“Alright, Wenqing, let’s take a break.”
Yan Zhen gently patted Huangfu Wenqing’s cheek. Only then did she release his lips, letting him pull away.
Gazing at his breathtakingly alluring fiancée, Yan Zhen scooped up some water in his hand and gently wiped the remnants from her face. Then he helped her to her feet, drew her into his arms, and lightly stroked her smooth back.
Huangfu Wenqing was clearly not accustomed to such intimacy, but she had tried her best to please him. Yan Zhen felt a surge of emotion.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Sensing her fiancé’s tenderness, Huangfu Wenqing’s heart overflowed with joy. She nestled against his shoulder like a bird returning to its nest and said in a soft, coquettish voice:
“Are you happy?”
Yan Zhen smiled faintly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“What do you think?”
Huangfu Wenqing pursed her lips, her thoughts drifting back to the overwhelming flood from moments before that she could scarcely keep up with. A dreamy flush colored her cheeks, and her slender arms tightened around her fiancé even more.
“I’m so happy, Yan Zhen~”
Alas. Yan Zhen sighed inwardly and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“We’ve soaked long enough. Let’s head out.”
“Mmm, I’ll help you get dressed.”
A short while later, both of them neatly attired, they stepped out of the bathing chamber—only to find the bed empty.
“That’s odd. Where’s Long Ying?”
The rice bucket loli slept soundly after a full belly and only stirred when hunger struck.
Huangfu Wenqing couldn’t care less about that loli dragon girl. She shook out her coiled tresses and said:
“She must’ve gone to Zi Xunyi’s place. Good riddance—she’s not here, so we can rest.”
Yan Zhen was on the verge of nodding when a knock came from the door.
He opened it to find Elder Yu Yan standing there.
“E-Elder Yu Yan, what brings you here?”
Yan Zhen was utterly embarrassed. Huangfu Wenqing was still in the room, and they had just finished being intimate.
This Elder Great-Aunt might not be as rigid as Dean Little Aunt, but catching her favored son-in-law with a hidden beauty would surely ruffle some feathers.
“Can’t I visit?” Elder Yu Yan wore her usual warm, smiling expression that put people at ease. “I have something to discuss with you.”
“Oh, uh, of course. Please, Elder, go ahead.”
“You want me to say it at the door?”
“Er…”
“Isn’t it just you bringing your fiancée to stay over? Great-Aunt isn’t upset in the slightest, hehe~”
—She knew all along!
Yan Zhen’s scalp prickled. Meekly, he said:
“Please come in, Elder Yu Yan.”
Elder Yu Yan glided into the room with graceful poise. Her gaze immediately fell on Huangfu Wenqing, who sat on the edge of the bed in her nightclothes. The young woman started in surprise, then quickly rose and curtsied.
“Greetings, Elder Yu Yan.”
“No need for such formality.” Elder Yu Yan’s tone was gentle, without a hint of displeasure. “It’s been less than half a month since you entered the Inner Academy, and already both of you have climbed onto the General Star List. Your cultivations have advanced noticeably too. Impressive.”
Yan Zhen couldn’t quite gauge her intentions. He poured a cup of water and placed it before her.
“You flatter us, Elder. Please, have a seat here. I’ll brew some tea for you.”
Elder Yu Yan nodded slightly and settled onto the soft couch. She took a sip from the teacup filled with tea, then cut straight to the chase.
“I came to tell you three things. First, regarding Xuan’er. I promised you a monthly meeting, and I won’t go back on my word. She’ll emerge from seclusion mid-month, so come with me to the Yu Family then if you want to see her.”
He could see Mentor Yu Xuan? Yan Zhen’s eyes brightened. Mindful of Huangfu Wenqing’s presence, he tamped down his excitement and nodded.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Elder.”
“Hm?” Elder Yu Yan’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. Her perpetually squinted eyes cracked open into thin slits, fixing him with a chilling stare, though her smile remained kindly. “What did you call me?”
“Ahem, trouble Great-Aunt.”
“Mmm.” Satisfied with the correction, Elder Yu Yan nodded. “Second matter: your grudge with Wen Canglan. But first—how exactly did you befriend Lady Zi Ji? Didn’t I tell you to steer clear of that place? Have you been taking my words lightly?”
Three pointed questions in a row.
Yan Zhen felt the pressure mounting, but fortunately, he had his excuse prepared.
“You met her in a dream?” Elder Yu Yan’s expression turned one of genuine surprise after hearing his explanation. “That’s a first for me.”
“Absolutely true. If you don’t believe me, Great-Aunt, you can ask Lady Zi Ji yourself.”
“So Lady Zi Ji is indeed cultivating the Divine Soul Merit Law, and you’re halfway to being a soul cultivator yourself. If your divine souls resonate strongly enough, sharing a dream isn’t out of the question.”
“Glad you understand, Great-Aunt.”
“Sigh, never mind. I won’t meddle too much in you young folks’ business. As for that Wen Canglan—he’s the vice dean’s grandson and holds second place on the General Star List. He outstrips you in both cultivation and connections by a wide margin. Tread carefully.”
“I understand, Great-Aunt. I’ll keep my distance from him.”
Their showdown was still a ways off, until the annual Star Plucking Assembly. Until then, better to avoid him lest the fool came knocking on death’s door.
Yan Zhen might lag behind Wen Canglan in raw cultivation, but he had no shortage of ways to deal with the punk. Forget Heaven and Earth Absolute Incineration or the Overdrive Card Set—even the Five-Colored Snake Scale Gloves from his Cailian Wife would leave Wen Canglan choking on his own regret.
“And the third thing?”
“The third is that the Two Extremes Secret Realm has opened for this year. Since you’ve made the General Star List, you qualify to enter for training. The Yang Pole Secret Realm is for Body Refining, the Yin Extreme Secret Realm for Soul Refining. Ordinarily, after a cultivation breakthrough, students pick one to stabilize their realm. You can choose whichever, but remember this: after exiting the Yang Pole Secret Realm, fully refine the Yang Source within you before entering the Yin Extreme—or the Yin Source there will clash with it, throwing your yin and yang out of balance. The same goes in reverse.”
Yan Zhen nodded. The script had covered these details in full, so he knew them by heart.
“I’ve arranged everything for you. Enter the secret realm first to cultivate; I’ll come fetch you when it’s time to head to the Yu Family. Got it?”
“Yes, thank you, Great-Aunt.”
“Mmm. There are dangers in the secret realm, and most students team up. You two should stick together for mutual support.”
“Can I bring Long Ying along?”
“You can, but keep her out of harm’s way. Otherwise, it’ll be awkward explaining to the Venerable One.”
“I’ll keep her safe.”
The key was not letting Long Ying act alone. That loli dragon girl wasn’t just a bottomless pit for food—she was a hopeless directionless wanderer too.
“That’s all for now.” Elder Yu Yan rose to her feet and glanced between Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing. “It’s understandable for the young to indulge their desires, but becoming a true powerhouse requires self-restraint and a steadfast heart. I hope you two take care— I’m off. Come to my office if you need anything.”
“Farewell, Elder Yu Yan.”
“Safe travels, Elder Yu Yan.”
They respectfully saw Elder Yu Yan off until her figure vanished down the stairwell. Only then did they exhale in relief and shut the door.
For all her perpetual smile and approachable air, the presence of a Mystic Ancestor expert still carried an overwhelming pressure.
