Translator: CinderTL
"Ji Yin, shall I show you around the clan?" Qing Lian asked.
Having not seen him for several days, her longing for him had grown like a tangled thread, clinging to her heart and refusing to be shaken off.
Now that she had finally found him, she was determined not to let him leave easily. With the day still young, she wanted to spend as much time with "Ji Yin" as possible.
"Perhaps... not," Song Wen replied.
A memory flashed through his mind: the day he first arrived at the Willow Serpent Clan and was surrounded by curious Willow Serpents.
On that day, King Jianglin had protected him, ensuring his safety. But today, King Jianglin was absent, and Song Wen feared he might not return if he ventured out.
"This secluded spot, where it's just the two of us, suits me far better than the clamor outside," Song Wen said softly.
Hearing these words, Qing Lian felt her heart sweeter than if she had tasted Hundred Flowers Dew. A blush instantly spread across her cheeks, and she lowered her head, as if wanting to bury her face in her ample chest.
"Miss Qinglian," Song Wen continued, "though I can't freely wander through the Willow Serpent Clan, I'm still very curious about its layout. Could you perhaps tell me about it?"
Qing Lian's heart fluttered like a startled deer. There was no reason for her to refuse.
She nodded eagerly, and a scale the size of three fingers suddenly appeared in her hand.
The scale shimmered faintly, coalescing into a map in mid-air.
"This is the layout of our Willow Serpent Clan," Qing Lian said, pointing to the map as she began to explain it to Song Wen.
"The marsh where our clan resides spans tens of thousands of miles. The outer perimeter is inhabited by ordinary Willow Serpents. As you move toward the central region, the strength of the resident serpents increases, though this distribution isn't absolute..."
Song Wen listened intently to Qing Lian's explanation, but his gaze inadvertently drifted across key areas: the locations of the Spirit Fields, the residences of the Great Demons, and the forbidden territory at the map's core.
His eyes suddenly fixed on an area not far from the forbidden territory.
There, clearly marked, were the characters for "Human Pavilion."
"What's this place?" Song Wen asked, pointing to the Human Pavilion.
"This is a recreational area built by King Yinliu in collaboration with several other Demon Kings for the nine humans within our clan. Only humans are permitted to enter. It's said that even King Yinliu herself has never set foot inside," Qing Lian replied.
A peculiar glint flashed in Song Wen's eyes.
Though these humans who had undergone Ascension had been captured and become the playthings of the Great Demons, like caged birds, their treatment seemed surprisingly decent.
Although Song Wen had been invited here and wasn't yet a captive, leaving wouldn't be easy.
Even if King Jianglin and Qing Lian didn't object, the other Demon Kings certainly would.
"Ji Yin, you should visit the Human Pavilion too," Qing Lian suggested. "First, you can meet your fellow humans. Second, you can discuss cultivation methods with them to avoid falling behind in your practice."
"Very well. I'll definitely visit when I have time," Song Wen replied.
Song Wen was indeed curious about the Human Pavilion.
His understanding of the Willow Serpent Clan came solely from Qing Lian and King Jianglin, both Willow Serpents whose perspectives were undoubtedly biased. The few human male cultivators there might offer a different perspective. Moreover, having lived among the Willow Serpents for so long, they might reveal some useful information.
After chatting with Qing Lian for a long while, until night fell, Song Wen rose to his feet, brushing off his robes.
"It's getting late. Miss Qinglian, let's meet again tomorrow."
"Alright, see you tomorrow."
Though reluctant, Qing Lian rose and departed into the night sky.
Song Wen returned to his cultivation cave.
Inside, several fist-sized orbs of fire floated in the air, casting his face in flickering shadows.
Though he hadn't asked Qing Lian for a map, he had memorized the entire layout.
He hadn't forgotten his true purpose for coming here—not to romance Qing Lian, nor to indulge in fleeting pleasures with Jianglin, but to obtain the Yaoguang Lotus.
The most likely location for the Yaoguang Lotus was within the dozens of Spirit Fields belonging to the Willow Serpent Clan.
However, the outer Spirit Fields could be largely dismissed, as they cultivated only low-grade spiritual objects for the clan's lower-ranking members.
A rare treasure like the Yaoguang Lotus, capable of reshaping one's spirit root, would never be planted alongside such common fare.
Yet even after excluding the outer fields, over a dozen Spirit Fields remained. Gaining access to each one for thorough investigation would be no easy task.
In truth, there was one other possible location for the Yaoguang Lotus:
The forbidden territory at the clan's core!
But Qing Lian had mentioned that this area was connected to the Willow Serpent Clan's Ninth-Realm Venerable, and even King Jianglin couldn't enter it freely. If the Yaoguang Lotus were indeed within that forbidden territory, it would prove the item's immense importance to the clan, further diminishing Song Wen's chances of obtaining it.
Fearing exposure of his true intentions, Song Wen had yet to mention the Yaoguang Lotus to either Qing Lian or King Jianglin.
Should I find a suitable moment to probe these two Willow Serpents? Song Wen wondered.
As he pondered, the hour grew late, and before he realized it, it was already the Zi hour (midnight).
Suddenly, the stone gate of his cultivation cave swung open.
King Jianglin appeared before him.
"King Jianglin, why... are you here again?" Song Wen asked, stunned.
She had sworn just half a day ago that this was the end. Had she already gone back on her word?
Demon promises are truly unreliable!
"Enough talk. Let's not waste time."
King Jianglin transformed into her human form and lunged forward.
"King Jianglin... I have a promise with Miss Qinglian to go boating on the lake tomorrow morning," Song Wen said, retreating frantically.
He had just been congratulating himself on avoiding becoming her captive. Now it seemed that fate was closing in.
"I'll be gone before dawn," King Jianglin said, closing the distance and seizing Song Wen by the collar.
With a sharp tug, she tore his robe to shreds.
"I don't have many spare robes. Be careful!" Song Wen cried out.
"Don't worry, this is the last time. And tonight, call me 'Jianglin'," King Jianglin said.
King Jianglin finally kept her promise, leaving before dawn.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Qing Lian appeared outside the cultivation cave.
"Ji Yin, didn't you say you wanted to go boating on the lake today? I brought some wood. Let's build a boat together?"
Song Wen suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.
After dealing with his elder sister, his younger sister had arrived.
One sought only physical pleasure, while the other yearned for emotional connection.
Having to manage both simultaneously left Song Wen feeling utterly drained.
After tidying up the "battlefield," Song Wen rubbed his face, forced a gentle smile, and emerged from the cave.
"Ah! Miss Qinglian's attire today is quite different from usual," Song Wen remarked, his gaze sweeping up and down the Willow Serpent before him.
Qing Lian had replaced her seashell top with a sheer, translucent bodice that barely concealed her delicate figure.
"Do you think it looks good?" Qing Lian asked, biting her lip, her eyes a mix of shyness and anticipation.
"Exceedingly beautiful," Song Wen replied. "You are like a celestial maiden descended to earth. Any attire you wear would only enhance your natural grace and beauty."
Despite his words, Song Wen's gaze remained clear and untainted by impure thoughts.
"Really?" Qing Lian's voice trembled with excitement.
"Every word is sincere," Song Wen assured her. "If you were to visit the Eastern Profound Continent, admirers would flock to you like carp leaping over a waterfall—countless and overwhelming."
"I don't care for the admiration of others," Qing Lian said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "As long as you like it, Ji Yin, that's all that matters."
Song Wen had lost count of how many times Qing Lian had blushed before him.
(End of the Chapter)
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