Utm skipped
"His Imperial Majesty will be overjoyed. You have restored his beloved daughter when all our arts failed."
Wu Lin adjusted his sleeves with practiced nonchalance. "Yes, well, inform His Majesty that our agreement is now fulfilled. Three tedious imperial problems solved, as promised. Now, if you'll excuse us, I find miraculous healing rather depleting and require immediate refreshment and rest."
As they departed the princess's quarters, Wu Lin maintained his characteristic air of bored superiority, though a careful observer might have noticed a slight tremor in his hands and an unusual pallor beneath his perfect complexion. His divine maids certainly noticed, exchanging concerned glances behind his back.
Once safely inside his palanquin and away from imperial eyes, Wu Lin's facade crumbled. He slumped against the cushions, exhaustion etching lines in his typically flawless face.
"Master!" Lucoa exclaimed, immediately sliding beside him and pulling his head against her abundant bosom. "You're completely drained! Why didn't you say something?"
Wu Lin allowed himself to be cradled against her, an admission of weakness he would never have permitted before imperial observers. "Saying things requires effort," he mumbled against her chest. "Effort is tedious."
Vados leaned forward, her celestial senses evaluating his condition with analytical precision. "You've depleted your core essence significantly. What exactly did you do to anchor the princess?"
"I haven't the faintest idea," Wu Lin admitted, his voice muffled against Lucoa's comforting warmth. "I simply... saw where she was supposed to be in reality's pattern and... pushed her there."
Reinhardia, who had been running alongside the palanquin, thrust her head through the curtains with uncharacteristic alarm. "Master, your spiritual aura is fluctuating dangerously. This goes beyond mere fatigue."
"So dramatic, Sword Saint," Wu Lin murmured, though he made no move to extract himself from Lucoa's embrace. "It's just a touch of existential weariness. Nothing a proper massage and perhaps a breastfeeding session won't fix."
Despite his flippant response, the divine maids recognized the seriousness of his condition. By the time they reached the Phoenix Pavilion, Wu Lin could barely stand, requiring Reinhardia to carry him to his chambers like a child.
Battle Mistress Mei Lian, who had been coordinating security during the healing, hurried ahead to prepare the bedchamber. To everyone's surprise, she had already drawn a restorative bath infused with rare medicinal herbs when they arrived.
"Blood Moon Sect emergency protocols," she explained briskly at their questioning looks. "For qi depletion after major spiritual exertion."
Wu Lin, barely conscious now, was carefully undressed by Vados while Reinhardia supported his weight. Together, they lowered him into the herb-infused water, which immediately began to steam and glow with a subtle golden light.
"The master performed reality anchoring without any formal training," Vados explained to Mei Lian as they worked. "A feat that would exhaust even advanced immortal cultivators."
Mei Lian's eyes widened. "That's... impossible. Reality anchoring requires decades of specialized cultivation techniques."
"Apparently not," Reinhardia replied dryly, carefully supporting Wu Lin's head above the water. "Our master continues to defy conventional limitations."
Lucoa, meanwhile, had stripped down to her undergarments without hesitation and slipped into the bath behind Wu Lin, cradling his limp form against her chest. "I'll channel some of my cosmic energy to help stabilize him," she explained, though her eager expression suggested she wasn't entirely displeased with the arrangement.
"Is that... necessary?" Mei Lian asked, a flush rising to her cheeks at this intimate display.
"Absolutely," Vados confirmed, her serene expression betraying no embarrassment. "Cosmic energy transfer requires direct skin contact, and Lucoa's chaos energy is particularly effective for spiritual restoration."
Wu Lin stirred slightly, his eyes opening to narrow slits. "So... tired," he murmured. "Need... restoration..."
"I know exactly what you need, Master," Lucoa cooed, shifting him slightly so his head rested directly against her bare chest. "Just like when you get stressed. My special treatment always helps, remember?"
Before Mei Lian's astonished eyes, Lucoa proceeded to guide Wu Lin's mouth to her breast, cradling his head with tender care as he began to suckle weakly. The Battle Mistress's face flamed crimson, but neither Vados nor Reinhardia showed any surprise at this unusual medicinal technique.
"The chaos dragon's essence contains powerful restorative properties," Vados explained matter-of-factly, noting Mei Lian's shock. "This is the most direct method of transfer."
"I... see," Mei Lian replied faintly, unable to tear her eyes away from the intimate scene.
Reinhardia moved to prepare the bedchamber for Wu Lin's recovery, while Vados began mixing additional herbal concoctions at a side table. This left Mei Lian standing awkwardly by the bath, uncertain whether to remain or give them privacy.
"Battle Mistress," Vados called, sensing her discomfort, "would you assist me with these preparations? We need to create a restorative environment for when the Master is ready to leave the bath."
Grateful for the distraction, Mei Lian moved to help, though she found her gaze continually drawn back to the bath where Lucoa nursed the exhausted young master with evident devotion.
The medicinal bath and Lucoa's unique restorative technique proved remarkably effective. Within an hour, color had returned to Wu Lin's face, and his breathing had steadied to a normal rhythm. When they finally helped him from the bath and into his bed, he was conscious enough to issue his usual stream of demanding instructions.
"My skin feels parched," he complained weakly. "Vados, the celestial lotus oil massage. Reinhardia, ensure the room temperature remains precisely optimal. Lucoa, continue your restorative techniques. And Battle Mistress..."
Mei Lian straightened to attention. "Yes, Young Master Zhao?"
A hint of Wu Lin's usual mischievous smile touched his lips. "You seem fascinated by our unusual household practices. Perhaps you'd care to observe more closely? For educational purposes, of course."
The Battle Mistress's cheeks colored again, but to everyone's surprise, she gave a stiff nod. "If it would assist in your recovery, Young Master."
"How dedicated," Wu Lin murmured as Vados began applying fragrant oil to his skin with practiced strokes. "I find myself increasingly impressed by your commitment to my wellbeing, Battle Mistress."
What followed was an elaborate ritual of care that would have scandalized most of imperial society. Vados worked methodically from Wu Lin's feet upward, her skilled fingers finding every tension point and energy blockage. Lucoa, having donned a loose robe that did little to contain her generous curves, positioned herself at the head of the bed, continuing to offer her "special treatment" whenever Wu Lin indicated a need for additional restoration.
Reinhardia maintained her warrior's dignity throughout, though her usual stoic expression softened whenever her eyes fell on Wu Lin's face. She focused on practical matters—adjusting pillows, monitoring his pulse, ensuring the room's energy flow remained optimal for healing.
Most surprising was Mei Lian's gradual integration into this intimate care circle. Initially rigid with embarrassment, she slowly relaxed as she observed the genuine concern and devotion the divine maids showed their master. When Vados requested her assistance in turning Wu Lin to access his back, the Battle Mistress complied without hesitation, her warrior's hands unexpectedly gentle.
"You have excellent technique, Battle Mistress," Wu Lin murmured as her fingers inadvertently brushed a sensitive spot. "Have you practiced medicinal massage before?"
"Combat recovery protocols," Mei Lian explained, her voice carefully professional despite the intimate setting. "The Blood Moon Sect trains all disciples in basic healing techniques."
"How fortunate for me," Wu Lin replied. "Perhaps you should assist Vados more directly. Four hands are certainly better than two for a proper restorative massage."
