The crisp morning air carried a faint scent of pine and dust as we set out on our way to Xuanlian City. After calculating the distance, I estimated the journey would take around fifteen days by carriage, a significant improvement over the twenty days it would have taken on foot.
I rode my horse ahead, scouting and keeping a watchful eye on the path, while the second horse pulled the carriage I had purchased, carrying the four girls, Xiaoting, Yaolin, Xueyin, and Xueyang.
The journey was quiet but steady, the road stretching through rolling hills and patches of forest. From the very first day, the five of us maintained our daily dual cultivation, my Thick Dao Tool inserted gently into the four girls in a practiced rotation.
As their qi intertwined with mine, heat would rise in waves, subtle but insistent, making our bodies tingle with awareness.
Every day, my Thick Dao Tool will release countless Milky Dao Seeds into them, each release are full of connection and devotion that left the air between us thick with tension and anticipation.
Xiaoting and Yaolin would occasionally lean close, their breath brushing my skin as they adjusted to the flow of qi, their small, eager touches sending shivers through my body.
On the other side, Xueyin and Xueyang mirrored them, their gazes bright with desire, soft moans escaping when the energy hit just right.
My Thick Dao Tool inserted into one girl to the next, alternating, the sensation of guiding energy through each of them, feeling their qi respond, and the subtle intimacy of touch, made each day feel like an unbroken thread of desire and connection.
By midnight, the carriage would be suffused with warmth, the mingling scents of sweat, excitement, and subtle arousal blending with the pine and dust of the road.
They would sigh softly, their bodies pressed closer to me or each other as my Thick Dao Tool release Milky Dao Seeds inside all four of them, embedding loyalty and an unspoken bond deeper with each passing hour.
It was exhausting, intoxicating, and utterly consuming, a daily ritual of pleasure and power that left all four girls drained yet craving more, their devotion and desire for me growing stronger with every insertion of my Thick Dao Tool.
On the thirteenth day, the rhythm of travel was finally broken.
Ahead on the road lay the remains of a shattered carriage, its wooden frame split apart and its wheels torn loose as if by violent hands. Dark stains marked the ground, and bodies lay scattered nearby, already stiffening beneath the open sky.
The air carried a faint metallic scent beneath the forest breeze, fresh enough to warn us this had not happened long ago. We halted at once. I dismounted, my expression hardening as instinct took over.
I moved ahead alone, light on my feet, scanning the road and surrounding terrain for danger while Xiaoting, Yaolin, Xueyin, and Xueyang followed at a cautious distance.
Nearly an hour later, after circling through brush and shallow ravines, I found it, a crude hideout tucked into a small valley, hidden by uneven rock and overgrown trees.
Campfires smoldered below, half-concealed tents and makeshift shelters scattered across the basin. When the girls joined me, they pressed close, their voices lowered as one.
"Husband… what should we do?" Xiaoting whispered, her fingers brushing my sleeve.
I activated my Perception Eyes, the world sharpening instantly. Qi signatures flared into clarity, rough, uneven, undisciplined. I counted roughly fifteen bandits within the hideout, their cultivation shallow and sloppy, likely common thugs emboldened by numbers.
A few were absent, probably still out robbing travelers.
Among them all, one woman stood apart. Even before my gaze fully settled on her, my Perception Eyes reacted, catching a faint yet unmistakable resonance between her qi and mine. It was not strong, barely a whisper, but it was there, a sign of potential dual cultivation compatibility that couldn't be ignored. Compared to the others, her presence felt sharper and more refined, her aura tightly woven rather than scattered.
That single detail lingered in my thoughts longer than it should have.
I turned back to the four girls, my voice calm and decisive. "We strike fast. We take their treasures and leave before reinforcements return. No unnecessary risks."
They nodded immediately, trust and excitement flickering in their eyes. As we prepared to move, my gaze drifted once more toward the valley below. Power, resources, danger, and perhaps something more, waited there. A slow smile touched my lips as I tightened my grip on my sword.
Without hesitation, I reached into my storage pouch and took out several Lightstep Talismans, pressing one into each of their hands. "Fifteen minutes," I said quietly. "Make them count."
As the talismans activated, a light, rushing sensation wrapped around us, our bodies suddenly feeling weightless, every movement sharpened and accelerated, a perfect advantage for a swift strike.
