Medusa's pupils reflected the young man's face as it gradually drew closer.
The scorching breath curling around her nose made the scales on her snake tail tremble faintly.
She suddenly realized that her waist was being pinned deep into the brocade bedding by his knee.
A faint pink flush rippled across her tender, pale skin.
"Human, you...!"
"Release me at once!"
The cold shout bursting from her red lips carried killing intent, yet it suddenly trembled at the end.
The snake tail wrapped around Xiao Yan's waist abruptly loosened as though shocked.
Fine scales flared open, releasing wisps of a faint fragrance.
She had never imagined that a human would suppress her like this.
Even more frightening was the steadily quickening heartbeat in her chest.
It was like an unstoppable tremor of the soul.
She had never experienced such strangeness and did not understand it.
She only instinctively felt that something was wrong.
This Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python body had actually developed an instinctive intimacy toward the young man before her!
This was actually the effect of the Three-Colored Fire Lotus mark within Xiao Yan's body.
Although it restricted her from attacking Xiao Yan,
it was also constantly healing and restoring the injuries left within her body by her evolution through the Heavenly Flames.
Xiao Yan paid no attention to Medusa's murderous glare.
His fingertips brushed across the snowy skin at the back of her neck.
The Three-Colored Fire Lotus mark bloomed across her pale back.
"Her Majesty the Queen's heart seems to be beating rather fast."
"Her Majesty the Queen truly says one thing and means another."
His warm palm traveled down her spine before lightly pressing her waist.
"How about I teach you how to beg?"
"Boom!"
Seven-colored radiance suddenly exploded, and the jade hairpin in Medusa's hair shattered into fragments.
She abruptly tried to turn over and break free, only to see Green Lotus Core Flame surge in the young man's eyes!
The Heavenly Flame seal within her body bound her Dou Qi like a spiderweb.
As her long lashes trembled violently, her body suddenly turned into a streak of light and slipped into the young man's robes.
Xiao Yan lowered his head to look at the Seven-Colored Snake curled into a ball at his collarbone and laughed speechlessly.
"Running away already?"
His fingertip lightly tapped the cool scales, feeling the slight heat beneath them.
"It seems Her Majesty the Queen still needs to get used to a human's warmth."
Xiao Yan gently lowered his hand. In high spirits, he hummed a little tune and opened the door.
Yet the moment it opened, the smile on his face froze.
A young girl's clear voice carried a trace of grievance.
"So our Master Xiao likes this sort of thing?"
"Some people really are kind-hearted and passionate."
"Even when raising a snake, they have to be this intimate?"
The girl leaning against the sandalwood doorframe stirred a medicinal bowl with a silver spoon.
The night wind sent ripples through her moon-white dress.
Xiao Yi Xian lowered her eyes to the inky jade-white medicine in the bowl.
The violet crystal orchid pinned amid her dark hair glimmered faintly.
"Master Xiao, would you like a bowl of calming soup in the middle of the night?"
Xiao Yan raised his hand to take the bowl, only for cool fingertips to press down on his wrist.
The girl suddenly stood on tiptoe and leaned close, her delicate nose lightly sniffing at his neck.
Her soft, warm lips nearly brushed his Adam's apple.
"Since when has Master Xiao had the habit of wearing perfume?"
"Or is this the scent of some great beauty?"
Ripples appeared in her limpid eyes.
"It seems this calming soup should be changed into fire-clearing tea."
"Are you jealous?"
Xiao Yan suddenly wrapped an arm around her slim waist and pinned her against the carved door.
Moonlight filtered through the thin gauze, making her earlobes look crystal clear.
He lowered his head and captured that blush of red, the gentle touch flowing straight into his nerves.
"I think the scent of Purple Spirit Poison Flower on you is even more intoxicating."
"If we're talking about who I like, perhaps you surpass everyone else."
"Xiao Yan!"
"Y-you rogue!"
"I finally see you clearly. Is that really liking someone?"
"You're just lusting after my body!"
Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly tried to push against his chest, only for his scorching palm to seize her wrist and press it above her head.
Amid the crisp sound of the medicine bowl falling, Dou Qi gathered in Xiao Yi Xian's hand.
Green Lotus Flame crawled along their entwined fingers and over her fair wrist, condensing the poisonous mist into drifting violet radiance.
Xiao Yan turned sideways and lazily scooped Xiao Yi Xian into his arms.
"I am!"
"So, are you willing to give it to me?"
As her body, wrapped in his solid chest, fell onto the cloud-brocade couch,
she finally bit her lip, turned her head away, and spoke softly.
"Hmph, scum!"
Though it was a curse, her eyes and tone revealed her shyness.
Xiao Yi Xian lay quietly on the couch.
She turned her head away, refusing to look at that detestable lecher.
Yet she made no move to resist, looking as though she would let him do as he pleased.
The damp touch slid downward, moisture from his lips spreading from her earlobe to her neck.
When she felt Xiao Yan's fingertips unconsciously brush over her shoulder
and pinch the edge of her moon-white dress, Xiao Yi Xian's body trembled involuntarily.
