NOVPUBIn the morning, Riley and Leia returned to the Miller Clan with the rest of the group. The journey back was peaceful, the crisp morning air filled with the scent of dew-kissed grass. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows as they rode through the familiar roads leading to the estate.
As they arrived, Katherine approached with a knowing smile. "So, how was it? Meeting your in-laws?" she asked, her voice teasing yet genuinely curious.
Riley chuckled, stretching his arms. "It was fine. Better than I expected, actually. They're good people," he admitted, a rare softness in his tone.
Leia, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "Yes, my family really likes him. My father even gave him a rare bottle of wine as a gift," she added with a smile.
Katherine's eyes twinkled. "Oh? That's a good sign. I bet they're already planning for little heirs running around."
Leia blushed while Riley just smirked. "We'll take it one step at a time."
Ava suddenly nudged Riley, her eyes playful. "Hey, Riley, we should go back to Greenfield City so you can meet my parents too."
Riley raised an eyebrow before grinning. "I already went back to the city, but of course, we can do that. It'd be good to let your family hear how well I'm taking care of their beautiful daughter."
Ava gasped, smacking his arm lightly. "Riley!" she scolded, though the heat in her gaze betrayed her reaction.
The rest of the group laughed, well aware of what Riley meant. His insatiable appetite for intimacy was no secret, and his boldness never failed to amuse them.
"I swear, Riley, you're hopeless," Katherine said, shaking her head in exasperation, though there was a hint of fondness in her tone.
With their lighthearted banter filling the air, the group spent the next few days as honored guests, enjoying the festivities and hospitality of the Miller Clan.
They feasted, sparred, and shared stories deep into the night, strengthening their bonds. Finally, the long-awaited wedding arrived, filled with laughter, music, and celebration.
As the last of the fireworks lit up the sky, marking the end of the festivities, Riley glanced at Leia and squeezed her hand gently. This journey, this family—everything was falling into place.
For now, at least.
Of course, not everyone was happy with how things had turned out.
"She should have been mine, Father! Mine!" the groom roared, his voice echoing through the empty corridor as he clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. His chest heaved with ragged breaths, his eyes fixated on Leia from afar, a haunting mix of longing and fury in his gaze.
It was his wedding day. He had just exchanged vows with another beautiful woman—someone admired, desired, and the envy of many. And yet, none of that mattered to him.
No matter how stunning his new bride was, no matter how many well-wishers had gathered to celebrate his union, his heart remained shackled to one woman: Leia Frost.
For years, she had been his obsession. The one thing he had longed to claim as his own. And now, she stood there, radiant as ever, but bound to another man—Senior Riley Mason.
The thought made his stomach twist in agony. It felt as if someone had ripped out his heart and stomped on it, leaving only a hollow, aching void in its place.
"Forget her, and forget her quickly," his father said, his voice firm, almost scolding. "She belongs to Senior Riley now—who, if the rumors are true, has already reached the Void Tribulation Realm."
The groom's head snapped toward his father, his expression darkening further.
His father continued, his tone grave. "Do you have any idea what kind of power that entails? A cultivator of his level could erase this entire city with a mere flick of his finger. He stands at the peak of strength, far beyond what you or I could ever hope to comprehend. You'd best behave and let this matter go before you invite disaster upon yourself—and our family."
The groom gritted his teeth, his body trembling with barely restrained fury.
"Fuck!" he spat, slamming his fist against the nearby wall. The marble cracked slightly under the force, but it did nothing to ease the burning frustration consuming him from the inside.
Let go? Forget her? How could he? He had spent his entire life getting whatever he wanted. No one had ever dared to deny him, not once. He had power, wealth, and influence. If he desired something, he took it. And yet, today, for the first time, he had been denied. Stripped of the one thing he wanted most.
A helpless, bitter rage surged through him. He knew his father was right—there was nothing he could do. Against someone like Riley, he was nothing. A mere insect in the presence of a dragon.
But that didn't make it any easier to accept.
His nails dug deeper into his skin as his thoughts spiraled. The humiliation, the helplessness—it was unbearable. His heart screamed for vengeance, yet he had no means to take it. He could only stand there, fists clenched, seething with hatred.
In the end, all he could do was curse Riley's name in his mind, over and over again.
But one thing was certain—this wound would never heal.
And he would never forget.
***
Meanwhile, Riley cared little for anyone's worries but his own. He always got what he wanted and indulged in life's pleasures without restraint, enjoying every moment with his women, even within the confines of the Miller Clan.
To him, power and pleasure went hand in hand, and with no one daring to challenge him, he saw no reason to deny himself the joys of life.
It didn't take long for his name to spread like wildfire through the city. Whispers of his exploits filled taverns, tea houses, and brothels alike, fueling wild speculation among the common folk. Some admired him, some envied him, and others simply couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"Have you heard? It seems Senior Riley is so obsessed with his women that he never lets them rest at night. He pounds them like a lust demon until dawn!"
"That's nothing! I've got a friend inside the Miller Clan, and he swears on his ancestors that the moans of Riley's women can be heard from dusk till sunrise! And sometimes—" the speaker leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice, "—he even hears the sound of bodies slapping together in the middle of the day! Can you imagine? While the rest of us are working or training, Senior Riley is in there, living like an emperor."
"Damn, that man is lucky. I wish I were him! All of his women are absolute goddesses—stunning, sexy, and completely devoted to him."
"Hah! With beauties like Leia Frost and the rest of his harem! I wouldn't leave my bed either!"
"Forget cultivation! If I had a life like that, I'd never touch a sword again."
As the rumors spread, they became more exaggerated, transforming Riley from a powerful cultivator into a near-mythical figure of unrestrained indulgence.
Some claimed he had a secret technique that allowed him to go all night without stopping. Others whispered that his women had formed a special formation just to handle his insatiable appetite. A few even suggested that his strength in battle was somehow linked to his endless nights of passion.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before these stories reached Riley and his women.
Leia nearly choked on her tea the first time she overheard a particularly scandalous version of the tale, her face turning a deep shade of red. Katherine burst into uncontrollable laughter, while Ava simply smirked, a knowing look in her eyes.
"They're not exactly wrong," Ava teased, casting a sultry glance at Riley.
Fay wiped a tear from her eye. "I swear, the way they talk, you'd think you were some kind of mythical beast in the bedroom."
Leia, still flustered, glared at them. "I can't believe people are actually talking about this! Do they have nothing better to do?"
Riley chuckled, completely unfazed. "Let them talk. If they envy me, it just means I'm doing something right."
Veronica giggled, running a finger down his chest. "Well, you do have a reputation to maintain, don't you?"
He smirked, pulling her into his lap. "Then I suppose I'll have to make sure the rumors stay true."
Their laughter filled the room, drowning out the noise of the outside world. No matter how much people gossiped, it wouldn't change a thing. Riley had power, pleasure, and the devotion of the most beautiful women by his side.
And as far as he was concerned, life couldn't be any better.
***
Another week passed, and the wedding concluded. It was time to return to the Mason Empire once more. Riley made sure to take his women around the city, savoring every moment and experience to make their stay unforgettable.
Truly, this trip had been a resounding success.