To everyone's surprise, including her own, Mei Lian nodded and accepted a vial of lotus oil from Vados. Soon, she was working alongside the celestial attendant, their hands moving in complementary patterns across Wu Lin's back.
"You're a natural," Vados observed quietly, guiding Mei Lian's fingers to a particular meridian point. "Press here, just so. Feel how the energy responds?"
Mei Lian's eyes widened as she sensed the subtle flow of life force beneath her fingertips. "It's... vibrant. Despite his exhaustion, his core essence is remarkably powerful."
"Indeed," Vados agreed. "Our master continues to surprise us with hidden depths."
From his position face-down on the bed, Wu Lin made a contented sound. "Less talking, more massaging. My cosmic heroics have earned me thorough pampering."
The care ritual continued well into the evening, each divine maid taking turns to address different aspects of Wu Lin's recovery. When night fell, he had regained enough strength to demand his evening toilette.
"Who shall attend me tonight?" he asked, sitting up against his pillows with reasonable steadiness.
"I shall," Reinhardia volunteered immediately, surprising everyone with her eagerness. Typically, toilet duty rotated among the divine maids according to a schedule Vados had established.
Wu Lin raised an eyebrow. "How unusually enthusiastic, Sword Saint. Very well, you may assist me. The rest of you should prepare my sleeping arrangements. I expect at least seventeen pillows of varying firmness and absolute silence throughout the compound."
As Reinhardia helped Wu Lin to his private commode, Mei Lian finally took her leave, bowing formally before departing for her guard post outside his chambers. Once the door closed behind her, Lucoa bounced over to Vados with a knowing grin.
"She's totally falling for Master too!" the chaos dragon declared gleefully. "Did you see how she couldn't stop staring during the bath ritual?"
"The Battle Mistress is... adapting to our household dynamics," Vados replied diplomatically, though a small smile suggested she shared Lucoa's assessment. "It's a significant adjustment for someone from a traditional cultivation background."
"She'll be requesting toilet duty next," Lucoa predicted with a giggle. "Just like Reinhardia suddenly volunteering. Remember how scandalized she was when she first had to do it? Now look at her—practically fighting for the privilege!"
In the private bathroom, Reinhardia was indeed performing her duties with unexpected dedication. Kneeling before Wu Lin as he sat on his jade commode, she maintained perfect composure while providing the intimate assistance his weakened state required.
"You've grown remarkably comfortable with these duties, Sword Saint," Wu Lin observed, studying her face with genuine curiosity. "I recall your initial reluctance quite vividly."
Reinhardia met his gaze directly as she attended to him. "My perspective has... evolved, Master."
"Evolved how, precisely?" Wu Lin pressed, genuinely interested in her answer.
The Sword Saint was silent for a moment, her hands continuing their careful ministrations. "I have come to understand that true service encompasses all needs, with no task being beneath one's dignity. There is... honor in the complete dedication of oneself."
Wu Lin nodded thoughtfully. "A surprisingly profound perspective on what is, essentially, wiping my royal backside."
A small smile touched Reinhardia's lips—a sight that had once been exceedingly rare but had become increasingly common. "You have a gift for reducing cosmic principles to their most basic elements, Master."
"It's my special talent," Wu Lin agreed as she helped him rise and adjust his robes. "That, and apparently rearranging reality patterns without any formal training. Speaking of which..." His expression grew more serious. "What happened today, Reinhardia? Truth, not platitudes."
The Sword Saint considered her response carefully as she washed her hands in a basin of rose-scented water. "You displayed abilities that should be impossible for a mortal without extensive cultivation. Reality anchoring is an advanced cosmic technique that most immortals cannot master even after centuries of practice."
"Yet I performed it instinctively," Wu Lin mused. "How very inconvenient. I've built my entire lifestyle around having no special abilities whatsoever beyond exceptional beauty and luck."
"Perhaps that is changing," Reinhardia suggested gently. "The binding may have awakened something within you."
Wu Lin made a face of exaggerated dismay. "How tedious. Special powers invariably lead to tedious responsibilities. Next you'll suggest I should train and develop these abilities."
"Would that be so terrible?" Reinhardia asked, helping him back toward the bedchamber. "You showed remarkable aptitude with minimal effort. Imagine what you might achieve with even a little focused attention."
"Focused attention is my least favorite thing," Wu Lin complained, though there was a thoughtful undertone to his typically dismissive response. "Almost as tedious as responsibility."
When they returned to the main chamber, they found Lucoa had already arranged herself on Wu Lin's massive bed, lounging invitingly against the promised seventeen pillows. Vados had prepared a sleeping draught of rare herbs and celestial essence, which she offered in a jade cup.
"This will help restore your energy while you sleep, Master," she explained. "Though I recommend additional... therapeutic measures throughout the night."
"How conscientious," Wu Lin remarked dryly, accepting the cup. "And I suppose Lucoa has volunteered to provide these additional therapeutic measures?"
The chaos dragon nodded enthusiastically. "My cosmic energy will help replenish yours faster than any herbal remedy! Plus, I'm super warm and cuddly!"
"A compelling medical argument," Wu Lin agreed, drinking the draught in a single swallow before allowing Reinhardia to help him into bed.
To everyone's surprise, he patted the space on his other side, looking directly at Vados. "You should join us, celestial attendant. Your calming energy would complement Lucoa's more... chaotic restoration techniques."
Vados blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the invitation. In all the months since the binding, she had maintained a certain professional distance during sleeping arrangements, allowing Lucoa to serve as Wu Lin's primary night companion due to her naturally affectionate nature.
"If you wish, Master," she replied, her usual composure returning quickly.
"I do wish it," Wu Lin confirmed, then glanced at Reinhardia who stood awkwardly by the bedside. "And you as well, Sword Saint. I find myself wanting all my divine maids close tonight. For medicinal purposes, naturally."
"Naturally," Reinhardia echoed with a raised eyebrow, though she made no objection as she carefully removed her outer armor, leaving only her light undergarments.
Soon, Wu Lin found himself in the unprecedented position of being surrounded by all three divine maids in his massive bed—Lucoa cuddled against his right side with characteristic enthusiasm, Vados positioned with elegant precision on his left, and Reinhardia somewhat stiffly accommodated at the foot of the bed.
"This is highly unusual, Master," Vados observed, though she made no move to create more distance between them.
"I've had an unusual day," Wu Lin replied, already feeling the effects of the sleeping draught. "Saving imperial princesses from dimensional drift, discovering inconvenient cosmic abilities, enduring elaborate medicinal rituals... I believe I've earned some eccentricity in my sleeping arrangements."
"No arguments here!" Lucoa declared happily, snuggling closer and guiding his head to rest against her chest. "This is the perfect healing arrangement. I can feed you cosmic energy whenever you need throughout the night."
Vados and Reinhardia exchanged glances over Wu Lin's increasingly drowsy form, a silent communication passing between them. Then, in a synchronized movement that suggested prior agreement, they both shifted closer, creating a protective formation around their master.
"Sleep, Master," Vados murmured, her hand gently stroking his hair. "We will guard your recovery."
"All three of you?" Wu Lin mumbled, fighting to keep his eyes open. "Who's watching the door? The Battle Mistress will be scandalized if she checks on us..."
