Dual Cultivation: Gathering SSS-Rank Wives in the Cultivation World Chapter 17 - You both are important to me

The dinsional palace reford around us in the wake of the Void Wyrm’s defeat, its walls sealing seamlessly as if the breach had never occurred.

The massive beast’s corpse lay sprawled across the chamber floor, its black scales still smoking from the qi burns we’d inflicted.

i Ling and Lin Yue leaned against the silk-draped walls, catching their breath, while I knelt beside the fallen creature, my enhanced senses picking up a faint pulse of energy from its core.

"Look at this thing," Lin Yue said, wiping sweat from her brow. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed lingering exhaustion. "We actually took it down. What now? Leave it to rot?"

I shook my head, drawing a qi-infused dagger from my spatial ring—one of the new tools unlocked by the inheritance. "Not quite. These beasts have valuable cores. Let’s see what we’ve got."

We gathered around as I carefully cut into the wyrm’s underbelly, the blade slicing through tough hide with surprising ease thanks to my reford strength. i Ling gasped as a glowing orb erged, pulsing with dark void essence. It was the size of a fist, leaking wisps of ethereal light that ford... a key? No, not quite—a small, crystalline shard that shimred like a fragnt of starlight, embedded in the core’s surface.

"What is that?" i Ling asked, leaning closer. Her hand brushed mine accidentally, sending a familiar spark through our bond.

[System Alert: Minor Contact - Vitality 5]

[Host Vitality: 205/200 (Overflow Stabilized)]

"Looks like a spirit key," Lin Yue mused, examining it without touching. "I’ve heard stories—fragnts like this can unlock ancient ruins or hidden realms. We could sell it in the border markets for a fortune, or use it ourselves if we find the right door."

I nodded, prying the shard free and storing both it and the core in my ring. "No rush. It’s valuable, but we have bigger priorities. For now, it’s safe with ."

The palace humd softly, as if approving the decision. With the imdiate threat gone, I willed the space to shift back into its bracelet form on my wrist, the grand chamber dissolving around us.

We found ourselves back in the dim cave, the wyrm’s corpse now a hulking shadow in the confined space. The air outside carried the distant chittering of the remaining devil rats, but the horde seed to have moved on.

"Let’s get out of here," I said, leading the way. The cave tunnel was narrow, forcing us to walk single file. i Ling followed close behind , her presence a comforting warmth through our spiritual link, while Lin Yue brought up the rear, bow at the ready.

As we erged into the dappled sunlight of Whispering Grove, the forest seed quieter—almost respectful after the chaos we’d unleashed.

The ancient trees whispered in the breeze, their leaves forming patterns that might have been warnings or invitations. I paused, reaching into my ring and pulling out two simple cloaks I’d stored earlier—practical garnts from the palace’s wardrobe.

"Here," I said, handing one to each. "The fight tore up your clothes. These should help until we find better gear."

Lin Yue took hers, eyebrows raised in surprise. "You... had these the whole ti? After everything in there, you were prepared?"

I shrugged, eting her sharp green eyes. "I couldn’t let you walk around unprotected. The grove’s dangers aren’t over yet."

Her face softened, a flush creeping up her cheeks as she draped the cloak over her shoulders. She grabbed my collar lightly, pulling close—not in anger, but with a mix of exasperation and sothing warr. "You damn fool. Acting like so guardian while we’re all barely holding together. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you shielded us back there."

[System Alert: Bond Deepening - Harem Points 10]

[Lin Yue Bond Upgraded: A-Rank]

I looked straight into her eyes, my voice steady. "I couldn’t turn away from you two. You’re... too important to lose." The words hung between us, honest and raw.

She released my collar quickly, covering her mouth with one hand, her face turning a deeper red. "Damn you," she muttered, turning away to adjust her cloak. i Ling watched the exchange with a small smile, slipping into her own cloak gracefully.

We continued walking, the forest path winding deeper into the grove. i Ling fell into step beside , her hand brushing mine again. After a mont, she halted, pulling to a stop. Lin Yue paused ahead, giving us space but staying alert.

"Tianlong," i Ling said softly, her voice trembling. "Even after I... poisoned you, betrayed you—you saved . Saved my brother. Why? I’m just a servant. Nothing special."

I chuckled lightly, cupping her cheek gently. Her skin was warm under my touch, her eyes searching mine. "You’re more than that. You’re strong, loyal, and... yes, beautiful. But it’s not just about that. We’re in this together now. Family, rember? I’ll make sure you see your brother again—no matter what."

"This..." Her voice trembled, clearly on the verge of tears. That definitely hadn’t pushed her to the limits yet, so I halted before giving this woman another shock, which was needed to keep them in the loop of push and pull until they realized how much pushing away from might hurt them.

"And after I reconnect with your brother, I will leave, that way you will not have to look at old grandma, haha."

She stared at , silence stretching for a heartbeat, her face flushing before she nodded. Without another word, she took my hand, and we kept moving. I tucked my free hand into my pocket, walking with a casual stride as the grove’s whispers faded behind us.

"This..." Her voice trembled, clearly on the verge of tears. That definitely hadn’t pushed her to the limits yet, so I halted before giving this woman another shock, which was needed to keep them in the loop of push and pull until they realized how much pushing away from might hurt them.

"And after I reconnect with your brother, I will leave, that way you will not have to look at old grandma, haha."

The words hung in the air, delivered with a light chuckle to mask the underlying test.

i Ling froze mid-step, her hand slipping from mine as if I’d struck her.

Her eyes widened, a sharp ache blooming in her chest like a qi backlash—tight, constricting, making it hard to breathe.

It was as if I read her like a book what was going on inside the little maid’s mind.

She pressed a hand to her heart, gasping softly, the sound barely audible over the rustling leaves.

’Leave?’ The thought echoed in her mind, twisting like a knife.

After everything—the escape, the battles, the strange warmth of their growing bond—he would just... go? Leave her behind like so discarded servant?

She was an open book that I have read all night, but I just need to devour her with consent. It’s a thrill when her heart flutters and she wants , not just her body.

She stood there, rooted to the spot, watching as Lin Yue moved ahead without hesitation.

The archer woman fell into step beside , her cloak swirling slightly in the breeze, a determined glint in her green eyes as she matched my pace.

"W-wait, I am coming!" Then i’s voice ca as she sprinted and joined us.

And I could just smirk, knowing she chose her options.

’She will be coming a lot from now on.’