When Yan Zhen woke up, he found his head pillowed on the Beautiful Female Master’s lap. His view was almost entirely blocked by those transcendent holy peaks, leaving him only able to glimpse her stunning blue eyes, like flawless glass jewels.
Chen Xi gazed down at her precious disciple with gentle affection. Her delicate, porcelain-white hand emerged from the wide black sleeve of her robe—one resting on his chest, the other lightly combing through his slightly messy bangs.
“Zhen’er, you’re awake. Does anything still hurt?”
Under the Beautiful Female Master’s loving gaze and touch, Yan Zhen’s body and mind relaxed completely. He couldn’t help but pout playfully.
“It doesn’t hurt. I just feel hungry~”
Hunger was a perfectly normal thing to say, but coming from Yan Zhen’s mouth, it always carried another layer of meaning.
Two flushes of pink bloomed on Chen Xi’s lovely face. Seeing him trying so hard to make his eyes look innocently pure, with that adorably silly expression, she couldn’t help but giggle.
“Don’t worry. Your master has already prepared some pills for you. Open up, Zhen’er.”
Yan Zhen felt a twinge of disappointment but still opened his mouth to accept the feeding from the Beautiful Female Master.
Compared to what he usually ate, this one was much richer. As soon as he bit down, a burst of creamy flavor exploded in his mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance on his teeth and gums. The sweetness was perfectly balanced, giving a refreshing sensation.
Just one Lactation Pill restored some strength to his body, and the hunger in his stomach faded away. But in his heart, he still craved the fresh taste and texture.
Of course, unless the situation was special, the Beautiful Female Master wouldn’t easily indulge him.
Yan Zhen blinked and whispered softly.
“Master, I want more.”
Chen Xi smiled faintly and produced a second milk-white Lactation Pill like a magician pulling a trick from her sleeve. She placed it into her precious disciple’s mouth.
“Here you go. Eat up. Your master prepared three, and there’s one left. Finish them all—your appetite is plenty big as it is.”
Yan Zhen chewed the energy-restoring “holy medicine” with some dejection.
After two pills and a good nap, his body had mostly recovered. But he still lounged on the Beautiful Female Master’s lap, unwilling to get up.
“The last one. Ahh~”
“I’m not eating it.”
Yan Zhen turned his face away, acting a bit sulky.
Chen Xi showed a helpless expression.
“Zhen’er?”
“Master knows exactly what I want.” Yan Zhen muttered under his breath. “She just loves to tease~”
“…”
Chen Xi fell silent.
Truth be told, just looking at her disciple’s cute antics made her chest swell with emotion, her feelings hard to contain.
But she worried it would spoil him with bad habits, so she held back.
In his previous life, Yan Zhen had never acted so spoiled toward her, like an oversized baby. It always made her want to dote on him endlessly.
“Your master isn’t some naughty child who teases on purpose. But if you don’t say it clearly, how is your master supposed to—cough cough.”
Yan Zhen blinked in surprise, then understood. His little face flushed as he said.
“If I say it, will Master give it to me?”
Chen Xi didn’t answer. Her caressing hand paused, as if waiting for something.
Yan Zhen got the hint. He hugged the Beautiful Female Master’s waist and rubbed his cheek against her soft abdomen, mustering his courage.
“Master, I want…”
At those two words, Chen Xi’s heart trembled. Mist gathered in her beautiful eyes.
Unnoticed, her sash loosened. Her robe slipped down to her elbows. Then she leaned forward slightly, offering that world-defying transcendent holy peak.
One hand cradled the back of his head, while the other reached lower.
Her flawless, immortal face now shone with a sacred glow, her gaze full of maternal love—like the earth mother from myth who nurtured all creation.
Yan Zhen closed his eyes in utter contentment and began to enjoy it.
…
A full day and night had passed in the outside world. During that time, Cai Lian had kept watch over the crystal pendant.
Yun Xiu had arranged their lodgings in the right side hall where Yan Zhen had stayed before. The rooms there were perfect—three in total: one for Cai Lian and Long Ying, one for Yi Xian’er alone, and one for Ji Ya and her four servants.
