The morning sun broke through the paper windows of the master courtyard, casting a warm, golden glow across the floorboards.
For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Yan Shuo woke up without a single trace of pain.
He took a slow, experimental breath. The jagged, burning agony of the Heavenly Dao curse that had been tearing at his spine was completely gone. In its place was a profound, soothing coolness. If he focused his inner sight on his dantian, he could see his dark Nascent Soul resting peacefully within a flawless, crystalline cage of pure Yin ice.
Tantai Zhi's seal had worked perfectly.
Yan Shuo let out a long, satisfied exhale and slowly sat up. He stretched his arms, feeling the satisfying pop of his joints. His fifteen-year-old body still felt a bit stiff, but the crushing weakness had faded.
He moved to toss the heavy silk blankets aside and step out of the jade bed.
"Don't move, Husband!"
