"Scram."
Facing the imposing creature, Qin Chuan casually uttered a single word.
"Hmm?!"
The creature looked down at Qin Chuan, its massive pupils suddenly contracting in fear. It trembled and stammered, "T-Tian Shen (Heavenly God)?!"
Though the creature appeared powerful, it was only at the Yaochi Realm. Naturally, it felt an overwhelming fear toward a Heavenly God.
"Still not leaving?" Qin Chuan glanced at it coldly.
"Right away, right away!"
The creature quickly nodded, its body coiling into a circle and rolling away across the water like a waterwheel.
It moved very... smoothly.
"Wait."
Suddenly, Qin Chuan called out.
Swoosh!
The "waterwheel" instantly halted, unrolling like a paper towel spread flat on the surface of the lake.
"Do you have any further instructions, my lord?"
The creature spoke with utter submission, showing no dignity.
"Tell me, who are you, and what is this place?" Qin Chuan asked calmly.
"I... I don't know. I was originally an egg in this lake, only hatched a few tens of thousands of years ago. I've never left this place, and I only know some common knowledge from my inherited memories," the creature replied weakly.
"How much do you know about this place?" Qin Chuan continued.
"I only know that this place once belonged to a very powerful woman because I saw some murals at the bottom of the lake. They recorded some of her great deeds. She seemed to be very formidable," the creature said softly.
"And those murals?" Qin Chuan asked.
"I licked them off."
The creature drooled, its gaze a bit perverse. "The materials of those murals were extraordinary, had amazing effects, and tasted really good."
Qin Chuan glanced sideways at the creature.
He thought, perhaps it wasn't the materials that attracted it...
It seemed the woman was quite beautiful.
There is a kind of beauty in this world that transcends gender, even species—a beauty that exudes a unique aura or divine charm. This kind of beauty isn't limited to superficial features; it transcends cultural and racial aesthetics.
Ordinary beauty depends on facial features, which can vary greatly across different races. For example, in some peculiar races, thick body hair is considered beautiful, or "squinting eyes" are prized—traits humans might not appreciate.
However, divine charm surpasses mere appearance and taps into a universal resonance, something that any living being could appreciate.
"What about the woman on the island?" Qin Chuan asked again.
"What? A woman?"
The creature turned its head in confusion. When it saw Shui Qingrou lying beneath the peach tree, it recoiled in shock. "Mother of God! Who is she? When did she get here? I had no idea!"
Qin Chuan scrutinized the creature and, seeing no signs of deceit, waved it off. "You can go now."
"Right away!"
The creature coiled up once more, bit its tail, and rolled away across the water.
After a short distance, it sank back into the lake.
"Let's head over."
Qin Chuan said as he led Qin Zi and Shui Qinghan toward the peach blossom island.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
Wisps of cold air rose from the lake, seemingly trying to prevent them from entering.
But Qin Chuan released a transparent layer of energy around the three of them, like a shield, allowing them to glide across the water.
Finally, the three landed on the island.
"Qingrou!"
Qin Zi rushed forward, lifting Shui Qingrou off the ground and cradling her in his arms.
Shui Qinghan also tried to step forward but hesitated, eventually pulling his hand back awkwardly.
"Senior Brother Qin Zi..."
Shui Qingrou's eyes fluttered open, dazed. But soon, her expression changed to panic as she pushed Qin Zi away. "Run! Get away!!"
"Huh?"
Qin Zi was stunned.
But Qin Chuan quickly stepped in front of Qin Zi, just as a pale hand suddenly struck his chest.
Boom!
The sound echoed like thunder, and a shockwave burst from Qin Chuan's chest, sweeping outward on both sides.
Qin Chuan's black hair flew wildly, and his white robes flapped in the air, but his body remained completely unmoved.
"Hmph!"
He snorted coldly, shaking his shoulder slightly. Shui Qingrou's body flew backward, slamming into the old peach tree.
Instantly, peach blossoms fell like snowflakes.
"You're not Junior Sister Shui. Who are you?!" Qin Zi's face turned pale with anger as he glared at Shui Qingrou.
"Heh, who I am doesn't matter. You wouldn't know even if I told you. This body is mine now. You all can leave," the woman sneered.
"Return her body, and I will spare you." Qin Chuan looked at her calmly.
"Such arrogance!"
The woman's voice was icy. "Do you think that just because you've recently stepped into the Heavenly God realm, you're qualified to act superior in front of me? A Heavenly God? Just an ant!"
