Chapter 20: Straight out of an eastern fantasy movie
The morning sunlight filtered through the ornate jade lattice window, casting a beautiful array of dappled light across the luxurious room that had become their new reality. The room, spacious and adorned with exquisite craftsmanship, mirrored the refined taste of its occupants.
Vibrant tapestries lined the walls, depicting legendary cultivators soaring through the heavens, taming mythic beasts, and splitting mountains with a flick of their wrists. A massive dragon carved from ancient mahogany spiraled around one of the four posts of a massive bed, the beast's scales finely polished to give off a soft, warm glow.
The entire chamber was suffused with a warm, soothing aura, a fitting sanctuary for a young master and his beloved.
Mason was the first to awaken, roused by the faint chorus of early birds serenading the dawn from their perch on the blooming jadeite branches outside. He found himself sprawled on an expanse of silk and brocade beddings, the color of a midnight sky studded with glittering threads of gold and silver. The pillows were stuffed with the softest down feathers, collected from the celestial cranes that only appeared during auspicious omens.
Opposite the bed was a grand vanity, carved from white jade, which mirrored the colors of the morning light, painting an iridescent sheen on the surface. An array of delicate brushes, mirrors, and combs of various shapes and sizes, all exquisitely made, lay perfectly arranged on top.
Beside him lay Fiona, the daughter of a revered Empress, nestled against his side, a picture of serene beauty. As he propped himself up on one elbow, he found his gaze drawn to the lady he loved. Their sudden crossing over into this cultivation world had changed them, and yet their bond remained. His fingers traced the outline of her face, lingering on her refined features.
Fiona was breathtaking in her new form, fitting for the nobility of this cultivation realm. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of shimmering silk, when she stirred, he caught a glimpse of her eyes gleaming like polished jade, a perfect match to her jadeite gown delicately embroidered with golden dragons. Her lips, naturally tinted with the soft blush of a rose, were still slightly parted as if in mid-dream.
As Mason glanced at the mirror across the room, he found his reflection unfamiliar yet fascinating. His jet-black hair was longer, tied up in a high ponytail with a jade pin, complementing his deep-set emerald eyes. His chiseled features were accentuated by his robe, the color of the deepest ocean, embroidered with intricate patterns of golden phoenixes. He was a striking image of a young master in this cultivation realm.
He felt a sudden tingling sensation, and an information download initiated by his System began. It painted the picture of this new world—Paragon Valley—they found themselves in; an eastern fantasy realm of cultivation, inhabited by different sects, each with its hierarchy and distinct sets of traditions and practices.
[Name: Mason Li]
[Role: Young Master]
[Views: 0]
[Cash: 3342.81 merits]
[Accessory points: 0]
[Inventory points: 0]
Kitanai-kun identified him as a Young Master, set to inherit one of the most influential Sects, and Fiona as his betrothed, the daughter of an Empress from a powerful ally.
'Great! Just the right storyline to pair me with Fiona.' Mason thought to himself with a grin as he read through Kitanai-kun's report. It was the best possible outcome to his dilemma. He now had a clear path forward that didn't involve running away from his responsibilities or abandoning the woman he loved.
He rolled over onto his side, bringing Fiona closer to his body. She responded immediately to his affection by wrapping her arms around him and pulling herself into a tight hug. The sight brought a smile to Mason's face.
Fiona began to stir once more, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she too awakened to this new world. He could see her eyes widen with surprise, then fascination as she took in her new look.
"Shocking, huh?" Mason joked as he watched Fiona slowly sit up, her eyes growing wide at the sight of her new reflection. The dress she wore was no longer the simple shorts and top she'd worn in their old reality, but a set of delicate silk robes that were bright green with trimmings of pure gold. They were the kind that they'd seen in movies set in ancient Xina, that princesses would wear.
She brushed a hand through her hair, which was no longer the shoulder length cut but instead, a cascade of golden tresses, held back with an intricate golden hairpin. Her facial features were softer, more refined, an ethereal beauty that matched the stunning robe she wore. A small gasp left her lips as she touched the slender jade dragon bangle on her wrist.
"These... I look like someone out of one of those eastern fantasy movies." Her voice was still Fiona's, yet it held a certain richness to it that hadn't been there before. She turned her wide eyes to Mason, filled with awe and wonder. "Mason... We're really here, aren't we?"
He nodded, pulling himself up to sit beside her. "We are." He looked down at himself, his attire mirroring Fiona's. He was dressed in a robe of royal blue, with gold trimmings that seemed to glow in the light.
"Memories will come," Mason said, touching the side of Fiona's face gently. "Just as they did for me in our last world. We just need to let them."
As he said those words, they felt a rush of memories flooding into their minds. Memories that weren't theirs, but felt like they were. They saw themselves growing up in this realm, Fiona a princess, Mason the young lord, they even had memories of reading and studying together, of playing in the vast gardens of this vast palace, and a brief glimpse of burning passion that had left them breathless and aroused.
It all happened so fast. The flood of memories was overwhelming; their new memories were vivid and vibrant, a constant rush of new sights and sounds, smells and tastes. As they fell deeper into the haze of their memories, Mason felt as though they had been traveling for centuries instead of just for a few short minutes.
There was an undeniable sense of intimacy that washed over them, a connection that was far deeper than their shared experiences. Fiona's breath hitched as Mason leaned closer, their faces just inches apart. For a moment, time seemed to stop, as if the world itself was holding its breath for them.
His eyes focused on her lips and he felt his mouth open without any prompting from him as he leaned in towards her for a kiss. Just as Mason was about to close the distance, there was a sharp knock on the door.
*****
Author's Note
~We start a new journey with the young master in a cultivation eroverse(I'm guessing you can already tell what would make this place/cultivation world slightly degraded)
~ Can you guess what gender had knocked on the door and possibly why?
If you've read this far, please give a review, I'm currently low on this part of the ratings.
400 power stones=3 bonus chapters, if I get a huge turn up, I can dish out more chapters (aside the usual 2-3) in a day.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone