The night was at its deepest.
Cold wind carried fine snowflakes, whistling down from the Nine Heavens.
The moonlight, usually as bright as spilled mercury, was blown into fragmented shards by the frantic wind, flickering uncertainly amidst the clouds.
Snowflakes swirled around Zhu Siyao’s head, a few petals landing on her slightly flushed cheeks.
She was being hoisted by the back of her neck by Su Yingman, like a reluctant little animal, as they flew toward the Nine Heavens Palace.
“Sister Su, why did we come out?” Zhu Siyao asked, her face full of resentment.
She had already changed out of her sleeping robes and was now wearing a formal black and crimson outfit.
The fabric was stiff and the collar was tightly fastened, making her look like a completely different person from her previous lazy self.
She tugged at her collar, her movements clearly showing her annoyance.
“It isn’t like there are any major affairs to handle at the Nine Heavens Palace. Chi Lian and Sister Dian are both there, so why do we have to rush back so urgently?” she complained, her voice scattered by the wind. “Why does it feel like Sister Su was acting strange toward Qin Xuange today? She just looks like her, right? It isn’t like it’s actually her.”
Su Yingman rolled her eyes at her. The gesture was blatant, carrying the helplessness one felt toward a foolish child.
“Do you think I’m stupid?” she said, her voice remaining clear despite the wind. “Guess why I ran?”
She paused, leaned in closer, and lowered her voice. “Didn’t you notice that something was wrong with that Qin Xuange?”
Zhu Siyao didn’t understand. Her large eyes blinked in confusion. “What was wrong?”
Su Yingman didn’t answer immediately.
She stabilized her position in the air and leaned into Zhu Siyao’s ear with great ceremony, whispering a few sentences at a volume only the two of them could hear.
Zhu Siyao’s expression froze instantly.
“What?!” she cried out, nearly breaking free from Su Yingman’s grip. “Then what about my mother?”
She whipped her head around, her eyes burning as she looked at Su Yingman. “Can my mother also come back by borrowing my body?”
If her mother could return like that, even if it was only for a single meeting, it would be enough. Su Yingman shrugged with a hint of helplessness.
“How should I know? Anyway, I was chased away.” She paused and added, “The fact that she could chase me away means she’s in a pretty good mood. I don’t know what she’s planning to do tonight.”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear. Zhu Siyao’s expression also became strange. Even if the Divine Sense really was Qin Qingyue, the body still belonged to Qin Xuange, right?
After a moment, Su Yingman led Zhu Siyao to a slow landing on a solitary peak.
With a casual wave of her hand, pink Lingli surged from her palm, rippling outward like a wave. It instantly melted the surrounding snow to reveal the dark rock beneath, clearing a large, flat space.
Then, she flipped her palm, and a Space Treasure appeared in her hand. It was a small, exquisite house, roughly the size of a three-bedroom apartment, complete with doors, windows, and upturned eaves.
It made a soft thud as it landed on the ground.
Space Treasures were rare and precious.
Aside from ancient families with long histories, it was not easy for a Cultivator of her level to obtain one.
Compared to the deep foundations of the Dragon Race, the Huanhuan Sect was truly nothing, and even the Nine Heavens Palace did not have many Space Treasures.
“Sister Su, are we not going back to the Nine Heavens Palace? Why are we here again?” Zhu Siyao asked, completely confused as she surveyed the unfamiliar environment.
This place was not far from the courtyard where Jiang Huai lived; it was just a solitary mountain peak.
With Su Yingman’s cultivation, she could even look down from here and see the faintly lit little courtyard below.
“Sigh.” Su Yingman pressed a hand to her forehead and lightly patted Zhu Siyao’s shoulder.
The gesture carried the helplessness and care of a Second House toward a Fifth House.
“When will you learn to be more mindful? You are the Master Sister of the Nine Heavens Palace, after all. You need to be more observant.”
She turned to look at the distant courtyard, her voice dropping lower.
“The situation is still unclear. I tested her several times, and combined with my Divine Sense perception, I was only barely able to confirm that it was Qin Qingyue’s Divine Sense. But since this was so sudden, we have to be careful.”
She paused, the moonlight reflecting off her profile, her expression serious.
“We will stay here. I left a formation in the courtyard. If anything happens, I can reach there immediately.”
She looked at Zhu Siyao and spoke with earnest intent. “Always keep an extra eye out for everything, understand?”
Zhu Siyao nodded. She stood atop the high mountain, the night wind fluttering her sleeves with a snap.
She stood with her hands on her hips, her gaze piercing through the layers of night to look down at the courtyard where Jiang Huai was.
Under the moonlight, the courtyard was silent. Zhu Siyao wondered if Qin Qingyue would use Qin Xuange’s body to do something. She carefully considered Qin Qingyue’s personality and couldn’t help but shake her head.
