Yan Zhen’s mystic power had indeed been completely drained.
First, there was Dean Little Aunt. Once the treatment ended, she lost control just like last time, hugging Yan Zhen and wanting to shower him with affection. Fortunately, he was prepared and managed to pull her away in time.
Next came Elder Great-Aunt. The bodily fluids seeping from her body contained water Mystic force with a corrosive effect. By the end of the treatment, her clothes had been corroded away entirely, and it even affected Yan Zhen, forcing him to change into a fresh pair of long-trunked little elephant boxer shorts.
Finally, Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law differed from her sisters and daughters-in-law; she stripped off all her clothes before entering the bath. As the water in the pool grew whiter, a faint sweet fragrance filled the entire bathroom. This time, though, Yan Zhen didn’t boil the pool dry to extract treasure liquid—he simply enjoyed a nice, scented bath.
The three beautiful elder women took turns having him treat them, and in between, Yan Zhen only rested twice, each time for about a quarter of an hour. By the time it was all done, he was utterly exhausted, like a dog that had been run ragged.
After all, he was merely a Seven-Star Mystic Master. In front of three Mystic Ancestor experts, his mystic power was still far too weak.
He didn’t even need to close his eyes deliberately—they were practically glued shut. Amid Mentor Aunt’s anxious calls, he drifted into a deep sleep.
When Yan Zhen woke, he found himself lying in bed. He blinked, gazing at the familiar gauze canopy, and realized he was in Mentor Yu Xuan’s room.
He tried to sit up, and the blanket slid down, revealing his well-defined chest muscles.
“Hiss…”
Even that simple motion left him feeling uncomfortable.
His mystic power had mostly recovered, but overusing it had overloaded his meridians, leaving his entire body sore and aching.
Footsteps approached, and the beaded curtain parted as Mentor Aunt entered. To Yan Zhen’s surprise, she wasn’t wearing her oval-framed glasses, which made her look less stern and intellectual, and far more alluring.
She came to the bedside, leaned down with a smile at Yan Zhen, and said, “Awake? How are you feeling?”
Yan Zhen scratched his head and yawned. “How long was I out, Aunt?”
“A day and a night.”
“No wonder I’m starving.”
“I’ll have the kitchen prepare some food for you. Get dressed first.”
“Thanks, Aunt.”
Watching Mentor Aunt leave, Yan Zhen lay back down with a long sigh.
He sprawled there like a salted fish for quite a while before rising again. He threw off the blanket and saw that even his long-trunked little elephant boxer shorts had been removed, hung up with his other clothes on the rack at the foot of the bed.
—So who did that? It couldn’t have been Aunt, right?
Yan Zhen didn’t dare think further. He got up, dressed, stretched his limbs, then poured himself a cup of water and downed it in one go.
He drank three cups straight before stopping, exhaling a breath of stale air.
Moments later, footsteps and voices sounded from outside. Yan Zhen stepped into the living room and saw Mentor Aunt returning, accompanied by Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law, Elder Great-Aunt, and Dean Little Aunt. A dozen servant girls followed behind them, each carrying trays laden with sumptuous meals.
The servants set the food on the table, filling it completely. The room was instantly filled with the aroma of dishes and the delicate fragrance of the beautiful women.
Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law approached Yan Zhen and handed him a pill bottle. “Take this before eating.”
Yan Zhen took the bottle, puzzled. “What’s this?”
“Tier 5 pills for repairing meridian damage. You’ve been cultivating with us nonstop for hours—your meridians must be under tremendous strain. Take two, and you’ll be fine.”
“Thank you, Mother-in-Law.”
Yan Zhen uncorked the bottle and poured two pills into his mouth, chewing and swallowing them.
The medicinal power took effect swiftly, easing the soreness in his meridians and drawing an involuntary groan from him.
—Finally, some relief!
“Sit down and eat.”
Though Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law’s pretty face remained cool, she pulled out a chair for him herself, gesturing for her son-in-law to sit beside her.
Dean Little Aunt eyed Second Sister and that certain someone suspiciously, sensing something odd between them but unable to pinpoint it.
Mentor Aunt frowned too, thinking that her sister-in-law was standing a bit too close to Yan Zhen—it wasn’t like her at all.
Only Elder Great-Aunt knew the full story, as Second Sister had confessed to her the night before, citing an order from Yu Shizun.
“So what do you think, Xiao Lu? Are you really going to do this?”
“Supreme’s words make sense.”
“I’m asking what you want, Xiao Lu. Don’t force yourself.”
“That child listens to me well, so I’ll take charge of him for Xuan’er.”
“Little Yan Zhen has always been an obedient boy.”
“…For now, we’ll proceed like this. I’ll observe for a while longer before deciding.”
“Then how do we tell Xuan’er? And Xiao Qing?”
“We’ll handle that later.”
Recalling the sisters’ conversation, Elder Great-Aunt sighed inwardly. She couldn’t understand why Yu Shizun would have Second Sister and Xuan’er serve him together—it didn’t sound like something Supreme would suggest. Was there a misunderstanding?
—I’ll find time to ask Supreme directly. If needed, I’ll beg her to let me take Xiao Lu’s place instead. Xiao Lu already sacrificed once; I won’t let her do it again.
Elder Great-Aunt resolved to protect her little sister.
Meanwhile, Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law was trying to get closer to Yan Zhen.
Dean Little Aunt and Mentor Aunt were both baffled by it.
Yan Zhen, oblivious to it all, assumed his actions and devotion to Mentor Yu Xuan had finally touched Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law’s heart. The aloof family head was starting to treat him like family.
Time to chow down! Chow down! Chow down!
After the hearty meal, Yan Zhen went for a stroll with Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law, ending up in the rear garden once more.
Confirming that she had mastered the Acupoint Sealing Technique, Yan Zhen felt deeply gratified.
That afternoon, he bid farewell to Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law and returned to the academy with Elder Great-Aunt, Dean Little Aunt, and Mentor Aunt aboard a private flying boat.
As before, they landed directly at the Outer Academy and quietly visited the four women.
Seeing them all diligently cultivating, Yan Zhen didn’t disturb them. He left some pills in their dormitory before departing.
When the four women finished cultivating and returned to find the pills, Yan Zhen’s messaging talisman was flooded with messages.
Clearly, they were unhappy with his sneaky ways and refusal to meet them face-to-face.
Yan Meng’er even threw a fit: “Meng’er doesn’t want pills—Meng’er wants Big Bro!”
Mi Xue’er scolded him too: “Little Bro Yan Zhen is a big dummy!”
Yan Zhen had to coax them patiently before calming them down, promising to spend two days with them at the Outer Academy next month.
Back in the Inner Academy, under the care of the young woman Zi Xunyi, Yan Lingji’s consciousness gradually recovered, allowing her to hold everyday conversations.
Learning that she was inside her Mother Concubine from her girlhood days—and that Mother Concubine had manifested in a divine soul incarnation, giving her effectively two mothers—left Yan Lingji stunned at first, then delighted.
When Yan Zhen returned to the Cliffside Small Building and heard that soft, feeble “Father Emperor,” his heart melted.
Though only sixteen, Yan Zhen deeply felt the weight of being an old dad.
Long Ying had settled down too, no longer randomly growing huge to scare him. She obediently assisted young woman Zi Xunyi in caring for Sister Xunyi and Ling’er. Huangfu Wenqing was fully devoted to cultivation, spending her days immersed in the Firmament Nine-Story Tower and only returning at night for a brief intimate moment with Yan Zhen.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
In the fifth month, the Inner Academy hosted its biggest midyear event: the Will Star Banquet.
