Volume 5: Great Marsh Desert
Chapter 1: Yun Xiu: I’ll Go with You
After receiving his instructions, Yan Zhen left the crystal space.
Night had fallen, the cold moon hanging high in the sky, casting a silvery glow.
The elegant beauty, dressed in white, her hair black, stood on a boulder by the river, gazing at the moon, her posture unwavering even as she heard his footsteps approaching.
He landed beside her.
“What are your plans? Are you returning to Cloud Heaven Palace?”
According to the script, with Jiu Youyue having stolen their treasured inheritance, and her failure to stop her, she had to return to the sect, informing the other Palace Masters and investigating the possibility of other Demon Realm spies within Cloud Heaven Palace.
Therefore, upon waking up, she had bid him farewell, her injuries not fully healed.
They weren’t supposed to meet again until half a month later, in the desert.
…
She averted her gaze, turning to him, her cheeks flushing, but she didn’t look away.
“What about you? Where are you going?”
He answered honestly, “I’m crossing the Demon Dragon Mountain Range, going to the Great Marsh Desert to search for the Water Elemental Heart. I need it to refine the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire.”
She sighed inwardly. As expected, he was going to the Great Marsh Desert.
Once he went to the desert, he would undoubtedly, as in her previous life, meet the Serpent Queen, the ruler of the Water City, then, through a series of mishaps, sleep with her, resulting in her pregnancy, forcing him to marry her.
She wasn’t jealous of the Serpent Queen, but she envied her fertility.
Although she and Yan Zhen hadn’t crossed the final line in their previous life, she couldn’t help but wonder, if he had been more forceful, if she had also gotten pregnant, would she have been able to…
She unconsciously touched her abdomen.
He had “filled” her three times today… could she be…? No, no, no!
She was startled, scolding herself for such thoughts. Sleeping with him was already inappropriate. If she got pregnant, it would be disastrous! She had to refine his “essence” as soon as possible!
“Yun Xiu?”
“I’ll… go with you.”
Her answer surprised him, his mind momentarily blanking.
“Huh?”
“The Great Marsh Desert is a dangerous place. At your cultivation level, reaching the Water City in the desert’s center would be difficult.” She said seriously, “I’ll escort you. Consider it my repayment for saving my life.”
Another plot change? No! He quickly waved his hands.
“There’s no need! I can handle it myself! You have important matters to attend to at Cloud Heaven Palace, right?”
Yun Xiu shook her head.
“Besides me, Cloud Heaven Palace has seven other Palace Masters. It won’t be a problem if I’m away for a year or two.”
She had rushed back to Cloud Heaven Palace in her previous life to report Jiu Youyue’s actions to the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground, but she didn’t need to do that this time.
Yan Zhen was more important.
She didn’t want him to meet the Serpent Queen, and she definitely didn’t want the Serpent Queen to get pregnant. Otherwise, Wenqing’s position as his fiancée would be awkward.
Besides, it was in the desert that he had learned about his father’s disappearance. She would stay by his side this time, ensuring that situation was handled properly, preventing a repeat of the tragedy.
This was her top priority.
She never wanted to hear him ask again, his voice filled with despair and rage, “Your Cloud Heaven Palace disciples’ lives are precious, but what about my grandfather’s life? Who will pay for that? Who?!”
…
Seeing her determination to follow him, he felt a headache coming on.
Having a Mystic Lord realm expert as a bodyguard was reassuring, but it wasn’t in the script! He was supposed to learn a new Mystic Skill from his Beautiful Sect Master on his way to the Great Marsh Desert.
More accurately, a sword technique.
After refining the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, his Spiritual Power would skyrocket, allowing him to begin forging the Gold and Silver Fire into a sword. Using that sword to unleash the new technique… it would be both powerful and stylish!
Don’t ruin his plans!
“I told you, you don’t have to repay me. You don’t even have to… offer “yourselves”.”
She blushed, remembering how she had also said “a temporary surrender” under Jiu Youyue’s influence.
Now he was using her own words against her.
— This brat…
“Not repaying a debt of gratitude… that’s not how I do things.”
“Sigh, fine. Come if you want. But if we encounter any danger, you’re not allowed to interfere. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Mmm, I’ll only help if you can’t handle it. Is that okay?”
“That’s more like it.”
She smiled.
“When are we leaving?”
“We’ll rest here tonight, then set off at dawn.” He glanced at the nearby river. “This place is nice. We’ll camp here.”
…
He expertly set up the tent, then caught two fish from the river, cleaned them, and started a fire, grilling them.
She sat by the tent, watching him, her heart peaceful.
Without Jiu Youyue’s interruptions, she could finally focus on him.
…
He handed her a grilled fish after it was cooked. She tried to refuse.
“I’m not hungry. You eat it.”
“Take it.”
He shoved the grilled fish into her hands, then began eating his own portion with gusto.
How domineering… She bit her lip, then took a small bite.
He had added some kind of medicinal powder. Even the bland fish tasted delicious.
After their meal, they washed their hands in the river.
He returned to the tent, spreading out the mat, asking casually, “Yun Xiu, do you want to sleep on the inside or the outside?”
“I’ll sleep in–” She was about to answer, then quickly changed her mind. “I’ll… I’ll just meditate outside.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t insist.
She bit her lip, trying to sound authoritative.
“Yan Zhen, since we know each other’s true identities, we can’t address each other like before. You should call me ‘Master,’ like Wenqing.”
He emerged from the tent, his expression strange.
“That’s not possible. I only have one master. She’ll be angry if I call you ‘Master’ too.”
His Beautiful Sect Master seemed to be quite possessive. She had even been jealous of Instructor Yu Xuan back at the Mystic Academy. He didn’t want to upset her and face her wrath.
Thinking of Chen Xi, Yun Xiu also felt a bit apprehensive.
“Then… ‘National Preceptor’ or ‘Cloud Heaven Palace Master’?”
He blinked, then said softly, “But you said… until we leave the Demon Dragon Mountain Range… we’re still lovers.”
She blushed.
“That… doesn’t count anymore.”
He frowned.
“You can’t just… decide that! It’s not fair!”
“What do you want?” She was starting to feel unjustly treated. “I won’t… do that with you again.”
“That?” It took him a moment to understand, then he blushed. “I-I’m not just thinking about… that.”
“That’s good.”
“Ahem, I mean… we can just… continue as before.” He said calmly, “Let me be clear, I won’t marry into Cloud Heaven Palace. And I might not marry Wenqing either.”
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