The vine-woven enclosure remained Song Qing's private stage, Ah Yin his captive audience and sole performer.
He pushed her down again onto the soft, yielding moss, the scent of crushed earth mingling with her own rising fragrance.
Her earlier compliance had dissolved into a state of pure, unadulterated need. Her eyes, wide and hazy with pleasure, tracked his every movement.
He knelt between her slightly parted legs, not with the tenderness of a lover exploring sacred ground, but with the cool focus of an artisan examining his materials.
His hands resumed their exploration, but differently this time.
Instead of just pinching or squeezing, his fingers traced the elegant lines of her hips, digging slightly into the soft flesh, mapping her curves with possessive intent.
He leaned down, his mouth hovering near hers, making her breath catch, but swerved at the last moment, choosing instead to lave a hot, wet trail with his tongue down the column of her throat, ending with a sharp, possessive bite on her collarbone.
"Ah! Master!" Ah Yin cried out, the sound echoing softly against the leafy walls. The bite wasn't gentle, yet it sent shivers of exquisite pleasure cascading through her, far outweighing the sting.
'Yes… mark me… again…' Her thoughts were disjointed, lost in sensation.
He ignored her cry, his hands moving upwards, bypassing her breasts for a moment, to grip her shoulders firmly, holding her pinned beneath him.
"Your mouth, Ah Yin," he commanded, his voice low, devoid of warmth.
She obeyed instantly, eagerly, lifting her head slightly, her lips finding him with desperate reverence. She poured all her focus into the act, determined to please, to elicit the sounds of satisfaction she craved to hear from him.
While she worked, his gaze remained fixed on her face, then drifted down her body. He noted the way her magnificent breasts swayed slightly with her movements.
He reached out, not to touch her mouth or guide her head, but to flick one hardened nipple with his finger, sharply.
She flinched, almost losing her rhythm, letting out a choked gasp around him.
"Focus, servant," he chided coolly, though there was no real anger, only the assertion of control. He flicked the other nipple. "Your only focus should be my pleasure."
"Yes… forgive me… Master!" she mumbled, renewing her efforts with frantic intensity, terrified of displeasing him, yet thrilled by the correction.
He let her continue for several minutes, watching her dedication, the flush spreading across her chest, the sheen of sweat on her brow. Then, seemingly bored, he pushed her head away gently but firmly.
"Enough of that for now," he decided aloud. He shifted his weight, bringing one of his knees up to press lightly against her exposed core, a non-penetrative but intensely intimate pressure that made her gasp and squirm.
"Your breasts," he commanded, his eyes locking onto them. "Use them. Show me how well you can serve with them."
Ah Yin blushed furiously but obeyed without hesitation. She pushed her large, heavy breasts together, creating a soft valley, and guided his still-hard length between them. She began to move her upper body, rubbing against him, trying to replicate the friction she sensed he desired.
She deliberately amplified the movement, making her breasts jiggle noticeably, hoping the sight would please him. "Like this, Master?" she whispered breathlessly. "Is this pleasing to my Lord?"
Song Qing watched the display, his expression unreadable. His hand came up, not to help her, but to suddenly slap the side of one jiggling breast, the sound sharp in the enclosure.
"Ngh!" Ah Yin cried out, startled, the rhythm breaking.
"More pressure," he instructed calmly. "And faster. Don't be lazy."
She immediately complied, pressing harder, moving faster, her eyes wide with exertion and desperate eagerness. He watched for another minute, then his other hand shot out, grabbing a handful of the soft flesh of her hip, squeezing hard enough to make her gasp again.
He seemed to derive satisfaction from these sudden, unpredictable acts of rough dominance, interrupting her service only to assert his control in a new way.
He let her continue the breast stimulation for a while longer, his hands occasionally returning to pinch, slap, or squeeze different parts of her body – a thigh, a buttock, the soft skin of her stomach – keeping her constantly on edge, constantly reacting, constantly immersed in sensation.
Finally, he pulled away from her breasts. "Present yourself," he ordered.