"Are you really that strong?" Qin Chuan scoffed disdainfully.
The woman's expression remained unchanged as she replied coldly, "Even though my cultivation hasn't fully recovered yet, don't forget—this is my domain."
"You talk too much," Qin Chuan smiled.
Swoosh!
The woman's pupils suddenly contracted.
Qin Chuan continued, "You must be the one depicted in those murals. I can tell that you were quite powerful once. A true strong person never wastes words when they have the ability to kill their enemy."
"In other words... you're likely just bluffing, trying to appear more powerful than you actually are."
The woman's expression didn't change as she coldly replied, "Why don't you try me, then!"
Slap!
In the next moment, the woman's head whipped to the side, a fresh red handprint appearing on her cheek.
She stood there, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. Slowly, she turned her head back.
"Well, I tried. That's what happened," Qin Chuan said calmly, rubbing his wrist.
"You dare humiliate me!!"
The woman snarled, her voice low and furious, her entire body trembling with rage.
Her identity was illustrious. Back in the days of Xuanyuan Heaven, even the most powerful figures treated her with utmost respect. And now, she had been slapped—by an ant in the early stages of the Heavenly God realm!
It was the greatest shame she had ever known!
Slap!
Qin Chuan slapped her again, this time sending her head flying in the opposite direction, creating a perfect symmetry on her face.
"You!!"
She glared at Qin Chuan, her eyes practically spitting fire.
Slap, slap, slap!
Qin Chuan delivered a few more slaps, completely overwhelming the once-arrogant woman.
She stood there, her head hanging to one side, her expression dazed, stray locks of hair falling messily over her forehead.
"Return this body, and I'll let you live. Otherwise... your death will be ugly." Qin Chuan's voice was cold.
The woman slowly turned her head back and then suddenly burst out laughing.
"It seems this woman is very important to you. If that's the case, then I'm afraid you won't be able to kill me. I've already used a supreme technique to completely fuse with her, both physically and spiritually."
"In other words... if I die, she dies too."
"Despicable!" Qin Zi shouted angrily.
Shui Qinghan's face also turned dark, his fists clenched.
Qin Chuan, however, remained calm and said lightly, "Separate now, or I won't give you another chance."
"Kill me if you dare. Let's see if you have the guts!" the woman taunted coldly.
"I won't kill you, but I can make you suffer," Qin Chuan replied calmly.
"Haha, I'll just retract my consciousness and let this body's original owner take over. Then, any torture you inflict will be on her."
The woman continued to laugh mockingly.
Qin Chuan fell silent.
Inwardly, he asked, "System, can you separate the souls of these two women?"
Ding! For 10 points, I can completely separate them.
Hearing this, Qin Chuan pondered for a moment and asked, "What if I don't completely separate them? Just temporarily suppress her? How much would that cost?"
Ding! It will cost 1 point per day.
The system replied.
"Then suppress her for one day."
Qin Chuan made a swift decision.
Ding! Transaction successful!
In the next moment, the woman's body trembled violently, and her eyes glazed over. When her gaze refocused, her entire aura had changed.
She had returned to being Shui Qingrou.
"Senior Brother Qin Zi, Brother, Elder Qin Chuan?" she hesitated before calling out.
"Thank goodness! Qingrou, you're finally okay!" Qin Zi exclaimed, overjoyed, pulling her into his arms with excitement.
Shui Qinghan, once again, was just a step too slow.
At that moment, Qin Chuan said, "You two have been together for so many years now. Isn't it time to talk about marriage?"
"Huh??"
Both Qin Zi and Shui Qingrou looked up in shock.
Qin Chuan, firm and resolute, said, "A marriage requires the blessings of the parents. Without them, the eldest brother acts as the father. Since both Shui Qinghan and I are here, we can officiate your wedding right now. No need to delay—let's get this done today."
Qin Chuan was a master strategist.
That woman had fused with Shui Qingrou, but she surely had a way to undo it.
His plan was to have Qin Zi and Shui Qingrou consummate their marriage. Once their bond was sealed, that woman would be so humiliated that she'd be forced to leave Shui Qingrou's body out of shame.
And not only that—
To wash away her disgrace, she would undoubtedly hold an undying grudge against Qin Zi, harboring a burning desire to kill him.
When that time came, Qin Chuan could release her, and as she continued to recover her strength, she'd keep coming back to kill Qin Zi—becoming a never-ending source of "Father Points" to harvest!