Zi Yan's eyes sparkled mischievously as a mysterious smile spread across her face.
"Oh, really?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. "If Sister Qilin is so beautiful, then why don't you marry her?"
Xiao Feng, who had been standing steadily atop the python's back, nearly lost his footing. He quickly regained his balance, glaring at the grinning little girl.
"Zi Yan, stop talking nonsense!"
Zi Yan merely pouted, completely unafraid. "Why nonsense? Isn't she beautiful? In this world, powerful men often have more than one wife. That's perfectly normal."
Xiao Feng could only sigh inwardly. She wasn't wrong. On the Dou Qi Continent, strength often determined one's status, and many powerful experts indeed had multiple partners. Still, that did not mean he could casually accept such things.
"That may be true," Xiao Feng replied firmly, "but Lady Qilin may already have a partner. And more importantly, I already have people I care deeply about. Don't go stirring up trouble."
As he said this, his gaze instinctively shifted toward Xiao Yi Xian.
She had been smiling all along, but the smile in her eyes had dimmed ever so slightly. Taking a slow, steady breath, she stepped closer to him. Her gentle fingers lightly brushed against his hand before she intertwined them with his.
"Xiao Feng," she said softly, her voice as gentle as moonlight, "I know that in the future, there will be many extraordinary women who will admire you... who will wish to stand by your side."
Her eyes met his, filled with tenderness and unwavering affection.
"I also know that someone as remarkable as you cannot belong to only one person forever. But as long as your heart has a place for me... as long as you truly love me... that is enough."
Her words struck Xiao Feng deeply.
He knew how much courage it had taken for her to say them. No one willingly shares the person they love. Yet she spoke not from weakness, but from understanding and trust.
A warmth and ache rose in his chest.
He gently tightened his grip on her hand and said earnestly, "Xian'er, listen to me. Right now, I only see the Qilin Queen as a companion and ally. Nothing more."
As if to emphasize his sincerity, he began to raise his hand in oath. But before he could, Xiao Yi Xian reached up and softly pressed a finger against his lips.
Then, without hesitation, she leaned in.
Her lips met his in a tender, lingering kiss.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to fall silent. The wind softened, the clouds drifted lazily, and everything else faded into the background.
Xiao Feng responded immediately, wrapping an arm around her slender waist and pulling her gently closer. Their kiss deepened—not hurried or possessive, but full of affection, reassurance, and unspoken promises.
A single tear slipped from the corner of Xiao Yi Xian's eye, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming warmth in her heart.
When they finally parted, both were slightly breathless. A delicate silver thread briefly connected their lips before disappearing, leaving Zi Yan staring with wide, fascinated eyes.
Xiao Yi Xian rested her forehead lightly against his and whispered with a faint blush, "As long as your heart remains true, I will trust you."
Xiao Feng smiled softly, his eyes full of tenderness.
"It always will."
At that moment, the Qilin Queen suddenly cleared her throat, her cheeks faintly tinged with pink.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding," she said gracefully. "I have never taken a mate."
Everyone turned toward her in surprise.
She gently cradled her cub as she continued, "Our Qilin lineage possesses a unique bloodline inheritance. We can give birth without a partner. This little one is entirely my own."
Zi Yan's eyes widened in amazement. "So you're saying you're still...?"
The Qilin Queen nodded, her usually regal expression turning slightly bashful.
Then, after a brief hesitation, she turned to Xiao Feng. Her beautiful crimson eyes held an unusual softness as she spoke quietly, "If Master truly wished it... I would have no objections."
This time, Xiao Feng was completely speechless.
Even Xiao Yi Xian blinked in surprise before letting out a soft laugh. She stepped forward and took the Qilin Queen's hand warmly.
"Then from today onward, you're one of us."
The Qilin Queen looked momentarily stunned, then smiled—a smile so radiant that even the sunlight seemed to pale in comparison.
Zi Yan immediately chimed in with a grin. "That means our family is getting bigger again!"
Xiao Feng rubbed his forehead helplessly, while the women around him laughed softly.
Just then, Zi Yan suddenly raised her hand as though making an important declaration.
"In that case, I also want to become Xiao Feng's wife!"
Her words instantly stunned everyone.
Xiao Feng nearly choked on his own breath, black lines appearing across his forehead as he stared at her speechlessly. This little girl truly knew how to throw him into impossible situations.
After a brief moment, he quickly came up with what he thought was a foolproof solution.
"Alright," he said with a solemn nod, playing along. "When you grow up, become stronger than me, and receive the approval of Xian'er and the others, then I will consider it."
In his mind, this was the perfect answer. By the time Zi Yan grew up enough to understand such matters, she would surely have forgotten all about it. And surpassing him? That would take a very, very long time.
Or so he thought.
Zi Yan's eyes lit up instantly.
She turned at once toward Xiao Yi Xian and the Qilin Queen, her expression serious and expectant.
"Then will you both approve?"
Xiao Yi Xian and the Qilin Queen exchanged amused glances before smiling warmly.
"Of course," Xiao Yi Xian replied gently. "As long as you can meet Xiao Feng's conditions."
The Qilin Queen nodded gracefully. "We would gladly welcome you."
Zi Yan beamed triumphantly, as though she had already secured victory.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng stood between Xiao Yi Xian and the Qilin Queen, each woman holding one of his arms. Their soft laughter and affectionate smiles left him utterly helpless. All he could do was offer an awkward smile, silently regretting ever indulging Zi Yan's antics.
Then, to his surprise, the Qilin Queen spoke softly.
"My Lord... since I am now one of your companions... may I also receive a kiss?"
