Lilies bloomed between their lips and teeth, exchanging their most sincere affections.
Bai Ran's cheeks flushed with two rosy patches, her breathing growing heavier.
Long Jinhan's eyes held a deep, suppressed longing, his insides burning like fire that he couldn't quell.
The hand on the back of Bai Ran's head tightened, as if he wanted to fuse her into his body.
"Long... mmph..."
All the words she intended to speak were cut off by Long Jinhan, met instead with an even fiercer assault.
After an unknown amount of time, the man released her, laughing deeply.
"What am I going to do with you, hmm?"
His low voice drifted by her ear. Bai Ran's cheeks were rosy, her eyes glistening with tears.
A distinct bite mark adorned her tender lips, looking utterly alluring.
Sensing Long Jinhan's gaze lingering on her mouth, Bai Ran shyly turned her head, not daring to look at him.
The man's large palm encircled her waist, burying his head in her shoulder socket, and he chuckled softly.
She, Bai Ran, belonged only to him, Long Jinhan.
From their first meeting, he had known.
The little creatures in the spatial realm watched with relish.
"They're kissing! Master is amazing!" Shi Tian cheered.
The White Tiger cleared its throat with mock solemnity: "It's a shame Little Zhu isn't here. If she were, she'd be even more boisterous."
Ting Lan, perched on the bank, had pink bubbles popping in his head.
When would he find a partner to dote on day after day?
Little did he know, in the not-too-distant future, he would be forcefully pinned to a bed by a certain woman, her fingers teasing his most sensitive fish tail.
He'd cry out for Heaven and Earth, but none would answer.
...
That night, Long Jinhan lay beside Bai Ran, watching her drift off to sleep with his own eyes.
When Bai Ran opened her eyes the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. Long Jinhan's figure was nowhere to be seen beside her.
A knock sounded on the door, and Xiao Zi's voice came through, "Little ghost, that Lion Leopard demon has arrived."
Bai Ran washed up and left her room, finding Hua Yun smiling at her.
"Human, you've been bitten."
Bitten? Bai Ran was puzzled, but then she noticed Hua Yun's gaze fixed on her lips.
Bai Ran froze, and the memory of last night, of the bite mark on her lips, flashed through her mind.
Her face bloomed with two red clouds. Beside her, Xiao Zi frowned.
The little ghost was covered in the Demon Lord's aura, and her lips bore a warning mark.
Was it a message to stay away from the little ghost?
Xiao Zi pursed her lips and rolled her eyes, "Such a stingy man."
Hua Yun smiled and said, "I've come with good news."
"I've persuaded my father. The Hua family has returned to the Demon Emperor's side."
She smiled brightly, seemingly having forgotten how Xiao Zi had unceremoniously rejected her yesterday.
Bai Ran nodded. Now, only two more families needed to be won over.
Xiao Zi smiled, a plan forming in her mind: "For one of the remaining families, a direct confrontation should be enough to make them switch sides."
Subdue them by force? Just as Bai Ran was about to speak, a familiar voice rang out.
"Bai Ran...?"
She turned at the sound and saw a man with a bruised and swollen face standing at the courtyard entrance, staring directly at her.
The man's entire face was so beaten that it was unrecognizable, only a pair of bright, verdant green eyes were visible.
Bai Ran's mouth twitched, "Lin Ze?"
Hearing her voice, he seemed to have suffered an immense injustice, rushing towards Bai Ran with a choked sob.
"Who are you!" Hua Yun stepped forward, blocking Lin Ze and scrutinizing him.
But when she met his pair of emerald pupils, a chill shot up her spine, and her heart seemed to seize.
"Ex... terminator..." Hua Yun stammered, stepping back, "The clan destroyer..."
Lin Ze cast a glance at her, and she shivered.
Xiao Zi looked at the bruised and battered Lin Ze, somewhat surprised, "How did you end up here? And why are you in such a state?"
Speaking of which, it was a tale of tears... Lin Ze sighed deeply.
"I was minding my own business outside when the Demon Lord, for some unknown reason, suddenly appeared before me."
"He told me to return to the demon tribe and take over the position of Demon Emperor."
When he refused, the Demon Lord beat him up like this...
Take over as Demon Emperor? Bai Ran fell into thought, recalling her conversation with Long Jinhan last night.
'You can't bear to leave the demon tribe?'
'While I can't bear it, there's nothing I can do.'
'I understand.'
After much contemplation, Bai Ran felt utterly helpless.
If Lin Ze took over the demon tribe, then Xiao Zi could stay by her side.
She rubbed her temples; her head ached terribly.
Looking again at Lin Ze's face, only a vague human shape could be discerned.
Hua Yun's face was ashen, watching Lin Ze, her nerves taut, not daring to breathe.
Bai Ran gave her a look, signaling her to calm down, but his reputation as a clan destroyer was too immense, terrifying Hua Yun to the point of being unable to recover.
Xiao Zi, having understood everything, her face lit up with surprise, "How did I not think of this! He can become the Emperor!"
If the position of Demon Emperor was given to him, then the demon tribe would be fine, and he could continue to accompany the little ghost!
It was a win-win situation!
Sensing Xiao Zi's ill-intentioned gaze, Lin Ze blinked, clearly not understanding the situation.
"Demon Emperor! Absolutely not! How can you let the clan destroyer become Emperor!" Hua Yun cried out urgently, trying to stop Xiao Zi.
At her exclamation, Lin Ze immediately reacted.
His emerald eyes widened, his jaw dropping, "Me???"
Has this vixen gone mad? To hand over the throne to a clan destroyer like him???
"Mm," Xiao Zi nodded with utter seriousness, patting Lin Ze on the shoulder, "Or you can recognize me as your father."
"Then I can logically pass the position on to you."
"Ha?" Lin Ze found it absurd. A father appearing out of nowhere?
Feeling the situation was taking a turn for the better, Xiao Zi felt the world had brightened considerably.
Lin Ze's strength was greater than his. Having him become Emperor wasn't a bad thing.
But the most crucial issue was his notoriety. Hua Yun's terrified reaction was proof enough.
Making Lin Ze Emperor would likely not be easy.
Xiao Zi looked at Bai Ran, contemplating a strategy, "Or perhaps he could go help the refugees? Set up a stall and give out porridge?"
Bai Ran furrowed her brow and thought for a moment, "Didn't we just say there was a family that could be subdued by force? Why not let him go there?"
"Good idea."
Back and forth, Lin Ze was completely dumbfounded, "Hey! Shouldn't you at least ask my opinion???"
Hua Yun and Lin Ze stood there dumbfounded, listening as the two of them, with their back-and-forth discussion, settled on the plan.
Xiao Zi's expression became serious, and he looked at Lin Ze, "After winning the competition, I will announce my abdication."
Then he could continue to frolic with the little ghost. The more he thought about it, the more wonderful it became.
Hua Yun's mind was in utter chaos, feeling as if her entire world had been turned upside down.