She understood immediately. Rolling onto her hands and knees, she offered him her backside, her head bowed low in submission, her blue hair spilling onto the moss.
He admired the view – the deep red marks from previous attentions stark against her pale skin, the full, trembling curves. He reached out, tracing one of the red marks with a fingertip, making her shiver violently.
Then, his mouth descended, not to kiss or lick, but to bite down again, this time on the upper curve of her buttock, harder than before.
She screamed his title, "Master!", the sound muffled by the moss, her body convulsing.
He spent several minutes tormenting her backside – more spanks, delivered with calculated force, kneading the flesh roughly, interspersed with sharp bites and possessive grips that left finger-shaped bruises beginning to form.
Through it all, Ah Yin didn't weep from pain. Her cries were of overwhelmed ecstasy. Every sting, every bite, seemed to bypass pain receptors and translate directly into blinding pleasure, a secret her body kept, a quirk of her Blue Silver Emperor physique perhaps, that Song Qing remained entirely unaware of. He simply saw her writhing, crying out his name, begging for more, and assumed his methods were perfectly effective in eliciting the desired response.
'He is so strong… so demanding… He knows exactly how to make this body sing…' Her mind was lost, adrift on a sea of sensation, her earlier life, her son, her former husband – all faded into irrelevance. There was only the Master and the overwhelming reality of his touch.
Eventually, he pulled her back, positioning her beneath him again. He used her mouth once more, bringing himself to another powerful climax. This time, as requested, he allowed himself to release fully within her mouth.
Ah Yin swallowed instinctively, a profound sense of connection, of intimacy – however one-sided – flooding her.
"Delicious, Master," she whispered hoarsely afterwards, looking up at him with pure adoration, licking her lips clean. "Thank you…"
He merely grunted in response, already hard again. The night continued in this vein. Cycles of her serving him – mouth, hands, breasts – punctuated by his rough, dominant exploration of her body. He discovered new ways to elicit moans, new places to leave marks. He used the tough vines of the enclosure wall to press her against, the rough texture a contrast to his hands. He utilized the soft moss as a bed, turning her this way and that, positioning her solely for his convenience and viewing pleasure.
She, in turn, became bolder in her subservience, anticipating his desires, moving to please him before a command was even fully uttered, her moans growing louder, less inhibited, her body learning to crave the specific brand of intense, demanding pleasure only he provided.
The hours bled together, marked only by the shifting patterns of moonlight through the leaves above and the rhythm of their harsh intimacy. Thoughts of Tang Hao or Tang San never once entered either of their minds during this focused, primal exchange. For Song Qing, it was pure physical release and the assertion of dominance. For Ah Yin, it was an all-consuming, addictive pleasure that eclipsed all else, fostering a desperate, burgeoning love for the very Master who treated her body with such calculated disregard.
Only the undeniable lightening of the sky, the shift from deep indigo to the pale grey of pre-dawn, signaled the end of their night.
Song Qing finally pulled away, his breathing slightly heavier than usual, but his expression remained composed, detached. He stood, adjusting his robes, which had become disheveled during their hours of activity.
He looked down at Ah Yin. She lay sprawled on the moss, naked, her skin flushed and heavily marked with bites and bruises, glistening with sweat and the traces of his seed she hadn't yet been commanded to clean. Her eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling rapidly, utterly spent but with a look of profound, almost beatific bliss on her face.
He felt… satisfied. The tension had been released. His dominance reaffirmed.
Without a word, he turned. He waved his hand, and the thick vine barrier retracted smoothly, silently, back into the surrounding foliage, leaving the enclosure open once more.
He stepped out onto the main garden path, not bothering to look back or give Ah Yin any instructions. He knew she would rise, dress herself in the torn remnants of her clothing or find spares, clean herself, and immediately resume her duties – tending the garden, guarding the lion. Her devotion, fueled by whatever strange pleasure she derived from his treatment, was absolute. He didn't need to micromanage her.
He walked away, leaving the charged atmosphere of their hidden alcove behind, heading back towards his own designated area within the sprawling garden complex.
