Sun, Sand, Sunscreen, Cuteness vs. Sexiness

Chapter 20: Sun, Sand, Sunscreen, Cuteness Is Worthless Before Sexiness (4K)

The next day, afternoon.

The scorching sun hung high, draping Eastsea City in a golden veil. Seagulls streaked across the sky like white phantoms. It was the kind of weather made for travel and play, as if even the gulls' pupils carried a lazy, languid contentment.

At the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda, the elevator doors slid open, and Na'er tugged Zhao Xuanzhen out, her face blooming with longing for the sun, the sea, and the sand. Leng Yaozhu followed behind the two youngsters, a smile curving at the corners of her rosy lips.

On a seaside vacation, the ocean was an unavoidable pleasure. Na'er had originally planned to join the bustling crowds at Eastsea City's liveliest beach, but Leng Yaozhu disliked crowds and wanted to avoid the endless stream of men trying to strike up conversations. So the location was changed to the Spirit Pagoda's private beach, open only to the three of them today.

Fine white sand crunched underfoot. Waves shattered against the rocks into countless droplets. The soles of their feet sank into the sun-warmed beach, and in the distance, flocks of gulls skimmed the wave crests, their wings gilded with a halo of gold.

"The smell of the sea!"

Na'er's brows danced as she gazed at the horizon where water met sky. She took a deep breath of the seaside air, the sea breeze lifting her silver long hair and making her skirt flutter freely.

"Zhao Xuanzhen, do you like the sea?"

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Zhao Xuanzhen beside her. He nodded seriously.

"Happy, you can watch it. Depressed, you can jump in. Broke, you can dive for food. Who wouldn't like an all-purpose sea?"

"Huh?"

Na'er and Leng Yaozhu turned their gazes toward him in perfect unison. This kid's thoughts were dangerous!

"Don't mind him. Aunt Leng, let's go change into our swimsuits!"

Na'er dragged Leng Yaozhu into the changing room. Zhao Xuanzhen, being a boy, had fewer fusses. He stripped off his outer clothes, revealing the swim trunks he had put on earlier, with silver dragon and golden phoenix patterns on the sides.

He had bought these trunks with Na'er at the Eastsea City Mall yesterday, after eating stewed beef. Carved with dragons and phoenixes, Zhao Xuanzhen thought they were a bit flashy, but Na'er had taken a liking to them at first sight. She paid and left in one smooth motion, leaving him no room to refuse.

Zhao Xuanzhen faced the sea. The salty, astringent sea breeze hit his face. As far as the eye could see, the water shimmered under the bright sun. Waves rushed to the edge of the sand, the fine grains shifting with the tide, shallowly covering his feet. When the waves receded, broken foam trickled down his ankles.

The Sea God might be a no-show, but the sea itself was great!

"Ta-da!"

The bamboo curtain of the changing room rolled up, and the sound of shell wind chimes shattered against the crash of the waves. A lively, energetic young girl made her grand entrance!

Na'er had changed into a backless bikini. It was a strapless, round-neck design with a buckle, and a pink bow tied at her waist. Her silver long hair was tied up in a high ponytail.

The thin fabric wrapped around her warm, jade-like toes. Her snow-white skin reflected the sunlight, her lines even and graceful. Every inch of the young girl radiated youthful vitality.

The first thing Na'er did when she stepped out of the changing room was to observe Zhao Xuanzhen's reaction. She noticed that he was indeed looking at her, with an expression she had never seen before—one part surprise, two parts affirmation, three parts appreciation, and four parts astonishment...

On the Douluo Continent, everyone developed at a super-fast pace. Na'er's figure was already beginning to show its delicate curves. A faint blush crept across her stunningly beautiful face. She was about to run over and tease him when she noticed Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze shift to the side.

Leng Yaozhu pushed aside the bamboo curtain, stepping out like a mermaid emerging from the deep sea. Her fiery red hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders. Flecks of golden light danced in the hollow of her collarbone, making her skin look like white porcelain drizzled with coconut milk.

Her wine-red bikini was cut daringly. Two delicate gold chains crossed at the back of her neck, trailing down her spine to the small of her back. Her waist was slender, and the tiny diamonds adorning the straps sparkled dazzlingly, creating a captivating shimmer.

Na'er glanced at Leng Yaozhu's graceful, mature figure—exuding sexiness to the fullest—then looked down at her own, which compared to that was nothing more than a bean sprout. Her lips pouted, and she barely held back her tears!

Cuteness was worthless before sexiness!

