return from lanling

[shangba]

A full moon, unblinking.

You did not sleep, to see?

Comments

[emperorssmile]

You’re always such a good husband, Lan Zhan.

I have you and the kids and that’s all I need. It would be nice to have my brother again.

[shangba]

And your cultivation.

Wei Ying. I do not jest. We must further it.

[emperorssmile]

Haven’t I been making good progress?

Is it because you want me to be able to hold my own against Jiang Cheng in case his temper gets the best of him?

[shangba]

If the next water gui is successful.

[emperorssmile]

It won’t be.

[shangba]

If.

It does not please me to know you dependent.

[emperorssmile]

But I’m already doing forms and meditating. It’s going to take some time to get this core into reasonable shape.

And I can rely on demonic cultivation, too. I’m not powerless.

My heart won’t ever be prepared for something like that.

[shangba]

I only wish to safeguard you.

[emperorssmile]

I won’t let anything take me away from you.

I’ll work hard, Lan Zhan. Until I have the qi and stamina to ease your mind and then some.

[shangba]

I pray we are swift.

[emperorssmile]

Give me another year and I’ll give you another miracle.

[shangba]

I shall do better, also. Plan.

[emperorssmile]

I don’t want to think about losing you. I’ll work extra hard to be strong enough to protect you from any enemy human or otherwise.

[shangba]

Perhaps best that we consider such things. Our children require us.

[emperorssmile]

And we’ll be there for them. I’m not cultivating to immortality just for us to die early.

[shangba]

I must ask something indiscreet.

Will you allow it?

[emperorssmile]

You can ask me anything, Lan Zhan.

[shangba]

Is there a risk you will think of our lovemaking as a chore?

[emperorssmile]

I don’t think so? I love being with you. I love sleeping with you, too.

Maybe if we dual cultivated every single time, I might want to shake things up.

Do you feel like it’s a chore?

[shangba]

No. But I am the one who pushes you, again and again. Wei Ying may come to resent.

[emperorssmile]

I love you so much, Lan Zhan. And you’re really sexy, too. I don’t think it’ll be an issue.

[shangba]

So long as our ardor is not perverted.

[emperorssmile]

This about immortality and dual cultivation, isn’t it.

It could become routine like practicing forms or meditating, but I don’t think I’d ever be resentful of it.

[shangba]

Our love life... 'routine.'

[emperorssmile]

See why I'm not worried about it?