We moved immediately.
I led the charge, speed surging through my limbs as the base rushed toward us. The terrain blurred beneath our feet, wind tearing past as Xiaoting, Yaolin, Xueyin, and Xueyang followed close behind, their formation tight and disciplined. When we neared the entrance, I glanced back only once and gave Xiaoting and Yaolin a simple nod.
That was all they needed.
They flashed forward like shadows, blades moving in perfect silence. The two guards at the gate barely had time to widen their eyes before collapsing to the ground, throats cut cleanly.
The moment they fell, I surged past them, striking into the camp itself. Steel flashed. Two more bandits went down before alarms could be raised, their shouts cut short mid‑breath.
We didn't stop moving.
The four girls stayed on my heels, guarding our rear as we pushed deeper into the hideout, cutting down anyone who stumbled into our path.
By the time we reached the main base, chaos had fully erupted, but it was already too late. Most of the bandits lay dead, caught completely off guard by the speed and precision of our assault.
Only one remained.
Ahead, a female bandit was still struggling fiercely, locked in combat with Xueyin and Xueyang.
She fought with desperation and surprising skill, but exhaustion and panic were already showing in her movements.
I didn't hesitate.
Closing the distance in an instant, I slipped past her guard, struck decisively, and twisted her arm behind her back, cutting off her qi flow.
She collapsed to her knees, subdued.
As silence finally settled over the camp, I exhaled slowly, the faint glow of the talismans fading from our bodies. The ambush was complete, and what remained now was to see what rewards, answers, and complications this bandit hideout would bring.
I quickly assessed the situation and gave my orders. "Xiaoting, Yaolin, Xueyin, Xueyang, search the base for valuables. Be thorough, but stay alert. Something important may be hidden." They nodded and moved with practiced efficiency, disappearing into the tents and makeshift shelters, their eyes sharp, hands careful.
I turned my attention to the female bandit, bound tightly with thick ropes that bit slightly into her wrists.
She struggled initially, but the moment she saw the calm, unwavering gaze in my eyes, her resistance faltered. "Who are you? Where is your gang?" I asked, my voice low, authoritative.
Her eyes flicked at me before she spoke, defiant yet wary.
"I… I'm Fenghua. We… we're the Viper Fang Gang," she admitted, her tone laced with fear and pride in equal measure.
"The boss isn't here," Fenghua continued, her voice lower now.
"He took some of the brothers out, said there was a fat target along the eastern road. They won't be back for another five days… maybe more, if things don't go smoothly."
I let my gaze linger on Fenghua, really taking her in.
Fenghua's face was streaked with dust and faint smudges from travel, yet it did nothing to dull the pull of her beauty. Even with dirt clinging to her skin, her delicate features, high, elegant cheekbones, slightly arched brows, and lips that seemed sculpted to tempt, radiated a quiet allure. Her eyes were bright and mischievous, shimmering with a subtle warmth that made it impossible to look away, and the slight curve of her lips hinted at secrets and desires unspoken. Even through the grime, the softness of her skin, the graceful line of her neck, and the sway of her slender waist drew the gaze as naturally as a moth to flame.
I hadn't finished admiring Fenghua's beauty before Xiaoting came up, her voice urgent but quiet. "Husband… there are captives in the bandits' prison. All of them women, ten in total. They look weak, dirty… it seems they've been through a lot of hardship."
I turned my gaze toward her, taking in the situation, and immediately nodded. "Set them free," I said firmly. "Xiaoting, you take the lead, and Yaolin, help her. Make sure they're safe and cared for."
The two of them moved swiftly and with practiced ease, slipping through the shadows as they loosened bindings and untied the ropes restraining the captives.
One by one, the knots fell away. Gentle hands steadied trembling bodies, while soft, reassuring whispers guided them forward, urging silence as they were carefully led out of captivity and into safety.
Meanwhile, Xueyin and Xueyang returned, carrying news about the treasure. "Husband," Xueyin said, breathless from the exertion, "we found weapons, spirit stones, pills, elixirs, herbs, and various materials… all stored inside these storage rings."
I glanced at the girls, noting the sheer amount of valuables. "It's too much to calculate or sort right now," I said calmly. "Keep everything safe for the moment. We'll go through it properly later."
