Chapter 11: The Fissure
It was now the seventh day since Tanoshi had left the base to inspect various parts of the island. Just as Tang Ping had predicted, Tanoshi's group ran into more than a few mishaps.
While filming with a smartphone, **Breaks** accidentally applied too much pressure and crushed the screen.
"Is this thing called a 'phone' really that fragile? I didn't even do anything and it broke!"
Feeling the judgmental glares of the group, Breaks' face turned red as he grumbled in frustration.
**Brode** sighed helplessly and took the wreckage from him.
"You're too rough. Let me handle it."
He tried to swipe the screen, but although it remained lit, the icons were frozen and unresponsive.
**Black**, one of the three brothers, leaned in with an excited expression. "Lord Husband once said that phones have a small stone tablet called a 'memory card' inside. If we move it to another phone, we can see the records. Maybe we should try that!"
He held up a small plastic case filled with SIM ejector tools, memory cards, and other accessories like clear tape and zip-lock bags.
Tang Ping's intuition had indeed become reality. Brode had no choice but to pin his hopes on his studious younger brother.
"Fine. Black, you do it. Be gentle—don't break it!"
Breaks' incident wasn't the only one. Several other members of the Magic Wolf tribe caused equipment damage for various reasons. Even the young boy, **Helios**, managed to burn out several action cameras.
To capture aerial views, Helios had spread his small wings and taken to the sky. Because it was daytime, his **Solar Falcon** bloodline was fully activated. Getting carried away with excitement, the flames on his body surged out of control. Even an action camera designed for extreme environments couldn't withstand such intense heat; it melted instantly into liquid.
Forget the memory card—not even a fingernail-sized fragment remained. The boy nearly burst into tears; this was the third "toy" he had broken. He could only pray that his "Big Brother" wouldn't be angry with him.
"You weren't here, so you have no idea how much bad luck we've had! Thank goodness we brought enough phones and the data on the memory cards was saved. Otherwise, we would've had to turn back on the second day!"
Tanoshi's loud voice boomed from the phone, prompting Tang Ping to glance at the person sleeping soundly on the bed. He stood up and walked toward the balcony. The moment he stepped outside, the person on the bed opened their eyes.
"As long as you're okay. Your mission was only to inspect," Tang Ping replied. "The equipment doesn't matter; the priority is knowing what happened to this island."
"I know! But 'Loyal Servant,' I'm telling you, I really think the Will of the World is targeting me. My strength is mostly restored, but whenever I sleep, I feel something pressing down on me. I'm sleeping alone at the bottom of the sea! Where would another person even come from?"
"Uh... is that what they call 'sleep paralysis'?"
"You're funny, Loyal Servant! If there were actually a ghost, I would have eaten it long ago!"
"I... I see!" Tang Ping was startled—not because Tanoshi could eat ghosts, but because he saw **Qing Lan** walking toward him.
After six days of "instruction" and Tang Ping's dedicated efforts, the Dragon Princess's youthful innocence had faded. In its place was a thick, feminine pheromone radiating from her, as if announcing to the world that she was now a woman.
Qing Lan arrived with a feline grace, barefoot and wearing only a white shirt over black lace underwear. She left the shirt unbuttoned, boldly displaying the "magnificent twin peaks" and the silken path leading down to her abdomen.
"Did you know?" Tanoshi continued over the phone. "We thought the island was all scorched earth, but two or three days ago, we found a huge patch of moss on a cliff! And this morning, Helios saw many green sprouts while he was out catching fish. Isn't that amazing?"
"Yes... truly incredible," Tang Ping answered distractedly.
Qing Lan stood directly in front of her lover, arms crossed, watching him with a playful, knowing smile. She arched an eyebrow, silently asking: *Are you talking to Tanoshi?*
Being a long-time "couple" now, Tang Ping understood her immediately. He nodded, turned around to face the distant Water God barrier and the blue sea, and continued his call.
"Perhaps your divine power is so strong that it stimulated the root systems of the plants originally on the island."
"Really? Then I'm pretty amazing!"
Tang Ping's intentional avoidance made Qing Lan's breath hitch. Her fists clenched involuntarily. Just a moment ago, he was calling her "baby" and doing "wicked things" to her. Now... he was ignoring her?
*Hmph, men!*
"Of course. You are a Goddess, after all. Is there anything you can't do?"
*Anything I can't do?* Qing Lan thought. *Heh, I'll show you right now—something I can do that she would never do!*
"By the way, don't let them eat those plants randomly..."
