Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Princess Nyx stood before him, her hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes shimmering faintly in the moonlight pouring through the tall glass windows of the hallway. "Shall we do it?" she asked softly, her voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and weariness.

Lucas gave her a small, knowing smile. "It has to be done in seclusion," he replied gently, keeping his tone respectful. "Somewhere quiet. No distractions."

Nyx looked thoughtful for a moment, then gave a nod. "My chamber. No one disturbs me there."

Lucas followed her as she turned, her royal gait unfaltering even in her drained state. But in the recesses of his mind, thoughts lust stirred. He had used the dual cultivation charm on her gently, laced it into their earlier interactions like silk woven through a thread. Nyx, powerful as she was, remained within the range of his technique, particularly now, when her body and spirit were strained, and her guard was slightly lowered by fatigue and trust.

It wasn't manipulation to him, not in the sinister sense. She needed what he could give, his Qi, his technique, his knowledge and his Yang energy. And he would give it, he was generous… when it served a greater good. Still, a part of him knew this was dangerous ground. But so was everything that had led him to this point.

They arrived at her chamber. As she opened the ornate door, Lucas caught a full view of the room beyond, and for a moment, even he paused. Her chamber was stunning, a perfect blend of elegance and mysticism. A high canopy bed rested in the center, draped with soft silk veils that danced lazily in the breeze slipping through a tall arched window. Crystals hung from threads in the corners of the ceiling, glowing faintly in colors that shifted with the light. The scent of lavender and moon lotus hung in the air, calming and intoxicating.

Nyx stepped inside first, turning to face him as he entered. She gestured toward a set of soft cushions near the hearth, where a low fire glowed, offering warmth and quiet. "We'll do it here," she said simply.

Lucas nodded, stepping forward. Whatever this night would bring, he was ready.

Princess Nyx turned toward him, "How exactly do we begin?" she asked.

Lucas's eyes scanned the room, settling on a wide table carved from dark wood, its polished surface gleaming faintly in the low firelight. He walked toward it, adjusted its position slightly for space, then turned to face her with calm assurance. "We'll use this," he said, placing a hand gently on the table's surface. "Please, lie down on it. It'll help the technique circulate more effectively through your meridians."

Nyx raised an elegant brow, her expression skeptical. "Lie on a table? For your technique? That's part of it?"

Lucas smiled, understanding her hesitation. "Trust me, Princess," he said, voice steady and reassuring. "I'll never touch you inappropriately. Not without your full consent and permission."

She studied him for a moment, weighing his words. She was no fool, she was a princess of Valerion, born and raised amidst politics, deception, and power. If he dared to cross a line, there would be consequences severe enough to shatter any ambition he had left. But still… something in his eyes calmed her suspicion. They held no lust, only resolve and quiet strength. She gave a faint nod, then turned away.

Without further hesitation, she undid the heavy clasps of her royal robe and let the garment fall from her shoulders, revealing the more form-fitting innerwear of a princess. The fabric hugged her curves, accentuating her toned frame. She was every inch royalty, graceful, strong, and stunning. The long robe had done well to conceal just how dangerously feminine her form truly was. Her hips flared wide, her figure confident and commanding. Even her posture as she laid herself upon the table reflected years of training and strength, wrapped in an aura of pride and elegance.

Lucas had meant to prepare the Qi technique in his mind, but for a brief moment, his thoughts halted. His eyes lingered a second too long out of lewdness, Nyx was more than beautiful, she was arresting.

She caught the slip immediately.

"Will you stop staring at my body and do what you came here to do?" she asked flatly, narrowing her eyes at him.

Lucas blinked, quickly averting his gaze as he gave a dry cough. "Apologies," he muttered, a touch of red creeping to his ears. "You just… your presence is overwhelming, Princess."

"Get to work Xavier." She ignored his compliment.

Lucas walked over to the low cabinet by the wall, where various glass containers were neatly arranged. Nyx had no shortage of rare ointments and oils, each one delicately infused with natural herbs and essences known only to royalty and the elite. He opened one jar after another, letting the subtle aromas guide him. He selected a blend rich in spiritual wood essence and healing lotus root extract, something gentle on the skin, but ideal for enhancing meridian flow.

With practiced focus, he drew a shallow breath and channeled a refined stream of his Yang energy into the mixture, imbuing it slowly until the clear liquid shimmered faintly with warmth. It wasn't a dual cultivation trigger, not yet, but the energy was precise, tailored to soothe and support rather than overwhelm.

He returned to the table, poured a small amount into his palms, and rubbed his hands together to activate the Qi. Without a word, he began with her feet.

His hands were warm, steady, and firm as he pressed his thumbs along the soles of her feet in slow, circular motions. Then he traced the meridian lines from her heels to her toes, carefully stimulating the points that connected to her lower dantian. His fingers moved to each toe, applying just enough pressure to ease the tension held in the joints and muscles.

Nyx let out a long breath, deep and instinctive, as her body responded almost immediately. The heavy strain she'd been carrying for days seemed to uncoil. Her Qi, sluggish since the blow from the grandmaster, began to stir gently within her channels. It wasn't a burst of power, but a calm, steady ripple that soothed her nerves and silenced the faint aches she had grown used to ignoring.

"This is…" she whispered under her breath, the words barely audible. "Incredible."

Lucas didn't reply. His focus remained sharp. He knew how fragile the balance was, if he overwhelmed her system or pushed too much Qi into the wrong points, it would backfire. But this...this was the exact rhythm he needed. He could feel the tension lifting from her frame, the stiffness in her limbs gradually replaced by a flowing warmth that would allow her natural energy to circulate again.

He moved slowly up her calves, still maintaining the connection of his Yang-infused technique with the herbal balm. He didn't rush. Every movement was respectful, as much a spiritual healing as it was a physical one. This was no ordinary massage, it was guided internal cultivation. From the quiet rise and fall of Nyx's breathing, Lucas knew it was working.