An auction?
Lan's heart stirred.
Something came to mind.
Auctions were full of good things, and... judging by the timing, the Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well were about to emerge.
Those things couldn't be allowed to fall into Tang San's hands.
Lan looked up at Xue Qinghe and gave a slight nod.
"I'll be there on the day of the auction."
The smile in Xue Qinghe's eyes deepened.
"Good. You can come straight to the Crown Prince's Mansion and find me then."
With that, Xue Qinghe nodded to Shui Bing'er and the others before turning and slowly departing with his guards.
Xue Qinghe's figure disappeared at the end of the street, but his gentle smile and deep gaze seemed to linger in the air.
Shui Yue'er sidled up to Lan and curiously poked the jade token in his hand.
"Captain, His Highness the Crown Prince seems like a pretty nice guy. This token looks valuable, too."
"But... why did he insist on introducing you to his younger sister? And why did he ask if you had any siblings? That was weird."
Lan put the jade token away without answering.
He had a general idea of Xue Qinghe's intentions, but there was no need to explain them to these simplehearted girls.
Seeing that Lan wasn't going to speak, Shui Bing'er's cool voice broke the silence and came to his rescue.
"All right, everyone's tired. Let's get some rest."
A few days later.
The summer sun blazed.
The heat seemed almost strong enough to melt the stone-paved roads.
But inside Skywater Academy, it was a different scene.
Willows shaded the banks of Skywater Lake, and the chirring cicadas brought a rare touch of coolness.
In the middle of the lake, Lan rested with his eyes closed, letting the cool water soak his body and drive away the heat.
Just then, a burst of crisp laughter drew nearer.
Lan opened his eyes.
A group of young women approached beneath the willows on the bank.
They were Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and the others.
Unlike usual, today they wore clothes made of an extremely skimpy material, covering only the most important parts of their bodies and leaving most of their snowy-white skin and youthful, lovely figures exposed to the scorching air.
"Hey, handsome! Hey, handsome!"
Shui Bing'er stood on the bank, her pretty face slightly flushed by the sunlight as she waved to Lan in the middle of the lake.
Beside her, Shui Yue'er fanned herself with a miserable look.
"Damn, it's so hot! I'm about to melt!"
Xue Wu glanced at Shui Bing'er's curvy figure and teased her with a grin.
"I wonder who came up with these bikinis. They're pretty nice. But, Bing'er, yours is really something, isn't it?"
At that, Shui Yue'er immediately puffed out her chest, looking proud.
"Of course! I deserve some credit. I give her a massage whenever I have nothing to do. How could they not be big?"
"You!"
Shui Bing'er's pretty face turned red. She glared at her sister, ignored the teasing, and dove into the lake first.
Splash!
The cool water instantly enveloped her graceful figure, carrying away all the heat.
Seeing that her sister was already swimming toward Lan, Shui Yue'er giggled and jumped in after her!
Splash!
Right after that, the other girls from Skywater Academy jumped into the lake one after another, like dumplings dropping into a pot.
In an instant, Skywater Lake became a paradise for the girls.
Water splashed everywhere, and their bell-like laughter rang over the lake, mingling with the cicadas in a lively chorus of youthful energy.
Lan felt a little helpless and was about to dive underwater for some peace and quiet.
Suddenly, he felt something unusually smooth and warm brush lightly against his thigh.
A fish?
He reached out on instinct, wanting to see what had been so bold.
It felt delicate and soft, with an astonishing springiness.
He went ahead and pulled the "big fish" out of the water.
Splash—
What appeared before him wasn't a fish's tail, but a long, fair lower leg, carved as if from the finest white jade.
Lan's pupils contracted slightly, and he let go as fast as lightning.
With a splash, Shui Bing'er's head emerged from the water. Her wet black hair clung to her face, and her stunning features had turned so red they seemed ready to bleed.
She looked at Lan, eyes darting away as she bit her lower lip.
Lan's expression turned a little awkward, too. He spoke calmly.
"I didn't mean to."
Shui Bing'er's face grew even redder, and her voice was softer than a mosquito's buzz.
"I... I don't mind..."
A faint, ambiguous tension instantly filled the air.
Looking at Lan's peerlessly handsome face, Shui Bing'er's heart skipped a beat. She summoned her courage and suddenly furrowed her delicate brows.
"Um... Lan, I think my leg cramped. I can't swim anymore..."
"Could you carry me to the shore?"
Lan looked at her.
He didn't think much of it. He nodded, reached out, and gently wrapped an arm around the girl's slender waist, lifting her up.
Her soft, fragrant body nestled in his arms. Her curvaceous figure pressed close to him, and even through the thin fabric, he could feel her astonishing softness and burning warmth.
Shui Bing'er's cheeks were practically on fire.
Just then, a head popped up beside them. It was Shui Yue'er.
She blinked her mischievous eyes and said with a grin, "Big Sister, didn't you say you and I shared the same feelings?"
"How come I didn't feel your leg cramp?"
Hearing that, Lan looked down at Shui Bing'er in his arms, then at Shui Yue'er's mischievous grin.
"Oh."
He gave a brief reply.
Then he let go without a second thought.
Splash!
Caught off guard, Shui Bing'er fell back into the water and swallowed several mouthfuls.
Shui Yue'er took the chance to swim over like a mermaid and snuggled up to Lan, casting her big sister a defiant glance.
Splash!
Shui Bing'er burst out of the water, her soaked hair plastered to her face and neck. Water droplets slid down her elegant curves, adding a breathtaking allure.
She gritted her teeth and spat out the name, one syllable at a time.
"Shui—Yue'er—!"
The next second, she pounced like a furious young leopard, grabbed Shui Yue'er by the arm, and dragged her underwater.
The lake churned with splashing water as two equally youthful, lovely bodies tangled and rolled beneath the surface. Laughter and shrieks mingled together, and glimpses of spring were revealed, prompting the girls on the bank to join in the cheering. What a lively scene.
Lan watched Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er play-fighting in the water and shook his head helplessly.
He was just about to slip away from the commotion and find somewhere truly quiet.
Just then.
Splash—
The water beside him broke without warning.
A figure silently surfaced, as if she had always been one with the lake.
Droplets slid down her long, dark-green hair, revealing a flawless, exquisite face that was also somewhat innocent and adorably dazed.
Lan stopped moving.
His gaze fell on the scanty garment she wore...
A pale-blue bikini, dotted with a few little snowflake patterns, clung tightly to her curvaceous figure.
The wet fabric traced every curve, yet her adorably dazed air gave her an oddly cute look.
For the first time, Lan's expression showed unmistakable astonishment.
"Aunt Bing?"
The Ice Empress tossed her soaked hair, sending droplets flying. She wiped her face without a care and flashed a brilliant smile, entirely unlike her usual cool demeanor.
"How could I miss something like this?"
She looked around at the sunshine, the willows, and the girls playing in the lake, her eyes full of wonder.
"It's winter every day in the Far North. There's no summer at all."
"Of course I want to look my best in summer, too."
Lan was surprised. What was the Ice Empress doing here?
He didn't even have time to think about why Aunt Bing was wearing something so... skimpy.
He was just about to ask.
Before he could react,
a mischievous glint flashed in the Ice Empress's emerald eyes. She moved in a blur and instantly pressed close to Lan.
"Hey!"
With a light laugh, she reached out and wrapped both arms around Lan's waist, catching him while he was still a little dazed.
Her touch was soft, but her strength was terrifying and impossible to resist.
The next moment, the Ice Empress suddenly exerted both arms.
"You said you weren't, Lan'er?"
She laughed and tossed Lan straight into the air!
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