“This Young Master is waiting!”
Bai Ao left those blunt words behind before leading his people out of the private room.
—Finally gone.
Yan Zhen slowly let out a breath of relief.
If a fight had broken out here and disturbed Long Ying’s meal, that loli dragon girl probably would have beaten Bai Ao black and blue, leaving no chance for him to make his move.
His clash with Bai Ao was meant to be his signature moment, the event that would mark his official rise to prominence in the Inner Academy. If Bai Ao got thrashed by the dragon maiden and then chickened out of facing him later, everything would be ruined.
—Villains love throwing themselves at trouble. Good thing I’m clever!
He had entered the Inner Academy early to rescue Ling’er, and now Long Ying had shown up ahead of schedule too, throwing his plans into disarray. Otherwise, at this very moment, he would have been on the fourth floor of the Firmament Nine-Story Tower, squaring off against a bunch of General Star List experts.
“How did you end up crossing paths with those White Fang guys?” Zi Xunyi asked with concern. “They’re a petty bunch who love bullying the weak. Your cultivation hasn’t caught up yet, so it’s best to avoid clashing with them for now.”
“The grudge is already set. Even if I don’t go looking for them, they’ll come after me.” Yan Zhen flashed a carefree smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I at least have ways to protect myself.”
“Then take care of yourself.”
“Yeah, I will.”
Long Ying coughed twice and chimed in.
“I will protect Yan Zhen Zhen! Whoever dares bully him, I will beat them up!”
Zi Xunyi chuckled lightly.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Little Long Ying~”
Yan Zhen curved his lips but said nothing.
In her current loli form, Long Ying could probably go toe-to-toe with a High-Star Mystic King. If she shifted back to her teenage girl form, she could even trade blows with a Low-Star Mystic Ancestor. She definitely had the power to keep him safe.
That said, the Yan Zhen from the script hadn’t counted on Long Ying as a fighter. He had only brought her along to covet the divine blood in her veins.
About an hour later, Long Ying finally finished eating. The table was now piled high with empty plates and bones, nearly obscuring the three of them.
Yan Zhen called over the server and settled the bill under the man’s weird stare. With a swipe of his Level Two Courtyard Card, more than six hundred points vanished—nearly maxing it out.
Yan Zhen froze for a moment—of course, he was just acting.
Long Ying looked guilty upon seeing it. She had promised not to eat too much, but in the end, she had gone even wilder than in her previous life.
“Sorry, Yan Zhen Zhen. I made you spend so much.”
“…”
—Don’t be so sensible! Stick to your persona—you’re just a rice-bucket loli who eats and sleeps right now!
Yan Zhen waved it off, signaling that he didn’t mind.
“I’ll get reimbursed by the Grand Elder later.”
After all, the Grand Elder was the one who had asked him to look after Long Ying. What was wrong with a little meal allowance?
“Alright, let’s head back. Sticking around here will just turn us into spectacles.”
The three left the dining hall and returned to their respective lodgings.
Yan Zhen brought Long Ying back to his room. With Role-Playing Requirement One complete, it was time for Requirement Two.
“Give Long Ying a bath and change her into clean clothes.”
After that feast, the only garment she had—a long-sleeved robe—was covered in grease stains and unwearable. Plus, her cherry-colored hair, which trailed nearly to the floor, was a tangled mess that needed careful combing.
“Ahhh~” Long Ying let out a massive yawn, then said sleepily, “Yan Zhen Zhen, I’m sleepy. I wanna sleep.”
“If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep. But you’re all greasy, so take a bath first.”
“Okay~”
Long Ying was obedient in a way that wasn’t like her at all. She turned and headed straight for the bathing chamber—she was very familiar with the place.
Yan Zhen followed, activating the array formation on the faucet to fill the bathtub. He then used his Fire Mystic Power to heat the water to a boil effortlessly.
That temperature was just ordinary warm water to Long Ying.
“Thanks, Yan Zhen Zhen.”
“No problem. Come on, take off your clothes and sit on this little stool. I’ll wash your hair first.”
“Okay—huh?”
Long Ying froze, finally realizing what was happening. Yan Zhen was going to give her a bath, which meant she had to strip naked in front of him.
H-how could she do that?
She vaguely remembered him bathing her a few times in their previous life, but back then she hadn’t understood anything about men and women. Now she was a big girl—how could she strip in front of a boy and let him wash her?
No way!
/（/ /o/ω/o/ /）/
Long Ying pressed a finger to her lips and said shyly,
“I-I can wash myself.”
Seeing Long Ying’s blushing face, Yan Zhen felt a strange twist in his gut, but he still said,
“Your hair’s too long—you can’t clean it properly alone. Let me help. Now, arms up. I’ll take off your clothes.”
With that, Yan Zhen grasped the hem of her long-sleeved robe and slowly lifted it. Long Ying obediently raised her little arms.
Once the greasy robe was off, she immediately wrapped her butt-length cherry hair around her body, her little face red all the way to her ears.
—What’re you blushing about?!
Yan Zhen felt even more awkward.
Long Ying was about the same age as him, originally a graceful beauty in her prime. But at this age, she was just a child by Dragon Clan standards. And right now, this version of Long Ying knew nothing about men and women. Yan Zhen wouldn’t have any thoughts toward a child, so the atmosphere should have been warm and wholesome—like a father bathing his daughter.
But with that blush, it all turned weird, transforming the father figure into a pervy old uncle.
—Damn it. For the mission, I have no choice.
“Sit down properly.”
Yan Zhen had Long Ying sit on the little stool. He scooped water from the bathtub with a ladle and poured it over her head to wet her cherry hair. Then he squeezed out some shampoo, worked it into a lather in his palms, and applied it to her strands, building up suds.
Her hair was ridiculously long relative to her size, and a total mess—like a wild child’s.
Yan Zhen sat behind Long Ying, gently washing her hair.
After kneading and scrubbing from roots to tips, he told her to close her eyes and rinsed it clean.
Once it was rinsed, he continued by scrubbing her back until her whole body was clean. Only then did he pick her up and place her in the bathtub to splash around on her own.
Throughout the process, Long Ying was as docile as a golden retriever—nothing like the wild husky from the script.
“…”
At that moment, though, Long Ying was so embarrassed she nearly fainted. She sank into the tub, hands covering her flushed little face as she blew bubbles: glug glug glug.
—I’ve been seen naked~~ I’m not pure anymore~~~ No one will marry me now~~~
“All done. If you’re tired, don’t soak too long. Come out—I’ve got a fresh set of clothes for you, never worn.”
Yan Zhen lifted the shrunken Long Ying out of the water. She yelped in panic, flailing her limbs wildly.
“Quiet down.”
Yan Zhen wrapped her in a bath towel, dried off the water, then slipped a new long-sleeved robe over her head before letting go.
Long Ying glared at Yan Zhen, her face beet red and wearing a pitiful, aggrieved expression.
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Alright, off to bed. Once you’re asleep, I’ll start cultivating.”
