A breath.
"Except the power. Except the real things that make the immortal realm what it is."
The catkin's tiptoe found her nipple again.
"HNGH—"
She swallowed it.
Continued.
"Not the real deal. Just the shape of it."
"And to reach the real deal," Tianlong said.
Not a question.
"Those who ascend past the continent's ceiling — like you — come here."
"Yes."
The word with effort behind it.
"We gather yang energy. Enough to burn through the upper realm's gate toll without depleting our own reserves. Then we cross. The Walls of Immortal accept the offering and open."
Her jaw worked.
"That was why I was here. Your yang. A forbidden cauldron's output at that level — it was supposed to be exactly what I needed."
"So you believed a lie."
She went still.
The bamboo shifted with her sudden tension.
"...What."
Tianlong's hand moved from Akane's hair.
Found her ear again — the fox ear, soft, the fur warm under his fingers.
Ruffled it slowly.
