In the Fifth Princess's mansion.
Bing Feifei lay lazily on the silk mattress, her seductive snow-white body barely concealed beneath a gossamer nightgown. That exquisite face was filled with melancholy and a trace of grievance.
The Retired Emperor and Grand Emperor had decided Bing Dung would become Crown Prince without even bothering to ask her opinion. The other princes had withdrawn from the competition, but she never did.
Had they forgotten she was also fighting for the throne? Of course not. They simply never believed a woman could beat Bing Dung in the current situation—or worse, they had long ago turned her into nothing more than a marriage tool for the Empire's benefit.
"Damn it all," she muttered through gritted teeth. "Ice Profound Empire is damn hateful, the imperial family is damn hateful, brothers and sisters are damn hateful, and that bastard Lan An is the most damn hateful of all!"
Her chest rose and fell violently with rage, causing the two full snow-white mounds to bounce beneath the thin silk. The memory of Lan An and Bing Lan Xi's pitying gazes at the banquet made her feel like the world's biggest failure.
Bing Feifei had climbed the Golden Board with her own strength. As a woman, she had rallied factions, poured blood and sweat alongside her mother to seize the Crown Prince position—only for everything to shatter the moment one man appeared. She didn't even get the chance to fight back. Unwillingness and helplessness crushed her heart.
"Princess, someone requests an audience outside," a plump old woman suddenly appeared in the room. Early Void Refining cultivation, she was Bing Feifei's most trusted aide and shared her princess's sorrow. No one had witnessed Bing Feifei's efforts more clearly than her.
Bing Feifei jolted, sat bolt upright. "Who?"
"Young Master Liu Feng," the old woman replied softly.
Disappointment flashed across Bing Feifei's eyes. She collapsed back onto the bed. "Give him our highest cultivation method and a large batch of resources. Tell him to leave. Convey my thanks for everything he did."
She was intelligent and ruthless—how could she not have known from the start that Liu Feng harboured ulterior motives? Yet she had only ever treated him as a subordinate. His strength wasn't even on par with hers, and her standards were sky-high. Liu Feng simply didn't qualify.
Now that the fight was over, he was no longer needed. Out of respect for his past contributions, she gave him their best method. From then on, neither owed the other anything.
"Understood, this old servant will pass the message." The old woman sighed and quietly withdrew.
"Third Sister must be so happy right now…" Bing Feifei tilted her head, staring at the ceiling. Her gem-like eyes grew dreamy. A bold thought suddenly surfaced. "Should I just run away from Ice Profound Empire? Once I'm gone, the sky is high and the sea is wide—my fate will be mine to decide."
She quickly shook her head. Leaving aside whether she could escape alone, her mother was still in the palace. Even if she succeeded, the Empire could use her mother's life to force her back.
"Unless some overwhelmingly powerful force kidnaps me…" The thought flashed, only for her to snort coldly. "Feifei, oh Feifei, what stupid nonsense are you thinking? Do you actually want to cling to that man's thigh?"
Her pride wouldn't allow it. Fine. Marriage tool it was. Whatever came, came.
With that thought, she closed her beautiful eyes in exhaustion.
Crack…
Space tore open.
Bing Feifei didn't bother opening her eyes. "What now, Aunt Shu? Have the others left already?"
"Feifei, it's me."
A deep, familiar voice rang out. Bing Feifei's eyes snapped open, her face instantly darkening. "Liu Feng? You dare barge into my bedroom?"
"Correct. After serving you for so long, this is the first time I've seen your room. So fragrant." Liu Feng inhaled deeply, savouring the scent.
"I've lost. You're free to go. There can never be anything between us." Bing Feifei spoke calmly, pulling a robe over her body. She had no habit of meeting anyone in sleepwear.
"Feifei, so you knew my feelings all along? Run away with me! We're both Golden Board geniuses—wherever we go, we'll live like kings!" Liu Feng pleaded, eyes burning with passion.
"Haha, can you withstand the Empire's pursuit? Can you guarantee they won't use my mother to threaten me?" Bing Feifei laughed coldly, the smile bitter.
"As long as we want to hide, catching us will be nearly impossible. As for your mother, I believe she'd gladly sacrifice herself for our happiness! Besides, doesn't Bing Changkong dote on her? She'll be fine." Liu Feng brimmed with confidence.
