Time flowed like a river.

Three days had passed since the escape from Danlong Ancient Mountain.

Bright sunlight poured onto Luo Xiu's face, accompanied by the ceaseless cries of seagulls. He leaned back in a recliner, the gentle breeze lulling him toward sleep.

He had a dream, a very sweet one, where he was with his parents, his older brother, and his older sister. In the dream, he was a little boy again, playing joyfully with his family. He and his brother would run from their sister as she chased them, their mother fretting on the sidelines while their carefree father roared with laughter, telling his sister to hit them even harder.

Strangely, no matter how hard Luo Xiu tried, he couldn't see the faces of his parents or his siblings. They felt so familiar, yet their features remained frustratingly blurry. He had been having similar dreams for the past three days and knew why. Absorbing the Companion Green Lotus had restored some of his former memories.

Suddenly, a fragrant scent wafted past his nose. A soft body snuggled into his embrace.

He slowly opened his eyes to the quiet sight of Di Xuanji's stunningly beautiful face. She had woken up two days prior. Lying in his arms like a lazy cat, she stretched out a delicate hand to gently wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth.

"You were smiling so sweetly. What were you dreaming about? You even drooled," she teased.

Luo Xiu wrapped his arms around her. "I dreamt my mother was making me something delicious."

Di Xuanji gave him a look of disbelief. "Liar. Were you drooling because you were craving me?"

Luo Xiu chuckled and gently pushed her away. He stood and walked to the ship's railing, gazing out at the distant sea.

"First Senior Sister, I want to go to the Shanhai Territory again."

Di Xuanji came to his side, her delicate hand tucking a fragrant strand of hair, tousled by the sea breeze, behind her ear. "Aren't you going to stay and keep me company?"

"I want to look for clues about my past," Luo Xiu said. "Besides, my time is running out. I need to find a cure for my condition as soon as possible."

Di Xuanji looked at him with a pained expression. "I originally hid the Dragon Origin inside you to cure your condition. Even if it couldn't cure you completely, it would have at least bought you more time. I just never expected you to use it all up like that."

Luo Xiu drew her into his embrace. "But it's because of the Dragon Origin that I was able to save you this time. Sister, don't be so foolish in the future. Stop thinking only of others and think more about yourself."

Di Xuanji looked at him defiantly, pouting like a petulant little girl, with none of her usual imperial majesty. "Am I just 'others' to you?"

"And how was I being foolish? Even if you hadn't come, I could have slain the Holy Boi Religion Ancestor myself! It's all Jiao Jiao's fault. I told her not to involve you, but she wouldn't listen and insisted on dragging you into this."

Luo Xiu suddenly slapped her on the buttocks.

Di Xuanji's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... you dare to hit me?"

Without another word, Luo Xiu swept her into his arms and carried her toward the cabin.

"I dare to fuck you, too."

"Ah, Little Mule, let go! Your Sister has just recovered and is still very weak..."

Some time later, on the large bed inside the cabin, Luo Xiu looked down at Di Xuanji, who appeared as if she were at death's door. "Will you dare to be this foolish again?"

"No... I won't. Please, spare me," she pleaded pitifully, tears tracing the corners of her eyes.

Luo Xiu said, "You are the Empress of Hua Country, yet you ventured into danger alone. Have you ever considered what would happen to the people of Hua Country if you fell here? What would happen to me?"

"Even if you killed Chu Yiguan, what would that solve? Would the Holy Boi Religion be completely destroyed? And what about you? By then, you'd be completely drained of energy, utterly helpless. The noble Empress of Hua Country, falling into the hands of a heretic cult, suffering all kinds of humiliation... a reality where even death would be a luxury. Is that the ending you wanted?"

"You're just as foolish as you were when you were a child!"

With tears in her eyes, Di Xuanji placed her hands on Luo Xiu's chest, pushing weakly. "Let me go... Since you know I'm the Empress, how dare you treat me this way!"

Luo Xiu's expression hardened. "And I'm the goddamn Azure Emperor! No more excuses. Now bend over. I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"

"Sob... Little Mule, I really know I was wrong... This is the fourth time..."

"..."

