She grew even more deferential.
“You’re one of our Chamber’s Supreme VIPs. Aside from certain restricted items, all your purchases are complimentary. You just need to take the receipt.”
Ah, this again? Yan Zhen was baffled. The Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce in Martial Tang City footing his bill was one thing, but here in Silver Moon City too?
Mi Xue’er gaped in surprise, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
“Little brother Yan Zhen, when did you become a Supreme VIP at the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce?”
Yan Ruyu and Yan Meng’er were equally curious.
Earlier, when Yan Meng’er had gone skirt shopping with Huangfu Wenqing, the cashier had mentioned Yan Zhen’s purchases were always free. They’d assumed it was a Martial Tang City perk only. Who knew it applied in Silver Moon City too?
Speaking of the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, their Chief Manager would one day become sworn brothers with her cousin Yan Zhen. They’d grow incredibly close—even handling cousin Yan Zhen’s wedding single-handedly, that rich big-sis figure.
But at this point in time, they hadn’t even met. So why the Supreme VIP treatment for cousin Yan Zhen?
Unless…
Yan Meng’er imagined a chilling possibility.
Yan Zhen, for his part, wondered if that rich big sis had peeked at the full script like him. Knowing his Great Emperor Potential, maybe she was making an early investment.
—System, what’s your take?
【The host is overthinking. This system generated the script—no one else can see it.】
—What if you’re a double agent?
【My heart and actions are clear as a mirror. Everything I do is for the host. Do not doubt this system’s loyalty.】
—Hmm~
True or not, the words were music to his ears.
Yan Zhen didn’t exploit the freebies by grabbing everything in sight. He took his receipt, collected his items, and left.
Freeloading was nice, but there was a saying: the free stuff always costs the most in the end.
Moderation was key.
With the Yellow Paper and Cinnabar squared away, it was time to trail after the three girls for their shopping spree. They’d accompanied him, after all—he couldn’t just bail once his errand was done.
Loyalty mattered too.
By the time evening rolled around and they headed home, Yan Zhen was buried under a mountain of bags and packages. The girls walked ahead, carrying takeout from a restaurant.
They arrived to find the front door unlocked. After knocking, Mentor Yu Xuan opened it.
“You’re back. I made dinner…but you got takeout?”
“Mentor, you cooked again? Then we don’t need this stuff.”
Mi Xue’er beamed. Mentor Yu Xuan’s cooking outshone any restaurant chef’s, it was a rare treat, and she was sick of restaurant fare anyway—she couldn’t cook to save her life.
Mentor Yu Xuan shot Mi Xue’er a playful glare.
“No wasting food. Eat it all. Besides, we’ve got an extra big eater now.”
Her gaze landed on Yan Zhen, nearly swallowed by his pile of bags. She pursed her lips in a smile, blooming like a water lily—soft, enchanting, and utterly captivating.
Yan Zhen managed an awkward yet polite smile. Ever since refining the Gold-Silver Fire, his appetite had doubled. Once he refined more Extreme Flame, mortal food alone wouldn’t cut it—he’d need pills to fill up.
The group filed into the main hall.
The girls first unloaded all the bags from Yan Zhen before they sat down to eat.
Eyeing a feast as lavish as yesterday’s, Mi Xue’er’s eyes gleamed, her mouth practically watering. She swiftly snagged a piece of hand-torn cabbage.
“Mentor Yu Xuan rarely cooked before. How come you’ve been in the kitchen two days straight now? I begged you endlessly in the past, but you never would. Has something good happened lately?”
Yan Ruyu and Yan Meng’er were equally curious. Though Mentor Yu Xuan was a skilled cook, she seldom prepared meals for them.
In her previous life, Yan Meng’er had lived with Mentor Yu Xuan for several years and still hadn’t enjoyed many of her dishes.
Could it be because of—
Mentor Yu Xuan stole a glance at Yan Zhen, who was quietly eating. Her lovely face showed no change as she replied coolly, “It was just a whim—I felt like cooking, so I did. Don’t always count on me. You’re a young lady too. You should at least master basic cooking skills. Otherwise, your in-laws might look down on you after marriage.”
“Then I’ll marry a husband who won’t mind if I can’t cook.”
Mi Xue’er mused to herself that Yan Zhen’s parents had passed away, leaving him with only his grandfather as kin. No one would disdain her for it.
Of course, if Yan Zhen wanted a meal cooked by her own hands, she could always learn.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, would you disdain a girl who can’t cook?”
It was a pointed question. The four women instantly fixed their gazes on Yan Zhen.
Oblivious to it all, Yan Zhen chewed and swallowed his food before casually replying, “Nope.”
Mi Xue’er secretly rejoiced at his answer, and Yan Ruyu breathed a sigh of relief. But then Yan Meng’er pressed on: “So, Cousin, between a girl who can’t cook and one who can—which is better?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course the one who can cook is better than the one who can’t.”
Yan Zhen shoveled rice into his mouth as he answered.
Mentor Yu Xuan and Yan Meng’er both smiled in satisfaction.
Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu suddenly understood. Given Yan Zhen’s bottomless appetite, he clearly preferred a girl who could cook.
—Maybe I should start learning tomorrow?
Yan Ruyu had some foundation in cooking and occasionally whipped up late-night snacks. Mi Xue’er, on the other hand, was the epitome of a pampered young miss who waited for meals to appear before her. A thick sense of crisis settled over her.
Yan Zhen soon polished off his meal and headed off to shower.
Thanks to last night’s embarrassing mix-up, he didn’t dare soak in the tub. He simply rinsed off, changed into sleepwear, and returned to his room.
With practiced ease, he activated the Star Shifting Fire Seal and entered the Crystal Stone Space.
Chen Xi wasn’t meditating with her eyes closed. Instead, she stood at the edge of the altar, gazing out at the starry sky beyond the Heavenly Pillar.
“Master.”
Yan Zhen called out. As the Beautiful Female Master turned around, he slowly froze in place.
Her outfit was completely different from usual.
Normally, the Beautiful Female Master wore a flowing black dress with wide sleeves and a base layer beneath. Her white hair was parted in the middle up front and cascaded loosely down her back, giving her the air of an exiled immortal.
When sparring with him, she donned a black form-fitting martial artist’s outfit instead, her white hair tied into a high ponytail that lent a heroic flair to her ethereal grace.
But now, the Beautiful Female Master was clad in a black leather pencil skirt that ended at her knees, with the rest of her legs sheathed in glossy black stockings. Black high heels completed the look.
Her upper body was covered by a simple white blouse. Though it bore no ornaments, the breathtaking curve of her chest drew the eye more than any jewelry could.
Her white hair was pinned up, revealing a graceful swan-like neck and delicate ears. A pair of oval glasses perched on her straight nose.
This… this was straight out of a mature teacher fantasy, wasn’t it?
Why was the Beautiful Female Master dressed like this?
And more importantly, where had she gotten the clothes?
Yan Zhen’s mind was a whirl, his heart pounding wildly.
“Zhen’er, did you bring the items?”
While he stood there dazed, Chen Xi had already approached him in her high heels, her expression utterly composed.
“Ah? Oh, yeah, I got everything.”
Yan Zhen snapped back to attention and promptly displayed the yellow paper, cinnabar, and writing brush.
Chen Xi nodded. With a flick of her finger, one of the squares on the ground rose swiftly until it reached the height of her waist, then stopped.
Yan Zhen placed the items on the platform. Chen Xi picked up a writing brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and began sketching intricate lines on the yellow paper.
