Xiao Jietian reached out with a backhand and grabbed Zi Yan by the back of her neck. With a casual spin, he pulled her entire small body across his lap.
Zi Yan immediately guessed what was coming. Her short legs kicked wildly in the air as she protested, "You… you dare! I'll go tell on you later!"
"Oh really? Then go ahead—see who actually stands up for you."
The moment those words left his mouth, Zi Yan's mind flashed back to that night—the scene she had secretly witnessed after Medusa had boldly declared she would "teach Xiao Jietian a lesson." She had stood frozen in place for a full half hour.
Her resistance instantly collapsed. Her voice turned soft and sugary, laced with flattery and pleading:
"Xiao Jietian Gege~~ Please let me go, okay? I'll never do it again, I swear!"
Xiao Jietian showed no mercy. He restrained both her hands and feet, pulled her a little closer, raised his palm, and brought it down firmly.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
"Ah! Ah! Ahhh~"
The crisp sound of spanking and Zi Yan's pained cries echoed across the quiet lakeside.
After a thorough but not overly harsh spanking, Xiao Jietian finally set her down.
Zi Yan rubbed her stinging bottom, pouting with an unconvinced expression. In her heart she grumbled: Big bad guy… what kind of decent person pulls someone's pants down before spanking them?
If Xiao Jietian could hear her thoughts, he would probably burst out laughing. When she wanted pills from him, he was a good person. The moment she got punished, he became the big bad villain.
In truth, Xiao Jietian had only put on a show to discipline her. Deep down he knew Zi Yan was only ever this mischievous in front of him. Outside, she was still very reliable.
"Will you dare do that again next time?" Xiao Jietian put away the Cloud Dream Phoenix metal rod, pinched her soft cheek, and chuckled.
"I won't dare! I (next) know (time) I'm (I'll) wrong (still) dare!" Zi Yan put on an exaggerated display of remorse, though her eyes clearly said she had learned absolutely nothing.
Xiao Jietian ruffled her hair messily, then turned and walked toward the dining hall.
Behind him, Zi Yan waved her small fists at his retreating back several times, as though venting all her accumulated resentment that way.
…
Over the past year, everyone's strength had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Zi Yan: Peak Dou King Ya Fei: Six-Star Dou Huang Han Yue: Seven-Star Dou Huang Qing Lin: One-Star Dou Zong Yun Yun: Nine-Star Dou Zong Xiao Jietian: Three-Star Dou Zun Medusa: Two-Star Dou Zun Little Fairy Doctor: Seven-Star Dou Zun Xiao Ling & Xiao Meng: One-Star Dou King each Xiao Huiying: Combat power comparable to a One-Turn Dou Zun
With this lineup, even in the Central Plains the strength of the Xiao Family and Boundless Heaven Hall could no longer be considered weak.
…
Inside the private bathhouse attached to Xiao Jietian's sleeping quarters.
Xiao Jietian leaned lazily against the edge of the large hot spring pool, enjoying the soothing warmth.
Not far opposite him, Medusa, Han Yue, and the other three women had gathered in a small cluster, currently "studying" Han Yue with great interest.
Medusa suddenly turned her head and glared at Xiao Jietian, clenching her fist. "That's enough. You can't keep bullying Yun'er like this forever."
Xiao Jietian gave her a lazy glance. "I know, but it also depends on all of you, doesn't it? Or… would you like to take her place?"
"You wish! I'm busy, and it's not convenient right now anyway. Ask them instead."
Medusa rolled her eyes dramatically, selling out her sisters without the slightest hesitation.
"It's not my turn today… and it's too uncomfortable."
"I don't want to either."
…
One after another, the women shook their heads, arms crossed tightly over their chests in firm refusal. Mainly because there were simply too many people present—they felt too shy.
Han Yue, unfortunately, had no chance to voice an opinion at all. She was currently the designated "experimental subject."
Just then, Xiao Jietian's message stone began vibrating wildly in his storage ring.
He frowned slightly, took it out, and absorbed the spiritual message inside. The next moment, a playful smile slowly spread across his face.
The others immediately noticed the change in his expression.
The Little Fairy Doctor swam over curiously. "What's wrong?"
"Something interesting. See for yourself."
Little Fairy Doctor took the message stone. Qing Lin and the others quickly gathered around. After reading the contents, soft chuckles escaped from several of them.
