“Don’t worry, Yan’er. I’m just here to ask her a few questions about Technique Refining.”
“Like this, then, Holy Lord Master. Come a little closer.”
The Jialan Fairy stepped forward upon hearing this and took the initiative to wrap her arm around Yan Zhen’s waist. It looked intimate without actually touching—a comfortable distance that struck the perfect balance between affection and propriety.
Yan Zhen was already a fine young man by now, after all. He had a rebellious streak and disliked it when elders got too close, craving his own personal space.
Her earlier approach—spoon-feeding him right in front of his fellow disciple’s wife—had clearly been a mistake. It must have made him feel embarrassed. But if she did it in private, he might protest with his words while secretly welcoming it in his heart.
After devouring over a dozen books, the Jialan Fairy’s Motherly Power had reached great completion. She could now handle all sorts of parent-child scenarios with ease—that was the prowess of a Mystic Saint!
Yan Zhen ushered the Holy Lord Master into the Fire Refining Starry Sky. He had wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, but she shooed him right out.
The Fire Refining Starry Sky was supposed to be his turf, yet he still couldn’t stand up to a Mystic Saint!
Back in his room, Yan Zhen swallowed a pill and sat down to meditate and regulate his breathing. Only after a full night did he emerge from his cultivation trance. That’s when he noticed the Crystal Pendant at his chest burning hot. He yanked it out from under his collar in alarm.
The Crystal Pendant erupted in a dazzling glow, radiating powerful mystic power fluctuations at the same time.
“What’s going on?”
Yan Zhen hurriedly activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal and vanished into the Fire Refining Starry Sky, reappearing atop the altar. What he saw next left him stunned.
Beyond the Heavenly Pillar stretched an endless starry sky, where a brilliant beam of starlight clashed repeatedly with a pure white holy light. The shockwaves from their collisions rippled outward, making the surrounding celestial bodies tremble.
Was that… the Beautiful Master and the Holy Lord Master? Why were they fighting—and it didn’t look like a friendly spar at all!
Yan Zhen was utterly shocked. He shot up to the top of the Heavenly Pillar and pulled out his Special Trump Card: Don’t Fight Anymore from the System space. But upon closer inspection, he realized it only worked on those below the Saint Realm—useless here. With a sigh, he put it away.
“Masters! Holy Lord Master! Please, stop fighting!”
Boom!
The starlight slammed into the holy light once more. Then both retreated, pulling far apart to reveal the figures of the two masters.
Chen Xi and the Jialan Fairy turned to glance at their precious disciple before simultaneously withdrawing their mystic power. They flew to Yan Zhen’s sides, one on the left and one on the right.
Yan Zhen looked from one to the other, feeling a bit intimidated.
“Masters, Holy Lord Master… what happened?”
Chen Xi took her disciple’s hand and said warmly, “Don’t be scared, Zhen’er. This Master just had itchy hands and sparred a bit with Jialan.”
The Jialan Fairy, meanwhile, patted Yan Zhen’s head. “Did we disturb your cultivation, Yan’er?”
Yan Zhen thought it over and realized the Holy Lord Master had indeed come in to ask the Beautiful Master some questions. Maybe he had just misunderstood the fight between two Saint Realm powerhouses?
“N-No, it’s fine. I thought you two were quarreling. Sorry, my mistake.” He glanced at his two masters again, convinced it really had been a misunderstanding. “Well, if that’s all, I’ll head out now. See you later~”
Once the two women watched Yan Zhen vanish amid twisting space, their auras shifted in an instant.
“Want to keep going, Chen Xi?” the Jialan Fairy said coolly. “You’re still no match for me.”
Chen Xi snorted. “Give up on that idea, Jialan. No matter what, I won’t let Zhen’er call you Mother.”
“Yan’er needs more love and pampering. But you’ve already become his partner—you should give him a different kind of affection. Let me be the one to dote on him. What’s wrong with that?” The Jialan Fairy’s expression remained impassive. “You’re too greedy, Chen Xi. It will spoil Yan’er.”