"Let her be scandalized," Reinhardia replied with unexpected firmness. "Your wellbeing takes precedence over propriety."
As Wu Lin drifted into sleep, cradled in divine arms and surrounded by celestial warmth, his last conscious thought was a bemused recognition that something fundamental had shifted in his relationship with his divine maids. They were no longer merely bound servants fulfilling their cosmic obligation, but something far more complex and interesting.
And Wu Lin, who valued interesting experiences above all else, found this development not tedious in the slightest.
He awoke to sunlight filtering through silk curtains and the unusual sensation of multiple warm bodies pressed against him. Opening his eyes, Wu Lin found himself still enclosed in the protective triangle formed by his divine maids, all three of whom appeared to be in various states of sleep.
Lucoa, predictably, had wrapped herself around him like an affectionate serpent, one leg thrown over his and her arms encircling his torso. Her face was peaceful in sleep, her usual boundless energy temporarily contained. Vados, even in repose, maintained a certain elegant composure, though her usual perfect posture had relaxed enough to allow her head to rest against Wu Lin's shoulder. Most surprising was Reinhardia, who had somehow migrated from the foot of the bed to curl protectively around his other side, one arm draped across his chest in an unexpectedly possessive gesture.
Wu Lin lay still, studying each of their faces with newfound curiosity. These cosmic beings, bound to his service through a chance convergence of circumstances, had become something he had never anticipated—genuinely devoted to him, not merely because of the binding, but through some organic evolution of feeling.
The realization was both flattering and slightly alarming. Wu Lin had spent his life cultivating an existence of perfect self-indulgence, avoiding attachment as tediously complicating and effortful. Yet somehow, he had acquired not just servants but devoted companions who appeared to genuinely care for his wellbeing beyond their cosmic obligation.
Most disconcerting was his own response to this realization—not the dismissive boredom with which he typically regarded emotional complications, but a warm, unfamiliar sensation that might, alarmingly, be genuine affection.
"How inconvenient," he murmured to himself.
The soft words were enough to rouse Vados, whose celestial senses were attuned to his every sound. Her eyes opened immediately, clear and alert without any trace of lingering sleep.
"Good morning, Master," she greeted quietly. "How do you feel?"
Wu Lin considered the question more seriously than he normally would. "Physically? Much improved. The combination of medicinal bath, Lucoa's special treatment, and whatever was in that sleeping draught appears to have been effective."
"And non-physically?" Vados inquired with uncharacteristic directness.
Wu Lin raised an eyebrow. "What an unusually probing question, Vados. Are you developing an interest in my emotional state? How charmingly mortal of you."
A faint color touched the celestial attendant's perfect cheeks. "Your complete wellbeing is my concern, Master. Yesterday's events were... significant. Both in terms of your displayed abilities and the potential ramifications."
"Ah yes, my inconvenient cosmic talents," Wu Lin sighed. "Let's not discuss those until I've had breakfast and at least three cups of tea. Speaking of which..." He glanced meaningfully at the still-sleeping forms of Lucoa and Reinhardia.
Vados nodded, carefully extracting herself from the bed without disturbing the others. "I shall prepare your morning refreshments, Master. The usual selection?"
"With additional restorative elements," Wu Lin confirmed. "Yesterday's heroics have left me famished."
As Vados departed to arrange breakfast, Wu Lin found himself alone with his sleeping divine companions. He took advantage of this rare moment of privacy to study them more carefully, noting the subtle ways their expressions softened in sleep. Reinhardia, particularly, looked almost vulnerable without her usual warrior's vigilance—a sight Wu Lin found unexpectedly appealing.
As if sensing his regard, the Sword Saint's eyes fluttered open. Unlike Vados's immediate alertness, Reinhardia awakened more gradually, her gaze unfocused for a moment before sharpening with recognition.
"Master," she greeted, then seemed to suddenly realize her position—curled intimately against him, her arm draped possessively across his chest. She moved to withdraw, but Wu Lin caught her wrist.
"Stay," he commanded, though his tone was gentler than his usual imperious demands. "I find your warmth... therapeutic."
Confusion flickered across Reinhardia's face, followed by a cautious acceptance as she settled back against him. "Did you rest well, Master?"
"Exceedingly," Wu Lin replied. "Though I had the strangest dreams. Something about cosmic patterns and reality threads. Most tediously metaphysical."
Reinhardia's expression turned thoughtful. "A side effect of your reality manipulation, perhaps. Such abilities often come with expanded perception."
Wu Lin made a face. "Expanded perception sounds dreadfully effortful. I much prefer my comfortably limited awareness of cosmic complexities."
"And yet," Reinhardia observed quietly, "you instinctively understood how to anchor the princess when master cultivators and imperial physicians failed."
"An inconvenient talent," Wu Lin reiterated. "Let's not make a habit of it. Heroic exertion is exhausting and interferes with my carefully cultivated regimen of perfect indolence."
Before Reinhardia could respond, Lucoa stirred on Wu Lin's other side, awakening with her characteristic enthusiasm. Unlike the others' relatively dignified transitions to wakefulness, she went from asleep to fully animated in an instant, squeezing Wu Lin in an enthusiastic hug that pressed his face firmly against her generous bosom.
"Good morning, Master!" she exclaimed, seemingly unaware that she was suffocating him. "You look so much better! My special treatment worked perfectly!"
"Can't... breathe..." Wu Lin managed to protest, his voice muffled against her chest.
Reinhardia reached across to extract him from Lucoa's enthusiastic embrace. "Perhaps allow the Master to breathe, Lucoa. His restoration is still ongoing."
"Oops!" Lucoa giggled, releasing him but immediately beginning to stroke his hair instead. "I'm just so happy to see you looking healthy again! You were so pale yesterday, like a beautiful ghost prince!"
"I prefer being a beautiful living prince," Wu Lin remarked dryly, though he made no move to discourage her affectionate petting. "Speaking of yesterday's events, I trust we're keeping my unexpected cosmic abilities between ourselves? I have no desire to add 'miracle healer' to my résumé. It would attract tediously needy supplicants."
"Of course, Master," Reinhardia assured him. "Though the Emperor will certainly draw his own conclusions about how you healed his daughter."
"Let him wonder," Wu Lin replied dismissively. "Monarchs benefit from occasional mystification. Keeps them humble."
The door opened to admit Vados carrying an elaborate breakfast tray, followed by a surprisingly domestic scene of Battle Mistress Mei Lian bearing a teapot and cups. The Battle Mistress wore her usual crimson maid uniform, though she had somehow managed to make even this frivolous attire appear military in its precision.
"Good morning, Young Master Zhao," Mei Lian greeted formally, carefully averting her eyes from the intimate tableau on the bed. "I trust you rested well?"
"Excellently, thank you," Wu Lin replied, making no move to extract himself from his divine companions or adjust to a more dignified position. "Though I find myself curious about your presence, Battle Mistress. Serving tea is hardly within your security purview."
A faint color touched Mei Lian's cheeks. "Lady Vados suggested that, given your condition, maximum attention to your comfort was warranted from all household members."
"How thoughtful," Wu Lin remarked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "And are you finding this expanded role to your liking, Battle Mistress? Perhaps you'd care to join the rotation for my morning bath attendance?"
