Battle Through the Heavens: Flame Emperor, Please Restrain Yourself—Your Brother Is Honestly Quite Simple

Purple Thunder Cloud Eagle flicked its wings and began flying at top speed.

Qing Yanjing opened the scroll and quickly read through its contents. Her eyes brightened slightly as she asked, "So we'll be living in Stone Desert City for quite a long time in the future?"

"Mm." Zhang Yuan nodded. "That place is very important to me. I need to develop it properly."

Leaning against Zhang Yuan, Qing Yanjing sat down with her knees drawn up. After returning the scroll, she asked, "Then when are we going? What can I help you with?"

"No rush." Zhang Yuan put away the scroll and said, "Without enough strength, we wouldn't be able to accomplish anything in Stone Desert City. I need to explore the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range first, then return to the Xiao Clan to settle some matters."

At those words, Qing Yanjing's heart skipped a beat. Looking somewhat uneasy, she asked, "When you return to the Xiao Clan, do I have to go with you too?"

Zhang Yuan turned to look at her and smiled. "Given our current relationship, of course Uncle should meet you. Don't worry, they're all easy to get along with. Xun Er won't make things difficult for you either."

On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong reigned supreme. Not only could men have three wives and four concubines, women could marry many men as well, so long as they had the strength to keep them in line.

In his previous life, Zhang Yuan would undoubtedly have been called a scumbag. But he was straightforward about it. He could sweet-talk women, but he would never deceive them with empty promises. He could be domineering at times, but he would never force a woman against her will.

When he was with Qing Yanjing, he had never hidden the existence of Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian from her.

Every month, he wrote letters to Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian, and he had never concealed Qing Yanjing's existence from them either.

Thus, Qing Yanjing, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xun Er had long known one another despite never meeting.

"I'm not afraid that Xun Er will make things difficult for me." Qing Yanjing lowered her head, the tips of her ears reddening. "I'm just embarrassed to face her myself."

Zhang Yuan and Xun Er had grown up together and had been the first to confirm their feelings for each other.

Yet now, she had been the first to win Zhang Yuan over. It inevitably felt as though she had secretly stolen a bite.

"Then make her some desserts she likes. She definitely won't make things difficult for you," Zhang Yuan said confidently.

Given Xun Er's personality, she certainly would not trouble Qing Yanjing.

But as for himself, his "outcome" probably would not be pleasant.

He needed to prepare in advance and properly coax that little girl when the time came.

"What does Xun Er like to eat?" Qing Yanjing's expression turned serious. "I need to practice properly."

Smiling, Zhang Yuan named several desserts.

Xun Er had been a picky eater since childhood. She did not like heavily flavored food or staple dishes, only sweets.

To ensure she received balanced nutrition, he had often forced Xun Er to eat all kinds of meat from magical beasts with animal bloodlines.

For example, chicken, sausage, and armored turtle.

"I must conquer Xun Er's stomach," Qing Yanjing declared seriously.

"You definitely can." Zhang Yuan smiled encouragingly.

Ling Ying nodded to himself in the shadows, also believing Qing Yanjing would have no problem.

Ever since she broke through to Dou Ling, the flavor of her cooking had improved dramatically. It was even better than the food he had eaten at the God of Cookery Residence in the Central Region.

Conquering Xun Er, who had grown up eating food from a small place like Wutan City, would not be difficult.

When the time came, he only hoped Miss Xun Er would not blame him for failing in his "protection" duties.

However, a few days later, neither Zhang Yuan nor Ling Ying could smile anymore.

Over the past few days, they had been exploring the area in the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range that Sen Ma Rong and the others had marked out, searching for the mysterious object that caused the illusory mist to appear.

Qing Yanjing was responsible for the meals of all three of them. Every meal consisted of desserts, with all kinds of experiments and innovations mixed in, which she then had the two of them taste.

Qing Yanjing's desserts were delicious too, but eating sweets until they were full meal after meal was extremely unfriendly to two meat lovers.

"Elder Ling killed a fifth-tier magical beast. How about we have grilled meat tonight?" Zhang Yuan looked at Qing Yanjing expectantly, while Ling Ying stared at her intently as well.

"Brother Yuan." A smile bloomed across Qing Yanjing's stunning face as she said with a hint of coquettishness, "You also want Xun Er and me to get along well, right? We can save the magical beast meat for later. Try my new creation again."

The corners of Zhang Yuan's mouth twitched. Forcing a smile, he said, "All right."

He could only bear the consequences of his own sins.

Starting a harem was not easy.

"And Elder Ling." Qing Yanjing looked at Ling Ying and smiled. "One more person means one more reference."

Ling Ying: "..."

What a sin~

That night, the two of them ate many more portions of dessert.

"We can't eat anymore. We really can't eat anymore." Zhang Yuan and Ling Ying looked at Qing Yanjing pleadingly.

"All right." Qing Yanjing sighed.

Zhang Yuan and Ling Ying immediately sighed in relief, but the next moment, they heard Qing Yanjing say, "Then we can only continue tomorrow."

The two of them subconsciously swallowed.

Ling Ying shot Zhang Yuan a look. "Young Master, people will die."

Zhang Yuan blinked. "I understand. We have to find that thing and return to Wutan City as soon as possible."

Their determination to search grew even stronger.

That night, after Qing Yanjing had gone to sleep, the two decided to "work overtime."

It happened to be the day to send a message to Xun Er, and Ling Ying did not forget to air his grievances at the end.

Miss, Old Servant and Young Master Zhang Yuan have had it too hard. We've been tortured by Miss Qing Yanjing to the point of wishing we were dead.

When Xun Er read this, a flicker of golden flame appeared in her eyes, and anger rose in her heart.

Qing Yanjing actually dared to torture Brother Yuan!

But the next moment, surprise appeared in her eyes, followed by a smile blooming across her delicate face.

In order to make desserts that Miss would love, she has spent the past four days making nothing but sweets for Old Servant and Young Master Zhang Yuan. Old Servant is already so old that his teeth are practically falling out.

"So that was the torture." Xun Er chuckled softly. "Brother Yuan doesn't really like sweets. Sister Qing Yanjing really should have just let Elder Ling taste them all by himself."

The little girl had some conscience, but not much.

Only enough for Zhang Yuan alone.