Space reigns supreme when time falls short.
Spatial Power was a force one could only grasp after mastering the Power of Heaven and Earth to its utmost limits. Even High Star Mystic Ancestors could only touch upon it at first, and it wasn’t until the Mystic Venerable Realm that one could truly begin to wield it.
In the eyes of the Three Serpent God Priests, no one below Mystic Ancestor had ever commanded Spatial Power. Only certain members of the God Race on the Eighth Continent, upon reaching the Mystic King Realm and awakening their innate Space Talent alongside the Power of Heaven and Earth, had achieved such a feat.
For someone like Yan Zhen—a mere Mystic Scholar—to control Spatial Power was simply inconceivable.
“This can’t be your own power, can it?” the High Priestess asked.
Yan Zhen gave a mysterious smile.
“It’s a power I can use.”
The High Priestess fell silent for a long moment before speaking again.
“Very well. This old one shall trust you this once. I hope you keep your word and help our clan’s Female Monarch complete her Bloodline Evolution. When that time comes, everyone in the City of Water will be eternally grateful to you. And if you and She Ji truly love each other, you could even marry into our city and become its Prince—second only to one, above all others.”
Prince? Wait, not a consort?
Yan Zhen whipped his head toward his future wife and suddenly realized he’d been had.
The Myriad Snake Queen noticed Yan Zhen had seen through her little scheme. A faint blush crept across her lovely face as she snapped at the High Priestess.
“High Priestess, since everything’s settled, hurry back and guard the Divine Hall!”
The High Priestess glanced at She Ji, then at Yan Zhen, and shook her head with a faint sigh, as if to say, “Young people these days…”
“This old one takes her leave.”
The Three Serpent God Priests leaned on their staffs and shuffled slowly out of the hall.
At that, the faces of the Eight Serpent Generals turned peculiar. Ye Mei spoke up first.
“This subordinate suddenly remembers an urgent matter. I must take my leave.”
Her colleagues chimed in one after another, claiming their own errands, and made as if to depart.
“Hold it!” The Myriad Snake Queen sneered. “You’ve grown some guts, haven’t you? Daring to summon those three old codgers to keep this Queen in check?”
The Eight Serpent Generals inwardly groaned and dropped to their knees, heads bowed in apology.
“Please quell your anger, Your Majesty. This subordinate knows his error.”
“For your good intentions this time, this Queen will let it slide. You’re docked half a year’s pay. Do it again, and I’ll replace the lot of you with a fresh batch of Serpent Generals.”
“Th-thank you, Your Majesty.”
Ye Mei was on the verge of tears. She’d already been docked half a year’s pay before, and now another half—meaning a full year of unpaid labor. All she could do was throw herself into the coming war, perform outstandingly, and hope Her Majesty would rescind the punishment.
But who was the damn fool who’d suggested calling on the Serpent God Priests in the first place? She, Ye Mei, had always believed Her Majesty was infallible!
Fourteen pairs of eyes instantly locked onto one person: the leader of the Eight Serpent Generals, Slayer Guard.
Slayer Guard coughed awkwardly twice, then abruptly pointed at the Myriad Snake Queen.
“Look! Her Majesty’s getting all lovey-dovey with Brother Yan Zhen—”
The fourteen gazes snapped toward the Myriad Snake Queen and Yan Zhen in unison. Slayer Guard seized the moment, bursting into full speed and bolting from the hall like a streak of smoke.
The other seven snapped out of it, even more furious and embarrassed, and gave chase.
Moments later, sounds of fighting echoed from outside, soon followed by pleas for mercy.
Evidently, group beatdown mode had activated.
The Myriad Snake Queen couldn’t bear to watch. She descended the steps and came to Yan Zhen’s side, murmuring softly.
“…Thanks.”
“Eee~ Mommy’s shy, so cute~”
Yan Yan’s mental fluctuations chose that exact moment to chime in. The blush that had just faded from the Myriad Snake Queen’s face surged back.