Chen Xi stared straight at her old friend. “I can give Zhen’er all kinds of love—whether as his master, his partner, or anything else!”
“How could you think like that, Chen Xi? You weren’t like this in your previous life.”
“That’s why I missed my chance back then. This time, I won’t hesitate!”
“You’re clearly getting too attached, Chen Xi.” The Jialan Fairy shook her head gently. “Have you even considered Yan’er’s feelings? He’s a real man. More than being coddled in your palm, he wants to protect you with his own strength.”
“It’s not time for that yet.”
“Then when will it be?”
“When he’s grown a bit more…”
“Yan’er is already an adult.”
“To me, he’s still an adorable child. Don’t you think Zhen’er is adorable right now, Jialan?”
The Jialan Fairy was momentarily speechless, a flicker of distress in her beautiful eyes. Chen Xi had her there.
Seeing this, Chen Xi pressed her advantage. “No need for more words, Jialan. If you want Zhen’er to call you Mother, he’ll have to bring it up to me himself first. Otherwise, forget it!”
“You’re one stubborn woman—impervious to reason.” The Jialan Fairy sighed faintly. “Fine, forget the title, then. I won’t say you forced me into it.”
Chen Xi shot back irritably, “You’ve already stolen my disciple. What more do you want?”
“Yan’er chose to take me as his master of his own accord. How is that stealing? Since you won’t agree no matter what I say, I’ll just have to do it myself.”
“What are you planning?”
“You won’t teach me the Inducement Technique for conceiving without pregnancy? Fine, I have medicinal recipes to regulate it myself. It’ll just take a little longer.”
Chen Xi’s pretty face flushed red. “Don’t even try it. Zhen’er won’t let you feed him.”
“How do you know without trying?” The Jialan Fairy placed a hand on her chest. Though her face remained expressionless, her eyes gleamed with provocation. “Don’t come crying to me later when I steal away your precious heart’s flesh.”
With that, the Jialan Fairy said no more and withdrew from the Fire Refining Starry Sky on her own, returning to Yan Zhen’s room.
Yan Zhen had just finished washing up in the bathroom when he asked, “Holy Lord Master, are you done talking?”
The Jialan Fairy nodded. “Yan’er, do you plan to meditate and regulate your breathing again tonight?”
“Uh, I want to be in top shape for the final battle!”
“Mmm. Then I won’t disturb you tonight, Yan’er. If you need anything, just call out. I’ll appear right away.”
“Got it. Thanks, Holy Lord Master.”
The Jialan Fairy actually gave him a faint smile before opening a Space Portal and returning to the Bitter Sea World.
Yan Zhen found it a bit odd. The Holy Lord Master’s attitude had clearly shifted again.
Just the night before last, she had been so fervent, like a deranged, mask-ripped-off doting parent. Now she was back to her usual self, though the way she looked at him was even gentler.
He stepped out of his room, intending to find Long Ying for some sparring practice. She wasn’t in the living room, so he headed to her room.
The room was empty—clearly, she hadn’t slept there last night.
The words “run off” flashed through his mind, and Yan Zhen’s heart sank. He was about to activate their contract mark to track her when the door to Cai Lian’s room next door swung open. Long Ying emerged, yawning, right behind Cai Lian.
Yan Zhen froze in surprise.
Spotting him, Cai Lian shot him a glare. She huffed proudly, arms crossed, and strode past without a word. Even Long Ying deliberately snorted and mimicked her, arms crossed in a haughty display, ignoring him too.
Yan Zhen tried asking, “Hey, Long Ying, what were you doing at Cai Lian’s place?”
Long Ying kept up her superior act. “Sister Cai Lian said we’re ignoring you all day today. Even if Yan Zhen Zhen talks to me, I won’t pay him any mind, hmph!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. “Aren’t you talking to me right now?”
Long Ying realized her slip and hurriedly clapped her little hands over her mouth. “That last one doesn’t count! I won’t talk to you!”
“Oh? And this one?”
“…”