At the moment, however, none of the women were in their rooms. They had all gathered in the front hall.
Because the Demon Exterminator Envoy had actually arrived.
In just three short days, even if someone had reported Heavenly Gu Elder’s appearance immediately, it shouldn’t have been possible for them to arrive from the Black Horn Empire so quickly. After all, not everyone had a private airship. Most relied on third-tier or higher mystic beasts for flight.
Machines didn’t need rest, but living creatures did—including mystic beasts. Even if their speed matched an airship’s, their endurance on long journeys fell a bit short.
Yet here they were, genuine Demon Exterminators. After flashing their identity tokens, the mountain-guarding disciples had escorted them into Cloud Heaven Palace. Yun Xiu and the other three palace lords had received them in the front hall, with Long Ying, Cai Lian, Yi Xian’er, and Ji Ya with her four servants present as a show of strength.
The visitors were a team of three men. Leading them was a sharp-eyed elder whose cultivation had reached Seven-Star Mystic Ancestor. The other two were youths in their thirties, at Four-Star Mystic Lord and Five-Star Mystic Lord respectively.
All three wore arrogant expressions, faces stern as their gazes swept over the Cloud Heaven Palace members in the hall, heavy with scrutiny—as if everyone present was a Demon Domain hidden agent.
From the sect master’s jade throne, Yun Xiu spoke first.
“To what do we owe the honor of the three envoys’ visit?”
The leading elder stepped forward.
“I am Elder Bai, head of the Holy Land Demon Exterminating Corps’ Black Horn Branch. We have come to your sect on a report claiming that someone from Cloud Heaven Palace has been consorting with Heavenly Gu Venerable, an evil cultivator from the Demon Domain. Palace Lord Yun, is there any truth to this?”
Yun Xiu sensed something fishy but had no intention of telling the full truth.
“We merely rooted out one or two Demon Domain hidden agents in our midst. It’s too much trouble for Elder Bai to make a special trip.”
“Oh? Is that so? Just hidden agents?” Elder Bai stroked his beard, his gaze scanning the hall leisurely. “Cloud Heaven Palace of Garo Kingdom—impressive, producing a Nine-Star Mystic Ancestor under sixty. I’ve long heard of the ‘Eight Immortals in the Clouds.’ Back then, your eight Mystic Ancestors together even held off a Mystic Venerable. But why are only four palace lords present? Where are the other four?”
“Second Palace Lord Yunling suffered qi deviation during cultivation and went on a rampage in the sect. I slew him personally; his soul has returned to the heavens. Third Palace Lord and Fifth Palace Lord are both in secluded cultivation at a critical juncture and cannot be disturbed. As for Eighth Palace Lord, she is rather sensitive and in poor spirits right now… None of them could come to greet the three Demon Exterminator Envoys. Please forgive us.”
“Qi deviation? Something like that happened?”
The Hedgehog Head Youth among the Demon Exterminators sneered coldly.
“I’d say the ‘devil’ part is real enough, but the ‘qi deviation’? Not so sure, Palace Lord Yun. Why not tell the truth?”
The other youth, wearing glasses, added coolly.
“Lots of people saw Heavenly Gu Venerable here. You can’t deny it.”
Yun Xiu and the others fell silent for a long moment before sighing and sharing the “truth” of the matter.
It started at the Grand Dan Fighting Competition, where a Demon Domain envoy named Wolf Poison had infiltrated. After his identity was exposed, everyone ganged up on him and captured him smoothly—but he escaped and, with help from a hidden agent, infiltrated Cloud Heaven Palace.
Second Palace Lord Yunling had been secretly poisoned with gu by Wolf Poison and unknowingly became his puppet, rampaging through the sect.
Then Third Palace Lord and Fifth Palace Lord were gravely injured and had entered seclusion to recover.
Eighth Palace Lord was heartbroken and avoiding people.
For now, only the four of them were handling affairs.
