, but no words came. Her heart thundered in her chest. To hear him say it so plainly — to hear him claim her as his choice — left her stunned, trembling.
Haotian turned back to Yinxue, his voice steady."Give us your blessing, Sect Master. I will not hide this. But I also will not apologize for accepting her heart."
The incense smoke curled between them, heavy and tense. Yinxue's eyes flicked from Haotian to Ziyue, seeing the truth laid bare. She clenched her trembling hands tighter, unable to speak.