A Short Separation Makes the Dawn More Beautiful

Within Jiang Yao’s residence, two solitary souls ignited with fervent passion the moment they stepped inside.

They embraced, unreservedly giving voice to their burgeoning desires.

Through the cloak of night, their gazes locked, and their breaths grew increasingly ragged and profound.

In the profound silence of the late hour, the symphony of their rapid breaths and pounding hearts resonated with startling clarity.

“My wife, I’ve missed you,” Yan Yun murmured, her voice a low caress.

“Indeed, I too,” Jiang Yao responded, before they melted into each other’s arms, initiating a profound emotional exchange.

Their communion, akin to the blissful union of fish and water, or the harmonious radiance of the sun and moon, seemed to elevate their very consciousness.

They were far past the stage of fledgling lovers; they were, in essence, an old married couple, and the emotional intimacy between husband and wife demanded more than mere sweet nothings.

Following this preliminary exchange of affections, a torrent of raw impulse, erupting like a volcano, surged through them.

In that instant, all societal constraints and personal inhibitions simply dissolved.

Consequently, the sounds emanating from within the room grew considerably more pronounced.

Fortunately, Jiang Yao’s abode was shielded by a protective formation array, for without it, the vibrant commotion of their intimate interaction would undoubtedly have carried to ears dozens of feet away.

This night was a sanctuary, a private world belonging solely to the two of them.

Their reunion was a testament to the adage that a brief separation only intensifies passion, proving far more fervent than their wedding night a year prior.

As their fervent interactions continued, the sky outside gradually brightened, and in Jiang Yao’s courtyard, the flowers, sensing the nascent light, began to unfurl their delicate petals once more.

Morning dew, shimmering like liquid pearls, trickled from the newly opened blossoms, rendering them exquisitely alluring.

Several hours of uninterrupted intimacy had satiated their previously longing souls.

A glance within the room revealed a scene of delightful disarray, with their clothes and ornaments strewn haphazardly across every surface.

“Ah! It’s morning already; how swiftly time flies,” Yan Yun murmured, slowly opening her eyes to gaze out the window.

Jiang Yao, however, let out a disgruntled scoff.

“Confound it, the heavens themselves seem oblivious to our desires, refusing to slow the relentless march of time, which would allow us to savor each other’s company for just a while longer.”

Yan Yun echoed her sentiments, feeling the same pang of regret.

“Still, after some time apart, you’ve truly blossomed into a captivating woman; I adore it. Come, give your lord a smile,” Jiang Yao purred, lifting a hand to playfully hook Yan Yun’s chin, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

Yan Yun, ever the perfect foil, played along, her emotional value soaring.

“Indeed, indeed, my esteemed wife, tell me, was your every desire met last night?” Yan Yun countered, swiftly rolling over to pin Jiang Yao beneath her.

Jiang Yao pondered for a moment.

“Hmm, while still a tad unrefined, it was… passable. Consider this your full ‘public grain’ payment for now. However, I expect you to reflect deeply on how to deliver a more satisfactory offering next time,” Jiang Yao stated with mock solemnity.

Yan Yun immediately burst into a chortle, playfully cursing.

“Oh, get out of here! You typically present such a frigid, aloof demeanor, yet in private, your true colors shine through. I can only imagine the expressions on the faces of those who secretly adore you in the Yunhua Sect, should they ever discover their goddess is, in fact, a veritable temptress.”

“Thwack!” Jiang Yao’s hand rose, delivering a resounding smack to Yan Yun’s shapely backside.

“You are the wanton one! Despite having once been a man, there’s always a sense that you’re even more enticing than I, a woman born and bred. At least, that’s my assessment,” Jiang Yao retorted, refusing to be outmatched.

Yan Yun, however, remained utterly unfazed by Jiang Yao’s taunts. Such seemingly disparaging remarks, under these specific circumstances, served as potent flirtation.

“Indeed, I am wanton, and I shall be wanton solely for you, my dearest wife, wouldn’t you agree?” Yan Yun purred, a wicked grin spreading across her face.

“Nonsense!” Jiang Yao declared with a feigned threat. “You are my person; your wantonness is reserved exclusively for me, or I shall divorce you!”

“Never, never! How could I possibly dare?” Yan Yun quickly affirmed, feigning submission.

Jiang Yao regarded Yan Yun’s performance with evident satisfaction.

“Rise now; it’s almost time. I must escort you back, and then I have to oversee the assessment’s order. We shall have ample time together in the future.”

Hearing this, Yan Yun reluctantly rose, a wistful expression on her face, before stretching languidly.

Jiang Yao, observing Yan Yun’s figure—a physique even more alluring than her own—felt an undeniable surge of desire once more. Rising, she embraced Yan Yun’s slender waist from behind.

“Confound it! After only a year, how did your figure become so utterly magnificent? Those hips, that derriere, that slender waist, and those breasts—it’s positively infuriating!” Jiang Yao exclaimed, her face alight with envy.

At the mere mention of it, Yan Yun could not help but voice a few grievances.

“This is all your doing! Had you not insisted I would become more beautiful than you, how else would I have transformed into this? In this state, it’s a genuine struggle for me to even feign being a man. Do you realize that at home, I’m constantly binding my chest with silk ribbons and padding my waist just to avoid detection?”

Jiang Yao chuckled.

