Cai Lian adopted a stance of “if she’s here, I’m gone; if I’m here, she’s gone,” which was downright intimidating.
Jiu Youyue blinked her beautiful eyes. Her delicate bare feet stepped onto a gleaming crescent moon, flickering a few times until she reached the bedside and sat down. She then draped herself over Yan Zhen’s chest, cooing sweetly, “Sister She Ji is mistaken. Little Sister will always stand by Little Zhen Zhen’s side~”
In her previous life, right up until her death, she had insisted to Yan Zhen, “I really didn’t betray you.” This was Jiu Youyue’s deepest obsession. Long Ying and Yi Xian’er suddenly recalled that very scene, ripples of emotion stirring in their hearts.
Cai Lian huffed but didn’t press the demoness further.
As Jiu Youyue gazed at the sleeping face of her long-unseen lover, she continued, “Why fuss with Eldest Sister, She Ji Sister? She’s just like that—always fussing over everyone else and never herself. Once Little Zhen Zhen wakes up and gives her a good scolding a few times, she’ll fall right in line. Wasn’t that how it went in the City of Water? Hehe~”
Yun Xiu’s face instantly flushed crimson with embarrassment. “What nonsense are you spouting!”
Huangfu Wenqing, however, caught the implication. Back in the City of Water, her master and Yan Zhen had shared intimate moments as lovers—and Uncle-Master Yue had witnessed it. Given Uncle-Master Yue’s personality, she had probably joined in!
Hiss…
Huangfu Wenqing drew in a sharp breath. Her mind conjured an image of the beauty master and her beauty uncle-master flanking Yan Zhen—one nibbling his ear, the other kissing his chest.
Under their onslaught, Yan Zhen wore an expression of utter melting bliss, completely forgetting about his fiancée.
Both his body and heart were wholly claimed by the master and her uncle-master. There was no room left for her…
Huangfu Wenqing’s heart pounded wildly. A strange thrill coursed through her body, making her tremble faintly. Her arms hugged her chest instinctively, her legs pressing together. With her quickening breaths, she gradually lost her strength, barely able to stand.
But she was so close!
Seizing the moment, Huangfu Wenqing blurted out, “Uncle-Master Yue… d-did you… do it with Yan Zhen too?”
None of the women had expected her to speak up. They all turned to her in surprise—even Jiu Youyue paused, then grinned mischievously. “Of course! Little Zhen Zhen is so adorable. Even Eldest Sister couldn’t resist, let alone me~~~ Right, Eldest Sister?”
Seeing her own disciple on the verge of tears filled Yun Xiu with heartache, mingled with her own shame and irritation. She desperately wanted to sew this fake junior sister’s mouth shut. “Jiu Youyue, no one thinks you’re mute if you don’t speak!”
Jiu Youyue lay atop Yan Zhen, planting a kiss on his cheek with her red lips before drawling sarcastically, “Oh dear, Eldest Sister is so scary. Fine, Little Sister won’t say another word—hey, hey, hey!”
Yi Xian’er grabbed Jiu Youyue’s hand from the side, yanking her away from the bed and shoving her toward Yun Xiu. “Talk if you must, but don’t take advantage of Yan Zhen while you’re at it.”
Long Ying nodded vigorously in agreement, mentally jotting down another note: The demoness distracts everyone with talk while sneaking in touches on Yan Zhen Zhen. Be on guard next time—don’t let her succeed!
As a veteran foodie, Long Ying knew full well that sneaking bites was wrong!
Jiu Youyue pouted. “If you’re quarreling here—even ready to throw hands—won’t that disturb Little Zhen Zhen’s rest even more? Hmph~”
The women fell silent.
Cai Lian refused to back down. “It’s all because someone’s being unreasonable.”
Yun Xiu was just as stubborn. “You know full well who’s being unreasonable!”
