Chapter 40: Call Me Father!

“Can’t bear to see me leave?” Lin Yang said with a smile.

“No way! Get out, now!” Qin Monong retorted, her tone full of pride.

Deep down, though, she hoped Lin Yang would stay. With him nearby, she always felt safer when she slept. Especially after what had happened tonight, with Duan Tiande dying in the garden, even though Qin Monong was a strong woman, fear still lingered in her heart.

But she couldn’t bring herself to show any weakness in front of Lin Yang; her pride wouldn’t allow it.

“If you ask me to stay, I won’t leave,” Lin Yang said.

“In your dreams! Get out, I get annoyed just seeing you.”

Qin Monong insisted stubbornly.

“All right, then I’ll go.”

Lin Yang walked toward the door. Qin Monong’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she kept silent.

“Oh, by the way, Duan Tiande died right there in your garden. He died with a lot of resentment. Be careful, he might come back as a vengeful ghost to claim your life tonight.”

Lin Yang said this as he opened the door.

“Lin Yang!!”

Already frightened, Qin Monong’s face changed instantly, and her mind filled with terrifying images.

“Come back here! You’re not allowed to leave!”

In the end, Qin Monong couldn’t overcome her fear and swallowed her pride.

“When you tell me to get out, I must go; when you ask me to stay, I must stay?” Lin Yang said.

“I… I beg you, please stay with me. I’m really scared.”

Qin Monong finally gave in completely. She thought, after all, this man had already broken through her boundaries several times; this wasn’t the first time she’d had to ask him for mercy.

“Who are you talking to?” Lin Yang said deliberately.

“Is there anyone else here? I’m talking to you!”

Qin Monong snapped, annoyed.

“And who am I?”

“Lin Yang!”

“Call me Daddy,” Lin Yang teased with a mischievous smile.

“Never!” Qin Monong refused outright.

“Then farewell.”

Lin Yang pretended to close the door.

“Daddy…”

Qin Monong gritted her teeth in fury, muttering the word in a barely audible voice, her face flushing crimson.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Daddy! Stay with me! Now you heard me, right?”

Qin Monong gave up resisting altogether and shouted each word loudly, though her eyes burned with anger.

Lin Yang, full of pride, walked back over.

“Good girl, Daddy will stay with you.”

Seeing Lin Yang’s triumphant expression, Qin Monong could only grit her teeth in anger, powerless against him.

Once her strength returned, Qin Monong went for a bath, emerged fragrant and fresh, and slipped under the covers. Lin Yang hugged her from behind. Qin Monong didn’t make a sound, closing her eyes and letting him hold her, feeling very secure.

But soon, Qin Monong sensed something unusual—a hard object pressed against her. Lin Yang’s hands became restless again, trying to dig into her garden once more.

“What are you doing! I’m exhausted, I want to sleep!”

Qin Monong pushed away Lin Yang’s wandering hands.

“I practiced cultivation today, and the Yang energy in my body is still too much, hasn’t been fully discharged. Help me out, will you?”

Lin Yang whispered in Qin Monong’s ear.

She shrank back, saying, “No. I haven’t recovered yet, I’m still sore. Do you want to kill me?”

Qin Monong considered herself to have a strong desire; after all, she hadn’t touched a man in twenty years, and now she was at her peak. But Lin Yang’s physical strength was overwhelming, making her struggle to keep up.

Lin Yang turned her around, their eyes meeting. He gently touched her plump, red lips.

“Does it hurt here?”

“No! Don’t even think about it!” Qin Monong refused again.

“I’ve never done that for anyone. It’s absolutely impossible.”

“Then I’ll go out for some air. You sleep first.”

Lin Yang got up as he spoke. Qin Monong grabbed him, her eyes watery and a bit aggrieved.

“Lin Yang, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? To get back at me, to bully me?”

“Compared to what you’ve done to me, is this really revenge? Besides, if I just go out for some air, is that considered bullying?”

Lin Yang harbored resentment toward Qin Monong, but he couldn’t bring himself to be truly harsh.

“I’m scared!”

Qin Monong clung tightly to Lin Yang’s arm.

After a moment, she said, “I can help you, but you must promise me one thing.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Yanran doesn’t know you’ve become stronger. If she ever offends you, don’t hold it against her or hurt her. If you want revenge, take it out on me.”

Qin Monong said.

Lin Yang thought, maybe you’re worried I’ll get involved with Qin Yanran and then leave you behind?

“Agreed! Aren’t I her stepfather? What kind of father holds grudges against his own daughter?”

Lin Yang responded immediately.

Qin Monong pressed her lips together, closed her eyes, and sighed inwardly.

Her boundaries were being broken, step by step, by Lin Yang.

All her dignity and principles were being crushed by him.

She knew this man before her was no longer the small man she could control.

He had grown up, into a true man—one who could give her a sense of security.

Lin Yang, of course, had no idea about the complicated thoughts swirling in Qin Monong’s heart. He was enjoying himself… or rather, experiencing both pain and pleasure.

He believed Qin Monong wasn’t lying.

She truly had never done such a thing for anyone else.

Because she really was clumsy and awkward.

Lin Yang would occasionally gasp in pain, but couldn’t bear to give up.

So be it!

Lin Yang thought, “There’s always a process; practice makes perfect. No one is born knowing how to do this. Qin Monong just needs a little time to learn. She’s so smart, she’ll figure it out soon enough.”

Early the next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Lin Yang woke up.

Qin Monong was still fast asleep in his arms, likely to sleep until midday before waking. Last night had exhausted her, and after vomiting at the end, she needed a good rest.

Lin Yang quietly got up, dressed, slipped downstairs, and drove back to Imperial Mansion.

The morning is the best time for planning the day, and he needed a suitable place to practice.

He had to train in the Dragon Elephant Heaven-Shaking Art taught by the Medicine Sage, as well as cultivate the powers of the Double Pupils, striving to evolve to the second stage as soon as possible.

Cultivating the Double Pupils was different from ordinary practice—it had to be done at dawn, when purple energy was born.

The so-called “Purple Energy from the East” refers to the special energy carried by the rising sun at daybreak.

Imperial Mansion was built by the river, with excellent feng shui. The mountain was Zixia Mountain, and the river was Luo River.

Zixia Mountain was the best place in the city to watch the sunrise; many people climbed it early each morning for that purpose.

Lin Yang aimed to reach the summit before dawn, to watch the sunrise, absorb the purple energy, and cultivate his Double Pupils.

He changed into loose sportswear, stretched his muscles, and though he’d barely slept all night, he felt invigorated and jogged up the mountain.

On the mountain, he found a secluded spot by the cliffs—most people headed to the observation deck to watch the sunrise.

He sat cross-legged. It was just daybreak; the sun was rising, purple energy streaming in.

Lin Yang activated his Double Pupils, and his eyes revealed two pupils, reflecting the dawn.

“Hm? Someone in this city can absorb purple energy?”

Lin Yang didn’t notice that, not far from him, another person was also seated, quietly observing.