Heavenly Soul

Uncaring of the people watching, the pair of reunited lovers freely expressed their longing and affection towards each other, enclosed in their own little world consisting only of their beloved.

Qinghe felt his senses filled completely with the presence of his Xiang. All he could feel under his hands were the muscles s.h.i.+fting beneath his beloved's clothed body, all he could smell was his lover's familiar scent, all he could taste was his Xiang's mouth, and all he could hear was the sound of his beloved's murmurs of pleasure.

He keenly felt Wei Xiang's warm lips branding their heat into his own as his lover's flexible tongue relentlessly filled his mouth with its long licks and sensual caresses, his beloved's insatiable hunger apparent as he devoured him with his mouth and hands, their bodies pressed inseparably closer.

As the couple was thus indulging in each other fully, a clear voice suddenly sounded from close beside them, "Eh, your kissing technique is not bad."

Qinghe and Wei Xiang abruptly pulled apart and stared at Feng Chunyi's grinning face.

His expression distorting into helplessness, Qinghe complained, "Mother, you interrupted us!"

Wei Xiang could only shake his head as he tried to regain his breath.

Feng Chunyi replied with disgruntlement, "You didn't even tell your own parents that you were awake before jumping onto your lover, so why should I be polite? Hmph!"

Qinghe rolled his eyes while Feng Huixin stepped up to be the peacemaker, "Now, now, Chunyi. They've just seen each other after a long time, so don't begrudge them their time together."

Puffing her cheeks, Feng Chunyi glared at her betraying husband who'd decided to take their son and son-in-law's side.

On the other hand, deciding that he wouldn't be able to enjoy his Xiang in peace in this place, Qinghe began dragging Wei Xiang by the hand. "Xiang, it's so noisy here. Come, I'll take you to my house and we can spend the rest of the day in my room without a certain person interrupting us."

The 'certain person' Feng Chunyi felt her mouth twitch. This brat!

But holding his wife close so that she wouldn't do anything to disturb his sons' reunion, Feng Huixin soothed, "Chunyi, just leave them to enjoy each other's company. Meanwhile, how about we spend this day by ourselves doing something you like?"

Feng Chunyi's eyes brightened as she immediately proposed, "Then let's go and drink some wine! The first one who gets drunk will lose and have to wash dishes for this entire week!"

Feng Huixin stiffened, then sighed and gave in with a nod. "Very well, let's do that then."

And so, the Feng Huixin who got easily intoxicated heroically sacrificed himself to let his sons have their blissful time together.

...

After dragging Wei Xiang with him, Qinghe used his wind to quickly fly the both of them to the Feng residence, barging into his home and speeding directly towards his room.

All the while, Wei Xiang could only follow along as he smiled indulgently at his lover's eagerness.

Reaching his room, Qinghe pulled Wei Xiang inside, firmly locked the door, and headed directly to the bed. Then finally letting go of his lover's hand, Qinghe began undressing impatiently before plopping naked onto the bed.

But when he looked up expectantly, he saw that Wei Xiang was only staring at him with unfathomably deep eyes, his expression blank.

Qinghe felt puzzled for a moment before realization dawned.

With a soft smile, Qinghe took Wei Xiang's hand and placed the palm on his skin, right over his heart, so that his lover could feel it beating wildly.

In a soothing voice, Qinghe spoke, "See? I'm real, I'm here. This is truly happening."

Wei Xiang's face lightly jerked as he heard this. His little lover seemed to have seen right through his uncertainties.

Feeling the warmth of his beloved's bared skin and the rapid flutter of heartbeat thudding inside that chest, Wei Xiang finally let himself hope that this was not just a dream that would once again end tragically. His Qinghe was really here in front of him, awake, alive, and waiting for him to also undress so that they could reaffirm their bond through their bodies.

Seeing it slowly sinking into his beloved, Qinghe continued teasingly, "You're still not coming over? Don't tell me that after so long, you even forgot how to―"

Wei Xiang quickly pounced, not letting his impish little lover finish the sentence. Removing his clothes swiftly, Wei Xiang pushed down on a laughing Qinghe and pressed little kisses over that smiling mouth.

Wanting to sate his own need, Qinghe raised his hands to explore the firm body of his beloved that seemed to have gained slightly more height and muscle, his hands roving over the smooth skin as he luxuriated in the familiar warmth.

His eyes already growing dazed, Qinghe looked up at Wei Xiang and suddenly asked, "Xiang, why does it seem like you got bigger?"

Wei Xiang chuffed out an amused breath as he retorted, "Maybe you're the one who shrunk while I was gone."

Qinghe childishly stuck out his tongue in retaliation, only for Wei Xiang to take this opportunity to swoop down and suck that little tongue into his own mouth. Qinghe let out an incoherent sound of surprise, then began to moan softly as he happily gave in to the kiss.