The two of them nodded, carefully tucking the rings away, ensuring that nothing was disturbed or damaged while the captives were being freed.
After we released all the captives, they knelt and bowed deeply, their voices trembling with gratitude. "Thank you… thank you so much!" they chorused.
I quickly waved my hand. "Stand up. No need for bows." Then I began distributing food and water, making sure each of them had enough to drink and eat. I also handed out Minor Healing Talismans to tend to their scratches, bruises, and exhaustion, ensuring they were physically stable.
As I moved among them, my Perception Eyes suddenly flared, a faint heat pulsing behind my gaze. They reacted not to one, but three distinct female qi signatures, each strong and resonant in its own way, closely linked, yet clearly separate. One carried a calm, tempered depth, like still water hiding unseen currents. The other two were lighter, fresher, their auras intertwined, echoing youth and latent potential.
My steps slowed. Curiosity stirred, tempered by caution.
I lowered myself slightly, bringing my eyes level with theirs. "Tell me your names," I said, my voice calm, even, an invitation rather than a demand.
The eldest woman met my gaze without flinching. Despite the remnants of fear and exhaustion clinging to her, her posture straightened instinctively, dignity rising through the cracks of the ordeal she had endured.
"I am Xing Meiyun," she said, her voice steady and composed. Then, placing a subtle hand behind the two girls, she continued, "These are my daughters, Lingyu and Lingxue."
As she spoke their names, their qi signatures seemed to stir faintly, as if acknowledging the bond that tied the three of them together.
The moment she finished, my Thick Dao Tool vibrated softly, as if sensing something in their qi. My chest tightened, and I had to pause for a moment to steady myself and maintain my composure.
These three, mother and daughters, weren't ordinary captives.
I let my gaze linger on Meiyun, taking in every detail deliberately. Even with dirt smudging her skin and the fatigue of captivity, her beauty was undeniable, a woman in her mid-thirties, already a mother of two, yet her body still sculpted like a top-tier beauty. Her ample round breast rose and fell with each breath, full and commanding attention, while her curves flowed naturally from waist to hips, soft yet strong, hinting at sensuality and latent power. Every line of her body, the gentle arch of her back, the firmness of her thighs, the supple strength in her shoulders, radiated vitality and desire, impossible to look away from, impossible to ignore.
I shifted my gaze to Lingyu first. Her body a perfect balance of youthful vitality and emerging maturity. Her slender waist curved into soft, rounded hips, and her chest, small but firm, hinted at both delicacy and hidden strength. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of innocence and sharp intelligence, the kind that drew attention and stirred something primal, a raw allure that demanded to be noticed. Even in the simplest stance, her form carried a magnetic, almost dangerous beauty, the kind that promised both obedience and subtle power.
Then my gaze fell on Lingxue, her younger sister, similar in age but different in aura. Her figure was supple and lithe, curves soft yet defined, her body exuding a natural heat and untamed vitality. Her dark eyes held a mischievous glint, innocent yet provocative, as if daring the world to notice her. Even standing quietly, she radiated a sensual, magnetic energy, a subtle, untamed eroticism that made it impossible to look away.
By the time I finished taking in the sight of Meiyun and her daughters, Xiaoting, Yaolin, Xueyin, and Xueyang returned to my side, a satisfied gleam in their eyes. "Husband," Xiaoting said softly, "we're done."
I nodded and quickly gathered all ten released women, along with Fenghua, her sharp eyes flicking between all of us with curiosity and caution.
My plan was clear: we would bring them safely to the nearest city, Xuanlian, roughly three days' travel from our current location.
The journey would take longer than usual, as we were carrying injured and weak captives, and most of the group would need to walk alongside the carriage, slowing our pace considerably.
We returned to our carriage, the roads quiet beneath the hooves of our horses. Given the carriage's limited size, only the truly weak or injured were allowed inside to ride comfortably; the rest would walk alongside us.
The group moved steadily onward, grateful chatter and soft laughter easing the tension, even as careful steps and watchful eyes marked the beginning of their journey toward Xuanlian City.
The air carried both relief and tension, the promise of safety tempered by the lingering thrill of what we had just accomplished, and the new, unspoken dynamics forming among all of us.