Longyin Hall, deep within, inside the Red Dragon Abode.
As the newly appointed Saintess of the Nine Heavens Palace, Chi Lian’s first night was especially difficult to endure.
She lay alone on the spacious bed, tossing and turning.
A pale red, sheer nightgown clung to her voluptuous, curvaceous figure; under the candlelight, the fabric faintly revealed the delicate skin beneath.
On her mature and alluring face, her eyes were as clear as a maiden’s.
At this moment, they blinked restlessly, revealing a trace of confusion and helplessness.
Her jade-white toes curled slightly beneath the brocade quilt.
Once more, she sat up, lowering her gaze to examine her attire.
This nightgown had been sent by Qin Qingyue.
The material was light as cicada wings, but the style was unexpectedly modest, carrying a hint of girlish shyness that formed a strange contrast to her mature physique.
Only after confirming everything was in order did she lie down again.
Closing her eyes, the events of recent days flashed before her mind like a revolving lantern.
From an ordinary Dragon Lady of the Red Dragon Clan to now being the Saintess of the Nine Heavens Palace, the change had been too fast, too unreal.
“How could a dragon like me…be worthy of being Saintess?” she whispered to herself, opening her eyes again, afraid it was all just a dream.
“Why was I chosen?”
A strong sense of unworthiness spread in her heart, turning this sudden glory into a heavy burden.
She tossed and turned in unease, afraid of losing everything, yet not daring to believe she had already gained it.
“Do I really deserve this?”
Chi Lian turned her head, her gaze falling on the tightly closed door, silently waiting for someone to push it open.
Tonight, he should come, right?
Though Jiang Huai had never made any clear promise, she simply felt he would come.
Because he was always so considerate, always able to sense the unease in her heart.
Outside the door, footsteps grew nearer.
Chi Lian’s heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly closed her eyes, her long lashes quivering.
She adjusted her breathing, pretending to be asleep.
The door was pushed open gently.
Jiang Huai, dressed in white, stepped into the room.
The candlelight cast a warm halo over him.
“Asleep?” His voice was gentle, unusually clear in the quiet room.
Chi Lian “woke” at the right moment, rubbing her eyes, pretending she had just been disturbed from sleep.
Her voice was laced with drowsiness: “No…just a little muddled.”
She propped herself up, and the thin nightgown slipped off her shoulder with the motion, revealing her delicate collarbone.
The fabric clung to her ample chest and slender waist, outlining the exquisite curves unique to a mature woman.
Yet, her action of rubbing her eyes and her dazed expression carried the coyness of a young maiden.
“Jiang Gong—”
“Don’t call me Young Lord Jiang.” Jiang Huai gently interrupted, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
Chi Lian was startled, instinctively curling up, half her face buried in the blanket, only her bright, watery eyes visible as she whispered:
“Husband Lord…”
This softly spoken “Husband Lord” was tentative and shy, as if it had rolled around her tongue countless times before finally finding the courage to escape.
Jiang Huai gazed at the contradictory girl before him.
She had the allure of a mature woman, yet her heart was pure as freshly fallen snow.
He reached out, straightening her slipped collar.
His fingertips unintentionally brushed her warm skin.
Chi Lian’s slender body trembled, but she didn’t shrink from Jiang Huai’s gaze.
“You seem reluctant to call me Husband Lord. Is it because you don’t want to be a concubine?” he asked gently.
“No, it’s not that.” Chi Lian lowered her eyes, her voice so soft it was almost to herself.
“I have no reluctance. Young Lord Jiang is a very good man. Being able to stay by your side, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
“It’s just…you’re too good to me.”
She paused, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the corner of her robe: “But I myself…”
The inferiority and unease deeply buried in her heart surged up again, making her want to speak, yet stop herself.
Jiang Huai was silent for a moment.
Watching the obvious struggle on her face, he said frankly:
“Since I’ve married you, I will treat you well.”
“But I…” He lowered his head, the solemn face of White Dew flashing through his mind.
He needed Yin-Yang Power, needed the Yin-Yang Body to reach perfection.
He needed to be able to protect Qin Qingyue and all those he cared about in the possible crises to come in the Immortal Realm.