As their mouths remained melded, the lovers' hands eagerly slid on each other's skin, trailing over the locations of the sensitive points they'd learnt during previous couplings and igniting the slow burn of arousal until it grew into a blazing, raging inferno.

Leaning back to regain his breath, Wei Xiang quickly retrieved a small bottle of oil to pour over his finger before he carefully pressed it into his little lover's entrance.

Qinghe panted breathlessly as he eagerly pulled up his legs and tried to relax himself. He wanted the preparation to be over with as quickly as possible so that he could feel his beloved's hard member driving itself deep inside him, stretching him to the limit and filling him up completely. But no matter how much he tried to force his inner muscles to loosen, they still seemed to clamp too tightly onto the intruding fingertip.

Wei Xiang smiled as he remarked huskily, "It seems that in the three years we spent apart, your sweet little a.s.s grew to be tighter than when you were a virgin."

Qinghe blushed brightly as he chided, "Xiang!"

But despite his protest, Qinghe felt his desire inexplicably growing in the face of those blunt words.

Sensing the thickening scent of his beloved's arousal, Wei Xiang grinned wider as he kept pus.h.i.+ng his slickened finger further in steadily into the warm and soft confines of his little lover.

In a playful voice, he said deliberately, "Don't worry, love, by the end of the day, I'll make sure to train this tight little hole so that it can fully take me in again."

Hearing such words, Qinghe reddened even more, biting his lower lip as his lowered eyelashes quivered.

Not willing to squander this chance to play with his blus.h.i.+ng beloved, even as Wei Xiang kept thrusting his finger in deeper, he moved his other hand to caress the soft skin of one of his little lover's b.u.t.tocks before squeezing the elastic mound.

His palm still cupping his beloved's backside while a thumb lightly rubbed the skin, Wei Xiang murmured in a husky voice, his appreciation unhidden, "Qinghe, love, do you know? If a flower petal were to fall down and trace along the softness of your b.u.t.tocks, even it would feel ashamed of its own coa.r.s.eness in comparison."

Qinghe swallowed thickly, feeling that his throat had gone dry. A sweet warmth seemed to bloom in his chest as he heard his lover's earnest voice.

Unable to take all this teasing anymore, Qinghe turned his head away in both bashfulness and abject embarra.s.sment. "X-Xiang, e-enough!"

Wei Xiang chuckled. "And now you sound like your Brother Jing."

Qinghe glared at his lover and parted his lips as if to retort, but his expression soon melted into one of increased arousal as he felt another long finger pus.h.i.+ng its way inside him, rubbing over the sensitized walls of his pa.s.sage with experienced motions.

s.h.i.+fting restlessly, Qinghe groaned. "Ah, Xiang…nh…quick…"

His expression growing heated, Wei Xiang tried his best to be gentle even as he resisted his beloved's pleas to hurry it up. With as tight as his lover's pa.s.sage had gotten due to these long years of being unused, Wei Xiang didn't want to risk accidentally hurting him if he rushed and went in with incomplete preparation.

But unwilling to keep going at such a slow pace, Qinghe writhed and complained in a husky whisper as Wei Xiang added in a third finger, stretching the tight pa.s.sage wide open and letting it get accustomed to the girth.

Only when Wei Xiang was absolutely sure that his beloved could take him in without hurting did he withdraw his fingers. Then positioning himself over Qinghe's opening, Wei Xiang entered his little lover, slowly, carefully, and tenderly pus.h.i.+ng inside his beloved as if he were claiming sacred ground.

Qinghe gasped and whimpered as he felt the familiar shape of his lover's large organ pressing into him firmly, yet gently, as if afraid to cause him the slightest of hurt or discomfort. Relaxing into the sheets, Qinghe closed his eyes and lifted his legs to cross his ankles behind his lover's neck, enjoying the feel of the measured friction as Wei Xiang's shaft pushed into his tight pa.s.sage carefully, forcing open his inner walls as it invaded deep inside.

Once Wei Xiang was fully seated within his beloved, the couple took a moment to savor this feeling of their bodies being completely joined after so long.

And then Wei Xiang slowly started to move, gradually withdrawing before sinking back in. Qinghe arched back and tilted his hips to take his lover in more smoothly. All the while, he groaned and panted, and sometimes groused vocally.

"…Xiang…mn…too slow…why aren't you…hnn…going…faster?"

Wei Xiang smiled and bent down to place a kiss on Qinghe's nose. In a deep voice and affectionate tone, he returned, "Oh? Are you saying that you aren't enjoying this?"

"Ah! Uh…that's not…ahh…"

Qinghe panted and s.h.i.+fted restlessly, unable to reply as he tried to adjust. Due to Wei Xiang bending down while Qinghe's ankles still remained crossed behind his beloved's neck, Qinghe was almost bent in half at the waist. And though he was flexible enough that this didn't bother him, in this position, Qinghe felt that his Xiang's member was pus.h.i.+ng in too deep as his walls squeezed that thick shaft too tightly.

