Jialan Fairy remained utterly unmoved. She continued holding Yan Zhen in his child form as they copied books together, seemingly oblivious to Chen Xi’s words.
This caught Chen Xi off guard. In her memory, Jialan had never shown such “willful” behavior before.
A moment’s reflection brought understanding.
This woman had just lost her virginity to Zhen’er. Psychologically, she’d developed an inexplicable infatuation with him, leading to her clingy reluctance to part.
Chen Xi had been much the same at first. Her heart had been filled with her precious disciple. Even without intimacy, she’d craved staying close, gazing at him, reassured simply by his presence at her side.
She usually seemed so detached and ethereal, yet in truth, she was still flesh and blood.
With that empathy, Chen Xi stopped pressing Jialan Fairy. She sat quietly beside them, poured herself a cup of tea, and sipped it while watching the pair copy books.
Yan Zhen vaguely sensed his Holy Lord Master’s mindset. He settled in to copy with her, occasionally indulging in little touches—rubs and caresses heavy with intent to please.
A knowing smile curved Jialan Fairy’s lips. Unable to resist, she planted a kiss on Yan Zhen’s little cheek right in front of Chen Xi, nuzzling him cheek to cheek.
Chen Xi understood Jialan Fairy’s feelings, yet she couldn’t remain a mere spectator. Before long, she joined them.
Unlike Jialan Fairy’s near-addictive indulgence, Chen Xi simply adored her precious disciple’s diminutive form.
Their first meeting had come when he was already fifteen. Master and disciple had shared no prior bond. Spending time with his younger self filled a poignant gap, soothing old regrets.
Clamped between his master and Holy Lord Master as they copied and wrote, Yan Zhen felt like he’d hired two stunning private tutors. Memories of his old life surfaced: he’d been one of those poor saps grinding through endless practice tests, all for a shot at topping the exams and landing a spot at a top university…
Though he’d long since transmigrated to this world and set foot on the cultivation path, Yan Zhen still hoped from the heart that every test-taker would make it through.
Night fell as they finished the entire book. Exhausted, Yan Zhen flopped onto the table, his expression screaming utter despair.
Jialan Fairy smiled and ruffled his hair. The pint-sized Yan Zhen gradually shifted back to his adult form. His childish outfit stretched to fit perfectly—it was a special garment she’d woven from lotus silk.
Yan Zhen stretched his limbs, then drew his Holy Lord Master into his arms for a gentle peck on her tender lips.
A rare flush of shyness colored Jialan Fairy’s cheeks, but she held her elder’s poise and dignity. She patted his head once more.
“No more mischief. It’s time to return to Holy Son Peak.”
Yan Zhen blinked innocently, a shy smile playing on his lips.
“Won’t Holy Lord Master give me a kiss?”
Jialan Fairy glanced at Chen Xi, who pointedly looked away. Only then did she smile, tuck her hair behind her ear, and lean in to kiss Yan Zhen.
It wasn’t a fleeting brush but a deep, lingering weave of affection—a clear reward for his tender company.
When their lips parted, the blush on Jialan Fairy’s face deepened. Her beautiful eyes glistened, as if she’d sipped wine to the edge of intoxication.
“Enough?”
Yan Zhen licked his lips. He wanted to say no, but with his master watching, that would spell trouble later.
“Not quite. Next time, we’ll pick up where we left off—heading out now. See you, Holy Lord Master.”
“Go ahead.”
Jialan Fairy opened a space portal, whisking Yan Zhen and Chen Xi straight back to Holy Son Peak.
In Jia Flame Cave, the women exchanged puzzled looks. Yan Zhen had vanished for three days, only to return having rocketed from First-Rank Supreme to Seventh-Rank Supreme. Even a Ninth-Order Holy Medicine couldn’t account for such speed.
Long Ying eyed him suspiciously, convinced he’d hogged some private feast.
“Yan Zhen Zhen, did you sneak off for secret snacks?”
Yan Zhen shot her a sidelong glance.
“You think everyone’s like you?”
Long Ying fired back at once.
“I’d never sneak! I’m a gourmet connoisseur of principle!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched.
“Eating like a tornado tearing up a parking lot, and you call that gourmet appreciation…”
Long Ying huffed in haughty pride, wearing it like a badge of honor. In the Dragon God Clan, devouring food fast and furiously was a point of glory!
Cai Lian and Zi Ji held back their questions at Yan Zhen’s reluctance, though suspicions lingered. Qingling, meanwhile, looked utterly baffled.
“Alright, everyone rest up. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to the Yan Mansion to visit Grandpa.”
The family head had spoken. The women naturally complied.
For now, in Jia Flame Cave: Yan Zhen shared a room with his beautiful master; Cai Lian bunked with Yan Yan; Zi Ji had her own; Long Ying bunked temporarily with Qingling.
The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Yan Zhen collected Yan Meng’er and Yan Ruyu, then—with Cai Lian, Zi Ji, and the others—tore open space for a direct warp to the Yan Mansion in Pilgrimage City.
Mindful of the future, Chen Xi stayed behind. No need for Grandpa to pigeonhole her as a peer right off.
Even without that, Yan Lie stood dumbfounded by his grandsons-in-law.
The Heavenly God Maiden, Dragon God Maiden, Snake God Maiden… and the Myriad Snake Queen he’d met before.
The God Race were beings of legend—innately mighty, towering above mortals. God Maidens embodied their prestige, yet here they were as Yan Family daughters-in-law. And not just one.
Pride swelled in Yan Lie alongside melancholy, his heart a tangle.
His sole comfort lay in little Yan’er: so cute, so obedient.
He had no idea Yan Yan was a pint-sized terror plaguing her mother daily. The real angel was his other great-granddaughter, Yan Lingji.
Yan Zhen and company didn’t linger at the Yan Mansion. They returned to Holy Son Peak before sunset.
Yan Zhen headed to Rain Flower Cave to see Mentor Yu Xuan and Aunt Shui Bailan, mentioning his Yu Family trip.
Mentor Yu Xuan smiled.
“Better wait a few more days before going back.”
Yan Zhen blinked in surprise.
“Why? Does Mentor have something to handle?”
Aunt Shui Bailan explained.
“Forgot already, Yan Zhen? The Listening Rain Festival is in a few days.”
Realization dawned on Yan Zhen.
“Already Listening Rain Festival time? A full year since last. Fine, we’ll go after.”
Seven days later, Yan Zhen arrived at Rain God Peak as planned, seeking Yu Shizun for the Yu Family trip. Rain Master Mansion’s doors were barred tight, with only Cousin Sister Yudie standing guard.
“Yu Shizun headed back early,” Cousin Sister Yudie said, her gaze oddly evasive. “Something about honoring the ancestors.”
Ah… guilty conscience, made a run for it?
Yan Zhen felt thoroughly stood up, letting out an unhappy huff.
“Then we’ll head to the Yu Family too. Cousin Sister, come with?”
Cousin Sister Yudie saw no issue, though curiosity gnawed: what exactly was between Yan Zhen and Yu Shizun? Blasphemous to ponder, yet she couldn’t shake it.
The Yu Family grounds lay under a barrier, blocking outsider teleports. Yan Zhen summoned his luxury speedboat, ferrying Mentor Yu Xuan, Aunt Shui Bailan, and Cousin Sister Yudie toward Heavenly Water Lake.
This time, he left a space marker—next visit, direct teleport like Yu Shizun.
