I alone am the Honoured One!

"I stayed with her for like... I don't know, maybe weeks in that barren land, and finally got out of it."

Zhao Tian's voice was soft as he leaned against the cushioned back of the couch.

Xia Shenyi who was sitting beside him turned her head slightly "I see. It's good that nothing happened to you and Master." she mumbled with a sigh of relief.

"And what's with that third woman?"

Shaking his head, he replied "No idea. She is still sleeping. I think she might be in a semi conscious stage, maybe like a coma."

As he spoke, he felt something wet and soft against his neck.

Glancing down, he looked at Velnorah on his lap, her delicate lips brushing and licking lightly along his neck as though savoring his scent.

Her breath was warm, and her eyes fluttered with affection enjoying his presence.

A small smile touched his lips, and he gently ran his hand through her monochrome hair, fingers combing through the silky strands as she continued her affectionate ministrations.

She hummed softly against his skin, curling further into his arms, completely content just being near him.

Xia Shenyi, noticing this smiled dryly "You spoil her too much. She's practically a cat in your lap now."

Zhao Tian let out a short chuckle "Let her be. She's been waiting patiently."

He tilted his head to give Velnorah more room to continue her nuzzling, his touch never leaving her hair.

Shenyi's gaze lingered on them for a while, before turning serious "Accident or not, we gained another shard of Eleanor's soul… and that might be our only clue toward reviving Yao Jing."

His gaze lowered upon hearing this "I do hope so..."

Xia Shenyi leaned toward him and rested her head on his shoulder.

They sat in the comfortable silence for a while

Zhao Tian broke the silence again "By the way, Norah, Shenyi... go and often visit Shuang. She must be lonely without me and Jing'er."

"I know her… she'll bury herself in sect matters and isolate herself just to avoid the ache. But even someone like her… needs warmth."

Shenyi gave a soft smile and leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Of course. We'll keep her company, Tian. You don't have to worry."

Velnorah retracted her lips from his neck and looked into his eyes "Tian, do you like... Sect Master?" she asked in a curious tone.

Upon hearing this, his eyes softened and he gave a nod "You could say that..."

Veloran and Xia Shenyi were amazed and looked at each other for a moment.

"Already aiming for a new wife..."

Zhao Tian just chuckled and hugged them closer "You two get a new sister. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"

Velnorah rolled her eyes and reached up to pinch his cheek "Yeah, yeah... greedy bastard."

Xia Shenyi and Velnorah looked at each other and let out a laugh before leaning in and kissing his cheek on both sides.

Pulling back from the kiss, Velnorah tilted her head thoughtfully "If Sect Master were also to become your woman, how many wives does that make?"

Zhao Tian blinked in surprise as he never really counted it "Uh…"

Seeing his face, Velorah giggled "Let's count. Jia, Ziyu, Lingxi, Hanyue, Yixian, Shenyi, me and your wives from your middle star."

"How many wives from your middle star?"

Xia Shenyi spoke for him "Zhao Ying, Chi Miya. Zhao Suyin. Ning Xue, Ning Zuiye, Ning Yueli, Zahra Ashante, Yu Hua, Ling Chen, Ling Huang, Ling Meiying, Ling Xin, Mei Xiu, Hun Xiang, Chi Shui, Ning Zhilian."

Hearing this, Velnorah blinked "That's a damn lot... I hope I can meet them soon."

Zhao Tian also mentally began to count the number.

With a giggle, Xia Shenyi nodded her head "Yeah, well... back in his middle star, he is very famous. Even if you go now and ask his name, they will instantly tell you about him."

Ohhh. Velnorah was amused to here this and cuddled closer to him "Tell me what you did in your middle star?"

Letting out a soft laugh, he hugged her closer "Sure, dear."

Xia Shenyi's eyes softened, and leaned on him to hear the story, which she was also a part of.

...

*hiss*

The door for the command prod hissed open and Yan Zijin stepped in.

She looked at Zhao Tian lazily sitting on the front chair with his legs lazily propped on the panel rail.

"How is it now? Do we know how long it will take?"

Without lifting his head, Zhao Tian gave a casual nod "Yeah, it was actually supposed to be around three days."

"But after the rupture, we are somewhere else. It will take at least a week."

Yan Zijin's gaze quivered in worry "Lian'er was asking for help. We already spent weeks or maybe months within that rupture. I wonder how much time has passed since Lian'er sent the distress signal."

Zhao Tian slowly closed his eyes, resting his head back against the padded chair "Don't worry Master, in rupture, time dilation exists."

"So even if you spent months outside, it will only look like a day was spent outside."

Huh? Yan Zijin stared at him in surprise and her lips parted slightly as she processed his words. "Time… dilation?"

With closed eyes, he muttered "The flow of time inside a rupture folds, curls in on itself. It moves… slower in some places, faster in others. But more often than not, it expands inward, like a pocket dimension in stasis."

Her eyes narrowed slightly "Are you sure?"

He slightly turned his head toward her and their eyes met "Yeah, don't worry."

Her gaze condensed slightly but she knew Zhao Tian had survived another rupture before, so she nodded her head.

Yan Zijin turned her gaze toward the projection "Hmm.. I hope we get there soon."

"Every moment Lian'er waits is one more I feel like I've failed her."

Zhao Tian opened his eyes slightly "You didn't fail her. None of this was your fault."

With a deep sigh, she replied "I'm her Master. Her guardian. It doesn't matter if it was fate or a storm or a rupture. She called for me… and I wasn't there."

Zhao Tian sat up straighter "But you are now. And so am I."

She looked at him and gave a slow nod as she gazed at the screen.

-Course realigned. Estimated arrival: Six days, eighteen hours, thirty-two minutes-

A sigh of relief escaped her lips "Tian, I will be making food for us."

He nodded his head "Appreciate that."

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!