The next day, Yan Zhen dressed in his academy uniform with Mentor Yu Xuan’s attentive help. They joined the Family Head Mother-in-Law in her courtyard for a simple breakfast, then made their leisurely way to the landing pad as a group.
Cousin Sister Yudie and her mother were already waiting there.
Elder Great-Aunt summoned her private flying boat. Dean Little Aunt and Mentor Aunt led the way into the cabin, followed closely by Cousin Sister Yudie. Yan Zhen moved to step up behind them, but Mentor Yu Xuan called out to stop him.
He turned around and saw her rush into his arms as if she could no longer hold back her feelings. Right there in front of the four beautiful elders, she kissed him.
Yan Zhen froze for a moment, sensing Mentor Yu Xuan’s deep affection. He responded with equal passion.
The four beautiful elders all wore strange expressions and averted their gazes, refusing to watch the young couple.
The maids, led by the head steward, bowed their heads as well.
They didn’t stop until they were both nearly out of breath.
Once the kiss ended, Mentor Yu Xuan’s emotions had settled. She smiled at him with a touch of shy tenderness.
“Remember to miss me. I’ll cultivate hard so you won’t catch up to me too soon.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek and muttered softly,
“I’ve already surpassed you~”
Mentor Yu Xuan instantly understood, her pose shifting playfully as she gave his shoulder a light punch with her small fist.
“Don’t say naughty things like that.”
“I love my mentor. I’ll miss my mentor. My heart is full of my mentor.”
“Hmph. If even one-tenth of that is true, I’ll be satisfied, you serial womanizer.”
“Uh.”
/（/ /o/ω/o/ /）/
Yan Zhen was speechless. He mentally counted up the women he’d been involved with, and sure enough, it was more than ten.
Sigh. He was supposed to be the protagonist of a no-harem xianxia power fantasy. How had things turned out like this?
【……】
“Then I’m off. See you later, Mentor.”
With that, Yan Zhen boarded the flying boat and sat beside Cousin Sister Yudie, facing Dean Little Aunt and Mentor Aunt.
No sooner had he settled in than Cousin Sister Yudie remarked,
“That was intense. No wonder books say long-distance lovers can’t help themselves after reuniting—they end up holing up in an inn and fooling around all day.”
Yan Zhen shot a glance at his dashing short-haired cousin.
“What have you been up to these past couple days, Cousin? You vanished after breakfast.”
“I finally got a few days off, so I was relaxing at home, of course.”
“Weren’t you afraid your mom would nag you?”
“She can nag all she wants. I’m relaxing my way. Hmph!”
“Six.”
Who would’ve thought Cousin Sister Yudie was such a homebody?
Yan Zhen couldn’t help picturing her in an oversized white T-shirt, ponytail askew, lounging on the sofa with chips in one hand and soda in the other.
He shook his head to dispel the odd image, only to accidentally lock eyes with Dean Little Aunt across from him.
“What are you looking at?”
Dean Little Aunt struck first. Yan Zhen wasn’t one to back down.
“If you weren’t looking at me, how would you know I was looking at you?”
“I’m your little aunt. Me looking at you is admiring a junior. You looking at me is disrespecting your elder!”
“Oh? Little Aunt admires me that much? Tell me then—what exactly do you admire about me?”
“I…” Dean Little Aunt nearly fired back without thinking. She paused, then forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course, I admire your good looks and quick wit—how you’re silver-tongued enough to fool all those innocent girls into falling head over heels for you. Hmph!”
Yan Zhen didn’t flinch. Instead, he stuck out his tongue like a puppy and mumbled indistinctly,
“Little Aunt, are you sure? My tongue doesn’t sprout lotuses. Don’t believe me? Take a closer look. Nyah nyah~”
By the end, he was even making licking motions toward Dean Little Aunt with his tongue in the air.
Dean Little Aunt stared blankly as Yan Zhen’s pink tongue wriggled. Her face flushed and her heart raced. Involuntarily, she swallowed. It was only the “pfft” of laughter from beside her that snapped her out of it.
She whipped her head around and glared at her giggling best friend. With a cold snort, Dean Little Aunt said,
“Who wants to look at that? Put it away already. It’s filthy.”
Yan Zhen shrugged and retracted his tongue.
“Mentor Yu Xuan just cleaned it for me. It’s spotless.”
“Shameless!”
“I do have one, though.”
Yan Zhen grinned toothily, looking utterly punchable.
Dean Little Aunt itched to sock him and give him a black eye.
Cousin Sister Yudie glanced oddly between Yan Zhen and Dean Little Aunt, shaking her head to herself.
Cousin Brother-in-Law was great in every way, but did he have to be this tempting?
She leaned in slightly to sniff his shoulder and was surprised to find he really did smell good. Her heart stirred for a moment, but she quickly shut it down.
No, no. She’d just seen how lovey-dovey he was with Xuan’er. She was totally an outsider here.
She had no real interest in romance, but watching her husband and his main wife flaunt their love every day was infuriating!
With that thought, Cousin Sister Yudie ignored Yan Zhen and closed her eyes to rest.
Shui Bailan glanced at her bickering best friend and Yan Zhen through her clear lenses, a slight smile tugging at her lips. Then she, too, closed her eyes and pretended to nap.
As for Elder Great-Aunt at the controls, she was lost in the thrill of high-speed flight, humming a tune while steering and even using her water Mystic force to accompany herself.
The flying boat pierced through the clouds, following their inbound route back. They arrived at the Holy Land Academy Outer Court before noon and pulled up in front of Rain Heaven Pavilion after a speedy trip.
Dean Little Aunt and Mentor Aunt disembarked onto the pavilion’s beauty leans. Yan Zhen followed suit.
“What are you getting off for?”
“I’ve got some business in the Outer Court… Great-Aunt, you and Cousin head back first. I’ll come to the Inner Academy tomorrow.”
“Remember to return soon. It’s about time for the Yin Extreme Secret Realm.”
Yan Zhen nodded in acknowledgment. Elder Great-Aunt then whisked Cousin Sister Yudie away in a flash.
“See you later, Aunt.”
Mentor Aunt smiled faintly.
“Mm. Go on. Come visit when you have time.”
“Wait!” Dean Little Aunt blocked Yan Zhen’s path. “Be honest—are you off to see those four sweethearts of yours?”
Yan Zhen didn’t flinch in the slightest.
“Yes. Got a problem with that, Little Aunt?”
“You’re not going!” Dean Little Aunt said, displeased. “You’re already the Yu Family’s live-in son-in-law. Stop messing around with other women. Cut off all those ambiguous ties as soon as possible.”
Yan Zhen raised a finger and wagged it gently.
“You’re thinking too small. Mother-in-Law already gave me the okay to bring them into the Yu Family as concubines. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, heh heh~”
“What? Second Sister agreed? No way!”
Dean Little Aunt reeled as if backstabbed by an ally. Even Mentor Aunt looked surprised—she hadn’t expected her sister-in-law to dote on Yan Zhen quite that much.
“If you don’t believe me, ask Mother-in-Law yourself. I’ve got things to do. Catch you later.”
With that, Yan Zhen brushed past Dean Little Aunt, nudging her aside. He strode through the Outer Court Dean’s office, down the stairs, out of Rain Heaven Pavilion, and headed for the four women’s independent dormitory.
