Conquering That Great Demon Lord [Xian Ni Fan Fiction] - Chapter58: Admiring Lotuses

Chapter58: Admiring Lotuses

At night, Wang Lin sat on the rocking chair in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. Li Muwan lay beside him, resting her head on his arm, her cheek damp with sweat. The night breeze was refreshing, and Wang Lin held a palm-leaf fan, gently fanning her.

Summer stars twinkled like scattered silver fragments.

“Wan’er, aren’t those stars beautiful?” Wang Lin raised his hand, pointing at the brightest one.

Li Muwan’s starlit eyes brimmed with the shimmering celestial light as she clasped his hand, tracing the line of his arm down to his fingertip direction.

“If Wan’er likes them, I’ll pluck one down for you.”

Li Muwan shifted her gaze away, rolling over atop him. The rocking chair creaked rhythmically under their weight.

Wang Lin, fearing she might fall, protectively encircled her with his arms without interrupting her movement.

Then, Li Muwan leaned forward, bracing herself against his chest. Her slender fingers brushed over Wang Lin’s brow ridge, her curiosity piqued by how his eyes shone even brighter than the stars he had pointed to.

Rather than gazing at the untouchable starlight, she preferred these intimate, luminous eyes right before her.

Her fingers drifted slowly downward from his brow, settling near his eyelids. Her touch was so feather-light it made Wang Lin’s breath grow heavy unconsciously.

His vision narrowed, focusing entirely on her face. As if still unsatisfied, Li Muwan tilted her chin slightly and pressed her lips against his starlit eyes.

Wang Lin reacted with dazed surprise, his voice husky as he murmured, “Wan’er?”

“Wan’er? Do you… remember me now?”

Her actions held no ulterior motive, purely driven by instinctive delight.

Uncomprehending his words, she simply rejoiced in touching what she loved before contentedly withdrawing.

Sitting upright beside him, she lifted her head to gaze at the moon.

Wang Lin remained immersed in the surprise of her initiative, but seeing her ignore him again, he sighed softly at the return to reality. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

The deepening night chill had turned her cheeks and nose cold.

Wang Lin’s large hand warmed her armalso chilledbefore he stood to remove his outer robe and draped it over her. He then drew her into the shelter of his embrace.

Cicadas chirped in the courtyard, mingling with birdcalls and nightingale songs. Beyond these creatures’ chorus, only Wang Lin’s soliloquy echoed, each sentence meeting no response.

Her shoulders hunched forward as she yawned. Wang Lin rose from the rocking chair and hoisted the cross-legged figure onto his shoulder in one smooth motion.

Li Muwan felt herself lifted into solid strength. Though she might have protested, no sound emerged. She offered no resistance, obediently letting him carry her.

His outer robe still enveloped her.

***

In the sweltering June heat, jade-green lotus leaves on the water’s surface cradled glistening dewdrops. Pink-and-white lotuses floated delicately, their fragrance carried on the gentle breeze, enticing butterflies to linger on their petals.

Half-opened buds stood like smiling maidens, dewy and tender, with delicate stamens beaded with moisture.

Wang Lin took Li Muwan to the heart of the lake. She had never seen such splendorlotus leaves sheltering their small boat.

She held several lotus buds and seed pods in her hands, all picked by Wang Lin to amuse her.

Studying the blossoms clasped in her palm, she leaned against his left chest, his strong arm encircling her from behind.

Looking down, he watched her thick lashes flutter.

“Wan’er, do you like these lotuses?”

Hearing his voice, Li Muwan blossomed into a smile, lifting her eyes to meet his tender gaze. She raised the flowers higher for him to see.

The small boat rippled across the water, its wake reflecting the swaying flower branches on the lake’s surface. Butterflies fluttered through the greenery, and Li Muwan, drawn by the movement stirred by the butterflies, rose from Wang Lin’s embrace and steadied herself against the boat’s edge.

Her clear eyes followed the butterflies until they disappeared into the distance. Only then did she withdraw her gaze, turning instead to the path ahead where lotus leaves parted to make way for the boat.

Behind them, the ripples had yet to fade.

“Wan’er, be careful not to fall into the water.”

The lake was cool and refreshing. Wang Lin thought for a moment, pleased to see her so engrossed in the outing. As long as there was no danger, he saw no harm in indulging her whims.