Seeing the little frown on his beloved's brows, Wei Xiang asked concernedly, "What is it, love? Does it hurt?"

Qinghe shook his head and hoa.r.s.ely complained, "...mn…deep…"

"Oh? You want me to go deeper?" Wei Xiang asked, then pushed his hips forward abruptly.

"Ah!"

His back arching as he yelped, Qinghe lifted his hands and gripped his lover's shoulders, trying to regain his sense of stability. "X-Xiang…you…"

"Was it not deep enough?" Wei Xiang teased even as a hand slowly ma.s.saged his beloved's hip soothingly.

Qinghe groaned thickly, then pulled his lover down to bite his jaw before sucking on it strongly as if in retribution to the teasing.

Wei Xiang eyes darkened in response, the simmering heat inside him reaching a boil as he felt the slight sting of the small bite and the spreading warmth resulting from his beloved's suction.

Leaning back with a red mark on his jaw, Wei Xiang gripped his little lover's hips and suddenly sped up the movement of his lower body, driving in and out of the slick pa.s.sage in rapid and powerful motions.

Shuddering at this sudden burst of pleasurable friction dragging over his sensitive inner walls, Qinghe loosened his ankles from behind Wei Xiang's neck, his heels pressing down lightly on his lover's shoulders instead as he tried to lift his hips and offer the best angle for his beloved to plunge into.

As wave after wave of intense heat relentlessly washed over him, his body squirmed and twisted in the sheets helplessly. Qinghe reached up to clutch the vertical bars in the bed's headboard, tremblingly bracing his body to receive the hard thrusts pounding relentlessly into his soft channel.

While gasping and groaning his beloved's name, Qinghe made his inner muscles squeeze and release the thick member moving inside him in rhythmic motions to grant his Xiang the most pleasure. Faced with this stimulation, Wei Xiang almost went out of his mind at the sensation of his little lover's pa.s.sage loosening in welcome as he thrust in and clamping down on his shaft as if loathe to part when he withdrew.

His hips moved faster and faster as the sound of flesh slapping against flesh grew louder and increased in fervency.

Feeling that this was not enough, Wei Xiang suddenly pulled Qinghe towards him by his hips. Surprised, Qinghe's fingers automatically tightened their grip on the bars overhead, causing his body to be stretched taut between the headboard and his lover.

His eyes unfocused and his expression dazed, Qinghe asked in a befuddled voice, "Uhn…X-Xiang…what are you…"

As if in answer, Wei Xiang bent down and lightly nipped, then strongly sucked one of the pink buds standing stiff on his little lover's heaving chest.

Qinghe melted into the sheets at the raw sensations spreading from those sensitive little bundles of nerves. His hands loosened, then slowly lowered from the headboard as he clutched at his beloved's head, his slender white fingers sinking into Wei Xiang's silken black hair.

Wei Xiang devotedly wors.h.i.+pped the two perky buds with his mouth, enjoying the strangled sounds of pleasure it evoked from his little lover and the helpless s.h.i.+fting of his beloved's body under him even as Wei Xiang kept up the frantic and punis.h.i.+ng rhythm of his thrusts.

Qinghe felt like he was drowning in the deluge of this all-consuming pleasure without any hope of surfacing from its depths. He desperately gasped for breath and tried to find his senses before simply giving up and letting himself sink deeper.

As his lover's mouth on his chest, his hands on his hips, and his organ buried inside him continued to ruthlessly and thoroughly torment him, pus.h.i.+ng him deeper and deeper into the depths of absolute, mindless pleasure, Qinghe finally let himself go over that familiar edge, letting the sensations overflow as he stiffened and shuddered with a long, drawn-out groan.

As white liquid spurted out from Qinghe's straining shaft to spatter his stomach and chest, Wei Xiang felt his beloved's pa.s.sage squeezing him tightly before spasming around his member as if in urgent invitation for him to spill himself inside these soft and warm confines.

And so, with a growl, Wei Xiang gave in, letting his own climax wash over him as he emptied himself into his beloved.

Spent and breathless, Qinghe laid slumped on the bed, feeling his lover's member jerking and releasing thick, scalding liquid inside his tender pa.s.sage, drenching and filling it with heat.

As Wei Xiang finally finished, he kept his hold on his beloved, bent over and panting hard as he tried to recover his breath. Then slowly disengaging, he rested beside Qinghe on the bed and pulled his little lover close, his palm moving up and down over his beloved's sweaty back lovingly.

Qinghe happily snuggled into his lover's warmth, relis.h.i.+ng the careful and comforting touch of those familiar hands.

In a hoa.r.s.e voice, Qinghe spoke, "Xiang, if I remember right, I think there's a stream of some sort in the forest surrounding the house. Given that the entire forest belongs to the Feng household anyway and since Mother and Father probably won't return to the residence for a while, n.o.body should interrupt us if we wash up there."

