A white-haired elder stroked his beard, glancing toward the direction the two had left. A knowing smile curled his lips. "Don't worry. With Lord Xiao Ze there, Lord Dragon Emperor will be even safer. Besides..."
He paused, then lowered his voice and nudged his companion with a wink. "Didn't you see Lord Dragon Emperor just now? When she mentioned Lord Xiao Ze, the light in her eyes was something else. As for this seclusion... who knows which of them will be keeping the other company?"
The other elder suddenly understood. Rubbing his chin, he chuckled. "True. How could old geezers like us fail to see Lord Xiao Ze's feelings for Lord Dragon Emperor? They're alone together in that secret chamber... tsk, tsk. Maybe when Lord Dragon Emperor comes out, she won't just be much stronger—there'll be a different glow in her eyes, too."
The elders traded comments, and the solemn mood gradually lifted, replaced by a touch of teasing curiosity.
In the underground secret chamber, Zi Yan had just set up a formation to isolate them from the outside. When she turned around, she found Xiao Ze gazing at her without blinking.
The Heavenly Flames around him had quietly ignited. Their orange-red glow reflected in his eyes, adding a hint of burning heat.
"What are you looking at?"
Under his gaze, Zi Yan's cheeks warmed. She instinctively gathered her collar, though her voice carried a hint of forced composure.
Xiao Ze walked closer, his warm breath brushing past her ear. "I'm looking at my Dragon Emperor. The way you look now makes it even harder to look away than when we first met in the Black-Corner Region."
His voice was low and amused, its final note rising slightly, like a feather tickling the heart.
Zi Yan's heart skipped a beat.