Yanrong, the royal capital. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Under the slanting sun, a towering high tower rose to the sky in the very center of the capital, like a pillar between heaven and earth, catching the last rays of sunset and garnishing it with an extra measure of solemn grandeur.

This was the most iconic Twelve-Story Martial Pavilion of Yanrong.

The higher the floor, the higher the status.

Ever since Empress Dowager Xiao had implemented her stern reforms, the once chaotic and disordered Jianghu of Yanrong had undergone a transformation, becoming a massive institution intricately linked to the court and of vital importance.

Empress Dowager Xiao had gathered martial arts from various countries, expressly constructing this Twelve-Story Martial Pavilion in order to cultivate masters.

The experts previously sent to the Capital of the Dazhou to compete for the divine fortune of the vast heavens, all hailed from here.

At this moment, atop the highest floor, sat a young girl.

The girl’s delicate hand was slightly raised, sending an ordinary paper airplane soaring leisurely.

The paper airplane traced a graceful arc through the air, and just before it was about to fall to the ground, the Little Flower Demon flew out with a bell, skillfully catching the airplane and returning it to its owner’s hand.

Yelü Miaomiao stroked the Flower Fairy, yet her beautiful eyes were tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Little Flower, what do you think Jiang Mo is doing right now?"

The girl was dressed in clothing distinctive to Yanrong, with a slim waist and sharp, upturned green barbarian leather boots that contrasted with her skirt’s hem, like green pines under a frost and snow covering, stark yet enhanced in her delicate charm.

Cradling the Flower Fairy in her palm, she pouted her rosy lips and said, "That meanie, he’d better not be with another woman."

At that moment, footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Yelü Miaomiao quickly tidied away the paper airplane and straightened up.

The newcomer was a beautiful woman of heavenly charm.

With a graceful and beautiful look, jade hairpin swaying, her slim phoenix eyes contained the cool aloofness of autumn waters, exuding an unrivaled air of nobility and cold pride, an uncommon beauty as if she had stepped out of a painting.

The woman was none other than the Empress Dowager of Yanrong—Xiao Lingqiu!

As usual, she was dressed in a dazzling, unmatched, gold-threaded phoenix robe, which completely covered her, leaving only half of her swan-like neck exposed, slender and straight.

But even in the thick, elaborate robe, the impressive curves beneath the folds were evident.

One could only imagine how vast the bosom of this Empress Dowager of Yanrong must be.

"Miaomiao pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."

Yelü Miaomiao curtseyed gracefully.

Empress Dowager Xiao smiled and said, "Hiding up here sulking again, are you upset with Myself for having you take over Su Gu’s position as the Great Witch God? You, girl, it’s not as though you are being sent to your death."

Yelü Miaomiao clung to the Empress Dowager’s arm, half-coquettish and half-pleading, "Empress Dowager, Miaomiao doesn’t want to go to the Heavenly Melody Sacred Land to be the Great Witch God, I can’t bear to be away from you. Why don’t you find someone else? "

Empress Dowager Xiao, her slender jade-like fingers slightly transparent, indulgently pinched the girl’s cute little nose and said with a smile,

"It’s only for half a year at most, not for decades or centuries, what’s there to be unable to part with? Besides, on normal days I don’t see you sticking around Me either, you’re always running off somewhere."

Yelü Miaomiao’s cheeks turned red, "But... but I really don’t want to go."

In the past, not to mention half a year, she wouldn’t have minded two or three years. But now, she had a lover she adored, and wished she could fly to his side immediately, not wanting to stay even a day apart.

Moreover, she had promised Jiang Mo that she would go find him within a month.

Now, she had to break her word...

The young girl was naturally reluctant a thousand times over.

"Alright, this matter is settled," Empress Dowager Xiao decided emphatically, "Miaomiao, this succession to the Great Witch God’s position is particularly important. There must be no negligence, as it pertains to the possibility of winning over the ’Divine Weapon’ of the Snow Domain Divine Soldiers.

You know full well how the Snow Domain Divine Soldiers revere the Great Witch God. I’ve attempted to discuss cooperation with them several times to no avail. Now that we have this opportunity, we must seize it.

