Sand scorpions were scattered throughout the Great Marsh Desert, their groups quite dispersed. The nest of the Red Sand Scorpion Lord lay beneath a sand dune in the northern part of the desert.
In his previous life, the Myriad Snake Queen had pored over ancient texts countless times. Only by piecing together certain characteristics had she deduced the original species of the Red Sand Scorpion Lord and pinpointed the location of his lair.
Now, they headed straight there, guided purely by memory.
“Cough, cough. Sister She Ji, you’ve been showing Little Zhen Zhen around for so long—you must be tired. It’s time for Senior Sister and me to take over.”
“Exactly. She Ji, your mystic power is clearly running low. You’d better recover it quickly.”
The Myriad Snake Queen didn’t buy for a second that this master-disciple pair actually cared about her well-being. She had no intention of acknowledging them, but Yan Zhen felt he was imposing on her and added his own persuasion.
“Cai Lian, take some pills and recover a bit.”
Helpless, the Myriad Snake Queen released Yan Zhen and retrieved some medicinal pills from her storage ring, swallowing them down.
“Then Little Zhen Zhen comes with me.” Jiu Youyue swiftly seized Yan Zhen’s hand and gave him an ambiguous wink. “I’ll make sure to give you a really good ‘flight’~”
Yun Xiu cleared her throat twice from the side and said coolly, “I’ll take him. I’m faster, and one more person won’t slow me down.”
They were no longer traveling through water. With her cultivation in Wind Mystic Power, Yun Xiu was indeed quicker than anyone else present.
Jiu Youyue planted her hands on her hips, clearly displeased. “Senior Sister, I called dibs first. You’re not going to snatch this from me too, are you?”
“I-I’m only suggesting it based on our current situation,” Yun Xiu replied righteously. “Aren’t we in a hurry? We can’t afford to dawdle.”
“But I’m a Mystic Ancestor now. You don’t think I’d be slower than you, do you, Senior Sister?”
“Mystic Ancestor or not, your movement arts have always been lousy.”
“Ow, that’s a bit harsh, isn’t it, Senior Sister? Everyone has their weak points.”
“Then they’re lousy.”
Listening to their back-and-forth, Yan Zhen couldn’t shake the feeling that he was a three-year-old child who needed carrying—like the pampered only scion of the family, with all the relatives clamoring to cozy up to him.
But he couldn’t very well say, “I’ll fly on my own.” Sure, he knew how to fly, but his speed was no match for the three women, and he couldn’t sustain it for long distances anyway.
In the script, Yan Zhen had utterly failed to keep pace with the Myriad Snake Queen. By the time he arrived on the scene, she had already located the Great Crimson Heaven Flame and begun her evolution.
“Alright, alright, no more arguing.” Yan Zhen felt terribly awkward. “I’ll fly with Jiu Youyue for the first leg. Then, after we rest, Yun Xiu can take over. Sound good?”
Since the man himself had spoken up, Yun Xiu had no choice but to accept gracefully.
“Of course it does.” Jiu Youyue had never intended to hog him anyway. “Then let’s get going.”
With that, mystic power surged skyward from her, coalescing into an Azure Crescent Moon—like a sleek, pointed skiff suspended in midair.
Jiu Youyue scooped Yan Zhen into her arms and leaped aboard. She steered the crescent moon forward, slicing through wind and waves.
She didn’t need the Myriad Snake Queen to lead the way; she knew precisely where the Red Sand Scorpion Lord’s lair was.
The other two women followed in short order.
Aboard the crescent moon skiff, Jiu Youyue wrapped her arms around Yan Zhen’s waist from behind, drawing him back against her body. Her white-stocking-clad jade legs entwined around him as well.
Her skirt hem slipped down her plump, snowy thighs, bunching beneath her hips and baring the full, elegant lines of her legs along with half a glimpse of her shapely rear.
Yan Zhen’s expression turned peculiar. Hadn’t he gotten this backwards? If anyone was doing the holding, it should be him embracing Jiu Youyue!
