Phoenix Perch Pavilion's Warm Jade, Asura's Provocation · The Dragon Turns the Tide with a Backhand

Long Jinyu had practically floated back to Sea God Island.

His feet touched the familiar ground, and the Golden Tree's unique warmth lingered beneath his nose, yet he still felt a powerful sense of unreality.

The Yanhuang Lingyun Token sat heavy in his Storage Soul Tool, reminding him that everything that had just happened was no dream.

"Even the Lord has come...?"

He rubbed his temples and muttered under his breath.

"Life after transmigrating gets more fantastical by the day. If this keeps up, should I change my name to Long Aotian?"

"No, wait. That name's already taken in Absolute Tang, by that guy from the Body Sect. And if I remember right, his ending wasn't great... Ah, my head hurts."

All he wanted now was to hurry back to his room and drink a bowl of Xu Sanshi's "Basalt Soul-Shocking Soup," offered up in "filial piety," to calm his nerves.

And while he was at it, he could pray that the two ancestors, Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming, hadn't torn the roof off Phoenix Perch Pavilion.

He carefully used his key to unlock the elegant old door.

He had barely pushed it open a crack—

"Whoosh—smack!"

A soft black piece of fabric carrying a faint, sweet fragrance flew through the air and landed squarely over his face.

Long Jinyu: "???"

He instinctively reached up and pulled it off. It felt silky and cool to the touch. He took a closer look... It was a finely made black lace... undergarment, with a... rather daring design.

Long Jinyu's face turned bright red in an instant, his blood seeming to rush straight to his head.

The delicate touch beneath his fingertips and that distinctive phoenix-flower fragrance, unmistakably Ma Xiaotao's, made his heart skip a beat. His mind buzzed.

Ahem... His throat felt a little dry, and an inexplicable thought popped into his head: It... it smells pretty nice...

Then he shook his head hard, trying to throw the unhealthy thought away. "Long Jinyu! You're a model student! See no evil! Think no evil!"

He stiffly raised his head and looked toward the living room.

Just as expected! It was a "full-scale disaster zone"! Everything was a mess!

The culprits—Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming—were in the middle of a fierce "indoor siege."

Wu Ming was waving around a bag that clearly held undergarments, a mischievous grin on her face. The "hidden weapon" that had just hit him had obviously been her handiwork.

She even deliberately picked one up, held it to her nose, and sniffed, calling out with exaggerated enthusiasm, "Wow! Xiaotao, you've got great taste! What laundry detergent do you use? It smells sooo good~~~!"

"Wu! Ming! Put that down! That's mine! Give it back!"

Ma Xiaotao was so angry her cheeks had gone crimson, her phoenix eyes blazing. Nearly everything she could throw had become a weapon—the pillows, a giant plush toy, the sofa cushions, a few scattered jackets—all flying at Wu Ming like cannonballs.

The two of them went back and forth...

Long Jinyu remained frozen in the doorway. Before long, several more stray "bullets" had landed on his head and body—a soft silk nightgown, a throw pillow, and even a plush slipper.

Long Jinyu: "..."

He carefully folded the hot potato in his hands, his mind numb. These two... They really get... wild when they're alone, huh?

See no evil! See no evil! This is no place to linger. Sneak back to my room and stay safe! Otherwise, I feel like I'm in for a world of pain!

He held his breath, trying to make himself less noticeable. Rising onto his tiptoes, he crept along the wall toward his room like a little mouse sneaking off with oil.

But he'd made quite a racket opening the door, and Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming weren't stupid. Who else had a key besides him?

At once, all the "flying bullets" came to a stop.

Two scorching gazes instantly locked onto Long Jinyu, who was trying to "turn invisible."

A chill ran down Long Jinyu's back. He turned around with an awkward laugh, lifted a hand in greeting, and put on an innocent smile.

"Ahaha... Good afternoon, Senior Sisters! You both seem, uh, really energetic! The weather's lovely today... Anyway, I just got back. I didn't see a thing. Please, carry on, carry on..."

Then he tried to slip toward his room.

"Junior...!"

Wu Ming reacted first, her face blooming with a smile brighter than the sun.

She tossed aside the bag of underwear and rushed over in three quick strides.

With effortless familiarity, she wrapped an arm around Long Jinyu's neck from behind, hanging half her body off him. She brought her lips close to his flushed ear and breathed softly against it.

"You're back~? Cute little outfit~ It's been a whole day. Did you miss your big sister? Hmm?"

"Come on, judge between us. Who's better, me or Xiaotao?"

Her collar brushed against him as she leaned in. Long Jinyu could feel the smooth skin of her arm and its vibrant warmth against his neck, while her teasing whisper lingered by his ear...

