Chapter 189: Sister Xue'er! The Ancestor Is Mine—You Should Give Up!
Because the three of them had all chosen the "easy" elective courses, their class schedules were nearly identical.
Although, truth be told, "easy" was hardly an accurate word—these courses were still meticulously crafted by the Federation's top minds. Lazy or not, calling them simple was a stretch.
However, Jiang Chen had wisely selected courses that required little manual work—pure theory. He simply absorbed entire books straight into his mind with his powerful spiritual energy.
Memorize, understand vaguely, pass the exam—that was good enough.
So the three often sat in the back, half-listening, rarely paying attention.
Especially since a certain restless little hand kept creeping his way until Jiang Chen finally caught it.
"Enough, stop messing around!"
"Jiang Chen!"
Gu Yue's voice from behind nearly made him jump out of his seat. He quickly dropped her hand and tried to act natural.
"Huh? What?"
"Come with me. I need to talk to you. Alone."
"Alone? Can't you just say it here?"
From the corner of his vision, another hand—Snow Empress's—quietly slid back toward him from the opposite side.
"It's important," Gu Yue said coldly. "It's between Jiang Chen and me."
Her tone implied everything else: none of your concern.
She was the Silver Dragon King, ruler of the soul beast race, their monarch.
Technically speaking, the others were all her subordinates.
For a servant to interfere in a ruler's affairs—unthinkable!
Then again, even Gu Yue had to admit the Extreme North had always only acknowledged Star Dou Forest's authority in name.
Still… Snow Empress's fingers refused to let go of Jiang Chen's sleeve, which put Gu Yue in an even worse mood.
What's going on with him? she thought bitterly. Wasn't he supposed to like me? Why's he sitting there letting another woman cling to him?
Did he… want both?
The thought immediately turned her expression dangerous. She thought of Di Tian—with two women at his side—because, well, he was strong enough to get away with it.
But Jiang Chen? He hadn't even become a god yet.
Thinking of me and another at the same time? Not happening.
Her gaze turned sharp as blades. Hopefully… she was just overthinking.
Still, she couldn't ignore how "close" they seemed. Time for a reminder.
"Come with me."
Her tone brooked no refusal as she turned and marched out of the classroom.
Moments passed… Jiang Chen didn't move.
Gu Yue's temper flared like a volcano.
"Jiang. Chen!!!"
"I'm coming!"
Startled by her anger, he quickly slipped free from Snow Empress's icy grasp.
"Uh—she needs to talk. I'll be quick. Don't worry," he said hurriedly.
Snow Empress frowned. "I am worried. Don't let her trick you."
Before he could object, she almost pressed the Ice God's Heart into his hands.
Jiang Chen's face darkened. "No, there's no need! I'm not going into battle—we're just talking. She's our leader, remember? I can't exactly ignore her."
Hearing that only soured Snow Empress's mood further.
Leader?
She was starting to think more seriously about becoming a god. If Gu Yue's authority as "Soul Beast Empress" only came from power, then once she herself ascended, she'd no longer have to bow to anyone.
For now, though, all she could do was glumly watch Jiang Chen leave.
"Yun'er, what is it?"
The moment Jiang Chen disappeared through the door, Snow Empress turned and found Huo Yun'er staring straight at her with bright, unblinking eyes.
"I…"
The girl looked conflicted, lips trembling as if struggling to speak.
"Sister Xue'er," she began hesitantly, "there's something I need to say. I'm not sure if I should."
Snow Empress, who rarely smiled, actually softened when facing this girl.
Perhaps because she couldn't show her more vulnerable side around Jiang Chen, she unconsciously let it show here.
She spoke gentle as snow: "What is it? You can tell me anything."
"I…"
Recalling her family's mission, Huo Yun'er clenched her fists.
The ancestor—Jiang Chen—had been ignoring her lately, always surrounded by either Gu Yue or Snow Empress.
Even when she deliberately slacked off from her forging practice, he didn't scold her—not once!
She was convinced that he'd fallen into lovesickness.
And once a man like him got infatuated, reason went out the window.
She couldn't allow that. Her family's mission came first. She would not let any woman steal their ancestor—Snow Empress included!
After psyching herself up, she declared solemnly, "Sister Xue'er, do you… like the ancestor?"
"Eh?"
For a moment, Snow Empress's mind went completely blank.
Me? Like him?
"N-no, I—"
Before she could recover, Huo Yun'er spoke again with fiery conviction.
"Sister Xue'er, I'll tell you right now—the ancestor will never like you!"
"So stop wasting your time on him!"
Snow Empress: "???"
What did she just say? He doesn't like me?
At first, she'd been too stunned to process being asked whether she loved him.
But being told he didn't love her—that jolted her brain right back online.
"W-why not?" she demanded.
Huo Yun'er stood tall, full of righteous indignation. "Because the ancestor is mine!"
"Pfft—"
Snow Empress covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. She almost choked.
"Sister Xue'er!!!"
Huo Yun'er puffed her cheeks, hands on her hips. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm serious! The ancestor is mine! You can't take him from me!"
Snow Empress calmly looked her up and down before shaking her head slightly.
"You—!"
That headshake instantly ignited Huo Yun'er's fury.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was it mockery?
A declaration of war?
Fine then—so be it!
"Sister Xue'er, you've already lost!" she declared, stamping her foot.
"The ancestor belongs to me!"
Meanwhile, outside in the corner hallway, in a rarely used storage room, Gu Yue shut the door behind her and blocked Jiang Chen inside.
"What's this about?" he asked cautiously.
"There was only one thing," she said seriously. "Now there are two."
"Two?" Jiang Chen blinked. "Why the suspense?"
"First," she began sternly, "you need to keep your distance from Snow Empress."
Jiang Chen: "???"
"Do you even hear yourself right now?"
"Hmph! Of course. Are you questioning my intelligence?" she snapped.
"You two are both trying to become gods. The path to divinity is ruthless and bloody. You may not ascend side by side—you might even become enemies. So it's best to keep your guard up now."
Jiang Chen stared blankly.
What on earth is she talking about?
He trusted Snow Empress completely. He didn't even trust Gu Yue that much—considering how often he tricked her.
If he couldn't trust Snow Empress, how would he ever attain godhood?
Only after she succeeded could his own ascension have any real chance.
As for Gu Yue… well, let's just say the "wisdom" of the Dragon God had its limits.
Still, he didn't argue. "Alright, and the second thing?"
The mighty Silver Dragon King suddenly looked uncharacteristically flustered, her composure crumbling.
"I, um—well—this…"
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. "Spit it out already. This isn't like you."
For a split second, he wondered if she'd been body-swapped.
Gu Yue inhaled deeply. "You like me, and I'm very happy about that."
"But… we can't be together."
"I'm sorry, Jiang Chen—but I can't agree to… lay an egg with you!"
Jiang Chen: "???"
"…What the hell!?"
(END CHAPTER)
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