As the warm glow of morning began to fully illuminate the chamber, Song Qing knew it was time for him to leave. Lingering too long might raise questions, and he still had important tasks to attend to.
He rose from the bed, his movements now carrying a newfound ease and familiarity in Bibi Dong's presence. He quickly began to gather his clothes.
Bibi Dong watched him, a soft smile playing on her lips. As he was about to turn and bid her farewell, she whispered, her voice carrying a seductive undertone that made his heart flutter.
"Qing'er…"
He turned back, his gaze meeting hers.
"If you ever feel… unsatisfied," she continued, her eyes sparkling mischievously, "and you need… relief… you can always come to me. I will always be happy to… help you out."
Her words hung in the air, thick with unspoken implications. Song Qing felt a blush creep up his neck once more. He slowly nodded, unable to meet her gaze for too long.
"Thank you, Teacher," he murmured, before quickly finishing dressing. He offered her a respectful bow. "I will see you later."
And with that, he turned and left the chamber, leaving a slightly flushed but undeniably content Bibi Dong alone in her bed.
Bibi Dong watched the door close behind him, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips. She hadn't expected the events of the previous night and this morning, but she was undeniably thankful for them.
'He… he actually likes me,' she thought, a wave of relief washing over her. 'He finds me… beautiful. Desirable.'
It was a validation she hadn't realized how much she craved. Her past had left her feeling tainted, unworthy of true affection. But Song Qing… he saw past all that. He saw her.
'A secret relationship…' she mused. 'It's not ideal, but… it's him. And that's all that matters.'
A genuine smile bloomed on her face. Her disciple… her Qing'er… he was truly special.
Meanwhile, Song Qing, his mind still slightly reeling from the morning's unexpected turn of events, made his way directly to his private herbal garden. Today was the day. Today, he would finally fulfill his promise to Ah Yin.
He found the ethereal Blue Silver Emperor spirit floating peacefully within the verdant embrace of his garden, surrounded by a multitude of rare and potent herbs. She radiated a gentle, calming aura, her blue hair shimmering softly in the morning light.
"Ah Yin," Song Qing said softly, approaching her. "The time has come."
A gentle pulse of light emanated from Ah Yin, a silent acknowledgment.
Song Qing took a deep breath, focusing his mind. He activated his First Soul Ring ability, Verdant Embrace. A wave of vibrant green energy flowed from his body, enveloping Ah Yin's spirit form. The surrounding plants in the garden seemed to pulse with life, their energy converging towards the Blue Silver Emperor.
Simultaneously, Song Qing unleashed his Primordial Life Domain. The air around them shimmered, the very essence of life force intensifying. Ah Yin's spirit form began to glow brighter, absorbing the immense surge of energy.
'This should be enough to push her past the hundred thousand year mark with ease,' Song Qing thought, carefully monitoring the flow of energy.
Now came the tricky part. Simply boosting her cultivation wouldn't automatically grant her a human body. That required a specific catalyst, a way to mold the raw spiritual energy into a physical form.
Song Qing focused his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, channeling its unique connection to all plant life. He reached out with his spiritual power, gently guiding the immense energy surrounding Ah Yin. He remembered the stories he had read, the legends of plant spirit beasts transforming into humans. The key was a perfect understanding of their original form, their inherent blueprint.
'Her original human form… the one she possessed before her sacrifice…' Song Qing focused on the memories he had gleaned from her spirit, the image of the beautiful woman she once was.
Using his control over plant spirits, he began to weave the raw spiritual energy, guided by Ah Yin's own residual memories and his understanding of her essence. It was like sculpting with pure life force, a delicate and intricate process.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, a faint outline began to form within the glowing sphere of energy surrounding Ah Yin's spirit. It was the shape of a woman, her proportions elegant and graceful.
The process continued, the outline becoming more defined, more solid. Song Qing poured more energy into the transformation, carefully shaping every curve, every contour. He focused on recreating the exact body Ah Yin had possessed, down to the smallest detail.
