Yan Zhen couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
This System-chan didn’t help when he needed it and just stood by making easy comments without suffering the consequences itself.
It was truly annoying!
【Ding! The system is not standing. The system exists in the host’s sea of consciousness, in a suspended state.】
— System-chan, keep this up and you’ll lose a great host like me!
【Ding! The system warmly reminds you once again: Host, you’ve been flirting between several women lately and are starting to show the makings of a playboy. Please correct this behavior promptly and do not repeat it.】
— Hey, I don’t want to either, but they don’t play by the rules. I can only play it by ear.
— Though they really are all cute~ (he muttered under his breath)
Heeding System-chan’s warning, Yan Zhen thought for a moment and added, “I’ll try my best to take responsibility. If you’re still willing to be with me then, then… we’ll be together.”
Huangfu Wenqing wasn’t too pleased. She inwardly grumbled that Yan Zhen was just too responsible, which made it easy for them to win him over. This wasn’t good.
By the time their battle pact came around in a year, she and her master wouldn’t even get scraps.
Should she team up with Uncle-Master Yue?
Although Jiu Youyue was a Demon Domain hidden agent who had replaced Yun Daiyue, Huangfu Wenqing had only interacted with her positively, so she wasn’t too opposed. After all, in the previous life, Jiu Youyue had been one of Yan Zhen’s wives.
Past-life wife, current fiancée, and first love… With those three combined, their competitiveness would skyrocket. How could these young girls compete?
In contrast, the other women perked up at his words.
After all, the methods they’d used weren’t exactly the kind they could tell their future kids about. Even Mentor Yu Xuan was the same, repeatedly seducing Yan Zhen under the guise of her mentor role until they naturally started a secret relationship—full of a mature woman’s subtle tricks.
Now hearing his promise, they felt more secure and less anxious.
Only Xiao Xinyan looked conflicted, as if hesitating whether to be as bold as the others…
“Ahem, I’m heading back to cultivate!”
With that, Yan Zhen quickly stood and left.
“I’m going back too!”
“Me too!”
Yan Meng’er and Mi Xue’er immediately rose, but Mentor Yu Xuan grabbed one with each hand. “You’re not to disturb Yan Zhen. You two stay in my room today. I’ll supervise your cultivation.”
The two girls’ faces fell.
Yan Ruyu and Xiao Xinyan, fearing the mentor’s anger might spread to them, abandoned their teammates and slipped away.
Huangfu Wenqing let out a gleeful hum before calmly leaving and knocking on the door of room three.
“Yan Zhen, it’s me.”
The door opened, and Yan Zhen poked his head out. “Sorry, Wenqing. I did something against our engagement again. If you want to call it off, I-I’ll explain it clearly to Grandpa Huangfu myself.”
Huangfu Wenqing frowned, displeased. “I already said I won’t call it off! Besides, it’s not your fault—it’s Mi Xue’er’s. You’re the victim here.”
She stepped forward, boldly hugging him and gently stroking the back of his head, her face full of concern.
“I’m at fault too. I shouldn’t have let them take you away… Stay in my room tonight. Ignore them.”
“Better not. Otherwise, Meng’er will come make a fuss again.”
“I’m not afraid of her!” Huangfu Wenqing bit her lip, then said coyly, “If you want to do that, I-I’m not opposed… It’s going to happen eventually. Practicing early isn’t bad~”
Ahem, ahem.
“That’s not what I meant. I just want to focus on cultivation. I might not sleep tonight.”
“Alright then.” Huangfu Wenqing took a messaging talisman from her storage ring and handed it to him. “This is a Cloud Heaven Palace messaging talisman. Contact me if you need anything. I’m heading back to my room.”
Yan Zhen took the messaging talisman and nodded. “If Meng’er gives you trouble again, tell me. I’ll discipline her.”
Huangfu Wenqing happily returned to the room next door.
Unlike the distance in her previous life, she had not only shared kisses with Yan Zhen but also this kind of intimate newlywed banter. It satisfied her completely, letting her temporarily forget her displeasure at being cuckolded by those sneaky women.
Yan Zhen smiled faintly too, thinking that Huangfu Wenqing wasn’t as arrogant and annoying as the script described—just an ordinary young miss.
He glanced at the messaging talisman in his hand. Unlike the one he’d bought at the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, its casing was shaped like swirling clouds and wind.
Yan Zhen infused it with mystic power to activate it, entering the nickname “Fire Yan’s Yan, Pure Zhen’s Zhen.” A list of contacts appeared.
·Fiancée Wenqing
·Real Yun Xiu
·Demoness Wants True Heart
“It even has their contacts?”
Yan Zhen was surprised, especially by Jiu Youyue. She was a Cloud Heaven Palace traitor now, so all traces of her should have been erased.
Not only Yun Xiu—even Huangfu Wenqing had kept Jiu Youyue’s contact. That was odd.
Come to think of it, why had Huangfu Wenqing given him a group chat talisman?
It allowed private messages, but it still felt weird. Had she grabbed the wrong one?
Looking at the two women’s names, Yan Zhen was tempted to message them, but he held back.
—Don’t mess with plot points not in the script, or it’ll cause a butterfly effect.
He pocketed the messaging talisman and planned to enter the Fire Refining Starry Sky to find his beautiful master and refine the gold-silver fire sword embryo under her supervision. But just then, another knock sounded at the door.
Yan Zhen opened it to find Petty Senior Sister standing there, which surprised him.
“Anything I can help with, Senior Sister Xinyan?”
Xiao Xinyan fiddled shyly with a lock of hair hanging over her chest. “Junior Brother Yan Zhen, you’re at the Mystic Master Realm now, right?”
“Yes.”
“You advanced from Mystic Practitioner to Mystic Master in just a few months. That’s incredible. So, um, could you share your experience on breaking through to Mystic Scholar Realm?”
“I can do that… Come in first.”
“Sorry for intruding.”
Xiao Xinyan beamed inwardly and stepped inside a bit stiffly.
Yan Zhen gestured for her to sit on the bed.
“Circulate your energy first so I can see.”
“Okay~”
She did as told, closing her eyes and running her technique. A faint glow of mystic power appeared on her skin—the mark of a Nine-Star Mystic Practitioner.
At Mystic Scholar Realm, this hazy glow would form a mystic power membrane with decent defense. At Mystic Master Realm, it could become Mystic Force Armor, boosting defense even further.
Her aura was steadier than Mi Xue’er’s, just one step away from Mystic Scholar.
“Senior Sister Xinyan, have you and Senior Sister Xue’er cultivated using that method?”
“Y-Yes. Mi Xue’er kept begging me to help, and I couldn’t refuse.”
Heh… Girls cultivating together worked. How ridiculous.
“Your mystic power is sufficient, but it’s lacking a bit. I refined more Minor Yuan Pills. Take some, and in three to five days, you can attempt the breakthrough.”
“Really?”
