Chapter 1812: Small Whim

"Teasing your sister?" Yun Che immediately burst out laughing, kneading her face with both hands as if it were dough. "What nonsense are you saying? She's your sister! The great battle is imminent; how could I have such strange thoughts?"

"Hehe," Shui Meiyin said with a playful smile. "Even if your mind isn't on it, your eyes and actions are very honest."

Yun Che: (Huh??)

"For the past two months, I've mentioned you to my sister every day," Shui Meiyin whispered slyly, feigning mystery. "I even 'secretly' told her that you've always had inappropriate thoughts about her, that you often secretly gaze at her back, and that you asked me to ask if she wanted to be your concubine."

"!#$..." Yun Che's eyes widened, and his scalp instantly tingled. "I... when did I ever say that?!"

"Of course you didn't say that," Shui Meiyin said, blinking hard.

Yun Che gasped.

No wonder Shui Yingyue had reacted somewhat strangely to his earlier words!

"I don't care," Shui Meiyin declared, her starry eyes twinkling, her pink lips curving into a cute yet stubborn arc. "Sister is the most beautiful and perfect fairy in this world. Besides Brother Yun Che, I won't allow anyone else to touch her!"

Yun Che: "..."

"At worst, one day I'll use my Immaculate Divine Soul to knock Sister out, then strip her naked and send her to Brother Yun Che's bed. A super pervert like Brother Yun Che definitely, definitely won't let her go, hehehe."

It sounded like a prank that only existed in a girl's imagination, but Yun Che noticed a hint of determination and… eagerness in her eyes?

And the title "super pervert"... he hadn't heard that in a very long time.

"We'll talk about it later, later," Yun Che groaned, feeling helpless and powerless.

However, the heavy mood that had weighed on him like a thousand mountains for days had, invisibly, greatly lightened.

Shui Meiyin turned, wrapping her arms tightly around Yun Che's arm, her soft, plump chest pressed against him. "This is my first time in the Southern Divine Region, but I heard many rumors about it long ago. Especially Brother Ninety-Nine, who told me more than once that if I ever came to the Southern Divine Region, I absolutely had to visit a place called the Seven Star Realm."

"Seven Star Realm?" Yun Che searched his memories of information about the Southern Divine Region but had no impression of it.

"It's a very small lower star realm, probably one Brother Yun Che hasn't heard of," Shui Meiyin explained in her ethereal, soul-stirring voice. "According to the location Brother Ninety-Nine told me, it's not exactly close to here, but not extremely far either. If we go a bit faster, we could reach it in five or six hours."

"Shall we go there and take a look together?"

"Now?" Yun Che's eyebrows twitched.

"Yes! Brother Ninety-Nine mentioned it so many times that as soon as I entered the Southern Divine Region, the Seven Star Realm was the first thing I thought of." Shui Meiyin looked at him, stars seemingly twinkling in her eyes, clearly having longed for this small star realm for a long time.

"..." Yun Che's first reaction was that Shui Meiyin was joking; his second was to refuse.

Even at their speed, five or six hours was a considerably long distance.

A round trip, including a stay, would take more than a day. There were only seven days left until the assault on the Dragon God Realm, and as the core of the Northern Region's power, it was absolutely not suitable for him to waste such time at this juncture.

"Let's go, let's go! Let's go now, please? Please?"

She shook Yun Che's arm, her voice soft and sweet, her eyes full of longing, gently pushing back the refusal that was about to leave Yun Che's lips.

"What's so special about that Seven Star Realm? Why do you want to go so badly?" Yun Che asked.

"Hmm..." She seemed to think seriously for a moment, then, her beautiful face blushing, she gently pressed her pink lips against his ear. "Actually, although Brother Ninety-Nine did mention it many times, they were all just excuses."

"I... I want to monopolize Brother Yun Che for a day... just the two of us, okay?"

Her warm breath lightly touched him, her soft voice entering his soul. He felt the girl's fragrant tongue subtly tap his ear, sending a wave of tingling sensation through his entire body.

"Alright, then, let's go see the Seven Star Realm," Yun Che agreed generously, without any sign of reluctance. "Since I arrived in the Southern Divine Region, I haven't really gone out to enjoy the local customs. It wouldn't be bad to relax a bit before the battle with the Dragon God Realm."

He couldn't refuse Shui Meiyin, and he no longer wanted to.

She had sacrificed so much for him, yet he had never done anything for her. What reason did he have not to indulge this small whim of hers?

Quickly sending a telepathic message to Chi Wuyao, Yan Tianxiao, and others, Yun Che put his arm around Shui Meiyin's slender, soft waist. "Let's go! Whether it's the Seven Star Realm or the Nine Star Realm, I'll go wherever you want today."

"Mm!" The stars in Shui Meiyin's beautiful eyes burst forth with brilliance. She hugged him even tighter, her head pressed close to his side, and then suddenly said with a playful smile, "Should we bring Sister along too?"

"Maybe not," Yun Che quickly shook his head.

"I could help you take advantage of her, you know."

"...Stop teasing!"

"Hehehe!"

Just as the two were about to leave, Cai Zhi's figure appeared in their line of sight.

Cai Zhi had known of Shui Meiyin's name for a long time. Back during the Profound God Convention in the Eastern Divine Region, when Shui Meiyin was only fifteen, Cai Zhi had seen her through the God Realm of Absolute Beginning's projection.

Today, however, was their first formal meeting.