Even if his means weren’t completely aboveboard, even if it went against convention, he accepted it.
He needed this power.
“I will take you to the Immortal Realm in the future,” he promised.
“Jiang…Husband Lord,” Chi Lian shook her head lightly, a hint of bitterness on her lips.
“I can’t go to the Immortal Realm. My talent is limited. It’s good enough just to walk with you through the Five Provinces. There’s no need to trouble yourself for me.”
She lifted her eyes, her gaze clear.
“You don’t need to make such decisions just because you feel you owe me, Young Lord Jiang.”
“I’m not worthy to be Saintess. My talent will only make Nine Heavens Palace a laughingstock.”
“I was only a maidservant before.”
“Whether you are worthy or not isn’t for others to decide.” Jiang Huai looked into her eyes.
The lamplight cast flickering shadows on his handsome face, making his features appear especially deep and resolute.
“I only ask, are you willing to stay by my side?”
Chi Lian looked at his face so close to hers. Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
Her gaze fell to his slender neck, and an unspeakable longing welled up in her heart, followed by a deeper sense of guilt.
“Of course I’m willing,” her voice trembled slightly.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here with you…”
“Why do you keep staring at my neck?”
Chi Lian was speechless for a moment.
“If you have something to say, you can say it to me.” Jiang Huai’s voice was even gentler, full of encouragement.
After a brief struggle, Chi Lian finally turned her head away, her ears flushed red, and whispered like a mosquito:
“I…I want to strangle your neck.”
“Hmm???” Jiang Huai was dumbfounded, his eyes widening.
“And then? Strangle me to death?”
The abrupt turn caught him completely off guard.
“No.” Chi Lian hurriedly shook her head, quickly licking her somewhat dry lips with the tip of her tongue before pressing them together again.
“Then…with you…that.” Her voice grew smaller and smaller, almost inaudible.
“Why are you all like this?” Jiang Huai couldn’t help but be shocked.
Was this a common trait among dragon clans?
Previously, Qin Qingyue had wanted to do this too, but he had refused her.
Even Zhu Siyao had similar inclinations.
It seemed that every one of them wanted to fiercely torment him in their passion before they were satisfied.
Chi Lian hugged her arms tightly, speaking softly:
“It’s the Yuq Period…my Yuq Period is like this.” She sneaked a glance at Jiang Huai, feeling ashamed of her own thoughts, but still mustered the courage to say:
“I just want to bully you until you’re in tears…”
“If…if I don’t satisfy you, what happens when the Yuq Period arrives?”
“It gets really uncomfortable,” Chi Lian whispered.
“But it’s fine, you don’t have to mind.”
Jiang Huai fell silent.
He looked at the woman before him, mature in appearance but innocent and timid at heart, and felt somewhat troubled.
But thinking of how he had brought her here from her familiar world, he felt responsible for her.
“All right.” He sighed softly, closing his eyes in acceptance.
“I’ll try my best to satisfy you.”
“But you can’t tell anyone else about this.”
“Hmm?” Chi Lian blinked in surprise, unconsciously swallowing.
“You can strangle me.”
At the same time, in a remote, shadowy valley far from the Nine Heavens Palace’s floating main hall, Zhu Siyao stood before the entrance of a Secret Realm glowing with faint light.
On both sides of the valley, cliffs towered steeply, jagged rocks jutted out, and dead vines coiled tightly.
At the entrance, the light shimmered, faintly emanating spatial fluctuations.
The surrounding vegetation twisted into unnatural shapes.
Her expression was calm, long sword gripped tightly in her hand, spiritual power slowly circulating around her as she observed her surroundings with vigilance.
“I don’t see any obvious danger, but I can’t rush in recklessly.” She muttered to herself.
This Secret Realm looked like a trial ground for Golden Core cultivators, with the realm restricted right at Golden Core.
“Better to report back to mother first before deciding.”
She hesitated for a moment, another thought flashing through her mind.
“Or go find Jiang Huai? He happens to be at Golden Core.”
Just as she was about to turn and leave, a hazy, bewitching voice seemed to echo directly at her ear:
“Don’t go…let’s have a little chat.”
Zhu Siyao whirled around, scorching flames surging up around her, her sword aura sharp as she shouted:
“Who?!”