This time, Yan Zhen didn’t want to remain so passive. He planned to locate the Pseudo-God Tribulation Fire ahead of time and lure it out into the open.
The Pseudo-God Tribulation Fire had fused with the remnant soul of an Ancient Holy Beast, gaining a trace of sentience in the process. It had grown even more berserk as a result, and if it encountered the Ninth-Tier Holy Beast currently ruling the Beast Domain, a fierce battle was inevitable.
That would inevitably draw in the Nine-Head Heavenly Monarch as well, allowing Yan Zhen to sit back and reap the benefits while they fought.
It was a solid plan, but pulling it off would be incredibly difficult.
Still, Yan Zhen intended to give it a shot. If it didn’t work, he could always try another approach.
“Long Ying, Qing Ling, I’m counting on you two.”
He needed them to guide the way with their beast-taming skills.
Long Ying patted her ample chest confidently, signaling to Yan Zhen that he could leave it to her. Qing Ling smiled and promised to do her best. Together, they soon captured a snake-type Mystic Beast to serve as a guide, while Yan Zhen extended his divine sense to monitor the surroundings within a ten-mile radius.
Five days later, the trio finally reached the base of the Fallen God Mountain Range. Yan Zhen led the two women into the Fire Refining Starry Sky to rest for a bit.
With a snap of his fingers, Yan Zhen conjured two steaming hot baths atop the altar, separated by a stone wall in the middle.
“You two use that side. I’ll take this one.”
With that, he headed to the right side of the wall, stripped down, and stepped into the pool, sinking his body into the warm water with a slow sigh of relief.
Even though his current cultivation allowed his body to remain pristine and free of grime, he still enjoyed soaking in a bath now and then.
On the left side of the wall, Qing Ling listened to the splashing water and contented sighs filtering through. Her heart warmed, and her cheeks flushed as she said, “Your Highness Long Ying, we should wash up too. We did work up a sweat, after all.”
Long Ying placed one hand on her hip and wagged a finger with the other, her face sporting an expression far too sagely for her age. “Sister Qing Ling, you’re still too young and innocent. If you keep this up, Yan Zhen Zhen will never fully accept you.”
Qing Ling’s face turned even redder. She whispered, “Your Highness Long Ying, why bring that up all of a sudden?”
Long Ying switched to crossing her arms over her chest, looking immensely pleased with herself. “Sister Cai Lian asked me to lend you a hand.”
Qing Ling felt a mix of temptation and worry. “Th-that wouldn’t be right, would it? What if it interferes with Lord Yan Zhen’s search for the Extreme Flame…”
Long Ying shot her a sideways glance. “It won’t. This is rest time, after all.”
“You’re right.” Qing Ling sneaked a guilty glance at the wall, terrified that Yan Zhen might overhear. “So… what should Qing’er do? Please, Your Highness Long Ying, teach me!”
“Hmph hmph.” Seeing the earnest plea from the Snake God Maiden satisfied Long Ying’s vanity immensely. She was a love guru mentoring a “newbie” now! “Just follow my lead, Sister Qing Ling. I guarantee you’ll soon be Zhen Zhen’s darling, just like me.”
And so—
As Yan Zhen lounged lazily against the edge of the pool, savoring a moment of quiet, Long Ying’s pink-haired, horned little head suddenly popped up over the wall. Her emerald vertical pupils were wide open, her eyes spinning as she stared right at him.
“…”
Yan Zhen was speechless. He rolled his eyes. “Stop peeking, you perverted little dragon.”
Long Ying blinked innocently and wheedled, “Zhen Zhen, how about I come over and scrub your back?”
Yan Zhen shook his head. “Nah, let’s not. Finish up quick, meditate to recover your energy—we’ll be heading out again soon.”
Long Ying shook her head right back. “No need to rush. Resting properly will make us more efficient.”
Yan Zhen figured he still needed Long Ying and Qing Ling to guide them with the beasts, so he nodded. “Fine.”
Long Ying grinned cheekily and beckoned. “Zhen Zhen said it’s okay, Sister Qing Ling!”
Yan Zhen froze, but before he could react, Long Ying let out a “Hyah!” and leaped over, plummeting into the water in front of him like a free-falling bomb.
Splash!
Water sprayed everywhere. A portion was blocked by the Stone Shield that automatically appeared in front of Yan Zhen, while the pool churned violently.
Yan Zhen dismissed the Stone Shield, but before he could say a word, another “Hyah!” echoed from above. Qing Ling, wrapped only in a bath towel, crashed down right beside Long Ying, drenching Yan Zhen thoroughly in the resulting splash.
Qing Ling clutched her bath towel to her chest with one hand. Her pure, first-love-idol-like pretty face was red all the way to her ears as she said shyly, “L-Lord Yan Zhen, Qing’er is here to… to attend to your bath.”
Yan Zhen knew full well this was Long Ying’s doing, but seeing Qing Ling’s timid expression, he couldn’t bring himself to chase them off. Helplessly, he said, “I don’t need any attending to.”
Long Ying dove straight into Yan Zhen’s arms, hugging his waist. “But Sister Qing Ling and I worked so hard! We need Zhen Zhen’s comfort to keep going—right, Sister Qing Ling?”
Qing Ling nodded on instinct, then realized what she’d done and shook her head furiously.
Yan Zhen irritably gave Long Ying’s butt a light smack, eliciting a crisp sound and a cute yelp of pain. “Always so dramatic.”
Long Ying huffed righteously. “You can’t ask a horse to run without feeding it grass!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. “Where’d you pick up that nonsense?”
Long Ying snorted. “Wasn’t it Zhen Zhen himself who said it?”
Uh… did he? Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Seeing this, Qing Ling drooped her head in disappointment and murmured weakly, “Did Qing’er put Lord Yan Zhen in a tough spot?”
Yan Zhen gave a wry smile. “Of course not… Alright, if you insist.”
Qing Ling’s dejection faded away, replaced by beaming joy. Her eyes sparkled.
Moments later, Yan Zhen sat obediently in the center of the pool, sandwiched front and back by Long Ying and Qing Ling as they tended to him.
Qing Ling massaged his shoulders and scrubbed his back with utmost seriousness, her heart swelling with satisfaction every time he let out a pleased sound. But then Long Ying winked at her from the front, urging her to get moving.
Qing Ling flushed with embarrassment. After hesitating for ages under Long Ying’s scornful little glare, she gently tugged off her bath towel and pressed herself against Yan Zhen’s back with all her courage.
Yan Zhen’s body went rigid. “Qing’er…”
Qing Ling said nothing, simply continuing to scrub his back in a far more intimate manner. Her lovely face burned crimson, nearly dripping blood.
“How does it feel, Lord Yan Zhen?”
Yan Zhen didn’t know how to respond. “It’s… fine.”
No sooner had he spoken than his nape received a soft kiss. Before he could react, Long Ying, perched on his lap, leaned in for one too.
Attacked from both sides, with nowhere to escape.
Yan Zhen sighed inwardly. After fending off the clingy Long Ying for a bit, he turned around to face that pure, school-beauty-like pretty face from his past life. He reached out, gently caressing it with pity in his voice. “This isn’t the right place.”
Qing Ling’s eyes shimmered like pools of water, her face blooming like a peach blossom. “Qing’er will follow Lord Yan Zhen’s lead.”
With that, she threw herself into his arms, nuzzling against him like a delicate bird depending on a man.
From behind, Long Ying slung her arms around him boldly and cheered, “Yay! Everyone wins~”
Yan Zhen sighed again.
