The turmoil in the "harem" had settled in a manner so surreal it bordered on magical realism. Lin Che often felt a dizzying sense of unreality as he watched the harmonious scene before him—the "beloved wife" and "cherished companions" addressing each other as sisters. By day, Su Qingyao (in Lin Ying's body), Meng Qingcheng, and Luo Jiayin would drink tea and discuss the Dao in the courtyard, or jointly instruct the disciples of the Slaughter God Pavilion, chatting and laughing like old friends. Not a trace remained of the expected battlefield of emotions.
That night, the moonlight streamed like water through the carved wooden window, illuminating the spacious, warmly lit chamber on the pavilion's top floor.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of sandalwood incense. The atmosphere was… delicate.
Lin Che, Su Qingyao, Luo Jiayin, and Meng Qingcheng sat around a low couch draped in soft snow-fox fur. Su Qingyao, wearing a moon-white sleeping robe, sat in the center. Her lustrous black hair was tied up loosely with a simple jade hairpin. Though her face still held a touch of youthful roundness, the profound Daoist aura radiating from her—a result of her recent breakthrough—made her the natural focal point of the group.
Since her memories had awakened, her cultivation had advanced smoothly, breaking through the Deity Transformation bottleneck to reach the Void Refining stage. Her energy was now perfectly contained and serene, making her the most powerful cultivator present.
Luo Jiayin and Meng Qingcheng sat on either side—one naturally charming and alluring, the other cool and elegant, though the ice in her expression had thawed somewhat in recent days. Lin Che sat in the subordinate position, fidgeting like a schoolboy awaiting a reprimand, his eyes darting everywhere but the "Empress" in the center.
"Ahem," Lin Che cleared his throat, trying to break the suffocating silence. "The moon is quite lovely tonight…"
No one responded. Su Qingyao was meticulously trimming a candle wick with silver scissors, Luo Jiayin was fiddling with a jade bracelet on her wrist, and Meng Qingcheng was staring intently at the tea leaves floating in her cup, as if seeking enlightenment within them.
Lin Che: "…" The awkwardness intensified.
"So… Qingyao," Lin Che pressed on, desperate for conversation, "now that you've reached the Void Refining stage, how do you feel? Any discomfort?"
Su Qingyao finally looked up, giving him a faint, ambiguous smile. "Thank you for your concern, Pavilion Master Lin. I feel perfectly fine. It is you, however, who seems to have been idle lately. Your cultivation hasn't improved, but your glib tongue certainly has."
Luo Jiayin giggled softly, and even Meng Qingcheng's lips twitched in amusement.
Lin Che's face reddened. "I was just… concerned about you."
"Oh?" Su Qingyao set down the scissors, folding her hands in her lap. "How kind. But rather than worrying about me, perhaps you should focus on your own training. We live in troubled times, and your current level of cultivation may not even be enough to ensure your own safety."
Her words, though calmly spoken, struck a nerve. Lin Che was still at the late Deity Transformation stage—nowhere near Su Qingyao's Void Refining level, and only marginally stronger than Luo Jiayin and Meng Qingcheng.
"Sister Qingyao is right," Luo Jiayin chimed in, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she shot Lin Che a reproachful look. "You're always running around doing who-knows-what, neglecting your proper cultivation."
Meng Qingcheng remained silent but nodded in agreement.
Lin Che: "…" Three against one. Hopeless. He felt like a monk who had stumbled into a cave of spider spirits, utterly at the mercy of three devastatingly beautiful and powerful "yokai."
The four of them sat in silence for a while longer, making aimless small talk that did nothing to warm the chilly atmosphere. As the night deepened and the candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows on their faces, Lin Che felt as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.
Just as his discomfort peaked, a cold, mechanical voice that had been silent for days exploded in his mind without warning.
[Ding! Detected host in the company of three beloved companions. Atmosphere is harmonious and amicable. Triggering hidden mission: Moonlit Flowers, a Quartet's Delight!]
Lin Che's entire body stiffened. He nearly leaped off the couch. Holy shit! System, what the hell are you doing?!
[Mission Description: Seize this perfect opportunity to deepen your bonds with your three beloved companions. If you can successfully facilitate a "harmonious cultivation session for four," you will receive generous rewards!]
[Mission Reward: If successful, acquire the title "Bliss of Many Wives" (Permanent Charm +50), the Heaven-tier Dual Cultivation manual "Art of the Shared Quilt," and a x3 dose of "Seven Times a Night" Potion.]
[Mission Penalty: If you fail, or if the host retreats from this challenge, you will be cursed with the "Sage's Curse." For the next month, your appeal to the opposite sex will plummet, and you will be universally despised by all three companions.]
Lin Che: "…" I'll curse your ancestors! What kind of bullshit mission is this?! "Cultivation for four"?! Are you trying to get me killed?!
"Lin Che?" Su Qingyao frowned, noticing the storm of emotions on his face. "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing!" Lin Che snapped back to reality, forcing the panic down and plastering a ghastly smile on his face. "I just… suddenly need to… use the facilities!"