Seeing the two on the verge of another argument, Ji Ya quickly stepped between them, playing peacemaker. “Enough, She Ji Sister, Palace Lord Yun. Let’s all say a little less, just like Jiu Youyue Sister said. We don’t want to disturb Little Brother Yan Zhen’s rest.”
Yun Xiu insisted, “Let me take a look at him.”
Cai Lian shot back, “You’re just his fiancée’s master. What right do you have? If anyone’s looking, it should be your disciple—not you, Yun Xiu!”
“What’s wrong with me worrying about my disciple son-in-law?”
“Keep pretending if you want. All you’ve got left is that mouth!”
“She Ji, is that how badly you want to fight me?”
“Come on then, Female Monarch. Afraid you won’t dare?”
Ji Ya rubbed her temples in frustration. She’d originally wanted Yun Xiu to hit a wall, to make her face reality and avoid the endless entanglements of their previous lives that wasted everyone’s time. She hadn’t expected her sister-in-law’s grudge against Yun Xiu to run so deep.
Ji Ya understood Cai Lian’s feelings.
Both sisters-in-law had been ready to have Yan Zhen marry Yun Xiu, granting her equal status. But Yun Xiu refused to join the Radiant Heavenly Emperor Palace, which they saw as disdain.
Zi Ji could let it slide, but Cai Lian’s pride and competitive spirit were fierce. Yun Xiu’s attitude had naturally infuriated her.
If not for Yan Zhen’s face and feelings, the Sovereign Lady probably would have stormed the Evergreen Holy Land for a showdown with Yun Xiu.
Now reborn, everything still had a chance. The three women had even served Yan Zhen together at one point, hoping to sway her. Yet Yun Xiu clung to her ambiguous stance, provoking Cai Lian.
—If you won’t marry him, then stay away!
That was Cai Lian’s wife-like attitude toward other women around Yan Zhen!
She’d once half-regarded Yun Xiu as a sister. Now, this foolish woman’s annoyance rivaled even Yi Xian’er’s.
In short, “Even if she joins the family later, I’ll make her life hell!”
The atmosphere, which had briefly eased, grew tense once more.
Just as Ji Ya prepared to intervene again, a visible ripple of spatial distortion spread before the women, enveloping the entire room.
Instantly, every woman in the room froze in place, unable to move.
The ripple emanated from the crystal pendant hanging around Yan Zhen’s neck—like a stone dropped into an invisible lake.
A voice as cold as frost and brimming with majesty echoed from the ripples: “Such a noisy racket—what kind of behavior is this?!”
The women’s hearts jolted. They knew exactly who had intervened.
“Come in. This Seat has questions for you.”
With those words, the spatial ripples transformed into a vortex, sucking everyone in the room except Yan Zhen inside.
A violent whirl assailed their vision. When it steadied, their surroundings had utterly changed.
The pitch-black cosmos, blazing stars.
Towering Heavenly Pillars, a vast plaza, and at its center, an altar. Atop the altar stood a stunning figure in a black skirt and white hair.
Ji Ya, Cai Lian, Yi Xian’er, Long Ying, Yun Xiu, Jiu Youyue, Huangfu Wenqing… even Mu Xin’er and Jin Tong and Yu Nu were there, all gazing around in shock and uncertainty.
“Eldest Miss, what is this?”
“Shh, don’t speak yet, Aunt Mu.”
Mu Xin’er quickly fell silent, her eyes fixed on the ethereal beauty ahead. Could this be Little Uncle’s mysterious master? From their earlier talk, she seemed to be at the Half-Saint Realm now!
Half-Saint!
In the holy lands, that was the realm of supreme elders—only a step below the holy lord.
The other seven women weren’t overly surprised. Huangfu Wenqing had even entered the Fire Refining Starry Sky once before, though after Chen Xi’s escape.
—So Star Saint Lady teaches Yan Zhen here? No wonder!
The air grew heavy. The group of women stood trembling, not daring to move.
