Last night, Shu Yan and the Snow Empress had a rather sensitive conversation, though they spoke in careful hints. Neither dared to be completely direct, but after a thorough discussion, they both arrived at a shared understanding. When it came to such crucial, life-changing decisions, companions absolutely had to talk things out. As for why the Ice Empress wasn't part of it?
The simple reason was that it was totally unnecessary. The Ice Empress is intelligent, but as long as the Snow Empress is nearby, the former completely transforms into a "licking scorpion." Her judgment and wisdom plummet, and she relies almost entirely on the Snow Empress to make her decisions.
However, Shu Yan could roughly guess the Ice Empress's mindset anyway. As proud as she is, her final choice would only be the same as theirs: she would rather die standing than live kneeling in submission.
A Glimpse of Compatibility
They had been chatting for a while, but Shu Yan hadn't paid attention to the time, allowing Xu Jiujiu, who had just finished her cultivation, to stumble upon the scene.
Under the cold moonlight, the handsome man and beautiful woman were earnestly discussing something, occasionally sharing a burst of clear laughter. They looked so... compatible .
Xu Jiujiu silently admitted that she was jealous. She didn't know why, but whenever Shu Yan and the Snow Empress stood together, there was a sense of perfect fit, as if they were a pair truly made in heaven. Compared to that image, she felt like an outsider...
Watching Xu Jiujiu turn her head, jump off the Star Platform, and stomp away in a huff, the Snow Empress raised a delicate eyebrow. She asked in a lazy, amused tone, "Your little girlfriend seems upset. Well, aren't you going to go and coax her?"
Shu Yan let out a heavy, helpless sigh. "Of course, I'm going to coax her. Let's stop here for today, Xue Jie. You should also go back and get some rest early."
The Snow Empress nodded gently, stretched, gave a small yawn, and then vanished instantly like a sudden gust of wind.
Shu Yan stared blankly at the vast, star-filled sky for a moment, letting the silence settle around him. He then climbed down from the pavilion and began walking toward the Princess Manor. As soon as he stepped inside the main hall, he saw Xu Jiujiu sitting on the soft couch with her back turned to him.
Under the warm, gentle light of the lamp, Xu Jiujiu looked as though she had just come from a bath. Her beautiful golden hair was still slightly damp, and she carried the faint scent of clean water. She was wearing nothing but a soft, shimmering golden silk nightgown, leaving her shoulders half-exposed. Her fair, slender calves, which looked like smooth ivory, were also exposed to the air, giving off a subtle, intoxicating fragrance.
Shu Yan walked up and wrapped his arms around Xu Jiujiu from behind. Her soft body stiffened immediately, but she quickly relaxed and melted back against him.
"Why are you back so soon?" she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "Weren't you having a wonderful time talking with Senior Snow Empress? Can you actually still remember me, your official girlfriend? Should I be surprised by your return?"
Her words were saturated with jealousy—a very potent, unmistakable jealousy.
Shu Yan gently bit the side of Xu Jiujiu's smooth, fair neck, then said with an air of mock helplessness, "We were discussing a very important matter, a truly deep topic. You're getting jealous over something like this? It seems my Princess really is a bit petty."
Xu Jiujiu's face turned crimson from Shu Yan's subtle action, but she insisted stubbornly, "Who knows what you were talking about? What if you've grown tired of me and are getting ready to try someone new?"
Shu Yan chuckled softly, then stretched out his hand and pulled Xu Jiujiu directly into his lap, settling her firmly onto his knees.
Xu Jiujiu struggled briefly, only as a formality, before becoming completely docile. Shu Yan's hand, as if guided by an automatic sensor, explored the inside of the golden nightgown and made contact with Xu Jiujiu's fair and smooth thigh. Just as he was about to move further, Xu Jiujiu quickly pressed down on his large hand.
"Letting you touch this Princess's leg is already me being kind to you," she whispered, a hint of genuine fear and excitement trembling in her voice. "Don't push your luck."
Shu Yan's touch had set her entire body ablaze with heat, and in this intimate situation, she instinctively craved the cooling sensation that often emanated from his body. She snuggled further into Shu Yan's embrace, drawing on his warmth and strength.
