After pondering for a long while, Yan Zhen decided to accept the compensation. Good things were meant to be taken, especially since Snow Supreme had ambushed him and made him cough up a huge mouthful of blood. A little payback was hardly excessive.
With the Mirage Root and Mirage Fruit in hand, he just needed to gather some other rare medicinal ingredients to refine the Nine-Colored Mirage Spirit Pill.
If he gave it to Cai Lian, not only would she benefit, but it would also do wonders for Yan’er.
The more he thought about it, the more tempted he became. Yan Zhen immediately sealed the jade box and stored it deep within his storage ring for safekeeping.
“This compensation is pretty good. I won’t hold Snow Supreme’s ambush against her anymore. Ahem.”
Yu Shizun glanced at Yan Zhen and said coolly, “No spine.”
“Hey, don’t say that, Yu Shizun.” Yan Zhen grinned cheekily. “Once I refine these into pills, I’ll give you one~”
He even held up the index finger of his right hand to emphasize—one pill!
Yu Shizun remained unmoved. She gently grabbed his finger and bent it back into place. “I don’t want that woman’s things.”
Yan Zhen blinked. “Are you mad, Yu Shizun?”
Yu Shizun didn’t answer. She turned and headed toward the Tree Cave, her small boots stepping lightly on the water’s surface, sending ripples outward with each step.
Yan Zhen hurriedly scampered after her. “Wait up, Yu Shizun! I don’t want Snow Supreme’s gift anymore—don’t be mad! I’ll give it right back to her! I absolutely won’t forgive her easily!”
Yu Shizun didn’t stop walking. She shot him a sidelong glance. “Why return treasure that’s already in your hands?”
“Uh…” Yan Zhen was momentarily at a loss. “So… I can keep it?”
“Your gentleness should be reserved for your own people, not those who hurt you.” Yu Shizun flicked her hand, signaling for Yan Zhen to take the hint and leave. “Go find the Holy Lord. I’ll keep watch here.”
Yan Zhen scratched his head and said tactfully, “We haven’t done this month’s dual cultivation yet.”
Yu Shizun fell silent.
“…”
Yan Zhen stepped closer and boldly wrapped his arm around Yu Shizun’s slender waist. He gazed at the side of her veiled face and said earnestly, “Let’s go to the Fire Refining Starry Sky, Yu Shizun.”
Yu Shizun glanced down at the hand on her waist. She seemed to freeze up, falling silent for a long moment before finally responding.
“Mm.”
It was just one word, but her tone was soft and compliant—somehow adorable.
They arrived in the Fire Refining Starry Sky, where the Beautiful Female Master surprisingly didn’t appear. Even so, a Dao Platform for cultivation rose up for them on its own.
The two stepped onto the platform. After Yan Zhen borrowed power from the Fire Refining Starry Sky and ignited a grand display of Great Crimson Heaven Flame, they began their mystic power dual cultivation.
As mystic power circulated, the crimson-red flames flowed toward Yu Shizun’s body, enveloped by her Water Mystic Force and refined bit by bit.
Sensing the comfortable warmth, Yu Shizun quietly opened her eyes. Her pupils reflected Yan Zhen’s handsome features.
She had seen plenty of good-looking young men and no shortage of dashing ones, but only this face put her in a good mood just by looking at it.
Yu Shizun wasn’t some fossilized relic; she knew this was what people called “right up her alley.”
The problem was, when she had first met Yan Zhen, she hadn’t felt this way at all. She hadn’t even taken him seriously.
Had spending time together made him grow on her?
Yu Shizun didn’t have many friends and wasn’t close to her Yu Family clansmen, so she didn’t know the answer. But she figured it must be true.
—If only he weren’t such a flirt. He’d be a good kid otherwise.
With that thought, Yu Shizun felt a twinge of discomfort. Remembering how happy he’d been to accept Snow Supreme’s gift made that handsome face suddenly look less appealing. She stopped looking and focused on cultivation.
Her deep blue Water Mystic Force fully enveloped the crimson blood flames.
Deep in the starry sky, Chen Xi lifted her gaze toward them. She keenly noticed the shift in Yu Shizun’s attitude and shook her head to herself.
“Little Yu’er has indeed harbored springtime feelings.”
What she couldn’t understand was this: In her previous life, Yu Shishi had spent a long time with her precious disciple, yet no sparks had flown between them. Why, after rebirth, had it happened in just over a year?
She knew full well that Zhen’er was tangled up with the younger generation, yet she’d still fallen for him without realizing… just like Chen Xi herself back then.
Chen Xi’s emotions were complicated. In her previous life, she’d known her disciple had someone in his heart and by his side, yet she’d still plunged headlong into his tenderness, never daring to confess, loving him in silence.
Yu Shishi’s waters were “vast waters”—Rain Falls Over the World, rivers flowing into the sea.
The sea was dignified and beautiful when calm, violent and terrifying when stirred.
Just like Yu Shizun herself.
She wasn’t truly emotionless; it was just hard for her to feel anything, leaving her alone all these years. But once her feelings stirred, they would flood like the tide, impossible to contain.
“Fools, all of them.”
Chen Xi sighed softly. She didn’t appear to disturb them and continued her own cultivation.
—Did that old coot from Spirit Mountain think bullying her disciple could be settled with just a word from Jialan?
The dual cultivation ended, and Yan Zhen collapsed in exhaustion, his face deathly pale.
Though his cultivation had improved and it wasn’t as bad as before, he still couldn’t lift a finger.
Yu Shizun quickly supported him, letting him lean against her chest to rest. Her full, rounded breasts made for the perfect pillow, compressing and deforming under the pressure in a most alluring way.
Yu Shizun felt her chest and cheeks growing hot, but she didn’t think much of it. She took out a restorative pill for him to swallow, then used her water-colored wide sleeve to wipe the sweat from his brow, tending to him as best she could.
After a long while, a bit of color returned to Yan Zhen’s face. He lazily opened his eyes and smiled cutely. “Thanks, Yu Shizun~”
—That guy was unconsciously seducing an innocent, pure-hearted woman again!
In his previous life at this time, Yan Zhen had still been burdened by his grandfather’s blood feud, a cold, abstinent prince of melancholy who only occasionally revealed his playful side.
Now things were different. Apart from carrying one massive secret, he was still a sunny, carefree boy with a pure heart.
To an older, world-weary beauty like Yu Shizun, who had seen through life and the Dao, the latter type was far more appealing.
So in her previous life, Yu Shizun had only seen Yan Zhen as a fragile junior in need of protection. Now, she was drawn to the warmth and confidence radiating from his every pore, wanting to know him better and grow closer.
Seeing Yan Zhen’s smile eased Yu Shizun’s mood a little, her gaze softening.
“Chen Xi is probably cultivating. Wait until you’ve rested, then head out.”
“Can I take a nap?”
“Mm.”
“…”
Yan Zhen gradually drifted off to sleep. Over an hour later, he woke to find his cheek pressed against something fragrant and soft. Thinking it was one of his wives, he nuzzled it affectionately.
He quickly came to his senses and realized something was off. He jerked his head up, meeting Yu Shizun’s deep, limpid eyes. His face froze.
“Yu Shizun, that—”
“You’re awake?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Okay.”
“…”
What Yan Zhen didn’t notice was the faint blush coloring Yu Shizun’s pretty face beneath her white veil.