Wei Xiang frowned thoughtfully, then nodded. "Alright, let's go there to take a bath and clean you up."

Qinghe smiled widely and lifted his arms, wordlessly asking his lover to carry him there.

With an amused and affectionate chuckle, Wei Xiang carefully picked his beloved up before heading out the house, much like how he'd carried his little lover to the stream in Qinghe's backyard at the Heavenly Peak Sect after their first time together.

Listening for the sound of flowing water and heading in that direction, Wei Xiang easily navigated the vegetation and

His eyes brightening, Qinghe immediately said, "Yes, this is it. This is the one I vaguely remember playing with Father in, especially the part that's further downstream and cutting through a plain. I think there are even fishes there."

Wei Xiang smiled warmly at the excited expression on his little lover's face.

But as both of them soon entered the crystalline waters to begin was.h.i.+ng, Wei Xiang's eyes widened in shock.

"This… Is this stream made of pure spiritual water?"

Hearing this, Qinghe tilted his head in question. He felt like he'd vaguely heard about spiritual water before, something about how even a drop of it was a very valuable and sought after treasure since it was good for nouris.h.i.+ng the spirit and advancing cultivation. But because he was already a deity and his beloved had also ascended, Qinghe didn't think this spiritual water would be of much use to either of them. Unless…

Perking up, Qinghe asked with sparkling eyes, "Does this spiritual water taste good?"

Wei Xiang's mouth twitched. Then with a smirk, he replied, "Yes, I've heard that it does indeed taste good, but if you're that curious, why don't you find out for yourself?"

Saying so, Wei Xiang immediately pushed the unsuspecting Qinghe into the stream.

Clear water splashed up high into the air as large ripples bloomed on the stream's surface, with Wei Xiang chuckling happily in amus.e.m.e.nt as he watched from the side. But before he could laugh for long, a drenched Qinghe rose up from the water with a vengeful grin and threw himself at his lover, tackling Wei Xiang into the stream.
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A bigger, louder splash of water rose up and fell back down, distorting the stream's surface further. Under the water level, Qinghe and Wei Xiang held their breaths and playfully grappled with each other for a while before being forced to surface because of the lack of air.

There was a moment of calm as Qinghe and Wei Xiang stood still in the stream, their chests heaving as they caught their breath.

Their lips still stretched with a smile, the couple looked sideways at each other, two pair of eyes glittering with playfulness meeting one another's gaze…

And then, as if their thoughts connected at the same time, the pair of lovers suddenly began splas.h.i.+ng each other with the cool water, sending the clear droplets flying like flecks of glitter scattered in the air. If one of them tried to laughingly escape, the other would quickly chase them down and try to dunk their lover into the water. The surface of the stream sloshed and churned chaotically as low chuckles and cheerful giggles sounded out loudly.

After a few more minutes of playing in the water like this, the pair of lovers finally stopped while gasping for breath, their soaked hair plastered to their faces and naked bodies.

Now that they'd had their fill of fun, Wei Xiang quickly helped Qinghe clear his pa.s.sage by drawing out the release still left inside. Then having a quick wash, the pair of lovers spread a cloth on the stream bank and cuddled close, their feet waving in the clear and cool water.

As the couple sat there, with Wei Xiang's hand resting on Qinghe's waist, the warm skin of his little lover's body pressed into his side, the contentment on Wei Xiang's face slowly turned into deep, heated need once again.

He wanted to push down his beloved and directly take affirmation from his body that this was truly real, that this wasn't one of those wretched spring dreams turned nightmares that he had been experiencing till now.

Every night, during these past few years without his lover, Wei Xiang had had vivid dreams of embracing his beloved, slowly sinking into his welcoming pa.s.sage and hearing him moan softly into his ear, feeling him languidly s.h.i.+fting under him, writhing pa.s.sionately beside him, or energetically riding on top of him…

But each time by the end of it, Wei Xiang would always feel his beloved growing still, his face turning bloodless and his eyes closing, his body beginning to turn cold and lifeless. And no matter how much Wei Xiang tried to wake him up, no matter how much he begged or pleaded with him to come back to life, his Qinghe never moved, he never opened his eyes.

And just now, after ascending and finally finding his little lover again, pulled along by him into the house and seeing him undressing on his bed, Wei Xiang hadn't been able to help but feel dread filling him up.

What if this was another dream? What if his beloved's body turned cold in his arms again?

If that was so, then he'd rather not go any further at all. He'd rather at least have a pleasant dream just gazing at his lover's beguiling body and hear him laugh in a lively voice.

But then Qinghe had taken his hand and placed it on his chest, right over his frantically beating heart, rea.s.suring him that this was not a dream, that this was indeed happening, that his beloved was alive and here.

The raw hope and joy he'd felt at that time was not something Wei Xiang could ever express.