‘She really might do something.’
Inside the courtyard, it was a stark contrast to the whistling cold wind outside.
It was as warm as spring.
The courtyard seemed to be shrouded in an invisible barrier that kept all the cold away.
Even if a mortal were to sleep naked here, they would sleep soundly without being woken by the cold.
Jiang Huai stayed in the main house alone. Qin Xuange stayed in the side room.
Inside the room, the candlelight flickered, casting a slender silhouette.
Qin Qingyue stood before a mirror, inspecting this body that did not belong to her.
She was dressed very provocatively.
Her tall figure was only draped in a set of black light gauze.
The fabric was as thin as a cicada’s wing, and in the space between being covered and revealed, her full and tight figure was showcased without any reservation.
Unlike the Dragon Ladies of the Red Dragon Clan, who were known for being exaggerated—being much fuller in both the chest and hips than ordinary women to display a charming, voluptuous beauty—the figures of the Black Dragon Clan had a different kind of charm.
Although they were full, they were very lean.
The hips were perky but not heavy, and the breasts were full but did not sag. Every curve was just right, as if meticulously carved by the Creator.
With her tall stature and perfect proportions, her simply standing there was a sight to behold.
Qin Qingyue looked at this body in the mirror that was almost identical to her own. Her gaze carried a bit of scrutiny, a bit of satisfaction, and a trace of indescribable complexity.
She coughed twice and spoke to Qin Xuange in the Spirit Platform. ‘Xuange, I felt your cultivation and Gongfa.’
‘There are areas that need improvement. I can give you some pointers.’
Inside the Spirit Platform, Qin Xuange’s figure trembled slightly.
‘Senior…’ She understood the meaning behind those words. Her face lit up with joy, her voice carrying an irrepressible excitement. ‘Then you…’
Who wouldn’t want to be personally guided by the senior they had always admired? That was an opportunity one couldn’t get even if they begged for it.
“Cough.” Qin Qingyue cleared her throat with some embarrassment. ‘I can help you. However, I also have something I want to ask of you.’
‘What is it? Please say it, Senior!’ Qin Xuange said without hesitation.
Qin Qingyue spoke tentatively, her tone carrying a bit of caution. ‘I want to talk to Jiang Zhun tonight to clear some things up. Is it… convenient for you to go find him tonight?’
She paused and then quickly added, ‘I won’t do anything major. I just want to chat and talk with him. Really.’
After all, this body belonged to Qin Xuange. If she wanted to do something, she couldn’t really force it; she could only approach it indirectly.
Inside the Spirit Platform, Qin Xuange fell silent for a moment.
The arrogant face of a certain Red Dragon flashed through her mind, and she remembered the entitled look Chihuang had in the quiet room.
‘Okay!’ she agreed through gritted teeth. Her voice carried a bit of spite and a bit of indescribable anticipation.
Qin Qingyue looked happy. She struck her right palm with her left fist, making a crisp smack. ‘Good! Get ready, I’m going now!’
She paused, her voice full of promise.
‘Don’t worry. Your Gongfa and immortal techniques are all on me. I guarantee you will be completely transformed. I am a Heavenly Immortal, after all. With my guidance, you will surely become the number one dragon among the younger generation of the Five Great Dragon Clans!’
As of now, she was the first Heavenly Immortal level powerhouse the Five Great Dragon Clans had seen in many years, far stronger than any other dragon.
Having said that, she pressed her fingers together, her index and middle fingers unexpectedly forming a small blade condensed from Spiritual Light.
The blade was as thin as a cicada’s wing and glowed with a faint gray light.
‘Senior, what are you doing?’ Qin Xuange asked, puzzled.
Qin Qingyue’s face flushed red as she explained sheepishly, ‘I think this part of yours… well, it’s a bit too lush. How about we trim it a bit?’
As she spoke, she held the small blade and reached downward.
‘This… does this matter?’ Qin Xuange didn’t understand at all.
The small blade brushed past, bringing a cool sensation like a spring breeze blowing over a meadow.
Qin Xuange was stunned for a second, then she covered her face and screamed!
‘Senior! How could you!’
She finally realized what Qin Qingyue was trimming.
That was the only place where she was different from Qin Qingyue.
After all, because Qin Qingyue had spent a long time galloping with Jiang Huai, that area was naturally groomed and organized into an elegant shape.
And although she was a pure and virginal Saintess, she had never deliberately managed that area. Inside the Spirit Platform, Qin Xuange covered her face, her voice trembling with shame.
Qin Qingyue gave a couple of dry laughs, her hands moving steadily without stopping. ‘It looks better if it’s trimmed. It’s fine.’
She paused, her tone sincere. ‘I’m not doing anything else. Really.’