If we get the help of the Snow Domain Divine Soldiers, coupled with our beast army and the elite troops of Yanrong, I am confident that within three years, Yanrong’s iron hooves will echo throughout the Central Plains!"

The beautiful woman’s eyes blazed with a hot and sharp light, her every expression exuding vigorous ambition.

Seeing that refusal was futile, Yelü Miaomiao had to give up.

Empress Dowager Xiao gently held the girl’s supple hand, her eyes full of tenderness, "Miaomiao, I know you have little interest in power and I won’t force you. When you return this time, I will find you a suitable husband. You can choose any man from the grasslands."

"No! No! Let’s forget about that."

Yelü Miaomiao was taken aback and hastily waved her hands in refusal.

Empress Dowager Xiao teased, "What? Could it be that my Miaomiao already has someone in her heart?"

"No... no..."

Yelü Miaomiao’s heart skipped a beat, and she squeezed out a smile, "Miaomiao hasn’t thought that far ahead yet. Besides, the Empress Dowager isn’t alone, right? Miaomiao doesn’t want to marry... at least not now."

The girl’s cheeks flushed as she thought of Jiang Mo.

She couldn’t very well tell the Empress Dowager, ’Empress Dowager, Miaomiao has already promised someone that I would marry him in a grand procession.’

She had even given her chastity to that person.

"I am a widow, not alone. Do I need to remarry?" Empress Dowager Xiao smiled.

"Then you could have a kept man."

"You little wretch, what nonsense are you spouting?" Empress Dowager Xiao knocked the girl on the head and scolded her with a smile, "Even if I desired it, there isn’t a man in this world who could catch my eye."

Looking at the girl’s exquisite and flawless beauty, Empress Dowager Xiao became somewhat absent-minded, taking a while before saying, "Whether you marry or not, I will leave it to you. To be honest, I also can’t bear the thought of my beautiful girl marrying anyone."

Empress Dowager Xiao took Yelü Miaomiao by the hand and walked to the edge of the tower, pointing in the direction of Dazhou, saying:

"If you don’t fancy any of these men from Yanrong, wait until the day I stand atop the imperial palace of Dazhou in the Capital, I will let you choose from all the men in the world. Pick whoever you like."

The fierce wind fluttered the woman’s skirts, which danced like a battle flag, adding to her imposing aura, much like a lone goose soaring above all in the vast skies.

Yelü Miaomiao shook her head vigorously, pouting, "I don’t want that."

The girl suddenly became curious, "Empress Dowager, is there really not one man in this world who meets your standards? Surely there must be someone worthy of you?"

"Worthy of me?"

The woman let out a wry laugh, then fell silent.

Xiao Lingqiu gazed into the horizon, slowly unfurling her delicate fingers.

It was as if she wasn’t just grasping a fragment of heaven and earth in her hand, but the entire expansive Dazhou Dynasty. Mountains and rivers, cities and palaces were all under her control...

"This world is what truly befits me, Xiao Lingqiu!"

——

——

Jiang lost.

He lost thoroughly.

Even with the boost of the Taoist River Map, he still underestimated the ferocity of the Snake Demon.

After more than two hours and several rounds of fierce fighting, Jiang realized that if he continued to resist stubbornly, he might be completely drained of his strength. Reluctantly, he could only start to play dead.

No matter how the Snake Demon provoked him, he remained unyieldingly still.

His main act was to play a dead man.

Once the Snake Demon confirmed that Jiang truly had no more strength to fight, it finally spared him, naturally looking down upon him with contempt.

"I told you, you couldn’t do it, but you wouldn’t believe it."

At the altar, Mengniang carefully arranged her wedding dress, glancing at the man lying on the ground like sludge, with a mocking curve lifting the corners of her bright red lips.

The woman merged with the other shore flower was now enchantingly beautiful, her charm tantalizing.

The natural grace and mature allure shown with every movement she made caused her to become increasingly elegant and full of amorous feelings.

There Jiang Shouzhong was, sprawled on the ground, utterly dejected.

How could this be?

It’s unscientific.

The Snake Demon is the Snake Demon... Too frightening.

"Hey, it’s about time to find the exit and leave. Do you want me to carry you?"

