“Holding the wedding!?”
Everyone except Huangfu Wenqing—Ji Ya, Long Ying, and Yan Zhen—was taken aback.
Long Ying was the first to jump up and shout,
“Green-Haired Bad Woman, I won’t let Yan Zhen Zhen marry you!”
Huangfu Wenqing shot her a sideways glance.
“What does it have to do with you?”
Long Ying planted her hands on her hips.
“I—I’m one heart and soul with Yan Zhen Zhen! We’ve already signed a contract—sob sob.”
Yan Zhen hurriedly clamped a hand over Long Ying’s mouth to stop her outburst. He turned to Huangfu Wenqing.
“When was this decided? How come I didn’t know about it?”
Huangfu Wenqing rolled her eyes at him and huffed,
“Didn’t I tell you before? It’s Master’s idea. She wants us to hold the wedding soon, then bring you up the mountain to cultivate together.”
—Yun Xiu!!!
Yan Zhen clenched his fist in secret. The moment he reached Cloud Heaven Palace, he would make her pay!
Seeing Yan Zhen’s reaction, it was clear he truly had no idea. Ji Ya let out a small sigh of relief and chimed in,
“This is only if you win, right, Wenqing? What if you lose?”
Huangfu Wenqing said smugly,
“If I lose, I’ll marry Yan Zhen and go with him to Holy Land Academy to keep cultivating. After graduation, we can decide whether to return to Cloud Heaven Palace or join the Holy Land.”
Either way, she came out on top.
Long Ying struggled even harder, looking ready to throw punches. She was fiercely adorable!
Aunt Mu watched with a strange expression. She never imagined her little uncle-in-law would be so popular. Even a fair rich beauty like their own Eldest Miss was throwing herself at him, yet she still had to compete with other women.
Ji Ya inwardly realized things were even worse than she’d thought. They were talking about an actual marriage ceremony!
“Wenqing, the Young Sect Master of Cloud Heaven Palace isn’t allowed to marry, right? Would the others in Cloud Heaven Palace agree to you marrying Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
“Master will fight for me. If push comes to shove, I’ll give up my position as Young Sect Master.”
“It’s not that simple. Cloud Heaven Palace has invested so much time and resources in you. How could they just let you walk away?”
“…”
“If I’m not mistaken, even if Little Brother Yan Zhen wins, Cloud Heaven Palace won’t accept it.”
In the Garo Kingdom, Cloud Heaven Palace was a colossal power like no other. Even the Royal Family held them in awe and wouldn’t bow to anyone—only others bowed to them.
That was how it had been in his previous life.
Yan Zhen had crushed Huangfu Wenqing in a one-sided beatdown, humiliating Cloud Heaven Palace in front of all the big shots. So they started making trouble, refusing to let him go. And sure enough, they dug up that he was the killer of one of their outer sect elders.
Even after Yan Zhen explained it was self-defense—that the elder had come after him to avenge a nephew who was a Demon Domain lackey—they arrogantly declared that even if the elder was in the wrong, it should have been handled by Cloud Heaven Palace’s Enforcement Hall. An outsider like Yan Zhen had no right to kill one of theirs!
Then they tried to capture him, showing none of the grace expected of a major sect. Plenty of onlookers scorned them in private.
“You’re overthinking it, Sister Ji Ya.” Huangfu Wenqing shook her head. “With my master there, nothing like that will happen.”
In his previous life, that was because her master hadn’t been present. She’d been off tracking down Jiu Youyue and only returned after everything was over.
This time was different. Master had just sent her a message—she was still in the sect, waiting for the outcome of her duel with Yan Zhen so she could officiate their wedding.
With Master there, she’d recognize Yan Zhen as the man she’d met in the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range. She’d protect him, not let him suffer any grievance.
“As long as that’s true.” Ji Ya smiled gracefully, looking at Yan Zhen beside her with pity. “Little Brother Yan Zhen stands alone. As his big sister, I naturally have to think of him. I hope you won’t take offense, Wenqing.”
“I’m not petty, and neither is my master, so feel free to rest easy, Sister Ji Ya.”
“I won’t!” Long Ying finally wrenched free of Yan Zhen’s hand and glared daggers. “Everyone in Cloud Heaven Palace is bad!”
“You little brat, I’m not stooping to your level!”
“Who’re you calling a little brat? Once I recover, I’ll be bigger than you, you flat-chested bad woman! Yan Zhen Zhen won’t like flat chests!”
It was a critical hit—because it was true.
Huangfu Wenqing glared at Long Ying in humiliated fury, and the loli dragon glared right back with equal ferocity.
Yan Zhen quickly muffled Long Ying again.
“Wenqing, don’t mind Long Ying. Kids say the darndest things.”
Huangfu Wenqing huffed, sulking as she said,
“I know you like them big, but I’ve got potential! After we marry, you—you can raise them yourself, nice and slow. Wouldn’t that be its own kind of fun?”
—Ah, this… an unexpected path!
Yan Zhen froze. His mind flashed with images of himself nightly tending to little bunnies, watching them grow into plump ones.
—It does sound kinda fun? Emmm. While he spaced out, a sharp pinch to his waist snapped him back. He turned to Good Big Sister, who was smiling through gritted teeth, and quickly banished the thought.
He had to stay a firm devotee of the bigger ones. No pipe dreams—big was big, and small might never grow.
“Ahem, enough of that. Sister Ji Ya, are you staying here tonight? We’ve got plenty of guest rooms.”
Ji Ya blinked her beautiful eyes.
“Wouldn’t that be imposing?”
“Not at all. The rooms are empty anyway. Stay as long as you like, Sister Ji Ya.”
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
“Aunt Mu, you too?”
“Anywhere to meditate is fine.”
“It’s getting late. Let me walk you to your rooms.”
“Sure~”
“Wenqing, Dra—hey, Long Ying! Stop it! Be good and go to bed!”
Long Ying kept up her adorably fierce glare at Huangfu Wenqing, as if ready for a deathmatch.
Yan Zhen sighed helplessly, took her little hand, and led the volatile loli dragon to behave.
After seeing them to their rooms, Yan Zhen returned to his courtyard. He activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal and slipped into the Fire Refining Starry Sky. There, he enjoyed his beautiful female master’s lap pillow while chatting with her and stargazing, easing his taut nerves. He also mentioned the duel and the wedding.
“Don’t worry, Zhen’er. This Master believes you’ll win. That girl isn’t your match at all.” Chen Xi gently combed her disciple’s hair as she spoke. “As for the wedding, just be a little firm with Palace Lord Yun Xiu, and she’ll obey you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. No matter how aloof or domineering she seems, she’s helpless against you, Zhen’er.”
—Because her heart brimmed with vast love… and even vaster guilt.
Of course, she had her limits. In his previous life, the disciple they’d relied on each other—that was her bottom line.
Yan Zhen sort of got it.
Though he wanted to sleep here, considering his grandfather might come looking for a talk, Yan Zhen reluctantly returned to his room.
He turned off the lights, climbed into bed, and pulled up the covers.
Yan Zhen slowly closed his eyes. Moments later, they snapped open again. He’d sensed a sinister aura rapidly approaching.
—Aunt Mu? No, Sister Ji Ya?
