I alone am the Honoured One!

The night passed in silence...

At some point, exhaustion caught up with Zhao Tian.

He didn't mean to fall asleep and didn't even realize he is been drifting... but the quiet warmth, the gentle presence beside him, had lulled him into slumber before he could fight it.

...

The first thing he became aware of as he woke was warmth.

Not just the warmth of his own body, but something softer, something comforting.

His head was resting against something delicate and he felt a faint rise and fall beneath him.

A scent... faintly floral, mixed with the crisp scent of morning air filled his senses.

For a moment, he lay still, and his mind was sluggish from sleep, unwilling to fully rise from the comforting haze of unconsciousness.

Then, a slow realization settled in.

Where is he?

His brows furrowed slightly and his eyes fluttered open.

Morning light streamed in, casting soft golden hues over the courtyard.

Ji Shuang.

She was still here.

And he was lying on the couch, his head resting in her lap.

Zhao Tian blinked and only then did he realize what happened yesterday night.

Her robe was slightly disheveled from their position, but she remained as composed as ever, one hand resting gently against his shoulder.

The other was draped across the back of the couch and her fingers were slightly curled as if she had fallen asleep while keeping watch over him.

Her expression was peaceful, though faint traces of exhaustion lined her face.

He shifted slightly, and as he did, Ji Shuang slowly woke up.

Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked the sleep away and her gaze finally focused on him.

A soft, sleepy hum left her lips. "You're awake…"

Zhao Tian tilted his head slightly, looking up at her. "…I fell asleep."

Ji Shuang let out a quiet chuckle "You did."

He glanced away as his brows furrowed slightly "I didn't mean to."

He sat up slowly and the loss of his warmth was immediately noticeable for her.

His muscles were stiff from his awkward sleeping position, and he rolled his shoulders with a sigh.

He closed his eyes for a moment before looking at her "I am taking my leave Sect master, sorry for dragging you into this and making you sleep with me."

Ji Shuang looked at him and shook her head "It's okay and... don't leave yet."

His gaze narrowed slightly and she tilted her head "Are you in a hurry?"

Zhao Tian lowered his gaze a bit and replied "I am not in a hurry, Sect Master."

She reached out and gently placed her hand over his "Then let's eat breakfast together... you can go and clean yourself in the other rooms in the quarters."

Zhao Tian raised his eyes and looked at the warmth in her eyes when she looked at him.

He felt a bit strange when she looks at him like that and thought maybe this is her way of taking care of him.

'She must be worried that I am still blaming myself for Jing'er' death and wants to reassure me...'

His gaze flickered to her palm, which was resting on his head and with a nod, he accepted her kindness "Mhm..."

Hearing this, her eyes softened further "Go on then, go and fresh up."

He stood up and gave her a nod before walking to the quarters.

Ji Shuang watched him go and a quiet sigh left her lips.

She wasn't entirely sure what this feeling was... why she felt such a strong need to be there for him, to make sure he wasn't lost to his own burdens.

But as she stood to prepare for breakfast, one thought settled firmly in her mind.

She wanted to stay by his side.

And, perhaps, she always would.

...

Zhao Tian stepped out of the bathroom and steam curled from his damp skin as he ran a hand through his wet hair.

Dressed in a fresh set of robes, he adjusted the cuffs and exhaled slowly.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and distant flowers as he made his way downstairs.

The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the halls and its really been a while since he woke up to such a comforting scent.

His gaze squinted in thought 'I need to see my wives...'

He spent the last three months burying himself in Alchemy.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Ji Shuang standing by the stove, her long hair loosely tied back, a few stray strands framing her face.

The sleeves of her robes were rolled up just enough to reveal the skin of her wrists as she delicately plated the final dish.

The morning light streamed through the open window, casting a golden hue over her figure, making her seem almost… ethereal.

For a brief moment, Zhao Tian simply stood there, watching her.

Ji Shuang must have sensed his presence because she glanced over her shoulder and smiled softly. "You're just in time," she said, setting the last dish onto the table.

"I hope you like it."

Zhao Tian walked closer, his gaze flickering between the warm bowls of rice, vegetables, and a side of carefully prepared meat.

"You cooked all this yourself? You could have asked your maid..."

Ji Shuang wiped her hands on a small cloth before turning to fully face him "Mn. It's been a while since I cooked for someone else, but I used to do it for... Jing'er."

Zhao Tian's eyes flickered with understanding, perhaps guilt... but Ji Shuang only smiled, stepping closer.

"Enough about that. Sit. Eat."

He gave a small nod and moved to pull out a chair, but just as he was about to sit, Ji Shuang reached up without warning.

He stiffened as her fingers brushed against his temple tenderly.

"Your hair is still damp," she murmured.

Zhao Tian blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Before he could react, Ji Shuang took a small towel from the side and, without hesitation, reached up, gently dabbing at his hair.

Her movements were slow, almost… tender.

The soft fabric brushed against his scalp as she continued to dry him properly.

"You're going to catch a cold if you don't dry it properly," she chided lightly and her is voice softer than usual.

Zhao Tian remained still, watching her as she focused on her task.

His fingers twitched against the edge of the chair, resisting the strange urge to reach for her wrist, to stop her, to do something.

But he didn't.

He just accepted her kindness.

He doesn't know why... whenever he tries to get intimate with his women, Yao Jing's image flashes in his mind.

That's why he didn't even spend more time with his women, as it constantly reminded her.

He fully submerged himself in Alchemy.. so he could forget her for a few moments and focus on Alchemy.

This alchemy... has really become a drug so that he could forget her.

Ji Shuang finally pulled back "There," she said, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"That should be better."

Their eyes met, and Ji Shuang just smiled, reaching up to ruffle his hair a bit.

Zhao Tian exhaled quietly and murmured, "Thank you."

Ji Shuang tilted her head slightly, looking at him for a moment before nodding. "Come on. Eat before it gets cold."

She turned away, moving toward her own seat, leaving Zhao Tian standing there for a moment longer.

As he finally sat down and picked up his spoon, he found himself wondering, just when did her presence started feeling so… familiar?

And why did it feel so hard to look away?

He raised his gaze to look at her face saw her beginning to eat her meal.

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!