The milky-white hot spring waters bubbled with playful splashes, steam rising in thick tendrils that curled around the rockeries, lending the scene an ethereal, otherworldly air.
The four women slipped into the water one after another, settling back against the nearest rockery. Amid the soothing bliss of soaking their skin in the winter warmth, they let out contented sighs.
Each of these stunning mature beauties boasted a tall, graceful figure. Seated at the bottom of the pool, the milky surface lapped just at their chests, modestly veiling the most embarrassingly rosy peaks—though it failed to conceal them entirely. With every gentle ripple, tantalizing glimpses appeared and vanished, the epitome of temptation.
From left to right, they were Elder Yu Yan, the Family Head Yu Lu, Dean Yu Qing, and Grand Mentor Shui Bailan.
The most captivating sight was Elder Yu Yan—no surprise, as the eldest sister among them. Compared to her two younger sisters and her sister-in-law, her ample bosom was at least a full cup size larger.
Those twin orbs floated on the water’s surface like water-filled balloons. Elder Yu Yan’s beautiful eyes remained half-lidded in bliss, one jade hand lightly propping her fragrant cheek as her gaze softened on the sister beside her.
Not everyone was fixated on bust size, however. When it came to facial beauty, the Family Head Yu Lu took the crown.
Having borne a gentle beauty like Mentor Yu Xuan, she herself was naturally exquisite. Yet her temperament stood in stark contrast to her daughter’s—cold and unyielding, with sharp, piercing eyes, like an icier, more mature version of Yu Xuan.
Under the steamy haze, her lovely jade-like features flushed a delicate pink, blooming like a flower. Far from intimidating now, she stirred the heart instead.
As for Dean Yu Qing, she paled somewhat in comparison to her two elder sisters. She had no standout features; one moment she touched her cheek, the next she hefted her bosom, then sighed in helpless defeat.
She turned to her best friend. Grand Mentor Shui Bailan’s looks and figure were much the same as her own, save for that striking blue-white hair that lent her a unique allure.
Though Shui Bailan enforced the rules with iron-fisted severity in the Outer Academy—earning the students’ fear and respect—she was quite popular among the mentors. Even several male instructors pursued her.
Beyond the academy, elders from various sects and clans had professed their admiration for her, only to be firmly rejected each time.
At the thought, Dean Yu Qing sighed again.
No comparison, no harm. Back in their childhood, she had been the cutest of them all.
“Feels so good~ Nothing beats the home hot spring,” Elder Yu Yan said with utter enjoyment, her eyes nearly sealed shut in bliss, curved like crescent moons—a touch adorable. “Oh, right—why don’t we call Xuan’er over? It’s been ages since we’ve had some aunt-niece time.”
The Family Head Yu Lu lifted an arm as smooth as white jade, her slender fingers trailing lightly over her own skin in self-admiring caress. Yet her expression remained coolly detached.
“Xuan’er already soaked right after emerging from seclusion. No need to call her specially.”
Grand Mentor Shui Bailan smiled faintly.
“Right now, Xuan’er is probably wrapped up in Yan Zhen. Better not disturb them.”
Elder Yu Yan nodded.
“You’re right. That was thoughtless of me. We’ll call her next time.”
“Ahem, I miss Xuan’er,” Dean Yu Qing countered, striking a contrary note. “Call her over anyway. She can wash my hair.”
Grand Mentor Shui Bailan shot her an exasperated look.
“You’re just worried about leaving Yan Zhen alone with her, aren’t you? As the elder, why keep picking on the kids?”
“Who’s picking on him? He’s just a little brat!” Dean Yu Qing huffed, crossing her arms and squeezing her impressively sized jade peaks even higher. “Can’t I miss my own niece?”
“But Xuan’er might not be missing you,” Shui Bailan teased with a wink. “If you call her now, she’ll hate leaving Yan Zhen. Why bother…”
“Shui Bailan, whose side are you on?!” Dean Yu Qing saw red. “You like that boy so much? Why not have Second Sister betroth you to him as a concubine? Then you’d have to call Xuan’er ‘Sister’!”
Grand Mentor Shui Bailan’s cheeks colored faintly.
“What nonsense, Yu Qing? I’m just telling you to be rational. Don’t fly off the handle like some lovesick girl every time Yan Zhen’s mentioned.”
“I—”
Dean Yu Qing started to explain, but her elder sisters fixed her with strange looks, as if silently asking, Little sister, you don’t seriously have designs on your niece’s sweetheart, do you?
Dean Yu Qing deflated instantly. Still, she stubbornly pulled a Yu Family internal messaging talisman from her storage ring.
“I-I’m calling Xuan’er over, and you can’t stop me.”
With that, she activated the connection to her niece.
To her annoyance, there was no response for ages. Sweet Xuan’er had never ignored her like this!
She refused to believe her niece had forgotten her little aunt just because of some man. It had to be that boy keeping Xuan’er from answering!
“Told you so,” Grand Mentor Shui Bailan said mildly. “Don’t go looking for trouble.”
Dean Yu Qing huffed.
“I’m off to soak over there.”
She actually swam toward the second rockery in the pool’s center.
“Yu Qing, wait!”
Grand Mentor Shui Bailan hurried after her.
At the sight, the Family Head Yu Lu’s brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure crossing her face.
Elder Yu Yan chuckled lightly.
“Little Qing’s as childish as ever.”
The Family Head Yu Lu replied coolly,
“It’s a good thing Bailan looks after her.”
“It’s nice, really. Watching her always reminds me of the old days—when the three of us sisters were carefree.”
“Sister…”
“These years have been hard on you, Little Lu,” Elder Yu Yan said softly, drawing her second sister into a gentle embrace. “I should have been the one to inherit the family head position as the eldest daughter. But after my Qi Deviation during cultivation left me unable to bear children, the burden fell to you.”
“Don’t say that, Sister. I don’t find it hard, and I have no regrets about becoming family head.” A rare softness flickered in the Family Head Yu Lu’s eyes. “Besides, it’s not just me. You, Yu Qing, and even Bailan have all sacrificed for the family. As members of the Yu Family, we can’t escape that fate.”
Elder Yu Yan paused, then asked,
“Little Lu, what do you think of Little Yan Zhen?”
The Family Head Yu Lu shook her head lightly.
“Too soon to tell, but his potential is immense.”
“Little Lu, are you really going to—”
Before she could finish, their youngest sister and sister-in-law rushed back in a panic, faces flushed beet red. The little sister aside, even their usually composed sister-in-law looked rattled—that was unusual.
“What happened?”
Grand Mentor Shui Bailan averted her gaze, clearly reluctant to speak. Dean Yu Qing jabbed a finger toward the pool’s far end, fuming.
“That stinking brat actually—actually sneaked into White Jade Spring to bully—to bully Xuan’er!”
Her sisters blinked, needing a moment to process.
“Little Qing, you mean Little Yan Zhen and Xuan’er are here too?”
“What are they doing?”
Dean Yu Qing’s face burned crimson.
“What else? I told you, that boy’s full of bad ideas and bold as brass. He just arrived at the Yu Lu Family, and he already dares—dares… Anyway, hurry and stop them! Otherwise, the consequences don’t bear thinking about!”
Hearing this, Elder Yu Yan and the Family Head Yu Lu grew grave. As the family heir, Xuan’er bore a restraint seal in her body that wouldn’t vanish until the Mystic King Realm. If she crossed that line with Yan Zhen now, he’d be ruined.
“Let’s go take a look.”