She never did like constraints.

“Wan’er, do you want to play in the water?”

Li Muwan pointed at the lake, her gaze fixed intently on Wang Lin. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his lap. She sat there, unsure what to do next.

Then Wang Lin removed her embroidered shoes and inner socks. Li Muwan eagerly swung her bare legs, anticipation lighting her face.

“Go on, play.” Wang Lin released his hold, and she scooted to the edge of the boat. Her pale calves, now exposed, dipped just below the water’s surface as a refreshing coolness enveloped her.

Wang Lin leaned forward to adjust her skirt, then settled back, resting his left arm behind his head.

Li Muwan splashed her feet in the water. From Wang Lin’s angle, he could only see half of her profile, but her radiant smile struck him deeply. A rare sense of contentment washed over him. He took out a wine flask and drank leisurely, savoring the sight of her playful delight.

Sunlight pierced through the lotus blossoms, glinting off the water droplets she kicked up. As her excitement grew, her splashes became more vigorous, dampening her hair and clothes.

That morning, before they set out, Wang Lin had carefully styled her hair, adorning it with hairpins she once favored. He had also helped her try on several outfits until she was satisfied.

As the boat rocked more noticeably, Wang Lin grew concerned she might fall. He cast a Magical Art to stabilize her balance, ensuring the boat would remain steady even if she swayed vigorously.

But soon, exhaustion from her playfulness began to set in. Her head drooped repeatedly, and she yawned widely, her eyes pleading and her red lips pouting as she glanced back at Wang Lin for help.

Wang Lin raised an eyebrow, his voice tender and doting. “Wan’er, are you tired?”

“Shall we stop playing?”

Li Muwan stared at him, unable to speak. After a moment, she saw Wang Lin open his arms.

“Come here.”

She immediately scrambled back into his embrace, her eyelids already heavy with sleep.

Wang Lin glanced at the sunit was nearly noon, her usual naptime. Noticing her damp clothes, he knew he had to change her before she slept.

“You’re all wet. Let’s change your clothes first, then you can sleep. Just bear with it a little longer, alright?” he coaxed as he began removing her wet garments.

Soon, only a pale apricot undergarment embroidered with lotus blossoms remained, covering her full bosom. The exposed jade-like skin rivaled the white lotuses blooming in the lake.

From his Storage Bag, Wang Lin retrieved the spare clothes he had prepared for hera pink ruqun skirt embroidered with water patterns, edged with golden thread, paired with a light cyan silk outer robe with subtle floral motifs.

Her loose hair cascaded down her back as Li Muwan drowsed against his chest. The wet clothes were draped over the boat’s canopy.

Her hair still damp, Wang Lin felt her soft, even breaths near his ear and knew she had fallen asleep.

The boat drifted with the wind, sometimes slow, sometimes still. The lotus lake seemed endless as they floated aimlessly.

After a long while, Wang Lin lay down beside her, propping himself on one arm, and gazed unceasingly at Li Muwan’s sleeping face.

His disobedient fingertip brushed against the tip of her nose. Seeing her so docile and serene, Wang Lin restrained himself again and again. Though he yearned to merge fiercely with her, he could only watch and hold her, even his kisses measured and controlled. He endured the torment of burning desire, yet willingly guarded her peaceful state, unable to bear disturbing her in the slightest.

In her dream, Li Muwan felt a tickling sensation on her nose and suddenly opened her eyes. Her half-lifted eyelids were drowsy, but the sight of a familiar outline dispelled her sleepiness.

Li Muwan shrank back slightly, yet adored this face intensely. She raised a finger to tap Wang Lin’s nose tip, as if responding to his earlier gesture. Wang Lin blinked following her movement. Li Muwan curved her lips and slid her finger along his nose bridge to the space between his eyebrows.

She pressed gently twice, then traced his sword-like brows.

Still unsatisfied, she cupped Wang Lin’s face with both hands and vigorously rubbed it, changing its shape. Wang Lin visibly saw surprise in her eyes, then she rubbed again, creating another alteration. The shifting expressions on her small face never lost their smile.

Wang Lin knew she had found another novel amusement for herself.

Seeing his face molded into round or strange shapes delighted her further. Yet no matter how she kneaded it, she still preferred his original appearance. Resuming a gentle hold, she lifted her head to place a soft kiss on Wang Lin’s lips.

