It was more than just hitting the mark—it laid bare every secret in her heart.
She knew her little sister had grown up and that she shouldn’t meddle too much, but she couldn’t help adding a few more words. Deep down, she just didn’t want to admit that her sister had surpassed her, that she no longer needed big sister’s protection or guidance.
Shui Yihan bit her lip lightly, lowering her head in disappointment, yet she stubbornly insisted, “This is a matter between sisters. It has nothing to do with Fellow Daoist Yan Zhen.”
Yan Zhen’s gaze held the warmth of a parent looking at a stubborn child. “I don’t mean to pry. I was just commenting… You sisters have your own way of getting along, and from what I see, Shui Tiannü doesn’t mind at all. In fact, she adores her big sister.”
Shui Yihan’s cheeks flushed at his words, but they rang true. Their sisterly bond had always been strong, unchanging.
Her sister was her pride and joy. The question was, how did he know all this so intimately? It was as if he’d watched them grow up from childhood.
“Did Bingling tell you all this?”
Yan Zhen nodded. “Of course.”
Shui Yihan nearly lost her composure, thinking that girl spilled everything. “W-What’s your relationship with Bingling?”
Yan Zhen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Somewhere between friends and lovers, I suppose? After all, I’m a married man.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the Three Beautiful Masters and Yu Shishi. A faint blush colored the cheeks of all four women.
Shui Yihan felt both embarrassed and annoyed. “You already have a wife—why go stirring up trouble with Bingling?”
A shy smile crept onto Yan Zhen’s face. “Mutual attraction between men and women is perfectly natural… Precisely because I’m married, nothing more happened between us. Ahem. You’re a young woman in the flower of youth yourself—you should understand.”
Shui Yihan grew agitated. “Understand what? Stay away from Bingling from now on. Forgetting each other is the best outcome.”
“You’ve never been in love yourself, have you, Yihan?” Yan Zhen teased. “That’s why you say things like that.”
“How I live is none of your business.” Her face reddened further, her expression defiant. “No one is allowed to hurt Bingling, or I—I’ll stop them even if it costs me my life!”
The four women watching could all see it: Shui Yihan’s mature poise was just a facade. Deep down, she was still an innocent young woman untouched by the world.
She held it together most of the time, but the moment things slipped even slightly from her control, she was easily led along.
Of course, it also had to do with how well Yan Zhen understood her.
Yan Zhen waved a hand to calm her. “All that was from our previous lives. Everything has started anew now, and she shouldn’t remember me.”
Shui Yihan blinked in confusion. “Previous lives?”
“I’m a reincarnator,” Yan Zhen confessed frankly. “I retain memories from my past life and know certain events from the future. Shui Tiannü and I were acquaintances in our last lives, but we haven’t met in this one yet.”
It took Shui Yihan a long moment to process his words. Her eyes widened like saucers. “T-That’s impossible!”
“Believe me or not—it’s up to you.” Yan Zhen chuckled. “I’m here for Shui Tiannü to help her ascend to the position of Dean of Heavenly Dao Academy, unite with the four great ancient sects into a single front, and stand against the Demon World and the First Evil God… I couldn’t care less about anything else.”
This revelation terrified Shui Yihan even more.
Even if the Dean intended to step down, it wouldn’t happen until after her sister became a saint. Talking about helping her take the dean’s seat now was downright treasonous.
If the wrong ears caught wind of it, it could ruin her sister’s reputation.
“Even if the Dean agrees, no one else will. Bingling isn’t ready to take over as dean yet.”
“She will be soon—because I’m here.”
Yan Zhen stood up. “She’s not in seclusion, right? Then I’ll go see her. Remember to look after my masters well, Shishi. Come with me.”
Yu Shishi shook her head gently. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up later.”
Yan Zhen didn’t press her. With a casual wave, he opened a Space Portal and followed Shui Tiannü’s aura through it.
In their previous life, he’d stayed here for a few days at her invitation, so the place was somewhat familiar.
He’d been searching for her aura during their chat, which allowed him to open the portal straight to her location.
Behind the palace lay a lake cradled on three sides by mountains, with a cave dwelling at its bottom—that was Shui Tiannü’s seclusion spot.
The Space Portal opened right at the cave entrance. Yan Zhen stepped out, glanced around, and proceeded inside.
After passing through several stone chambers and reaching the innermost one, he dispelled the Restraint Seal on the door and pushed it open. The sight inside gave him pause.
A stunning woman with cascading blue hair, clad in a blue-and-white dress, lay collapsed on her meditation cushion. Her beautiful eyes were tightly shut, her breathing ragged—she appeared to have fallen into Qi Deviation.
“Bingling?”
Yan Zhen Instant Shifted to her side in a flash, scooping her up and cradling her against his chest. His divine sense, surpassing the Mystic Realm, swept through her body, detecting a strand of malevolent energy rampaging within.
Without hesitation, he summoned the Jade Firmament Purple Dome Flame, the purifier of all things, and gently blew it over Shui Tiannü’s delicate form.
Whoosh!
The purple flames ignited her dress in an instant, revealing a flawless jade body. Every inch of her skin gleamed like crystal, a true treasure of the world.
The flames soon transformed into a gauzy veil that draped her entire form, expelling that wisp of evil energy. But as Yan Zhen captured it, he frowned slightly—the evil qi felt off, different from what he’d encountered before.
He peered closely at Shui Tiannü. Though her eyes remained closed, a faint blush tinged her cheeks. His brow furrowed as he tested, “Bingling, you’re actually awake, aren’t you?”
No response from Shui Tiannü.
“I’ll withdraw the flames now.”
“…”
Still nothing.
So Yan Zhen pinched the soft flesh at her heart, drawing an involuntary moan from the beauty in his arms. Her eyes fluttered open, gazing at him in bewilderment.
“Who are you?”
Then she noticed her current state and let out a startled cry, arms flying to cover her chest as her legs clamped together.
“W-What did you do to me? Where are my clothes?”
Yan Zhen was at a loss for words. “Stop pretending. You’re fine.”
Yan Zhen coughed twice. “I’m a married man. You don’t mind?”
Shui Tiannü let out a soft huff. “Of course I mind… but you’ve already seen my whole body. What can I do about it?”
“Who told you to pretend to be unconscious and prank me?”
“Who told you to burn off a girl’s clothes right away?”
“How was I supposed to know your skirt was so flammable?”
“Your Extreme Flame is sacred fire. It’s because you didn’t control the intensity.”
“I was afraid something would happen to you, so I cranked it to full power.”
“Hmph. Anyway, you have to take responsibility~”
“Deal.”