Feeling his lover's warm body beside him again now, Wei Xiang felt his heartbeat quickening once more, his blood boiling with the desire to reaffirm that this was not a dream he'd wake from suddenly. He wanted to rea.s.sure himself of it again and again and again until it sunk deep into his soul.

His gaze deepening, Wei Xiang's palm slowly slid up the smooth skin of his beloved's side and over his upper body. Wei Xiang extended his arm a bit further over his lover's back so that his fingers could reach and play with the little nubbin on Qinghe's chest.

Though Qinghe didn't know what had stoked his lover's ardor again so soon, upon feeling the rough pad of his beloved's fingertip rubbing and fiddling with his sensitive bud, Qinghe softly moaned and unresistingly leaned further into his Xiang's warmth, willingly letting him do whatever he wanted.

Sensing his wordless acquiescence, Wei Xiang grew bolder, his fingers beginning to pinch and pull at the little point, turning it stiff with the stimulation. His other hand lightly ran up and down Qinghe's thigh before carefully dipping in between to pull his leg to the side.

Understanding what his lover wanted to do, Qinghe parted his thighs voluntarily, lifting and placing a leg on Wei Xiang's lap to allow better access to his gradually rising member.

Accepting the invitation, Wei Xiang's warm hand wrapped around the slender shaft, ma.s.saging it gently but doing nothing more, as if savoring the feeling of this delicate moment.

Qinghe shuddered at this slow and sensual torment, but he was content to enjoy his lover's ministrations like this for now.

His head leaned to the side to rest on his beloved's shoulder, his cheeks flushed and eyes closed. As his arousal increased further, Qinghe groaned, his body melting into Wei Xiang's comfortable embrace.

Wei Xiang leaned down and brushed his lips over the top of his little lover's head. Then forcibly pus.h.i.+ng aside all his melancholy and uncertainty so that it wouldn't taint their time together, Wei Xiang spoke in a mischievous whisper, "Qinghe, I want to see how much you can take."

Qinghe let out a sound of confusion. "Huh?"

His smile widening, Wei Xiang explained, "I want to see how long your body will hold out at its current level. Aren't you curious to test its limits?"

Hearing this, Qinghe couldn't help but smile helplessly. But though he knew that his Xiang was only using testing his limits as an excuse to extend their lovemaking and go for several more rounds, Qinghe still couldn't help feeling the flutter of eager antic.i.p.ation in his belly.

His eyes growing half-lidded with desire, Qinghe slowly licked his lips. Smiling, he easily agreed. "Alright then. Let's fully, carefully, and thoroughly test it out."

His expression brightening, Wei Xiang didn't need to be told twice. Immediately pus.h.i.+ng his little lover down right there on the soft cloth spread on the stream's bank, Wei Xiang lowered his head to continue his ministrations on his beloved's delectable body.

And it turned out that no matter how strong a deity's body was, it was still no match against the enthusiasm of this pair of impa.s.sioned lovers.

After half a day and a full night of entanglement, the couple greeted the next day with bleary eyes and groaning bones despite their increased cultivation.

Because of his inherently tougher body as a spiritual beast, Wei Xiang was the first to recover. He quickly got ready and went to join Feng Huixin and Feng Chunyi at the dinner table after reminding his little lover to also come quickly.

Qinghe tiredly rolled around on the bed a while more before getting dressed and slowly making his way to the table where everyone was seated, enjoying their morning repasts or placidly sipping tea.

As Qinghe wearily plopped down beside Wei Xiang and promptly rested his head on his beloved's shoulder as if he was about to drift off into sleep at anytime, Feng Chunyi showed a knowing and delighted look while Feng Huixin's eyes displayed his open concern.

"Qinghe, are you alright? What's wrong?" Feng Huixin asked.

His mouth opening to let out a wide yawn, Qinghe listlessly replied, "Father, it's nothing, don't worry. We just f.u.c.ked a bit too much yesterday."

Wei Xiang immediately spit out the mouthful of tea he'd just taken while Feng Huixin promptly began choking on his food, both of them coughing violently.

Qinghe patted his lover on the back as he continued to lie on his beloved's shoulder despite its shaking.

As Feng Chunyi soothed her husband in the same way while chuckling unsympathetically, she advised to her son, "Now, now, Qinghe. Don't use such explicit words while someone's eating or drinking. Look how you've startled the poor dears."

Nodding seriously as if he didn't hear the glee in his mother's voice, Qinghe replied, "I understand. I'll rephrase it then." Turning to Feng Huixin, Qinghe earnestly said, "Father, don't worry, I'm just feeling a little weak because I got done too much yesterday."

Feng Huixin and Wei Xiang felt like crying in their hearts as Feng Chunyi giggled happily at how her son was cluelessly bullying his lover and father.

In a cheerful voice, she advised again, "Qinghe, you shouldn't say it out so directly. Try putting it in abstract words so that you don't shock certain delicate people."

