Xiao Jietian drew a delicate wooden comb from his system space and gently ran it through Zi Yan's slightly tousled hair.
The tender, attentive strokes carried an unfamiliar warmth straight into Zi Yan's heart. Her eyes reddened faintly; this gentle pampering was something she had never known before.
He then produced two soft light-purple ribbons and deftly tied her hair into neat twin ponytails.
"There. My technique isn't half bad, right?"
Zi Yan turned her back to him, fingers brushing the silky tails as she murmured, "It's… passable. You still need lots of practice."
"Very well. Remember to come find me often so I can improve," Xiao Jietian replied with an indulgent smile, watching the little dragon girl who was clearly delighted yet stubbornly refused to admit it.
"Who said I'd let you? Hmph! Unless you beg me properly, forget it." Zi Yan tilted her chin upward, feigning haughtiness.
"Yes, yes, yes. This humble one begs Young Miss Zi Yan to grant me the honor of combing her hair in the future," Xiao Jietian said, playing along without the slightest hesitation.
After all, she was destined to become one of his little wives—what was there to lose?
Simping? Nonsense. Those who simp and succeed are called victors. Those who simp and receive a small reward are called clever. Those who simp and gain nothing are merely losers.
"Hmph hmph. Very well—I shall graciously give you that opportunity," Zi Yan declared, lifting her small face proudly.
Xiao Jietian gazed at her adorable expression and couldn't resist reaching out to pinch her delicate nose.
Zi Yan shook her head left and right to evade his mischievous fingers, then suddenly leaped upward with all her strength, latching onto him like a little koala.
In the next instant, she did something that caught even Xiao Jietian off guard.
Her soft, tender lips pressed directly against his.
The brief contact brought a rush of warmth and the faint, sweet fragrance of medicinal herbs.
Before he could respond, Zi Yan pulled back, cheeks flaming, head lowered. "Sister Ya Fei said… if I want to keep you obedient, I have to give you a little sweet now and then—but not too much."
"And… and this was my first kiss! Just like the sisters said—this is my very first kiss!"
After she finished speaking, her head dropped completely onto his shoulder. Her small hands clenched tightly together in embarrassment.
Xiao Jietian inwardly cursed Ya Fei for being such a cunning little vixen—Zi Yan had clearly been completely hoodwinked.
"This was my first kiss today as well. So we're even."
Zi Yan: "???"
"Where did you get a 'first kiss' from? I've seen you kiss Sister Fei'er and the others countless times! Do you think I'm that easy to fool?"
She immediately lifted her head, glaring at him with clear disdain, her expression screaming: I'm no fool—you can't trick me that easily.
"This was my first kiss of the day. Therefore, it still counts as a first kiss."
Xiao Jietian maintained a perfectly serious face.
Zi Yan stared at him as though she had just heard the greatest joke in existence. She couldn't hold back a burst of giggles. "You even kissed Hui Ying this morning—I saw it with my own eyes! And you even…"
Her voice trailed off, face steaming red as she remembered the secret conversations she and Hui Ying had shared about how Medusa and the others "drank" certain things. Only today did she suddenly understand exactly how it all happened. A wave of second-hand embarrassment crashed over her—social death in its purest form.
"You really were peeking this morning. So… do you want to help Hui Ying later? You saw how hard she worked."
Zi Yan looked at his imploring expression, then recalled how exhausted Hui Ying had been earlier, barely able to speak.
She opened and closed her mouth, unconsciously mimicking a certain motion.
Then, as if suddenly realizing something horrifying, she snapped back to her senses and shook her head furiously. "No! Absolutely not! Give up on that idea right now!"
"Also—I wasn't peeking! I was watching openly. You just didn't notice me. So it's clearly your problem, not mine."
She lifted her chin again, face full of righteous indignation.
"Yes, yes, yes. Our Zi Yan would never do anything so improper."
Xiao Jietian didn't bother arguing. He had already crossed one major boundary today; the rest would fall in due time.
Once they obtained the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit… everything would naturally come to fruition.
"Come on, let's head out. Hui Ying is waiting."
He gave her little skirt one final gentle adjustment.
"Once we're outside, you absolutely cannot tell Hui Ying anything that just happened between us!" Zi Yan stared straight into his eyes, issuing a stern warning.
"Understood!"
Muah!
"This is your reward. You must keep your promise, okay?"
Zi Yan planted a loud, resounding kiss on his cheek and giggled mischievously.
Xiao Jietian waved his hand, dispelling the Dou Qi barrier Zi Yan had erected. The two reappeared before Xiao Huiying.
Xiao Huiying cast a subtle glance at Zi Yan. Deep amusement flickered in the depths of her eyes.
"Hui Ying!" Zi Yan immediately leaped from Xiao Jietian's arms onto the cloud and rushed to Xiao Huiying's side.
The two little girls began chattering excitedly.
Ten minutes later, Xiao Jietian gently pulled Zi Yan over.
"Enough chatting for now. It's time for you to shine."
"You want me to help you search for medicinal herbs?" Zi Yan glanced down at the mountain ranges and sprawling complexes below.
"Exactly—but not wild ones. See those black buildings down there? Locate every single treasury they have."
Xiao Jietian pointed at the dense cluster of dark structures.
"That's it? I thought it was going to be something difficult. This is child's play!"
Zi Yan had assumed he wanted her to descend and fight someone. She never expected such an exciting task as raiding treasuries.
Breaking into treasuries? This Young Miss is a seasoned expert.
(Elder Hao: Yes, yes, yes—I can serve as a tainted witness in court.)
Xiao Huiying, standing beside them, was visibly eager—clearly this wasn't her first time either.
"This is your specialty. I leave it entirely in your hands."
Xiao Jietian looked at the pair; the words "habitual offenders" might as well have been branded on their foreheads.
"No problem! Leave it to us—you won't be disappointed. We were born for this!"
Zi Yan patted her flat little chest confidently, even mimicking the exact phrase Xiao Jietian had once used on them.
"Alright, stop patting. You'll flatten it. Hurry up and get to work, Young Miss Zi Yan."
Zi Yan ground her teeth fiercely at the jab, but remembering that he was currently her "employer" and couldn't be offended, she took a deep breath.
"Hui Ying, let's move! The Rob the Rich and Help the Poor Duo has returned! Tremble in fear, evildoers!"
Zi Yan planted her hands on her hips and laughed loudly, looking every bit the mischievous little demon queen.
The two of them together were an utterly unpredictable combination.
Xiao Huiying's dragon-attribute Dou Qi granted her near-perfect stealth—even a Nine-Revolution Dou Zun would struggle to detect her.
Zi Yan's spatial manipulation was even more terrifying. Though she was only a peak fifth-rank magical beast, her mastery over space surpassed that of most Dou Zun.
Zi Yan instantly switched into work mode. Her small nose twitched continuously, sniffing out the aura of natural treasures and hidden vaults.
With a flick of her finger, she signaled Xiao Huiying, who immediately concealed both their presences.
Then Zi Yan led the way toward the strongest fluctuation she sensed.
They arrived directly before the main gate of one of the largest compounds below.
Zi Yan reached out and clasped Xiao Huiying's hand. The space in front of them instantly rippled like water.
Their bodies were slowly swallowed by the folding void—vanishing without a trace.
Zi Yan's spatial translocation was far smoother and more traceless than any Dou Zun's crude tearing of space.
From high above, Xiao Jietian watched their seamless movements and smiled.
With Zi Yan around, getting rich was simply too easy.
He quietly began preparing to receive the spoils once the two little bandits finished emptying the place.