It was the first time a pretty older girl other than Ma Xiaotao had held him so close, and in such an intimate pose. His body tensed at once, and his blood once again rushed shamelessly to his face—and lower.

Stay composed! Long Jinyu, stay composed! You're an upstanding person!

He shouted to himself, but his body wasn't quite listening.

But... I've already transmigrated... Taking a little advantage now and then... especially when she's the one making the first move... That's not so bad, right?

Another voice muttered quietly.

And... Senior Sister Wu Ming might be hot-tempered, but her face and figure are absolutely top-tier... This feels... amazing~ Being held by such a beautiful woman... I guess... it's not a bad deal?

In the end, the hot-blooded teenage boy in him won out.

His body relaxed slightly. He even unconsciously shifted to make himself more comfortable in her embrace, then cleared his throat. "Ahem, well... You're both wise and mighty, each with your own strengths. It's hard to say who's better, really..."

On the other side, Ma Xiaotao saw that Long Jinyu wasn't afraid of Wu Ming and hiding from her like he had the first time.

Instead, he wore an expression that was "half-resisting, half-giving in"—and even seemed to be enjoying it. An inexplicable fury surged up inside her, faster than her Evil Fire!

She'd only known this kid for two days! But for some reason, she just couldn't stand seeing him get close to another woman, especially Wu Ming, that scatterbrained lunatic!

She thought back to yesterday, when they'd hugged three times in just half a day! And they'd been... those kind of tight hugs!

He's already had his arms around my waist! He's rubbed against my neck, too!

And that last time, I fainted right in his arms. Who knows... Maybe he's already touched every inch of me?!

Her rational side told her Long Jinyu wasn't that kind of person, but once her emotions took over, reason didn't matter!

Hmph! Either way, he'd have to take responsibility... At the very least, she couldn't let someone else seduce him so easily!

With that thought—

Ma Xiaotao rushed forward, slapped Wu Ming's hand off Long Jinyu's shoulder, then pulled him from Wu Ming's "clutches" and held him tightly in her arms.

Like a little phoenix guarding its food, she glared furiously at Wu Ming.

"Wu Ming! He's my junior! Watch yourself! You can talk without getting handsy!"

Long Jinyu: "..."

In an instant, he went from being surrounded by the Sun Golden Crow to being engulfed by the Blazing Phoenix.

Ma Xiaotao's scent was more familiar—and more... domineering. He was trapped in a soft, fragrant embrace, his head spinning a little.

Wu Ming was taken aback when her hand was slapped away. Then her eyes lit up even more.

When she'd hugged Long Jinyu, she'd distinctly felt a comfort unlike anything before, as if some warm, noble power had gently soothed the depths of her Martial Soul. She'd instinctively not wanted to let go.

Now, seeing Ma Xiaotao's fierce reaction only confirmed that this junior wasn't merely good at suppressing Evil Fire!

"Come on, Xiaotao, isn't that a little much? It was just a hug. It's not like he'll lose a piece of himself."

Wu Ming grinned, her fiery red eyes studying Long Jinyu with interest.

"But speaking of which... Junior, are you hiding some treasure on you? Or is your Martial Soul special?"

"When I hugged you, it felt so comfortable. My Golden Crow Martial Soul even reacted. It felt all warm and cozy. Can I give you another hug, big sis? Just to test it? Hehehe~"

As she spoke, she even licked her lips, looking like she'd discovered a whole new world.

Long Jinyu: "???"

Your Martial Soul reacted? It felt good? Senior Sister Wu Ming! Why does that sound so much like the old wolf trying to trick little lambs into opening the door?

But then again, it is the Nine-Colored Dragon Emperor Martial Soul. Maybe that does make sense? Some kind of passive skill?

Ma Xiaotao's internal alarm bells started ringing.

Oh no! That silly bird Wu Ming felt it, too!

The Nine-Colored Dragon Emperor Martial Soul's appeal was too strong! If Wu Ming got her hands on him a few more times, with her Golden Crow Martial Soul's equally domineering and fiery nature, who knew if they might spark something even stronger?

"Test what? No way!"

Ma Xiaotao immediately refused and hugged Long Jinyu even tighter, almost pressing him into her body.

"Mmgh... Senior Sister... I can't... breathe...!" Long Jinyu's muffled voice came from her chest, choked and breathless.

"Ahem, I-I'm sorry, kid. I, uh... didn't control my strength." Ma Xiaotao blushed and loosened her hold a little, trying to look composed.