「In the Capital of Hua Country.」

Early in the morning, the Imperial Palace square was already a sea of people. Flower baskets were placed everywhere, creating a grand and lively spectacle. Today was the award ceremony for the champions of the World Martial Competition.

Several days ago, the team representing Hua Country had lived up to expectations, clinching the championship and bringing glory to Hua Country's community of Martial Artists. On the stage, which was adorned with a bright red carpet, Lin Xiyue, Xu Qianqing, Ye Ningxue, Su Shanyue, and Zhang Yi were the most dazzling goddesses in the world.

As time ticked by, the grand award ceremony eventually concluded. Lu Nianjiao approached the five women.

"On behalf of the Martial Alliance, I cordially invite the five of you to join the Martial Combatants Coalition. Of course, the choice is yours. From now on, you can return to your former lives. You can become queens of commerce who command immense wealth, or the treasured ladies of reclusive families, living lives of splendor and free from worldly cares.

"Alternatively, you can choose to join the Martial Alliance. You will receive focused training, and all cultivation resources will be dedicated to you."

As Lu Nianjiao finished speaking, Zhang Yi answered without a second thought, "Of course I'll join the Martial Alliance! Who says women can't protect their country? I'm determined to prove them wrong!"

Lu Nianjiao's gaze fell on Zhang Yi, and she nodded in satisfaction. She is the City Lord's daughter, after all. Her upbringing was different.

"And the four of you?"

Ye Ningxue, still looking somewhat dazed, said, "I am a soldier of the Ye Family and a Ghost Valley Disciple. It is my duty to serve my country."

Su Shanyue nodded gently. "My grandfather always told me that we Martial Artists have a duty to our nation. I choose to join as well."

Xu Qianqing smiled slightly. "It goes without saying for me. I'm in."

Finally, all eyes turned to Lin Xiyue.

With a neutral expression, she stated, "Actually, my master already spoke to me about this, and I promised him I would go."

Lu Nianjiao nodded happily. "Excellent. I wasn't mistaken about any of you. After the Martial Alliance is formally established, I will officially launch the Valkyrie Project, focusing on training the five of you. I can tell you in advance... it will be a hellish and brutal existence. You must be mentally prepared. And I will be your direct superior!"

She then looked at Ye Ningxue. "Xiao Xue, you are a Ghost Valley Disciple and you've been to Ghost Valley Mountain, so you should know how brutal the cultivation there can be."

Ye Ningxue nodded. "It was manageable, nothing special."

Hearing this, the other four women breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Nianjiao chuckled to herself. You have no idea what's coming for you. "After today, you can all go home and rest for a month to spend time with your families. Report back here one month from today, on the dot. I will take you to Ghost Valley Mountain."

"Yes!" the five women responded in unison.

Ye Ningxue suddenly asked, "Third Martial Aunt, I'd like to ask... how is my master doing now?"

Hearing this, Lu Nianjiao's mood sank. She was also desperate to know how Luo Xiu was.

Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang. A glance at the caller ID revealed it was Luo Xiu. She held up the phone, showing the screen to Ye Ningxue and the other women. Their faces immediately flushed with excitement, and they urgently gestured for her to answer.

Lu Nianjiao stepped aside and pressed the answer button. "Hello, Little Mule."

"Jiao Jiao... it's me."

It wasn't Luo Xiu's voice. It was Di Xuanji, and she sounded weak.

Lu Nianjiao's eyes welled with tears. "Are you two... all right?" For Di Xuanji to be calling from Luo Xiu's phone could only mean they were together and had escaped the danger.

"Not at all," Di Xuanji complained. "Little Mule has been doing nothing but bullying me these past few days."

Lu Nianjiao laughed through her tears. "Serves you right! Why didn't you listen to my advice? Put him on the phone. I'll tell him to bully you some more for me."

...

A short while later, Lu Nianjiao returned to the five women, a smile on her face. "Everything's fine. Chen Shuisheng has been brought to justice, and Luo Xiu and Her Majesty the Empress are currently on their way back to the Capital City."

Upon hearing the news, smiles bloomed on all their faces.

Zhang Yi waved her little fists. "Let's go drinking tonight to celebrate properly!"

Lu Nianjiao laughed. "Count me in."

"Qianqing, should we order a male stripper?"

"Oh, shut up! As if."

...

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