“Yan Yan! If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”
“Liar~ If I don’t talk, Mommy would just be all kissy-kissy with Daddy and totally forget about me~ True love for the parents, accident for the daughter. Heartbreaking~”
Little Lady’s Blues.jpg
“…”
The Myriad Snake Queen felt like her thick-skinned reputation had been utterly ruined by her foolish daughter.
Meanwhile, Yun Xiu stood to the side, feeling like she’d bitten into a lemon—sour straight to her bones. She couldn’t help imagining what it would be like if she and Yan Zhen had an adorable, well-behaved daughter of their own—
Yan Zhen smiled faintly, then grew serious.
“Where have the Sand Scorpion Army reached so far?”
“They’ve all burrowed into the sands for now,” the Myriad Snake Queen replied. “They’ll reach the City of Water in no more than three days.”
“Then we’ll set out once the Sand Scorpion Army surfaces.”
“Probably tomorrow. We can make preparations tonight.”
“I’ll come too.” Yun Xiu couldn’t hold back any longer. “She Ji will need a guardian during her evolution, after all.”
“That’s…”
Truth be told, Yan Zhen didn’t want Yun Xiu to go. She had no role in the script.
In the script, she stayed in the City of Water, fending off the Red Sand Scorpion Lord alongside the Eight Serpent Generals. She sustained serious injuries before Yan Zhen and the Myriad Snake Queen returned.
Yan Zhen hadn’t planned to meddle in the City of Water’s feud with the scorpions at first. But when he saw the Red Sand Scorpion Lord hurt Yun Xiu, his already irritable mood exploded. He flew into a rage, unleashing the destructive power of his Three Extreme Flames and roasting it into a scorpion kebab.
And after that, they’d face interference from the Demon Domain. With Yun Xiu there, he might not even get a chance to show off.
Did that mean he’d have to wear her out in bed again beforehand? With She Ji right there, that would be awkward~
So Yan Zhen looked to the Myriad Snake Queen to decide.
She hesitated. Of course, an ally of comparable strength would be helpful. But if Yun Xiu came, Yan Zhen might not need to forcibly refine the Great Crimson Heaven Flame and lose control.
If he didn’t lose control, she wouldn’t get pregnant (with their) Flame (triplets) Child (all at once). That wouldn’t do—after all, their daughter wanted to be born soon, and as a mother, she naturally had to fulfill that little wish. Ahem.
“Yun Xiu, you should stay in the City of Water. With you holding down the fort, this Queen can rest easier.”
Yun Xiu stared wordlessly at the Myriad Snake Queen, her gaze laden with meaning, as if accusing her: “You’re thinking naughty thoughts, aren’t you?”
She knew full well that this was the exact moment when Yan Zhen and She Ji stumbled into intimacy by accident.
After forcibly refining the Great Crimson Heaven Flame, he lost control of himself and even pounced on her aboard the Painted Boat when he returned.
It had been so sudden that when he kissed her chest, Yun Xiu’s shyness overwhelmed her, and she could only push him away.
But things were different now.
Whether she wanted it or not, if he came charging at her, that was fine.
The Myriad Snake Queen averted her eyes, lacking confidence as she muttered.
“If you want to come, then come. Just don’t hold us back.”
“Hmph.”
Only then did Yun Xiu look away.
Yan Zhen wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
It wasn’t just She Ji, either. No—if anything, Jiu Youyue was the real culprit.
Yan Zhen had originally planned to hold out until the end and even cultivate the Celibate Vajra Body. But Jiu Youyue offered herself up without warning, helping him stabilize his Mystic Power—though only halfway, breaking his precepts.
In his rampage, Yan Zhen’s mind flashed back to his desperate entanglement with Jiu Youyue. He could only seek out women to vent, nearly turning into a lecherous demon.
Thank goodness the Myriad Snake Queen had impressive stamina and a delightfully flexible body. Any other woman would have buckled under a full day and night of his intense exertions.
Perhaps having Yun Xiu share some of the load wasn’t such a bad idea?
The thought suddenly bubbled up in the Myriad Snake Queen’s mind.
