Half an hour later, Yan Zhen carried the white-haired beauty back to her room, just as he had when they arrived. The difference was that her earlier frailty had been an act; now it was all too real. Her eyes had narrowed to mere slits, and she was on the verge of falling asleep.
He couldn’t be entirely blamed for this. Shui Bailan had stubbornly refused to get down, insisting on going all the way to the end, which had left her utterly exhausted.
He laid her gently on the bed, positioned her comfortably, and tucked her in, pulling the covers snug around the edges. Only then did Yan Zhen speak.
“Get some good rest, Aunt. I’ll be going now.”
Shui Bailan murmured a weak acknowledgment, her hazy gaze following his figure all the while.
Yan Zhen sighed helplessly and returned to the bedside, sitting down to stroke her head.
“I’ll leave once you’re asleep.”
A faint smile curved Shui Bailan’s lips as she closed her eyes contentedly. Before long, she had drifted off into slumber.
It wasn’t just physical exhaustion weighing her down—her mind was spent too. Once the tension eased, the accumulated fatigue crashed over her like a tidal wave.
This was the perfect time for a nap.
Yan Zhen watched quietly for a little longer before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
Mystic power fluctuations still emanated from Mentor Yu Xuan’s room, her cultivation session ongoing. Not wanting to disturb her, Yan Zhen left a note on the door and headed next door to Four Leaves Cave.
No one was inside.
A sweep of his divine sense revealed that the four women had gone off to spar against each other: Meng’er versus Senior Sister Xinyan, Cousin Ruyu versus Senior Sister Xue’er.
All four were at the Mystic General Realm, with Yan Ruyu and Mi Xue’er’s auras particularly stable. Yan Meng’er and Xiao Xinyan’s were still a bit unsteady. They traded blows evenly in their pairings, but the advantages were clear: overall, it was Yan Ruyu > Mi Xue’er > Xiao Xinyan > Yan Meng’er.
—Meng’er, the reincarnator, was dead last in strength.
Yan Zhen was at a loss for words.
Meng’er’s talent wasn’t lacking—in fact, it was a touch stronger than her cousin’s. She was just lazy, never fully committed to cultivation. Sure, she’d buckled down a bit under his prodding, but she was still far from truly diligent.
Senior Sister Xinyan, on the other hand, wasn’t a reincarnator yet had caught up to one. It spoke volumes about her hard work. Back in the Outer Academy, she’d even been called the “Flower of the Scripture Pavilion” for spending every day there poring over Mystic techniques.
Yan Zhen kicked off with the tip of his foot, transforming into starlight as he streaked away. In a few blinks, he appeared among them. Without a word, he dove into the fray, turning their one-on-one matches into a one-against-four.
The four women’s eyes sharpened as they gripped their Mystic artifacts and attacked Yan Zhen from all sides in unison.
Flame Sword Qi, Ice Arrows, Rune Blade Light, and Thunder Whip converged on him from four directions, only to slam into the stone shield that materialized automatically. Not a ripple stirred.
The gap in their realms was too vast, and the Rootless Earth Spirit Fire’s defenses were impenetrable. Even a Mystic Ancestor would need to expend serious effort to crack it, let alone mere Mystic Generals.
Undeterred, the four women gathered their power and unleashed their ultimate techniques.
Yan Ruyu’s Sword Five, Mi Xue’er’s Cold Star Arrow, Yan Meng’er’s Blade Light Talisman Shadow Array, and Xiao Xinyan’s evolved Lightning Five Consecutive Whips—the Thunder Light Six Flashes.
Boom!
Mystic power surged wildly as four colors of radiance engulfed Yan Zhen. The women panted for breath, staring tensely at the center of the field. Then a wave of heat erupted, the powerful shockwave sending them all tumbling to the ground with resounding thuds and pained cries.
“Ah!”
“Ow~”
“Mmph!”
“Ouch~”
Yan Zhen, having exhausted his mystic power, slowly descended, looking down at them and shaking his head helplessly.
They really were a bit weak. He hadn’t even broken a sweat, and they’d all collapsed.
The four women scrambled to their feet, their expressions a mixed bag.
