Shame burned in Song Jingyan's cheeks, but this was the path she had chosen. Biting her lip, she voiced the question that gnawed at her.
"Wang Li," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "tell me… were you… were you behind the demonic attack on my husband, my son… the delegation?" She leaned her body closer, pressing her curves against his chest, a desperate plea in her eyes. "Please… I need an honest answer. It concerns their lives."
Wang Li remained stoic, his hands trailing possessively down her exposed back. "Neither I, nor the Xia Family, had any involvement in that attack," he murmured, his voice devoid of emotion. "You must trust me, Madam Song."
Song Jingyan's gaze lingered on his face, searching for any sign of deceit. His unwavering expression offered a measure of comfort, but doubt still lingered at the edges of her mind. With a resigned nod, she accepted his answer, at least for now.
"Then… perhaps we should prepare ourselves for the day," she suggested, rising from the bed.
Wang Li's eyes darkened with a glint of desire. "Indeed," he agreed, pulling her close once more. "However, before we proceed… your duties as a secret lover haven't concluded, Madam Song."
Song Jingyan's eyes widened in surprise. "Duties?" she stammered, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. "What duties?"
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down her spine. "The most basic ones, of course. How about washing me during the bath and doing other things."
She flushed crimson, her pride wounded. "I… I've never done such things," she stammered. "Not even for Song Weiguang."
A sly smile spread across Wang Li's face as he playfully smacked her curvy hip. "Precisely why it's all the more enticing," he teased.
Song Jingyan bit her lip, torn between indignation and a strange sense of warped compliance. Finally, with a small whimper, she conceded.
"Fine," she muttered, averting her gaze. "But… but I expect you to wash me as well."
Wang Li's grin widened, his eyes glinting with a predatory gleam. He knew she was simply putting up a facade, a token display of resistance to appease her own conscience. He wouldn't deny her this small victory.
"Of course, my dear Song Jingyan," he chuckled, his voice dripping with a dark allure. "Consider it part of the service."
He extended a hand, and with a conflicted sigh, Song Jingyan placed hers within it. They rose from the bed, their steps echoing in the stillness of the room.
The silken doors to the bath chamber slid open with a whisper, revealing a luxurious space of polished marble and steaming hot springs. Stepping inside, Song Jingyan felt a wave of warmth wash over her, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within.
Wang Li followed close behind, his eyes roaming over Song Jingyan's still-damp form with a predatory gleam. He gestured towards a jade basin stocked with luxurious soaps and fragrant oils. "Very well, Madam Song," he drawled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Show me how adept you are at this… service."
Though humiliated by the situation, Song Jingyan gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. She picked up a bar of fragrant soap, her movements stiff as she approached Wang Li. He stood before her, tall and imposing, his naked form a stark contrast to the pale marble floor.
As she began to work the soap into a lather, her touch was tentative at first, her eyes downcast. But with each stroke, a strange sense of focus settled over her. Perhaps it was the lingering pleasure from their encounter, or maybe a twisted compliance taking root, but her movements became more practiced, precise.
Wang Li observed her in silence for a moment, a smirk playing on his lips. "You surprise me, Madam Song," he finally conceded. "Such a skilled touch… one wouldn't think you were unused to such tasks."
The sting of his words pricked at Song Jingyan's pride. She forced a smile, her voice strained. "Perhaps I simply have a natural aptitude for… pampering others."
Wang Li chuckled, the sound devoid of warmth. He closed his eyes, leaning back slightly as she cleaned his broad chest and muscular arms. His silence was a double-edged sword – a relief from his taunts, but also a reminder of her subservient position.
Finally, she reached a point where her hands brushed against his lower back, sending a jolt through her. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she averted her gaze, focusing everything on the task at hand.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she finished cleaning him. She stepped back, her face flushed with humiliation.
"Excellent work, Madam Song," Wang Li purred, his eyes lingering on her form. "Now, it's your turn."
Song Jingyan's heart pounded in her chest despite what she had experienced last night.
