Beastmaster of the Ages

Wudi and Qingyu stayed on the Sun to consolidate their gains. Meanwhile, Tianming and Jiguang boarded the Blissful Union, preparing to set off for the Yin-Yang World once again.

”Wait!” Just before departing, Tianming grabbed Suishen Yao and dragged her along. The Blissful Union shot into the wormhole expressway.

Inside the massive astralship, there were only the three of them.

”You chat with Yaoyao.” Jiguang turned around and went to the front to observe the dazzling lights outside.

Tianming looked at the lively, pink-haired, pink-eyed girl before him. She blinked her large eyes, pouted, and turned her face away, seemingly unwilling to meet his gaze.

”Come here,” Tianming said.

”What for?” She was reluctant but still walked toward him.

Tianming sat by the window, then pulled her into his arms and looked down at her.

”Weren’t you quite the chatterbox? How come you’re suddenly so quiet?” He pinched her cheeks and chuckled.

”There’s nothing to talk about with you.” She turned her head, gazing blankly at the starlight outside.

Tianming paused, then asked, ”Why’re you suddenly acting so distant?”

”I’m not.” Suishen Yao’s pink eyes slightly trembled, the rims of her eyes turning red.

”Not?” Tianming chuckled, then gave her a light smack.

”What are you doing...?” She bit her lip.

”Giving you a massage.” Tianming smirked.

It was just like when they had first met. Back then, she had enjoyed it, but now her entire body tensed up, not daring to move.

”Where’d my lively Yaoyao go?” Tianming stopped, gazing into her eyes.

Suishen Yao lay against his chest, silent.

”What’s with the mood?” he asked.

She still didn’t answer, keeping her head lowered.

”This isn’t like you. You’re carefree and bold. Doesn’t keeping things bottled up feel suffocating? Will you really let yourself suffer like that?” Tianming said, then grabbed her cheeks and gave her face a hard squeeze. ”Suishen Yao, are you chickening out?”

”I am not!” She spat.

”Then what’re you sulking about?” Tianming mocked.

Her eyes turned even redder. Finally, she said, ”You went to the Xenoabyss without even saying goodbye to me.”

Tianming paused, then replied, ”Things were a bit urgent at the time.”

”I know.” She nodded.

”Then why’re you still upset?” He was confused.

”I’m not upset...” she lowered her eyes, tears welling up, and continued in a low voice, ”I just feel... unnecessary. You don’t even like me that much. You, me... we only happened because of an accident. Now, you’re on a different level, surrounded by amazing women. Every one of them is strong. Even my aunt can help you, and I’m the only one who’s useless—”

”That isn’t true at all!” Tianming hadn’t expected her to think that way. She had always seemed so carefree, never giving anything much thought. Looking at her, he seriously said, ”Thinking like that means you think I’m too shallow.”

”What?” Suishen Yao looked up.

”You don’t understand my path.” Tianming took a deep breath. ”It isn’t about who is useful to me. It’s about who treats me well. That’s the real difference. Do you get it?”

Suishen Yao was stunned for a moment, then said, ”But I’m still useless, aren’t I? You don’t get it. I feel so awkward, you know? I can only keep talking to people to distract myself. I thought you wouldn’t care about me anymore. It’s just the punishment I deserve for looking down on you when we first met....”

”You’ve been reading too many romance novels, idiot!” Tianming flicked her forehead.

”Ow! That hurt!” she pouted. ”Then tell me—what should I do?”

”Listen up!” Tianming looked her in the eye. ”First, whether or not I treat someone well has nothing to do with whether they’re useful to me. That isn’t how I operate. Second, I’ve always carried the people around me up with me on my rise! You’re my woman. When good things come my way, do you think I’ll leave you out?

”And it isn’t just you. Your aunt, your mother, they’ve both helped me before, and they’re still helping me now. If I ever become a cosmic god, don’t you think I’ll do everything I can to help you all reach that level too? Being strong alone means nothing. I, Li Tianming, will make my entire family strong. That’s real power.

”Take today, for example. Didn’t I just happen to bring back exactly what my godfather and sister needed?”

”Oh, wow.... That actually sounds pretty impressive.” Suishen Yao broke into a smile through her tears. Truthfully, she didn’t need him to explain so much. She only needed him to tell her he wasn’t punishing her.

That was what she feared the most. She was terrified that, after he’d had her, he would cast her aside as punishment. Feeling a little nervous, she looked up and blinked her bright pink eyes.

”So... do you actually like me? Or did you ever like me?” she softly asked.

Tianming laughed, ”Conquering a proud woman who once saw me as a sidekick, making her scream my name.... Doesn’t that sound satisfying?”

”That’s all?” Her face fell. So that was her only worth?

”I’m kidding.” Tianming pulled her into his embrace and declared, ”I do like you. You’re lively, carefree, and passionate. Being with you is fun and your energy’s infectious. You’re easy to be around.”

”Really? It isn’t just because I bound you with my Suishen Blood and you don’t want to be an ungrateful bastard?” she asked.

”That’s fate, isn’t it? I believe in it. So, since it brought us together, I choose to enjoy it.”

”Damn... so, basically, I still have no charm! I’m so jealous of Auntie, she’s got you wrapped around her finger.”

Tianming was dumbfounded. ”What’s the rush? You’re still young. Let me take my time developing you, alright?” That was one of the things he liked about her—she dared to say anything! It made being with her feel effortless and fun. And wasn’t that a kind of love, too?

Did he really care if she was useful or not?

He believed in fate, and since it had brought her into his life, he would just enjoy the warmth she brought him.

”Alright then! Since you said all that, I won’t hold back! I may not be your empress, but at the very least I’m an imperial consort! I’ll be traveling all over your Tianming Dynasty. Is that too much to ask?” Suishen Yao excitedly exclaimed.

The girl had an open mind. After just a few words, she was already bouncing back.

”Traveling?” Tianming’s eyes gleamed and he suddenly laughed out loud.

”What’re you laughing at?” Suishen Yao was startled.

”I was just worrying about my Million Mundi propaganda campaign lacking manpower. Since you’re an imperial consort, the job’s yours! Go back to the imperial city, find Li Caiwei, and work for me! You’ll be my ambassador! Your image and charisma should be convincing enough for the people!”

”No way! I just want to have fun...!” Suishen Yao almost went back to crying.

”In my presence, that mouth of yours is for something else!” Tianming wickedly said.

”Wha—?! Ugh! Waaah!”