Tang Ping's body suddenly jerked, nearly dropping the phone. Qing Lan had forcibly turned him around and was pulling down his zipper.
Tang Ping shot her a panicked look, signaling that this was dangerous and Tanoshi might hear. Qing Lan simply gave him a defiant glare and knelt down, her expression asking: *Are you scared?*
She saw the fear on his face, but she didn't stop. She wanted to see what he would choose: to keep chatting with Tanoshi for "spiritual pleasure," or to sink into carnal desire with her.
Although they had become intimately familiar with each other's bodies over the past few days, Qing Lan had never done *this* for him before. Using her mouth was too embarrassing, and she had flatly refused his requests previously. But now, she didn't care anymore!
Just as Qing Lan opened her mouth to embrace the "sin"...
"The signal is bad here. I'm moving to another spot to talk," Tang Ping said.
He gently pushed Qing Lan aside, zipped his pants with one hand, and walked back into the room. Left behind on the balcony, Qing Lan stared blankly at the two people chatting happily through the phone. She wanted to do something, but she realized the "room" was already full—filled with the laughter of a man and a woman.
Did she really belong in that beautiful space? Did those two really need her?
Eventually, she lowered her reaching hand. She suddenly realized that today was the day Tanoshi was returning.
*Oh... it's time for me to wake up.*
On the other side of the island, Tanoshi had just hung up when Brode approached with two tribespeople.
"Lord Tanoshi, **Brock** and **Burna** wish to be wed. They ask for your blessing."
Brode signaled for the two to kneel and introduced them to his master.
"Is that so? Congratulations," Tanoshi replied casually.
As her followers grew in number, such things happened occasionally. She was used to it. But that didn't mean she actually cared if they loved each other or why they were together. It had nothing to do with her.
"Thank you very much, Lord Tanoshi!"
The young Magic Wolf couple was overwhelmed with gratitude. Even though Tanoshi seemed indifferent, for a couple with no great contributions or strength, a personal blessing from the Great Evil God was a monumental honor—something to brag about to their descendants for generations.
Watching them walk away with beaming smiles, Brode couldn't help but comment, "Speaking of which, when did they even get together? I have no clue."
"Is that right?" Tanoshi glanced at the couple. They weren't particularly powerful, but the man was handsome and the woman was beautiful; it seemed natural enough.
"Yeah. Just the other day they acted like they barely knew each other, then suddenly they announce a marriage. The world is a strange place!"
Tanoshi eyed Brode for a moment, not quite understanding why he was telling her this. Before she could ask, another voice interrupted.
"Brode! Don't bother Lord Tanoshi with such trivial matters. We just need to do our jobs!"
**Breno** arrived and knelt before Tanoshi. He turned to scold his son with a stern face. Brode quickly bowed his head in apology.
"Yes..."
"Lord Tanoshi, we shall take our leave. There is still sampling work to be done."
"Go on," Tanoshi waved them off, signaling they were dismissed.
Here is the translation of the next part of the story. I have focused on the emotional weight of the dialogue and the growing tension between the characters, while maintaining the clear formatting for your reading pleasure.
Only after the two had walked far enough away to ensure Tanoshi could not sense them did Breno turn to his son, his expression grim.
"Father, I—"
"Why do you insist on meddling in other people's family affairs?" Breno barked. "Is the private life of Lord Tanoshi something you think you can interfere with?"
Faced with his father's reprimand, Brode could only offer a bitter smile. "Father, this is no small matter! If Lord Tanoshi finds out, the consequences are unimaginable. We might all suffer along with them..."
"So what? If things come to that, then it is simply our fate!"
"Father..."
"You need to understand your place!" Breno snapped. "We are not Lord Tanoshi's family, nor are we her friends! We are her subordinates, her loyal followers! Attempting to interfere in the private affairs of a God is a serious line-cross for mortals like us!"
"... I understand, Father. But..."
"No more words! If I catch you trying to interfere in Lord Tanoshi's private life again, the position of the next Clan Leader... hmph! It will go to someone else!" Breno sighed, his voice heavy with helplessness.
Brode panicked. "I understand, Father. Please, do not be angry!"
Breno shot his son one last look, shook his head, and began walking back toward the camp. Left alone, Brode felt a wave of resignation. It seemed he had done something entirely unnecessary. He could only hope that when the truth eventually came out, Lord Tanoshi wouldn't take her blade to the Magic Wolf tribe.
