The next day, the sun blazed brightly overhead.
Xiao Tian withdrew his hand from the Great Evil, tidied the disheveled room, washed up in the bath, donned fresh clothes, and headed out.
He arrived before a palace and knocked upon its door. The door swung open, revealing an enchanting and aloof face.
It was Queen Medusa. This palace had been arranged for her by Xiao Yi Xian and the others, who had long since perceived that there was something deeply amiss between these two.
Moreover, during Xiao Tian's absence, the women had grown quite close. They had even exchanged pointers and sparred with one another.
The women had long since cast aside their former impression of Queen Medusa as a bloodthirsty monster. Now, their impression of her was remarkably favorable.
"What are you doing here? I thought you would not be able to crawl out of bed." Queen Medusa fixed her alluring gaze on Xiao Tian, her voice cold.
"I came to ask whether you wish to go out tomorrow. I plan to visit the Mitel Auction House."
Xiao Tian ignored Queen Medusa's barb and stated his purpose directly.
Queen Medusa grasped his meaning at once—he was hinting that she, too, could visit the auction house to see if any items she required were available.
"I have an agreement with you, so going out with you is acceptable. But I also wish to visit the Alchemist Guild." Queen Medusa paused briefly, then a faint smile graced her lips.
"Then go. I have never restricted your freedom. You need only come when I require you."
Xiao Tian nodded, speaking with indifference.
"It is useless if I go alone. I... I want you to accompany me. Do not overthink it. I merely... it is simply because you are an honored elder of the Alchemist Guild, so obtaining the medicinal ingredients I need will be easier. It is far too troublesome to go by myself."
Queen Medusa's voice suddenly dipped, wavering with faint anticipation in her eyes.
"Given your apparent sincerity, I shall reluctantly agree to accompany you."
"I will come find you when it is time to depart."
This was the first time Xiao Tian had witnessed Queen Medusa in such a state, entirely stripped of her former queenly bearing.
Mimicking her once-haughty manner, he raised his chin slightly, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned to leave after speaking.
Queen Medusa observed his every action and heard his every word. How could she not recognize that he was imitating her?
Her fists clenched, but because she had a favor to ask of him, her momentum crumbled in an instant. She slammed the door shut.
"Bang!!"
*The door: It was not I who provoked you. Why must I suffer?*
Hearing the door slam, Xiao Tian nearly split his sides laughing.
Suppressing laughter → unable to suppress → laughing out loud → roaring with laughter.
Xiao Tian returned to his palace in high spirits. The four women had already risen and were chatting and frolicking together.
They nearly blinded Xiao Tian's eyes. Though he had seen them countless times, he never tired of the sight. They remained as beloved and captivating to him as ever.
"I thought you would pull up your trousers and flee again."
Ya Fei cast Xiao Tian a powerful, electrifying glare with her incomparably alluring eyes.
As for the others, the moment Xiao Tian entered, they all wrapped themselves tightly in their blankets.
"I am not that sort of man. I could never bear to abandon any of you."
Xiao Tian approached them, his smile tender.
"Little Tianzi, come and attend to this empress."
Ya Fei, having picked up these terms from the stories Xiao Tian often told them, spoke with coy playfulness.
"Happy to serve, my beloved concubine. But first, allow me to show you my emperor's new clothes."
His body trembled, and the emperor's new clothes made their grand entrance.
He stepped forward, bent low, and kissed Ya Fei's red lips. The city gates were effortlessly breached. The two armies engaged in direct confrontation—intertwining, evading, abandoning all their armor.
Xiao Tian was more valiant than ever. Even Cao Cao would have been forced to ask, *Whose general is this? So extraordinarily brave?*
In the morning, Xiao Tian carried Ya Fei out of the room, and the two went to the bath for a quick wash.
Within the bath, a green glow kindled in Xiao Tian's hand and slowly infused into Ya Fei's body.
She had served as Xiao Tian's primary sparring opponent earlier, engaging in far too many exchanges. He could only help her recover swiftly.
"There is no problem now. You are fully recovered."
Xiao Tian sensed her body had returned to normal, retracted his wood-element Dou Qi, and smiled faintly.
"It is entirely your fault. You are like a mad bull."