Her voice was gentle, tinged with shyness. A faint blush colored her elegant features, making her appear even more enchanting.
Xiao Feng blinked in surprise.
"Are you certain?" he asked.
The Qilin Queen lowered her gaze before giving a small, shy nod. Her eyes slowly closed, and she leaned ever so slightly toward him, clearly waiting.
Xiao Feng hesitated for only a moment before Xiao Yi Xian gently nudged him from the side, her eyes sparkling with playful encouragement.
"A gentleman should not keep a lady waiting."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng could only smile helplessly. He stepped forward, lifting a hand to gently brush aside a strand of crimson hair from the Qilin Queen's face.
Then, leaning in, he softly pressed his lips against hers.
The kiss began tenderly, almost tentative. But the Qilin Queen, though inexperienced, responded with surprising eagerness. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as she leaned closer, deepening the kiss with heartfelt affection.
Her warmth, her softness, and the faint fragrance surrounding her were utterly captivating.
Xiao Feng could feel her trembling ever so slightly, not from fear, but from the excitement of experiencing such intimacy for the first time.
When they finally parted, both were slightly breathless.
The Qilin Queen's cheeks were flushed a beautiful shade of red, and her eyes shimmered with happiness. She looked at Xiao Feng with a tenderness that needed no words.
Seeing her expression, Xiao Yi Xian smiled before leaning in to place a soft kiss on Xiao Feng's other cheek.
"Seems like someone is quite popular."
Xiao Feng could only laugh awkwardly.
As the two women remained close, their arms linked with his, he suddenly found himself surrounded by warmth and affection from both sides. It was a feeling both comforting and overwhelming.
Sensing that things might become a little too distracting if they continued, Xiao Feng quickly cleared his throat.
"The... final step will have to wait," he said, trying to maintain a serious expression. "I am still not yet an adult. Two more years."
For a brief moment, both women stared at him.
Then they burst into soft, melodious laughter.
"Very well," Xiao Yi Xian said with a teasing smile.
"We can be patient," the Qilin Queen added, her eyes full of amusement.
At the same time, they each leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on one of his cheeks.
"We'll be waiting," they whispered together.
Caught between their affectionate gazes, Xiao Feng could only smile helplessly, though his heart was filled with warmth.
As Zi Yan watched from the side, she crossed her arms and huffed.
"Remember, I still have to grow stronger first!"
That declaration only caused everyone to laugh even harder, and the journey continued amidst warmth, laughter, and the blossoming bonds between them.
The journey back was peaceful.
As Xiao Feng and his companions approached the Inner Academy's territory, three powerful auras suddenly shot toward them like streaks of lightning.
"Stop immediately! Turn back at once!"
The commanding voices echoed through the sky.
Xiao Feng immediately recognized them. The three figures were none other than Su Qian, the Fire Elder, and the Thunder Elder.
Seeing a group of powerful magical beasts approaching the academy, Su Qian was just about to launch a warning attack when Xiao Feng quickly stepped forward and shouted, "Great Elder, please wait! It's me, Xiao Feng!"
Hearing his voice, the three elders abruptly halted.
"Xiao Feng?" Su Qian exclaimed in disbelief.
As they drew closer, their expressions became increasingly astonished.
Xiao Feng quickly explained everything—from subduing the magical beasts, to forming an alliance with them, and finally bringing them back. He also introduced the transformed beasts, including the Qilin Queen, the Snow-White Demon Ape, and the Emerald Wood Spirit Turtle.
When Su Qian learned the full extent of their strength, even he was momentarily speechless.
A peak Dou Emperor in the form of the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin Queen, several Dou Kings, and the remaining magical beasts all possessing strength at or above the Dou Spirit level.
In total, there were twelve magical beasts.
Such a force was enough to rival many of the top factions in the Black-Corner Region.
The Fire Elder could only shake his head in amazement.
"Every time we meet this boy, he manages to shock us even more."
The Thunder Elder laughed bitterly. "At this rate, even we old fellows may not be able to keep up with him."
Xiao Feng then revealed his next plan.
"I intend to establish a city of my own in the future. Some of these magical beasts will be stationed there as its guardians. The rest can remain here at the Inner Academy, serving as instructors, protectors, or in other useful roles."
He then went on to explain his experiments with magical beast-assisted cultivation of medicinal herbs. By using wood-attributed magical beasts to nurture and accelerate plant growth, medicinal ingredients could be produced far more efficiently.
"The results have already been very promising," Xiao Feng said confidently. "In the future, the academy should have a stable and abundant supply of ingredients for refining third- and fourth-tier medicinal pills."
Hearing this, Su Qian's eyes immediately lit up.
This alone would greatly benefit the academy.
After a moment of thought, Su Qian nodded in approval.
"Your idea is excellent. However, the Inner Academy itself does not have enough space to accommodate all these magical beasts."
Xiao Feng smiled. "I anticipated that."
He then proposed a secluded and peaceful area located just behind the Fire Faction's courtyard. It was spacious, rich in natural energy, and close enough for him to visit whenever necessary.
"It would be an ideal place for them to settle," he explained. "It is near enough to the academy for convenience, yet far enough to avoid disturbing the students."
Su Qian considered it for a moment before nodding.
"Very well. That area can be allocated for their residence."
He then added with a smile, "If you require any assistance in building or arranging the place, the academy will provide elders to help."
Xiao Feng cupped his fists respectfully.
"Thank you, Great Elder."
As everyone descended toward the academy, the elders continued to marvel at Xiao Feng.
Each time he returned, he seemed to bring back something extraordinary.
And this time, he had brought back an entire force powerful enough to shake the Black-Corner Region.