“It’s perfectly fine; I adore you exactly as you are. You look even more like a married woman than I do. How about we indulge in a little role-playing next time, hmm?”

Yan Yun responded by immediately rolling her eyes at Jiang Yao.

“Hmph! It entirely depends on my mood. Should you manage to please me, I might, in my boundless generosity, grant you a moment of satisfaction. Otherwise, there’s absolutely no chance.”

After a period of playful banter, they finally gathered their scattered garments from the floor and dressed. The moment they emerged from the pavilion once more, both had perfectly resumed their dignified and proper demeanors.

“Oh, by the way, keep an eye on Old Xie. Should she successfully gain entry to the sect, find an opportune moment for us to meet and exchange contact details,” Yan Yun reminded.

Jiang Yao nodded, then posed a question in return.

“Say! If your male friend were to suddenly transform into your female confidante, would you find yourself harboring certain… indescribable thoughts about them?”

“Ugh! Don’t be so revolting! Even if Old Xie possessed the beauty of a celestial fairy, to me she’d still be no more appealing than Ruhu (TL Note: Ruhu is a character from Stephen Chow’s ‘Flirting Scholar,’ known for her exaggerated ugliness). You have no idea how much she nearly nauseated me throughout our journey. Oh, and let me tell you a secret: Old Xie almost became someone else’s wife.” Yan Yun, unable to resist, covertly divulged Xie Yuyan’s scandalous past.

Jiang Yao’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Ah? She covered your mouth yesterday, preventing you from speaking, and this was the reason? How utterly scandalous! If she had truly become someone’s wife, do you think she could have endured it?” Jiang Yao inquired, utterly flabbergasted.

Yan Yun merely shrugged her shoulders.

“Who can say? However, I do observe a certain ‘feminine decline’ in her—I refer to her mannerisms, of course. As for whether her heart has similarly succumbed to this ‘feminine decline,’ that remains an enigma.”

“And what about you? Will you succumb to ‘feminine decline’?” Jiang Yao retorted.

Yan Yun’s face immediately clouded over.

“How could I possibly know? Perhaps, due to prolonged existence as a woman, my mannerisms might gradually align with feminine traits. Yet, you must trust me: my sexual orientation remains entirely normal. I am, after all, a person with a family; I certainly will not ‘succumb to feminine decline.’”

Their playful back-and-forth concluded, marking their first intimate interaction within the Yunhua Sect.

Jiang Yao escorted Yan Yun back to the teleportation point, situated conveniently near the bustling market. She then proceeded directly down the mountain herself.

As Jiang Yao soared away, Yan Yun’s lips curved into a deeply contented smile.

“Ah! How truly wonderful it is to have my wife by my side.”

Having uttered these words, she sought out a secluded spot, reverting her appearance to its original form, before leisurely strolling through the bustling market.

Presently, her gaze fell upon an intriguing shop, which specialized in the sale of various supplementary profession cultivation techniques.

These supplementary profession cultivation techniques encompassed disciplines such as artifact forging, talisman crafting, alchemy, and formation array mastery—specialized paths for cultivators who sought to assist others in their cultivation journey.

Yan Yun, whose primary affinity lay with alchemy, entered the shop with a keen sense of curiosity. After perusing the offerings, she spent a considerable sum of spirit stones, acquiring all the foundational cultivation methods for every single supplementary profession available.

Yan Yun had no desire to confine herself solely to poison refining. Such a path was far too specialized, primarily beneficial for personal cultivation, but ill-suited for broader application or assisting others.

Following the incident involving the Lin family, she had resolved that since she could now cultivate, she would strive to become an omnicompetent cultivator, and simultaneously, the most formidable cultivator within her realm.

Thus, her journey ahead remained long and arduous.

Having procured the introductory cultivation methods, Yan Yun then acquired all the essential tools for each supplementary profession, intending to delve into their study whenever time allowed.

With all preparations complete, she finally utilized a teleportation array to return to the medicine garden.

However, upon reaching her residence, she discovered a woman in her early twenties diligently working within the fields.

She called out to her.

“Elder Sister, are you also responsible for this particular medicinal field?”

Upon hearing the call, the woman immediately ceased her work and cast a glance towards Yan Yun.

“Oh, are you the new arrival?”

Yan Yun nodded.

“Indeed, I only arrived yesterday. My name is Ziyun (TL Note: This is an alias, as Yan Yun is disguising her identity). I look forward to your guidance in the days to come.”

The woman offered a warm smile in return.

“My name is Wen Meng. I’ve been a part of the Yunhua Sect for over a decade, so if there’s anything you don’t understand, please don’t hesitate to ask me at any time.”

This marked their initial acquaintance.

“Very well, Elder Sister Wen, please continue with your tasks. Should anything arise, feel free to call upon me. I must first return to my quarters and organize my belongings.”

Wen Meng refrained from pressing with further questions.

Once back inside her room, Yan Yun’s first action was to pop one of the pills she had refined the previous day into her mouth and swallow it.

The moment this potent poison pill entered her stomach, an even more concentrated surge of toxic power began to course through her entire being.

‘Haha, this potency is remarkable! At this rate, I’ll reach Great Perfection of the Spirit Gathering Realm in, at most, half a month to a month,’ Yan Yun thought, her face alight with joyous surprise.