Chapter 58

  There was no grand wedding, no ceremony, no vows beneath moonlight.

  Just a declaration, a few signatures, and stunned faces.

  Adam’s friends were absolutely flabbergasted.

  Bo Jin had been the first to speak:

  “You what—?”

  Followed by Han Feng muttering,

  “Man, I thought you were just shameless, not suicidal.”

  Even Xiaoyan, normally calm, could only sigh and pat his shoulder in silent condolence.

  ---

  Later that evening, Adam walked down one of the long marble corridors of the royal compound beside Princess Lyne. The air between them carried the faint echo of footsteps and unspoken thoughts.

  Finally, Adam broke the silence.

  “Hey… I just want to make sure you’re fine with this whole marriage thing. I mean, being tied to me isn’t exactly a blessing. You’ll lose some of your freedom.”

  Lyne’s expression softened, a rare calm crossing her face.

  “Freedom?” she echoed. “Adam, you don’t know what suffocating feels like until you’ve lived your life with eyes on your every move. Every word weighed, every gesture analyzed. Courtiers, nobles, and schemers—all waiting to drag me into their little webs.”

  She gave a small, ironic smile.

  “This—being married into your sect, away from all that—is better. No one here is trying to use me as a pawn, or bind me with political oaths that would strip me of what’s left of myself.”

  Adam scratched his cheek awkwardly.

  “When you put it like that, I guess I sound like the lesser evil.”

  Lyne’s smirk returned, playful glint in her eyes.

  “Oh, don’t get too comfortable. I’m still sour about that little stunt you pulled in the arena. You cost me years of allowance.”

  Adam groaned.

  “I knew you’d bring that up.”

  Lyne leaned in slightly, voice lowering with teasing menace.

  “Don’t worry—I’m not planning to make your life miserable…” she paused, lips curling. “But I am going to have fun. So sleep with one eye open, Adam. You’ll never know when it’s coming.”

  Adam stared at her, half amused, half wary.

  “Oh boy…”

  Lyne grinned as she walked ahead, the faintest laugh echoing behind her.

  All the cultivators began returning to their sects, flying through the skies on colossal swords that glided like silent rivers of steel.

  Adam stood among the Grand Harmony Sect’s group, still trying to process everything that had happened.

  From the corner of his eye, he noticed Mu Qing Li shooting him a pointed look—half-sideways, half-glare.

  Before he could say anything, Lyne leaned close.

  “Hmm… someone’s looking at you with great intent,” she whispered. “What’s the story there?”

  Adam sighed.

  “I, uh… might’ve given her a bad first impression. I think she’s still a little sour about it. Kind of like you.”

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  Lyne chuckled softly.

  “No, no. That’s not irritation I see in her eyes—more like confusion… and something else.”

  Then, with a sly smile curving her lips, she said,

  “Adam, honey—let’s hold hands until we reach your sect.”

  Adam blinked at her, suspicious.

  “What are you trying to pull now?”

  Lyne leaned in closer, voice dropping to a whisper.

  “No questions. Just smile like you’re happy.”

  Adam gave her a wary look but played along.

  Their hands met, fingers interlocking. Lyne leaned lightly against his arm, her expression one of serene satisfaction.

  Across the way, Mu Qing Li’s side-eye hardened into a full glare for just a second before she quickly looked elsewhere.

  Adam’s friends noticed immediately.

  The boys shrugged it off—just another weird Adam moment.

  But the girls? They exchanged knowing glances, their thoughts almost identical:

  “Oh my… she’s chaos incarnate.”

  Lyne’s sly smile only grew wider.

  Adam finally asked under his breath,

  “Alright, seriously, what is this about?”

  Lyne grinned, her tone playful and smug.

  “That look she gave? I’ve seen it countless times back in the palace. That, dear husband, was a touch of jealousy.”

  Adam frowned.

  “Jealousy? What are you talking about?”

  Lyne tilted her head, studying him with mock seriousness.

  “You’ve got potential, Adam. Under all that shamelessness, there’s a dangerous flirt hiding. A natural chick-magnet—only the special ones notice it.”

  Adam groaned.

  “I… have potential for that. I didn't know that myself”

  Lyne only laughed, the sound carrying lightly over the wind as their sword glided toward the horizon.

  When they finally reached the sect, the disciples of the Grand Harmony Sect gathered to welcome them back.

  Han Wuqing hovered above, expression unreadable.

  “Adam, Princess Lyne — meet me in my pavilion,” he said simply, before turning and flying off without another word.

  Adam exhaled in relief — at least no scolding yet. But before he could relax—

  “Adam,” Lyne said sweetly, “give me a shoulder ride.”

  Adam blinked.

  “...What?”

  “You heard me. A shoulder ride. I’m tired.”

  Adam crossed his arms.

  “No. Absolutely not. I’m not doing it.”

  Lyne smiled — the kind of smile that meant trouble.

  “Oh, you are. Remember that clause in the agreement you signed?”

  Adam frowned.

  “What clause?”

  Lyne’s tone turned victorious.

  “The one that says—‘to follow through with her orders as long as they are not life-threatening.’”

  Adam froze.

  “So that’s why you had that devious smile when I was signing the paperwork! You conned me out of my freedom!”

  Lyne’s grin widened.

