823: Bro! Pinky promise!

"Ouch!" Qiong Shuang cried out in pain, finally waking up a bit. She covered her forehead and looked at Yao Delong aggrievedly, "Big Brother, why did you flick me!"

Yao Delong glared at her crossly: "Hurry up and get up! Who told you to transform into human form in the middle of the night and... and sleep like this?" For a moment, he couldn't find the right words to describe this "octopus-like" sleeping posture.

Hearing this, Qiong Shuang pursed her small mouth, acting righteous while her grievances doubled: "I... I just wanted to sleep next to Big Brother! It's warmer this way! I sleep better!" As she spoke, she even tightened her arms around Yao Delong.

Yao Delong looked at her "I'm not wrong" aggrieved expression, then at the glimpse of her snowy-white skin revealed by her slightly open collar due to her movements. His heart softened, realizing his tone might have been a bit harsh just now.

He softened his voice: "Alright, Big Brother was just a bit hasty. But Qiong Shuang, you must remember, now that you've transformed into a human, there's a difference between men and women. You can't just sleep in the same bed like this, let alone..." He pointed to Qiong Shuang's jade-like leg still resting on him.

At those words, Qiong Shuang's ice-blue eyes blinked, and a sudden glint of cunning flashed through them. Her rosy little mouth pouted slightly, looking innocent yet speaking shocking words:

"Hmph! Big Brother, you're just trying to trick me! Don't think I don't know!"

"Sister Clear Snow, Sister Luo Yan, and several beautiful Junior Sisters from your Yin Yang Sect's Luoxia Peak... which one of them hasn't slept next to you?"

"Hmph! And they call it 'Cultivating', 'increasing cultivation', 'stabilizing the dao foundation'... it sounds so nice!"

"So what if I sleep next to Big Brother for one night? I want to 'increase my cultivation' too! I want to 'stabilize my dao foundation' too!"

Boom!

Qiong Shuang's rapid-fire "wild words," spoken with an innocent expression, exploded in Yao Delong's ears like a clap of thunder!

His entire body froze instantly!

He felt his old face burning! Even though he had experienced countless storms, at this moment, he was left speechless by Qiong Shuang's blunt and undisguised "accusation"!

This little Flood Dragon... how... how did she know?! And she knew so clearly?! She even learned the excuses?!

Looking at Qiong Shuang's proud yet slightly aggrieved expression that said "I've exposed you, don't try to lie to me," Yao Delong opened his mouth, but in the end, only managed to squeeze out one sentence:

"Ahem... that... that's different!"

"How is it different!" Qiong Shuang was relentless, leaning her body closer. Her warm breath almost brushed against Yao Delong's face, her large eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Yao Delong: "..."

Facing this "humanoid Flood Dragon" with clear logic, solid evidence, and no small amount of martial power, Yao Delong felt a deep sense of helplessness for the first time.

Seeing Yao Delong speechless, a glint of cunning flashed in Qiong Shuang's ice-blue eyes, like an ice-field fox that had discovered its prey's weakness. Instead of backing down, she pressed her advantage, pouting her small mouth and saying in an aggrieved, accusing tone:

"Hmph! Big Brother, you're just biased! I've been by your side for so long, how many dangers have we faced? Which fight didn't I charge at the front? And the result? Sister Clear Snow's cultivation is almost catching up to mine! Their cultivation is soaring, but what about me?" She even tried hard to blink, attempting to squeeze out some moisture, but her acting wasn't quite there yet; it looked more like acting spoiled. "Are you looking down on me because my true form is a Flood Dragon, so you don't want to 'increase my cultivation'?"

This series of attacks, each hitting a logical point and carrying a touch of spoiled vulnerability, was extremely lethal!

Yao Delong looked at this breathtakingly beautiful face inches away, written all over with "you're unfair" grievances. He smelled her unique, crisp body fragrance and felt the warm, smooth touch of her body and that jade-like leg still draped over his waist... he was completely defeated.

"Fine, fine!" Yao Delong rubbed his brow with a headache, dismissively saying, "I give up! Next time! When there's a chance next time, Big Brother will definitely help you 'increase your cultivation', okay?" He emphasized the words 'increase your cultivation' a bit heavily, with a hint of helplessness and gritted teeth.

"Really?!" Hearing this, Qiong Shuang's eyes instantly lit up like the most brilliant ice crystals. Her previous grievances and accusations vanished, replaced by pure surprise and the excitement of having succeeded!

"Really! Truer than Spirit Stones!" Yao Delong just wanted to escape this awkward "octopus" embrace as quickly as possible.

"Then! Pinky swear!" Qiong Shuang was so excited she almost jumped up, but she seemed to forget she still had Yao Delong "locked" down. Not only did she not let go, but she brought her stunning face even closer, so close that Yao Delong could see every one of her slightly trembling long eyelashes and feel her warm breath brushing against the tip of his nose.

She extended her right hand, curling her fair and slender pinky finger, which looked like it was carved from ice and jade, and held it seriously before Yao Delong's eyes: "Big Brother! Pinky swear! No backing out! Whoever backs out is a little puppy!"

Yao Delong: "..."

He looked at the beautiful face and pinky finger right in front of him, then at his still "locked" state, and felt mentally broken. This girl had learned the Human Race children's "pinky swear, hang yourself, don't change for a hundred years" routine perfectly and was using it with consummate skill!

Under Qiong Shuang's expectant gaze and her "I won't let go if you don't pinky swear" persistence, Yao Delong sighed in resignation and with difficulty extended his own pinky finger.

And so, in this inn bedroom filled with the scent of sandalwood and an ambiguous atmosphere, on the soft and wide Purple Gold Sandalwood bed, a disheveled young man, half-hugged and half-pressed by a peerless beauty, helplessly yet with a hint of doting, hooked his pinky finger with that of an excited, bright-eyed, ice-blue-haired older-sister type!

"Pinky swear, hang yourself, no changes for a hundred years! Whoever changes is a little puppy!" Qiong Shuang's crisp and sweet voice, filled with the joy of success, echoed in the room.

Having completed this "sacred" contract-signing ceremony, Qiong Shuang finally released her "restraint" on Yao Delong with satisfaction. Like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat, she happily rolled to the side, hugging the quilt and giggling foolishly.

Yao Delong, as if granted a grand amnesty, immediately rolled out of bed. He tidied his robes, which had been wrinkled by Qiong Shuang's rubbing; the wet spot on his shoulder from her drool was particularly noticeable. He walked to the small table by the window, his movements carrying a trace of imperceptible stiffness. He took out an exquisite tea set, a wisp of gentle True Fire igniting at his fingertip as he began to boil water for tea.

The elegant fragrance of tea rose in curls, slightly dispersing the lingering ambiguous atmosphere in the room.

Yao Delong held the warm teacup, but his gaze passed through the misty steam, becoming deep and solemn.

Xuan Ye Dynasty!

Luo Tianying... Sun Moon Divine Cult... Nine Nether Sect... these three names weighed on his heart like heavy stones.

Although he had the Myriad Worlds Void-Breaking Talisman bestowed by the Sect as his ultimate life-saving trump card, this talisman was too precious! Once used, it would not only mean his trip was a complete failure, but it could also directly trigger an all-out war between the two great giants of the Eastern Region, the Yin Yang Sect and the Nine Nether Sect! The consequences would be unimaginable! Unless it was truly a desperate situation of life and death, it must not be used!