Later that morning, after attending to basic necessities, Song Qing settled into his private cultivation space within the Herbal Garden – a quiet spot near a nexus of gentle life energy, far from both Ah Yin and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's seclusion zone.
He retrieved several more Immortal Herbs from his storage – different from those given to Liu Erlong or the lion. These were geared towards pure soul power accumulation and refinement: a stalk of Nine Profound Spirit Ginseng, humming with energy; a piece of translucent Oceanic Marrow Crystal; a deep purple Soul Tempering Orchid. He had cultivated or acquired a significant reserve, meant solely for his own advancement.
Methodically, he consumed a portion of the Ginseng, feeling its potent, pure energy flood his meridians. He closed his eyes, sinking instantly into a deep meditative state, circulating his soul power according to the advanced methods unique to his lineage and spirit.
The energy surged, refined, integrated. He could feel the bottleneck of Rank 73 loosening, giving way under the herb's potent push and his own relentless effort. Hours passed in subjective moments. When the energy stabilized, he felt the distinct shift.
'Rank 74,' he noted inwardly with satisfaction. The progress was tangible, accelerated. 'Good. The herbs are performing admirably.' He knew reaching the Soul Douluo realm, Rank 80, was still a significant climb. It required not just potency, but vast accumulation. 'Patience and diligence are key. But this pace… is acceptable.' He continued his cultivation, absorbing the remaining herbs at carefully timed intervals over the next few days, maximizing their benefit, pushing his soul power steadily upwards.
Eleven days melted away in this focused routine.
For Song Qing, the time seemed compressed, lost in the depths of cultivation, punctuated only by necessary administrative tasks for Spirit Hall and the pleasant, affectionate interludes spent with Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing. He barely registered the passage of individual days, his mind fixed on consolidating his power.
Then, on the twelfth day since the Three-Eyed Golden Lion began its seclusion, deep within his meditative state, Song Qing felt it.
A massive, almost violent surge of energy erupted from the direction of the lion's enclosure. It wasn't chaotic like a failed breakthrough, but powerful, overwhelming, like a dam bursting. Waves of heat, light, and immense draconic pressure washed over the entire Herbal Garden, making even the most ancient plants tremble slightly.
His eyes snapped open instantly. No alarm, just sharp focus.
'It's time,' he recognized immediately. 'The lion has finished its absorption.'
He rose calmly from his meditative position. Almost simultaneously, Ah Yin appeared at the edge of his clearing, her expression anxious but respectful, clearly having felt the surge as well. She looked to him wordlessly for guidance.
"Stay back," Song Qing instructed briefly, his voice calm. He gave her a nod, then turned and strode swiftly towards the source of the overwhelming energy fluctuations.
As he neared the seclusion spot, the waves of power intensified. He could feel the raw potential contained within. Without hesitation, he raised his hand, his own Rank 74 soul power surging forth, weaving a complex, multi-layered barrier of emerald light around the area. It shimmered into existence, containing the wild energy, preventing it from leaking further and causing damage or attracting unwanted attention.
He stopped just outside his own barrier, extending his spiritual senses inward, carefully assessing the maelstrom of power. The chaotic mix of fire, light, and draconic energy was rapidly stabilizing, coalescing into something far more potent and refined than before. He felt the creature's life force – immensely vibrant. Its bloodline pulsed with power. Its spiritual sea was vast and deep.
And its cultivation level…
'Incredible,' Song Qing thought, genuinely impressed. He had anticipated maybe twenty thousand years, given the resources. But the energy signature radiating now… 'It blew past twenty thousand… It feels closer to… thirty thousand years!'
The combination of the specific herbs, his Primordial Life Domain's boost, and the creature's own innate potential as an Auspicious Beast had yielded results far exceeding his expectations.
'A thirty-thousand-year cultivation base,' he calculated rapidly. 'For an Auspicious Emperor Beast like this one… its actual combat power, its spiritual influence… it might rival ordinary spirit beasts reaching the hundred thousand year old mark, maybe even more. Its foundation is unbelievably solid.'