  “Not my problem you didn’t read the fine print.”

  Adam glared.

  “Damn you.”

  Lyne folded her arms, mock-offended.

  “Hey, don’t talk to your wife like that.”

  Adam groaned.

  “And what if I don’t follow through?”

  Lyne raised a finger and began counting.

  “Then I’ll confiscate your pills, your artifacts… and your spirit stones.”

  Adam’s face twisted in despair.

  [This some bullshit.]

  Defeated, he crouched down, and Lyne climbed onto his shoulders, settling comfortably.

  “While I’m at it,” Adam muttered under his breath, “I’ll enjoy your thighs and your feet.”

  A sharp crack followed. Lyne had flicked him on the head — a flick carrying enough power to make a boulder tremble.

  Adam rubbed his skull in pain.

  “Ow—! I think that fractured something!”

  “Come on, dear,” Lyne said cheerfully, pointing ahead. “To the sect leader’s pavilion we go!”

  They started moving — Adam trudging forward, Lyne sitting tall with the regal grace of a queen riding her reluctant steed.

  Around them, many disciples watched the scene.

  The girls sighed softly, eyes sparkling.

  “That’s… kind of romantic.”

  Some elbowed their boyfriends.

  “Take notes.”

  The boys, meanwhile, just stared in stunned silence as Adam carried the princess away, muttering curses under his breath.

  Inside Han Wuqing’s pavilion, the sect leader stood behind his desk, discussing arrangements with a calm, businesslike tone.

  “Princess Lyne,” he said, “since you’ll be residing here for the foreseeable future, I’ll have an abode prepared. Do you have any preference for its location?”

  Without hesitation, Lyne pointed straight at Adam.

  “I want one near this fool.”

  Adam blinked.

  “You won’t even let me have personal space to myself?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, come on!”

  Han Wuqing nodded, utterly unbothered.

  “That can be done.”

  Adam gawked.

  “Don’t agree to it!”

  “I’m with her on this,” Han said flatly. “I don’t want to hear about any scandal breaking out because a husband and wife are living on opposite ends of the sect.”

  Adam threw up his hands.

  “We’re cultivators! We shouldn’t care about things like that!”

  Lyne tilted her head, smiling faintly.

  “Oh, please. If something—or someone—can affect your life in any way, there’s no way you won’t care about it.”

  Han nodded approvingly.

  “She’s right. People don’t magically stop caring about things just because they start cultivating. Gossip isn’t going anywhere—it just gets more spiritual.”

  Adam crossed his arms and muttered,

  “Tch… unbelievable.”

  Han Wuqing gave a slight smirk.

  “Consider it a test of patience, Adam. Cultivation of the heart, if you will.”

  “More like cultivation of suffering,” Adam grumbled.

  Lyne chuckled softly beside him.

  “Oh, you’ll survive. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Han Wuqing leaned back in his seat, his tone calm but final.

  “There won’t be any more Myrthans coming here. After that slaughter, even the boldest of them will think twice before setting foot in this realm.”

  He turned to Lyne.

  “Princess, your aunt requested a means to contact you while you’re here. I’ll make arrangements for that soon.”

  Then, with a small wave of his hand—

  “You both can leave now.”

  Both of them bowed and exited the pavilion.

  ---

  Outside, Adam exhaled in relief and summoned Red, his two-tailed fox.

  “It’s been a few hours since I let you out,” Adam said, crouching down. “We’re inside the sect now. No need to worry much here.”

  He patted Red’s head gently. The fox chirped in contentment, tails swaying lazily.

  Before Adam could react, Lyne swooped in and lifted Red into her arms, bringing the little beast eye to eye with her.

  “So this is your beast companion? Its fur looks beautiful—so soft and radiant.”

  Sensing praise, Red wagged his tails happily and leaned forward to lick her cheek.

  But then Lyne added with a teasing smirk,

  “If I cut off all that fur, I could make a very good coat out of it.”

  Red froze mid-wag. His tails puffed up in alarm. With a frightened yelp, he tried to wriggle free—but Lyne’s grip was firm. The fox let out panicked squeaks of distress.

  Adam immediately snatched Red from her arms.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing to my beast companion!?”

  Lyne chuckled, hands raised.

  “Relax, I was just playing with your head. I’m not that cruel—to innocent animals, at least.”

  Adam sighed, hugging the trembling fox close.

  “Come on, buddy. Time for another closed-door cultivation session. We’ve got to reach Core Formation soon.”

  Lyne blinked.

  “Wait, already? We just got back to the sect! I had so many things planned for you.”

  “I refuse,” Adam said flatly.

  Lyne crossed her arms.

  “I’ll confiscate your things, you know.”

  Adam stopped, turned, and spoke in a low, serious tone.

  “The contract says I don’t have to follow your orders if it’s life-threatening. This is one of those times.”

  Lyne frowned slightly.

  “What do you mean?”

  Adam glanced away.

  “Every time I break through, I don’t gain the usual lifespan extension. Until now, I’ve only received half of what I should have. So no, I don’t have the luxury of wasting time. Not with how little time I’ve got left.”

  Lyne’s teasing expression softened just a bit, but she said nothing.

  Adam simply walked away, Red perched on his shoulder, tails brushing lightly against his cheek.