When Yan Zhen woke, Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing were nowhere to be seen. Beside him lay only Jiu Youyue, the demoness, gazing at him with leisurely poise.
It felt as though her stare had roused him.
Yan Zhen let out a massive yawn and rubbed his eyes. “Morning, Jiu Youyue. When did you wake up?”
Jiu Youyue replied languidly, “Quite early, actually. Want a morning kiss, Little Zhen Zhen?”
Yan Zhen puffed out his cheeks.
The demoness promptly leaned in with her lips.
Their simple, light kiss banished the vague sense of loss that came with waking, filling his heart with sweetness.
“Let’s go wash up.”
“I don’t wanna move. Carry me there, Little Zhen Zhen~”
Yan Zhen slid out of bed without bothering to dress. Scooping up the equally naked Jiu Youyue in a princess carry, he lifted her from the covers.
He passed through the divider into the bathroom, where he spotted Yun Xiu and her disciple Huangfu Wenqing stepping out of the warm pool.
Seeing Yan Zhen and Jiu Youyue, Yun Xiu’s pretty face flushed red. She instinctively clutched a bath towel to cover her alluring figure, while Huangfu Wenqing followed suit with a show of modesty, gripping her towel in front.
“Yan Zhen, Uncle-Master Yue—you’re awake.”
Yan Zhen swallowed hard, his gaze burning as he looked them over.
Huangfu Wenqing thought to herself that her master was truly formidable. They might have been fine uncovered, but now that they were hiding, he’d grown hungry for it.
Hearing that gulp, Yun Xiu’s shoulders trembled faintly. A shy expression crossed her delicate features, though she tried her best to stay composed. “W-we’re done washing. It’s your turn.”
With that, she hurried past Yan Zhen and Jiu Youyue to the divider to get dressed.
Huangfu Wenqing gave a slight smile. “Don’t take too long, you two. Uncle-Master Yue, don’t cling to Yan Zhen forever. Remember to show some restraint!”
She then hurried after her master.
Yan Zhen wanted to scratch his head, but his arms were full.
Jiu Youyue giggled nonstop. Yan Zhen had no idea what amused her so, but her laughter felt mischievous, so he simply tossed her straight into the warm pool.
“Squeak!”
With a sharp cry, the demoness splashed into the water. Yan Zhen jumped in after her.
The two splashed and played in the water for quite a while before finally starting to wash. Midway through, they couldn’t resist getting intimate again. Only after half an hour did they dress and emerge from the bathroom.
Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing had already left the bedroom—likely to attend to business.
Letting the demoness cling to his arm, Yan Zhen asked, “Jiu Youyue, what are your plans next? You’ve failed every task the Evil Consort gave you. Won’t she grow suspicious?”
Jiu Youyue leaned against him like a dainty bird depending on its branch. She shot her young lover a glance. “Not every task was a failure. There have to be trade-offs. As for this one, I was supposed to secretly help Wolf Poison take control of Cloud Heaven Palace—I’ve been here for years, after all. But Wolf Poison and the Heavenly Gu Elder are both subordinates of the Demon Domain Lord, and I’m not with their faction. Since Wolf Poison proved useless, exposing himself at the Grand Dan Fighting Competition and getting killed for it, there’s no reason for me to stick around.”
“You’re leaving again?”
“Can’t bear to see me go?”
“That’s why you ambushed me in the bathroom before leaving?”
“. . .”
Caught out, the demoness’s pretty face turned faintly pink. She thought to herself that Little Zhen Zhen had gotten too clever—not cute at all.
But she had no choice. After more than a year apart, this was their hard-won reunion. Couldn’t she indulge a little?
“I’ll be heading back to the academy soon too. Give me your contact info. Oh, right—Wenqing gave me a messaging talisman with your name on it. Do you still have the Cloud Heaven Palace transmission talisman?”
“Of course I do. Senior Sister gave it to me—how could I lose it?”
“Perfect. It’s not high-grade, so it won’t work over long distances, but at least we’ll have a way to stay in touch.”
