When Xiuqi came to, she felt that something strange had happened.

As if to confirm that notion, there was a rueful sigh next to ear. 

“You’re awake?” a man’s voice asked. 

Hmmm. Not the dragon…?

Still dazed, she blinked her eyes open, only vaguely registering that she was in the arms of the dark-haired man and the dragon was nowhere to be seen.

“Yu…?” she murmured, confused.

There was a warm chuckle and the man’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he held her.

“You gave me quite a fright, Miss. I thought you might die,” he murmured, deep voice thrumming against her skin as his dipped his head down to kiss the place just above her breasts. 

Where are my clothes?!

Xiuqi was horrified to find that she was sitting on him, legs splayed around his waist, naked body pressed intimately against his skin. He carefully supported her back even as she leaned away, glaring at him.

“You shameless wretch! I just saved your life! How dare you take advantage of me!” she cried, trembling with outrage.

“Careful!” he soothed, looking worried. “You’re still weak…rest a bit first. I’m not trying to take advantage. When I woke up you were just about to die and required some attention…”

“But why are my clothes gone?” she trembled, still enraged.

He smiled, looking very handsome and also strangely familiar.

“You ripped those off yourself,” he chuckled, tightening his grip on her.

Xiuqi thought her soul might fly out of her body.

“I-I…what?”

“Yes, you were clawing and ripping at your chest. I only wanted to help because it seemed like you were having trouble breathing...so I removed the rest,” he explained.

She wanted to cry.

A strange man has seen my body…how…what am I supposed to tell Master…? she thought, flushing with shame.

“Don’t worry. Since you saved my life, I’ll take responsibility and become your husband,” he smiled, blue eyes twinkling.

“Why you--!” 

She aimed a chop at his neck, but he was far quicker, grabbing her wrist and placing a kiss on her palm. Her vision wobbled and he caught her as she fell sideways with a sharp gasp.

“Shhhh, you’re still too weak, but don’t fear, husband will care for you!” he grinned, cheerfully.

“You--!”

Deciding to save her strength for an escape, she gave up, drooping against him. He was stunned for a moment, but then wrapped his arms around her, carefully rubbing her back.

“That’s it. Let me comfort you,” he said with a gentleness that surprised her. Her anger was replaced by embarrassment as she became acutely aware of how her breasts were being mashed against his naked chest and how strong his arms felt as they circled her.

“Where’s the dragon?” she mumbled, trying to distract herself from the feeling.

“He returned,” the handsome man responded smoothly.

Not saying, eh? I suppose it doesn’t matter now. I saved him as the dragon asked. What their relationship is…isn’t important…

She frowned. Although it was hot in the spring, Xiuqi started to feel a heat that could not possibly be related to the water temperature.

“Wha…?” she muttered, brushing at her brow. 

Worried, he leaned her back to take a proper look at her face.

Oh…

He’d placed one of his black scales on her body to heal her heart and meridians, but this side effect was a bit unexpected…

“Ah!” she moaned, and then clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes widening. 

“What did you do to me?” she wailed.

“You absorbed a dragon scale into your body. It helped you recover, but…you’re experiencing a...Hmmn…do humans have heats?” he muttered almost to himself, confusion flitting across his face.

Xiuqi wanted to die.

That perverted dragon…!

“C-Can you stop it…?” she begged, close to tears.

“I can…” he paused, looking hesitant. “But you may not want that…”

As his words sank in, she saw that his blue eyes had darkened.

“I…see,” she whispered, shivering. “What will happen if I don’t...?”

“It’s painful, but it’s still possible to meditate through it…With me here, you should be fine.”

So, I can only entrust myself to him…is there no other choice then? she thought bitterly.

“Alright. No matter what I do, you must promise not to…not to…” she stuttered, unable to say it.

“I won’t,” he said, sincerely.

Unable to hold herself upright any longer, she slumped against him.

“Then…I’m Xiuqi,” she huffed, as the heat began to take her.

“Husband is called Liyu,” he said, gently caressing her cheek.

And thus began the awkward marriage of a dragon and his wife.

----

Notes about Names/ Xianxia concepts:

The xianxia terms noted here aren’t an exhaustive list. I’ve only referenced the ones important to understanding the story, but immortalmountain.wordpress.com is great if you’re interested in a further understanding of the genre terms.

秀七: Xiuqi. Xiu, meaning ‘elegant/ beautiful’. Qi, meaning ‘seven’.

Spell formation: also known as an ‘array’. Essentially a magic circle. In this case, it’s a transportation spell called the Ten Thousand Door Formation.

Spiritual space: a pocket dimension used for cultivation or storage. Some have the ability to “level up” alongside their owner.

玉龍: Yulong, meaning ‘jade dragon’.

Formation guardian: sometimes spell formations have an avatar or guardian that defends against, or alerts its master, to an intruder.

Spiritual vein: similar to a ley line, it is a concentration of energy/power.

Primordial spirit: a soul that is capable of existing independent of a physical existence.

Meridians: like blood vessels but for spiritual energy.

Hitting pressure points: medical or fighting technique use to kill, cripple, immobilize or control someone.

Inner force: also called Inner Energy, Internal Strength, Internal Power, or Internal Force. The cultivated energy within a martial artist’s body. Utilizing it, a martial artist can accomplish superhuman feats of speed, agility, strength, endurance, etc… It can even be used to heal wounds and nullify poisons. Circulating inner force helps to replenish stamina, purify the Qi, or strengthen the meridians.

黎玉: Liyu. Li, as in ‘black, dawn’ and Yu as in ‘jade’.