What’s more, the position was downright perilous. He felt utterly enveloped in softness, like some prey snared by a seductive spider, sinking inexorably into its web.
He tried to wriggle free from Jiu Youyue’s embrace, but she was a master of Sealing Arts. He wasn’t slipping away unless she allowed it.
“Quit squirming, Little Zhen. This is just to keep you from tumbling off.”
“Come on, I’m a Mystic Scholar at the very least. I’m not that helpless.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“…”
Jiu Youyue flashed a coquettish smile. She hooked an arm around Yan Zhen’s neck and eased backward onto the crescent moon, half-reclining there. Her legs bent lightly at the knee, and beneath his gaze, her white-stockinged jade feet inched together.
Yan Zhen sucked in a sharp breath. His mind conjured an image of a treat he’d once eaten: an ice cream bar wedged between cheese sticks.
“—Pretty?” Jiu Youyue’s voice dripped with allure. Her red lips pouted as she breathed softly into his ear. “Or does Sister She Ji’s look better?”
“Both pretty. Both great.”
“No brushing me off. Pick one.”
“I don’t know.”
“Then… how about this?” Her hands slid up to his chest. “Who’s better now?”
“I told you, I don’t know.”
“Then… this?”
She nipped at his earlobe. Far from capitulating, Yan Zhen furrowed his brow.
“Jiu Youyue!”
Impatience edged his tone.
One glance at his face told Jiu Youyue she’d pushed too far.
Yan Zhen was already struggling with his lack of control—helpless and frustrated enough without her teasing him over it. Small wonder he was getting angry.
She released him at once, soothing, “Alright, alright, no more teasing. Just behave yourself.”
Yan Zhen gave a soft hum of assent.
Jiu Youyue’s smile returned. She planted a kiss on his cheek, then held him close in quiet intimacy.
“Jiu Youyue.”
Yan Zhen spoke up out of nowhere.
“Yes?”
“Your legs look ‘even better.’”
She blinked in surprise, then felt a thrill touch her heart. Joy bubbled up unbidden. Unable to resist, she kissed him again—a long, lingering tangle of lips before they parted.
The crescent moon skiff glided smoothly through the skies, mystic power warding off the blazing sun without a hint of discomfort.
Noon faded into dusk, the sunset painting the heavens red.
Night yielded to dawn, the eastern horizon paling to fish-belly white.
Yan Zhen slept straight through, his lower cultivation demanding rest to restore his vigor.
Upon waking, the three women opted to touch down amid a stone forest for a brief respite—to catch their breath and attune their conditions.
When they took to the air once more, Jiu Youyue reluctantly relinquished Yan Zhen to Yun Xiu.
Yun Xiu summoned gusts of wind to bear them aloft on her sword, embracing Yan Zhen from behind just as Jiu Youyue had.
Two days of “self-recovery” had drawn Yun Xiu from her shell, but being alone with Yan Zhen again summoned memories of his “over-the-top” behavior. Her heart promptly heated.
“Y- Yan Zhen, how are you holding up?” Yun Xiu asked with concern. “Jiu Youyue didn’t… take advantage while I wasn’t looking, did she?”
Yan Zhen shook his head. “I’m fine. She just messed around a little.”
“That’s a relief. If anything feels off, just tell me. I-I’ll take care of it for you.”
—No need to strictly wait out those five days.
“I can endure it for now.” Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly. “Just… don’t press your breasts against my back.”
Yun Xiu’s face flushed crimson. Her free hand flew to cover her ample bosom as she shifted back slightly. “I didn’t mean to.”
The footing was cramped—just enough for the two of them—and her generous curves made contact inevitable.
Yan Zhen felt equally at a loss. That fire within him seemed to burn fiercer with every release. What had started as a minor nuisance had, after days of indulgence, turned into a powder keg primed to explode.
Losing control in this state could spell serious trouble.
Deviating from the script never failed to unleash a cascade of mishaps.
