Li Dong opened his eyes. Before him lay ornate light fixtures and decorations, and he realized he was lying on a large, soft bed.
"Where am I?" he wondered.
Having no memory of how he arrived, he felt an immediate sense of wariness at finding himself in such an unfamiliar setting.
He had little time to dwell on it, however; his entire body felt weak and numb, and his head throbbed as if he were suffering from a severe hangover.
A few seconds later, the events leading up to this moment came rushing back.
He recalled seeing Aunt Yingji snatched away by his uncle and cast out of the "Black Street," followed by his own sudden appearance over the open sea off the coast of Shen City.
An unforeseen complication had arisen: the exit from the spatial realm was located hundreds of meters in the air, meaning he was already in a rapid freefall the moment he emerged.
Falling from such a height—even into the vast ocean—offered little in the way of a soft landing; the sheer force of the impact would cause the water, usually fluid and yielding, to become as hard as steel the instant he struck the surface.
Though the impact would be brief, it was more than enough to inflict serious injury.
He immediately attempted to channel his *zhenqi* (internal energy) to slow his descent—a feat well within his capabilities. Beyond the level of a *Dan*-stage master, one who has reached the *Gang*-stage—a realm surpassing *Hua*-stage—can even traverse the air as if walking on solid ground.
But just then, the foreign, pure *yang* energy that had previously invaded his body resurfaced. Though only a tiny remnant remained, it was enough to completely disrupt the flow of *zhenqi* circulating through his meridians.
Everything happened too quickly. He only remembered that, at the very moment he hit the water, he had ignored the excruciating pain in his meridians and forced a final, desperate burst of *zhenqi* to pull Lan Yan tightly into his arms. The force of the impact drove them deeper and deeper, a trail of air bubbles rapidly spiraling away into the distance.
Crushing pressure bore down from every direction as they plunged hundreds of meters in an instant. The searing agony of the collision left Li Dong's consciousness teetering on the edge of oblivion, his meridians burning as if scorched by fire.
There was no way to escape the peril. Just as despair began to take hold, he felt a sudden pressure against his chest—a pair of soft yet firm, full, and rounded breasts pressed tightly against him.
He had shielded Lan Yan during their entry into the water, and now, the violent jolt had jolted her back to consciousness.
Lan Yan's lips parted as if to speak, but instead, she pressed them—soft, smooth, and warm—against his own.
A cool, delicate tongue slipped between his lips, delivering a precious breath of air. In the dim, subaquatic gloom, he noticed a faint, pearlescent glow emanating from Lan Yan's body, with subtle, diamond-like, multicolored shimmers dancing across her skin.
He realized she was extracting oxygen from the seawater. For an "Enhancement-type" superhuman, the ability extends far beyond mere physical strengthening; it naturally encompasses the capacity to survive in even the most extreme environments.
Yet, Lan Yan herself was in a precarious state—the oxygen she managed to extract was barely enough for one person.
Even so, she held nothing back. Their lips remained locked in the deep-sea abyss, their tongues entwined—sliding, swirling, curling around one another, and brushing against each other's surfaces.
The mingling of their saliva, the intimate contact of their tongues, and the tight press of their chests became the only source of warmth in the deep ocean.
As they continued to sink and the extracted air grew increasingly scarce, their kiss only intensified, burning ever hotter. Just as the very last trace of air was being exchanged between their lips and tongues—with oxygen growing ever scarcer, the sensation of suffocation creeping in, and consciousness on the verge of slipping away—
A massive, dark shape seemed to draw near, carrying with it a sudden surge of water that swept them up and cradled them...
Sister Lan-yan!
Driven by the thought of whether Sister Lan-yan was safe, a surge of strength welled up from somewhere deep within Li Dong, and he bolted upright on the bed.
"Mmm..."
The sudden movement caused the bed to sway, and from nearby, a soft, alluring moan escaped.
To Li Dong, it sounded like the most beautiful music; for there, lying on her side, was a tall, slender, and athletic figure—a graceful, swan-like neck, broad shoulders, shapely hips, and long, striking legs pressed together.
Her body was defined by elegant, undulating curves—firm and toned, like a slumbering panther.
Her features were exquisite and possessed a bold, spirited charm; her face—a perfect blend between an oval and a heart shape—was as flawless and delicate as if carved from jade.
A cascade of jet-black, lustrous hair spilled across the bedsheets like silk. It still held a faint trace of dampness, yet there was no briny scent of the sea.
Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered, suggesting that her sleep was restless—she was on the verge of waking.
It was his Sister Lan-yan!
The knot of anxiety in Li Dong's chest vanished instantly. It seemed that someone—though he knew not who—had rescued both him and Tang Lan-yan from the sea. They had even been thoughtfully cared for; he had been dressed in pajamas, and Sister Lan Yan had been, too—outfitted in a pale purple, openwork silk nightgown that allowed the firm, undulating contours of her body to be glimpsed beneath.
The lace hem of the gown could barely cover the sides of her taut, shapely, and exceptionally voluminous buttocks; it hadn't even managed to "climb" over those rounded, imposing curves, slipping instead toward the hollow of her waist.