"So… you were able to rally the three kingdoms to come together and prepare for the invasion?"

"Mhm." Lin Zhaoyue gave a soft, satisfied nod, lounging comfortably across Fang Yuan's lap.

Fang Yuan hummed, plucking a grape and fed it into her mouth.

"Not only that, you managed to recruit Pill King Tushan into the clan and even prepare her to start producing hollow Spirit pills?"

"Mhm."

"And then you sent Uncle Chen, Aunty Jingyi, Du Juan… and even Xiao Bai from the Divine Ice Sect to gather herbs?"

"Yes~" she replied, shifting slightly, tilting her head just enough to look up at him with a bright, almost proud smile.

Fang Yuan stared down at her.

A part of him clearly wanted to call it out and say you're lying.

But… she had no reason to. He knew that yet it was still absurd to hear.

"…Hah." He exhaled slowly, forcing the tension out of his chest. "Fine. Let's just assume all of that is true."

"It is true—" she began, lips parting to argue.

Fang Yuan didn't let her finish. With a casual flick of his fingers, he plucked a grape and pressed it gently into her mouth.

"Mm—!"

"Thank you," he said lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You're an amazing wife."

He paused, then added, "Tell me about this 'World Law' instead."

Lin Zhaoyue's eyes lit up instantly.

Without any hesitation, she sat up, her fingers slipping into his hand and tightening just a little too firmly into his hand.

"I will," she said, her voice soft… but carrying that familiar edge beneath it. "I'll tell you everything."

She leaned closer, her smile turning a touch possessive.

"But in exchange…" her grip tightened again, almost imperceptibly, "…you're sleeping with me tonight again."

Her thumb brushed lightly over his hand.

"…And you'll be gentle this time. Right?"

Fang Yuan didn't answer immediately.

He looked at their joined hands, her fingers laced tightly with his, as if even a moment of looseness would let him slip away.

Then he glanced back at her.

"…You really don't leave me much room to refuse, do you?"

Lin Zhaoyue's smile deepened, slow and knowing.

"I do," she said lightly. "You can refuse."

Yet her grip only tightened as she speak.

"I just won't accept it."

Fang Yuan let out a quiet chuckle at her response,"…Of course you wouldn't."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The air settled into something softer, quieter but beneath it lingered that unspoken tension she always carried with her.

That invisible thread wrapped around him, subtle… but unyielding.

Finally, he shifted slightly, adjusting her position so she was sitting more properly instead of half-draped over him.

"Alright," he said. "I promise to be more gentler this time."

Her eyes flickered in satisfaction.

She moved closer again, this time not lounging, but sitting right beside him, their shoulders touching.

"Alright," Lin Zhaoyue said softly, her tone shifting as she straightened a little. "I'll tell you what I know about World Law."

"A World Law…" she began softly, her usual teasing edge gone, "isn't a technique. It isn't some scripture you can memorize either."

She lifted her gaze to meet his, eyes steady.

"It's closer to a world that you carry within yourself."

She drew a slow breath, choosing her words carefully.

"There are many forms. Illusion World Law… Void World Law… and countless others. Each one is different because each cultivator is different."

"But at its core, a World Law is a domain where you are absolute."

"Within it, your will becomes reality. Your rules decide what exists, what breaks, what lives… and what disappears."

"Of course, it isn't invincible. A stronger World Law can suppress yours. One of equal strength can clash with it. And even a weaker one… can resist, if the wielder's will is sharp enough."

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Fang Yuan didn't interrupt and Lin Zhaoyue's voice lowered.

"As for how to obtain it…"

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his sleeve again.

"You don't learn a World Law," she said. "You have to awaken it. It depends on what your heart truly desires."

"A World Law doesn't form out of nothing. You need a catalyst… something strong enough to force you to confront that desire."

Her eyes locked onto his.

"Only when you're pushed to that edge, when there's no room left to lie to yourself…"

She leaned in slightly, her voice almost a whisper.

"…that's when you'll finally glimpse your own world."

Fang Yuan listened quietly taking it as the truth, like the usual, he truly could find no reason as to why she would lie to him so he simply believed it.

But he still wanted to ask how she knew all this, where she learned it and what she had gone through to understand something so profound.

But before he could ask, something else crossed his mind first.

A small, curious look appeared on his face as he turned towards her.

"My wife," he said gently, "come with me. I want to show you something."

Without waiting, he reached out and took her wrist, pulling her up as he stood.

He had taken a step forward but stopped when he saw that she didn't intend to move.

Fang Yuan glanced back and watch Lin Zhaoyue sitting there, looking up at him, watching him quietly, her expression soft, almost expectant.

"…You're not coming?" he asked.

She gave a tiny shake of her head, her voice light but laced with that familiar clinginess.

"I don't feel like walking."

Fang Yuan stared at her for a second… then sighed, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.

"…I guess I should carry you then. My lovely wife needs to see it after all."

Her eyes lit up instantly as she nodded without hesitation, already lifting her arms toward him.

Fang Yuan let out a quiet chuckle and leaned down, slipping one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back and lifted her up effortlessly.

Lin Zhaoyue immediately settled into his hold, curling slightly closer than necessary, her arms looping around his neck as if she had been waiting for this all along.

Her head rested lightly against his shoulder.

"…You smell sweet," she murmured softly.