The aforementioned delicate people Wei Xiang and Feng Huixin, "…"

Qinghe rolled his eyes, but dutifully complied with his mother's words as he rephrased it once again, making it seem more indirect this time, "Father, I was embraced by my lover a bit too enthusiastically last night as my fields were plowed for a long time and seeds continuously planted in my barren ground until the break of dawn, so I'm a bit tired, that's all."

Wei Xiang hid his face under his hands, not knowing whether he should laugh or cry, while Feng Huixin blushed red, feeling deeply regretful that he'd brought this topic up in the first place without thinking it through.

On the other hand, Feng Chunyi was laughing uproariously, slapping her hand against the tabletop as her head was thrown back, her entire body shaking.

Qinghe only shook his head and resettled his head more comfortably on Wei Xiang's shoulder. If he could ignore his mother's loud laughter, he might just be able to drift off into peaceful sleep…

Lightly clearing his throat and forcibly suppressing his embarra.s.sment, Feng Huixin spoke, "Qinghe, please stay awake. We're going to greet the Heavenly Emperor after breakfast. Ah, but if you're feeling…uncomfortable anywhere, would you like me to send notice to ask the court to postpone the audience?"

Qinghe sighed, but made himself wake up and blink open his eyes. "It's alright, I'll manage. But do I need to wear any specific clothes? Is there some particular etiquette I need to follow?"

Feng Huixin heaved a breath in relief and shook his head. "The heavenly court is not so strict, and the Heavenly Emperor is not so pedantic as well. As long as nothing directly offensive is spoken, no offense will be taken."

Qinghe nodded, then poured himself a cup of steaming tea to clear away the last wisps of drowsiness in his mind.

A quiet and comfortable hush blanketed the room as the family of four peacefully enjoyed the morning.

Though they didn't actually need to imbibe any food or drink, the Feng household had always had the habit of spending time together for breakfast in this way so that they could bond better as a family. It had been so when Qinghe was a child, and it would be so now as well.

Once they were done, the four of them leisurely stood up, straightened their clothing, and headed off towards the Heavenly Emperor's palace.

Situated in the capital city and surrounded by immaculate gardens, the Heavenly Emperor's palace was the crown of Heaven, the place where heavenly laws were made and enforced.

The palace was a large, white set of buildings that s.h.i.+mmered and shone in the morning light, its l.u.s.ter projecting a sense of magnificence and grandeur without being garish or outwardly opulent. A sense of peace and warmth radiated from its elegant and st.u.r.dy structure, a feeling of both heavy age and light etherealness shrouding it at the same time.

Entering through its gold and silver archways, the family of four directly made their way into the throne room.

The throne room was wide, long, and exceptionally high. The floor seemed to be made of translucent white stone that clearly showed the wisps of silvery smoke curling and flowing languorously underneath. As for what laid beyond that, it was indiscernible through those s.h.i.+mmering, wispy layers.

On either side of the grand throne room stood two lines of majestic, pearly pillars, bordered with stately silver and gold designs at the bases. Beyond the invisible boundary line that seemed to be indicated by those pillars, rows upon rows of deities stood with different postures and expressions.

Some were dressed too casually, while others wore layers upon layers of c.u.mbersome ceremonial attire. Some looked amused or indifferent while others looked solemn and arrogant. A few looked old with long silvery beards, while others seemed to have barely exited their teens, along with people seeming to be from every other age group in between. But every one of these deities was noticeable and remarkable in their own way, none appearing too dull or easily dismissible.

At the end of the throne room, just a bit to the front and above the throne, was a huge, circular opening in the ivory-colored ceiling, the gap covered by a smooth layer of transparent gla.s.s-like material. Beyond this skylight, all that could be seen was a brilliant white fire, its edges a pale gold as it licked the other side of the gla.s.s. The strong light from this strange fire provided bright illumination to the entire throne room, casting an even layer of white radiance throughout.

Presiding over all this, the Heavenly Emperor sat on the Throne that was perched on the platform on top of four shallow stairs.

The Heavenly Emperor wore plain white robes edged with gold and sat with a dignified bearing, his back held straight and arms resting on the armrest of his throne. His hair and beard were a pure, s.h.i.+ning white that started straight and gradually segued into curls. His eyes radiated a majestic steadiness and kindness, while his irises were like pools of water s.h.i.+ning under the starlight at night, dark yet covered with a thin silvery sheen that seemed to add unfathomable depth to his incisive gaze. And rather than looking like one of the literati, his build was instead heroic, with st.u.r.dy musculature and the confident poise of someone who'd seen and partic.i.p.ated in countless battles.

Meanwhile, the throne that the Heavenly Emperor was sitting on, that is, the Throne of Heaven, was simple-looking and appeared to be carved out of l.u.s.trous white stone. But the most noticeable aspect of it was how the stone at the base of the throne gradually turned into densely packed roots of the same material, spreading outward from the seat and digging deep into the platform on which it sat.

