At the banquet, most members of the Yu Family had gathered, from the clan elders down to the youngest children. Old and young alike assembled in one hall to meet the Yu Family’s “prince consort.”
Yan Zhen felt immense pressure gazing at the more than a hundred tables set up inside and out. It had nothing to do with his mental resilience; he simply felt guilty at heart.
After all, he had no intention of marrying into the family.
Under the guidance of the maids, Yan Zhen and Mentor Yu Xuan took their seats at the second table from the head, right behind the family head and the clan elders.
Before long, Elder Great-Aunt, the Family Head Mother-in-Law, Dean Little Aunt, and Mentor Aunt all made their entrances in splendid formal attire, taking their seats one after another.
Before the banquet officially began, the Family Head Mother-in-Law cut straight to the chase and introduced Yan Zhen.
He hailed from Martial Tang City in the Garo Kingdom (an ordinary background).
Only sixteen years old this year, he was a Six-Star Mystic Master who possessed the rare Extreme Flame. He could fight above his level, had defeated a Four-Star Mystic General in the Inner Academy, and had forcefully claimed a spot on the General Star List (tremendous potential).
He had also unexpectedly befriended the Heavenly God Clan’s Goddess and the Dragon God Clan’s Dragon Princess, maintaining close personal ties with both (extensive connections).
Originally, he had been Xuan’er’s disciple back at Mystic Academy. They had grown acquainted, come to know each other deeply, and fallen in love. For her sake, he was willing to give up everything, marry into the Yu Family, and become one of its members (harboring no ambitions of his own).
Yan Zhen grew a bit embarrassed listening to all this. Dean Little Aunt and Mentor Aunt, who knew the inside story, shot him knowing glances.
The Family Head Mother-in-Law then announced her plans to groom Yan Zhen as the clan’s second heir. She also intended to select one or two young women from the clan to serve as his concubines, ensuring the family line continued.
Cousin Sister Yudie in the crowd promptly ducked her head, just like a poor student dreading the teacher’s question. Yet she heard her own mother mutter:
“The little uncle-in-law is awfully handsome. If only I were twenty years younger.”
Cousin Sister Yudie rolled her eyes. Then she heard her mother continue:
“Xiao Die, why don’t you reconsider? He’s such a catch…”
“Stop.” Cousin Sister Yudie raised her hand to cut her off at once. “I don’t mind being a concubine, but I absolutely refuse to be the other woman. So don’t even try persuading me.”
—It might not even stop at just the other woman. That kid seemed to have a whole pile of confidantes, and something fishy going on with the one from the Heavenly God Clan.
Of course, that wasn’t the real issue. The problem was that Yan Zhen and Xuan’er were head over heels for each other, wrapped up in their own world of affection. She’d be nothing but an awkward outsider who couldn’t fit in.
Sure, she thought Yan Zhen was pretty great too, but there was no need to force it.
With formalities concluded, the banquet finally commenced.
Family Head Yu Lu led her daughter and son-in-law around to toast the clan elders and other seniors, introducing Yan Zhen to everyone one by one. With each toast, Yan Zhen and Mentor Yu Xuan received a shower of red envelopes.
She then sent the pair to offer toasts to their peers—the sisters and cousins—to make acquaintances.
By the end of the rounds, Yan Zhen—who had never held his liquor well—had a flushed face and walked with a noticeable wobble.
The Yu Family’s banquet wines were all potent spirit liquors. No amount of cultivation could fully withstand their strength.
Although he could have circulated his energy to expel the alcohol from his body while drinking, that would have been terribly rude at a formal banquet. He had no choice but to tough it out.
Mentor Yu Xuan supported him and said warmly, “Mother, Yan Zhen is quite drunk. I’ll escort him back to his room to rest first.”
Family Head Yu Lu glanced at her drunken son-in-law, who was practically draped over her daughter, and nodded lightly. She added a reminder: “You must come back to your room to sleep tonight.”
Mentor Yu Xuan’s face turned red. She murmured, “Daughter understands,” before helping Yan Zhen back to his side chamber. She settled him onto the bed, dismissed the maids, and stayed behind to keep him company.
