As the evening came, the last rays of sunlight cast a warm glow on a corner of the kitchen. A lady was bustling about.
Her neatly combed hair shimmered softly in the light and her simple yet elegant hair accessories swayed gently as she moved. Her delicate features were accented by a gentle smile and her demeanor carried a noble charm; even as her skirt swayed with her steps.
She was none other than Zhou Fan.
Leaning casually against the kitchen door, Ye Guan stood with arms crossed, watching her with an amused expression.
Sensing his gaze, Zhou Fan turned to him and smiled playfully before asking, "Want to help out?"
Ye Guan grinned. "Sure!"
With that, he strolled over to her side and without warning, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
Zhou Fan froze for a brief moment.
Ye Guan leaned his face gently against hers, and his voice was soft as he asked, "I'll just watch you work."
Zhou Fan glanced at him, her expression carrying a teasing charm.
From a basket nearby, Zhou Fan picked up a cucumber. After rinsing it, she expertly sliced it into thin, even pieces. Her precision caught Ye Guan off guard.
"This isn't your first rodeo?" he asked, a little surprised.
Zhou Fan chuckled. "What, did you think I'd be completely helpless in the kitchen?"
Ye Guan nodded.
Born into the Imperial Family of the Great Zhou, Zhou Fan had grown up with every imaginable privilege. Someone like her stepping into a kitchen seemed almost unthinkable.
"I learned from my mother," she said gently. "She was a kind lady, but her kind nature didn't suit the imperial court. Unfortunately, as a daughter of a prominent family, you don't get to decide your fate if you aren't strong enough."
Ye Guan nodded thoughtfully. He knew all too well how ruthless and complicated life could be in influential families, let alone the imperial court, where survival itself was a challenge.
Before he could respond, Zhou Fan's face suddenly flushed a deep red.
It seemed Ye Guan's hands were wandering.
"Let me focus on cooking!" she chided, glaring at him.
Ye Guan smiled playfully and replied, "You do your thing, and I'll do mine."
Zhou Fan's face turned as crimson as a sunset, her beauty almost otherworldly.
"Ah…" A faint moan escaped the kitchen.
Caught off guard by the intrusion, Zhou Fan's brows furrowed slightly. At first, the path was challenging—it was too dry—but soon, the path became smooth.
Zhou Fan's figure, slender and graceful, moved like a supple willow. Her curves, especially her hips, were taut yet flexible. Her flawless skin made every touch indescribable.
As Ye Guan moved, they became even closer to each other; the experience was truly beyond words.
Gradually, Zhou Fan's flushed face deepened to another kind of red—a rosy blush; a bashful and captivating blush.
At some point, Zhou Fan realized something and whispered, "Give it all to me."
The words sent an indescribable wave of feelings through Ye Guan. Unable to hold back any longer...
It was like a flood bursting through a dam.
Moments later, droplets of "water" fell on the ground; they shimmered like jewels in the sunlight.
***
In the main hall of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, Zhu Tao and Aunt Jiang sat by a window, curiously eyeing a tiny pagoda on the table.
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Before heading to the kitchen, Ye Guan had deliberately left the pagoda behind.
"What kind of treasure is this?" Zhu Tao asked as he reached out to touch it.
Aunt Jiang quickly slapped his hand away. "Don't touch it! What if you break it?"
Little Pagoda remained silent.
Moments later, Ye Guan and Zhou Fan emerged from the kitchen, each carrying several dishes. These were simple, home-cooked meals.
As the pair set the plates on the table, Zhu Tao and Aunt Jiang quickly stood up to greet them.
Ye Guan smiled warmly. "Please, sit."
After placing the dishes, he tucked away the tiny pagoda and brought out two bottles of wine.
Zhu Tao glanced around the room and then asked hesitantly, "Little Brother Ye, this place must be expensive, right?"
Ye Guan chuckled. "Not too bad."
He poured a glass of wine for Zhu Tao. "Try this—it's from the Milky Way. The flavor's quite unique."
Zhu Tao hesitated but took a sip. The wine burned as it slid down his throat, yet it left a pleasant warmth in its wake.
"Is this what wine tastes like?" Zhu Tao asked with a grin.
"How is it?" Ye Guan asked.
"Spicy, but not bad," Zhu Tao replied with a smile.
Laughing, Ye Guan raised his own glass. "Come on, let's eat!"
Seeing how approachable Ye Guan and Zhou Fan were, Zhu Tao and Aunt Jiang gradually relaxed and began enjoying the meal.