“You’re that worried about me, Little Zhen Zhen?”
“The Evil Consort is too dangerous! She’s the Demon Domain’s number two, and she reminds me a bit of that childhood shadow from my memories. They both like splitting off secondary bodies to handle things.”
“Childhood shadow?”
“His name was Naraku—an unkillable sleazy bastard who toyed with the protagonist’s group in the palm of his hand. Though I can’t expect much from a protagonist who’s basically a barking dog in terms of brains.”
Jiu Youyue wore an expression of vague confusion.
Yan Zhen, however, was deeply worried. After all, the Evil Consort would surely absorb all her secondary bodies soon enough, perfecting her cultivation in the process.
“Just be careful, anyway. If things get bad, lie low until I get stronger and come save you.”
“Alright, alright. I know you care about me, my fine husband~”
“Mmm, that’s nice. Say it again?”
Seeing his smug look—like his tail was about to wag right up to the heavens—Jiu Youyue covered her mouth with a delicate hand and let out a silvery laugh.
“Little Zhen Zhen, you’re so cute~”
“. . .”
Hand in hand, the two stood at the cliff’s edge, gazing out over the endless sea of clouds. Their hearts gradually settled into calm.
It was a long while before Jiu Youyue pulled her hand free. “I should go.”
Yan Zhen murmured in agreement. His storage ring flashed with light, and a gray crystal stone appeared in his palm.
Sealed within the crystal was a simplistic sketch of a gray-black little dragon, like something trapped in amber.
“Here—take this. It seals the power of the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame. It can hide your aura and confuse others. It’ll help you out if you need it.”
Jiu Youyue blinked in astonishment, her beautiful eyes fluttering as if she were dreaming. This was the first time Yan Zhen had ever given her anything, stirring waves of emotion in her heart. But she said, “Little Zhen Zhen has grown up, huh? Learning to give gifts to win a girl’s favor.”
“Less chatter. Just take it.”
“Hee hee, a little tsundere just like Senior Sister. No wonder you’re such a perfect match.”
“Am I not a match for you?”
“You’re a match for anyone, Little Zhen Zhen. That’s why all the girls like you.”
“Cough cough. It just happens naturally.”
“I’m really going now. Remember to miss me, Little Zhen Zhen. Mwah~”
The demoness blew him a flying kiss with a flirtatious wink before soaring into the sky and vanishing into the horizon in an instant.
A pang of reluctance filled Yan Zhen’s heart. He sighed softly, then pondered for a moment before activating the Star Shifting Fire Seal. He slipped into the Fire Refining Starry Sky to pay his respects and inform her of what had happened with Wolf Poison and the Heavenly Gu Elder.
Emerging from the Fire Refining Starry Sky, he returned to the cliffside and sought out Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing. He told them he was preparing to descend the mountain.
“I’ll stop by the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce first. Use the messaging talisman if anything comes up.”
The two women knew he was going to soothe Cai Lian’s feelings, so they nodded.
Yan Zhen smiled, channeled his starlight, and shot into the clouds. Executing the Starry Sky Dance, he flew straight for the Royal Capital.
He soared over the city walls and landed in the district where the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce stood.
No one stopped him.
Upon reaching the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, a maidservant quickly led him to the rear courtyard before excusing herself at the gate, leaving him to enter on his own.
Yan Zhen stepped into the courtyard. A pink figure shot out from an open window, hurtling straight toward him.
Her voice arrived before she did: “Yan Zhen Zhen!”
Yan Zhen sucked in a sharp breath. Fortunately, he was prepared. He immediately dropped into a goalkeeper’s stance.
—Bring it on. A mere Meat Bomb Impact? Watch me… holy shit!
It was like getting hit by a truck. Yan Zhen flew backward, crashing to the ground with a bounce.
—What the hell? She’s gotten even stronger!
The Loli Dragon Girl lifted her head from his chest, beaming with adorable innocence. “Welcome back, Yan Zhen Zhen. Mother Concubine says a man who cherishes his family is a good man~”
