Chapter 39: Living together

Half a day has passed since the declaration of Zenith Heaven Emperor, and the news has spread far and wide throughout the world of cultivators. The powerful and mysterious figure, known only as the 'Zenith Heaven Emperor,' has revealed himself to the world and declared his intentions to usher in a new era of cultivation.

However, amidst all the chaos and excitement, something else is brewing. Zenith Heaven Emperor and Soft Feather have decided to live together, without her returning to Spirit Butterfly Island. Although they are still not married, they can now be considered official Dao Companions.

As they settle into their new life together, the atmosphere is charged with tension and anticipation. Although they have shared a deep connection for some time now, and there is a sense of uncertainty and excitement in the air.

They retire to their shared bedchamber for the first time, Zenith Heaven Emperor and Soft Feather exchange nervous glances, unsure of what to expect. The room is dark and quiet, and they can hear the faint rustling of the wind outside.

They stand there for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Then, Soft Feather speaks up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you... are you nervous, Zenith?"

Zenith Heaven Emperor looks at her, his expression unreadable in the darkness. "A little," he admits. "But also excited. This is a new chapter in our lives, Soft Feather. I want to make the most of it."

Soft Feather nods, her eyes shining in the dim light. "Me too," she says, taking a step closer to him. "I'm glad we can be together like this, without any distractions or interruptions."

They stand there for a moment longer, their gazes locked, and then Zenith Heaven Emperor takes a deep breath and reaches out to take Soft Feather's hand. "Come on," he says, his voice low and gentle. "Let's get some sleep."

Soft Feather nods, and together they climb into bed. It's a large, plush bed, with soft, silky sheets and a thick comforter. They settle in next to each other, close enough that they can feel each other's warmth.

After talking for a while, Soft Feather begins to feel drowsy. She yawns and snuggles closer to Zenith Heaven Emperor, resting her head on his chest.

Zenith Heaven Emperor wraps an arm around her, holding her close. He can feel her soft breaths against his skin, and it fills him with a sense of peace and contentment.

Gradually, they both begin to drift off to sleep. Zenith Heaven Emperor can feel Soft Feather's body relax against him, and he knows that she is finally falling asleep.

As he drifts off himself, his mind wanders to his past. In his past life, he was an orphan that never had any relationship with any girl. He was a young man that studied informatics, something that isn't of much use to him now. His death came very sudden and was not something anyone could predict.

After he reincarnated into this world, he only had the desire to become strong as fast as possible. Until now, he never had any time for relationships and even went as far as to suppress his desires, something very easy for a cultivator with his power.

In his previous life he was a man like any other, watching porn on a regular basis, but after reincarnating for the first 13 or so years he didn't have any such desires at all. Despite having both a male and a female form, up to this day he touched neither of them. His obsession with becoming the strongest invalidated all these desires.

Only after meeting Soft Feather did he fall in love for the first time in his two lives, and now here they are sleeping together in one bed. He can feel the desires he always suppressed rising in him, wanting to do 'a certain something' with his Dao Companion.

However, He also wants to respect some of the cultural norms of this new life as much as possible. Although, he may have lived in a western country in his previous life, where premarital sex was common, in this life, it is considered taboo. Not only that, but he also wants to honor Soft Feather and their relationship by waiting until they are officially married before taking that step.

As they both fall into a deep, peaceful sleep, Zenith Heaven Emperor can't help but feel grateful for this new chapter in his life. He knows that them sleeping together is already overstepping the limit that is normally tolerated in this world. After all, many in this world consider a woman that has slept with a man before marriage as disgraced and impure.

While he is thinking of it more deeply, he couldn't help but feel guilty for taking advantage of this situation. Perhaps it was his scheme all along, to ensure that she would be bound to him and not marry anyone else. The ancient Chinese culture and traditions that surrounded him weighed heavily on his mind. He knew that he was already breaking the rules by sharing a bed with a woman before marriage. As much as he wanted to believe that his intentions were pure, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had manipulated her into this situation. He takes a deep breath and tries to clear his mind, making the decision that he won't go beyond this until they officially married.

For now, he wants to be content to simply hold Soft Feather close, enjoying the warmth of her body and the sound of her breathing. He drifts off to sleep with a smile on his face, looking forward to whatever the future may hold.

During her sleep, Soft Feather's body unconsciously shifts, pressing even closer to Zenith Heaven Emperor. He can feel the softness of her breasts pressing against his chest, and his heart skips a beat.

Her arm wraps around him, holding him tightly as she snuggles even closer. He can feel her warmth against him, and it fills him with a sense of comfort and contentment.

For a moment, he is lost in the sensation of her body against his. He can feel the softness of her skin and the gentle rhythm of her breathing. It's a moment of pure bliss, and he never wants it to end.

But even as he revels in the feeling, he knows that he must be careful. They may be sleeping together, but they are not yet married. He wants to respect her and their relationship, and that means being patient and waiting until the time is right.

As they continue to sleep, Zenith Heaven Emperor takes a deep breath and tries to calm himself. He focuses on the sound of Soft Feather's breathing, letting it lull him back into a peaceful sleep.

When the morning sun begins to peek through the windows, Soft Feather stirs awake. She stretches her arms and legs, feeling the stiffness from a night of sleep. Slowly, she sits up and looks down at Zenith Heaven Emperor, still sleeping peacefully next to her.

A smile spreads across her face as she leans down and places a soft, affectionate kiss on his lips. She lingers there for a moment, savoring the warmth of his body and the sweetness of his lips.

Zenith Heaven Emperor stirs awake at the touch of her lips, his eyes fluttering open. For a moment, he's disoriented, unsure of where he is or what's happening. But then he sees Soft Feather's smiling face, and he remembers.

"Good morning, Soft Feather," he says, his voice groggy from sleep.

"Good morning, my dear," Soft Feather replies, her voice filled with warmth and affection. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did," he says, smiling up at her. "How about you?"

"I slept wonderfully," she says, her voice filled with happiness. "Especially with you by my side."

Zenith Heaven Emperor feels a sense of warmth spread through him at her words. He knows that they have a long journey ahead of them, but with Soft Feather by his side, he feels like anything is possible.

As they lay there, basking in the glow of their love, Zenith Heaven Emperor knows that he has made the right decision. He may not be able to show his love for Soft Feather in the way that he wants to just yet, but he knows that their love will only grow stronger with time.

For now, he is content to simply hold her close and enjoy the feeling of her lips against his. He knows that they have a lifetime of love ahead of them, and he can't wait to see where their journey takes them.