How could this be? Had Yan Zhen recognized her all along? How had he figured it out? And when?
“Yan Zhen, you… why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Yan Zhen looked deeply embarrassed.
“I wasn’t entirely sure, so I didn’t mention it…”
Yun Xiu lowered her head, thinking that she had already decided to cut ties with him once they left the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range. Being recognized early like this was actually for the best.
Especially with Master Chen Xi bearing witness. That way, Yan Zhen wouldn’t dare entertain any romantic notions toward her anymore.
But just as Yun Xiu comforted herself with these thoughts, Chen Xi spoke up again.
“You’re calling him ‘Yan Zhen’ now, so you must have recognized Zhen’er’s identity ages ago, right?”
Eh? Yun Xiu froze in shock. She hadn’t realized she’d let the name slip and hurriedly denied it.
“Me? No way! Shouldn’t I have called him ‘Chen Zhen’?”
Chen Xi shook her head lightly.
“No need to pretend. Lady Jiuyou already told me and Zhen’er everything. You two knew from the start that he was Cloud Heaven Palace’s future son-in-law, which is why you felt safe sharing a cave with him.”
Yun Xiu glanced at Yan Zhen again and saw the subtle smile on his face. Unwilling to accept it, she pressed on.
“You… you knew that I knew about you?”
Yan Zhen nodded weakly.
“You called me ‘Yan Zhen’ several times, but you didn’t notice.”
In that instant, a wave of intense shame surged from the depths of Yun Xiu’s heart, spreading through her limbs and leaving goosebumps prickling across her skin. Her stunningly beautiful face flushed redder and redder, like a freshly boiled shrimp.
She had been found out long ago, yet she’d thought she’d hidden it so well. Not only had she accepted his confession and played the role of his lover for a time, rubbing his bruises with her breasts; not long before, in the cave, she had taken turns with Jiu Youyue riding atop him, letting him fill her belly. And then in the hot spring, she’d stepped in for the defeated Jiu Youyue, bending over the edge of the pool to meet his thrusts…
Scenes of mortifying intimacy flashed through her mind, and Yun Xiu’s vision went black as she nearly fainted.
He must think she was some shameless woman seducing her disciple’s fiancé!
Yun Xiu desperately wanted to leave and never see Yan Zhen again, but she was trapped inside the Fire Refining Starry Sky and couldn’t go anywhere.
If only she’d given him a pet name too, like Jiu Youyue’s “Little Zhen Zhen.” No matter what she called him, it wouldn’t have given her away!
Yun Xiu hung her head, silent. She no longer had the face to confront Yan Zhen, much less follow through with her plan to have him join Cloud Heaven Palace as her perfect disciple-son-in-law.
Right—Yan Zhen still had that recording of her riding him and grinding her hips.
From now on, whenever he pulled it out, Yun Xiu would have no choice but to obey, letting him have his way with her completely.
She had no room to refuse.
—Yun Xiu, you’re the one who seduced me first, right? You knew I was Wenqing’s fiancé, yet you did all those intimate things with me, even begging for it yourself. You’re the one at fault, so take responsibility. Be my secret lover and satisfy all my desires. Otherwise, I’ll tell Wenqing how you seduced me—let her see what a shameless woman her revered master really is.
—No, Yan Zhen, don’t tell Wenqing. I’ll do anything you say.
—Oh?
At this thought, Yun Xiu bit her lower lip gently and squeezed her thighs together. Her beautiful eyes glistened with moisture as she shot Yan Zhen a timid glance.
“I’m sorry.”
It was all she could say, hoping he’d forgive her and not be as rough as she feared.
Yan Zhen scratched his head.
“No need to apologize. I didn’t say anything either, so we’re even.”
“Yan Zhen…”
“Heh heh.”
Seeing the mood between them lighten so quickly left Chen Xi dissatisfied. She cut in.
“It’s just a little thing—nothing to dwell on. I’m Zhen’er’s master, and you’re the master of his fiancée. We’ll be in-laws sooner or later. There’s nothing we can’t get past.”
The words “in-laws” struck Yun Xiu’s sense of shame like lightning, flooding her with a potent mix of taboo guilt and faint thrill.
“Thank you for your understanding, Master.” Yun Xiu just wanted to escape now. “If there’s nothing else, this junior will take her leave.”
“Mm. Zhen’er, see Palace Lord Yun Xiu out first, then come back in. Your master has something to discuss with you.”
“Yes, Master.”
Yan Zhen had a bad feeling about this. He activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal to send Yun Xiu out, then returned.
“Master, what is it?”
“Kneel.”
Oh crap! Yan Zhen jumped in fright. The Beautiful Female Master had never spoken to him in such a stern tone before.
He dropped to his knees at once, straightening his back in the picture of an obedient, well-behaved child.
Chen Xi was indeed angry—especially after hearing what Yan Zhen had said to Yun Xiu about “one night of marriage equals a hundred nights of grace.” She wanted to spank him.
How many nights had she spent with him, and he’d never said it once!
“Yun Xiu’s Primordial Yin is damaged. Her body has clearly been breached. Was that you, Zhen’er?”
Yan Zhen’s scalp tingled.
“Master, hear me out—it was an accident.”
Chen Xi replied coolly.
“What kind of accident?”
Yan Zhen gave a brief account of what had happened in the Dragon Nest.
“So she and Jiuyou, lost in the heat of passion, pushed you down?”
Yan Zhen nodded vigorously. Pushing the blame onto them felt a bit low, but right now, survival came first. He’d worry about the rest after getting through his master’s interrogation.
“So what do you plan to do about it, Zhen’er?”
“Do about what?”
“Yun Xiu is your fiancée’s master. Are you thinking of collecting both master and disciple?”
“No such thing.” Yan Zhen denied it without hesitation. “No matter what, I won’t join Cloud Heaven Palace. If possible, I’ll have Huangfu Wenqing call off our engagement. An agreement between elders can’t dictate my lifelong happiness.”
Chen Xi’s eyes narrowed, her tone sharpening.
“So you want to marry Yun Xiu instead?”
“Ah? No, no! I like Yun Xiu, but I have no intention of pursuing things further. My heart is set on cultivation!”
Realizing that wasn’t enough, he added,
“And on you, Master! Because you’re the one who’s always been best to me!”
“Really?”
“True as pure gold and silver!”
A radiant smile finally bloomed on Chen Xi’s peerless face.
“I’m glad you feel that way, Zhen’er. Now, get up.”
“Thank you, Master~”
Yan Zhen sprang to his feet.
Chen Xi reached out with her tender white hand and gently stroked her precious disciple’s head, her beautiful eyes brimming with doting affection.
“You’ve obtained the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame. The sooner you refine it, the better, but you’ll need some herbs first. Follow this list, gather them all, and return. Your master will pass the flame to you just like before.”
Yan Zhen took the list from the Beautiful Female Master and scanned it. Just as expected, all the herbs were Third-Tier or higher, with some reaching Tier 6.
“You can find half in the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range, and buy the rest from merchant guilds. That ‘Water Element Heart’ will be tricky, though.” Chen Xi pretended to ponder. “Your master suggests you cross the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range to the City of Water in the Great Marsh Desert.”
