Night had fallen, and the pool water had grown slightly cool. The three of them stood up one after another.
Cai Lian was the first to circulate her energy, evaporating the moisture from her body. Then she slipped into a colorful dress. The entire process took less than three seconds, transforming her from a seductive temptress with her voluptuous figure on full display back into the dignified Female Monarch, her aloof bearing restored.
Yi Xian’er also dried herself off before changing into a dark dress that concealed her heavy, quivering snow-white melons beneath the collar, rendering them almost invisible.
As for Yan Zhen, he donned his original clothes, drew a Water Symbol to direct the pool water into the bathroom drain, and flushed it all clean. He then deflated the Inflatable Water Pool, folded it neatly, and returned it to Yi Xian’er.
This was her own “creation,” after all, and she surely treasured it.
“Then I’ll head back first. I need to check on Grandpa.”
The two women didn’t have much of an impression of Yan Zhen’s grandfather. After all, the old man had been killed by people from Cloud Heaven Palace in his previous life. But they knew full well how deeply Yan Zhen respected him.
Yi Xian’er didn’t dare try to keep him, so she simply asked, “Then will you come back later?”
Yan Zhen had been about to say no, but he caught the hopeful gleam in Yi Xian’er’s eyes and nodded instead. “Once I’ve taken care of things, I’ll return. You two should rest early.”
When he arrived at the other inn, Yan Zhen discovered that Grandpa wasn’t in his guest room. After questioning the waiter, he learned that Huangfu Xiong had personally dragged his sick body over earlier to invite Grandpa out for drinks.
With such sincerity, Grandpa naturally couldn’t refuse. The two were brothers who had shared life-and-death trials, after all.
He was probably still at the Huangfu Family right now.
“Staying in inns all the time isn’t convenient. I should buy a mansion nearby. That way, Grandpa can drop by often to catch up with Elder Huangfu.”
Land in the Royal Capital was worth its weight in gold, but Yan Zhen wasn’t short on Crystal Coins. He still had the starter funds from System-chan and the one billion in “pocket change” from his beautiful master, barely touched.
Most places that once required payment were now complimentary anyway.
With his cultivation advancing, the importance of Crystal Coins was fading. Serious transactions demanded Mystic Crystals now—even at Holy Land Academy and Jialan Holy Land.
Academy Cards and Points converted to Hall Cards and Points there, exchangeable both ways with Mystic Crystals.
Buying a grand mansion in a place like this required more than money, though. Connections were essential.
Yan Zhen thus resolved to seek out the Branch President surnamed Lin.
The Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce buzzed even more lively at night than during the day. Fortunately, Yan Zhen’s status granted him special treatment. A maidservant soon escorted him to a VIP room and bade him wait while she fetched the Branch President.
He had just finished eating an orange when Yan Zhen sensed a familiar shadowy aura. His eyes lit up.
“Aunt Mu? Is that you? Has Sister Ji Ya arrived?”
Aunt Mu didn’t show herself. Yan Zhen extended his spiritual sense and found her perched on the rooftop just outside the window, gazing up at the bright moon overhead. He pushed the window open.
“Aunt Mu.”
Aunt Mu—Mu Xin’er—turned her head. Gazing at Yan Zhen’s handsome young face, she couldn’t help but recall the shameful scenes of herself and the Eldest Miss yielding beneath him, their soft cries filling the air.
She steadied her thoughts and offered a faint smile. “Good evening, Little Uncle. You spotted me right away again.”
Yan Zhen smiled back. “Good evening, Aunt Mu. Come inside and sit. It’s chilly out there.”
Mu Xin’er shook her head slightly. “I cultivate Shadow Mystic Force. I prefer the shadows. Little Uncle needn’t worry about me… The Eldest Miss is still handling her affairs but will arrive soon.”
Yan Zhen blinked, thinking to himself that it made sense now. No wonder Aunt Mu always appeared and vanished like some shadow lord—it was pretty cool.
“Then I’ll turn off the lights in here. You can come in and keep me company for a bit.”
“…”
Mu Xin’er was at a loss for words. Emotionally and logically, she couldn’t refuse such a request.
Yet she was more than just a “guard” these days—she counted as a “bed warmer” too. Lingering alone with Little Uncle while the Eldest Miss was absent felt like overstepping.
As she hesitated, Yan Zhen added, “Otherwise, I’ll come join you on the roof.”
“Wait, Little Uncle.” Mu Xin’er hurriedly stopped him, a touch of helplessness in her voice. “I’ll come in.”
If he came out to sit with her, it would look like a master stealing a moonlight rendezvous with her servant.
That might have passed a year ago, but it wouldn’t do now.
She melted into the shadows and slipped into the room, alighting beside Yan Zhen. She took the initiative to break the ice. “How are Little Uncle’s senses so keen? The gap in our cultivations isn’t small. Even spiritual sense shouldn’t detect me so quickly under normal circumstances.”
Yan Zhen turned to lean against the windowsill, his gaze settling on the stunning mature beauty before him in her black, form-fitting special-agent attire. He chuckled. “Didn’t Aunt Mu tip me off on purpose? I felt the Mystic Power fluctuations.”
Seen through, just like that? Mu Xin’er’s lovely face warmed.
Over a year ago, to treat the Eldest Miss, she and Jin Tong and Yu Nu had helped Yan Zhen with those half-month-long butt massages. She, who had never shared intimate contact with a man, had taken a keen interest in him ever since.
From that moment, she’d quietly viewed herself as his bed warmer—which was why she’d stepped in so readily when Ji Ya called for aid a few days back.
But she was a “old woman” in her thirties now, confronting a boy of sixteen or seventeen. It felt vaguely like an old cow nibbling on tender grass, leaving her mortified.
So she hid herself away. Yet that subtle flicker of affection urged her to draw his notice—
“Ahem. My technique must have flaws. That’s how Little Uncle sensed it.”
“Is that right? I figured Aunt Mu was greeting me like that. It was kinda cute.”
Mu Xin’er felt heat creeping into her ears, but years of training kept her expression neutral. “Save the sweet talk for the Eldest Miss. I’m just a servant, Little Uncle. No need to coax me.”
“How could Aunt Mu be ‘just a servant’?” Yan Zhen said with a wry smile. “Sister Ji Ya treats you like an elder. And I… I used to as well…”
That word—”used to”—thickened the air with ambiguity. They both knew exactly what it implied.
“Little Uncle needn’t overthink it,” Mu Xin’er replied. “I’m merely fulfilling my duties.” She paused, then continued, “If Little Uncle finds me distasteful, I’ll speak to the Eldest Miss. Next time, we can send Jin Tong and Yu Nu instead. They’re a bit dim, but they know how to serve—and they’re closer to Little Uncle’s age.”
Yan Zhen waved his hands hastily. “Aunt Mu, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not disgusted at all. Aunt Mu’s not only beautiful with an amazing figure, she was so obedient back then. Why would I be?”
The words only deepened the awkwardness, reddening Yan Zhen’s face.
“Obedient.” The term conjured images of herself posed in all manner of humiliating positions. Mu Xin’er floundered, “W-well, as long as Little Uncle isn’t disgusted… that’s good.”
Beautiful. Amazing figure.
Such ordinary compliments, yet they sparked a quiet joy in her chest.
Silence fell, the conversation stalled.
“The Eldest Miss should be here soon. I won’t disturb you two. Goodbye, Little Uncle.”
With that, Aunt Mu dissolved into a swirl of shadow and vanished into the night.
This time, Yan Zhen couldn’t sense her at all.
He scratched his head, relieved to sense that Aunt Mu didn’t seem averse to their prior intimacies.