Wang Lin’s breath hitched, then released in a warm sigh. Just as he sought to respond, Li Muwan withdrew.

Disappointment was palpable, but Li Muwan remained unaware and couldn’t comprehend this emotion of his.

His gentle features twisted into a faint bitter smile. His peripheral gaze fell upon the lotuses nearby. Wang Lin plucked one and tucked it behind her ear.

“My Wan’er is so beautiful.”

Li Muwan, still lying down, instinctively wanted a mirror to admire herself upon seeing the flower Wang Lin had given her. Finding no mirror in the boat canopy, she grew somewhat displeased.

Noticing this, Wang Lin brought her to the boat’s edge and pointed at the lake’s reflection. “Wan’er, look here.”

The lake mirrored their paired figures, a perfect match. She observed her adornmentonly a large lotus flower decorating her hair, with a few loose strands trailing on the water’s surface. Curious about the reflection, she lightly tapped the lake, creating ripples. As if making a great discovery, she quickly turned to pull Wang Lin to see.

Soon the ripples faded, restoring calm. Wang Lin nodded and smiled at her. Li Muwan tapped the water again, stirring new ripples. Each time she tapped, she glanced back for Wang Lin’s reaction, and he affectionately stroked her head.

After several rounds, she grew bored again, her stomach emitting a soft rumble.

“Wan’er is hungry.” Wang Lin’s face flushed with self-reproach for momentarily forgetting to feed her.

The boat carried numerous lotus seed pods. The seeds, clear and sweet, helped reduce internal heat. He took one, shelled a seed, removed its skin and bitter core, and placed it in Li Muwan’s mouth. She slowly savored the slightly sweet and crisp flavor, her expression indicating satisfaction. Wang Lin waited for her to swallow before peeling another for her.

But lotus seeds were tricky to shell. His pace couldn’t keep up with her eating speed. Her adorable, amusing posturemouth open and head tilted upward, waiting to be fedmade his heart itch with tenderness.

Wang Lin felt a playful itch himself. He placed one seed in his own mouth. When Li Muwan received her treat, she chewed intently. Wang Lin kissed her cheek and continued shelling.

Later, when he placed another in her mouth, she didn’t bite it but rolled it playfully with her tongue, her eyes darting mischievously. Wang Lin couldn’t resist joining in the fun.

He pinched her chin, covered her lips with his, and with his tongue tip pried open her lips and teeth, searching inside for the lotus seed she had hidden behind her pearly teeth. With one swift curl, he drew it into his own mouth.

Li Muwan, caught off guard, realized the lotus seed was gone from her mouth and blinked at him with innocent, aggrieved eyes.

Wang Lin raised an eyebrow triumphantly, lightly biting the lotus seed between his teeth and revealing it to Li Muwan in a provocative manner. Curious about how he had taken it, she reached out to pry open his mouth, but Wang Lin evaded her.

She tried to use her wits, knowing only that Wang Lin had kissed her, so she clumsily imitated his actionsparting her lips and probing with her tongue were both awkward, let alone trying to reclaim the lotus seed.

After several attempts, she finally managed to retrieve the lotus seed into her mouth, but by then, Wang Lin’s deep eyes were already filled with desire, hotter than the scorching sun of midsummer. Li Muwan wanted to keep playing, but Wang Lin stopped her, forcibly suppressing his own urges and calming himself, though he couldn’t calm her down.

Li Muwan pestered him relentlessly, and Wang Lin had no choice but to cast a spell. Instantly, the lotus leaves on the lake stirred, and countless koi fish leaped and frolicked among them. As she admired the scene, she soon forgot what had just happened.

***

On the scorching hot day of July 17th, in the small Wang family courtyard.

Li Muwan lounged in a rocking chair in the bedroom, flipping through a Picture Book, while Wang Lin dug a small pit under the peach tree in the yard, preparing to plant a peach tree with her.

She was thoroughly engrossed in the Picture Book, finding the illustrations amusing, though she didn’t fully understand all their meanings.

The window was open, and a gentle breeze drifted in. As Wang Lin’s footsteps drew nearer, the ears hidden by her long hair on the low couch flushed slightly red and twitched.

The half-closed door opened, and Wang Lin’s figure blocked the sunlight. Hearing the noise, Li Muwan refocused on the Picture Book in her hands.

