Taking care of Lin Qinghen’s health has been one of the most fulfilling things Yin Jiuxiao has done since his rebirth.

In this short period, not only had Lin Qinghen put on a bit of weight, but Yin Jiuxiao also noticed a slight glow returning to his face, and the various scars on his body were gradually fading. He was clearly recovering.

While Lin Qinghen farmed, Yin Jiuxiao treated him as his precious “plant,” taking care of him in a similar way. In a sense, they both shared a similar purpose.

But, of course, it needed to proceed slowly.

Lin Qinghen’s body could only handle so much at a time. Yin Jiuxiao could help him channel energy every few days, each session lasting about as long as a single cup of tea. Any longer, and Lin Qinghen would start to feel a stinging sensation.

At first, Lin Qinghen tried to resist, struggling a bit, but in the end, he couldn’t win. Eventually, he just leaned into Yin Jiuxiao’s arms, his entire body feeling like it had melted away.

This was the aftereffect of nourishing his meridians. His body would feel a pleasant numbness, with a sense of weakness that left him feeling soft all over, as if he’d been soaked and softened.

During this time, Lin Qinghen could feel the flow of Spirit Qi within him, like a little creek winding through his body. It was a unique, almost magical experience, something he hadn’t encountered before.

The water in the pool had gone cold, and he couldn’t stay in it any longer, but he didn’t have the strength to move. Every part of him felt weak; he couldn’t even stand up.

In the end, Yin Jiuxiao simply wrapped him up and carried him straight to the bed.

Lin Qinghen only had a thin layer of clothing covering him, and as Yin Jiuxiao laid him down on the bed, he still felt too weak to move. But as he sank down, he instinctively reached out, and Yin Jiuxiao leaned down of his own accord.

There was no need for words. In this kind of situation, not kissing was simply impossible for a married couple.

Yin Jiuxiao was certainly getting better at it.

During this time, Lin Qinghen couldn’t help but let his mind wander, thinking about all sorts of random things.

Yin Jiuxiao’s stamina was genuinely impressive—more than an ordinary person could handle. Normally gentle, he would become firm and assertive in these moments.

Lin Qinghen, having been kissed by him so many times, had built up some tolerance. He rarely found himself out of breath now, but when Yin Jiuxiao’s hand slid down his waist and along his thigh, he knew something was amiss.

His body was only loosely covered by a garment, easily pushed aside.

Lin Qinghen couldn’t move, completely overpowered. Only his toes could wiggle slightly, brushing against the blanket. The tingling sensation was far more intense than when his meridians had been nourished.

Yin Jiuxiao’s hands were calloused, with thick patches of rough skin, and Lin Qinghen could feel every bit of it.

As that hand brushed over him, Lin Qinghen’s spine involuntarily arched.

He knew that if he seriously said he didn’t want this, Yin Jiuxiao would immediately stop.

No matter how fierce he was to others, Yin Jiuxiao was always soft and accommodating toward him, knowing precisely when to stop.

They’d already shared a bed for some time, so these moments were increasingly frequent.

Though they were married, they hadn’t yet crossed that final threshold, for various reasons.

One, Lin Qinghen had been genuinely busy recently, with important matters that required him to be on the move.

Based on Yin Jiuxiao’s stamina and prowess, he doubted he’d even be able to get out of bed the next day.

Two, Lin Qinghen had needed some time to adjust.

After all, it was quite a shift to go from nurturing a gentle “little wife” to realizing he was the one being overwhelmed. He needed time to accept it.

Yin Jiuxiao was half a head taller than him, with a visibly larger frame, and had always been stronger than him.

Thinking of this, Lin Qinghen felt a bit indignant, and in the middle of the kiss, he bit Yin Jiuxiao’s lip—not too hard, but just enough to make him stop, concerned that Lin Qinghen might be upset.

But he didn’t pull away; he held him tightly, adjusted slightly, and brushed his cheek against Lin Qinghen’s, making him feel more comfortable.

Lin Qinghen: …

Now that was rather considerate.

It was almost funny to him.

So close, he could feel Yin Jiuxiao’s fire hadn’t gone down in the slightest.

At this point, Lin Qinghen didn’t mind anymore.

They’d been married long enough, yet hadn’t fully consummated their relationship. It was bound to happen someday, and hiding didn’t make sense. How long could he keep avoiding it?

Once he realized this, he decided to accept reality.

Yin Jiuxiao soon heard him give a quiet laugh and say in a low voice, just for him to hear, “I never told you to stop.”

