Chapter 336

Lin Yi knowingly asked.

"Hmph!"

Aunt turned her head away.

She thought to herself, her face had been completely shamed in front of her little niece! Last night was one thing, she had passed out directly anyway, but this morning…

As soon as she recalled her collapsed state in front of Xu Ruanyao, she couldn't help but blush, especially… she touched her belly, as if she could still feel it…

Lin Yi didn't care. Xu Ruanyao had gone three points over last night, so Aunt couldn't lose, right? She was the Aunt; how could it not work? It had to work!

"Where's Ruanyao? Why isn't she resting a bit longer?"

"She's still sleeping, not awake yet."

Aunt answered with a slightly strained face, then immediately broke into a silly smile again. For the latter question, she pursed her lips, a little embarrassed.

"Couldn't sleep…"

Aunt crossed her legs, "The burning sensation wouldn't let me rest."

"Burning?"

Lin Yi glanced at her and sat down beside her.

Aunt pulled Lin Yi's hand, leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and softly hummed, "It's too hot, too scorching, I can't sleep. Luckily I'm a Cultivator, otherwise I'd definitely be gone…"

Lin Yi understood. He found it a bit amusing, "Ruanyao didn't say anything."

"She's so tired she doesn't even want to move a fingertip, how could she say anything? She's already passed out!"

Aunt chided.

Lin Yi touched her belly, using spiritual energy to soothe her fatigue. Aunt also squinted her eyes, her expression joyful, feeling Lin Yi's spiritual energy caress her body.

It wasn't as Aunt said, that it would burn a person to death. It was just her own unique physical sensation, or rather, she had a special Physique, and the reaction between it and Lin Yi's refined spiritual energy produced a faint burning sensation.

Especially when it converged in her Dantian, the large amount of spiritual energy and refined spiritual energy intertwined, constantly generating stimulating reactions. Thus, she felt that the burning sensation wouldn't let her rest.

If Lin Yi's power could truly burn people to death, then they would have long been gone. He was a Dao Harmonizer; any bit of his body tissue could become a Heaven And Earth Treasure. Even a slight leakage of power would tear low-level Cultivators like Aunt into shreds.

How could she still be here enjoying this blissful taste?

Lin Yi explained everything to Aunt, who listened intently, deep in thought.

"Understood?"

"Understood."

Aunt nodded, her eyes smiling, "I'm special, right? Hehe…"

Lin Yi stroked her black hair, picked her up, and headed to the inner room, nodding helplessly and agreeing. He was like someone leading a child, "You are special."

Being suddenly picked up, Aunt wasn't surprised. She leaned against Lin Yi's chest, her fingertips tracing circles on his heart. Suddenly, she began to enjoy the burning sensation, feeling a warmth spread through her body.

"Don't move around, sleep for a bit."

Lin Yi placed her beside Xu Ruanyao, leaned down to kiss her lips, then sat by the bed, holding her and Xu Ruanyao's hands, helping them both slowly regulate their breathing.

"Mmm… you too…"

Aunt pulled the quilt up, hiding everything below her nose, leaving only her sparkling eyes exposed. Her voice was full of anticipation.

Lin Yi pinched her pretty face and didn't refuse, nodding.

Chapter 448: "I'm in Love with Your Husband"

"Please come in."

Xia Qianzhen put down the defense map in her hand and looked at the sky outside, a little surprised. It was only daytime, why was she here? Where were the other Saintesses? Weren't they watching each other?

The door was pushed open, revealing the elegant Young Miss Saintess behind it. The Young Miss Saintess seemed to be lost in thought, so she only stepped into the room a few seconds after the door was pushed open.

"Saintess Xia."

Pace elegantly curtsied to Xia Qianzhen, who had risen to greet her.

Xia Qianzhen returned the bow, watching Pace close the door behind her. She understood that Pace wasn't here for official business; otherwise, there would be no need to close the door and act so furtively, clearly not wanting anyone else to see.

In the past, when they came to see her for something, they would just stand at the doorway and make an announcement. Only for important matters would they enter the room…

However, when they had important matters, they usually concerned the former De-Xi Allied Forces, now the Demon King Army. In such cases, they would call her to the City Lord's Mansion Council Hall, rather than discussing it privately between two people.

These Saintesses and she still maintained some caution.

"Your Highness Saintess Pace, it seems you have something to discuss with me. Please sit."

