Qiang the Round Bear

Going to sleep with Li Yichen in my arms proved to be both a blessing and a curse.

It was a blessing because I had an incredible night asleep; I always enjoyed falling asleep with a woman in my arms, but last night was rather calm and soothing.

It was a damn curse because I was currently so fucking aroused as I stared down at her sleeping face, but I wasn't allowed to touch her.

Both because I didn't want to wake her, and because I didn't trust myself.

If I started, I don't think I could stop, and I can't spend time with my other servants either.

Not after her little outburst last night.

So, with a sigh I gently got up, making sure to instantly wrap her up with more of the blankets and pillows before slipping out of bed, stretching myself out before taking a look around my room.

Since I was technically stuck here, I needed to find something to occupy my time, and I didn't feel like cultivating just yet.

Glancing around, I sighed again before my eyes landed on the small pile of books that Li Yichen owned, specifically the worn, faded spine of her most treasured book.

Qiang the Round Bear...

Lifting it from the pile, I pulled a chair over and sat down right beside Yi'er, so that she could see me when she awoke.

Opening the cover, I gazed down at the slightly yellowed pages, my eyes flickering towards the oil stains from her fingers and slight tears from years of use.

The words were slightly faded, the low quality ink being smudged by the raw power radiating off of the Shimmering Palace, wearing down the weaker materials.

I started to read the children's book, taking in each line of text before glancing at the pictures, each one poorly drawn and barely colored, the crude images adding to the charm of the book.

Qiang was a round, lazy bear, a bear that many made fun of.

However, Qiang didn't care; he enjoyed his life, enjoyed his lazy days of watching people come to see him.

One day, that all changed.

Qiang met another bear, a female named Lanfen, who was as beautiful as the flowers growing in his forest clearing.

The Round Bear fell for Lanfen, but she too laughed at him, calling him all the same things that everyone else did.

Obviously, Qiang was distraught, and angry.

He wasn't angry that people had made fun of him, but he was angry at himself for allowing it to continue.

The people were apart of the problem, but the root of it started with him.

He was too round.

Too lazy.

So, with a newfound determination, Qiang began to become physically active, shedding his many pounds of fat and instead gaining mass in the form of muscle.

He was still round, but when one looked closely now they saw the ripples of ripcord like muscle under his now luscious brown pelt, and he was no longer Qiang the Round Bear.

He was Qiang the Bear King.

When Lanfen saw him like that, she wanted to talk to him, to grow closer to him, but Qiang refused.

Qiang didn't want to be friends with someone who put him down when he was at his worst, so he began to search for new friends, new companions.

Time slowly passed, and those that made fun of Qiang slowly grew to respect him, and the once Round Bear had found pure, true love, someone who loved him for who he was, and what he could be.

Shutting the book, I stared at the cover for a few moments, my eyes narrowed and brow furrowed as I frown, my mind focused on the book.

Was it always that... deep?

As I went to place the book back on the pile, I jumped slightly as I noticed that Li Yichen was awake, her pale blue eyes fixed on me as I got up.

"How was it?"

Her whisper was as frail as always, but there was a hidden anticipation in her words, and an expectation in those eyes.

Taking a breath, I looked down at the book in my hands, before returning my gaze to her.

"It... it wasn't that bad."

A small smile appeared on her face, and her eyes turned gentle as she looked down at the book, a nostalgic, loving light in those sapphire orbs.

My heart clenched for a moment, before I laid the book back onto the pile and stood up, cleansing my mind as I said "Are you feeling better?"

Getting up, Yi'er gave me a nod, her black hair falling over her pale skin as she stretched, before she blushed slightly as her eyes roamed my body.

More specifically-

Growling, I got up and raked my hand through my hair, trying to calm myself down as I sent a pulse of sharp, cold Dark Qi through my meridians, the pain centering my emotions.

"Alright, I'll have the servants bring us breakfast, then I'll start getting the materials needed for your baths... then..."

Looking down at her, I fell silent as I met her gaze, my eyes tracing the softness of her features as she titled her head slightly.

No longer did she stare up at me in fear, but instead she was just curious, while her hands instinctively went to her midriff, caressing her pregnant stomach.

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose as I wondered if the girl before me was like Qiang, but in a twisted way.

She used to be so... fearful and meek, but now she was just...

Looking her over, I chuckled softly as I nodded.

She had changed.

Somehow, someway, the little bunny before me had changed, but unlike Qiang, who searched for something new, this little bunny wanted to cling to what she had.

Me.

So I reached down and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, my thoughts in disarray as she nuzzled into my palm, her pale features making my heart skip a beat for a moment, before I shook my head slightly.

Turning around, I grabbed a robe and shrugged it on, before I snapped my fingers, a pulse of Dark Qi sweeping through the Palace.

Moments passed, and eventually Da knocked on the door, before opening it and bowing, displaying her vast cleavage to me.

"Bring us breakfast, then ask Bo to go out and get that list of alchemical ingredients for me."

Nodding, Da bowed again, before she gave me an inquisitive, seductive look.

Shaking my head, she frowned slightly before nodding, closing the door behind her as she went to carry out my orders.

Turning back, I saw Li Yichen frowning, her pale blue eyes murderous as they threatened to burn a hole in the door.

Chuckling, I rolled my eyes at her display, plopping back into my chair as I stared at her.

"What am I going to do with you, little bunny?"