Mengniang bent down, her smile warm as she looked at Jiang Shouzhong. Her cascading hair tickled the man’s face.

Suddenly, Jiang Shouzhong bent up and pulled the woman into his arms.

Mengniang’s fine eyebrows drew together in a frown. She put away her teasing and admonished softly, "Alright, stop being stubborn. Your health is important. Besides, later we will... need a few more times."

Although she had successfully stepped into the Feathered Transformation Realm and her demonic essence had been repaired, to stabilize it she could only rely on the Taoist River Map within Jiang Shouzhong’s body.

Of course, what was more important was that her pent-up desires still hadn’t been fully unleashed.

So Jiang could not rest.

"Don’t move, I just want to hold you for a while," Jiang Shouzhong said, embracing her warm, fragrant, and delicate body with fatigue.

Mengniang paused for a moment, then turned her head to rest her delicate face gently against the man’s solid chest. She didn’t struggle, allowing herself to be held in his arms, her long black hair spilling over her shoulders.

The two cuddled like lovers, with only the sound of their heartbeats.

Mengniang felt slightly dazed.

She had never thought that one day she would become involved with Jiang Mo.

After sealing away her heart, she hadn’t planned to become entangled with any man. And yet, she ended up giving away her innocence.

Although she didn’t regret it, emotionally, they were more like friends.

She didn’t think that they would ever truly have love between them.

"Jiang Mo, what does it feel like to be deeply in love with someone?" Mengniang asked softly.

Jiang Shouzhong slowly stroked the woman’s back. Caught off guard by the question, he was reminded of a light, graceful red silhouette in his mind.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Shouzhong said, "It’s wanting her a lot, wanting to be by her side forever, listening to her talk, watching her walk, eating... It seems you can never grow tired of anything about her."

"Miaomiao is really lucky," Mengniang remarked upon hearing the deep affection in his words, thinking he was missing Yelü Miaomiao as she spoke softly.

Jiang Shouzhong didn’t explain, merely caressing the woman’s black hair that lay upon his shoulders and asked quietly, "Mengniang, am I very hypocritical? I don’t want to hurt those who like me, yet I am unwilling to give up the ones I like. I’m always greedy, feeling... all should be mine."

"Mm, indeed very hypocritical."

Mengniang turned over her delicate body, lying on the man like a seductive snake, resting her hands beneath her chin. Her posture exuded an indescribable charm and laziness,

"But compared to other men, you are already quite good. At least you have self-control. Jiang Mo, don’t underestimate your charm. If you really were promiscuous, there wouldn’t be just me by your side. At the very least, there’d be two or three dozen girls swirling around you. But then, Miaomiao wouldn’t possibly like you, and neither Xia He nor Qiuye would feel good about you."

"Mm, well praised. It seems I’m still a good man," Jiang Shouzhong said with self-mockery.

Looking at the stunningly beautiful face before him, the man couldn’t resist lifting his head to peck at her red lips.

If he was hypocritical, then so be it, it didn’t matter anymore.

Mengniang laughed softly, wrapping her arms around the man’s neck, her eyes sultry, accompanying a casual seduction and intimacy, "Jiang Mo, sometimes you shouldn’t obsess over your so-called emotional concepts; otherwise, you will end up hating yourself more and more, and at the same time, you’ll hurt other women..."

As Mengniang said this, she buried her head into the crook of the man’s neck, with the forked snake tongue gently licking his skin, sending shivers down Jiang Shouzhong’s spine.

"Mengniang... you... you’ve become a bit too unfamiliar," Jiang Shouzhong said, his mouth dry, starting to miss the once dignified Mengniang.

She seemed completely different.

"The me from before wasn’t the real me," Mengniang murmured softly, her voice seductive as the warm breath she exhaled softly brushed against the man’s skin like morning mist around mountains. "I didn’t like the me from before..."

Mengniang looked at the man’s tense face and chuckled, "Actually, I’m very nervous now, more nervous than you."

It didn’t show... Jiang Shouzhong muttered silently to himself.

"Mr. Mo, maybe..."

Desire was weaving through the woman’s soft gaze once again.

Jiang Shouzhong’s scalp tingled.

He was now eager for the Calabash Brothers to come rescue his grandfather-self.