It reminded Qinghe of what Xiao Tian had said:

'I am the Throne whose roots dig deep into the essence of existence itself.'

Thinking back on it, Qinghe felt incredulous at realizing that he had meant it literally.

As they looked over the entire room, the combination of the Heavenly Emperor and the Throne emitted a thrum of raw power that vibrated in one's bones and resonated in their souls. Without a doubt, this was the power of beings who ruled Heaven.

And now, Qinghe, Wei Xiang, Feng Huixin, and Feng Chunyi were heading towards them.

Even discounting Qinghe and Wei Xiang's presence, just the husband and wife themselves were a powerful force to reckon with. After all, one was the Heavenly General who had the loyalty of and authority over the entire heavenly armies, and the other was the Deity of Judgment, the indisputable leader of Heaven's law enforcement agency and the one slated to be the next Heavenly Emperor. Just with these two people, the Feng household had already become the strongest force in the entire heavenly realm, only a step below the Heavenly Emperor himself.

But with two new additions, how will they fare? Will their power increase even more?

With inquisitive and keen eyes, the entire heavenly court watched the family of four walk forward and stop in front of the Heavenly Emperor.

Feng Huixin was the first to speak. Bowing, he said, "Deity of Judgment Feng Huixin has returned from the mortal realm and offers his greetings to Your Majesty."

With a solemn expression, the Heavenly Emperor spoke in a deep voice, "We welcome your return, Lord Feng. Please, rise."

Feng Huixin immediately straightened again, his posture remaining prim.

On the other hand, Feng Chunyi simply grinned and nodded at the Heavenly Emperor, not bothering with anything more. As familiar as she was with everyone in the heavenly court, she simply didn't see the need for all these formalities.

Wei Xiang gave a short bow, but also said nothing. After all, he was a heavenly beast and not under the direct jurisdiction of the heavenly court unless he chose to be.

As for Qinghe, he stood motionless and simply looked at the Heavenly Emperor, meeting and holding his gaze with curious and a.s.sessing eyes.

Within moments, Qinghe quickly read the little details in the Heavenly Emperor's expression and his deep gaze, taking in everything he could and silently forming an understanding of this person while disregarding his station.

Was he someone worthy of being the Heavenly Emperor? Was he someone who deserved to receive his respect and loyalty?

Qinghe pondered all this quietly.

Meanwhile, the eyes that met Qinghe's looked at him calmly and let him a.s.sess him to his heart's content. The Heavenly Emperor showed neither dissatisfaction nor anger at how a youngster who wasn't even a fraction his age was trying to read him. Instead, all Qinghe saw was an open kindness and a steadiness that came from being tempered in adversity.

Qinghe blinked as a thought suddenly occurred to him―Since he was a Heavenly Emperor, did that mean that this person was also chosen by Xiao Tian? Did he also have his life manipulated by Heaven and end up having to go through multiple hurdles and sufferings?

There was utter silence in the throne room as all attention was focused on Qinghe, who was intently studying the Heavenly Emperor like a curious child, his eyes clear and without any ill-intent.

A few more moments of later, Qinghe had finally reached his verdict.

Bending in the direction of the Heavenly Emperor, Qinghe seriously and deliberately bowed, his hands cupped in front of him.

He had determined that this person was fair and trustworthy, so he would grant him his respect and loyalty for as long as the Heavenly Emperor could keep it.

And so, Qinghe's pleasant and composed voice rang out in the room, "Feng Qinghe has returned from the mortal realm and greets the Heavenly Emperor."

Seeing this, the Heavenly Emperor on the Throne showed a trace of surprise.

Then nodding, he slowly said, "Feng Qinghe, rise."

Qinghe stood straight again, no subservience or sense of weakness in his expression.

Not wasting any time with posturing or intimidation like most emperors would, the Heavenly Emperor immediately got down to business, his voice unhurried. "We welcome you back to the halls of Heaven again. Though trueborn deities have need to descend to the mortal realms to undergo trials and tribulations, we have decided that in view of your already trying period of life spent in a mortal realm, you shall not have to undergo any trials. Your time in the mortal realm will be considered as your trial."

Qinghe earnestly said, "Then I thank Your Majesty for the consideration."

The Heavenly Emperor nodded. Then, his voice flowing with a measured cadence, he said in a more weighty voice, "However, we have asked you to grace these halls with your presence for another, more important reason. The Throne of Heaven has named two appropriate candidates who may succeed our position as the Heavenly Emperor when we step down. One of them is your father, the Deity of Judgment Feng Huixin. The other is you, Feng Qinghe, bearer of a heavenly soul. And because of your soul, you are also particularly favored by the Throne for this position. Feng Qinghe, we would like to hear your choice on this matter."

The witnessing deities felt shocked at this revelation. So not only did the Feng household's newly returned son have a heavenly soul, but he was also a candidate chosen by the Throne?!