At last, she spoke, unable to conceal the shyness in her soft, delicate voice.
"Xiao Yan, you..."
"I haven't yet..."
"Forget it. Do whatever you want..."
Xiao Yan's fingertips stopped as he looked at the anxious, bashful expression on the girl's face.
He could not help but smile.
"What is going on in that little head of yours?"
"Didn't I say I was going to help you suppress your poisonous body?"
The instant the gauze curtains fell, green flame wove a lotus barrier across the rafters.
Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame ignited at Xiao Yan's fingertips.
He watched the girl, her back to him, remove her moon-white outer robe.
Her jade-like butterfly bones appeared and vanished beneath her dark hair.
Purple Mark wound around the hollow of her waist like vines, twisting over her snowy skin with every breath.
"This may be a little hot."
He flicked out a thread of crimson flame, the fire gathering in his palm into strands of energy.
"If you can't bear it, bite me."
Xiao Yi Xian suddenly turned around, and the violet crystal orchid in her hair fell into the hollow of her collarbone.
Moonlight edged her flawless body in silver, while poisonous markings bloomed across her lower abdomen with an enchanting violet glow.
"You're not allowed to—"
"Forget it, look if you want!"
Her voice trembled slightly, but the last note turned into a soft moan.
Crimson fire traveled down her spine, branding every node of her poison veins.
Xiao Yan's fingertips moved as Heavenly Flames crisscrossed within the girl's body like a net.
When Fen Jue reached its seventh circulation,
he suddenly discovered that the poisonous markings were climbing along his fingertips.
He abruptly gripped the beauty's slender waist and pulled her into his arms.
Crimson fire and poison intermingled where their skin touched.
Little Doctor's body trembled as Xiao Yan's gentle voice sounded by her ear.
"Don't move. Leave it to me."
Moonlight flowed amid their intertwined breaths.
Xiao Yi Xian suddenly raised her head and bit his shoulder.
In that instant, her Dou Qi began circulating faster.
The moment the Dou Ling barrier shattered, her long dark hair fluttered without wind.
Violet mist condensed into a Poison Phoenix that spread its wings behind her.
Xiao Yan seized the chance to feed the Sixth-Grade Underworld Rhyme Pill into her mouth, his tongue sweeping away the lingering taste at the corner of her lips.
"Congratulations, my Dou Ling girl."
Xiao Yi Xian raised her head and looked at the young man before her, the one who made her feel at ease.
Warmth flowed through her heart, and mist gradually welled in her eyes.
Xiao Yi Xian threw herself into Xiao Yan's arms and hugged him tightly.
At that moment, she could no longer care about anything else.
She only wanted to be close to him.
Closer, and closer still!
As though she wanted to knead all her love, all her heart,
into the young man before her who made her heart flutter.
Her voice was very soft, carrying a water-like gentleness.
"No matter what."
"Xiao Yan, I love you."
Xiao Yan gently pressed her into his embrace and wrapped his arms around her waist.
He softly stroked her smooth dark hair, immersed in her scent.
"Me too."
"My dear girl."
The dawn light pierced through the clouds.
Before Nalan Mansion, nine layers of gilded incense burners exhaled wisps of green smoke.
When the sound of four wings breaking through the air rang out, Xiao Yan descended calmly while carrying Xiao Yi Xian in his arms.
"Welcome, Master Xiao!"
Nalan Su bowed respectfully, the hem of his brocade robe spreading out like a fan.
The maids on both sides scattered seven-colored crystal sand across the red carpet.
This was a reception that not even Dou Huang experts had received.
Xiao Yan followed Nalan Su into the courtyard.
Everyone present immediately rose to their feet.
A handsome young man in brocade robes respectfully bowed to Xiao Yan.
"This junior, Liu Ling, greets Master Xiao!"
The young princess Yao Yue lifted her skirt and hurried forward.
She respectfully bent at the waist and performed an Imperial Family salute.
"This junior, Yao Yue, greets Master Xiao!"
Xiao Yan nodded lightly and sat down casually with Xiao Yi Xian.
Ya Fei emerged from the corridor in crystal shoes, golden bells swaying at the slit of her red dress.
She walked straight through the courtyard, her fair, delicate hand holding a teacup.
"Nine-Leaf Phoenix Tea, please enjoy, Master..."
Xiao Yan took a light sip of the tea and swept his gaze around the surroundings.
There was no disdain, no humiliation.
Nor was there any awkwardness from mistaken identity.
As far as the eye could see,
there was only reverence and admiration for him!
From the shadows of the rear courtyard, Hai Bodong spoke with a chuckle:
"Tut, tut. They're really putting on quite a show for him."
Beside him, Jia Xing Tian gave a derisive snort:
"An alchemy grandmaster capable of refining a Sect Breaking Pill— even the Imperial Family must treat him with respect!"
"Would a mere Nalan Family dare show him any disrespect?"
Jia Xing Tian spoke casually, then turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan:
"He truly is a promising young man..."
Before you continue