Inside the barrier, the intense light began to recede slightly, stabilizing into a powerful, steady glow. The figure within started to uncurl, to stretch.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion emerged fully from its meditative cocoon. It was noticeably larger now, standing easily at Song Qing's waist height. Its form was sleeker, more powerful.
The fluffy, cub-like appearance was replaced by the majesty of a young, regal beast. Its golden fur seemed to shimmer with captured light, interwoven with subtle streaks of fiery red and pure white.
Its three eyes – the central one radiating a particularly potent golden light – opened, glowing with newfound intelligence and immense power. It stretched, flexing nascent muscles, radiating an aura of ancient authority mixed with youthful vitality.
The creature took a moment, orienting itself, its gaze sharp and clear. Then, its three eyes focused intently on Song Qing standing just outside the barrier.
It padded forward, pressing its now much larger head against the shimmering energy field. A powerful wave of mental communication washed over Song Qing, filled with joy and overwhelming gratitude.
'Song Qing! I did it! I absorbed it all! The power… it feels… LIMITLESS!' The mental voice was clearer, stronger than before. 'Thank you! From the bottom of my soul, thank you for this gift!'
Gratitude poured from the creature, warm and sincere. Then, its mental tone shifted, becoming eager, excited.
'Song Qing! Look at me! Feel this power! It's more than enough, isn't it? I can feel the change… the potential… the threshold is right here!' The mental voice trembled with anticipation. 'Please! I want to do it now! I want to transform! Let me take human form! I want to see the world through human eyes, stand beside you properly!'
Song Qing felt the powerful surge of energy within the lion as it focused on the intent to transform, confirming its belief – it likely did possess the raw power necessary to attempt the perilous transformation right now.
He intervened instantly, his mental voice sharp but calm.
'WAIT! Little one, stop! Hold that impulse! Do NOT attempt transformation now!'
The lion recoiled mentally, its excitement instantly replaced by confusion and disappointment. 'Why not? Song Qing, why? I feel ready! I've reached the level! Why must I wait?'
Song Qing quickly projected his reasoning, calming but firm. 'I understand your eagerness. It is a significant milestone. But think carefully. You are here, under my protection, far from your home and your kin in the Great Star Dou Forest. Your transformation is a monumental event, especially for an Auspicious Beast.'
He continued, explaining the political sensitivities. 'If you take human form here, now, under my supervision… how will the other rulers of the Forest perceive this when you eventually return? Especially Di Tian, the Scarlet King? They might see it as me overstepping my bounds, interfering too deeply in your destiny without their knowledge or consent. It could breed suspicion, mistrust… create unnecessary complications for both of us, and potentially endanger our future cooperation.'
He let the implications sink in before offering the solution. 'The wiser course, little one, is patience. Stabilize this incredible power you now possess. Become accustomed to your thirty-thousand-year strength in your true form. Then, when the time is right, when we return you to the Great Star Dou Forest, you can approach the Scarlet King directly. Explain your desire, perhaps even seek his guidance or blessing for your transformation. Transforming with their knowledge and acceptance will be far safer, far smoother, and maintain the crucial balance between us and the rulers of the Forest.'
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion fell silent mentally for several long moments, processing his words. The initial burst of impulsive desire faded, replaced by thoughtful consideration.
'Complications…' its mental voice echoed, subdued now. 'Suspicion… Scarlet King's consent…' A wave of understanding flowed from it. 'Yes. You… you are right, Song Qing. Rushing forward without considering the consequences… that would be foolish.' Trust resonated in its next thought. 'Your wisdom guides me again. I will wait. I will stabilize this power first. I will seek the Scarlet King's counsel upon my return. Thank you for stopping me, Song Qing. Thank you for your guidance.'
Relief washed through Song Qing. The potential crisis was averted. He offered a mental nod of approval. 'Well-reasoned, little one. Patience now will yield greater rewards later.' He maintained the barrier but allowed a small opening, projecting calmness and reassurance towards the majestic young beast who had just taken a monumental step on its path to power.