Chapter 665: My Father-in-Law's Wisdom

In his study in the Sieve of Heaven, Ao Canghai frowned as he considered a report in his hands. A Martial Aspect stood before him, giving a report.

When that Martial Aspect finished speaking, Ao Canghai put down the report and gave him his full attention. "You mean to say that Ao Zhou claimed a relic from the Hall of Martial Aspects and then rushed straight toward the Southeastern Aquatic Palace?"

"Yes, Eastern Aspect. Strangely enough, the relic he chose was the Cage of the Sea."

"Cage of the Sea?" Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, Eastern Aspect. This relic is only useful against Eyes of the Sea, and has limited functionality in terms of offense and defense otherwise. I don't know what Ao Zhou's thinking," the Martial Aspect replied disdainfully.

Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "It looks like it's true."

"What's true?"

"Have a look." Ao Canghai handed over his report to the Martial Aspect.

The Martial Aspect scanned the document and exclaimed in surprise, "Eastern Aspect, you have spies among Ao Zhou's subordinates? You know what he and Xiao Nanfeng have been discussing!"

"Some of his sea spirits know who the better master is," Ao Canghai replied, smirking.

"According to the report, Xiao Nanfeng managed to discover that the four lords of the Southeastern Aquatic Palace have become Golden Immortals thanks to the Eye of the Sea. Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates are already heading to the palace in preparation to claim the relic for themselves!" the Martial Aspect exclaimed.

"Xiao Nanfeng must be skilled to have uncovered the Southeastern Aquatic Palace's secrets so quickly. In the past, I only advanced to the realm of a Boundless Immortal after attuning to the Eye of the Sea of the Southern Sea Draconic Palace. To think there would be one here, too," Ao Canghai murmured.

"If Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou were to acquire an Eye of the Sea for themselves..."

Ao Canghai narrowed his eyes. "Xiao Nanfeng won't succeed so easily, not when the Southeastern Aquatic Palace is in possession of such a treasure."

"But what if he does succeed? Yin Shenhua was a Boundless Immortal too, but he lost to Xiao Nanfeng anyway!"

Ao Canghai's eyes twitched.

"Eastern Aspect, we can't let Xiao Nanfeng acquire that relic. What's more, Ao Zhou possesses an ancestral dragon's inheritance. Things will be dangerous for us whether they succeed or fail. If the Southeastern Aquatic Palace gains control of that inheritance, we'd suffer huge losses!"

Ao Canghai furrowed his brows. "You're right. We can't let either of them win."

"Eastern Aspect, what if I secretly follow behind them?"

"You alone? You won't be sufficient. According to the report, the Southeastern Aquatic Palace has at least four Golden Immortals. The fact that Xiao Nanfeng himself is going regardless means that he has some way of dealing with the four of them, so you'll be going up against eight Golden Immortals' worth of strength. If you want to interfere, you'll need overwhelming strength. I'll go myself," Ao Canghai said.

"Understood!"

Days later, on a small island, Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er sat side-by-side on a boulder as they watched the sun set over the horizon.

"Nanfeng, I'm glad you saved me," Yu'er said, leaning against his shoulder.

"I could hardly desert you after that display of affection," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"What display of affection?" Yu'er blushed.

"Don't you remember the kiss you gave me before you left?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.

"Ah, stop! Pretend that never happened!" Yu'er's face flushed red as she palmed Xiao Nanfeng's mouth.

"Yu'er, there's something I need to return to you," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Don't call me Yu'er. Call me Senior Sister," Yu'er replied archly.

"Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng replied, laughing.

"What do you intend to return me?" she continued.

"This."

Xiao Nanfeng kissed Yu'er.

"Ah!" Yu'er's mind turned blank.

She felt a wave of happiness suffuse her. Xiao Nanfeng hugged her tightly as they kissed.

After what seemed like forever, he finally pulled back. By then, Yu'er's flush had spread across her entire face.

"You lecher! How could you bully your own senior sister like that? I'll beat you up!" Yu'er's fists pounded on Nanfeng's chest, though without any force whatsoever.

Xiao Nanfeng laughed as he held onto Yu'er's fists. "We're even now."

"Hmph! Let me go!"

Xiao Nanfeng didn't do so. He looked her in the eyes. "I came to save you, and I don't intend to let you go anymore. I'm going to bring you home and make you my empress."

"Dream on!" Yu'er pursed her lips.

Xiao Nanfeng couldn't help but kiss her again, until she was feeling numb and tingling all over. She barely managed to push Xiao Nanfeng away before she could make a fool of herself.

"You bully! I'll tell my father about you!" Yu'er exclaimed.

"You won't have a chance. I won't let you escape from my clutches now," Xiao Nanfeng continued, laughing.

"Ah, you!" Yu'er pounded on Xiao Nanfeng's body with her fists again.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't retaliate. He pulled Yu'er into another embrace.

"What's going on with Lady Yaoguang now?" Yu'er asked.

Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"

Yu'er scowled. "Of course I have to ask about her. In the undying realm, I obtained the Red Emperor's inheritance, she received Empress Bai's, and you Emperor Wei's. Have you been intending to take us both as wives all this time?"

