Chapter 34: Controlled Again
After the bath, the Serpent Queen summoned the palace maids to serve dinner, a table laden with dishes laid out for Yan Zhen.
“Hosting” wasn’t quite the right word. She hadn’t treated him as a guest, simply sharing a meal with him.
After dinner, she planned to review some memorials before bed. Curious about her work, he asked to watch.
Normally, this would be against protocol, but she didn’t treat him as an outsider, leading him to her study.
“Sit there.”
She pointed at the chair behind the desk. He blinked.
“Isn’t that your seat?”
“There are no other chairs.”
“Then I’ll stand.”
“You’ll be in my way.”
She grabbed him by the collar, effortlessly tossing him onto the large, ornate chair, then sat beside him, picking up a memorial, her gaze focused.
He looked around, marveling at the unique decor, then his gaze settled on the stacks of memorials on the desk.
“Can I… look at these?”
She replied without looking up, “Do as you please. Just put them back where you found them.”
He nodded, picking up a random memorial, and began reading.
Due to the recent Sand Scorpion attacks, most of the memorials were military reports. Military matters were currently the top priority. Everything else was secondary.
And over half of the reports were from the Southern Fortress, which had been repeatedly targeted by the Sand Scorpions, three large-scale attacks and countless smaller skirmishes.
As far as he knew, the Southern Fortress was the furthest from the Water City, making it difficult for them to receive timely reinforcements. And Commander Ye Mei was relatively weaker than the other commanders. Therefore, the Sand Scorpions had targeted it, hoping to gain a foothold, then expand their offensive.
Such military tactics were usually employed by humans. Mystic Beasts like Sand Scorpions, their intelligence limited, wouldn’t be capable of such strategic thinking.
Even the Crimson Sand Scorpion King, having reached the Mystic Sovereign realm, his intelligence comparable to a human’s, was only at the level of an ordinary person.
This meant someone from the Demon Realm was advising them.
They were helping the Crimson Sand Scorpion King attack the Water City, creating a crisis, while simultaneously sending emissaries to persuade the Serpent Queen to surrender, promising to help her eliminate the Sand Scorpions.
The Demon Realm’s goal was to infiltrate the Water City, turning it into a strategic stronghold, part of their larger plan against the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground.
…
He hesitated, then decided to warn her, preventing her from falling into their trap.
“There might be someone… behind the Sand Scorpions, helping them.”
“You noticed too?”
Too?
“Uh… you knew?”
“Do you think I’m that stupid?”
“That’s not what I…”
“Don’t worry, I have it under control. I already have a plan.”
“What plan?”
She retrieved a memorial with a scale-patterned cover, placing it before him, indicating for him to open it. Inside was her “bait and switch” plan.
He read it carefully, his heart filled with shock, as if seeing her for the first time.
With her proud and stubborn personality, she was actually using a strategy of strategic retreat?!
In the script, she had ordered her forces to defend the fortresses at all costs, not letting a single scorpion through. And the Water City’s soldiers, sharing her mindset, had followed her orders, fighting to the death.
Having ruled this desert for so long, they had become complacent, unable to accept that mere scorpions could defeat them.
It was only when the Sand Scorpion army reached the city’s gates that they had realized the futility of direct confrontation, resorting to a cunning plan, sneaking into the scorpions’ lair to steal the Great Crimson Skyfire.
“Such a tactic… although risky, it could be incredibly effective if it works.”
“It only works because the Crimson Sand Scorpion King hasn’t refined the Great Crimson Skyfire. Ultimately, it depends on whether I can successfully evolve my bloodline. Otherwise, it’s all pointless.”
“Then… take me with you. I can suppress the Extreme Flame’s ferocity. I can help you.”
“Mmm.”
In their past life, he had used the Emperor Flame Technique and the Fire Refining Starry Sky to help her suppress the Great Crimson Skyfire at a crucial moment, enabling her to successfully evolve her bloodline. Otherwise, she would have been incinerated.
However, she could have her daughter help her control the flame this time. Even without his help, she should be fine.
The reason she was bringing him along was because he needed the Great Crimson Skyfire. She was returning the favor.
…
They continued reading, her reviewing memorials, him casually flipping through the documents, until late at night, when a palace maid entered, reminding her it was time to rest.
She set down the memorials, looking at him, her voice calm.
“I’ll try my best to fulfill Yan Yan’s requests. I hope you’ll do the same.”
She stood up, entering her bedroom.
“…”
He blinked, then, after a moment of hesitation, followed her.
…
She had a preference for red, so her bedroom was decorated in various shades of red. A circular bed, draped with a translucent red canopy, its occupant faintly visible, dominated the room.
Remembering his recent… release, and the lingering effects of his sage mode, he felt a surge of confidence, lifting the canopy.
She was already in bed, her long hair curled and draped over her chest, a slightly precarious hairstyle, but it prevented her from sleeping on it.
Their eyes met, their faces flushing slightly, like an old married couple preparing for a night of intimacy.
His mind went blank, and he blurted out, “Can I… get into bed?”
She nodded shyly.
“Thank you.”
He blushed, removing his shoes, climbing onto the bed, slipping under the covers, then lay there stiffly, not daring to move.
She turned to face him, her hand reaching out from under the covers, caressing his cheek, her lips close to his ear, her voice a soft whisper.
“Yan Yan said… you like me to… nibble your ear before you sleep… is that true?”
His ears burned. Yan Yan even knows about that? Although a live ASMR performance sounded… intriguing, he quickly denied it.
“No, I… I fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes, and I wake up as soon as I open them. I don’t need any… sleep aids.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely!”
“Then why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“Uh… I’m not used to this bed… I’m a bit… nervous.”
“Hmph, then let me… ease your nerves.”
“No, don’t– Mmm~”
He felt her warm, wet mouth on his ear, her tongue skillfully probing his ear canal, his mind emptying, his thoughts scattering.
— She’s got me again!
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