"Shameless bastard!" Bing Feifei exploded. "Even if I become the Empire's marriage tool, I will never risk my mother's life—not even a one-percent chance! Get out!"
To this scum, her mother's life was just a bargaining chip? In her eyes, a thousand Liu Fengs weren't worth one strand of her mother's hair.
"Hmph! I did so much for you, and now you heartlessly chase me away? Feifei, are you truly this cruel?" Liu Feng's voice turned venomous, eyes bloodshot.
"I gave you our highest method—how is that cruel? Every month I provided all the resources you needed. We're even!" Bing Feifei declared righteously.
Realistically, their relationship was employer-employee. She paid his salary in full. Upon dismissal, she even gave generous severance. What more did he want?
"Hahaha! What I want isn't those things—I want YOU, Feifei!" Liu Feng roared.
"In this world, wanting doesn't mean getting. Leave… or don't blame me for what happens next!" Bing Feifei's voice dropped. Long hair whipped wildly, her eyes flashing with killing intent.
Ice and Fire spiritual energy surged within her body—she was ready to strike.
Bing Feifei actually possessed dual Ice & Fire spirit roots—extremely rare. No wonder she had climbed the Golden Board.
"Haha, I know you're stronger than me! But look what I have!" Liu Feng sneered, pulling out a pink vial. Aphrodisiac mist drifted out.
"Aphrodisiac? You dare! Don't forget this is Ice Profound Empire—Aunt Shu is right outside!" Bing Feifei gnashed her teeth in rage.
"Hahaha! Aunt Shu is already knocked out by my sleeping powder. Even if we go at it for three days and nights, she won't wake! As for using the Empire to threaten me? Once I've had you, you'll hide this incident yourself—would you dare let the Empire know you were defiled?" Liu Feng laughed triumphantly, every detail calculated.
"What the hell do you want?" Bing Feifei trembled with fury.
"I already told you—I want you. Give me one night of pleasure… and I'll leave immediately, never bothering you again!" Liu Feng licked his lips, eyes glued to her enchanting face.
"You think you're worthy of touching me? Die with that fantasy!" Bing Feifei spat coldly, disgust filling her eyes.
For some reason, the thought of any man touching her made her skin crawl—especially a creep like Liu Feng.
Liu Feng's face darkened. Being looked down upon by the woman he loved crushed his pride. He snarled, venom dripping from every word: "I'm not worthy? But Lan An is, right? Why did you throw yourself at that bastard?!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, breathing like a beast, eyes crimson with jealousy.
Only tonight did Bing Feifei see his true colours. She regretted ever recruiting him. "Don't compare yourself to Lan An. I investigated him—yes, he's a womaniser, but at least he loves and takes responsibility for every woman. And you? Where are all the girls who followed you before? You dumped every single one just to curry favour with me. A man like you isn't even qualified to be mentioned in the same breath!"
"BITCH! I cut them off FOR YOU! And you use that to insult me?!" Liu Feng roared, completely unhinged. His hand clenched—ready to crush the vial.
"NO!"
Bing Feifei paled, tearing space to escape—
SWOOSH!
A streak of light flashed through the room. Magnificent flaming wings unfurled, instantly incinerating all released aphrodisiac mist. A tyrannical Exploding Star Fist blasted forth.
BOOM!
Liu Feng's head exploded like a watermelon. Thunder and fire erupted, reducing flesh, bones, and soul to ashes. Rank 80 Golden Board genius—Romantic Young Master Liu Feng—erased from existence, never to reincarnate.
Bing Feifei froze, stunned by the sudden turn. The newcomer calmly retracted his terrifying power, White Feather Robe fluttering. She didn't care that Liu Feng was obliterated like an ant. She glared. "Who let you in?!"
Lan An turned, completely unfazed by killing an Early Void Refining cultivator as if stepping on dirt. He smirked. "Is that how you thank your saviour?"
Seeing the teasing glint in his eyes, knowing he had witnessed her entire pathetic scene, Bing Feifei felt even more wronged. She bit her plump lip. "Who needs your concern? My business is none of your business! We're not that close!"
