“It’s simple. Within two years, if my cultivation can catch up to Wenqing’s, then the marriage into your family is off. She’ll marry into the Yan Family instead. If I can’t, then I’ll obediently become the live-in son-in-law of Cloud Heaven Palace.”
That was right—the Two-Year Battle Pact!
The engagement divorce plot had only reached fifty percent completion so far. The remaining half hinged on proposing this two-year pact, so Yan Zhen seized the moment to bring it up!
—Who’d have thought? No matter how bizarrely the plot deviated from the rails, this young master could always wrench it back on track.
—That’s what they call professionalism!
Yan Zhen felt immensely pleased with himself deep down.
Huangfu Xiong’s frown deepened at these words. He turned his head to glance at Yan Lie.
Yan Lie spread his hands in a helpless shrug, as if to say it wasn’t his fault.
Huangfu Wenqing shot to her feet beside them, quickly chiming in.
“I agree to this pact.”
Of course she did. Win or lose, she’d come out way ahead. What reason did she have to refuse?
It seemed her decision to proactively become Yan Zhen’s slave had paid off handsomely. In her previous life, the two-year pact had been a fight to the death. Now, it had twisted into a bet over who would be on top.
Heh heh heh~
With the main parties in agreement, Huangfu Xiong had no grounds to object. Besides, he didn’t believe Yan Zhen could possibly surpass his own granddaughter.
Even if Yan Zhen had restored his talent now, he was merely at the Mystic Disciple Third Stage, while Huangfu Wenqing was already a Five-Star Mystic Practitioner. Moving forward, Huangfu Wenqing would receive the full support of Cloud Heaven Palace’s resources, whereas Yan Zhen…
In short, the gap between them was too vast. It was basically impossible for Yan Zhen to overtake her.
This bet was nothing more than a young man’s futile show of pride.
“Then it’s settled.”
Huangfu Xiong was quite satisfied with the outcome. He had no desire to let this matter strain relations between their two families.
After all, Yan Lie was an old comrade-in-arms who’d once shared life and death with him.
【Ding! Congratulations, Host. You’ve finally completed the engagement divorce plot in full. You may now visit the System Interface to claim your reward.】
—Great!
Yan Zhen inwardly rejoiced and quietly claimed the reward. It turned out to be another Special Trump Card, named King’s Overbearing Aura.
Special Trump Card: Kingly Domination Aura. A card usable only by the protagonist. When activated, it can intimidate all friend and foe targets within range, effective against Mystic Generals and below.
—Whoa, nice! Perfect for bluffing—essential protagonist gear!
“Zhen’er, Wenqing girl has to head back first thing tomorrow morning. Why don’t you two go have a chat? Don’t stick around disturbing me and Old Brother Huangfu’s game.”
“Eh?”
“What’s with the ‘eh’? You two go play somewhere else. This old man wants to have a proper match with Brother Yan Lie!”
With the two grandpas issuing their orders, Yan Zhen had no choice but to comply. He turned to his fiancée.
“Shall we… step out and talk?”
“Sure~”
Huangfu Wenqing no longer played coy. She extended her hand right to Yan Zhen’s face, inviting him to take it just like the other day.
Yan Zhen rubbed his nose and grasped his fiancée’s soft, boneless little hand. The silky touch sent a ripple through his heart, and her faint warmth quickened his pulse ever so slightly.
A smile curved Huangfu Wenqing’s lips as she gripped him in return. With light, cheerful steps, she led the way outside.
“Where to? The rear garden? Yan Zhen, how do we get to the rear garden?”
“…I’ll lead the way.”
The city lord’s mansion rear garden featured artificial hills, flowing streams, vibrant flowers, and lush greenery—everything one could want. It was pleasant by day and carried a unique charm at night.
Deep in the central pond stood a stone pavilion aglow with lanterns, casting a hazy glow over the surrounding scenery. Compared to daytime, it exuded an air of mystery.
From seats in the pavilion, one could even spot red carp drawn by the lights. Even without food to tempt them, they clustered together, their tails slapping the water with soft splashes.
Hand in hand, the pair arrived at the stone pavilion and chose a spot to sit.
Yan Zhen moved to let go, only to find Huangfu Wenqing still holding fast.
“Um…”
“Hm?”
The moment he spoke, Huangfu Wenqing looked right at him. Her watery eyes locked on, carrying an intensity that set his heart racing.
“Never mind.” Yan Zhen blinked and said offhandedly, “Tonight’s moonlight is truly beautiful.”
At those words, Huangfu Wenqing’s heart skipped a beat. Two little red clouds bloomed on her cheeks.
“Tonight’s moonlight is truly beautiful”—that was the sweet confession young men and women on Zhuzi Continent used, a pun for “I like you, you’re beautiful.”
Was Yan Zhen confessing to her? Or was he just genuinely admiring the night sky?
Huangfu Wenqing glanced upward and was delighted to see the moon still hidden behind clouds.
No moonlight, so how could it be truly beautiful!
He had to be expressing his feelings indirectly…
Thump-thump. Huangfu Wenqing had never felt her heart race like this—not even when she’d lifted her clothes before him earlier to reveal the Demon Mark on her belly. She wasn’t this nervous or bashful then.
How should she respond? Just say “I like you too”? Or keep it subtle like him?
She’d already thrown herself at him directly by becoming his slave, but he’d barely reacted.
So Yan Zhen probably preferred things subtle? But what if she was too vague and he missed her intent?
Happiness had come so suddenly that this young miss of the Huangfu Family found herself fretting anxiously.
After a moment’s thought, she looped her arm through his and leaned into his shoulder, smiling as she said:
“You’re right. Tonight’s moonlight really is beautiful.”
Yan Zhen’s face flushed red in an instant. He’d just noticed the moon was shrouded in clouds. Beautiful my foot!
Huangfu Wenqing was clearly playing along to give him an out.
How awkward.
Truth be told, Yan Zhen wasn’t great at this romantic stuff. A lifelong singleton, back in school his chats with girls had mostly revolved around studies.
—The heck? This was supposed to be a no-female-lead power fantasy world. Why was there a moonlit rendezvous scene?
【Heh heh, Host brought this on yourself.】
—Damn system!
The soft warmth pressing against his arm, the floral fragrance wafting from the girl—combined with the deep night and their total solitude—stirred indecent thoughts in Yan Zhen.
—Hold it together. This is a no-female-lead power fantasy world. The protagonist template is an emotionless grinding machine, not some kid emperor getting all hot and bothered from a little closeness with his fiancée!
“Yan Zhen, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Huangfu Wenqing said earnestly:
“Would you come to Cloud Heaven Palace with me?”
Yan Zhen blinked in surprise.
“Cloud Heaven Palace? Why?”
“There’s a renowned alchemy master there who might be able to cure your body’s issues.”
Though Huangfu Wenqing knew Yan Zhen would soon recover his talent on his own, if he joined her at Cloud Heaven Palace, they could cultivate and grow together. They’d spend far more time side by side than in her previous life. Just imagining it filled her with bliss.
Plus, her master could see Yan Zhen all the time.
Her master didn’t know him yet, but since she’d been drawn to him in her past life, she surely would be this time too.
Then her master could be the big one, and she’d be the little one—the three of them living happily ever after!
Ahem. And if—just if—her master didn’t take to Yan Zhen, then she’d hog him all to herself. That’d be perfect too~
The delightful vision in her mind had Huangfu Wenqing’s eyes crinkling with joy.
But Yan Zhen shook his head and refused.
“I appreciate the thought, but my talent has already recovered. No treatment needed.”