Wang Lin stretched his arms and braced them on either side of her.

“Wan’er, if you look at the Picture Book for too long, your eyes need a rest.” Wang Lin put away the book for her, then bent down to pick up the boots she had kicked off and helped her put them on.

“I’ll take you to plant the peach tree.” He held Li Muwan under her arms and lifted her like a child. It tickled her, making her laugh as she braced herself against his shoulders.

Wang Lin took the shovel, and Li Muwan crouched by the pit, curiously examining the bottom.

Wang Lin gently pulled her farther away. “Wan’er, crouch a bit farther back so you don’t fall in.”

He set down the shovel and, finding her expression utterly adorable, cupped her small face and said seriously, “You mustn’t fall into the pit. Your Senior Brother isn’t trying to plant a little Wan’er.”

Li Muwan blinked and stared at him in a daze.

Wang Lin said earnestly, “Wan’er, today is our wedding day. Do you know what a wedding day means?”

“A wedding day is when a couple confirms their relationship as husband and wife. Wan’er, you once said that every year on our wedding day, you wanted to plant a peach tree with me. I’ve remembered all alongdo you remember?”

She gazed intently at Wang Lin.

“If you don’t remember, it’s alright. You’ll remember everything in time.” Wang Lin’s eyes misted over as he kissed her cheek.

They placed the sapling in the pit, and Wang Lin held Li Muwan’s hand, guiding them together to use the shovel and fill the pit with soil from the edges.

“When the peach blossoms bloom again next year, we’ll make plenty of peach blossom wine. Wan’er loves to drink it.” Once the pit was filled, Wang Lin used a wooden ladle to pour water over it.

Li Muwan watched as the water seeped into the soil and reached out to grab it, her nails digging into the mud. Unnoticed, the hem of her dress had also gotten dirty, trampled into the wet soil by her own embroidered shoes.

“Wash your hands.” Wang Lin took her wrist and rinsed off the mud.

Evening was approaching, and the chickens crowed loudly. Wang Lin went to prepare their feed, while Li Muwan played alone in the yard. The swing on the peach branch swayed in the wind, and curious, she climbed onto it herself. With a push of her legs, the swing began to sway.

She swung the swing with even more vigor, the arcs growing higher as her radiant smile blazed like the midday sun, gradually softening in the twilight glow.

“Swing slower, Wan’er. It’ll hurt if you fall,” Wang Lin cautioned while counting the chickens in the coop. He slaughtered one every few days, and having nearly finished the previous batch, he had bought some younger ones to raise.

The swing behind him gradually slowed, surrounded by a faint aura of Spiritual Power that constantly safeguarded Li Muwan.

Smoke curled from the kitchen chimney where water boiled in the pot. Li Muwan, drenched in sweat from play, had her temples soaked. Wang Lin adjusted the water temperature in the bathing tub.

The merry figure on the swing refused to come down, so Wang Lin simply scooped her up and carried her back.

“Wind will pick up later. Getting chilled after sweating will make you catch cold,” he said gently, lifting then lowering the bathhouse curtain.

Steam began swirling inside. He first wiped the sweat from Li Muwan, then tested the water temperature again.

Seeing the bathing tub, Li Muwan understood what was coming. She clumsily tugged at the waist tie of her dress until it loosened, the garment slipping down to reveal her flat abdomen with elegant curves along the sides.

Noting her anticipation for the bath, Wang Lin averted his gaze from her jade-white legs barely concealed by the fabric. He gently removed her outer robe until only a pink-white undergarment remained, haphazardly covering her full curves.

He couldn’t ignore the surge of desire, but she was his beloved wife. No matter how much he yearned, he would never do anything to harm her.

Li Muwan stepped into the tub, hot water rising above her chest as her hair floated on the surface. Wang Lin took a dry cloth, dampened and wrung it out before wiping her face. The moist cloth trailed down her neck and glided over her shoulders, making him swallow hard. The softness beneath tested his restraint each time.

He moved lightly, but Li Muwan suddenly seized his wrist, took the cloth, and imitating his actions, wrung and unfolded it to wipe his face.

Wang Lin froze. Sometimes her behavior didn’t seem entirely memoryless, always catching him off guard and stirring his recollections.