Today was a rare holiday. Leng Yaozhu's stunning face was full of smiles. She took a pair of sunglasses from her Storage Soul Tool, strode gracefully on her long legs to a row of beach chairs, and lay down to bask in the sun and enjoy the beach.

Na'er, struck by Leng Yaozhu's invisible blow, crouched down to draw circles in the sand, wallowing in self-pity. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her head.

The young girl's silver eyes sparkled, thinking her childhood sweetheart had come to comfort her. Then she saw the boy, his face warm and refined, smiling as he uttered five words:

"You don't need to feel inferior."

"Zhao, Xuan, Zhen!!!"

Na'er shot up like a rocket. Her pretty face instantly turned a blazing red. With a single leap, she lunged at Zhao Xuanzhen, letting out a sharp shriek:

"If I don't kick your shorts off, you'd better hold on tight!"

Seeing the situation was dire, Zhao Xuanzhen turned and ran. Na'er, eyes red, chased him like a madwoman. The sand was left with their staggered footprints, two shadows cast on the ground, constantly moving forward, sometimes overlapping, sometimes separating.

Seeing this, Leng Yaozhu adjusted her sunglasses and sighed with genuine feeling, "Those two youngsters really do get along well."

After playing around for a while, Zhao Xuanzhen deliberately slowed his pace. Na'er caught up, puffing with anger, and like a little puppy, left a round teeth mark on his left shoulder. The two of them re-signed their Peace Treaty and jumped into the sea to swim together.

"Splash—"

Two figures broke through the waves. Sunlight poured down from above, drenching their bodies. Na'er giggled, her belly beneath her swimsuit fair and beautiful. Her voice was crisp as she said:

"I swam a second faster than you!"

"You win."

"I'm just that good!"

Watching Na'er make a ghost face, Zhao Xuanzhen couldn't help but smile. With his freakish physical fitness, he could easily outswim Na'er. But life wasn't a competition; not everything needed to be a contest of who was better.

Of course, the main reason was that Zhao Xuanzhen was afraid Na'er couldn't take a loss. His left shoulder had already been bitten without reason by this little puppy. He ought to protect his right shoulder carefully!

"Hehe..."

Na'er's eyes darted around slyly. She quietly submerged herself underwater. Zhao Xuanzhen sensed her sneaking closer to him. Just as he was wondering what trick she was up to, the sea surface exploded from below!

A splash of seawater arced up, forming crystal beads in midair, which shattered against Zhao Xuanzhen's body, drenching his face and soaking his black hair.

"Got you, you idiot Zhao Xuanzhen!"

On the beach chair, Leng Yaozhu peacefully enjoyed her sunbath, her shoulder blades rising and falling with each breath, her two long legs sunbathing pale and supple, making it hard to look away.

"Why did you come ashore alone? Na'er, on the other hand, swam deeper and deeper."

Leng Yaozhu asked, and the next second, a crisp voice answered.

"She went to catch crabs, said she wants to catch hundred-year crabs for spicy stir-fry tonight..."

Zhao Xuanzhen's expression was helpless. Na'er firmly believed the ocean was rich in resources and decided to catch crabs herself. The problem was that this private beach belonged to the Spirit Pagoda. If any hundred-year soul beasts lived nearby, they would have been dragged back and turned into soul spirits long ago. How could they possibly get lucky?

"It's a holiday, do as you please."

Leng Yaozhu was unconcerned. Na'er herself was highly combat-capable, and with this Sky Phoenix Douluo's Spirit Domain Realm mental strength monitoring the entire sea area, there was absolutely no chance of an accident.

Zhao Xuanzhen had swum enough and imitated Leng Yaozhu's posture to bask in the sun. Master and disciple lay comfortably on the beach chairs, at ease and content.

"Teacher hasn't enjoyed life in a long time, has she?"

"Mn. Ever since Yulai went... disappeared, I haven't. If it weren't for rewarding you and Na'er for four years of hard training, and examining Gu Yue's entry into the Spirit Pagoda, I wouldn't have come to Eastsea City for a vacation."

Leng Yaozhu's tone was low. That was an indelible wound in her heart. Zhao Xuanzhen knew everything and understood Leng Yulai's place in Leng Yaozhu's heart.

Thinking of how Leng Yulai had thrust the Demon God Sword into Leng Yaozhu's body, tormenting her sister's soul forever, Zhao Xuanzhen didn't want to dwell on the topic of Leng Yulai. Seemingly casually, he shifted the subject:

"Yesterday, I had a face-to-face exchange with Purple Dragon Douluo. I wonder what results Teacher achieved?"

