Watching the touching master-disciple scene unfolding before her, Jiu Youyue felt utterly bizarre. Little Zhen Zhen had completely mistaken the Evil Consort for Master Chen Xi, and she had no idea how to make him snap out of it.
This wasn’t some simple brainwashing. It was a profoundly intricate memory alteration.
In Yan Zhen’s mind, he did indeed have a beloved master—the Evil Consort had simply replaced Chen Xi with herself. He also remembered his ambiguously romantic entanglement with Jiu Youyue, but it had shifted from “tangled mess between a seductive demoness and the Saint Son” to “fellow disciples who were also dual cultivation partners.”
Jiu Youyue frowned in worry. The one silver lining was that the Evil Consort truly harbored no ill intentions toward Little Zhen Zhen.
She’d gone to such exhaustive lengths—by hook or by crook—simply because she knew she couldn’t beat him outright. Turning him into “one of her own” felt oddly reassuring.
Yellow Springs Water was a sacred treasure of the Evil God Clan, incredibly rare. Even deploying the Fate-Altering Technique from the Evil God Defying Heaven Book came at a steep cost—her face had already gone pale.
That said, what was the deal with those future memories?
In her dazed state earlier, she’d vaguely overheard two Evil Consorts conversing. One of them had seemed like a version from the future.
“Jiu Youyue!”
Hearing the Evil Consort call her name, Jiu Youyue snapped back to attention.
“Yes—yes!”
“Since you’re fine now, this palace will take its leave. You and your junior brother should catch up.” The Evil Consort rose gracefully. “Yan’er, if you plan to refine the Solar Essence Flame or the Taiyin Primordial Fire, come to the Consort God Palace. This palace will guard you.”
Yan Zhen nodded obediently.
“Got it, Evil Consort Master. See you soon—I’ll come find you right away.”
The Evil Consort’s gaze softened.
“No rush. Take care of your health first.”
Jiu Youyue stood and bowed her head.
“Respectfully seeing off Master.”
The Evil Consort gave Jiu Youyue a deep look before gliding out of the Lake Heart Pavilion. Each step covered over a hundred zhang, and she soon vanished from sight.
Only then did Jiu Youyue let out a long breath and sit back down. She poured herself a cup of tea to steady her nerves.
“Big Sis doesn’t need to be so scared of Evil Consort Master. She’s always been cold on the surface but warm at heart—strict-looking, but actually very gentle.”
At those words, Jiu Youyue set down her teacup and turned to her lover—or rather, her little junior brother now. Seeing his pure, innocent expression, she couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke his cheek.
“You really don’t remember anything, Little Zhen Zhen?”
Yan Zhen blinked.
“Remember what?”
Jiu Youyue thought for a moment and tested the waters.
“Chen Xi.”
Yan Zhen furrowed his brow.
“I remember her. Technique Saint Chen Xi—the one who wounded Evil Consort Master. Because of her, Master’s health hasn’t been great. But she got what was coming—ended up falling. That’s why her friend, Jialan Fairy, has it out for our Evil God Clan.”
Jiu Youyue stared in stunned silence because everything he’d said was factual.
The same memories, viewed through a different lens, took on entirely new meanings. Yan Zhen’s tone now favored the Evil Consort, viewing Jialan Fairy and Chen Xi as enemies.
She pondered again and tried another name.
“What about ‘Yun Xiu’?”
Yan Zhen’s handsome face flushed red. He waved his hands frantically.
“Big Sis, I-I swear, nothing’s going on with her. Or with Huangfu Wenqing… Really. I’d be a puppy if I’m lying~”
He looked just like a guilty boyfriend making excuses for cheating.
He even remembered Big Sis and Wenqing? Jiu Youyue’s curiosity piqued, so she decided to tease him.
“Come on, spill it—confess and get mercy, resist and face the hammer!”
Yan Zhen said weakly,
“We really didn’t have anything. I told you before. Back when I went to the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range to pick you up, Big Sis, I saw someone hurt and patched her up. Turns out she was the Cloud Heaven Palace Great Palace Lord chasing you down, which led to her hounding us all the way to the City of Water.”
“And then?”
“Then we split up. She caught me and said I wasn’t a bad guy, urged me to abandon the dark and embrace the light. I ignored her and ran. She chased me right into the Red Sand Scorpion Lord’s lair, where we stumbled on the Great Crimson Heaven Flame. The Myriad Snake Queen was there too—she’d botched her evolution and was about to croak. So I saved her on impulse. Then you showed up, Big Sis.”
Sudden realization dawned on Jiu Youyue. Recalling Yan Zhen’s rampage after refining the Great Crimson Heaven Flame, her gaze turned odd. She drawled,
“And then you went all three-way on us, right?”
Yan Zhen looked mortified.
“That was an accident! I had no clue the Great Crimson Heaven Flame would rile up the evil nature in my Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame. Didn’t you already forgive me, Big Sis? Why dredge up old dirt? I haven’t messed up lately.”
Now Little Zhen Zhen seems to value me more than Big Sis or Sister She Ji.
Seeing his aggrieved little expression tugged at Jiu Youyue’s heart. She felt a mix of emotion.
Who would’ve thought the one time I outdid Big Sis and Sister She Ji was riding the Evil Consort’s coattails? Though it hardly counted as a real win.
She pressed on.
“So, Little Zhen Zhen, when was the last time you saw… that woman?”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek.
“About half a year ago. Her and her disciple were heading to Evergreen Continent, so I walked them as far as West Peak City.”
So Big Sis and Wenqing already went to Evergreen Continent.
“There’s that too? And when you parted, did you do anything? Kiss? Hug? Or even…”
Jiu Youyue narrowed her eyes, launching into full girlfriend-grilling mode. But Yan Zhen guiltily ducked his head and mumbled,
“Nope. Really~”
Yeah right, that’s a dead giveaway!
Jiu Youyue inwardly snarked. Big Sis is definitely prim and proper on the outside, wild within—probably serviced Little Zhen Zhen alongside Wenqing. Maybe even a steamy boat romp!
Speaking of Wenqing, what’s her deal? No way they’re still engaged, right? Did the story rewrite them meeting at Holy Land Academy? Little Zhen Zhen infiltrates as a mole, hooks up with Wenqing, Zi Ji, and that rice-bucket loli dragon? What about his classmates at Mystic Academy? Fuckbuddies?
Jiu Youyue’s gossip bug bit hard. Posing as big sis and “quasi-girlfriend,” she grilled her philandering little junior brother on all his romantic escapades.
After going through them all, Jiu Youyue confirmed Yan Zhen’s memories held no cracks—everything fit seamlessly.
Cai Lian was a one-night stand who’d ended up working as an attendant in Jialan Holy Land. No clue she’d gotten pregnant on the first go.
Zi Ji was the little princess of the Heavenly God Clan he’d bonded with during his stint as a mole at Holy Land Academy—frequent dream trysts, shared vibes, mutual admiration.
Long Ying was the rice-bucket loli who’d mooched off his meals back then, now also an attendant in Jialan Holy Land. They’d clashed recently; she was strong but not too bright—nothing to worry about.