Seeing her pout, Lan An didn't get angry—he found it adorable. He laughed and nodded. "My bad! I should've let the aphrodisiac hit first, then killed that scum, then righteously enjoyed the grateful beauty's passionate reward. Aiya, I'm too inexperienced—letting such a golden opportunity slip."
The more he spoke, the more he regretted, face full of dramatic sorrow.
"Shameless!" Bing Feifei blushed crimson. If he really did that, even if he took her completely, she couldn't exactly blame him, could she?
"But I've changed my mind. Can't eat you right now? Kidnap first, eat slowly later—same result!"
Lan An grinned wickedly.
"Don't you dare!" Bing Feifei's heart raced. Hearing he wanted to kidnap her—anger mixed with a strange… anticipation?
"I only do righteous things, never wrong ones!" Lan An laughed. Instant Transmission activated—he appeared beside the bed.
"Ice-Fire Feather Dance!"
Bing Feifei shot up like a swan taking flight. Ice and Fire spiritual energy swirled, forming a devastating vortex shield around her enchanting body.
Lan An smiled. Heaven-Devouring Wood coated one arm, Nirvana Spirit Water the other. Ignoring the vortex's destructive power, he pierced straight through, wrapping his arms around her soft waist.
Bing Feifei panicked. Her proud defensive technique—broken so easily? The gap was too vast.
With his movement, her body was pulled tightly against his chest. Shame and fury surged—she wanted to counterattack.
As if Lan An would allow it? Pure body-cultivator strength exploded. He pushed the beauty down onto the silk mattress, pinning her beneath him like iron shackles. She couldn't even form hand seals.
She struggled—useless. Ice and Fire erupted wildly. But against Heaven-Devouring Wood's absorption and Nirvana Water's defence—she couldn't touch a single hair on his head.
Only her outer robe burned away, leaving the thin nightgown. Skin against skin.
Four eyes locked. Bing Feifei's gem-like eyes brimmed with humiliation, defiance, and glistening tears.
"I want to take you—the entire Ice Profound Empire can't stop me… be good and come quietly!" Lan An breathed hot air against her face.
"I know you're strong, but don't expect me to ever submit!" Bing Feifei spat through gritted teeth.
"Then who used a honey trap on me? Now pretending to be noble?" Lan An winked teasingly.
Shame flashed in Bing Feifei's eyes. She had indeed tried to seduce him first. She huffed. "Those are completely different things!"
"But I don't see the difference… Your honey trap worked perfectly. Convinced me to kidnap you home and raise you properly!" Lan An laughed, lowering his head to plant a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead, ignoring her scrunched-up face.
"Was it my honey trap that worked… or Third Sister's pity that brought you here?" Bing Feifei looked at him, emotions complex.
"Pity? Feifei, do you really lack confidence in yourself that much?" Lan An countered, inwardly praising her sensitivity.
"The way you look at me is different from how you look at Third Sister. Your eyes lack love." Bing Feifei's voice suddenly turned lonely. She relaxed her body, no longer resisting.
Lan An was stunned, then shook his head. "When I first met Lan Xi, the way I looked at her wasn't much different from now."
He rolled over, lying beside her, one arm gently around her slender waist, inhaling her intoxicating fragrance. In a low, magnetic voice, he recounted every detail of how he and Bing Lan Xi met, fought, schemed—until they fell deeply in love.
Bing Feifei listened, entranced. Hard to believe her cold, proud Third Sister once used a honey trap on this man—back when he was still weak.
"Why tell me all this?" Bing Feifei bit her lip.
"I want you to understand—love can be cultivated. Countless couples only fall in love after marriage, then live happily ever after. We can be like them…" Lan An gently caressed her cheek. Only now, up close, did he notice Bing Feifei's features shared subtle similarities with Lan Xi.
Unaccustomed to his tenderness, Bing Feifei avoided his gaze, huffing. "Why should I cultivate feelings with you?"
She instantly regretted it—afraid he'd get angry and leave.
But Lan An didn't get mad. He simply held her tighter, voice soft. "You already have the answer, don't you?"
"Answer…?" Bing Feifei blanked, then recalled why she used the honey trap in the first place…
Because this man was strong enough to protect her, because she admired and envied the love between him and Third Sister, and most importantly—she didn't hate him.
Even now, with his arms around her, his hand caressing her—she didn't find it repulsive…
…