Ya Fei saw the mischievous look on Xiao Tian's face and bit down hard on his shoulder.
"You were quite stubborn back then, fighting until you were utterly exhausted and still refusing to surrender. I could only press on."
"Do you think I do not know? You were simply exacting revenge upon me. Hmph, hmph."
Ya Fei wrinkled her pretty nose and huffed twice.
"Later, you shall attend to my bath and help me change. That shall serve as your compensation to me."
"No problem, my beloved concubine. Look, they are all green with envy. Do you still want compensation?"
"Go away, go away, go away! Are you certain that is not fear?"
After the bath, Xiao Tian dotingly ruffled her hair and used warm Dou Qi to dry it for her.
Ya Fei, under Xiao Tian's assistance, began to dress. Garments that would ordinarily take a minute or two to don ended up consuming nearly ten minutes.
After the two ate a light meal, they strolled toward Queen Medusa's palace.
Today's outing concerned Ya Fei's affairs. As for the other three, they each had their own tasks to attend to and had no plans to venture out.
"Little Brother Xiao Tian, when do you plan to make your move on Sister Cai Li?"
On the way to find Queen Medusa, Ya Fei, clinging to Xiao Tian's arm, suddenly asked.
"Make a move? I am not that sort of man. Do not slander me."
Xiao Tian was taken aback by the sudden question. He stared at Ya Fei in disbelief and answered with an expression of righteous indignation.
"You are still pretending. I know exactly what is on your mind. So long as we are not blind, it is impossible not to see that there is a serious matter brewing between the two of you. Before, back in the family compound, her scent clung to you. And last time, in your room..."
Ya Fei's expression plainly said, *Do not argue. You know it is true.*
"Cough, cough. We shall discuss that later. Later."
Xiao Tian coughed twice, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and spoke vaguely.
"Oh, later. Later~."
Ya Fei playfully drew out the last syllable. Annoyed, Xiao Tian smacked her pert bottom.
"Slap!"
"You are truly growing more and more mischievous."
"That is entirely thanks to you for helping resolve all my worries. Your sister here has truly liberated her nature now. I have never felt so relaxed and at ease as I do at this moment. This feeling is unprecedentedly wonderful."
"You are my supreme benefactor. Your sister has no way to repay you. Not only in this life, but in the next life as well, I still wish to be with you. I am determined to cling to you forever."
Ya Fei shed her playful demeanor and grew deeply serious. She gazed at Xiao Tian with firm and sincere eyes. Her tone brimmed with profound gratitude, reliance, and love.
"You will not be able to leave even if you wish to. This pirate ship of mine—one can only board. Disembarking is not permitted."
Xiao Tian felt the fervor of her love, and warmth stirred in his heart. He embraced her gently.
"Kiss me!"
Ya Fei tilted her head back, her face overflowing with love. Her luscious red lips parted faintly, her breath like orchids.
He was an exemplary student, utterly unwilling to defy a woman's wishes.
He lowered his head and claimed her luscious red lips.
The two thus indulged their impassioned feelings along the lakeside path.
"Why do the two of you not return home and kiss to your hearts' content before coming out again?"
A somewhat chilly voice drifted from behind them.
The two, lost in their moment, jolted. Their lips separated in an instant.
Ya Fei leaned against Xiao Tian and turned to look at Queen Medusa, who had materialized barely ten meters from them at some unknown moment.
Xiao Tian had long since sensed Queen Medusa's presence, but he had simply chosen to ignore her.
"I wondered who was disturbing someone's fine business. As it turns out, it is Sister Cai Li."
Had Ya Fei been her former self, she would naturally have felt a trace of fear toward Medusa. But during Xiao Tian's absence, given their somewhat similar temperaments, the two had been rather combative.
During their usual sparring sessions, she had been beaten quite soundly. Yet the gains had also been highly significant.
"I did not realize you harbored such a peeping habit. Next time, inform me beforehand that you intend to watch, and I might even consider permitting it. Giggle."
After Ya Fei finished speaking, she covered her mouth and laughed softly, then kissed Xiao Tian on the lips.
"Funny mud go pee!" (Heard)
"Shameless! Utterly disgraceful! Now that you have someone backing you, you no longer even call me sister? And this is the entrance to MY palace!"