"Purple Dragon Douluo... there really is something strange about her..."

Leng Yaozhu turned her head, her delicate profile gleaming in the sunlight. She spoke slowly: "Purple Dragon Douluo is indeed a Super Douluo, and her words vaguely revealed that the Hidden Family behind Gu Yue is extraordinary.

However, Purple Dragon Douluo's aura was unstable, her qi and blood turbulent—a classic sign of severe unhealed injuries."

"Purple Dragon Douluo is severely injured?"

Zhao Xuanzhen was astonished. Purple Dragon Douluo was most likely Hell Demon Dragon King Ziji. How could she be severely injured at this point in time?

Gu Yue... Tang Wulin... Golden Dragon King... Sea God...

Thoughts raced through his mind, and Zhao Xuanzhen gradually constructed a logical chain. From the performance in the Spirit Ascension Platform during the Riot Period, it was clear that Gu Yue was not of one mind with the other four in Zero Class. While others acted, she just watched, giving off a sense of being out of place.

In this timeline, Gu Yue Na had not lost her memory and spent three years with Tang Wulin. The two Silver Dragon King Half Bodies had no feelings for him. Gu Yue had come to Eastsea City solely to seize the Golden Dragon King God Core.

Given Gu Yue's straightforward personality, once she saw Tang Wulin, she would definitely summon the Xingdou Fierce Beasts to act, which would inevitably trigger the God King's divine will.

If so, Ziji was likely severely wounded by the God King. Even Di Tian, Bear Monarch, Ten Thousand Demon King, and the other Xingdou Fierce Beasts might have suffered greatly from the surprise attack. Even Emerald Swan Biji's healing ability couldn't restore the fierce beasts to their peak.

At this moment, Gu Yue was still staying in Eastsea City, meaning the Golden Dragon King God Core was still inside Tang Wulin. The Xingdou Fierce Beasts had been utterly defeated—score zero.

"So the God King only has two more strikes left."

Zhao Xuanzhen pondered silently. During the Spirit Ascension Platform trip in the Riot Period, the God King had possessed Tang Wulin's body to unleash the Trident Spiritual Imprint. That situation was more like the Phosphorus Fire Refining Soul incident—using less energy and not counting as a strike.

If it came to facing the Xingdou Fierce Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the God King would definitely expend a large amount of energy, reducing the three Life-saving Hairs by one.

So the Xingdou Fierce Beasts weren't exactly a free win—their score rose by a trace...

"And Gu Yue? How does Teacher plan to arrange things?"

"Gu Yue has exceptional talent; she must enter the Spirit Pagoda." Leng Yaozhu said. "But what position to assign her, I'm still considering."

"Not as a Core Disciple?"

Leng Yaozhu shook her head: "Before meeting Purple Dragon Douluo, she was a Core Disciple of the Spirit Pagoda. After meeting Purple Dragon Douluo, I hesitated instead.

Purple Dragon Douluo wanted Gu Yue to become my disciple. I told her I already had a Direct Disciple. Immediately after, she was willing to offer a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, just to ask me to accept Gu Yue."

"What a generous offer. Did Teacher agree?"

"Xuanzhen, remember Teacher's words: the greater the benefit, the more you must keep a cool head."

Leng Yaozhu said calmly: "Looking at them, they seem eager to step into the core circle of the Spirit Pagoda. I suspect they have some scheme...

Fortunately, you defeated Gu Yue almost overwhelmingly, giving the Spirit Pagoda a legitimate reason to refuse her Core Disciple status.

Teacher gives you a task. Gu Yue will enter the Spirit Pagoda as a Quasi-Core Disciple. You will be her only Examiner, with the authority to decide whether she can be confirmed and thus step into the Spirit Pagoda's Top Tier Circle.

No matter what Gu Yue and that Hidden Family's goal is, her talent and background are right there. If you win her over, it will be a great asset for the future."

"Alright."

Zhao Xuanzhen sighed at how the older generation was wiser. His becoming Leng Yaozhu's Direct Disciple had triggered a series of butterfly effects. The originally smooth-sailing Gu Yue suddenly couldn't enter the Spirit Pagoda's core, and Zhao Xuanzhen now held the power over her confirmation.

"Teacher, there's one more thing. I need to go to Heaven Dou City in a couple of days."

"Mn, I'll go with you."

Zhao Xuanzhen pursed his lips and said softly: "Teacher, I can take Na'er with me."