According to Tanoshi's original boast, the inspection team should have returned before dinner tonight. However, Tang Ping received a temporary message from her in the afternoon: the team had run into a minor accident, so they would be delayed by two or three days.
Tang Ping was secretly thrilled. This meant he could have a few more days alone with Qing Lan. Of course, he didn't show it; he simply told Tanoshi not to rush, saying that everyone's safety and the completion of the mission were what mattered most.
Tanoshi complained that she needed to find more servants soon, or she would die of exhaustion. Tang Ping thought to himself, *If you're exhausted, then what about me?*
He locked his phone screen, eager to share the good news with Qing Lan. But when he looked around, he realized the girl was no longer in the room.
"Qing Lan...?"
At dinner, Qing Lan never showed up. He sent her a message asking where she was. The Dragon Princess didn't reply, nor did she even read it. It was as if she had never existed.
Agitated, Tang Ping shoveled the food into his mouth. Leaving the dishes unwashed, he headed straight back to the room. For the past few days, they had been inseparable—waking up, eating, working, bathing, and sleeping together. Now, he was alone in the spacious double room.
The black lingerie that usually hung over the sofa was gone. The lipstick and face masks he had gifted her had vanished from the table. Everything had reverted to the way it was before Tanoshi left—the life of solitude he had always known.
*This is how my life is supposed to be, isn't it?*
...It felt unbearable. Tang Ping felt a sting in his eyes as the scent of rose body wash still lingered in the air. He realized that, without noticing, he had become addicted to her presence. He was used to reaching out and pulling her waist toward him. He was used to being called "Husband" or "Lord Husband." He was used to seeing her face every single minute.
And now, all of it was—
*Knock, knock!*
Tang Ping swung the door open. Qing Lan was standing there. She was wearing a white bathrobe, her hair damp as if she had just showered. She looked down at her toes peeking out of the hotel slippers. For a moment, they stood in silence.
Finally, Qing Lan looked up. "...Aren't you going to invite me in?"
Tang Ping grabbed Qing Lan's hand, pulled her into the room, and kicked the door shut.
"I—"
Before he could speak, Qing Lan pressed her lips against his. Her strength was immense, and Tang Ping couldn't break free—or perhaps, he didn't want to. They kissed passionately as they stumbled toward the bed. With a forceful shove, Qing Lan pushed him down. She climbed over him and cast aside her robe; she was wearing nothing underneath.
With tears in her eyes, she began to savor what felt like the final moments of the night.
Much later, after their emotions had been spent, the two lay in an embrace. Qing Lan spoke suddenly.
"What is our relationship?"
Tang Ping didn't understand why she would ask such a thing at a time like this. He answered cautiously. "... Lovers? At least for now."
"Do 'lovers' do these things? I have given you everything I have..."
Hearing the loneliness in her voice made Tang Ping's heart ache. He remembered that Qing Lan was originally a dignified, independent woman; he was the one who had spoiled her into this vulnerable state over the past few days. Whatever he asked of her, she would blush, hesitate for a moment, and then comply. Beneath that mask of obedience was a traditional and conservative heart.
Seeking to bridge the gap, Tang Ping suggested, "Then... husband and wife?"
"..... I see." Qing Lan sounded disappointed.
Tang Ping grew anxious. "How about this—when Lord Tanoshi returns, I'll find a way to test her reaction, and then we..."
"Why do you have to ask for *her* opinion about what happens between *us*?" Qing Lan shouted.
Her voice was startlingly clear in the quiet night. Tang Ping sat frozen, shocked by her sudden outburst. Qing Lan stared at him with deadly seriousness. After a long silence, Tang Ping finally gathered his thoughts.
"Qing Lan, I—"
But she didn't give him the chance. "I'm tired. I want to sleep alone tonight."
She loosely threw her clothes on, got out of bed, and walked straight to the door. Tang Ping could feel that her mood was completely wrong, but the atmosphere was so heavy he found it impossible to speak. He could only watch her leave.
Qing Lan reached the door. She paused for a fraction of a second, then stepped out. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. The room fell silent again. Tang Ping slowly lowered his hand, which had been reaching out for her.
Outside the door, leaning against the wall, the girl looked up at the hallway light, which cast a soft, amber glow.
"Sigh..."
*Is it only now that I've realized it?*
Qing Lan let out a long breath, her eyes filled with emotions that were impossible to name. The corridor was empty. Her silent sigh received no response.
"Two more days..."