Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The cliff was sheer and steep, the wind roaring fiercely.

Between the steep cliffs, several gorgeously colored birds flew in a flock toward the cliff above. Amid shimmering spiritual light, the flock of birds transformed into several young cultivators, who slowly tucked in their wings.

These young men and women were all remarkably good-looking, wearing bright feathers in their hair or on their foreheads, dressed in feathered robes.

These days were their avian clan's Blaze Festival, and almost all the young beast clan had come to participate.

Just as they were chatting softly about recent happenings, a crisp crane call rang out behind them. A few of the beautiful women turned around and saw a tall, elegant white crane alight gracefully on the mountain peak, its snow-white feathers shimmering with a dazzling sheen in the sunlight.

Spiritual radiance flickered, and when the blinding light dissipated, the white crane transformed into a statuesque woman. Her features were delicate, her expression refined and cool, dressed in a pure white celestial flowing dress.

As she walked, her hem swayed like rippling water, and the mountain breeze billowed her wide sleeves. She resembled a crystalline snow lotus atop a high peak, sacrosanct and untouchable.

With the arrival of the woman in white, every male cultivator fixed a burning gaze on her. But remembering what had happened before, they held back.

The group of beauties faltered mid-sentence. They narrowed their eyes, studying her with complicated looks. They leisurely stepped forward and smilingly said to Bai Rongrong, “Rongrong, we haven’t seen you in ages! You’ve finally emerged from seclusion. Congratulations!”

Bai Rongrong gave her a cool glance and merely murmured, “Thanks.”

Noticing the thick spiritual energy around her and her completely changed demeanor, the beast clan women couldn't help the sourness in their voices. “As expected of Rongrong! Breaking through in such a short time—you're amazing!”

“You'll definitely place well in the upcoming Blaze Festival.”

Bai Rongrong didn't bother to reply. As she listened to the women chattering away, she grew annoyed but kept a straight face.

She just knitted her slender brows, gazing sadly at the distant sheer cliffs. The mountain breeze lifted her flowing hair, looking as if she'd just ride the wind away, ethereal and otherworldly.

Seeing her like this, the woman in yellow pursed her lips, then recalling the scandal that had been buzzing throughout the cultivation world, she wore a sly expression.

Under everyone's surprised looks, she twirled a lock of hair around her slender finger and suddenly said with a sweet smile, “But, Rongrong, you've been in seclusion and missed out! You have no idea how crazy the cultivation world has been lately—everyone's going nuts!”

Catching the strange tone in her voice, Bai Rongrong glanced at her coolly. “Just spit it out.”

The woman in yellow covered her mouth and spoke coyly, “This whole thing's huge! Hasn't anyone told you about your brother?”

At the mention of his name, Bai Rongrong froze. Finally, a crack appeared in her cold eyes. She turned slightly and fixed a piercing stare on the woman in yellow, a hint of suspicion creeping onto her cold face. “What's happened to my brother?”

The woman in yellow gave a light laugh, exchanged looks with the others, and wore a strange expression. “Well, it's a long story. Your brother's been appearing in the human realm, and he's actually taken a liking to a human woman.”

“From what I've heard, that woman is even pregnant. The Dragon Lord stirred up a huge commotion at a sect just for her, setting the immortal mountain ablaze!”

Bai Rongrong's face instantly drained of color. She stared blankly at the speaker, hardly able to believe her ears—how could this be possible?!

Then the women chimed in, “The senior elders of the dragon clan are overjoyed. Things are so lively in the dragon clan now; those seniors are packing their bags to go to the human realm to protect that human woman. Isn't that interesting?”

“The drama about those two has been selling like hotcakes these days. We grabbed a few copies when passing through the human realm. Want to take a look? Those human storytellers are surprisingly talented!”

She stared straight at Bai Rongrong, watching her face grow paler and paler, and curled her lips with schadenfreude. Bai Rongrong had always acted high and mighty because her mother married into the dragon clan and she became the nominal younger sister of the Dragon Lord Huo Wuyan. She often flaunted herself as the Dragon Lord's sister and bullied others by relying on his power.

She herself had once harbored thoughts about Huo Wuyan, and Bai Rongrong, upon sensing it, had never missed an opportunity to mock her.

Even though she also found the matter regrettable, thinking that the pretentious Bai Rongrong would feel even worse, she felt a bit better.

Anyone who knew them well understood that Bai Rongrong had improper thoughts about that Yinglong, even if she never said it outright. She shamelessly followed him around all day, calling him 'brother' without getting a single response from Huo Wuyan.

They had long been annoyed by her, and now that they had the chance, they certainly meant to humiliate her thoroughly!

