Yan Zhen was leaving the next day, which meant another long stretch apart. Yi Xian’er couldn’t bear to sleep even for a moment, clinging to him desperately. She touched and kissed every inch of his body, leaving strawberry marks especially around his chest.
Helpless, Yan Zhen could only lie there obediently and let her have her way. His handsome face took on a look of utter despair, as if he were some innocent young man being taken advantage of—though that only egged her on even more.
Only when Yan Zhen could no longer endure the Baleful Qi in her saliva did Yi Xian’er finally stop. They took a romantic bath together, and after slipping into nightclothes, she held him close, letting him drift off with his mouth at her chest.
The next day at noon, when Yan Zhen woke, he found Yi Xian’er already gazing at him.
He gave her a good morning kiss. They lingered, foreheads touching, for quite some time before finally getting up to wash and dress.
When they stepped out of the Great Moon Palace, Long Ying and Cai Lian were already waiting at the entrance.
“This is where we part, Xian’er,” Yan Zhen said, releasing her hand. “I’ll come back as soon as I have time. You can visit me at the Holy Land Academy whenever you’re free too—though I’ll probably graduate within half a year and head to the Jialan Holy Land after that.”
Yi Xian’er nodded, gazing at him deeply.
“Take care on the road. Give my regards to Master Chen Xi.”
Yan Zhen summoned the flying skiff and gestured for Cai Lian and Long Ying to board. Then he waved to Yi Xian’er.
“Goodbye, Xian’er. Take good care of yourself. If you run into trouble, talk it over with Sister Ji Ya or Yun Xiu. Oh, and I left you a sub-flame of the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame. It can absorb any excess Baleful Qi in your body and control your enemies too. As long as you don’t use it all at once, it’ll burn forever.”
Yi Xian’er shot him a wistful look.
“Keep talking like that, and I won’t let you go.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly, flashed her a sheepish grin, then stomped the pedal. The airship rose into the air and sped away.
Yi Xian’er reached out instinctively, grasping at empty air. She stood there dejectedly for a long, long time.
“…”
Aboard the airship, Long Ying leaned over the back of the pilot’s seat, cheeks puffed out. She grumbled in Yan Zhen’s ear.
“Yan Zhen Zhen, you promised to bring me something tasty last night. Why didn’t you keep your word?”
Yan Zhen thought for a moment.
“Didn’t Xian’er have someone deliver it to you? I even tested it for poison. All of it was delicious.”
“If Big Sis Xian’er sent it, then it’s from her. It has nothing to do with you, Yan Zhen Zhen.”
—You’re one clever little imp!
“…Can’t you use that rare brainpower of yours on something useful?”
“I’m plenty smart. I just act average to spare your feelings, Yan Zhen Zhen. If I went all out, I’d steal the spotlight from you without breaking a sweat.”
“Yeah, sure, sure.”
Cai Lian tuned out their childish banter, her pretty face cold as she stared at the scenery outside. But inside, she was far from calm.
Yan Zhen was still just an academy student, and here she was, following him around. People would surely mock them for it.
She had considered that possibility long ago and wasn’t afraid of gossip. What worried her was burdening Yan Zhen.
In their previous life, after Yan Zhen brought her and their daughter to the Jialan Holy Land, it had caused a huge stir.
By then, he was the Jialan Holy Son, a position of immense prestige. His dao companion should have been some heavenly genius from their ally, the Heavenly God Clan. Instead, he had a child with her—a descendant of the Snake God whose divine blood wasn’t pure—and brought them there.
The higher-ups in the Holy Land had strongly objected. But Yan Zhen declared that he’d rather give up his position as Holy Son than let his wife and daughter suffer any grievance.
No one in his generation could match him, and with Yu Shizun’s support and the Jialan Fairy’s favoritism, the matter was eventually dropped.
Fortunately, Cai Lian had proven herself worthy too, advancing to the Mystic Venerable Realm within two years—finally living up to the title of Saint Son’s Consort.
What galled her was that woman Thousand Fiends had taken advantage of her focus on cultivation and child-rearing. She fought alongside Yan Zhen, sharing life and death, which skyrocketed their bond.
If Thousand Fiends hadn’t felt inferior about not being able to truly unite with him, their previous life’s wedding would have included all four of them.
Before seeking out Yan Zhen this time, Cai Lian had secretly sworn in her heart: No other woman would steal her place again.
With that thought, Cai Lian gently tugged Long Ying aside and said to Yan Zhen, “Stretch out your hand.”
Both hands on the controls, Yan Zhen blinked in confusion.
“What’s up?”
“This Sovereign will take your pulse.”
“Take my pulse?”
Yan Zhen switched on autopilot, swiveled his seat to face his snake wife in the back, and extended his hand while asking, “What kind of pulse? I’m perfectly healthy.”
Cai Lian gave a soft hum. Her slender fingers pressed to his wrist.
“You spent the night tangled up with Thousand Fiends. You might have unknowingly let some Baleful Qi seep into your body. This Sovereign needs to check and make sure you’re safe—don’t move. It’ll be quick.”
Yan Zhen nodded. Though he thought it unnecessary, he didn’t want to disappoint his beloved wife.
As Cai Lian solemnly felt his pulse, Yan Zhen studied her lovely face in turn.
The allure of a young mother, a queen’s dignity, the wildness of the Snake Descendants, her innate aloofness… All combined into a cool, seductive aura that was utterly intoxicating.
Cai Lian soon withdrew her hand and huffed.
“As expected—Baleful Qi has entered your body. It’s not much, but if you don’t clear it promptly, it’ll harm your meridians.”
Yan Zhen wore an expression of polite bafflement, thinking that such a minor issue could be fixed with a quick session of meditation, circulating the Great Crimson Heaven Flame through his channels.
But he wanted to hear his wife’s thoughts, so he humbly asked, “So what should I do?”
Cai Lian glanced at him and said earnestly, “Once we reach the Holy Land Academy, I… I’ll help you expel it.”
“Expel it? How?”
“Ahem, you’ll find out when the time comes.”
“Uh… okay.”
“Do you think This Sovereign would deceive you?”
“That’s not what I meant… All right, then my health is in your hands, Cai Lian.”
Long Ying listened to their exchange and felt like something was off, though she couldn’t pinpoint it. She chimed in anyway. “I want to help treat Yan Zhen Zhen too.”
Cai Lian quickly replied, “This Sovereign alone is enough. Your power is still unstable, Long Ying, so sit this one out.”
“Emmm…”
“…”
Three days later, the airship entered the central region of Jialan Continent. One more day, and they finally arrived at the Holy Land Academy.
Gazing down at the familiar “City of the Academy,” Yan Zhen felt a surge of homecoming warmth.
This skiff originally belonged to Elder Yu Yan, marked with her insignia, so Yan Zhen flew straight into the Outer Academy without challenge.
He had no intention of stopping there and pressed on toward the Inner Academy.
Meng’er, Cousin Ruyu, Senior Sister Xue’er, and Senior Sister Xinyan had been preparing to advance to the Inner Academy right before he left a month ago. They were surely students there now, and he wouldn’t find them in the Outer Academy.
More importantly, Yan Zhen wanted to avoid running into Dean Little Aunt and stirring up trouble.
But as the saying goes, what you fear most will find you. Just as he planned to slip past the Outer Academy quietly, two figures—one blue, one white—shot out from Rain Heaven Pavilion nearby, blocking the airship’s path.
It was Dean Little Aunt and Mentor Aunt.
