“Remember not to lock the door after dark~”
Yan Meng’er’s voice, impish as a little devil, echoed in Yan Zhen’s ears. He blinked in confusion and turned to look at her.
She threw him a sly wink before leisurely dragging her cousin—whose expression looked a bit unnatural—off to wash the dishes. Clearly, the two of them had cooked up this scheme together.
Yan Zhen blinked again. His slightly tipsy mind drifted to the cat costume and dog costume stashed in the wardrobe. He sobered up in an instant.
The “surprise” Meng’er had mentioned—could that be it? Surely not. With his cousin’s personality, she’d never go along with something like that… right?
Yan Zhen rubbed his temples, a headache brewing.
The high-intensity romps before had been dictated by the plot, but if he kept it up now, it would shatter his persona completely.
Just then, Mentor Yu Xuan approached, her voice soft and gentle. “Come to my office at noon tomorrow. I need to discuss the graduation ceremony with you.”
Without waiting for his response, she glided gracefully out of the dining hall, leaving him with an elegant and alluring view of her back.
Yan Zhen blinked once more. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Mentor Yu Xuan’s words carried a deeper meaning, which inevitably reminded him of all those previous “come to my office” invitations.
It was all his fault from the very beginning—running his mouth about doing it during the day or in the office. Now Mentor Yu Xuan had developed a habit.
Persona collapse times two!
“Yan Zhen, little brother~” Mi Xue’er sidled up to him with a giggle. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Ahem, well… I want to break through to the Mystic Master Realm before the graduation ceremony. Could you help me out?”
Yan Zhen sent a casual sweep of his spiritual power over her and frowned. “The ceremony’s in five days. With your current cultivation, Senior Sister Xue’er, you’re still quite a ways off from the Mystic Master Realm—unless you pop some heavenly treasure or other.”
Mi Xue’er wagged her index finger. “That’s why we need an alternative path~”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Here’s the thing. I’ve got this special secret art. If you study it with me and we succeed, it’ll let me advance to the Mystic Master Realm with ease!”
“What kind of secret art?”
Mi Xue’er pulled out a coverless manual and handed it to Yan Zhen.
He flipped it open and skimmed through it. The pages were filled with Mi Xue’er’s handwriting—the incantations clearly copied out by her.
Once he’d finished reading, Yan Zhen’s expression turned awkward. It was a Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation technique.
It didn’t require actual coupling and worked regardless of gender, as long as their mystic powers had opposing attributes.
Mi Xue’er cultivated Ice Mystic Force, while his was Fire Mystic Power. They were a perfect match for this art.
That said, Mi Xue’er was too weak. If they actually practiced it, she’d reap nearly all the benefits, leaving him with next to nothing.
“Will you help me, Yan Zhen little brother?” Mi Xue’er pleaded. “I know it’s a big ask, but I really want to break through now and go to Holy Land Academy with you.”
If she followed her previous life’s timeline—arriving at Holy Land Academy half a year after he left—she wouldn’t stand a chance.
Yan Zhen sighed inwardly, puzzled. “Senior Sister Xue’er… why are you so fixated on this?”
“I don’t know.” Mi Xue’er’s cheeks flushed pink, a far cry from her usual bubbly energy. She fidgeted like a newlywed bride. “I just like you, that’s all. And because I like you, I want you to like me back. So I’ll try everything I can until you accept me.”
“Alright. I’ll give it a shot. Whether it works or not depends on how reliable your secret art is.”
“You mean it? Yay!” Mi Xue’er nearly jumped for joy. “I love you to death, Yan Zhen little brother!”
Truth be told, Yan Zhen hadn’t wanted to agree. In the script, Mi Xue’er didn’t go to Holy Land Academy with him—she arrived half a year later. But she’d laid her heart bare like this; refusing would make him seem heartless.
Besides, their cultivations had already surpassed the script’s progression.
At this point in the story, aside from Xiao Xinyan, no one was supposed to be a Nine-Star Mystic Practitioner. Now they all were—especially Meng’er, who had started out as the weakest and had somehow caught up. It was beyond unexpected.
“When do we start?”
“I-I need to prepare. Come to my room tomorrow night.”
“Your room might not be the best spot…”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s legitimate cultivation, not some naughty business.” Here, Mi Xue’er shifted tones, her voice turning plaintive. “Unlike Meng’er and Ruyu. You just got back, and they’re already thinking about getting frisky~”
“Ahem, ahem…” Called out like that to his face—even with his thick skin—Yan Zhen couldn’t help flushing. “Alright, it’s settled then. Oh, right—I have a few bottles of Minor Yuan Pills here. Take them, Senior Sister Xue’er. I don’t need them anymore.”
Yan Zhen quickly pulled out two bottles and pressed them into her hands, as if paying hush money.
Mi Xue’er curved her lips, gazing at Yan Zhen. His blushing face was utterly adorable; she wanted nothing more than to scoop him up and nuzzle him.
“Thanks. I’ll head back to my room now.”
As she brushed past him, she lowered her voice. “Remember not to let Ruyu and Meng’er get too loud tonight~”
With that, she noted his ears turning red and sauntered out of the dining hall, thoroughly satisfied.
Yan Zhen was just about to leave when he looked up—and locked eyes with Xiao Xinyan. He turned away awkwardly, but she called out.
“Hang on, Junior Brother Yan Zhen!”
Yan Zhen’s head throbbed. He’d been gone three months, and now everyone had something from him!
“What is it?”
Xiao Xinyan shed her usual arrogant edge, adopting a bashful demeanor instead. “Do you have any more Minor Yuan Pills? I’d like some too.”
Yan Zhen patted himself down and produced his last bottle. “Just one left. Is that enough? I can refine more if not.”
“Should be plenty. Thank you.” A smile bloomed on Xiao Xinyan’s face. “I’ll trade you for it. You probably need this.”
She shoved a pill bottle into his hand and scurried off, her pretty face red.
Yan Zhen took a closer look and saw “Golden Gun Pill” written on the label. His expression crumpled.
—What the hell do I need this for?
“…”
Yan Zhen was speechless. He returned to his room and, with time still to spare before dark, slipped into the Fire Refining Starry Sky to pay respects to his beautiful master. While there, he refined a batch of Minor Yuan Pills for his cousins.
They had all reached Nine-Star Mystic Practitioner—a perfect time for pills to help them break through.
After two batches, night was falling. Yan Zhen exited the Fire Refining Starry Sky and reappeared on his bed, just in time to hear a knock at the door.
He opened it to find his cousin and her sister standing there.
It was winter, so aside from their sleepwear, both wore extra shawls for warmth.
They lacked summer’s breezy allure but gained an air of refined grace.
“Heehee, cousin, we’re here~”
“Ahem, it’s cold out there—come on in. Whoa!”
Before Yan Zhen could finish, Yan Meng’er launched herself at him.
During the three months he’d been away, she’d cultivated furiously while studying techniques just as hard. Not only had her realm skyrocketed, but she’d also mastered several tantric arts.
—Meng’er had grown stronger. No longer was she the pushover who couldn’t last a full round!
Now she wanted to test her new skills and show her cousin that her youthful face and ample assets outshone big sis’s big backside!
She even harbored a tiny ambition: one day, she would “defeat” him!
—Meng’er, go for it!