Little Fairy Doctor flicked some water playfully, and Yun Yun rose from beneath the surface, brushing wet strands of hair from her face. She looked at the stone Little Fairy Doctor was offering her. "What's going on?"
"Take a look."
Yun Yun scanned the message. Black lines instantly crawled across her forehead.
The message came from Yun Shan.
The very first line contained only four words:
"Son-in-law, save me!"
What followed was a lengthy, rather frantic explanation.
It turned out the Three Great Empires—Chu Yun, Luo Yan, and Mulan—had jointly launched an invasion of the Jia Ma Empire.
Xiao Jietian's unusual reaction wasn't just because of the shameless way Yun Shan had addressed him as "son-in-law," nor solely because of the plea for help. More importantly—
This war had broken out more than a year earlier than he had originally anticipated.
Xiao Jietian turned his head and looked at the Little Fairy Doctor beside him. She swam closer, puzzled.
"What? Why are you suddenly staring at me like that?"
"Nothing. I just realized you've become even more beautiful."
Xiao Jietian reached out, pulled her gently into his embrace, and placed his warm palm against her slightly rounded belly, feeling the faint movements of the little life inside.
Just then, another smooth, flat stomach was deliberately placed in front of his face.
He looked up—past the proud "mountain range"—and met Medusa's enchanting yet slightly averted gaze. Her head was tilted, pretending not to care.
Xiao Jietian laughed inwardly. What a classic tsundere. Clearly wants me to touch her pregnant belly too, but has to act like she doesn't mind.
Without hesitation, he reached out and gently stroked her abdomen as well.
Only then did Medusa finally relax. She moved to the side with a satisfied expression and sat down.
Yun Yun, who had been quietly processing everything nearby, finally looked up at Xiao Jietian with eyes full of pleading emotion. A thousand words seemed to swirl in her gaze, yet she didn't know how to begin.
Xiao Jietian waved his hand lightly. Yun Yun's body floated up from the water and landed softly in his arms.
He caressed her cheek tenderly and spoke in a low, soothing voice:
"Don't worry. Your teacher is fine for now. Tomorrow, Hui Ying and I will head back. You know how fast Hui Ying is. Besides… I still owe Yun Shan a favor."
Yun Yun naturally understood that the "favor" he referred to was one he had taken on entirely for her sake. Gratitude shimmered in her eyes. In her heart, she silently made a firm decision.
This time, she would repay her teacher's years of nurturing and guidance with everything she had.
At that moment, in Zi Yan's palace, Xiao Huiying and Zi Yan were gently tucking Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng into bed.
"So don't overthink it. Leave everything to me. You just focus on managing Boundless Heaven Hall well for me… and on increasing the number of Xiao Family descendants. Ten or eight children at least—and that goes for all of you."
Hearing this, Yun Yun playfully slapped his chest. "Do you think I'm a sow? Giving birth to so many?"
"Pfft—" ×4
The other four women also let out soft, amused spits of mock disdain.
But suddenly, a faint, earnest voice joined in:
"Young Master… Qing Lin is willing."
Oh no—there's a traitor among us!
"Traitor!" ×4
In an instant, four pairs of demonic hands reached for Qing Lin's most ticklish spots. Qing Lin twisted and giggled, desperately trying to escape their claws.
Yun Yun watched the five women playfully bickering and wrestling in the water. Then she lifted her gaze to Xiao Jietian's handsome side profile. A soft, happy curve slowly bloomed on her lips.
She reached down into the warm water, supporting herself slightly as she rose. Her hand gently grasped him beneath the surface, feeling the heat. Worried the water might be too hot and scald her, she lowered herself slowly.
The temperature seemed overwhelming at first, so she rose again slightly… then, after adjusting, slowly descended once more. It still felt too intense to take quickly. She couldn't help but frown.
Only after fully adapting did her furrowed brow finally relax. Perhaps because of the enveloping warmth, a soft, deeply contented sigh escaped her lips—filled with relaxation and the shedding of all worries.
Gentle ripples spread outward across the water's surface. Her fair skin gradually flushed a delicate rosy hue in the steaming heat.
Ya Fei and the other three women all noticed. Even the pregnant Little Fairy Doctor and Medusa drifted closer, joining in to share the moment.
For a time, the bathhouse was filled with the joyful, harmonious sounds of the women. Water splashed and rippled endlessly. The crashing of waves blended together with their laughter and soft moans, weaving into one beautiful, lingering symphony.