The flush on Mei Lian's face deepened, but to everyone's surprise, she gave a small, stiff nod. "If it would contribute to your security and wellbeing, Young Master."
Wu Lin blinked, genuinely caught off guard by her acceptance. He had expected embarrassed refusal or dignified evasion, not willing compliance. "Well," he managed after a moment. "How... unexpectedly accommodating of you."
Vados smoothly redirected the conversation as she arranged the breakfast tray across Wu Lin's lap. "I've prepared a selection of restorative foods, Master. The Emperor has sent inquiries about your health this morning. Word of your exertion has reached him, though not the specific nature of your abilities."
"Tell him I'm resting comfortably after my heroic efforts," Wu Lin instructed, sampling a morsel of celestial peach preserves with evident appreciation. "And that I expect appropriate imperial gratitude for restoring his daughter. Perhaps in the form of additional pavilions or rare treasures."
"Already arranged," Vados informed him with a small smile. "A caravan of gifts arrived at dawn—rare cultivation manuscripts, celestial-grade materials, and exotic delicacies from across the empire. His Imperial Majesty appears genuinely grateful."
"As he should be," Wu Lin declared, accepting a cup of steaming tea from Mei Lian. "Though I find imperial favor far less interesting than the current evolution of our household dynamics."
He gestured to encompass the unusual tableau—himself still in bed surrounded by his divine maids, with the Battle Mistress now serving tea in a maid uniform. "We've become quite the unconventional establishment, haven't we? Three divine beings, a legendary warrior maiden, and one exceptionally magnificent young master, all engaged in this curious domestic arrangement."
"Domestic?" Reinhardia repeated, testing the word with evident uncertainty.
"What else would you call it?" Wu Lin challenged. "You've all progressed well beyond mere servitude. Vados prepares my meals with thoughtful attention to my preferences, not just because she's bound to. Lucoa's enthusiasm for physical affection clearly exceeds cosmic obligation. You, Sword Saint, volunteered for toilet duty with suspicious eagerness. And our Battle Mistress..." he turned his gaze to Mei Lian, who stood rigidly by the bedside, "...appears to be undergoing a fascinating transformation from reluctant guard to integrated household member."
A heavy silence fell over the room as each woman processed this direct acknowledgment of their changing relationships.
Lucoa, predictably, was the first to break the tension. "Of course we're more than servants!" she declared cheerfully, hugging Wu Lin from the side. "I've been telling you for ages that I adore you, Master! It's not just the binding—I genuinely think you're the most delightful mortal I've ever encountered!"
"How flattering," Wu Lin replied, though his tone lacked its usual sardonic edge. "And the rest of you? Do you share Lucoa's enthusiastic assessment?"
Vados considered her response with characteristic thoughtfulness. "The binding created an initial obligation, Master. But over time, that obligation has... evolved into something more nuanced. I find myself concerned with your happiness beyond the requirements of my servitude."
"A diplomatic way of admitting attachment," Wu Lin observed. "And you, Sword Saint? Has your warrior's pride finally accepted its fall from cosmic battlefield to royal bathroom attendant?"
Reinhardia met his gaze directly, her usual stoicism giving way to unexpected candor. "I have discovered that there is honor in service freely given, not merely duty fulfilled. And that you, Master, are worthy of such service—not despite your frivolous nature, but because beneath it lies something... extraordinary."
Wu Lin blinked, genuinely caught off guard by the depth of her response. Before he could formulate a suitably dismissive reply, his attention turned to Mei Lian, who stood listening to these exchanges with carefully controlled expression.
"And you, Battle Mistress? Where do you stand in this curious household?"
Mei Lian straightened, military discipline evident in every line of her body despite the maid uniform. "I am... still determining my position, Young Master Zhao. But I find myself increasingly... invested... in your wellbeing and the harmony of this unusual household."
"How diplomatically phrased," Wu Lin remarked, though his smile suggested he understood the sentiment behind her careful words. "Well, this has been a fascinating morning conversation. Far more emotionally substantive than I typically prefer before midday. Perhaps we should return to more comfortable topics—like my breakfast, bath, and the day's schedule of pampered indulgence."
The atmosphere in the room lightened perceptibly as everyone gratefully returned to their familiar roles. Vados began describing the day's planned activities, Lucoa continued her affectionate attention to Wu Lin's hair and shoulders, Reinhardia rose to prepare his bathing chamber, and Mei Lian resumed her more comfortable security assessment.
Yet something had shifted irrevocably with this morning's frank acknowledgment. The pretense of mere cosmic servitude had been set aside, revealing the more complex reality of genuine attachment that had developed among them all.
As Wu Lin allowed himself to be fed choice morsels by an enthusiastic Lucoa, he reflected that this evolution, while inconveniently emotional, was at least proving thoroughly entertaining. And in his carefully constructed philosophy of perfect self-indulgence, entertainment value ranked only slightly below personal comfort in importance.
"Vados," he announced as he finished his tea, "I believe I'm sufficiently recovered for a full morning bathing ritual. All attendants shall participate, including our Battle Mistress, who has expressed such touching concern for my wellbeing."
The faint color that rose in Mei Lian's cheeks contrasted delightfully with her attempt at stoic acceptance. "As you wish, Young Master."
"Indeed," Wu Lin agreed with a satisfied smile. "As I wish. That is, after all, the foundation of our entire arrangement, isn't it?"
And yet, as his divine maids and battle-hardened guard moved to prepare his morning rituals with evident care and attention, Wu Lin found himself contemplating an uncomfortable truth—that perhaps, in some small but significant way, he had begun to care about their wishes as well.
"How inconveniently sentimental," he murmured to himself. But for once, the prospect of such complication didn't seem entirely tedious.
Chapter 9: The Bath of Revelation
The morning bathing ritual took on new significance following the frank conversation in Wu Lin's bedchamber. As the divine maids and Battle Mistress prepared the elaborate bath, there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere—a heightened awareness of the emotional undercurrents that had been acknowledged but not fully explored.
Steam rose from the massive jade tub, perfumed with rare herbs and flower essences that Vados had carefully selected for their restorative properties. Lucoa bustled about with characteristic enthusiasm, adding perhaps more oils than strictly necessary and causing small whirlpools of fragrance to form on the water's surface.
"The bath is ready, Master!" she announced cheerfully as Wu Lin entered, already disrobed and wrapped in a silk robe of celestial blue. "I added extra dragon-blessing essence today—it'll make your skin absolutely luminous!"
"Excellent," Wu Lin nodded, allowing Vados to remove his robe with practiced grace. As the silk slipped from his shoulders, he stood unabashedly naked before his attendants, completely at ease with their gazes upon him. "I expect nothing less than transcendent luminosity after yesterday's tedious heroics."
Mei Lian, participating in her first full bathing ritual, stood somewhat rigidly by the tub's edge, her eyes carefully fixed on a point on the wall rather than on Wu Lin's unclothed form. The contrast between her military bearing and maid uniform created an endearing dissonance that Wu Lin found thoroughly entertaining.
"Battle Mistress," he called, enjoying the faint color that rose to her cheeks as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "You appear uncertain of your role in this ritual. Perhaps Vados can instruct you in proper bathing protocols?"
Vados stepped forward with her usual serene composure. "Of course, Master. Battle Mistress, if you would assist with washing the Master's back while I tend to his hair? Lucoa will handle his chest and arms, and Reinhardia his legs and feet."