Xia Qianzhen turned and walked to the nearby table and chairs, gesturing for Pace to sit. She then picked up the cold black tea, casually cast a Daoist Magic to heat it, picked up two cups, poured for the opposite side, and pushed the milk candy over.

She didn't use it herself, as she wasn't accustomed to it, but kept it there just in case someone came to visit. Most of it had been consumed by Saintess Censeer.

"No need to be polite."

Although Pace said so, she still sat down opposite Xia Qianzhen. As the Pisces Saintess of noble birth, unlike the Scorpio Saintess Sikepeier, she still paid attention to etiquette and decorum.

Pace didn't pick up the teacup, but quietly watched the mist rising from the surface of the tea. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke, "Your Highness Saintess, you must know why I've come, right?"

Xia Qianzhen nodded, "I have some guesses, but please, Saintess Pace, state it yourself, lest I misunderstand."

Pace didn't speak immediately. She took a milk candy, elegantly added it to her teacup, then looked at Xia Qianzhen. Seeing Xia Qianzhen wave her hand in indication, she casually put it down and stirred it with a small spoon for a while, giving herself some time to organize her thoughts.

She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and put it down, the bottom of the cup touching the table with a faint clinking sound.

Xia Qianzhen silently watched her series of actions, knowing she was considering how to speak, and didn't rush her.

"Before that, I would like to ask if any other Saintesses have already come to see you?"

Pace spoke softly.

"…"

Xia Qianzhen gently shook her head. She had promised Saintess Sikepeier to keep it a secret, so she naturally wouldn't betray her. "No."

Pace nodded knowingly, "Then, I won't beat around the bush. I want to become one of the Floating Island Saintesses. As a repayment to the Saintess Convent, consider me one of the so-called [sacrifices]."

Xia Qianzhen looked at Pace's calm face opposite her. Pace spoke with the tone of someone who was already an insider, unlike Saintess Sikepeier before her, who would struggle and try to hide her feelings, indicating that she wasn't trying to surrender but was forced to do so due to the Saintess Convent's crisis.

"You…"

Xia Qianzhen carefully chose her words, "You want to become a Floating Island Saintess?"

"Mm."

Pace nodded, the elegant and delicate Tulip Crown on her head casting a slight shadow on her exquisite and beautiful face, as if she wore a faint veil, adding a touch of mystery and depth to her demeanor.

"Is this all from your own will?"

Xia Qianzhen continued to ask.

"Yes."

Pace didn't hesitate, continuing to nod.

"Becoming a [sacrifice] is just incidental?"

Xia Qianzhen's eyes held a strange look.

"Frankly, not at first."

Pace nodded, then shook her head, "But, humans cannot contend with gods, can they? It's normal to be naturally attracted by this honor because we are under the gaze of a god, isn't it?"

"You can probably guess what happened next. That Goddess never cast her mercy upon us, letting us be humiliated by the believers of other gods. Now, there's another Demon God who wants to destroy everything we have."

"If not for His Majesty God King's tolerance, we would probably have lost our lives, our relatives and friends, our country, and countless innocent lives… Starting from the Shengan Domain, hundreds of thousands of surrounding realms could be swept by the demon plague…"

"And that Goddess?"

Pace's voice was calm, indicating that she had gone through painful struggles and was now at peace with it.

"You don't need to look at me like that. I am a Saintess, and also a descendant of the nobility who rules this country. My education comes from both the sacred Monastery and the secular kingdom. From a Saintess's perspective, everything a god does is as it should be."

"Whether it is salvation or destruction, we should bow our heads and wait. But I am not just a Saintess… I once used my position as a Saintess to travel most of the Shengan Kingdom. I have seen the most despicable villains, and the most ignorant commoners. Of course, there are also kind people, noble people…"

"Why did you support Grand Duke Lier's rebellion back then?"

Xia Qianzhen suddenly spoke, interrupting Pace's confession.

Pace was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Under King Louis's rule, all I saw was pain and despair, a strict rule, and even the Monastery's sermons couldn't alleviate the pervasive low spirits hanging over the kingdom."

"So, I helped Grand Duke Lier, and he promised me he would bring hope and dawn to this country. For his success, I even acted as a matchmaker between my sister and him, just to have a slight connection with him."

"I see."

Xia Qianzhen nodded.

Grand Duke Lier's rebellion was actually backed by Saintess Pace. With her support, it gained such momentum despite the Shengan Kingdom's army not being corrupt at all, and wasn't immediately suppressed. If not for external issues, they would have truly succeeded.

