The crisp sound of shattering rang sharply through the great hall.
For a moment, time itself seemed to slow.
In the widened pupils of Sea Witch and Bo Saixi, the jade bowl split cleanly into two halves—
And more than twenty golden grains of rice scattered into the air, falling toward the cold marble floor.
"No—!"
Sea Witch's mind went blank.
Only one desperate thought remained:
They can't touch the floor!
Her body reacted faster than her brain.
She lunged with her mouth open like a baby bird, prepared to catch those grains mid-air in a thoroughly undignified posture.
But—
Someone moved faster.
Just before her lips could reach the falling rice—
A heavy pressure slammed down on her head.
Thud!
Sea Witch was introduced to the floor—again.
Her forehead, which already had a lump, now sprouted a second one perfectly stacked on top of the first.
She looked like a two-tiered steamed bun.
The assailant?
Bo Saixi.
The elegant, noble Sea God High Priestess, upon seeing the bowl shatter, reacted with pure instinct.
Her jade-white hand shot out like lightning, her spirit power forming a silky net that wrapped neatly around every single falling grain.
When Sea Witch hit the floor, all the rice—every last grain—rested safely in Bo Saixi's pale palm.
Sea Witch pushed herself up shakily, tears in her eyes.
With a wronged expression that could melt glaciers, she whimpered:
"Lord Posey… you said you didn't want it. Why… why didn't you give it to me?"
Bo Saixi froze.
A faint pink shade swept across her flawless cheeks.
She let out a cold snort, turned her face away, and said icily:
"Silence! Have some shame!"
"I merely want to personally verify what kind of sorcery this rice possesses to make you lose all decorum!"
Yes.
That's right.
She wasn't craving the rice.
She was… investigating.
Instantly, Bo Saixi's gaze sharpened, her expression turning solemn—even righteous.
She wasn't eating out of greed.
Nor out of curiosity.
No—this was a mission.
A responsibility.
Perhaps even a sacrifice.
Qian Daoliu had already bewitched one of her most loyal subordinates with this mysterious, suspiciously fragrant food.
Who knew if it contained strange substances?
Poison?
Mind-altering properties?
Some new Spirit Hall conspiracy?
As the High Priestess, she had the obligation to test it herself.
To protect Sea God Island's dignity!
To safeguard her subordinates!
To unravel Spirit Hall's insidious plot!
She would eat this as a martyr.
For Sea God Island.
With this sacred justification firmly established in her heart, Bo Saixi no longer hesitated.
Under Sea Witch's despairing gaze, she placed the egg fried rice into her mouth.
Her movements were resolute—almost tragic.
The rice touched her tongue.
Cold.
Slightly firm.
Bo Saixi's brows lifted faintly.
Is this all—
She chewed.
Once.
BOOM—!!!
A fragrance beyond mortal comprehension erupted in her mouth—
As if a cosmic volcano dormant for eons suddenly awakened.
It wasn't a flavor.
It was a supernova.
A tidal wave.
A spiritual cleansing that struck straight into her very soul!
The golden egg coating melted instantly, unleashing an indescribably rich aroma that awakened the rice grains wrapped within.
The rice—
Each grain perfect, each grain distinct—
came alive.
They danced on her tongue, rolled between her teeth, releasing a soft, sweet fragrance that melted into her bones.
Two flavors—simple, humble—
Yet together, they ignited into something transcendent.
For a moment, Bo Saixi felt her spirit transcend the mortal realm.
Her body trembled.
Without noticing, the corners of her lips curved upward in a pure, blissful smile—something she had never shown in a century.
Her sea-blue eyes opened.
Gone were the coldness, majesty, and distance.
In their place—
A dazed sweetness, hazy intoxication, and foolish happiness.
She reluctantly swallowed the divine morsel, as if parting with a treasure.
Sea Witch, crawling over with both fear and hope, waved her hand in front of Bo Saixi's face.
"My Lady? Lord Posey? Are… are you okay?"
The gentle voice rippled through Bo Saixi's foggy mind.
She blinked.
The haze slowly dispersed.
Reason slowly returned.
And the first thing she saw—
Was Qian Daoliu's smug, barely-contained grin.
A grin that screamed:
"I knew you'd fall for it."
Bo Saixi's face went up in flames.
A vivid blush rushed up from her neck to her ears.
She had lived more than a century.
Never—never—had she lost composure like this.
"Cough!"
She sat straight, forcing back those traitorous expressions and returning to her High Priestess demeanor.
But the lingering taste in her mouth…
that devilishly perfect aftertaste…
was like a ghost whispering temptations she could not ignore.
Her stern gaze locked onto Qian Daoliu.
The cause of this humiliation.
But then—
Her eyes spotted the bowl in his hand.
There were only a few grains left.
Just a few.
Instantly, her soul screamed:
I WANT IT.
Her dignity screamed:
DON'T YOU DARE.
Her mouth opened anyway.
"That…"
Her voice was faint, hoarse, urgent.
Even she froze in shock at how eager she sounded.
She inhaled deeply, trying to correct herself.
"Qian Daoliu."
She lifted her chin, forcing herself to sound cold—
authoritative—
aloof.
"Do you… have any more of that fried rice?"
She added stiffly—trying with all her might to salvage her dignity:
"This Seat merely seeks to study its properties further. The amount earlier was insufficient for proper analysis."
Qian Daoliu paused mid-bite.
He lifted his head slowly.
A grain of golden rice stuck to his cheek.
His voice was filled with genuine shock.
"Huh? You want more?"