The woman in yellow was about to continue when Bai Rongrong's expression suddenly shifted. Her brows furrowed tightly, and she snapped, “Enough!”

Her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves, Bai Rongrong stared coldly at the woman in yellow. She couldn't believe that Huo Wuyan, so proud and arrogant, would ever fall for a lowly human woman!

Those people didn't deserve him; they would only stain his pure bloodline!

Bai Rongrong's expression grew even colder. Sensing the varied gazes around her, she snorted, flicked her sleeve, transformed into a white crane, and spread her wings to fly toward the mountain stream. Her figure vanished among the peaks like a white feathered arrow.

The group of women faltered. The woman in yellow, unafraid of her, raised her voice as Bai Rongrong hurried away, “Remember to invite us to the wedding banquet when your brother returns!”

Bai Rongrong paused mid-flight, barely restraining herself from looking back at the group. She flew swiftly home, and only when she saw the familiar sights before her did tears well up in her eyes.

She strode into the room, and upon seeing the beautiful woman lying on the couch, her expression changed. She hurried over and asked urgently, “Mother, is what they said true?”

Even now, she couldn't believe what those people had said. She had known Huo Wuyan for so many years and had never heard of him being close to any woman. He had always kept his distance from women…

She had trained desperately to follow in his footsteps. Her recent breakthrough had been perilous, nearly leading to a reverse flow of spiritual energy and a Qi deviation. Yet now, upon emerging from seclusion, she was met with this devastating news.

She had waited for him for so many years—how could he be with another woman!

The beautiful woman lifted her eyelids slightly at her words. Looking at Bai Rongrong, whose eyes were brimming with tears, she gently touched her pale cheek. “What's the rush to be so flustered?”

Hearing this, Bai Rongrong grew even more distressed, delicately tugging at the soft fabric of her sleeve. “Brother, he…”

She stared stubbornly at her mother, on the verge of tears from grievance.

The beautiful woman poked her forehead and sighed softly, chiding, “What's there to cry about? Every powerful man has a bunch of admirers flocking around him.”

Hearing this, Bai Rongrong instantly understood—what those people had said was indeed true. She lowered her eyes sadly. “But he wasn't like this before. And he even has a child with that lowly woman…”

The beautiful woman chuckled lightly at that, her eyes flickering with a hint of murderous intent. “A child? That's still uncertain—whether it will be born at all. Why are you crying?”

“You should be glad she's just a powerless human woman with impure blood. Otherwise, it wouldn't even be your turn…”

She knew Huo Wuyan's temperament all too well. Although she was his stepmother, in his eyes, she was no better than roadside weeds or ants. He could even harm his own father. He was proud, arrogant, and looked down on everyone.

Those clan rules meant nothing to him. Since that woman had caught his eye, he would most likely disregard all opposition and make her his Dragon Queen directly.

Fortunately, that woman was an orphan without power or influence. It wouldn't be hard to get rid of her…

Aside from the old dragons in the clan, probably no one wanted this cub to be born safely. Many were lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to kill the human woman and her unborn child by any means necessary.

The position of Dragon Queen was a must-win for them. The beautiful woman gently wiped the tears from Bai Rongrong's face and said softly, “Don't worry, Mother is here. What are you afraid of? Just focus on your cultivation and prepare to become the Dragon Queen…”

Bai Rongrong looked at her composed demeanor, frowning slightly. She felt that things weren't so simple, but thinking of Huo Wuyan, she fell silent again.

She clenched the fabric of her skirt tightly, the thin mermaid silk tearing. Her expression was dark—no matter what, no one would take Huo Wuyan away from her. She would never allow it!

Ever since Lu Yuanyin had spoken those words to Huo Wuyan during the night, she could sense that whenever he saw her, his expression was somewhat strange.

Although he still put up the same expressionless wooden face, she could faintly perceive a hint of awkwardness. To her surprise, however, Huo Wuyan didn't avoid her as before, nor did he disappear for whole days.

Lu Yuanyin rejoiced inwardly. The depression that had plagued her heart recently vanished instantly.

Lu Yuanyin had always been a person of strong action. Once she made up her mind, she would find ways to achieve her goals. She lay on a lounge chair with a medical book in her arms, pondering how to continue seducing Huo Wuyan into killing those beasts…

Huo Wuyan had been in a high position for years and was no fool. Ordinary tricks were useless on him.

Lu Yuanyin thought for a long time but came up with nothing. After hesitating for a moment, she took out her communication jade slip, found the senior sister she knew from the Hehuan Sect, deliberated for a while, and then carefully asked, “Senior Sister Huang, can I ask you something?”