He led her to a small jade platform beside the pool, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Stepping onto the platform, self-consciousness clawed at her as she was standing under the waterfall shower, leaving her exposed to his gaze.
Wang Li's eyes darkened with desire. His touch, this time, was different. It was not impersonal, but deliberate, his fingers lingering on the sensitive curves of her body.
He paid particular attention to her breasts, his thumbs gently circling the rosy peaks, sending a jolt of electricity through her.
"You really have a beautiful body, Madam Song," he murmured, his voice husky with desire.
Song Jingyan bit her lip, torn between shame and the rising tide of pleasure within her. His voice, his touch – it was a potent combination that threatened to shatter her remaining resistance.
As he continued to wash her, his touch grew bolder. He pinched her nipples, drawing out a gasp, sending shivers cascading through her. He trailed soapy fingers down her stomach, his touch lingering on the sensitive crease of her thighs.
With a gasp, Song Jingyan moaned, her voice a mixture of shame and pleasure. He chuckled, a low, dark sound that fanned the flames of desire within her.
They spent the next hour lost in a world of forbidden pleasure.
Finally, emerging from the bathroom, they were both flushed and breathless. Song Jingyan felt strangely lightheaded, a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration coursing through her veins.
Reaching into their respective spatial storage bags, they retrieved fresh robes. As Wang Li donned his White Eagle Mask, hiding his face once more, a strange sense of longing washed over Song Jingyan.
They stepped out of the chamber, a tense silence hanging between them. She straightened her robes, her head held high despite the turmoil within.
Leading the way, she made her way to the council hall, her steps echoing in the stillness.
In the grand council hall, the Song Family elders awaited their Matriarch's return. Song Jingyan took her seat, her heart pounding against her ribs. She knew this next act would be the ultimate test of her loyalty – not to her family, but to Wang Li.
"Esteemed Elders, esteemed Council Members," she began, her voice firm and steady. "I stand before you today to announce a momentous decision for the future of the Song Family."
A hush fell over the room, anticipation crackling in the air.
"With the recent… disappearance… of my husband, Song Weiguang, and the delegation accompanying him to the Xia Family," she continued, her voice taking on a steely edge, "the Song Family faces a period of uncertainty. Our enemies, sensing vulnerability, may seek to exploit our current state."
A wave of nervous murmurs rippled through the hall. Song Jingyan knew she had their attention.
"Therefore," she declared, her voice ringing clear, "I propose a formal alliance with the Xia Family! An alliance that will see the sharing of borders, resources, and even military support."
Gasps erupted from the council members. An alliance with the Xia Family, a family they had long viewed with a wary eye, was a radical proposition.
"But Matriarch Song," one elder sputtered, "why such a drastic decision? Surely, we can…"
Song Jingyan raised a hand, silencing him. "Time is a luxury we cannot afford," she countered. "The longer we delay, the more vulnerable we become. This alliance will not only offer us protection from external threats but also ensure stability during this critical time."
Her gaze swept across the room, meeting each elder's eye in turn. "Furthermore, I have secured the unwavering support of the Eagle Masked Expert, who serves as a trusted representative of the Xia Family."
Debate raged within the council chamber. Some voiced their concerns, others saw the merit in her proposal. Ultimately, swayed by the potential for stability and the implicit threat of Wang Li's power, the council voted in favor of Song Jingyan's proposal.
A collective sigh of relief swept through the council chamber as the last elder cast their vote. The alliance with the Xia Family had been approved. Little did they know that this seemingly innocuous agreement would be the first step on a path leading to the Song Family's eventual absorption by the Xia.
News of the alliance spread like wildfire. Messengers raced out, carrying dispatches to nearby sects, cultivation families, and even the prestigious human sects – the Jade Lotus Palace, the Azure Peak Sect, and the Golden Bell Temple. The Song Family, it was declared, was now under the leadership of Matriarch Song Jingyan, wife of the esteemed Song Weiguang.
The news was met with a mix of acceptance and cautious curiosity. The Song Family, though powerful, had always remained somewhat isolated. This sudden shift in their political stance was an unexpected development.