121: Keep up the good work and unlock the peacock.

No matter how curious he was, Kong Jiamu knew his friend wouldn't reveal another word.

In fact, with Hain's status, appearing at the gate of a civilian flight—even an ultra-luxury one—was as easy as turning over a hand.

The reason he gave Kong Jiamu a heads-up was simply because this happened to be a Kong Family property, and Kong Jiamu happened to be on this flight.

It was a form of respect—one of those subtle social etiquettes among the nobility.

It perfectly reflected Hain's character: gentle on the surface, but with a strong sense of boundaries. Many in the Empire were deceived by his refined exterior.

Kong Jiamu knew full well that his friendship with Hain likely only existed because Hain felt Your Majesty needed him to act this way.

Your Majesty had taken a liking to his clean background, hoping he would establish a firm foothold in the military as soon as possible.

But his advantage was also his disadvantage. The Kong Family's Foundation in the upper echelons of the Empire was too shallow. Your Majesty had already promoted him exceptionally, but it wasn't appropriate for him to interfere in everything.

Hain becoming friends with him at that time made the early stages of his path much easier; the timing was perfect.

But regardless of the reason, he accepted the favor.

As an Intermediate officer, he even intentionally acted more willful and unrestrained to lower others' guard against him. Once he returned to the Capital City this time, he should be able to wait for Your Majesty to transfer him to the Central Military District. After following Your Majesty on a campaign to earn the appropriate military merits, he would join the ranks of generals.

He would then completely enter the system of Advanced generals.

Only then could he truly consider the return on his 'investment' in these people on equal footing.

Kong Jiamu smiled disdainfully; that moment was close at hand.

And that beautiful Female Beast was just right as a delicious reward for himself during this vacation... A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Unhurriedly, Kong Jiamu glanced at his reflection in the glass door of the wine cabinet. He deliberately unbuttoned one more button on his chest before going to open the door.

When the door opened, Tu Nan happened to be at eye level with a certain bird's looming pectoral muscles. Shifting her gaze upward, she noticed that the entire Peacock—down to every strand of hair—had been meticulously groomed.

With her lips slightly parted, she asked with feigned curiosity, "Is today's lesson very difficult? You've prepared quite thoroughly, Teacher~"

Kong Jiamu's smile deepened.

See, how interesting. Pearl was teasing him by following up on the 'first lesson' he had taught her last time.

"Well, of course, it's a secret technique," Kong Jiamu said, placing a finger to his lips.

"So it can only be taught in private, one-on-one," he smirked suggestively.

Tu Nan squeezed past Kong Jiamu through the door, indifferent to the fact that the doorway wasn't particularly wide, which caused her to brush against his arm.

She walked straight to the bar and stood still. Only after hearing the door close did she open the wine cabinet, turning back to ask, "Any recommendations?"

Kong Jiamu reached out from behind her, picked out a bottle, took two glasses, and dropped two ice cubes into each.

With a 'pop', the bottle was opened, and the pale gold liquid was slowly poured into the glasses.

A long, powerful hand handed one of the glasses to her.

"This one is a bit sweet, perfect for a night like this."

Tu Nan took the wine and walked slowly to the window. These past few days, although the initial shock had passed, she was still constantly moved by this boundless and unpredictable scenery.

"It's so beautiful... this world." She wanted to see more.

Kong Jiamu raised his glass in a toast to the starry sky.

"Danger and opportunity coexist; that is the starry sky." He looked at the Female Beast gazing intently out the window and smiled slightly. "I hope you never have to see its dangerous side."

"You mean?" Tu Nan asked.

Kong Jiamu shrugged.

"There's too much. Stars explode, asteroid debris belts become turbulence on flight paths, Star Worms suddenly go mad—who knows."

"We are just insignificant parts of the starry sky, so we must seize every bit of happiness. Don't go borrowing trouble."

He winked at Tu Nan, his meaning clear.

"You're right..." Tu Nan turned around, leaning her back against the window, and suddenly twirled a beautiful bottle between her fingertips.

The conical bottle was wrapped in patterns of silver wire and contained a transparent liquid.

"Do you know what this is?" Tu Nan shook the small bottle, her entire being presenting a contradictory mix of shyness and eagerness to try.

"I carefully reviewed the first lesson, and... followed my heart," Tu Nan said thoughtfully.

"I found that I was my wildest that day, and that experience was also the most unforgettable." Her eyelids lowered slightly.

Kong Jiamu's almond eyes widened slightly. "That day."

He knew what was in that bottle.

Tu Nan smiled at him. "That day, I was dragged into the 'abyss' by you. It made me afraid, yet I couldn't stop thinking about it. So... I asked Lance for this."

Kong Jiamu wanted to refuse. "I don't need this to make you lose yourself."

"No, it's for me."

Tu Nan smiled slightly, a smile that teetered on the edge of wantonness and shyness.

"I can't face a completely sober you if I've already lost myself like that." She shook her head and bit her lip. "Just like that day—the you of that day and the me of that day were the best."

Under Kong Jiamu's gaze, Tu Nan unscrewed the cap of the magic bottle and tossed it aside. She lowered her head, gently bit the bottle of medicine, tilted her head back, and held it all in her mouth.

Loosening her teeth slightly, she easily let the small silver bottle fall. Like a signal for the start of something forbidden, it dropped into the depths of the carpet, noiseless.

Tu Nan looked up, her eyes making Kong Jiamu's heart ripple.

As if possessed, he leaned in, willingly sucking the tasteless medicinal liquid from between Tu Nan's lips and teeth.

With the rolling of his Adam's apple, it slid down his throat.

Kong Jiamu licked away the last bit of residue, revealing his small canines as he gently bit the Female Beast's lips, which were becoming increasingly tense and flushed.

"Satisfied?" His eyes narrowed as he felt the heat rapidly rising within his body, only to see that Tu Nan's eyes were already slightly red and her breathing hurried.

"You..." He had a suspicion.

Tu Nan licked her lips, revealing a dazed and frenzied smile as she pulled him down with her onto the soft, large bed.

Afraid of crushing her, Kong Jiamu braced himself.

But Tu Nan's legs hooked around his waist like snakes, forcibly pulling him closer.

"For the sake of fairness, I added a little something for myself too." Like a siren, her fingers ran back and forth through Kong Jiamu's hair before moving to his body to undo a button.

"Let me see... if the Empire's most dazzling Peacock... will spread his wings only for me tonight..."

Tu Nan gently caressed his skin, her words slightly forceful, but her gaze began to drift.

Kong Jiamu's competitive streak as a Bird Beastman was swelling uncontrollably.

Moreover... after admiring this little cat trapped in his arms, who could barely form a complete sentence, several times over, the more he looked, the more he felt she suited his tastes in every way.

"I will certainly satisfy you..." He leaned down. "This time, you're not allowed to beg for mercy."

Tu Nan smiled.

How could she beg for mercy?

She only needed Kong Jiamu's Gene Lock to open layer by layer.

To that end, she had naturally used the full 'recipe' from that night. The perfume on her—didn't he find it familiar?

The night was very long...