"I... yes, of course," Mei Lian replied, accepting a washing cloth soaked in fragrant oils. Her warrior's hands, calloused from years of sword practice, seemed strangely at odds with the delicate task before her.
Wu Lin descended into the steaming bath with a contented sigh, settling against the jade edge as his attendants took their positions around him. Vados knelt at the head of the tub, her long fingers immediately beginning to work fragrant shampoo into his ebony locks with precise, methodical strokes.
Lucoa happily plunged her hands into the water, washing Wu Lin's chest with enthusiastic circular motions that occasionally dipped lower than strictly necessary. "You still have some tension here, Master," she observed, her fingers tracing the subtle musculature of his abdomen. "Shall I use my special technique to release it?"
"If you must," Wu Lin replied with feigned disinterest, though the slight quirk of his lips betrayed his anticipation.
Without hesitation, Lucoa leaned forward, pressing her lips directly to the center of his chest in a lingering kiss that left a tingling warmth. "Energy transfer," she explained cheerfully to a wide-eyed Mei Lian. "Much more effective skin-to-skin!"
Reinhardia, kneeling at the foot of the tub, had begun washing Wu Lin's feet with practiced efficiency. Her warrior's hands moved with surprising gentleness over his ankles and calves, occasionally pressing specific meridian points that sent pleasant waves of relaxation up his legs.
"Your meridian flow has stabilized since yesterday," she observed, her fingers tracing an invisible energy line up his calf. "The healing you performed depleted your core essence substantially, but it's recovering well."
"Naturally," Wu Lin replied, closing his eyes in contentment as Vados's fingers massaged his scalp with perfect pressure. "My exceptional constitution is as resilient as my exceptional beauty."
Behind him, Mei Lian had finally gathered her courage to begin washing his back, her strokes initially stiff and mechanical. Wu Lin made a small sound of disapproval. "Too rigid, Battle Mistress. Observe Reinhardia's technique—firm but yielding. One doesn't scrub a young master as one might scrub armor after battle."
"My apologies, Young Master," Mei Lian murmured, adjusting her approach with quick adaptability. Her hands softened, moving in more flowing patterns across his shoulders and upper back.
"Better," Wu Lin acknowledged, then added slyly, "Though I'm sure you'll improve with regular practice. Perhaps we should add you to the permanent bathing rotation."
The suggestion hung in the steamy air, neither accepted nor rejected as Mei Lian continued her ministrations in thoughtful silence.
As the bathing ritual progressed, a curious transformation occurred. The Battle Mistress, initially so rigid with discomfort, gradually relaxed into her role, her natural grace and precision finding expression in this new context. By the time they had moved to washing Wu Lin's hair, she was working alongside Vados with surprising harmony, their movements complementing each other as they rinsed the fragrant shampoo from his ebony locks.
"You have a natural aptitude for this, Battle Mistress," Vados observed quietly as they worked. "Your hands have excellent energy conductivity."
"Blood Moon Sect training emphasizes precise qi control," Mei Lian explained, though her voice carried a note of surprise at the celestial attendant's praise. "Though I never expected to apply it in quite this... context."
Wu Lin, eyes closed in contentment as the women worked, smiled faintly. "Context is merely a matter of perspective, Battle Mistress. To me, having my every need attended to by beings of exceptional power seems perfectly natural. The cosmic order at its most rational."
"Your confidence is truly remarkable, Master," Reinhardia commented as she worked her way up his calves with methodical thoroughness. "Most mortals would feel some sense of unworthiness having divine beings wash their feet."
"Unworthiness is tedious self-sabotage," Wu Lin replied dismissively. "If the cosmos saw fit to bind you to my service, who am I to question its wisdom by feeling undeserving?"
This philosophy, so typical of Wu Lin's unique perspective, elicited varied reactions from his attendants—Lucoa's delighted giggle, Vados's thoughtful nod, Reinhardia's reluctant smile, and Mei Lian's expression of bemused reassessment.
The bathing ritual concluded with the drying ceremony, each attendant patting Wu Lin's skin with cloud-soft towels. As Vados worked on his hair, carefully blotting the moisture without disturbing its perfect arrangement, Lucoa had taken charge of drying his chest and arms with characteristic enthusiasm.
"Master, you're still a bit tense here," she observed, her hands lingering on his shoulders. "Perhaps after you're dressed, I could provide my special relaxation treatment? The one that always helps when you're stressed?"
Wu Lin pretended to consider this, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. "The breastfeeding session? I suppose it might be beneficial for my continued recovery."
Mei Lian, who had been carefully drying Wu Lin's back, nearly dropped her towel at this casual mention. Her shocked expression drew an amused glance from Wu Lin.
"You seem surprised, Battle Mistress. Is this not a common practice in the Blood Moon Sect? Cosmic dragon essence has remarkable restorative properties when directly consumed."
"I... that is..." Mei Lian struggled for words, her usual military eloquence abandoning her completely.
"It's one of my specialties!" Lucoa explained cheerfully, bouncing slightly which caused predictable effects to her generous anatomy. "Dragon milk contains healing energies that help Master recover much faster than any ordinary medicine. Plus, it's much more pleasant than bitter herbs!"
"The effectiveness is undeniable," Vados added with clinical detachment, though a hint of amusement colored her tone as she observed Mei Lian's discomfort. "Lucoa's unique biology allows for direct transfer of cosmic vitality through this method."
"I... see," Mei Lian replied faintly, her cheeks now distinctly flushed as she returned to her drying duties with renewed concentration.
Once dry, Wu Lin allowed Vados to help him into a robe of seventeen-layered silk, each layer a subtly different shade of blue creating an effect like deepening twilight. As she fastened the elaborate ties and straightened the collar, her fingers occasionally brushed against his skin in touches that lingered just slightly longer than necessary.
"Your robes are perfect, Master," she murmured, her face close enough for him to feel her breath against his neck. "Though if I may suggest, perhaps we should forgo your public appearances today? Your energy, while improved, would benefit from additional... private restoration."
The subtle emphasis on "private" caught Wu Lin's attention. "What an unusually suggestive proposal, Vados. I believe I'm detecting actual preference rather than mere service optimization. How fascinatingly personal of you."
A faint color touched the celestial attendant's perfect cheeks. "I merely observe that your well-being might benefit from focused attention from all your attendants today. In a controlled environment without external disruptions."
"What Vados means," Lucoa interjected with characteristic directness, "is that we all want to pamper you extra specially today, Master! With all our best techniques!" She winked broadly, leaving little doubt about her interpretation of "best techniques."
Wu Lin laughed, genuinely amused by this transparent attempt at manipulation—and even more amused to find himself inclined to acquiesce. "Very well. Send word to the imperial steward that the Young Master requires a day of private recovery following his heroic exertions. No visitors, no summons, no tedious imperial business."
The divine maids exchanged pleased glances at this easy victory, while Mei Lian watched with a mixture of fascination and growing comprehension about the household dynamics she had integrated herself into.
The day of "private recovery" proved to be unlike any in Wu Lin's experience, even by the extraordinary standards of his pampered existence. Each of his divine maids seemed determined to demonstrate the full range of their devotion through increasingly intimate services.