However, compared to back then, Shui Meiyin's appearance and temperament had undergone a world-shaking transformation. As for Cai Zhi, due to the influence of the Heavenly Wolf Divine Power, her appearance had barely changed... and having fallen into darkness, she had lost her former pitiable grace and gained a chilling aura that inspired fear.

After a distant glance at the two who were clinging together, Cai Zhi said nothing, didn't stop, and indifferently moved away.

Just as Yun Che was about to speak, Shui Meiyin's voice called out before him: "Sister Cai Zhi."

"..." After a brief hesitation, Cai Zhi stopped and turned around. The two girls' gazes met. Both had black eyes, yet one was dark as an abyss, while the other sparkled like a starry sky.

"Sister?" Cai Zhi asked coolly, unsure if she was confused by the address or expressing dissatisfaction.

By normal age progression, Shui Meiyin was several years younger than Cai Zhi. However, if one strictly counted the three thousand years spent in the God Realm of Absolute Beginning... then Shui Meiyin was three thousand years older than Cai Zhi.

Who should call whom "sister" was actually a very perplexing and complicated question.

But for Shui Meiyin, there wasn't a trace of confusion.

"I am Shui Meiyin from the Glazed Light Realm, Brother Yun Che's fiancée," Shui Meiyin introduced herself quite formally to Cai Zhi.

"I know," Cai Zhi replied, her tone brief and cold.

Faced with Cai Zhi's coldness, Shui Meiyin still smiled sweetly. "Then... Sister Cai Zhi, I'll borrow Brother Yun Che for a day first. I'll return him to you tomorrow."

Cai Zhi glanced at Yun Che, then swiftly turned her face away, saying coldly, "He's not mine alone, you don't need to return him to me."

Having said that, she released her profound energy and instantly vanished amidst spatial fluctuations.

Yun Che opened his mouth, then slowly let out a breath.

Over the years, Cai Zhi had changed too much.

He clearly remembered when they first met: she wore a colorful dress, like an incredibly sweet and adorable elf, cleverly deducing his identity from subtle clues, and then completely teasing him as "Little Jasmine."

Now... it was as if she had sealed off her former world, forcing herself into another, dark and lightless one.

He lowered his head and found Shui Meiyin gazing intently in the direction Cai Zhi had left, not retracting her gaze for a long time.

"What are you looking at?" Yun Che asked.

Shui Meiyin's lips parted, and she softly said, "I'm looking at a... little girl who tries so hard to wrap herself tightly in indifference, darkness, and resentment, but whose heart is actually adrift, lonely and isolated, anxious about gains and losses, afraid of herself, and even more afraid that those she cares about will dislike her."

"..." Yun Che's heartstrings trembled slightly.

"Brother Yun Che," Shui Meiyin raised her head, her voice soft and sweet. "Next time, don't let her run away. Go after her, hug her tightly. If she struggles, just hold her even tighter... she'll lose the strength to break free."

"She looks like she doesn't need anyone, but actually... she needs you more than I do, more than anyone."

Yun Che's gaze returned to the direction Cai Zhi had left, lost in thought for a moment, then he smiled slightly. "You always say these strange things... Let's go."

Hand in hand, the two flew side by side above the Ten Directions Blue Cloud Realm, taking in the vast, azure royal realm below.

"How has your father's recovery been recently?" Yun Che asked.

"Father is in very good spirits, especially after learning his profound energy can fully recover," Shui Meiyin replied with a joyful smile.

Yun Che apologized, "The sudden changes in the Southern Divine Region meant I haven't been able to treat Senior Shui's injuries. After I've killed Long Bai and breached the Dragon God Realm, I'll return to the Glazed Light Realm with you."

"You have to keep your word this time," Shui Meiyin said, holding Yun Che's palm to her chest, allowing him to clearly feel the beating of her heart.

Below, profound practitioners of the Northern Region, emitting dark aura, continuously passed by. Whenever they sensed the Devil Master's aura from Yun Che, or inadvertently looked up and saw his figure, they would immediately kneel, bowing their heads deeply, devoutly expressing their reverence and loyalty to the Devil Master.

All nearby Northern Region profound practitioners acted this way, from realm kings to demon soldiers, without exception.

"No realm king or Divine Emperor has ever received such reverence," Shui Meiyin mused. "Brother Yun Che, I increasingly believe that in their will, they are not merely fighting for the Northern Divine Region; perhaps they would willingly, without regret, and even fearless of death, fight for you."

Shui Meiyin's seemingly casual remarks touched upon a place in Yun Che's mind that he preferred not to confront.

"I am merely a long-awaited opportunity and guide for the Northern Divine Region. Without me, another, perhaps more suitable, person would eventually emerge in some era. Changing the perception of darkness and the fate of the Northern Divine Region is their generational wish, something incomparable to the simple identity of 'Devil Master'."

Shui Meiyin parted her lips, about to say more, but seeing Yun Che looking straight ahead, deliberately no longer glancing downwards, she closed her mouth. Instead, she offered a bright smile: "We're almost out of the Blue Cloud Realm. Wow! Look, there's a purplish-red star realm over there, it looks like it's teeming with lightning veins. Let's go check that out first."

"Okay!"

Of course, Yun Che wouldn't refuse. The trajectory of their flight shifted slightly, heading towards that world emitting purple light.

And so, Yun Che cleared his mind, accompanying Shui Meiyin as they enjoyed the journey, gradually approaching the Seven Star Realm she longed for.