The other side quickly replied, “What’s up? Ask away! I'll tell you everything!”

Lu Yuanyin only then felt a bit embarrassed about what she was about to say next, “I want to seduce a man. Senior Sister, can you teach me how?”

Senior Sister Huang, “?”

“You need to seduce someone? Just stand there and no man could resist you, unless he’s blind!”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanyin realized that Senior Sister Huang probably didn’t know about recent events. Just as she was about to ask for specifics, she saw a flurry of messages from the other side.

Senior Sister Huang, “Just be all sweet and bring him some soup or broth, then casually show a bit of shoulder. Have some intimate touches—brush his hand, accidentally kiss him—stuff like that!”

“No man can resist that kind of flirtation!”

“Trust me, just do that, and if he still rejects you, I’ll chop off my head and give it to you! Unless he’s a eunuch who can’t get it up, or else he’s just not interested!”

“But what kind of heavenly immortal descended to earth are you after? How handsome does he have to be for you to take the initiative to seduce him?”

Lu Yuanyin looked at the long string of messages, thought for a moment, then let out a low sigh, “He’s a tough nut to crack.”

After bidding farewell to Senior Sister Huang, Lu Yuanyin hesitated briefly, then hurried to the inn’s kitchen. When she saw all the pots and pans, she paused again. Her hands had only ever been used for refining pills, never for making soups or broths.

She hesitated only a moment before confidently asking the cook for a free-range chicken and proudly lifted the lid of the pot.

What’s so hard about chicken soup? With her intelligence and wit, how could a simple chicken soup stump her??

Two hours later, Lu Yuanyin had a blank look on her face, nauseated by the fishy smell of the chicken. She slunk off to a street stall and bought a bowl of delicious chicken soup instead.

She poured the soup into a delicate little jade bowl, went back to her room to freshen up a bit, and changed into a pretty, light yellow dress. When the sky was getting dark, she finally walked out of her room gracefully, carrying the chicken soup. But she suddenly felt dizzy, and if it hadn’t been for a passing maidservant who quickly and deftly supported her, she might have tumbled down the stairs.

Her heart trembled, and a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Still shaken, she thanked the maidservant before slowly making her way to Huo Wuyan’s room.

The sky had darkened, and a thin veil covered the night pearls hanging on the wall. As the evening breeze swept through the hall, the veil gently swayed, casting a dim light.

Huo Wuyan was casually lying on the couch by the window, his long legs propped up, staring expressionlessly at an ancient book. He wore only a black single-layer robe, his white hair messily spread across the couch. The cold moonlight fell softly on his cheeks, softening the sharp edges of his face, making him seem less imposing than usual.

Lu Yuanyin walked over to him with the chicken soup, stopping in front of him, and said in a soft voice, “I heard you haven’t eaten yet. I made you some chicken soup. Would you like to try it?”

“I’m a really good cook!”

A faint, subtle fragrance drifted in with the evening breeze. Huo Wuyan lifted his eyelids, his crimson eyes coolly glanced at her. Perhaps because she had just bathed, her face was pale with a pinkish flush, her hair still damp, and her eyes sparkled as she moved her gaze.

His eyes shifted, noticing she wore a thin, light yellow gauze dress that exposed her delicate collarbone and pale shoulders. Huo Wuyan’s gaze paused.

The faint moonlight fell on her side, making her exposed skin look even more tender.

Seeing the expectation on Lu Yuanyin’s face and the chicken soup in her hands, he suddenly thought of a common saying among human cultivators: “When someone's being too nice, there's an ulterior motive.”

He set down the book he was holding, recalling the jade bottle he had picked up outside her room earlier, and asked coldly, “Did you put an Aphrodisiac Pill in this soup?”

Lu Yuanyin, “???”

After realizing what he meant, her face flushed bright red, and she could barely maintain her smile. So that’s why she couldn’t find that bottle of spiritual pills—Huo Wuyan had taken it!

Lu Yuanyin felt a little like she wanted to die. Watching Huo Wuyan’s cold expression, she was just wondering how to salvage the situation when he picked up the small jade bowl from her hand.

“You’re pregnant now,” Huo Wuyan said, his gaze darkening as he looked at her pale face. “You can’t have sex.”

After saying this, Huo Wuyan felt he had put it too bluntly. Considering that Lu Yuanyin was young and had no mother to teach her, she might not understand these things.

He paused for a moment, then explained coldly, “If the intercourse gets too intense, you might miscarry.”

Lu Yuanyin, “…?”

Author’s note:

Here it comes~