The morning began with Lucoa's promised "special treatment" in Wu Lin's private chamber. The chaos dragon had settled herself comfortably against the headboard of his massive bed, cradling Wu Lin against her with maternal tenderness that contrasted with the decidedly non-maternal nature of the service.
"Just relax completely, Master," she cooed, guiding his head to her bare breast. "Let the healing energy flow directly into you."
As Wu Lin suckled, the effect was indeed remarkable—a warm, tingling energy that spread through his body, restoring vitality and enhancing his natural essence. Lucoa stroked his hair with gentle fingers, occasionally humming a melody in some ancient draconic language that seemed to amplify the restorative effect.
"That's perfect," she murmured, her voice taking on a dreamy quality as she cradled him closer. "You're taking in so much cosmic energy. It will make you even more special than you already are."
Wu Lin found himself unexpectedly relaxed by this intimate ritual, the comfort of Lucoa's embrace combining with the genuine medicinal effect of her essence to create a state of perfectly content languor. When he finally drew back, his eyes were heavy-lidded with satisfaction.
"Your special treatment lives up to its reputation, Lucoa," he acknowledged, stretching languidly against her. "I feel significantly revitalized."
"I knew you would!" she beamed, hugging him enthusiastically. "And there's plenty more whenever you need it! Dragon essence never runs out—it's constantly replenishing!"
Following this restorative session came Vados's contribution to his recovery—a full-body meridian massage using oils infused with celestial energy. She had prepared the massage chamber with meticulous attention to detail—the temperature precisely optimal, the lighting adjusted to promote relaxation, the air perfumed with rare incense that enhanced spiritual receptivity.
As Wu Lin lay face-down on the massage table, Vados worked with practiced precision, her hands finding every tension point and energy blockage with unerring accuracy. Unlike Lucoa's enthusiastic affection, Vados's approach was one of perfectionistic devotion—each touch calculated for maximum therapeutic effect, yet carrying an underlying tenderness that transcended mere technical excellence.
"Your meridian pathways are unusually complex, Master," she observed as her fingers traced invisible lines across his back. "Most mortals have standard configurations, but yours branch and interconnect in patterns I've only seen in higher celestial beings."
"Another inconvenient cosmic abnormality," Wu Lin sighed, though the sound was one of pleasure rather than genuine complaint as her skilled fingers worked a particularly tense spot between his shoulder blades.
"Not inconvenient," Vados corrected gently. "Extraordinary. These patterns explain your natural affinity for reality manipulation. Your essence is naturally... flexible between dimensional frequencies."
As the massage progressed, Vados's typically professional demeanor subtly shifted. Her touches became more personal, less clinical—fingers lingering on certain spots, occasionally supplemented by the brush of her lips against his skin in what she described as "energy sealing points."
When she had him turn onto his back, her methodical approach continued, though her gaze now held his with unusual intensity as her hands worked down his chest and abdomen. When they reached the lower regions, her movements remained perfectly composed, though a faint color touched her cheeks.
"Some tension remains here," she observed with celestial matter-of-factness that didn't quite mask her personal interest. "Shall I address it fully, Master?"
Wu Lin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this unprecedented offer from his normally reserved celestial attendant. "By all means, Vados. Your thoroughness is one of your most admirable qualities."
What followed was a demonstration of Vados's commitment to perfect service in all domains—her celestial techniques applied to even the most intimate relaxation with precision that somehow enhanced rather than diminished the personal nature of the act. Throughout, she maintained eye contact with Wu Lin, her usually inscrutable expression giving way to something more vulnerable and genuine.
Afterward, as Wu Lin lay in a state of complete relaxation, Vados pressed her lips to his forehead in a gesture of surprising tenderness. "Your complete well-being is my purpose, Master," she murmured. "In all aspects."
The afternoon brought Reinhardia's contribution to his recovery—a specialized spiritual alignment ritual that required an unusual degree of intimacy for the normally reserved Sword Saint. She had prepared a sacred space within Wu Lin's chambers, arranging special crystals in precise patterns and lighting sacred oils that filled the air with a subtle, energizing fragrance.
"This technique was reserved for the highest divine warriors in my realm," she explained as she knelt before him, her usual armor replaced by a simple white robe that emphasized her warrior's physique. "It realigns spiritual essence after major exertion or cosmic disturbance."
Wu Lin, reclining on specially arranged cushions, regarded her with lazy interest. "And it requires you to disrobe completely because...?"
A faint blush colored Reinhardia's cheeks, though her voice remained steady. "Perfect energy conductivity requires the absence of barriers. If you prefer, I can perform a modified version that—"
"No, no," Wu Lin interrupted with a dismissive wave. "Far be it from me to interfere with authentic divine practices. Proceed with the traditional method, Sword Saint."
With military precision that somehow didn't diminish the inherent intimacy of the act, Reinhardia removed her white robe, revealing her warrior's body with its subtle scars from ancient cosmic battles. She knelt nude before Wu Lin, her composure remarkable despite her evident embarrassment.
"You shall remain clothed for the first phase," she instructed, her professional tone at odds with her state of undress. "Later, direct essence contact will be necessary for the final alignment."
What followed was a ritual unlike anything in Wu Lin's experience—part spiritual ceremony, part intimate connection. Reinhardia traced sacred symbols on his forehead and chest with fingers dipped in glowing oil, murmuring divine codes in an ancient language that seemed to resonate with the very air around them.
As the ritual progressed, Wu Lin found himself genuinely affected by the solemnity and beauty of the process. The Sword Saint's usual rigid demeanor had transformed into something more fluid and graceful, her movements carrying a ritual significance that transcended the physical.
When the time came for the "direct essence contact" she had mentioned, Reinhardia helped Wu Lin disrobe with unexpected gentleness. "This part requires complete surrender to the process," she explained, her eyes meeting his with unusual directness. "Your conscious mind must yield to the spiritual alignment."
The alignment that followed involved Reinhardia pressing her body directly against his in specific configurations that channeled energy between them. What might have seemed sexual in another context took on a strange, transcendent quality under her solemn guidance—though the physical intimacy was undeniable, it served a genuine spiritual purpose that Wu Lin found himself respecting despite his usual irreverence.
Most surprising was the moment when Reinhardia, in the culmination of the ritual, pressed her lips to various points on his body—forehead, throat, heart, and lower abdomen—while whispering divine codes that sent vibrations of energy through his entire being. When her lips finally reached his own in the ritual's conclusion, the kiss carried both spiritual significance and unmistakable personal emotion.
When she drew back, her eyes held a vulnerability Wu Lin had never seen in the proud warrior. "The alignment is complete, Master," she said softly. "Your essence should now be fully harmonized with your physical form once more."
Wu Lin reached up to touch her face in an uncharacteristically gentle gesture. "You honor me with your sacred traditions, Sword Saint. I find myself unusually appreciative."
Throughout these private recovery sessions, Battle Mistress Mei Lian had maintained her guard position outside the chamber doors, occasionally glimpsing the intimate rituals when summoned to deliver refreshments or adjust room settings. Her expression grew increasingly contemplative with each observation, her military rigidity gradually giving way to thoughtful consideration.
When evening came, and with it the time for Wu Lin's evening toilette, it was Mei Lian who surprised everyone by volunteering for the duty.
"If the Young Master permits," she stated formally, though her eyes carried a new determination. "As part of my... integration into the household."
