King of Hundred Victories Saber

Morning light flowed along Shi Feiyang’s brow, shattering into ten thousand little stars in Xue Li’s eyes. ”When you’ve helped the officers and soldiers finish quelling the rebellion in Bozhou, I want you to marry me in full eight-carriage bridal procession, with a proper matchmaker and formal rites.” She bit her lower lip, the tips of her ears flushing pink. ”And I want our names carved all over the wedding candles.”

Shi Feiyang suddenly clasped the back of her neck, and his kiss fell fast and heavy.

The wildflowers beneath the broken wall rustled and shivered in the gust of air, yet he only held her tighter, as though he meant to knead all the tenderness of his remaining years into this single kiss.

When Xue Li finally pushed him away, breathless, little flames were burning in Shi Feiyang’s eyes. ”How could it be only an eight-carriage procession? I’ll let the whole world know that Shi Feiyang’s bride is the brightest star under heaven.”

All at once, Shi Feiyang flicked open that deerskin pouch invisible to mortal eyes as if performing a magic trick.

The instant the white jade bathtub unfolded, the startled dust in the courtyard was gilded with gold. When warm spring water from the mountain poured into the tub, Xue Li gazed at her own flushed reflection on the surface. Her maiden heart brimmed with happiness as her fingertips skimmed the water; ripples shattered the two overlapping faces.

”Careful not to scald yourself.” Shi Feiyang’s breath brushed past her ear, carrying a tenderness that brooked no refusal.

He helped her slip off her outer robe, his movements gentler than when he polished the Divine Soldiers.

When Xue Li shyly hid herself in his arms, Shi Feiyang suddenly chuckled. The vibration in his chest made her lift her head in mock complaint, only to crash into the star-filled depths of his eyes. ”My lady, do you know? However warm this bathwater is, it can’t compare to the beauty in your eyes.”

Shi Feiyang cradled the beauty in his arms, watching sunlight dance on her lashes like golden butterflies. He lowered his head to lightly peck her flushed earlobe, letting a vow fall into the morning breeze. ”From this day on, year after year, I will make sure that every year gives you a day as beautiful as this one.”

The white jade bathtub reflected the morning light, shimmering with flecks of gold, just like the laughter glimmering in Xue Li’s eyes.

Shi Feiyang’s fingertips played with her ink-dark hair soaking in the water; suddenly he tied a knot in it, making the lady scold him as she reached out to snatch her hair back.

As the two of them frolicked, water splashed up. Droplets landed on Xue Li’s shoulder, winding down along graceful curves until they vanished beneath the gentle surface. ”Look at you—where’s the bearing of a Kunlun Swordsman now?” Shi Feiyang flicked her reddened nose with a finger, earning a soft, coquettish hum.

Xue Li refused to admit defeat. She cupped a handful of clear water and flung it at him, but he turned aside and avoided it. The droplets scattered instead onto the mottled broken wall behind them, startling two sparrows from their perch.

Shi Feiyang stretched out his long arm and drew the would-be escapee back into his embrace. Xue Li’s back pressed against the cool wall of the tub; when she looked up, she saw that the affection in his eyes was hotter than the spring water itself.

”So mischievous—how should I punish you?” He deliberately schooled his face into sternness, though his voice was so gentle it could drip water.

Xue Li tilted her head, her damp hair brushing across his chest. ”Punish me by making me grind your ink every day and write out every love word under heaven for you, how about that?” Her fingertip lightly tapped his heart. ”And I’ll paint a picture of you and me traveling the Jianghu hand in hand, and hang it in our little wooden house.”

Shi Feiyang lowered his head and brushed a light kiss across her lips. ”Not enough.” He kissed her flushed earlobe again. ”Your punishment is to stay by my side year after year, to see every spring flower and autumn moon, to count every summer night’s fireflies with me.”

His palm pressed to her back, holding her closer and closer, as if he wanted to keep this moment’s warmth forever.

Xue Li leaned against his shoulder, listening to the strong beat of his heart. Suddenly she scooped up some water and drew a crooked heart on the side of the tub.

”Feiyang, look.” Her brows and eyes curved as she smiled. ”This is our home.”

Shi Feiyang gazed at that shapeless heart and felt it was more precious than any treasure in the world.

He covered her hand with his, sketching another heart on the water. The two hearts slowly merged, rippling out layers of gentle waves.

”Yes, this is our home.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. ”From now on, you and I will be each other’s place of return.” Outside the window, sunlight poured through the broken lattice, draping this perfect couple in a veil of gold.

The breeze brushed lightly by, carrying the fragrance of wildflowers, as if whispering the finest blessings.

And in that moment, within this small white jade bathtub, time seemed to stand still, leaving only endless tender sweetness.

Moved by the gentleness of his touch, Xue Li reached out and looped her arms around his neck, planting a soft peck on his lips. ”I don’t care about the Jianghu. I only wish for you by my side, year after year. When you’re hurt, I’ll decoct medicine for you; when you’re weary, I’ll knead your shoulders.”

Brocade curtains entwined, drunk with love and youth.

The morning mist had yet to disperse, and warm breaths floated between the carved canopy drapes.

Xue Li curled in the crook of Shi Feiyang’s arm, her lashes trembling lightly and casting butterfly-wing shadows on his chest. Shi Feiyang looked at that lively shadow, his Adam’s apple rolling of its own accord.

”Little lazy cat, time to wake up.” He hooked his fingers around the lock of hair that fell over her ear, breathing warm air against it.

Xue Li let out a soft murmur and burrowed deeper into his arms. The tip of her nose brushed the old scar over his heart, making Shi Feiyang’s arm tighten abruptly.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the canopy, sprinkling fine golden spots across her fair skin, like stars artfully set there.

Xue Li suddenly tipped her face up, the teardrop mole at her eye’s corner trembling slightly with her smile. ”It’s all your fault—you had to cling to me and talk about ’watching the sunrise together.’”

Her fingertips skimmed across his collarbone, her tone full of playful reproach.

Shi Feiyang raised a brow at her words, rolling over to trap her between the brocade covers. His inner robe, still untied, slipped down one side, revealing the powerfully cut lines of his body. ”So now it’s my fault? Who was it last night that said she’d ’turn into a firefly to stay by my side’?”

Outside the canopy, a clear birdsong suddenly rang out, making Xue Li reach up to cover his mouth.

But Shi Feiyang took the chance to catch her fingertip with his lips, and the tips of her ears flushed scarlet in an instant.