Yan Zhen and Yun Xiu didn’t bother looking for an inn. Instead, they rented a small painted boat docked along the riverbank to make do for the night.
The City of Water was full of such boats, and they were reasonably priced. Proper inns, on the other hand, were scarce and exorbitantly expensive.
Dim lights glowed inside the cabin as the two lay facing each other on the bed, gazing quietly at one another.
Yun Xiu was the first to break, shyly lowering her head, her blush as delicate as a water lily.
Yan Zhen couldn’t help but smile. He reached out, pulling her into his arms. He was about to say, “Let’s sleep,” when she closed her eyes on her own, tilting her chin up slightly. Her pink lips glistened temptingly.
“…”
And so Yan Zhen leaned in for a gentle kiss. But unlike usual, he didn’t let his hands wander or take things further. Yun Xiu opened her sparkling eyes in confusion, looking for all the world like a greedy little girl wondering why there was no candy today.
Yan Zhen stroked the hair of the beauty in his arms and said warmly, “It’s not safe outside. We’ll wait until things settle down.”
Yun Xiu immediately flushed with embarrassment, wishing she could crawl into a hole.
She had only been keeping her earlier promise—helping him with his “relief” after leaving Ye Mei’s residence. But now it sounded like she was the one begging for it.
Bad boy!
“I’ll put this one on the tab for now. We’ll settle up next time.”
“No accumulating them.”
“You didn’t say that before. Going back on your word?”
“I… Fine, I’ll make up for it now. This one can carry over to next time, but no more after that.”
“You’re no fun.”
“If it’s no fun, then go to sleep!”
“Oh.”
“Ah! What are you doing?”
“Looking for a soft pillow. This one’s too hard—it digs into my head.”
“F-Fine, but you can only use it as a pillow. No moving around, and absolutely no nibbling.”
“Good~”
“Mm! Y-You lied again! Wu~ Yan Zhen, be gentler.”
The next day, the two rose early, returned the painted boat, and went ashore. They strolled through the streets, snacking as they went, popping into large shops to ask if they had any water element hearts for sale.
By the end of the day, they were thoroughly satisfied with their shopping spree—but not a single store had a water element heart, not even the Great Serpent Merchant Guild, the largest in the City of Water.
The guild’s manager offered an explanation: The royal family had forcibly bought up every water element heart from the shelves and storerooms at market price. Not a single one remained. They had even ordered that any future stock be delivered straight to the palace.
“Why would the royal family suddenly snap up every water element heart like that?”
“It’s probably related to the Sovereign Lady’s injuries, though I don’t know the details.”
By the time Yan Zhen and Yun Xiu left the Great Serpent Merchant Guild, night had already fallen. They rented another painted boat nearby.
Yan Zhen lay on the bed, lost in thought.
“Tomorrow, let’s head into the palace,” Yun Xiu said suddenly from beside him. “With my name, we should be able to meet the Myriad Snake Queen. We can trade something with her for a water element heart.”
Yan Zhen shook his head.
The Myriad Snake Queen had extreme flame invading her body right now, leaving her in excruciating pain as she focused on healing. She had refused all visitors—no one could get in.
He would have to sneak into the palace himself, steal a water element heart from wherever she was recuperating, and heal his future wife’s injuries while he was at it.
“A water element heart is what the Myriad Snake Queen needs for her own healing, and she clearly doesn’t have enough. She won’t hand one over willingly. We’ll have to take it by force.”
Yun Xiu gave him a strange look.
“You’re going to rob her?”
“Wrong. Steal.”
Yan Zhen motioned for Yun Xiu to lean in close, then explained his plan.
When she heard it, Yun Xiu looked worried.
“You think that’ll work?”
“As long as you don’t miss your shot.” Yan Zhen brimmed with confidence. “Besides, no one can spot it. Your wind Mystic power should be even better suited than my wind talisman.”
“What if I do miss?”
“Then you’ll have to take responsibility and pick me up. The palace is huge—surely you won’t miss, right? Now you’re making me nervous.”
Yun Xiu covered her mouth, chuckling softly.
“I was just teasing. Leave it to me.”
Yan Zhen rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“Be serious. If things go wrong, just wait for me—my relief sessions are still pending.”
“…”
Little scoundrel. She was helping him out of the goodness of her heart, and this was how he threatened her?
Yun Xiu shot him a dissatisfied glare. Then she crossed her arms tightly over her chest, a clear defensive posture, and closed her eyes to sleep.
Seeing how thoroughly she had fortified herself, Yan Zhen gave up on the idea of a bedtime snack. He activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal and slipped into the Crystal Stone Space to brief the Beautiful Female Master on the situation. When he emerged, he lay down beside Yun Xiu and quickly drifted off to sleep.
On their third day in the City of Water, the two scouted around and selected a suitable launch point: the Windmill Tower.
It was a perfect distance from the palace at the city’s heart—not too close, not too far. From the top, they had a clear view of one corner inside the palace walls.
They climbed quietly to the top and positioned themselves by a window, waiting for nightfall.
Unexpectedly, it started raining before dark—a veritable downpour.
The natural cover of the rain would boost their chances of success.
No time to waste. Yan Zhen immediately removed the crystal pendant from around his neck and handed it to Yun Xiu. Then he activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal and vanished into the Crystal Stone Space.
Yun Xiu gripped the crystal pendant and gathered her wind Mystic power in her hand. With a fierce flick, she sent it slicing silently through the curtain of rain. It sailed straight over the towering palace walls and into the grounds beyond.
Yun Xiu watched intently for a moment. Seeing no signs of alarm, she let out a breath of relief.
Inside the palace, at the base of the wall, Yan Zhen used the Beautiful Female Master’s Crystal Reflection Technique to confirm the area was clear. Then he activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal again and emerged from the Crystal Stone Space. He picked up the crystal pendant and slipped it back around his neck.
What a convenient way to sneak in.
In the script, Yan Zhen had done it alone: firing the pendant into the palace first, then following via the skill. No real difference.
He was in, but the real challenge lay ahead.
For one thing, he didn’t know the palace layout. For another, he had no idea where the Myriad Snake Queen was recuperating.
In the script, Yan Zhen had been desperate and out of options, forced into this desperate gamble. Once inside, he’d gotten lucky—spotted by guards, he stumbled into her healing chamber by sheer accident.
Yan Zhen wasn’t about to rely on luck now. What if his didn’t hold? Game over.
Time to use his brain.
The Myriad Snake Queen had bought up so many water element hearts that her location was bound to have far denser water attribute energy than anywhere else.
Yan Zhen moved cautiously, gradually extending his spiritual sense to scan for pockets of concentrated water attribute while dodging patrolling guards. His nerves were stretched to the breaking point.
Whenever he couldn’t evade an encounter, he activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal and ducked into the Crystal Stone Space.
After too many such jumps, a faint dizziness crept into Yan Zhen’s head.
Even at his cultivation level, repeated spatial traversals took a toll on his body and divine soul.
He had to hurry.
It took a full hour before Yan Zhen located a promising spot. He crept toward it slowly.