Wu Lin raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by this unexpected initiative from the previously reluctant Battle Mistress. "How intriguing. Very well, Battle Mistress. Let us see how you adapt to this most intimate of household duties."
The divine maids exchanged glances of varying degrees of surprise as Mei Lian followed Wu Lin to his private bathroom. Once inside, with the door closed behind them, a moment of awkward silence fell as the Battle Mistress faced the reality of the task she had volunteered for.
Wu Lin settled onto his jade commode, regarding her with amused interest. "Having second thoughts, Battle Mistress? There's no shame in admitting this duty exceeds your comfort boundaries."
Mei Lian straightened, warrior's pride evident in her posture. "The Blood Moon Sect teaches that no task is beneath a true warrior if it serves their chosen purpose." She knelt before him with surprising grace, her expression composed though a faint color touched her cheeks. "I have chosen to serve this household fully. That includes all aspects of service."
What followed was perhaps the most surprising development of the day—the fierce Battle Mistress performing the intimate duty with solemn dedication, her warrior's hands finding unexpected gentleness as she attended to Wu Lin's needs. Though clearly new to such service, she approached it with the same disciplined focus she might apply to combat training.
"Your adaptability continues to impress, Battle Mistress," Wu Lin remarked as she completed her duties with dignified efficiency. "From feared warrior to toilet attendant in less than a fortnight. Quite the remarkable evolution."
Mei Lian met his gaze directly as she helped him rise and adjust his robes. "I have come to understand that there can be honor in all forms of service, Young Master. What matters is not the nature of the task, but the purpose it serves."
"And what purpose do you serve now?" Wu Lin pressed, genuinely curious about her perspective. "You were not bound by cosmic law like my divine maids. Your service remains voluntary."
The Battle Mistress was silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I serve... harmony," she finally answered. "I have observed something unique in this household—divine beings finding fulfillment in service to a mortal, a connection that transcends obligation. It is... fascinating. And worthy of protection."
Wu Lin studied her face, finding her answer surprisingly profound. "How unexpectedly philosophical, Battle Mistress. I had not imagined you harbored such depth beneath your warrior's exterior."
"There is much about me you do not yet know, Young Master Zhao," she replied with the faintest hint of a smile. "Perhaps, in time, that will change."
This cryptic response, so unlike her usual straightforward military declarations, left Wu Lin intrigued as they rejoined the divine maids in his bedchamber. The day of private recovery had revealed new dimensions to each of his attendants—and perhaps, though he would be reluctant to admit it, to himself as well.
As night fell and the time came for sleeping arrangements, Wu Lin made an unprecedented announcement. "I find myself desiring all of your company tonight," he declared to his assembled attendants. "Yes, all four of you. The bed is certainly large enough."
The divine maids exchanged surprised glances, while Mei Lian's eyes widened at this unexpected inclusion in what had previously been the exclusive domain of the divine servants.
"Is that... appropriate, Master?" Vados inquired carefully, though her tone suggested she was merely observing protocol rather than raising a genuine objection.
"Appropriateness is tedious conventional thinking," Wu Lin dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I nearly died performing heroic reality manipulation yesterday. I believe that entitles me to whatever sleeping arrangements I desire."
"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Lucoa declared enthusiastically, already bouncing toward the bed. "The more cosmic energy surrounding Master, the better his recovery!"
Reinhardia and Vados shared a look of silent communication before nodding their acceptance, while Mei Lian stood frozen in momentary indecision.
"Battle Mistress," Wu Lin addressed her directly, "your participation is not commanded. Unlike my divine maids, you retain the freedom of choice in all matters. If you prefer to maintain your guard position outside—"
"I will stay," Mei Lian interrupted with surprising firmness. Then, seeming to remember herself, she added more formally, "If the Young Master permits. For... security purposes."
Wu Lin's lips curved in a knowing smile. "Security purposes. Of course. How conscientious of you."
And so the night concluded with a tableau that would have scandalized imperial society—the most pampered young master in the empire surrounded in his massive bed by three divine beings and a legendary warrior maiden, all arranged around him in a protective formation that seemed as much about affection as service.
Lucoa, predictably, had claimed the position at his right, immediately pulling him against her abundant warmth and cradling his head in her favorite position. Vados took the left with celestial grace, her usually perfect posture relaxing enough to allow her to curve around him protectively. Reinhardia positioned herself above, one arm draped protectively across his shoulders, while Mei Lian, after some visible internal debate, settled at the foot of the bed in what she insisted was "an optimal defensive position."
As Wu Lin drifted toward sleep, surrounded by divine warmth and unprecedented devotion, a troubling thought crossed his mind—this arrangement, this household, these feelings developing between them all... they were moving into uncharted territory that the cosmic binding had never anticipated.
And somewhere in the empire, cultivators with fragments of the binding stone were preparing to challenge that very connection at the approaching Celestial Peach Banquet.
The thought should have troubled him more than it did. Instead, as sleep claimed him, Wu Lin found himself thinking that perhaps some things were worth the tedious effort of actually fighting for them.
How inconveniently heroic of him.
Chapter 10: Preparations and Revelations
The week leading up to the Celestial Peach Banquet brought new dimensions to the evolving dynamics of Wu Lin's unusual household. The frank acknowledgment of attachment between master and servants had created an atmosphere where previously unspoken feelings now found more open expression—sometimes in surprisingly intimate ways.
Mornings began with Lucoa's enthusiastic wake-up routine, which now included not just breakfast delivery but also what she called "special morning energy infusions"—typically involving cradling Wu Lin against her chest while feeding him both breakfast and cosmic energy in a dual nourishment session that left him remarkably invigorated for someone who historically considered morning consciousness a tedious burden.
"Your spiritual essence grows stronger every day, Master!" she observed happily one morning, her fingers stroking his hair as he suckled at her breast. "The dragon essence is integrating perfectly with your unique core energy!"
Wu Lin, pausing in his breakfast-cum-energy-restoration, raised an eyebrow. "Unique core energy? What precisely do you mean by that, Lucoa?"
The chaos dragon looked momentarily flustered, as if she'd said more than intended. "Oh! Just that your energy signature is special. We've always known that, of course! Why else would the binding have chosen you?"
Before Wu Lin could press further, Vados entered with his morning schedule, providing a convenient distraction. Yet the moment remained in his mind—another hint that his divine maids might know more about his nature than they had previously acknowledged.
Bathing rituals had evolved as well, with all four attendants now participating in a choreographed ceremony of intimate care. Battle Mistress Mei Lian had fully integrated into the rotation, her initial stiffness giving way to a fluid grace that complemented the divine maids' techniques. She had developed a particular specialty in foot massage, her warrior's knowledge of pressure points creating sensations that even Wu Lin, with his exacting standards, found exemplary.
"Your hands possess remarkable talent, Battle Mistress," he commented one morning as she worked a particularly stubborn tension point in his arch. "One might almost suspect you've had previous experience in such intimate service."
Mei Lian's hands paused momentarily before resuming their skilled ministrations. "The Blood Moon Sect's founder was known for saying that to understand the body's vulnerabilities, one must first understand its pleasures."
"A surprisingly sensual philosophy for assassin-cultivators," Wu Lin observed, studying her face with renewed interest.