With that, he practically scrambled and stumbled his way out of the chamber, leaving the three women staring after him in bewilderment.
"What's… wrong with him?" Meng Qingcheng asked, puzzled.
Luo Jiayin covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Who knows? Maybe he really couldn't hold it in."
Su Qingyao watched his fleeing back, her beautiful eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Lin Che ran all the way to the courtyard, leaning against a cold stone pillar as he gasped for air, mentally cursing the system and all its ancestors.
"You damn system! Are you trying to get me killed?! 'Cultivation for four'?! Don't you think Qingyao's blade is sharp enough?!"
[Ding! Please watch your language. This system aims to help the host achieve his life's purpose and experience the pinnacle of happiness. Your current emotional state is stable, making this the perfect time to implement the "Harmonious Harem Plan."]
"Harmonious, my ass! That's Su Qingyao! A Void Refining powerhouse! You want me to try a 'foursome' with her?! Do you think she won't slap me into paste and then dig you out of my brain for good measure?!"
[Ding! Risk assessment in progress… Assessment complete: Target Su Qingyao's favorability towards the host is high. Target possesses wisdom and tolerance beyond the ordinary. Success rate: 37.8%.]
"37.8%?! How is that any different from suicide?!"
[Ding! Great rewards require great risks. Does the host not wish to experience the joy of having a beauty on each arm, of enjoying the bliss of many wives?]
"I don't! I just want to live!" Lin Che wanted to cry. "And isn't this a terrible time?! Qingyao just said a great upheaval is coming!"
[Ding! Precisely because a great war is imminent, the host must improve his strength and team cohesion as soon as possible. A "foursome" is the most efficient option.]
Lin Che: "…" He was speechless.
As he was internally screaming, Su Qingyao's cool voice came from behind him. "Lin Che, what are you skulking around out here for?"
Lin Che froze, then turned stiffly. Su Qingyao stood behind him, her face breathtakingly beautiful in the moonlight, her gaze searching.
"I… I just came out for some air…" he stammered.
Su Qingyao walked closer, stopping before him and looking up. The moonlight cast a silver glow upon her delicate profile. "Earlier, you seemed… agitated. Is there something you're hiding from me?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Lin Che shook his head so hard it was a wonder it didn't fly off, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Su Qingyao was silent for a moment. Then, she let out a soft sigh, her tone carrying a rare hint of… melancholy?
"Lin Che, I'll ask you plainly. Why… haven't you touched me yet?"
Lin Che felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. His mind went blank.
"I… I'm just… not used to it yet…" he managed to choke out, his eyes darting everywhere but at her.
"Not used to what?" Su Qingyao took a step closer, her warm, orchid-scented breath brushing against his neck. "Not used to me being Su Qingyao? Or not used to this body being Lin Ying's?"
"B-Both…" Lin Che's voice was a mere whisper. "After all… when I look at this face… I… I remember it's Ying'er… and we're so familiar… I… I just can't bring myself to…"
"Oh?" Su Qingyao's expression shifted. Instead of anger, a bewitching smile spread across her lips, her eyes shimmering with a sudden, devastating charm. "When you made your move on Sister Jiayin, I didn't see you hesitating. And Sister Qingcheng? You had no trouble then, either. Why is it that when it comes to me, you suddenly become so proper?"
She leaned in until she was almost pressed against him, her lips parting. Her voice was a seductive whisper. "Or is it… that in your eyes, my charm simply doesn't measure up to theirs?"
Lin Che was utterly tongue-tied, his body burning with heat, his reason hanging by a thread. At that exact moment, the system's prompt rang out again, like a demon's whisper:
[Ding! Perfect opportunity detected! Host, go for it! Show her your manly spirit! If not now, when?! The reward is within reach!]
"Go for it, my ass!" Lin Che roared internally, but his body betrayed him, leaning forward slightly, his lips inches from hers.
At the critical moment, Su Qingyao suddenly took a step back, breaking the spell. The seductive charm vanished from her face, replaced by a grave seriousness.
"Enough teasing," she said, turning to look up at the night sky, her expression solemn. "Lin Che, I meant what I said earlier. I sense that a cataclysm, one that will sweep across the entire cultivation world, is imminent. The time we have left… is truly short."
Her words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, instantly extinguishing the fire that had just begun to burn within him.
"We must improve our strength as quickly as possible. We can no longer afford to dawdle with romance and idle away our days." Su Qingyao looked back at him. In the moonlight, her eyes were as bright as stars, yet bottomlessly deep. "As for the matter between you and me… we can speak of it again… after we have survived this calamity."
With that, she turned and left without another word, her figure ethereal in the moonlight.
Lin Che stood alone in the cold courtyard, a tumult of emotions warring in his heart.
[Ding! Mission "Moonlit Flowers, a Quartet's Delight" has been terminated due to unforeseen circumstances. Rewards forfeited. Penalty: The Sage's Curse is now in effect. Duration: 30 days.]
Lin Che: "…" Goddamn it… Thanks for nothing.