Chu Dingjiang had always been elusive, so An Jiu didn’t think much of his disappearance. She lowered her head, using the fire tongs to place charcoal into the brazier.
The charcoal was slightly damp, and soon smoke began to rise, but it was still usable.
An Jiu squinted through the haze and saw Chu Dingjiang push open the door again, his lower body covered in snow.
“What happened?” she asked.
Chu Dingjiang brushed the snow off himself and calmly removed his pants, placing them beside the brazier. “Nothing,” he replied.
An Jiu was suspicious but didn’t press further.
The snow on the pants melted quickly from the heat, soon becoming wet in patches and then steaming.
Chu Dingjiang shook out a blanket and wrapped it around An Jiu. “Aren’t you cold?”
“I can handle this level of cold,” An Jiu said, bundled up with only her face showing. She sighed contentedly, “It would be nice if we had some roasted sweet potatoes.”
Chu Dingjiang, having regained his composure, smiled and said, “I’ll bring some for you next time.”
An Jiu nodded and boldly added to her request, “And roasted chestnuts and lamb, too.”
“Understood,” Chu Dingjiang replied gently.
“Come share the blanket,” An Jiu invited, opening it up.
Chu Dingjiang hesitated. If he joined her, he might lose control again, which would be extremely awkward. After what had just happened, he began to doubt himself. An Jiu didn’t seem averse to being intimate with him, but the critical issue now was – had his abilities in that area been impaired from abstaining for so long?
In his former life as a noble, he had no shortage of women throwing themselves at him. This had left him with a sense of superiority when it came to matters of the heart. With someone like An Jiu, who was indifferent to physical intimacy, he had always maintained his pride. Now, having let go of that pride, he suddenly felt insecure.
Chu Dingjiang didn’t doubt his self-control because he was certain he had no control when it came to An Jiu!
Given the circumstances, he decided to simply accept his fate. At worst, he’d just embarrass himself.
These chaotic thoughts flashed through his mind. Having made his decision, he stood up and sat down next to An Jiu.
Inside the blanket, their bodies pressed close together. The temperature continued to rise rapidly, soon becoming as hot as the fire in the brazier.
Chu Dingjiang’s breathing grew heavy, and he felt himself becoming aroused again.
An Jiu felt her mouth go dry. She crawled out to pour two glasses of cold water.
“Chu Dingjiang, Mo Sigui mentioned you practice celibate cultivation,” An Jiu said, sipping her water. Her slightly narrowed eyes reflected the firelight, shining as if they might overflow with water.
“Mm,” Chu Dingjiang responded, his voice low and husky, sending a tingling sensation through An Jiu’s ears and straight to her heart.
“What happens if you’re intimate with a woman?” An Jiu asked.
If he were to be intimate with a woman, he would never be able to reach the peak of his power.
When Chu Dingjiang chose to practice this type of martial art, he knew it would be a form of self-torture. If he had been ignorant of matters between men and women, it might have been easier, but he not only understood them, he had experienced them before. Fortunately, his interest in this area had always been low. Combined with his strong self-control and deliberate avoidance of women, he had never had any mishaps. He chose this martial art because it was the most powerful and easiest to advance in. It didn’t require exceptional innate conditions, only a robust physique, and abundant yang energy.
The pinnacle of martial arts was a great temptation for most men, but Chu Dingjiang hadn’t placed much importance on it.
“This technique is extremely powerful and easily reaches a certain height, but to reach the peak carries great risks. One misstep could result in death from qi deviation,” Chu Dingjiang explained. With his superior physique, exceptional comprehension, and the absorption of another master’s inner force, his martial arts had advanced rapidly. He now felt he was approaching a critical point.
It was hard to say what kind of threshold this was – it could be a breakthrough to the highest realm, or it could be a sign that his body was reaching its limit.
Chu Dingjiang didn’t mention these details. He only said, “I chose to practice this technique because I was entering the Konghe Army alone. The future was uncertain, and I needed to quickly gain the ability to protect myself. It wasn’t my ultimate goal.”
An Jiu turned to look at him.
Their gazes met their faces mere inches apart. They could hear each other’s breathing. For a moment, neither moved, as if time had stopped.
After what seemed like an eternity, An Jiu suddenly leaned in, her lips brushing the corner of his mouth.
Chu Dingjiang’s breath caught. He raised his hand to cup the back of her head and responded with a kiss as fierce as a storm.
Their bodies, wrapped in the blanket, were as hot as coals. Chu Dingjiang felt a burning ache in his lower body, his desire roaring like a beast about to break free from its cage, repeatedly challenging his self-control.
An Jiu wrapped her arms around his neck, where veins were visibly pulsing. She pressed her body against his as the blanket slipped to the floor.
Chu Dingjiang’s strong arms encircled her slender waist. He stood up abruptly and strode towards the bed.
When An Jiu had first invited him, she hadn’t felt anything particular, but now her heart was racing. The excitement was unprecedented, yet not unpleasant.
Chu Dingjiang’s kisses and caresses were rough, and An Jiu caught up in the moment, responded with equal fervor.
What had been a spark before now blazed into a raging fire.
However, Chu Dingjiang’s movements gradually became slower and gentler. His calloused fingers glided over An Jiu’s silk-like skin, making her shiver.
This sensation was entirely different from before. The earlier intensity had allowed them to release their pent-up desires, but now it was rekindling them. An Jiu clung tightly to Chu Dingjiang’s broad shoulders, dimly aware of a tremendous force restrained within him.
Large drops of sweat fell on her face, tickling her, but he maintained his unhurried pace of teasing her.
An Jiu’s leg moved slightly, brushing against his burning arousal.
“Don’t move!” Chu Dingjiang’s voice was low but nearly a roar.
Sensing his discomfort, An Jiu obediently lay still, only her wet eyes fixed on him.
Chu Dingjiang gazed into her eyes, his heart stirring with emotion, making it even harder to resist. He sighed, averting his eyes from hers, and lowered his head to gently kiss her ear, trailing down to her neck and chest.
“Chu Dingjiang…” An Jiu felt strange, surprised by the tremor in her voice.
“Mm.” Chu Dingjiang’s large hand gently stroked her hair, soothing her. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid…”
His light kisses fell on her stomach, making her tremble. She didn’t even notice the soft whimpers escaping her lips like a kitten’s paw gently scratching at Chu Dingjiang’s heart.
The bed was in disarray, clothes scattered, firelight dancing over their bodies.
“A’Jiu, I don’t want this to be just a fleeting encounter,” Chu Dingjiang murmured.
A’Jiu, I can’t promise you wealth and glory, I can’t promise you a life of peace, I can’t promise you picturesque landscapes, but I’m willing to dedicate my life to you alone.
It’s just the two of us. If we can’t grow old together, then let us be together in life and death.