"The boundaries between pain and pleasure, vulnerability and strength, are often thinner than most realize," Mei Lian replied, her eyes meeting his with unexpected directness as her thumbs pressed into a sensitive point that sent waves of pleasure up his leg.
Such moments of connection occurred with increasing frequency—Vados lingering over Wu Lin's hair brushing, her fingers occasionally trailing down his neck in caresses that served no practical purpose; Reinhardia's hand resting on his shoulder during security briefings, the contact maintained longer than protocol required; Lucoa's affectionate embraces growing more intimate and less boisterous, evolving from enthusiastic squeezing to something more sensual and deliberate.
Most intriguing was Mei Lian's transformation. The rigid warrior who had once bristled at wearing a maid uniform now moved through her duties with graceful acceptance, her military bearing giving her service a unique character that Wu Lin found increasingly compelling. She had even begun participating in evening toilette duty without being directly assigned, simply appearing at the appropriate time as if it were the most natural thing in the world for a legendary battle mistress to kneel before a pampered young master and attend to his most intimate needs.
On the third day before the Banquet, Wu Lin received an unexpected visitor—Princess Mei Lin, fully recovered from her dimensional drift and radiantly healthy. She arrived at the Phoenix Pavilion without imperial announcement, accompanied only by a single lady-in-waiting.
Wu Lin received her in his private garden, reclining on a floating cloud divan that Vados had created for outdoor lounging. His divine maids and the Battle Mistress arranged themselves around him in what had become their standard formation—Vados at his right hand, Reinhardia at his left, Lucoa lounging at his feet, and Mei Lian standing guard with perfect posture nearby.
"Princess," Wu Lin greeted with the minimal bow appropriate for his station. "You appear remarkably solid and dimensionally stable. How gratifying to see my efforts were not wasted."
The princess's eyes—those remarkable violet orbs that seemed to see more than ordinary reality—sparkled with amusement. "Young Master Zhao. Still as charmingly arrogant as ever." She performed a perfect court bow, deeper than protocol required from an imperial princess to a mere noble. "I've come to thank you personally for my restoration. The imperial physicians say it's the most complete recovery from soul dispersion ever recorded."
"Naturally," Wu Lin replied with affected nonchalance. "I don't believe in half measures when it comes to miraculous cosmic healing. Tediously incomplete."
The princess laughed—a melodious sound that carried genuine warmth. "My father was right about you. Beneath that carefully cultivated facade of pampered indolence lies something... remarkable."
Wu Lin raised an eyebrow. "The Emperor discusses me with his daughter? How flattering. And what exactly does His Imperial Majesty believe lies beneath my 'facade,' as you call it?"
Princess Mei Lin settled gracefully onto a garden bench, arranging her imperial robes with practiced elegance. "He believes you might be what the ancient texts call a 'Worldline Anchor'—a mortal whose very existence helps stabilize reality patterns. They appear rarely, perhaps once in ten thousand years, and always during periods of cosmic significance."
This unexpected revelation caught not just Wu Lin's attention, but that of his divine maids as well. Vados and Reinhardia exchanged glances of unmistakable recognition, while Lucoa bounced excitedly.
"I knew it!" the chaos dragon exclaimed. "That's why your reality patterns are so distinctive, Master! You're a natural anchor point!"
Wu Lin glanced sharply at his divine maids. "You suspected this and didn't mention it?"
Vados stepped forward with a small bow. "We observed unusual characteristics in your essence pattern, Master, but without confirmation from external sources, we could not be certain of their significance."
"How diplomatically phrased," Wu Lin remarked dryly. "Princess, please continue. This Worldline Anchor business sounds tediously cosmic, but possibly relevant to my interests."
Princess Mei Lin nodded, her violet eyes taking on that faraway quality that suggested she was seeing beyond ordinary reality. "Worldline Anchors naturally attract cosmic power around them. The binding of divine entities to your service wasn't coincidence—it was your inherent nature drawing cosmic forces into alignment with you."
"That would explain certain anomalies in the binding process," Vados observed thoughtfully. "The ease with which it established, the stability it has maintained despite attempts to disrupt it..."
"And Master's natural talent for reality manipulation!" Lucoa added enthusiastically. "Remember how he just instinctively knew how to help me with the drought patterns?"
Wu Lin frowned, finding this cosmic revelation somewhat disruptive to his carefully constructed self-image. "This sounds suspiciously like destiny, Princess. I find predestination tediously limiting to my preferred lifestyle of perfect self-indulgence."
The princess smiled knowingly. "On the contrary, Young Master Zhao. Worldline Anchors aren't bound by fate—they help create it. Reality naturally bends around you, conforming to your desires rather than forcing you into predetermined paths."
"That..." Wu Lin considered this perspective, finding it unexpectedly appealing, "is considerably less tedious than I anticipated."
"I thought you might appreciate that aspect," the princess replied with evident amusement. "However, there is one complication you should be aware of. During my dimensional drift, I glimpsed fragments of potential futures. In many of them, the Celestial Peach Banquet becomes a nexus point—a moment when multiple worldlines converge and reality patterns can be restructured."
The playful atmosphere in the garden shifted as everyone registered the seriousness in the princess's tone.
"You're referring to the plot involving the binding stone fragments," Wu Lin stated, surprising the princess with his knowledge.
"You know of this?" Mei Lin asked, her violet eyes widening.
"We received warning from the Celestial Moon Sect," Reinhardia explained. "Though their information was offered with suspicious conditions attached."
The princess nodded gravely. "The information itself is accurate, regardless of the sect's motivations. Several major cultivation groups have obtained fragments of the original binding stone. They intend to use the cosmic significance of the Banquet, combined with the stone fragments, to attempt a forced unbinding."
"A tedious inconvenience," Wu Lin sighed. "I've grown rather attached to my divine maids and would prefer they remain bound to my service indefinitely."
"The danger goes beyond mere unbinding," the princess continued, her expression somber. "As a Worldline Anchor, your connection to these divine entities has created a unique stability pattern in local reality. Disrupting it forcefully could have catastrophic consequences—not just for you and your servants, but potentially for the entire realm."
"How inconsiderate of these cultivators," Wu Lin remarked, though a hint of genuine concern had crept into his typically dismissive tone. "Risking cosmic catastrophe merely to protest my exceptional good fortune."
Princess Mei Lin leaned forward, her violet eyes intense. "There is a solution, but it requires something you may find difficult, Young Master Zhao."
"Oh?" Wu Lin raised an eyebrow. "Do enlighten me. Is it tedious cultivation exercises? Dreary meditation? Some sort of cosmic realignment ritual involving uncomfortable positions and bland dietary restrictions?"
"Nothing so conventional," the princess replied with a small smile. "It's much simpler, and yet potentially more challenging for someone of your... particular nature."
"Stop being cryptic, Princess. It's tediously dramatic."
The princess's smile widened. "The solution is genuine connection. The binding that links you to these divine entities can be strengthened beyond the reach of any disruption attempt, but only if it evolves beyond mere cosmic servitude to something freely chosen on both sides."
Wu Lin blinked, momentarily nonplussed. "You're suggesting..."
"That the only way to secure your binding is to transform it into a bond of mutual choice," Princess Mei Lin confirmed. "Not master and servants bound by cosmic law, but companions united by genuine attachment."
A heavy silence fell over the