"Come on, Xiaotao! Just once! I'll only touch his arm, I promise!" Wu Ming began using her relentless pestering, tugging at Ma Xiaotao's arm and shaking it as she pleaded. "I just want to make sure I'm not imagining things! Sweet Xiaotao~ The prettiest, most understanding Xiaotao~"

Ma Xiaotao couldn't shake Wu Ming off. And when she saw that she really did seem curious about the Martial Soul's reaction, rather than simply being a lecher, she reluctantly gave in. "...Just once! You can only touch his hand! Try anything else and see what happens!"

She finally released her hold on Long Jinyu.

"Got it, got it!" Wu Ming smiled triumphantly and reached out to gently pinch Long Jinyu's forearm between two fingers.

Then—

"Wow! It's real!"

The moment she touched him, Wu Ming let out a satisfied gasp, her fiery red eyes widening.

"It's like... soaking in a hot spring in winter! My Martial Soul feels all warm, and even my Soul Power is flowing more smoothly! So comfortable!"

Long Jinyu: "..."

As if she'd found the finest hand warmer, Wu Ming quickly replaced her two fingers with her whole palm and began curiously rubbing Long Jinyu's forearm, pinching here and patting there.

Feeling the strange sensation and the pleasant flutter in the depths of her Martial Soul, she kept making sounds of amazement. "This texture... This effect... Junior, what exactly is your Martial Soul? It's incredible!"

At that moment, Wu Ming was the very picture of someone who'd discovered a beloved toy and couldn't bear to put it down... a "female hooligan."

Long Jinyu had been a little flustered at first, but Wu Ming's expression was one of pure curiosity, without a trace of lust. (Though her actions were a little... perverted.)

And the gentle warmth flowing across his arm, with a faint exchange of Soul Power, felt comfortable, so he gradually relaxed.

In fact... he started enjoying it again.

Mm... Being fought over by two beautiful senior sisters... isn't so bad after all?

He secretly reveled in it, the corners of his mouth lifting despite himself.

It wasn't his fault. The senior sisters were the ones insisting on touching him!

That subtle change in his expression, and the way he seemed to be enjoying himself, didn't escape Ma Xiaotao's notice.

Watching Wu Ming's two "grabby hands" roaming over Long Jinyu's arm, then seeing how much he seemed to enjoy it, made Ma Xiaotao grit her teeth in anger.

She wanted nothing more than to smack Wu Ming's hands away and drag Long Jinyu back into her arms to hide him.

"All right, all right! That's enough! Let go!"

Ma Xiaotao interrupted them, her tone sour with jealousy.

"Had your fill? It's not like you've never seen a man before!"

"You've tested it. Now get back to your Golden Crow Nest!"

Wu Ming regretfully rubbed her fingers together, as if still savoring the feeling.

She looked at Ma Xiaotao's jealous expression and Long Jinyu's innocent (secretly delighted) face, then suddenly gave them an exceedingly sly smile.

"Why would I go back~?"

She sauntered over to the sofa, sat down, crossed her legs, picked up an apple, and took a bite. Her eyes moved back and forth between Ma Xiaotao and Long Jinyu as she spoke in an unhurried drawl.

"Xiaotao, your Phoenix Perch Pavilion is so big. What difference would one more person make~? Your junior's 'special effect' is so good, and sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone, right? I'll come visit often from now on and 'get a taste' with you~"

She deliberately made the words "get a taste" sound especially suggestive.

Long Jinyu: "!!!" (There's an offer like that?)

Ma Xiaotao: "!!!" (No chance!)

Long Jinyu felt the arm around him suddenly tighten. Wisps of flame had already begun to rise from Ma Xiaotao...

Inside, he was in tears. I just want to drink Basalt Soul-Shocking Soup... This love triangle is harder to deal with than Sister Su's test! System! Protect your host!

[Beep! An extremely high-density energy field combining jealousy and anger has been detected! Recommendation for host: Enjoy it... or wait to die.]

Hearing the System's flippant response, a strange burst of courage suddenly welled up inside Long Jinyu.

You little sister! I knew you were useless! In the end, I have to rely on myself! He retorted to the System in his mind, and his gaze suddenly changed.

"Rather than sit here and wait to be toyed with by these two women, why not... take the initiative!"

With that, Long Jinyu took a deep breath and suddenly flexed the arm Ma Xiaotao had been holding tightly against her.

Ma Xiaotao had been entirely focused on "killing" Wu Ming with her eyes. She never expected Long Jinyu to suddenly exert his strength.

She only felt an irresistible force surge through her. With a gasp and a dizzying spin, she found herself on the receiving end, firmly pinned against the soft sofa by Long Jinyu!