The moment he finished speaking, the world seemed to freeze for an instant. The surrounding temperature suddenly soared. The Sky Phoenix Douluo rose from the beach chair, her Crimson Phoenix Eyes fixedly staring at her own disciple. Her peerless face looked inexplicably distorted as she said coldly:

"Xuanzhen, do you mean to abandon Teacher and go to Heaven Dou City alone with Na'er, with no safety guarantee, and no knowing if someone might abduct you..."

Zhao Xuanzhen's body jolted. Leng Yaozhu's demeanor was truly frightening, as if the two of them would appear in some secret room the next second!

"It's not that serious..."

Zhao Xuanzhen finally understood why Han Tianyi had suggested he get out of Leng Yaozhu's sight before going to Heaven Dou City to meet Muye.

If he went to Heaven Dou City with Leng Yaozhu, imagining the scene, Zhao Xuanzhen's tiger body trembled. His True Self aura would no longer be concealed. Muye would be overjoyed and warmly invite Zhao Xuanzhen to join the Body Sect, and then...

There was no "then." Leng Yaozhu slapped Muye to death with one blow, sent people to drag out A Ruheng, and the Body Sect—passed down for ten thousand years—was declared extinct!

"The Federation is still relatively safe. This trip to Heaven Dou City is indeed for important matters... for me, and for our future.

Besides, a person must grow up, learn to face hardships alone, and cannot forever live under the protection of their elders."

Zhao Xuanzhen's every word was sincere. It was necessary to inform Leng Yaozhu in advance; he didn't want to leave secretly and break the heart of his teacher, who had always cared for him.

Moreover, Leng Yaozhu had too many ways to track him. Rather than exhausting himself mentally, it was better to lay all cards on the table from the start.

This trip to Heaven Dou City wasn't just to see Muye. Zhao Xuanzhen had other plans. He could hide them from Na'er, but not from Leng Yaozhu. She had watched him grow up, and some things that suddenly appeared couldn't be explained.

After a long silence, Leng Yaozhu looked at her resolute disciple, let out a faint sigh, and chose to compromise:

"In the end, once you're grown, you can't be kept. You can go to Heaven Dou City, but promise your teacher three things.

First, report your safety twice a day through the Soul Guide Communicator.

Second, don't agree to any unreasonable requests—like leaving me to join another force.

Third, wear this. It will keep you safe."

She handed Zhao Xuanzhen a scarlet pendant. It was warm to the touch, and the sound of a phoenix chirping echoed around them.

The Phoenix Pendant contained the Sky Phoenix True Fire. A single strike from it was enough to annihilate a ninety-fifth-level Title Douluo. Once it shattered, Leng Yaozhu would sense it through her spiritual connection and rush to support at the fastest speed.

"Thank you, Teacher, for granting this."

Zhao Xuanzhen put on the Phoenix Pendant. Even though he had the Soaring Serpent to protect him, the Phoenix Pendant would put Leng Yaozhu at ease.

"Protect yourself. If the Phoenix Pendant shatters, honestly return to the Spirit Pagoda."

Leng Yaozhu tried to put on a stern expression, but she soon broke character, saying with deep meaning:

"Xuanzhen, when you get to Heaven Dou City, don't let yourself be deceived by others' empty promises...

Trust your teacher—what I can give you is more than anyone else can."

"Mm, I've never doubted that."

"You almost ruined my good vacation mood. Come here."

Leng Yaozhu beckoned Zhao Xuanzhen over, pressed a bottle into his palm, then propped her chin on her hand and lay sideways on the beach chair. Her delicate hand combed through her fiery red hair, her entire snow-white back stretching out under the sunlight, the hollows of her waist holding shimmering light spots.

"Help your teacher apply the sunscreen."

"Huh?"

Zhao Xuanzhen was stunned. The mighty Sky Phoenix Douluo was afraid of the sun!?

Leng Yaozhu's brows furrowed slightly, as if wondering why he hadn't moved yet.

"Ah... this... I..."

Zhao Xuanzhen was honest, reliable, and respected his teacher. He could only follow his teacher's orders and complete this task—ten thousand times harder than fighting a Darkgold Fearclaw Bear.

The curves of her waist and hips were moist and glistening, her skin as smooth as polished jade. The faint sound of sunscreen seeping in was amplified a thousand times. His fingertips traced the sunken groove of her spine, sunlight splitting into multicolored light spots like a liquid rainbow.

Xuanzhen said nothing. He just kept applying the oil!