Yan Meng’er looked downright aggrieved, as if she’d been bullied; Yan Ruyu bit her lip, unwilling to accept defeat; Mi Xue’er stroked Tianshan Snow Eagle’s head with a resentful pout; Xiao Xinyan hung her head in shame, avoiding Yan Zhen’s gaze.
“Cousin, what was that for? You nearly flattened Meng’er’s butt!”
“Yeah, a mighty Mystic Lord powerhouse ambushing us little Mystic Generals? Little Brother Yan Zhen, that’s not playing fair!”
Yan Meng’er and Mi Xue’er voiced their complaints, while Yan Ruyu and Xiao Xinyan stayed quiet.
Yan Zhen shot a glance at the two slackers.
“I was just testing your skills on a whim. I didn’t expect you to be this—”
No match.
Yan Ruyu and Xiao Xinyan caught the unspoken word. One turned away haughtily, the other bowed her head guiltily.
“We’re not weak! Among our peers, we’re top-notch,” Mi Xue’er retorted. “It’s just that you’re such a freak, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
“Don’t underestimate us, Cousin,” Yan Meng’er said, arms crossed under her chest to emphasize her already prominent 36D curves. “If we went all out, we could even take on a Mystic King.”
Seeing his cousin’s smug look only made Yan Zhen more speechless.
—Was it possible that the ones who could fight a Mystic King were actually Cousin Ruyu, Senior Sister Xue’er, and Senior Sister Xinyan… and had nothing to do with a slacker like Meng’er?
Cousin Ruyu’s strength was solid enough. Senior Sister Xue’er had Tianshan Snow Eagle’s help. Senior Sister Xinyan knew a variety of Mystic techniques. Each had their strengths. Only Meng’er was half-baked in cultivation base, techniques, and combat experience alike. Even her one redeeming quality—talisman patterns and array formations—was only superficial.
Yan Zhen stepped forward and pinched Meng’er’s tender cheek, tugging it firmly.
“You’re the weakest here, and yet you talk the most… Have you been taking my advice to cultivate seriously to heart?”
“Ow ow ow~~~” Yan Meng’er instantly surrendered. “Cousin, let go! Meng’er knows she was wrong.”
Yan Zhen released her with a light huff.
Yan Meng’er rubbed her cute cheek, fretting that it might be ruined and unattractive, and pouted.
“Aww, Cousin, Meng’er hasn’t been slacking! I’ve been cultivating whenever I had free time~”
Yan Zhen felt a vein throb on his forehead.
” ‘Whenever I had free time’? Cultivation is your main job. Everything else is free time.”
Yan Meng’er’s face stiffened awkwardly as she whistled innocently.
Yan Zhen turned to Yan Ruyu.
“Cousin, you should’ve been pushing Meng’er harder.”
Yan Ruyu pursed her lips.
“I have been, but this stubborn girl is thick-skinned as they come. Spanking her butt doesn’t even work—she’s a total lazy pig.”
“Cousin, I-I’m not~”
Yan Meng’er shot desperate glances, begging her cousin not to sell her out, but Yan Ruyu ignored her to save herself.
“…”
Sensing her cousin’s cool gaze, Yan Meng’er grinned sheepishly and latched onto his arm, wheedling.
Yan Zhen stood firm.
“From now on, I’ll check your cultivation progress every month. If you don’t meet the mark, you’ll cultivate on the sidelines while we’re… enjoying ourselves.”
Yan Meng’er’s eyes flew wide in shock. What kind of ultimate torture was this? Too cruel!
“Cousin~”
“Spoiled or not, it’s no use.” Yan Zhen showed the stern side of an older brother. “Cousin pampers you too much. Train with Senior Sister Xinyan from now on, and if you slack off again, your butt will be black and blue.”
“Wu…”
Xiao Xinyan couldn’t help smiling at that. Realizing her efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed by Yan Zhen filled her heart with quiet joy.
Feeling ignored, Mi Xue’er piped up.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, what about me?”
Yan Zhen pointed at Tianshan Snow Eagle.
“Play with the bird.”
After all, it was a Tier 5 King Beast. Master that, and crushing peers would be a breeze.