But unmindful of them, Qinghe merely tilted his head and carefully considered.

Just when the Heavenly Emperor was about to ask him if he needed more time to make such an important decision, Qinghe suddenly opened his mouth and spoke, "At this point in my life, I do not feel like I have enough of the wisdom that comes from experience, nor the perseverance that comes with age, so I will have to humbly withhold my opinion, if not decline the offer completely."

The Heavenly Emperor's eyebrows rose as the familiar voice of the Throne giggled in his head,

Sighing, the Heavenly Emperor complied with the Throne's demands. "Feng Qinghe, tell us what you truly wish to say."

Qinghe's serious expression melted into a smiling one, his eyes glinting. "Very well, then. I just feel that I'm too young to be tied down to that much responsibility. I want to roam freely and learn about this world and its people. I want to finish unfinished businesses and spend more time having fun with the people I care about. And so, I am not interested in taking the Throne for now."

Hearing this, the Heavenly Emperor's brows furrowed lightly, but he still nodded in understanding.

Surprisingly, at this time, Feng Chunyi suddenly sidled up to her son and placed an arm over his shoulder and pulled him closer. In the voice of an elder advising a youngster, she solemnly said, "Son, I understand your point of view, but there's no need to reject the offer so rashly. After all, it's not like being the Heavenly Emperor demands that your b.u.t.t be stuck to the seat of the Throne throughout the duration of your reign. You can still do as you please as long as you take care of your duties towards the heavenly realm."

Qinghe nodded seriously and continued discussing the most important aspect of his mother's advice, "True, if my b.u.t.t could really never leave the seat then I wouldn't even consider it to be an option. After all, I have no intention of being abstinent for that long. I still wish to be able to use my posterior for quite a few things, and I'm sure Xiang feels the same."

Feng Chunyi enthusiastically agreed. "Yes, very well put! Being the Heavenly Emperor or whatever is unimportant, your s.e.x life still comes first!"

Everyone, "…"

The deities couldn't help but bemoan in their hearts about how this mother and son pair was the worst tragedy to ever occur to their sacred halls! Where was their respect and reverence towards the heavenly court? Do the sanct.i.ty of these great halls mean nothing to you both?!

In the face of his lover and mother-in-law's shamelessness, Wei Xiang couldn't help but wonder, was it too late for him to go back down and pretend he never ascended?

Meanwhile, Feng Huixin was truly thankful for his paralyzed face, otherwise even he didn't know what type of expression he'd be showing now.

On the Throne, the Heavenly Emperor's somber face twitched as he heard the voice of the Throne howling in laughter inside his head.

But as if not noticing all these reactions, Feng Chunyi happily prodded her son, "So? What are you going to choose? Will you become the Heavenly Emperor?"

Qinghe wryly looked at her and asked perceptively, "Mother, do you want me to become the Heavenly Emperor?"

With a strange grin, Feng Chunyi nodded. "Personally? Yes, I do."

Qinghe showed an amused expression. "Is it because if Father took the Throne and became busy with managing Heaven, then it would disrupt your own, ehem, spring nights?"

After all, by now, he'd managed to understand his mother's thoughts to a certain extent, especially since she did nothing to hide them, but rather flaunted them instead.

Hearing Qinghe's words, Feng Chunyi beamed. "Oh, my son is so unfortunately smart. Since you understand, just do it, okay?"

With humor glittering in his eyes, Qinghe replied to his mother, "I'm not going to sacrifice my youth that easily."

Then turning to the Heavenly Emperor, he said, "If he doesn't mind, my father can take the Throne first. When he wants to step down, I'll take over. Until then, I'll simply help both Mother and Father with their jobs and gain more experience. Will this be alright?"

Unwilling to let this discussion continue further lest his wife and son say something inappropriate again, Feng Huixin immediately agreed. "I have no objections, and this way, you'll get time to prepare as well."

From atop the Throne, the Heavenly Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "That is good. We will do it so then."

But already having let go of Qinghe, Feng Chunyi pouted and muttered complainingly, "Such an unfilial son."

Qinghe only smiled placidly, the humor in his eyes deepening.

Having been watching all this from the side all along, the other deities didn't know what to make of the fact that this young man who dared speak in such an outrageous way in front of the Throne of Heaven would one day be sitting on it, ruling over the heavenly realm and over all of them. It really made them feel complicated in their hearts.

But on the other hand, they could at least feel a.s.sured that their future Heavenly Emperor would definitely not be boring!

Now that Qinghe had finished greeting the Heavenly Emperor and made his decision about the future, Qinghe, Wei Xiang, Feng Huixin, and Feng Chunyi finally bid their farewells and headed out of the palace, some with relief and some with obvious amus.e.m.e.nt.

And uncaring of the excited news that soon began spreading around all of Heaven about the unfathomable son of the Feng household, the family of four lived their days in blissful peace while making many more happy memories with each other.