Can You Take Me With You?
Several bouts of passion through the returning springs, in dreams drowned in you, my soul shattered upon waking.
Qin Changqing gazed at Guan Zilan, curled up in his arms like a kitten, lost in deep slumber. He couldn't help but gently brush her cheek.
Perhaps only in this moment of utter relaxation would this lofty elder of the Taiqing Sect reveal such a vulnerable side.
It filled Qin Changqing with a profound sense of accomplishment.
"Hm? I've reached the third layer of Foundation Establishment!"
Only now did Qin Changqing sense the shift in his spiritual power. It had leaped straight from the first layer to the third—a development he hadn't anticipated.
Glancing at Guan Zilan in his arms, he suspected it had everything to do with her. Likely, her cultivation method offered special benefits to her dual cultivation partner.
Combined with centuries of her accumulated foundation, it had propelled him across two minor realms in a single night!
An unexpected windfall, indeed.
With perks like this, Qin Changqing found himself even more enamored of her.
Beautiful, powerful—and riding her brought not just pleasure, but cultivation feedback too. Double the joy!
A woman like this was priceless.
…
Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, while the sounds of children playing drifted in from outside.
Guan Zilan's lashes fluttered. She opened her eyes and met Qin Changqing's tender gaze. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"You didn't sleep?"
Guan Zilan blinked in surprise at his vibrant, spirited look. They'd gone at it all night... and he was still this full of energy?
Though it was her first time with something like this, she knew dual cultivation took a heavy toll on a man's body.
Qin Changqing smiled warmly. "I couldn't bear to. I wanted to savor the sight of you a little longer."
She paused, a flicker of softness in her eyes. She pressed her lips together without a word, nestling her face against his chest once more.
They lingered like that in quiet intimacy for a while. At last, Guan Zilan gently pushed him away and sat up, swiftly donning her clothes to conceal her alluring form.
Clad once more in her flowing robes, she regained her aloof, noble air.
"Forget what happened last night."
She was the exalted Taiqing Sect elder again.
Qin Changqing sighed inwardly but nodded.
She was a Nascent Soul True Lord, after all. Though last night had let her taste the true joys of womanhood, her path to that realm demanded ironclad self-control. She wouldn't fall easily—not after centuries without a dao companion.
Her goal achieved, she was drawing a clear line.
To her, he was just a remarkable fleeting presence in her life. In a century, he'd fade to memory.
As Guan Zilan turned to leave, Qin Changqing stepped forward and grasped her jade arm. "Zilan, wait."
Her spiritual power shimmered faintly, shaking off his hand with ease. "From now on, address me as Elder Guan."
So it's back to stranger the moment she's dressed...
Qin Changqing was at a loss for words but nodded. "Alright, Elder Guan."
"Is there something else?"
"Can you... take me with you?" Qin Changqing stared at her, his eyes brimming with deep affection.
"You... want me to take you away?"
Guan Zilan's heart thudded as if struck. She froze, emotions churning within.
Over these three months, she'd observed him closely. Far from disliking him, her impression had only deepened.
This man was extraordinary. Facing a profound Nascent Soul True Lord like her, he remained poised—neither servile nor overbearing. Some of his words even drew quiet admiration from her.
His cultivation might be modest, but his mind was sharp as a whetstone. He crafted whimsical toys, spun captivating tales, and seemed to excel at everything except cultivation itself!
His gentle love for the children, his thoughtfulness toward his wives and concubines—it all quietly drew her in.
And last night's encounter had bridged the gap between them.
His plea now was affirmation of her allure.
She'd already considered taking him upon discovering his talents. But him asking outright? That changed everything.
Being needed like this, receiving love in return—it stirred a long-forgotten warmth and happiness in her cold, dominant heart.
Of course, she betrayed none of it.
"Why should I take you? Life here is peaceful and carefree. You seem perfectly content, gallivanting about every day. Isn't that enough?" Her voice was steady, though her heart raced. Even if she took him, he'd still nurture spirit root seedlings for the sect—no real difference from now.
Qin Changqing knew that full well. Following her, he'd still be a tool. But by taking the initiative, he seized the upper hand—and won her favor.
For over a decade, he'd kept his heart guarded, numb from exploitation. Purely physical affairs, never emotional.
But Guan Zilan stirred something real in him. And practically speaking, genuine feelings with her would safeguard him too.
Hitching to a bigger thigh? No shame in that.
Besides, he had to think of his children.
Staying with the Qin family offered surface freedom, but the three great clans treated him like breeding stock. Limited choices, and many kids he could barely see.
The clans were minor powers with scant resources. With so many children, he couldn't provide for them all.
The ones by his side mostly had superior spirit roots, but with supreme roots and above prioritized, his mortal wives' offspring got short shrift.
They were young now, but cultivation awaited. Lingering here meant no future—just stunted growth.
And his cultivation tied to his children's. Better environments for them meant gains for him.
All told, choosing Guan Zilan brought overwhelming benefits. Why toil as a tool on a small stage when a grander one beckoned?
Qin Changqing had weighed it long ago.
Guan Zilan, unaware of his calculations, spoke gravely. "Do you understand? Even with me, you'd repeat this life—breeding spirit root seedlings for the sect."
"I know! It might be the same, but with you... I think I'd be happier." His gaze swam with tenderness.
Her eyes grew complicated. She studied him for a long moment, then nodded faintly. "Very well."
With that, her figure flickered and vanished from the room.