Bai Suzhen, I really need to punish you properly.

Mingzhu's beautiful eyes, brimming with spring water, gazed quietly at Wang Xuan. Her fingertips gently traced his eyebrows and eyes as she softly asked, "Young Master, is something troubling you?"

"Hmm?" Wang Xuan snapped out of his reverie, looked at the beautiful woman before him, and chuckled as he asked, "Really?"

"Young Master seems to be deep in thought. Is it about the inner core within me?"

Wang Xuan gently stroked her rounded shoulder, moving it down slowly, and said in a soft voice, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."

Mingzhu bit her lower lip and mustered her courage to speak: "Young Master, have you ever considered that even if the Fire Spirit Orb appears, we don't have to return its inner core to him?"

Wang Xuan was slightly taken aback, then replied earnestly, "I know you're trying to comfort me, but I'll definitely handle it."

However, it's unclear what the relationship is between Manjushri Bodhisattva's Fire Spirit Pearl and the Fire Spirit Pearl of the Nanzhao Kingdom.

Mingzhu gently swayed her delicate body, her slender fingers lightly touching his chest, her tone exceptionally solemn:

"I'm serious. I don't want you to be under so much pressure because of me. Back then, I had just met you, and I didn't care if I died, but now I can't bear to leave you. At worst, I'll just stay hidden in your cave and return it to you when we have a way, how about that?"

Wang Xuan couldn't help but pull her into a tight embrace, his large hand gently caressing her smooth, delicate back, as if trying to transfer all the warmth from his palm to her.

"My dear pearl, I will definitely ensure that you live a peaceful, carefree, and comfortable life."

Mingzhu was a kind-hearted female demon who was willing to do this for him, how could he not be moved?

However, it definitely needs to be repaid.

As the saying goes, you have to consider the owner before you beat a dog.

The Fire Spirit Pearl (Holy Virtue) was a plaything on the Blue Lion, the mount of Manjushri, and developed spiritual intelligence by listening to scriptures over the years.

Although his infatuation was somewhat clownish, he was, after all, a descendant of Manjushri.

This unauthorized descent to the mortal realm is very likely a trial specially arranged by Manjushri Bodhisattva.

When the Fire Spirit Orb secretly descended to the mortal realm, did Manjushri Bodhisattva not know?

This is not necessarily true.

Just like in Journey to the West, all the gods and Buddhas in the sky make things difficult for the four travelers.

After the spirits under my command have finished their trials in the mortal realm, I still need to bring them back intact.

Mingzhu nestled in Wang Xuan's arms, basking in the young master's affection and thoroughly enjoying it.

"Young master, what's the name of that move you taught me last time?"

Wang Xuan was momentarily confused: "Which move?"

Mingzhu slowly sat up and looked down at Wang Xuan.

……

For the next two days, aside from presiding over court proceedings, he spent most of his time with his woman.

Rouge, Nie Xiaoqian, Fan Shiyi Niang...

Because of their cultivation, their appearance became increasingly beautiful.

Every time they spend together, it makes Wang Xuan ponder the meaning of life.

But a moment later, Wang Xuan suddenly understood.

The meaning of life is to be enterprising, to go all out, to do one's best, and to work hard!

Inside the room, Nie Xiaoqian's jade-like feet tensed, the silver bells on her ankles jingling softly, as she murmured, "Young Master."

……

Wang Xuan led Xiao Qing into the study.

"Xiaoqing, I haven't settled the score with you for stepping on my shoes last time."

Xiaoqing said confidently, "Who told you to slander me in front of my sister?"

"I'm a magnanimous person, I'll remember this for now. Come over and give me a massage."

Xiaoqing pouted and retorted, "Why aren't you giving me a massage?"

Wang Xuan retorted, "Your sister can order you around, but I can't?"

"Of course."

They didn't take him, the head of the family, seriously at all.

Okay, okay, I really need to teach you a lesson.

Wang Xuan pulled her wrist and pressed her down into a seat, massaging her shoulders with both hands: "Then let me give you a good massage first."

Xiaoqing, with her eyes closed and a look of enjoyment on her face, suddenly froze and asked, "What are you doing?"

Wang Xuan said matter-of-factly, "It's so cold outside. I've been massaging you for so long, what's wrong with me warming my hands?"

Xiaoqing rolled her eyes and retorted, "I'm a snake demon, do I have any warm spots on my body?"

Wang Xuan looked helpless: "It's terrible to be uneducated. This is friction generating heat, you know? It means that two objects can generate heat by constantly coming into contact with each other."

Xiaoqing didn't listen to this explanation. She narrowed her eyes and bluffed, "I'll tell my sister you bullied me."

"Go ahead and tell her, then I'll get her to come and bully you together."

Wang Xuan thought to himself that Xiaoqing must have talked about these things with Bai Suzhen in private, or perhaps Bai Suzhen asked about them on her own initiative.

If Bai Suzhen could accept other girls, how could she possibly reject Xiaoqing, whom she cared for the most?

Xiaoqing's cheeks flushed slightly.

Wang Xuan, seeing her awkward expression, was somewhat displeased: "No, what are you expecting?"

Xiaoqing retorted angrily, "Who's looking forward to it?!"

She wasn't looking forward to it at all; she was clearly just shy.

Seeing her puffed-up face, Wang Xuan continued to comfort her.

This girl is so disobedient.

In the backyard, she was the only one who liked to go against Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan sat down next to Xiao Qing and said, "I have something to tell you. I'm going out of town at the end of the month."

Xiao Qing hummed in agreement: "And then?"

"I won't take you out this time."

"When have you ever taken me with you?"

Xiaoqing pouted, looking somewhat disappointed.

Although she is playful, she doesn't like to go out alone.

"This trip will only last a few days." Wang Xuan pinched her puffed-up cheeks and laughed. "How about this, when you go to the mountains to escape the summer heat for the Dragon Boat Festival, I'll take you out."

As a snake demon, one of the Five Poisons, Xiaoqing would likely be a very good tool for capturing Gu worms.

This is killing two birds with one stone.

"You said it!"

"It's your turn to give me a massage."

……

Time flies, and it's already the end of February.

During this period, Wang Xuan did not slack off in his cultivation.

He was getting closer and closer to breaking through to the late stage of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness, just one step away.

The reason for this trip was that my mother-in-law's death anniversary was approaching.

Since he possessed cultivation and could travel freely, he planned to return to his hometown to pay respects.

It will only take two or three days.

He only took Rouge and Pearl with him back with him.

Rouge was the first woman to accompany him, while Mingzhu possessed powerful magic and was a guarantee of his combat strength.

If you bring a large group of beautiful women back with you, you're bound to attract attention.

Anyway, the anniversary of my mother-in-law's death won't change.

He can bring women every year.

Wait a minute, why did I treat my mother-in-law's death anniversary as a date?

However, I don't think my mother-in-law would mind.

She should be proud of herself for having so many beautiful women fall for her.

He had already discussed this matter privately with each of the women.

With everything arranged, Wang Xuan set off with Yan Zhi and Ming Zhu to Zhouzhi County, his hometown where he grew up.