Xiao Nanfeng gulped.

Yu'er made herself comfortable in Xiao Nanfeng's lap. "Lady Yaoguang put herself in danger on your behalf. If you intend to marry her too, I won't mind, but I want to be your first wife."

Xiao Nanfeng blinked, surprised by Yu'er's train of thought. What woman wanted her husband to take on multiple wives? He had been prepared to forge a third avatar so that he could have one self with each of his wives at any time. Yu'er's statement left him stupefied.

"What? That doesn't satisfy you?" Yu'er puffed up her lips in mock anger.

"No, no, of course I'm satisfied! I didn't expect you would be so generous," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Yu'er leaned into Xiao Nanfeng's embrace. "My father married three women too. My three mothers are on good terms with each other, and they stand up for each other when my father bullies them. The three of them together can force my father onto his knees, hmph!"

So Yu'er's family background made her amenable to such an arrangement...

Xiao Nanfeng couldn't help but be relieved that Xia Xingchen was Yu'er's father. Such a father-in-law would be more than worthy of respect.

As to whether Xia Xingchen really was being bullied by his three wives, Xiao Nanfeng begged to differ.

Xia Xingchen boasted an impressive cultivation. Could he really lose to his three wives? Perhaps he set up such a scheme deliberately to ensure that his household would be in good order, to ensure that his three wives would work with, rather than against, each other.

He was wise indeed, and well worth learning from.

"What's the matter? Why aren't you saying anything?" Yu'er exclaimed.

"No, no, it's nothing. I'm just thinking about how harmonious your family is. It's wonderful," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Of course!" Yu'er replied proudly.

Xiao Nanfeng caressed Yu'er's hair. "Once we take down the Southeastern Aquatic Palace and there's no longer any pressing danger, I'll return to the Yuqing holy land and ask your father for your hand in marriage again."

"What? We still have to return?" Yu'er frowned in worry.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "You've been incredibly thoughtful, Yu'er. How can I wrong you? I'll surely convince your parents that I'm the best candidate for you. We can return home once I get their blessing. I won't let anyone in the Yuqing holy land laugh at you or your parents!"

Yu'er smiled gently and leaned into Xiao Nanfeng's embrace once more.

The two of them watched the sun set, their hearts attuned to each other.

Just then, a strident voice interrupted, "Hold it right there! Xiao Nanfeng, let go of Yu'er!"

Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu'er turned around in surprise to see Xia Lan rushing angrily at them.

"What are you doing here, Third Brother?" Yu'er exclaimed.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Xia Lan dragged his sister away. He thundered, "Xiao Nanfeng, you lecher! What have you done with my sister while I was gone?"

"Third Brother, why are you making such a fuss?" Yu'er exclaimed.

"Making such a fuss? If I had been any later, he might have done something unspeakable to you!" Xia Lan exclaimed.

"But I don't mind," Yu'er replied.

Xia Lan stiffened.

"Third Brother, have you never been in a relationship?" Yu'er asked slyly.

Xia Lan: ...

He staggered back. How could his sister wound him so?

"Nanfeng and I were enjoying the sunset together! You've ruined our time with each other," Yu'er criticized.

Xia Lan took a deep breath and rallied. "Our parents want me to watch over Xiao Nanfeng and make sure he's not bullying you. Before you formally become betrothed, you aren't to be intimate with each other."

"We've hardly done anything of the sort. You're making a mountain out of a molehill!" Yu'er exclaimed.

"But just now—"

"What about just now? Mother's already aware of it."

Han Bingdie had allowed her to spend some time with Nanfeng before their separation the last time they had met. She was even the one who suggested kissing Xiao Nanfeng before their departure! This was nothing in comparison.

"What?!" Xia Lan exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng changed the subject. "Xia Lan, what did your parents say when you returned? I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

Xia Lan grudgingly turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Your guess was right. My mothers even praised you."

"And your father?"

"He didn't say anything. He told me to keep an eye on you and make sure you're not bullying Yu'er."

Xiao Nanfeng relaxed. "Good. That means he approves of my plan."

"What? My father didn't say anything! How could that mean that he approves?"

"Third Brother, you're just going to make a fool of yourself if you keep trying to second-guess Nanfeng. Just listen to him if you're not smart enough to get the big picture," Yu'er said.

Xia Lan clutched his chest. Was Yu'er really his own sister? How could she criticize him so harshly?

Xia Lan pretended that his sister hadn't spoken. "If you and Yu'er are having fun with each other, what about Long Si?"

"I have two bodies. Didn't Yu'er tell you?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"What? Your other body's here, too?"

"That's right. If we don't take down the Southeastern Aquatic Palace right away, Yu'er's going to remain in danger. That's why we need to strike at full force and uproot the Southeastern Aquatic Palace. I was enjoying a rare moment of peace with Yu'er before you barged in," Xiao Nanfeng replied crabbily.

"Right, Third Brother! You should find yourself a wife instead of wedging yourself into our relationship like a third wheel," Yu'er added.

Xia Lan scowled. "So what if I'm a bachelor?!"