75 Laying the Foundation
Hearing their conversation, Yan Zhen felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead. Although he knew Zi Xunyi was only making an empty threat, as a man, he had to speak up.
Yan Zhen stood up and cleared his throat. “Zi Ji—”
Just as he started, Zi Xunyi flicked her handkerchief, rolled into a ball, directly into his mouth, effectively silencing him.
—Seriously?
Yan Zhen blinked innocently, pulled out the fragrant handkerchief, and put it away.
Huangfu Wenqing’s expression flickered. She wanted to grab the recording, but she was no match for Zi Xunyi. And the consequences of refusing were too great, so she chose to endure the humiliation.
“You win this round.”
Zi Xunyi smiled faintly. “Wise choice. Then it’s settled. You’ll live here from now on. Remember your duties as a servant. And also, you’ll have to adjust your address. Call me ‘Lady Zi Ji,’ call Yan Zhen ‘Master,’ and call Little Long Ying ‘Lady Long Ying’.”
Huangfu Wenqing clenched her fists, her teeth gritted. “Don’t push it!”
“Forget it, titles are trivial matters. I won’t bicker with you over this. However, if you disobey me, I’ll make another copy of this recording and send it to Cloud Heaven Palace in the Gallo Kingdom, letting your Master see her disciple’s… indecent behavior. Hehehe~~~”
“Ugh…”
Huangfu Wenqing was indignant. She had just gotten close to Yan Zhen, only to be sabotaged by her rival.
—That Celestial God Clan Goddess, using such underhanded tactics!
But if her Master saw the recording, what would she think?
The dragon mark was so distinctive. If Master had been intimate with Yan Zhen, she would recognize it as his, wouldn’t she?
And with Master’s intelligence, she would naturally realize that the young man she had feelings for was her disciple’s fiancé.
Master liked Yan Zhen, and she was his fiancée, with the right to be intimate with him, while Master could only yearn from afar.
Just the thought of this made Huangfu Wenqing feel a thrill of excitement, as if she had… cuckolded her Master.
“Hee hee~”
Zi Xunyi frowned, seeing Huangfu Wenqing’s strange smile, a chill running down her spine.
—Why does this woman seem… creepy? Is it just me?
Huangfu Wenqing quickly composed herself, turning to Yan Zhen. “It’s getting late. I’ll go back to my room. You should rest early too.”
Yan Zhen nodded, patted her head, and smiled gently. “Don’t overthink it.”
Huangfu Wenqing’s bad mood instantly vanished. Without even glancing at Zi Xunyi, she left the room.
Only Zi Xunyi and Yan Zhen remained. He spoke first, “Ahem, Zi Ji, about that…”
Zi Xunyi quickly hid the reflection mirror behind her back. “I’m not giving it to you. It’s my leverage against that little thief, to keep her in her place!”
She put the mirror away in her storage ring.
Yan Zhen scratched his head and asked tentatively, “Are you… angry?”
“Who’s angry?” Zi Xunyi turned her face away, then suddenly asked, “Did that Instructor Yu Xuan… do similar things to you?”
—Cough, cough.
Yan Zhen was embarrassed and mumbled an affirmation.
The thought of Instructor Yu Xuan also serving Yan Zhen like Huangfu Wenqing, bringing him pleasure, made Zi Xunyi feel even more uncomfortable.
“You know you’re not fated to be with them, so why don’t you just reject them clearly?”
Yan Zhen smiled faintly. “Fate is a mysterious thing. It’s better to let nature take its course.”
Zi Xunyi snorted softly. “Bad man.”
Yan Zhen reached out, putting his arms around Zi Xunyi’s slender waist and pulling her closer. She didn’t resist but placed her hands on his chest, maintaining a distance, as if saying, “I won’t get too close to a bad man.”
Yan Zhen pulled her closer, their bodies almost touching.
“I’m not bad. I just want to be… bad to you~”
Zi Xunyi blushed and said coyly, “I don’t want you to be bad to me…”
Yan Zhen tilted his head slightly, looked at her delicate ear, leaned in, and whispered, “Stay here tonight, okay?”
His lips brushed against her ear as he spoke, sending shivers down her spine, her body warming.
Zi Xunyi bit her lip and whispered, “Will Little Long Ying be alright sleeping alone?”
“Don’t worry about her. She won’t wake up until she’s hungry.”
Yan Zhen gently caressed Zi Xunyi’s back, enjoying the smooth feel of her silk nightgown. The warmth emanating from her body indicated her arousal.
“Don’t worry, I won’t… do anything. I’ll just… teach you some… relevant knowledge, okay?”
Zi Xunyi lowered her head, remaining silent.
Yan Zhen understood her silent consent, lifted her into his arms, carried her to the bed, and sat down.
Zi Xunyi sat sideways on his lap, her arms around his neck, the wide sleeves of her nightgown sliding down to reveal her fair arms.
A blush colored her beautiful face, and she leaned in, offering her lips.
Yan Zhen responded to her kiss, his hand undoing her sash.
The bed curtains fell automatically, concealing the scene.
That night, Yan Zhen “educated” his future wife until late into the night, not just with words, but also with actions, including the dual cultivation technique that guaranteed pregnancy. Zi Xunyi even took out the reflection mirror, replaying the recording and comparing it to their own actions, learning diligently. They finally fell asleep in each other’s arms just before dawn.
He had to lay the foundation before they officially began. Otherwise, how could she, a novice, possibly keep up with him?
Their premature intimacy was for the sake of creating a body for their daughter. Zi Xunyi couldn’t be defeated too quickly; she had to match his pace.
In other words, she didn’t have to reach his cousin Ruyu’s level, but she couldn’t be like his cousin Meng’er either.
Meanwhile, in the next room, Huangfu Wenqing, constantly aware of their activities, barely slept all night, a mix of excitement and frustration churning within her.
Only Long Ying, sleeping in Zi Xunyi’s room on the second floor, slept soundly, not waking until noon, her stomach growling with hunger.
The little Dragon Girl rubbed her eyes, sat up, looked around the empty room, then hopped out of bed.
She sniffed the air, following Yan Zhen’s scent, her little feet padding softly against the stairs.
Soon, she arrived at Yan Zhen’s room on the third floor. Seeing the closed door, she blinked, then walked straight through it.
Long Ying originally only possessed the talent for physical strength, pursuing the ultimate path of overwhelming force. After consuming the Nirvana Fruit, she gained the spatial talent, able to travel vast distances instantly with a flap of her phoenix wings. Passing through a mere door was child’s play.
The little Dragon Girl entered the room and walked towards the curtained bed, still drowsy.
“Zhenzhen, wake up~”
Author note:
(PS: The previous chapter clarified that the recording only captured Huangfu Wenqing, not Yan Zhen’s face directly. Zi Xunyi only used this as leverage to gain the upper hand, threatening Huangfu Wenqing verbally, and wouldn’t actually act on it.)
Leave a Reply