Yi Xian’er didn’t care much for wife rankings, but she refused to let the snake woman lord over her. Yan Zhen’s words stirred a twinge of alarm.
The stubborn Sovereign Lady wavered instantly. She knew he was just sweet-talking her, but it still sent her heart soaring. Crossing her arms, she turned away and said coolly, “For Master Chen Xi’s sake, this Sovereign will give that woman one chance…”
Yan Zhen was used to his snake snake wife’s lofty airs. His hands roamed her water snake waist as he turned to the loli dragon girl. “Long Ying, you’re coming too. Behave and act all cute around Master, got it?”
Long Ying bobbed her head rapidly. She still felt a shy twinge recalling her earlier confession to Master Chen Xi.
“I’ll check on Grandpa first. You all head into the Fire Refining Starry Sky. Anything left to do? If not, I’ll have the beautiful master summon you.”
Ji Ya gave a slight shake of her head.
Yan Zhen released his snake snake wife and had her stand. He activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal and slipped into the Fire Refining Starry Sky. Moments later, ripples spread from the crystal pendant, followed by a powerful suction that drew all the women in the room inside. They materialized one after another atop the altar.
Ji Ya and her three servants, Cai Lian, Yi Xian’er, and Long Ying all stepped forward and bowed to Chen Xi.
“Greetings, Master Chen Xi.”
By now, nine seats had risen on the altar: four to the left, four to the right, and one in the center.
The breathtaking master—black-skirted, white-haired, with voluptuous curves and a wasp waist—sat enthroned in the middle. She nodded lightly to her four daughters-in-law (plus three chamber maids) and said warmly, “No need for formalities. Please, sit.”
The four women took their seats rather stiffly, while Aunt Mu, Jin Tong, and Yu Nu stood dutifully behind and to the sides of Ji Ya.
Yan Zhen couldn’t help feeling the scene was wonderfully harmonious. Not bad—even Cai Lian was on her best behavior, all thanks to the beautiful master.
“Chat it out with Master. I’m off to see Grandpa.”
With a quick wave, Yan Zhen exited the Fire Refining Starry Sky. He headed first to the Yan Family’s new residence, but Yan Lie wasn’t there, so he went next door to the Huangfu Family.
Huangfu Can came out to greet him, all smiles and warmth, as if there had never been any bad blood between them and this prospective son-in-law.
After Yan Zhen’s triumph at the Grand Dan Fighting Competition, Huangfu Can had begun regretting his earlier behavior. He feared his family might lose such a golden son-in-law. Then he’d witnessed Yan Zhen not only crush his own daughter but also obliterate that “Yun Du”—whose cultivation outstripped even his—in an instant. Regret turned to outright remorse, laced with fear. He’d begged his own father to step in, and the elder had led him to plead with Yan Lie.
Yan Lie, though irked that his grandson had been underestimated, had no desire to let things fester with his in-laws. Some social niceties were unavoidable, after all. Seeing Huangfu Can swallow his pride so thoroughly, Yan Lie had grudgingly agreed to keep staying as a guest.
“Son-in-Law Yan Zhen, have you come to see Elder Yan Lie?”
Yan Zhen nodded and replied with impeccable courtesy, “Could Uncle Huangfu please send someone to escort me there?”
No one could find fault with his manners.
Yet the more composed Yan Zhen remained, the more uneasy and remorseful Huangfu Can felt. He had no idea what to do next.
“Both elders are in the back garden playing chess. I’ll take you there,” Huangfu Can said.
In the back garden, Yan Lie and Huangfu Xiong sat across from each other at a chessboard, sipping wine and occasionally popping peanuts into their mouths. They exuded a refined air of leisure and carefree elegance.
A closer look, however, revealed that Yan Lie was preoccupied. He played his moves absentmindedly and let out an occasional sigh.
Huangfu Xiong had a good idea what was troubling him, but the old general stayed upbeat regardless.
When Huangfu Can arrived with his grandson-in-law in tow, Huangfu Xiong glanced over and nudged Yan Lie. “Brother Yan Lie, your boy Yan Zhen is here looking for you.”
Yan Lie turned around with a furrowed brow.
Yan Zhen had just reached the edge of the stone pavilion. He flashed a relaxed smile. “Grandpa. Grandpa Huangfu.”
Huangfu Can halted a step back, gesturing for Yan Zhen to go ahead. He followed closely and positioned himself behind his father, determined not to miss a word of the grandfather-and-grandson exchange.
Yan Lie gazed at his grandson, now strikingly handsome with the mature air of a young man settling into his features. Joy and sorrow warred in his heart.
He was delighted that the boy had grown into someone as dashing as he himself had been in his youth. But sorrow gnawed at him too, for unlike his own steadfast days as a paragon of pure devotion, his grandson seemed to be the sort who juggled multiple flames—a veritable king of the seas.
“Is the matter at Cloud Heaven Palace resolved, Zhen’er?” Yan Lie asked.
“It’s wrapped up for now,” Yan Zhen replied, “but more trouble’s on the horizon, so I’ll need to stick around there for a few days.”
The three men were curious about the nature of this trouble, but since Yan Zhen offered no details, they held their questions.
“Grandpa will stay put here for the next couple of days,” Yan Lie said. “Once you’ve sorted things out, I’ll escort you back to Martial Tang City.”
“There’s no need to worry about me, Grandpa. Just do whatever you need to.”
Yan Zhen paused, hesitating for a moment before adding, “Actually, there’s one more thing I need to tell you and Grandpa Huangfu.”
The two old friends exchanged a glance, their minds leaping to the same conclusion.
“What is it?” Huangfu Xiong asked with a chuckle. “We’re all family here, lad—no need to beat around the bush. Out with it.”
Yan Zhen cleared his throat, a touch of awkwardness in his voice. “Well… the thing is, Wenqing isn’t my only fiancée.”
The air grew thick with tension. All three men thought the same thing: Just as we suspected!
Huangfu Can’s expression flickered through a range of emotions.
Huangfu Xiong let out an impressed tsk-tsk.
Yan Lie shot his grandson an irritated glare.
Rather than share the old man’s annoyance, Huangfu Xiong laughed and teased, “Well, aren’t you the bold one, admitting it right to my face? Go on then—which is it? The one from the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, or those two who lent you a hand yesterday?”
Yan Zhen scratched his head. “Uh… all of them.”
Huangfu Xiong and Huangfu Can both froze. Yan Lie’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
“What did you say? All of them? That’s impossible!” Huangfu Xiong exclaimed. “Aside from the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Manager, those other two are Mystic Ancestor experts. Word from the king and the others is that one is the Myriad Snake Queen from the City of Water, and that white-haired woman… she’s probably the new queen of the Shadow Moon Kingdom. You’re telling me they’re all your… your lovers?”
“That’s right, Grandpa Huangfu,” Yan Zhen confirmed, still scratching his head.
Yan Lie was so stunned that he’d even forgotten to be angry.
The Myriad Snake Queen of the City of Water… the Thousand Fiend Queen of the Shadow Moon Kingdom!
You reckless brat—do you have a death wish, provoking women of such status and power?
Yet Yan Zhen recalled how they had all seemed surprisingly harmonious earlier, even joining forces against a common foe.
Unable to hold back, Huangfu Can asked, “Son-in-Law Yan Zhen, do they all know about each other? About your relationships with them?”
“They do,” Yan Zhen said with a nod. “I haven’t hidden anything from them.”
Huangfu Can: “…”
Huangfu Xiong: “…”
Yan Lie: “…”