Shu Yan reluctantly withdrew his exploring hand, but then his eyes shifted to Xu Jiujiu's incredibly beautiful and delicate jade feet, which were resting casually near him.
Xu Jiujiu noticed the intensity of his gaze, glared fiercely at Shu Yan, and then exclaimed in a mock-threatening tone, "Stop staring! If you keep looking, I'll just shove it directly into your mouth! See if you still dare to look after that..."
A mental question mark slowly appeared above Shu Yan's head. For a brief moment, he genuinely couldn't tell if Xu Jiujiu was trying to threaten him with a punishment or tempting him with a reward...
Xu Jiujiu, however, seemed entirely oblivious to the effect her words had on Shu Yan. She shifted back slightly, raised one slender jade leg, and a delicate fragrance drifted into the air. Shu Yan's eyes darkened immediately, and without hesitation, he grasped the small and exquisite jade foot in his hand.
Xu Jiujiu trembled violently. Seeing the sheer, undisguised aggression and desire in Shu Yan's eyes, she finally realized how incredibly tempting her casual movements were to him.
Swallowing hard, Xu Jiujiu subconsciously tried to pull her leg back, but she found that Shu Yan's strength was overwhelming. The next moment, Shu Yan's voice, low and husky, came into her ear:
"Jiu Jiu, do you truly believe I can just sit here without being affected by you..."
Xu Jiujiu shook her head frantically, then forced out a slightly pleading smile. She whispered softly, "A Yan, can you please let go of me first? It's so ticklish. I promise, I won't do that again next time..."
Shu Yan pressed closer, his body pinning Xu Jiujiu beneath him on the couch. Their forms were pressed tightly together, and Shu Yan's large hand moved forward just a little more. Xu Jiujiu trembled all over, closed her eyes tightly in fear and quickly rushed out her words:
"Not yet, A Yan! Please, at least... at least wait two more years. I'm begging you, just touch me here, okay?"
The girl's tender voice, which held a faint, shaky hint of crying, made Shu Yan's desire recede slightly. He gently rubbed Xu Jiujiu's soft waist, sighed with resignation, and then said:
"Alright, alright, don't cry. You're making me feel like a complete monster..."
It took a long time for Xu Jiujiu to slowly open her eyes. She looked at Shu Yan's sincere expression as he affectionately rubbed his head against hers, and her heart slowly calmed down. Then, she suddenly burst into soft laughter, wiping away the faint tears from the corners of her eyes. She gently squeezed Shu Yan's face and said softly:
"Why are you so silly sometimes? What am I going to do with you, A Yan? I think I like you even more now. I feel like I can never leave you in this lifetime..."
Shu Yan leaned down and sealed her words with a kiss on Xu Jiujiu's red lips. Xu Jiujiu actively tilted her head back, eager to deepen the kiss. They lingered for a while, lost in the moment, then embraced and finally fell asleep.
In a daze, Xu Jiujiu's eyes fluttered open. Shu Yan's face was clearly reflected in her azure eyes. A hint of deep infatuation flashed in her gaze. Subconsciously, she snuggled closer into Shu Yan's arms, forcefully pulled one of his arms, positioned it beneath her head like a pillow, and instantly fell back into a deep, peaceful sleep.
After Xu Jiujiu was soundly asleep, Shu Yan opened his eyes. He felt his arm, which was completely numb beneath her head, and he sighed, pinching the girl's soft cheek in a gesture of helpless affection. Truthfully, he felt almost no sleepiness at all; his mind was sharp and wide awake.
After reaching the Soul King level, sleep was hardly a necessity for him anymore. He only needed to meditate to replace all the functions of sleep. However, Xu Jiujiu wasn't at that stage yet. Since she wanted him to stay by her side, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
A few nights without meditation was nothing; it barely impacted his overall Spirit Power cultivation anyway. Taking a break to occasionally relax his nerves was actually very necessary.
While lost in thought, Shu Yan began to make plans for the future. Currently, many of the opportunities and treasures he knew about from the future were not difficult to acquire.
These were all vital treasures. Before the main plot even began, he had to collect these items one by one. After carefully thinking through his options for a moment, Shu Yan already had a clear set of ideas forming in his mind.