And then, finally, after what felt like an eternity, the glowing energy subsided. Standing before Song Qing was a woman of breathtaking beauty. Her skin was fair and radiant, her figure voluptuous and undeniably alluring. Her blue hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, framing a face that possessed a delicate yet strong beauty. Her eyes, the same mesmerizing shade of blue as her spirit form, were closed.
Ah Yin's beauty was truly captivating. Her plump breasts were full and high, hinting at a motherly softness. Her waist was narrow, leading down to curvaceous hips that spoke of fertility and life. She radiated a sensual maternal charm, an aura of gentle strength and unwavering love. There was also an ethereal quality to her beauty, a transcendental elegance that made her seem almost otherworldly.
Song Qing found himself momentarily speechless, admitting to himself that only Ah Yin seemed to possess such a unique and captivating beauty with those striking blue hair and eyes. Even the most beautiful women he had encountered paled in comparison to her serene and radiant presence.
Slowly, Ah Yin's eyelids fluttered open, her blue eyes, now filled with a vibrant life force, focusing on Song Qing. A look of confusion, then recognition, then overwhelming gratitude washed over her face.
She took a shaky breath, her newly formed lungs filling with air for the first time in years. She looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers, a look of wonder in her eyes.
Then, her gaze returned to Song Qing, and understanding dawned in her beautiful blue eyes. She remembered their deal, the promise he had made. Without hesitation, Ah Yin gracefully knelt before him, her head bowed low.
"My Lord," she said softly, her voice filled with reverence, "I… I thank you."
Song Qing looked at her, a thin smile gracing his lips. "Welcome back to the world… in human form, Ah Yin."
He then hesitated for a moment. "And please," he added, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Don't call me 'My Lord.' It feels… strange."
He thought for a moment. "Just call me… Holy Son. That will be sufficient."
"Ah Yin," Song Qing continued, his voice gentle but carrying a weight of important information, "I recently visited the Star Luo Empire."
Ah Yin looked at him, her beautiful blue eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.
"While I was there," Song Qing went on, "I happened to… overhear a conversation. Between Emperor Dai Xing and Tang Yuehua."
Ah Yin's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Tang Yuehua's name. She knew that Tang Yuehua was Tang Hao's younger sister.
"It seems," Song Qing said, pausing for effect, "that your son, Tang San… is currently being trained by your husband, Tang Hao, at the Clear Sky Clan."
A look of terror flashed across Ah Yin's beautiful face. Her hand shot out, gripping Song Qing's arm tightly.
"Little San?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "He's… he's with Hao?"
"Yes," Song Qing confirmed, gently prying her hand from his arm. "And apparently, your son is quite talented. I also heard that he will be using his knowledge of spiritual herbs and poisons to help the Clear Sky Clan and even the Star Luo Empire resist the Spirit Hall. Perhaps even… attack us."
Ah Yin's eyes were wide with fear, tears welling up in their depths. "Holy Son," she begged, her voice choked with emotion, "please… please, you promised me. You promised you wouldn't hurt Little San. Please… I will do anything you ask. Anything at all."
Song Qing reached out, his fingers gently cupping her delicate face. He stroked her cheek with his thumb, his gaze meeting her tearful blue eyes.
"I haven't forgotten my promise, Ah Yin," he said softly, his thumb then tracing the outline of her rosy, plump lips. "I will not harm your son… directly. You have my word."
He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "However," he continued, his voice firm, "you must also remember your part of our agreement. You cannot go back to Tang Hao. You cannot try to meet Tang San. You cannot help them in any way. If you do…" His voice trailed off, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.
Ah Yin nodded quickly, her eyes filled with understanding and a hint of fear. "I understand, Holy Son. I will not break my word."
She then lowered her voice to a whisper, her gaze meeting his with a newfound intensity. "And I will also fulfill my promise… to act as you desire. To… to be intimate with you. To anger Hao… to help you with your revenge."
Song Qing nodded, a thin smile gracing his lips. "Good. Then you will follow me from now on. As my… maidservant."
Ah Yin nodded again, accepting his command. But a flicker of curiosity crossed her face. "Will… will your other… lovers… like that Ning Rongrong or Zhu Zhuqing… will they mind?"