Yin Jiuxiao froze for a moment.

He almost thought he’d misheard.

Before he could react, Lin Qinghen pushed him down and, brushing his hair aside, sat atop him, looking down on him from above.

Yin Jiuxiao’s gaze was fixed on him, completely mesmerized.

Lin Qinghen’s face looked a bit fuller, giving it a slight roundness, and his mischievous, fox-like grin was more prominent.

“Silly,” Lin Qinghen said, “what are you afraid of? We’ve already been sharing a bed for so long…”

Unfortunately, his triumphant moment didn’t last long before Yin Jiuxiao flipped him over.

The fire within him only intensified.

He took Lin Qinghen’s words to heart, feeling a rare surge of excitement and unable to hold back anymore.

Fortunately, the bed was large enough. Before Lin Qinghen could finish his sentence, he was kissed fiercely, even more intensely than before.

“You said it yourself.”

He heard Yin Jiuxiao’s voice in his ear, warm breath tickling his earlobe.

“Qinghen, there’s no going back now.”

Lin Qinghen was never one to go back on a decision. He hadn’t been afraid at first, even chuckling as he’d teased him, figuring he didn’t need to be anywhere soon, so he could sleep in if necessary.

Besides, Yin Jiuxiao wouldn’t harm him; he always listened to him.

However, he hadn’t anticipated that Yin Jiuxiao’s obedience had its limits. In bed, obedience and gentleness were nowhere to be found.

Before long, Lin Qinghen felt completely out of his depth, unable to keep control, with Yin Jiuxiao fully dominating him.

He wasn’t laughing anymore.

Having no prior experience with such things, he’d just gritted his teeth, but he soon realized he’d underestimated Yin Jiuxiao’s stamina.

Yin Jiuxiao’s desires had no end in sight.

He was somewhat inexperienced at first, but his instinctive skill quickly kicked in, leaving Lin Qinghen convinced he’d done his homework.

Thanks to the meridian nourishing, Yin Jiuxiao was well aware of Lin Qinghen’s body’s limits, and even when he said he couldn’t take any more, Yin Jiuxiao knew he still had some reserves.

Lin Qinghen’s body wasn’t as fragile as he might think, and this was hardly as taxing as battle.

However, Lin Qinghen soon realized it was more exhausting than fighting. He’d severely overestimated his own limits.

By the end, he thought this was harder than taking a sword wound.

For the first time in his two lifetimes, Lin Qinghen found himself shedding tears he couldn’t control.

Partly a physical reaction, partly from being overwhelmed.

That night felt endless, and Lin Qinghen had no idea when he fell asleep, only that he still felt uncomfortable, as if he’d been repeatedly run over.

Exhausted, he finally closed his eyes, finding a bit of peace.

Unsurprisingly, Lin Qinghen didn’t wake up on time the next day. This was the most worn-out he’d ever felt in his life.

Yin Jiuxiao, however, was already awake.

The amount of rest he needed was minimal, always able to keep his energy up.

Especially now, Yin Jiuxiao’s mind was still buzzing. After lying beside Lin Qinghen for a while, he got up in the morning feeling incredibly content.

He’d finally had his partner in every sense, the intimacy bringing an unmatched joy and satisfaction.

However, after calming down a bit, he saw the marks on Lin Qinghen’s body, and guilt crept in.

Under the blanket, Lin Qinghen’s body was covered in fading red and blue bruises, with his eyes slightly swollen and the corners red from the previous night’s tears, leaving him looking both pitiful and endearing.

Last night, Lin Qinghen had pleaded with him multiple times, alternately calling his name, acting spoiled, trying to feign anger—all to no avail.

He knew exactly what happened the previous night; after all, he was the one who wouldn’t stop.

Once Lin Qinghen woke up, he was bound to be furious.

Seeing Lin Qinghen stirring slightly in his sleep, perhaps sensing Yin Jiuxiao nearby, he instinctively nuzzled closer, resting his head on Yin Jiuxiao’s shoulder like a small animal.

That small movement melted Yin Jiuxiao’s heart.

No matter how upset Lin Qinghen might be when he woke up, he was willing to take it.

Lin Qinghen slept deeply, only waking up in the afternoon.

He was completely unaware that while he was sleeping, Yin Jiuxiao had gone out, dismissed Lin Yunsi, and warned Wei Lin not to let anyone disturb them.

Wei Lin didn’t dare question why the usually punctual Lin Qinghen was still asleep, having learned to follow orders without asking unnecessary questions.