Last night, Shuyan and Xue Jiujing had a long, subtle conversation about several rather sensitive topics. Neither dared to be too direct, but after their heartfelt exchange, they both had a better grasp of each other's thoughts.
Between companions, it was essential to discuss such significant decisions when needed. As for why they didn't include Bingdi?
Simply put—there was no need. Though Bingdi was highly intelligent, once Xue Jiujing was around, she'd turn into a complete simp. Her judgment and reasoning would plummet, relying almost entirely on Xue Jiujing to make decisions.
Even so, Shuyan could mostly guess what Bingdi's stance would be. For someone as proud as her, her final choice would be the same as theirs—she'd rather die standing than live kneeling.
…
Their talk had gone well, but Shuyan had lost track of time—just enough for Xu Jiujiu, who had just awakened from her cultivation state, to catch a glimpse of the two.
Bathed in moonlight, the handsome man and beautiful woman stood talking, laughter occasionally ringing out like wind chimes. It looked… too harmonious.
Xu Jiujiu admitted she was jealous. Very jealous. For some reason, whenever Shuyan stood beside Xue Jiujing, they exuded a kind of natural chemistry, as if they were destined to be together. In comparison… she felt a little lacking.
Watching Jiujiu huff and puff as she jumped off the stargazing platform and stormed away, Xue Jiujing raised an amused brow and said lazily,
"Looks like your little girlfriend's upset. Aren't you going to comfort her?"
Shuyan sighed helplessly and replied,
"I'll go talk to her. That's all for tonight. Sister Xue, you should head back and rest early too."
Xue Jiujing nodded lightly, let out a yawn, stretched, and vanished like a passing breeze.
Shuyan stared out into the vast night sky for a moment before climbing down from the loft. He walked toward the princess's residence, and the moment he stepped into the main hall, he saw Xu Jiujiu sitting with her back to him on the soft couch.
Under the dim, warm lights, she looked like she had just finished bathing—her golden hair still damp, skin glistening with moisture. She wore only a soft golden silk nightgown, one shoulder slightly exposed, her fair, slender legs like ivory, bare to the cool air. A faint, alluring fragrance lingered around her.
Shuyan wrapped his arms around her from behind. Xu Jiujiu's soft body stiffened, but quickly relaxed.
"Oh, you're back? I thought you were having such a lovely chat with Senior Xue Jiujing that you forgot all about your official girlfriend. Should I be surprised you even remembered me?"
The jealousy was palpable.
Shuyan gently bit her smooth, pale neck and said with a wry smile,
"We were discussing something serious. Really serious. And you're getting jealous over that? My dear princess, you're quite the little miser when it comes to affection."
Xu Jiujiu blushed furiously from his teasing but stubbornly retorted,
"How would I know what you were talking about? Maybe you've gotten bored of me and are looking to try a new flavor?"
Shuyan chuckled softly and scooped her directly into his arms, settling her onto his lap.
She struggled symbolically, but quickly surrendered.
His hand, as if guided by instinct, slipped into her silk nightgown and caressed her smooth, pale thigh. Just as he was about to go further, Jiujiu grabbed his hand.
"You're lucky I'm even letting you touch my leg, don't get greedy now."
Her voice was both coquettish and trembling. Shuyan's touch made her whole body flush, and in that moment, she craved the cool comfort of his presence even more. Without thinking, she snuggled deeper into his arms.
Shuyan had no choice but to stop, but then his gaze locked onto her perfectly shaped, porcelain feet.
Noticing his look, Xu Jiujiu glared sharply and warned,
"Stop staring, or I'll stuff them in your mouth. Let's see if you still dare after that…"
A question mark might as well have popped above Shuyan's head. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether she was threatening him… or tempting him.
Unaware of his confusion, Xu Jiujiu shifted a bit, lifted her legs, and a wave of fragrance hit him. Shuyan's eyes darkened, and the next moment, he reached out and held her delicate foot.
Jiujiu trembled all over. Seeing the blatant desire in Shuyan's eyes, she finally realized how seductive her casual action must've looked to him.
Swallowing hard, she instinctively tried to pull her leg back—only to find that his grip was far stronger than she expected. Shuyan murmured softly,
"Jiujiu… do you really think I'm made of stone?"
She shook her head frantically, forcing out a pleading smile as she whispered,
"A-Yan, can you let go first? It tickles… I promise, I won't tease you again…"
But Shuyan didn't back down. Instead, he pushed her down beneath him. Their bodies pressed close, and his hand began moving again.
Jiujiu shivered, shut her eyes tight, and quickly cried out,
"Not yet… we can't… at least two more years, A-Yan… please… just touching is fine…"
Her soft, tearful voice brought Shuyan back to his senses. He gently caressed her waist and let out a long sigh,
"Alright, alright… don't cry. You're making me feel like some kind of beast…"
After a long pause, Jiujiu finally opened her eyes. Seeing Shuyan's innocent look as he rubbed his head, her heart eased. Then, out of nowhere, she giggled and wiped away a tear, cupping his cheeks as she said softly,
"How are you this dumb? What am I going to do… A-Yan, I think I like you even more now. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave you."
Shuyan leaned down and kissed her lips. Jiujiu tilted her head and deepened the kiss, and the two fell into a loving embrace before slowly drifting off to sleep.
…
Half-asleep, Xu Jiujiu opened her eyes. The deep blue of her pupils reflected Shuyan's face perfectly. A dreamy look filled her gaze. Instinctively, she nestled closer, tugged one of his arms under her head like a pillow, and finally fell into peaceful slumber.
Only after she was fully asleep did Shuyan open his eyes.
He stared at his numb arm, sighed helplessly, and pinched the girl's soft cheek. Honestly, he wasn't sleepy at all. His mind was crystal clear.
Now that he had reached the Soul King level, sleep was no longer a necessity. A bit of meditation could easily replace it. But Xu Jiujiu still needed rest. Since she wanted him close, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
Missing a few nights of meditation wouldn't affect his cultivation at all. In fact, occasionally unwinding his nerves like this was probably good for him.
As his thoughts wandered, Shuyan began planning his next steps. He already knew of many upcoming opportunities—important treasures tied to major fateful events. Before the plot truly began, he needed to collect them one by one.
After thinking it over carefully, he already had a plan in mind.