Yan Zhen lay on the bed and cracked open his bleary, drunken eyes. In his hazy vision, Mentor Yu Xuan’s figure swam into view, prompting him to lift a hand and touch her cheek.
“Mentor…”
Mentor Yu Xuan caught his hand and rubbed it affectionately against her soft, pale skin. In a gentle voice, she said, “Thirsty? Let me pour you a cup of water.”
Yan Zhen shook his head and closed his eyes once more.
Mentor Yu Xuan watched him tenderly. “If you’re tired, then sleep. I’ll stay right here with you.”
With that, she brushed a light kiss across his lips.
Yan Zhen let out a compliant hum and soon breathed in steady, even rhythms.
Mentor Yu Xuan sat at the bedside, quietly admiring her beloved’s sleeping face. A soft happiness welled up in her heart.
She longed to stay and curl up beside him, holding him close through the night—but her mother’s words still rang in her ears.
After a very, very long time, Mentor Yu Xuan finally slipped gracefully from the room and closed the door behind her.
Not long after her departure, a figure who had been lurking nearby for quite some time sneaked into the chamber on light feet. Seeing Yan Zhen asleep on the bed with his breathing deep and even, she curved her pink lips in a slyly mischievous smile.
It was none other than Dean Yu Qing. Dressed in a deep blue formal gown, she exuded more allure than she did in her usual dean’s robes—though the villainous expression on her face somewhat spoiled the effect.
During the banquet, upon seeing Yan Zhen dead drunk and barely conscious, vengeful ideas had begun bubbling up in Dean Yu Qing’s mind.
So after Mentor Yu Xuan escorted him away, Dean Yu Qing had slipped from her seat as well and tailed them in secret.
She had lurked outside for ages, waiting until her niece finally departed before making her move.
—With Yan Zhen out cold like a hibernating bear, she could do whatever she pleased. Heh heh heh!
“You dared make me lose so much face, you little scoundrel… What goes around comes around. Now it’s my turn!”
Dean Yu Qing paused to think, then set to work unfastening Yan Zhen’s belt. She peeled back his robes, exposing his broad chest.
“Nice pecs.”
She retrieved a brush from her storage ring, then licked the tip with her pink tongue, channeling Water Mystic Power from it into the bristles.
Her plan was to use Water Mystic Power as ink and draw a little turtle right on Yan Zhen’s chest. Given her cultivation level, even his Extreme Flame would take three to five days to erase it.
Just imagining Yan Zhen’s reaction when he woke up to find the little turtle on his chest filled Dean Yu Qing with wicked delight.
—The old ginger is always the hottest… Bah, bah—who’s old? This dean is barely in her early thirties!
She had only drawn two strokes when a hand clamped down on her fair wrist, halting her progress.
Dean Yu Qing startled and looked closely. Yan Zhen had awakened at some point. His eyes were open just a sliver as he mumbled in a drunken daze, “Mentor, don’t fool around… It tickles~”
Dean Yu Qing blinked, realizing: This little scoundrel thinks I’m Xuan’er? That was close.
She wriggled gently, trying to free her hand, but Yan Zhen held on tight. Not wanting to fully rouse him, she refrained from using real force.
Letting him keep her right hand captive, she switched the brush to her left and resumed drawing.
“Mentor~”
Yan Zhen wouldn’t have it. He seized her left hand as well.
Now both of Dean Yu Qing’s hands were pinned.
“L-Let… go!”
Yan Zhen paid no mind, his breathing evening out once more.
Dean Yu Qing bit her lip and glanced at the empty room. A strange impulse flooded her mind, and her heart began to race. To her own surprise, she extended her slick, pink tongue and continued outlining the design on his chest.
—I’m just getting revenge, that’s all. Whatever it takes!
Unbeknownst to her, a figure clad in blue and white lurked in the bushes outside the door. She took in the entire taboo scene through the lenses concealing her eyes.
—Dean Yu Qing actually night-attacking Yan Zhen?