“Wan’er…”

Beside her bathing tub stood another for Wang Lin. He bathed simultaneously to save time while she soaked.

Seeing him enter his tub and lean back with closed eyes to enjoy the therapeutic heat – the herbal-infused bath meant to nourish her body – Li Muwan watched quietly.

They needed to soak for half an hour for the treatment to take effect.

Wang Lin meditated, considering how Li Muwan’s physical condition had significantly improved lately, with her sleeping spells shortening.

His contemplation broke at the sound of splashing water. When he looked up, Li Muwan was already stepping into his tub with one foot, her soaked undergarment clinging to her body, the peaked buds faintly visible through the fabric. Her fullness swayed gently with movement.

Hoarse-voiced and fearing she might fall, Wang Lin steadied her. “Wan’er, what are you doing?”

She brought her other foot into the tub, wanting to soak beside Wang Lin. Familiarity guided her as she slipped into his embrace and settled down. Wang Lin’s bare upper body glistened with droplets, only a white cloth concealing his lower half.

When their skin touched and pressed together, beads of sweat densely formed on his forehead. Li Muwan simply enjoyed being close to him, finding skin-to-skin contact particularly comforting. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. Though he thought to push her away, he found himself utterly incapable of refusing her.

“Wan’er, do you know what you’re doing?”

The hot bath made her drowsy, and she leaned against his shoulder, on the verge of sleep. Wang Lin supported her with his arm, gazing at her flushed, feverish little face, unable to resist the urge to taste it. Her lips were moist and glossy, stirring a restless palpitation in Wang Lin’s heart. The familiar scent and touch in his embrace clung so closely to him.

He lifted Li Muwan’s chin, forcing her to tilt her head back, while she wrapped her arms around his neck, unsure of his intentions.

His chest pressed down upon her as he leaned in, gently descending upon her red lips. He held them for a long while without moving, simply savoring her breath, yet not daring to probe furtherany more would risk breaking the delicate tension.

Li Muwan, suffocated by his embrace, pushed him lightly. The slight force pulled him back from the depths of his turmoil. His eyes were heavy with mist, bloodshot, with a seductive flush at the corners, his expression pained.

Cupping her face, bitterness welled up in him, indescribable. Li Muwan seized the chance to catch her breath. She didn’t reject this feeling, but seeing the anguish in Wang Lin’s eyes, she didn’t know how to soothe it, only mimicking his actions.

She tilted her head up and drew closer, planting a kiss on his lips. Unsure if it was right or wrong, but seeing no anger in Wang Lin’s reaction, she added another light peck.

Wang Lin’s heart swirled with sorrow and joyher kiss could ease his pain, yet it also reignited his emotions.

Suddenly, the water churned violently. He rose abruptly, pressing Li Muwan down, but his arm cradled her back, preventing her from sinking.

Burning with restless heat, he murmured, “Once Wan’er wakes, you’ll have to repay it all.”

He bit down on the startled Li Muwan, leaving a faint red mark on her pink shoulder.

Li Muwan simply gazed at his face and smiled.

“You truly know nothing,” Wang Lin said helplessly.

“The water’s cold.” He lifted her out of the bathtub, draped one of his robes over her, and carried her from the corridor into the inner chamber. There, he found a clean nightgown and changed her into it.

Her hair ends were damp from the water. After drying them, Wang Lin handed her the Picture Book, but Li Muwan unusually tossed it aside.

“What’s wrong, Wan’er?”

Li Muwan pulled him to sit down. As Wang Lin settled by the bed, she nestled into his embrace, her arm encircling him as he held her protectively.

Wang Lin thought she merely sought a hug and tightened his hold. Li Muwan repeatedly traced his handsome features with her fingers, the furrow of his brows evoking an inexplicable, indescribable emotion in her. Her tender fingers gently stroked, her eyes filled with pity.

Since she woke, Wang Lin had rarely seen such an expression in her eyes, but under her touch, his brow relaxed.

“Wan’er, can you sense my pain and pity me?” Wang Lin’s nose brushed against her cheek.

She tilted her head, gazing at him blankly, her fingertips drifting down his nose bridge, aimlessly tracing the lines of his brow.

Wang Lin sat quietly, letting her examine him until she grew tired and satisfied. Only then did he pick up the Picture Book and begin reading it to himself.