The leader of Black Horn wanted to cry but had no tears. He knew full well how terrifying Yan Zhen was. After taking over the leadership from Wu Tie, he had made up his mind never to provoke that disaster again. He had even added a new rule to the society’s code: “Do not get involved with anyone from ‘Yan Huang,’ or bear the consequences yourself.”
Who could have imagined that Wu Yan, that total bastard, would team up with the Third Prince to egg on a bunch of brainless new students to go after those four ladies?
Staring at the territory he had painstakingly built up, now reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye, his mentality utterly collapsed.
What a sin!
Yan Zhen felt no sympathy for him. He had even planted a strand of Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire along with a spiritual brand in both Wu Yan and the Third Prince. If those two dared to offend him again, he could trigger the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire to erupt and electrocute them into charred husks.
Without Mystic Venerable cultivation, they had no way to remove his hidden hand.
Under the blazing sun, the group returned to their society headquarters in high spirits, emerging directly from the ground in the courtyard. The Rootless Earth Spirit Fire enveloping them slowly receded, revealing their figures.
“Earth-diving is so much fun,” Mi Xue’er said, her eyes sparkling. “Little Brother Yan Zhen, shall we go another round or two?”
Yan Meng’er pouted in dissatisfaction. “Come on, Senior Sister Xue’er, Big Cousin came all this way to visit us. Stop obsessing over earth-diving. We’ll have plenty of chances later!”
Compared to earth-diving, she much preferred diving into her cousin’s arms for a good snuggle. Hehe~
“Little Sister Meng’er is more sensible than you,” Xiao Xinyan said, not missing a chance to jab at her rival. “If you want to wander around, take your white chubby-faced chicken and go. Junior Brother Yan Zhen doesn’t have time to accompany you!”
“A-Zhen isn’t a chubby-faced chicken—it’s a Tier 5 King Beast, the Tianshan Snow Eagle!” Mi Xue’er shot back immediately. “Xiao Xinyan, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Jealous of me, right? What an ugly woman!”
Xiao Xinyan scoffed disdainfully. Though she did feel a twinge of envy, she certainly wouldn’t admit it, lest Mi Xue’er get even more full of herself.
“Alright, alright,” Yan Ruyu said, playing peacemaker. “I’m going to take a bath. Are you all coming?”
“Of course!” Mi Xue’er instantly switched faces and linked arms with her close friend. “Let’s go, Ruyu. Ignore that petty woman!”
“I want to go too,” Yan Meng’er chimed in. “Cousin, why don’t you join us?”
At her words, all four women turned to Yan Zhen with shy yet expectant gazes.
Yan Zhen had played in the water with Big Aunt and Little Aunt for a good long while the night before, so he wasn’t in the mood for a bath right now. He smiled and said, “I’ll pass. You girls just came out of the tower and haven’t eaten yet, right? I’ll head to the dining hall, grab some food, and bring it back. Once you’re done washing up, come down to the dining room on the first floor for a meal.”
The four women looked a bit disappointed but didn’t press the issue. Only Yan Meng’er had dared to boldly invite him to bathe together; the other three were too timid—especially Yan Ruyu.
After the four headed upstairs, Yan Zhen flew to the dining hall. He used his Academy Graduation Card to buy a heap of food and brought it back, filling an entire table.
Before long, the four women came downstairs one after another. They had all changed into sheer camisole nightdresses—pink, red, white, and yellow. The styles looked similar at a glance, but each suited their wearer’s unique vibe perfectly.
As they approached, a wave of fragrant breeze hit him, stirring the young man’s heartstrings.
Among Yan Zhen’s many confidantes, these four might not be the most stunning in looks, but they were absolutely the ones he most wanted to hold close.
There was the baby-faced giant-breasted Meng’er, Cousin Ruyu with her full-moon hips, Senior Sister Xue’er whose skin was fairer than snow, and Senior Sister Xinyan, the picture of a refined lady on the outside but with a bit of a masochistic streak inside.
Xiao Xinyan had been the first to kiss the back of his foot—and not just that; she had kissed her way up from there, leaving Yan Zhen so embarrassed he couldn’t even speak.
“All freshened up? Come eat then.”
Yan Meng’er and Mi Xue’er quickly claimed the seats to Yan Zhen’s left and right, leaving Yan Ruyu and Xiao Xinyan to sit across from the trio.
“So much delicious food! Thanks, Cousin~”
“Thanks, Little Brother Yan Zhen! Mwah~”
“Senior Sister Xue’er, you again—hmph! I want a kiss too.”
“Little Sister Meng’er, stop copying me.”
“Who’s copying? I just love kissing my cousin!”
“…”
The two bickered endlessly in his ears, competing to feed him bites.
Yan Zhen tossed back a mouthful of wine, then pulled Meng’er into his arms and fed her a sip mouth-to-mouth. He turned to the other side next, embracing Senior Sister Xue’er and giving her the same treatment.
The two girls were left dizzy from Yan Zhen’s feeding—half from the alcohol, half from the romance. When they came back to themselves, their pretty faces flushed as they sat up straight and ate properly. Every now and then, they’d pick up dishes for him, no longer quarreling, as if silently hinting—
I’m being super good~ Won’t you give me a kiss as a reward~?
Yan Zhen pretended not to notice.
Sitting across from them, Yan Ruyu and Xiao Xinyan felt their hearts itch too, but with their thin skins, they didn’t dare ask outright. They could only bury their heads in their meals.
After the wine and food were enjoyed to the fullest, the four women cleared the table. Yan Zhen headed upstairs first.
On the third floor was the only room. For Cai Lian’s comfort, they had swapped out all the furniture—even the bed was a custom canopy bed made by the folks from Artifact Spirit, worth a fortune.
Yan Zhen stroked the familiar bed, a faint nostalgia welling up in his heart. It had been less than half a year, yet it felt like ages ago.
The existence of Cai Lian and Yan’er had made Yan Zhen realize the responsibilities he bore as a man, as a husband.
“…”
Soon, the four women came upstairs too, with Meng’er holding a deck of cards in hand. She said they should all play together.
Yan Zhen declared confidently, “What are we playing? Fair warning, I’m a gambling god who turns into a fiend at Showhand.”
Yan Ruyu immediately recalled their trip to Mystic Academy by boat, when she, Meng’er, and Yan Zhen had played several rounds—including strip versions. Yan Zhen had won every time, leaving her and Meng’er stripped down to their undergarments and intimates, utterly mortified.
She knew he must have been cheating, but she had no proof.
Narrowing her eyes, she decided it was time for payback. The four of them had already schemed together to gang up on Yan Zhen and take legitimate advantage of him (Meng’er’s idea, as expected from big bro’s good little sister).
The five sat in a circle on the spacious canopy bed and started a game of Showhand. No bets, but the person with the biggest hand got to dare one of the others to do something on the spot.
And so—
“Trips 777, beats you all,” Yan Zhen said with a grin. “Let me think about what to make you do.”
The four women’s faces all darkened. This was their third loss in a row, each time to trips. If that wasn’t blatant cheating, what was?
After the first loss, Yan Zhen made them sit properly without leaning on him. After the second, he had them put on their Inner Academy Uniforms and tie up their hair.
“For the third dare… cultivate right here for a bit? I’ll check your progress.”
The four bit their lips, exchanging glances.
“No more playing, it’s no fun!” Yan Meng’er was the first to crack. She tossed her cards aside and threw her arms around Yan Zhen. “Meng’er wants to kiss Cousin. I don’t want to do anything else!”
She planted a forceful kiss on him without any regard.
Seeing this, Mi Xue’er chucked her cards too and pounced over.
No more pretending!
