The morning sun filtered through the cracks in the wooden shutters, painting stripes of gold across Kai's floor. He woke up instantly, his mind clear and sharp.
He stretched, his joints popping with a satisfying sound.
"Level 3," Kai muttered, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "And 150 out of 200 XP."
He was close. One more conquest, or perhaps just a very successful interaction, and he would hit Level 4.
His mind turned to the mission. The Phantom Weeping. A ghost in a female dormitory. It sounded like a bad horror story, but in a cultivation world, spirits were just another form of energy. To beat it, he needed to understand it.
"Research," Kai decided, standing up and grabbing his uniform. "I need to know what I'm walking into. And there's no better place than the Academy Library."
He dressed quickly, checking his reflection in the polished copper mirror. He looked dangerous. The innocent boy who had transmigrated was gone, replaced by a predator with a sharp jawline and eyes that held too much confidence.
He opened his door and stepped into the main room.
The smell of freshly brewed tea filled the air. Ye Rou was there, wiping down the table. She moved with a lightness that hadn't been there yesterday. The stiffness in her shoulders was gone, replaced by a fluid, relaxed grace.
"Morning, Mom," Kai said, leaning against the doorframe, a smirk playing on his lips.
Ye Rou turned. Her face was radiant. Her skin seemed to glow, a lingering aftereffect of the intense release she had experienced the night before. When she saw him, a deep, pretty flush rose to her cheeks, but she didn't look away.
"Good morning, Kai," she said softly.
"How are you feeling?" Kai asked, walking over to the table and stealing a steamed bun from the basket. "Did the massage help?"
Ye Rou paused, her hand resting on her hip—the same hip he had kneaded so thoroughly. A small, secret smile touched her lips.
"I am feeling... a lot better," she admitted, her voice dropping a little. "My muscles are very relaxed. I slept deeper than I have in years. Thank you so much, Kai."
"I'm glad," Kai chewed the bun, watching her reaction. "My hands are magic, right?"
Ye Rou giggled, covering her mouth. "They certainly are."
She hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with the cloth in her hands. She looked down, then back up at him through her lashes. The shyness was there, but beneath it was a new, budding desire.
"Kai..." she started, her face turning a darker shade of pink. "If... if the pain comes back... can you massage me again? Some other day? If I ask you... will you?"
It was a loaded question. She was asking for more than pain relief. She was asking for his touch. She was inviting him back into her bedroom, back to the oil and the nudity.
Kai's smirk widened.
"Of course, Mom," he purred, stepping closer to her. "Why not? I need the practice. And I will also test my strength on you."
He let the double entendre hang in the air. Test my strength. Test how much pleasure she could take. Test how long she could last before begging for more.
Ye Rou caught the meaning. Her breath hitched, but then she laughed, swatting his arm playfully.
"Oh, Kai! You are always like that! Haha..." She shook her head, her eyes shining. "Always teasing your mother."
She glanced at the water clock on the mantle and gasped.
"Oh! Look at the time! You are getting late, Kai! The library will be full if you don't hurry!"
Kai looked at the clock.
"Oh, fuck," he cursed, shoving the rest of the bun into his mouth. "You're right. I have to go."
He grabbed his bag.
"Bye, Mom!" he called out, rushing toward the door.
"Bye, honey! Be careful!" Ye Rou called after him, watching his broad back disappear out the door.
As the door clicked shut, she leaned against the table, her hand drifting down to touch her own ass, remembering the weight of him pressing against her.
"Test his strength..." she whispered to the empty room, biting her lip.