Song Qing considered her question for a moment. "I will inform them," he said finally. "If they have any objections… we will find another arrangement. I don't wish to make them unhappy."
Ah Yin nodded gently, understanding his consideration for his other companions.
"For now," Song Qing said, turning his attention back to the surrounding herbs, "let us both focus on our cultivation." He settled into a meditative pose, drawing the rich spiritual energy of the garden into his body.
Ah Yin, now in her physical form, also focused on her cultivation. Her body felt new, unfamiliar, and she wanted to reconnect with it, to get used to the sensations of having a physical form once more.
A few hours passed in peaceful cultivation. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the herbal garden. Finally, Song Qing stood up, stretching his limbs.
"Ah Yin," he said, turning to her, "grab hold of me."
Ah Yin rose gracefully and stepped towards him. Instead of simply taking his hand, she gently wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him close.
Song Qing was momentarily startled. He had expected her to just take his hand for teleportation, but he found himself surprisingly… not displeased by the unexpected embrace. He returned the hug briefly, then focused his mind.
"Void Anchor," he murmured, activating the spatial ability of his Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor. In the next instant, the lush greenery of his herbal garden was replaced by the tranquil beauty of the Great Star Dou Forest, specifically the central region surrounding the Lake of Life.
Xiao Wu, Er Ming, and Da Ming, who were enjoying a peaceful morning by the lake, were startled by Song Qing's sudden appearance. Their eyes widened in surprise, but a moment later, a wave of happiness washed over them as they recognized their friend and sworn brother.
"Brother Qing!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, her bunny ears twitching with excitement.
Er Ming and Da Ming rumbled their greetings, their massive forms shifting slightly in acknowledgment.
Their surprise deepened as they sensed the presence of another powerful being with Song Qing. Their sensitive senses immediately picked up the aura of a hundred thousand year old plant spirit beast… and the unmistakable energy signature of the Blue Silver Emperor emanating from the beautiful woman standing beside him.
Before they could voice their questions, Song Qing reached into the space within his Dark Soul Emperor's Crown and released a familiar spiritual form. A'Rou, Xiao Wu's mother, materialized beside him, her ethereal figure radiating a gentle warmth.
"Mother!" Xiao Wu cried out, her eyes filling with tears of joy as she rushed towards her mother's spiritual form.
A'Rou smiled gently, her spectral arms reaching out to embrace her daughter. It had been a difficult year for Xiao Wu, missing her mother dearly. But Song Qing's weekly visits, allowing them to interact through A'Rou's spiritual body, had brought her immense comfort. The initial raw grief had softened into a bittersweet longing, and their weekly reunions had become a cherished ritual.
In fact, over the past year, Xiao Wu had grown incredibly close to Song Qing. His consistent presence, his kindness, and his genuine affection had forged a strong bond between them. She no longer saw him just as a friend of her brothers, but as a dear companion of her own.
"Brother Qing!" Xiao Wu exclaimed again, pulling away from her mother's embrace to throw her arms around Song Qing in a tight hug. "You came to see us again!"
Song Qing chuckled, returning her hug warmly. "Of course, Xiao Wu. I always keep my promises."
Xiao Wu beamed up at him, her eyes sparkling with affection. "You brought someone new with you," she said, her gaze turning curiously towards Ah Yin.
Before Song Qing could introduce her, Xiao Wu's attention was drawn back to her mother, and the two began to converse animatedly, catching up on the events of the past week.
Over the past year, Xiao Wu's relationship with Song Qing had blossomed. She had started referring to him as "Brother Qing," a term of endearment that spoke volumes of the closeness they had developed. She would often spend hours with him during his weekly visits, showing him her favorite spots in the forest – a hidden field carpeted with vibrant wildflowers, a patch of particularly sweet and juicy carrots, even introducing him to some of her other spirit beast friends who resided in the area.
Song Qing had always been happy to accompany her, enjoying her innocent joy and the peaceful beauty of the Great Star Dou Forest.