Yan Zhen was about to apologize and back out, but then he thought better of it. After all, he and Cai Lian were an old married couple, and he had bathed with her many times before. What was there to be embarrassed about?
Instead of avoiding the scene, he planted his hands on his hips and declared boldly, “Didn’t I say I was coming in to scrub your back?”
This pose put his impressive, heroic physique on full display for the two women.
Cai Lian’s face flushed red. She didn’t dare look at that Evil Dragon endowment of his and murmured weakly, “This Sovereign doesn’t need it.”
Bathing together was one thing, but with Long Ying here too? How could she allow that?
She glanced at Long Ying and saw the loli dragon girl covering her eyes with her little hands, pretending to be too shy to look at Yan Zhen. Yet her fingers were spread wide open, and her beautiful emerald eyes reflected the mushroom tip perfectly. She was clearly staring right there.
Cai Lian’s expression darkened. She quickly set down the wooden ladle, covered Long Ying’s eyes, and said to Yan Zhen, “Get out—now.”
Yan Zhen’s gaze softened. “It’s fine, Cai Lian. You’re pregnant, so taking care of you is only right. No need to stand on ceremony between husband and wife.”
With that, he stepped forward, circled behind her, and swung his leg over the edge of the tub. He sat down against her back, parting his legs to draw her in close while stretching his arms forward to encircle her alluring water-snake waist.
Her skin felt as smooth as silk to the touch. Her waist was plump yet firm, soft without being flabby. When she twisted, it was not only beautiful but powerfully enticing. Among all the women Yan Zhen had known, it was undoubtedly the best.
Now Long Ying was sitting in Cai Lian’s lap, while Cai Lian sat in Yan Zhen’s.
This reminded Cai Lian of their past life, when little Yan’er was young and the three of them would occasionally bathe together like this.
Yan’er was here now too, of course—just not born yet.
The memories steadied Cai Lian’s emotions in an instant. But the heat of his body against hers quickly made her tense up again, leaving her caught in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings.
Still, now that Yan Zhen was in the tub, she couldn’t very well kick him out. As long as he behaved himself and didn’t try anything else, she could let it slide.
But Yan Zhen showed no intention of behaving. His hands roamed over her pregnant belly as if caressing some priceless treasure.
Cai Lian bit her lip, trying her best to ignore it as she focused on washing Long Ying clean.
Then Long Ying spoke up in her old-soul tone. “Yan Zhen Zhen, you can’t take advantage of Sister Cai Lian.”
Yan Zhen rolled his eyes. “Do I look like the type to bully my own wife? I’m just here to serve her~”
As he spoke, he released Cai Lian’s belly. His hands shifted to her beautiful back, where he began “scrubbing”—which was really just more fondling.
Pregnant women were already prone to heightened desires. With his hands wandering all over her like that, Cai Lian soon found her thoughts turning amorous. A pink flush rippled across her snow-white body, and even her movements slowed.
She hurriedly set down the ladle and said flatly, “We’re done washing. Long Ying, let’s get out.”
“Are we leaving already?” Long Ying sprawled lazily over the edge of the tub like a drowsy kitten. “Can’t we soak a bit longer?”
“…Fine, you two keep soaking. This Sovereign is getting out—ah~”
Her breasts were suddenly under assault. Cai Lian yelped in surprise, letting out a sound like an innocent girl’s.
With her most sensitive spot in his grasp, the Female Monarch felt both ashamed and mortified, but she didn’t dare make a fuss. She sent him a private transmission. “Let go!”
Yan Zhen ignored her. His fingers savored the bouncy sensation, like gummy candy.
Cai Lian grabbed her husband’s wrist to stop the teasing, but she didn’t pull him away.
Yan Zhen didn’t press further. He simply went still, savoring the moment.
Cai Lian let out a small breath of relief and turned her head to glare at him.
But Yan Zhen had been waiting for just that. The moment she turned, he captured her glossy red lips in a kiss.
“Mm~”
Cai Lian’s eyes flew wide in shock. Seeing Long Ying still facing away, her resistance melted away. Instead, she responded with fervor.
The couple shared a long, loving kiss brimming with affection.
When their lips finally parted, Cai Lian had surrendered body and soul. Her face was flushed, her body limp as she leaned against Yan Zhen’s chest.
“No, Yan Zhen~”
He whispered tenderly in her ear, “Relax. I won’t do anything. I just want you to unwind, Cai Lian.”
The Female Monarch bit her lip, then closed her eyes as if enduring some Mystic humiliation, letting the young man have his way.
…
When they emerged from the bath, Long Ying was already asleep. Cai Lian dressed her in pajamas and carried her to the bed, placing her on the inner side before lying down on the outer side herself.
Yan Zhen blinked in surprise. “Cai Lian, aren’t you coming up to the third floor to sleep with me?”
Fresh from being tormented by his one-finger zen, Cai Lian huffed lightly. “No. I’d rather not get bullied again when heaven and earth won’t hear my cries.”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek. Truth be told, he had indeed teased her earlier just to make her feel that delicious shame.
The thrill of dominating the Female Monarch, toying with her at will, was downright addictive.
“Then I’ll head up. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Yan Zhen left the second-floor room and went to his new quarters on the third floor. After closing the door, he activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal and entered the Fire Refining Starry Sky. He paid his respects to his beautiful master first, then discussed subduing and refining the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire with her.
Chen Xi gave him a medicinal formula to aid the refining process and instructed him to gather the ingredients.
These formulas were all much the same, tweaked only with a few special herbs for different Extreme Flames. For instance, refining the Great Crimson Heaven Flame had required the Water Element Heart to suppress its scorching heat.
This time, for the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire, he would need Ancient Wood Spirit Marrow. The material could form a lightning-resistant film on the skin, absorbing strikes from both inside and outside the body.
Chen Xi continued, “Subduing the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire won’t be hard. Just set up a Thunder Avoidance Array in the Thunder Pool to lure it in. That will greatly weaken it, and then you can capture it with the Fire Refining Starry Sky.”
Yan Zhen nodded. The name “Thunder Avoidance Array” was refreshingly straightforward—much like a lightning rod from the real world.
Once the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire entered the array, its Wind Thunder Power couldn’t coalesce. Instead, it would be dispersed into the heavens and earth, leaving it severely weakened.
Setting up the array required a piece of Thousand-Year Thunderstruck Wood. Like the Ancient Wood Spirit Marrow, it wasn’t available at the Inner Academy Exchange; he’d have to buy it from the Merchant Alliance.
So Yan Zhen would need to make a trip there ahead of time.
This deviated from the script.
In the script, he hadn’t prepared at all. He’d only had his beautiful master set up a half-finished Thunder Avoidance Array before trying to forcibly subdue the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire, nearly killing himself in the process.
He had no reason—or permission—to do that now. Neither his beautiful master, Elder Great-Aunt, Cai Lian, nor Long Ying would allow it.
After settling business, Yan Zhen enjoyed some affectionate cuddles with his beautiful master before leaving the Fire Refining Starry Sky, satisfied. Back in his room, he was surprised to find Cai Lian sitting at the head of the bed, arms crossed over her chest.
“Cai Lian, what are you doing up here?”
“…”
The Female Monarch kept her head slightly lowered, not speaking—as if she wanted nothing to do with him. But if that were true, she wouldn’t have come up on her own.
Yan Zhen walked over and stood before her, his voice warm. “Let’s sleep together.”
Cai Lian murmured her assent and, just like in their past life, took the initiative to help him undress.