As the most secular Saintess, Pace's interference in secular royal power actually went against the Saintess's norms. However, the precepts didn't cover this aspect, and by leveraging the authority of the Saintess Convent, she couldn't really be blamed for acting this way.

This was also why, back then, Saintess Taolusi and the others only spoke a few words to her, telling her to sever ties with the secular world, although at the time, she only said she was forced by worldly mediocrities, rather than admitting she was the mastermind behind it…

After Pace took a sip of tea, she continued, "…After the Goddess failed to give us her guidance, I no longer deserve to be called a Saintess. From the bottom of my heart, I have developed a rebellious spirit against the Goddess."

"I cannot tolerate the countless commoners who offered their faith and everything to the Goddess being completely annihilated in the Devil King's calamity. My love for this country and its people surpasses that disloyal faith."

"You should be a Queen, not a Saintess."

Xia Qianzhen commented.

Pace was silent for a moment, then gently nodded, "Perhaps, but I am not a Queen after all, but a Saintess. Moreover, after I close my eyes in sleep, I should go to Hell, not Heaven."

Xia Qianzhen said nothing, merely waiting for Pace to continue her confession.

Pace didn't feel sentimental for long. "All in all, I am disappointed in the Goddess. The arrival of His Majesty God King made me even more so. His Majesty God King cares so much for you all, yet we receive no response. Even if my faith is not devout, what about Sister Geni? What about Sister Libolila?"

Xia Qianzhen picked up her teacup and took a sip. She had to say, the two examples Pace cited might be problematic; they had already defected, especially Saintess Geni, who was the first to surrender.

"I developed a deep jealousy. I also wanted to bask in divine grace—"

Pace's expression changed slightly, "And when I saw His Majesty God King, what I had been contemplating for a long time was finally confronted. I decided to abandon my faith and throw myself into his embrace!"

"Even if I can only receive a sliver of divine grace, I already feel it's enough!"

Pace revealed a brilliant smile, slightly distorted under the shadow of the flower crown, but she didn't feel it at all.

"So, you had already lost your devotion to that Goddess because of her silence? And after seeing my husband, you finally made up your mind?"

Xia Qianzhen summarized everything Pace had said.

Pace gave a soft 'mm,' then hesitated before speaking again, "Additionally, I must admit, there are other, more unspeakable reasons."

Xia Qianzhen put down her teacup and looked at her curiously.

Pace gently exhaled, slightly closing her beautiful eyes. Her elegant and noble posture seemed to shrink a little, but she immediately recovered her dignified and sacred demeanor, though there was still some struggle on her bright, pretty face.

"Alright, I'll say it. Your Highness Saintess Xia Qianzhen, please do not tell anyone else about this. It is truly not something a lady should utter."

Pace opened her eyes and shook her head helplessly.

"Please, I will not tell anyone these things."

Xia Qianzhen nodded.

"Hmm… purely from a woman's perspective, your husband is also a remarkably outstanding man, so it's quite normal for a lady to be attracted, isn't it? In other words, I'm in love with your husband."

Pace spoke frankly. Since she had decided to speak, she wouldn't be coy; that would be undignified, not something a lady should do. Moreover, expressing admiration was quite normal for noble Young Misses. Although this was her first time, she had seen such things often enough.

"…"

Xia Qianzhen didn't speak, picking up her teacup and letting the swirling tea mist obscure her face.

Pace's words were strange to her. What did "I'm in love with your husband" even mean? Was this something that could be said so openly?! To tell her face-to-face that she had designs on her husband…

To put it another way, if a man told you to your face that your wife was beautiful and he had designs on her… wouldn't that man be a coward if he wasn't beaten to death?

Xia Qianzhen truly didn't know what expression to use to face this Pisces Saintess Young Miss who had just uttered such shocking words. "I see, I understand."

"It's good that you understand."

Pace looked at Xia Qianzhen's unchanging expression and breathed a slight sigh of relief. After speaking, she also felt her words were somewhat inappropriate.

Even among the generally open upper nobility, her words were considered overly brazen… If one fancied someone else's spouse, one should at least pretend and do it secretly, right? What was this, a public declaration of intent to commit a crime?

"Your Highness Saintess, I have finished speaking. What is your intention?"

Pace suppressed the slight shyness bubbling up inside her, trying to make her tone sound natural.

"Hmm… if you do as you say, I don't need to agree; you will become my companion, won't you?"