After several rounds of wine, Ye Guan suddenly asked, "Brother Zhu Tao, what kind of life do you wish to live in the future?"
Zhu Tao paused, then smiled sheepishly. "I'm just an ordinary person. As long as I have a stable job to support my family, that's enough for me."
"That's not enough!" Aunt Jiang interjected. "What about medical bills? School fees for the kids? And buying a decent house? All that costs money!"
Zhu Tao sighed. "Honestly, just being alive is already a blessing."
The room fell silent at his words. Both Ye Guan and Zhou Fan's smiles faded.
Zhu Tao and Aunt Jiang were from the Abandoned Continent. Having endured such harsh conditions, they deeply understood how difficult mere survival could be.
After a moment, Zhu Tao looked at Ye Guan and said, "Little Brother Ye, they called you 'Academy Master' earlier. Are you really the Academy Master of Guanxuan Academy?"
Ye Guan nodded. "That's right."
Zhu Tao's eyes lit up with excitement. "The same academy Little Xing attends?"
Ye Guan chuckled. "The very one."
Zhu Tao could barely contain his joy. "Brother Ye…"
Before he could continue, Aunt Jiang slapped his leg. "Call him Academy Master!"
Zhu Tao stammered, "A-Academy Master…"
Zhu Tao scratched his head in embarrassment. However, the wine soon made him tipsy, making him open up as he chatted with Ye Guan.
As for, Aunt Jiang, she was initially reserved, but she opened up as well, sharing stories and gossip from their home continent with Zhou Fan.
The meal stretched late into the night.
***
Outside the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, Ye Guan and Zhou Fan strolled down a quiet, moonlit street.
The silver glow of the moonlight bathed them in a soft radiance, and the only sound was their gentle footsteps.
Ye Guan suddenly reached for Zhou Fan's hand, and then he said, "We've been spending so much time focusing on advanced civilizations that we've overlooked the more ordinary worlds. There are so many places where people are struggling to survive."
Zhou Fan nodded softly. "We've indeed neglected them."
Survival was never an issue for someone like her or Ye Guan, yet in this vast universe, countless individuals faced it as their daily battle.
Through the recent incident, they realized how crucial local officials were to the lives of ordinary people.
For the common folk, the Inner Academy and Main Academy were far too remote and inaccessible.
Ye Guan said, "It's time to audit the academy."
Zhou Fan looked at Ye Guan, who smiled faintly. "I've been expanding outward, constantly subjugating civilizations and universes, moving too quickly. For the Guanxuan Universe, this isn't necessarily a good thing. Now, we should shift our focus inward and properly govern the territories we already control."
Zhou Fan nodded. "The academy indeed has many internal issues. Especially as new factions continue to join, everyone has their own interests to pursue. Where there are interests, there will inevitably be conflicts. While we've managed to suppress these conflicts on the surface, they still persist in secret..."
As she spoke, a trace of worry flickered in her eyes.
Upon taking over the Guanxuan Universe and the Immortal Treasures Pavilion, she had come to realize that both were far more complex than she had anticipated.
Managing such a vast universe was no easy task...
Ye Guan suddenly said, "What do you think of the laws I mentioned earlier?"
Zhou Fan thought for a moment before responding, "I think it's feasible. If it can truly be implemented, many people in the Guanxuan Universe will voluntarily abide by the Guanxuan Laws. After all, it could make them stronger. But... I still have some concerns..."
Zhou Fan stared at Ye Guan.
Ye Guan smiled. "Are you worried that I might change someday?"
The biggest issue with materialized laws lay in their creator. If Ye Guan were to change one day, it would spell disaster for the universe. Even the slightest ill intent from him would have catastrophic consequences.
Ye Guan nodded. "I have confidence in myself, but I also know I need supervision."
Zhou Fan asked, "Clan Leader Jing?"
Ye Guan nodded. "Yes, she won't just monitor me; she'll monitor the entire Guanxuan Universe as well."
Zhou Fan suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring at Ye Guan. "I used to think you're doing all this just for fun. But now, I finally know that you're serious about it."
Ye Guan chuckled. "I didn't think too much about it initially. It was more of a step-by-step process. But I realized that I need to do something, and it's something only I can do."
Without his approval, no one could establish a new order in this known universe. To create a new order, the Yang Family's agreement had to be obtained.
If Ye Guan wanted to establish order, his grandfather, father, and relatives would support him unconditionally.
As for outsiders? They wouldn't necessarily care about them.
As the two strolled leisurely, they unknowingly entered a tranquil garden filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers.
Zhou Fan suddenly said, "I want a child, too."
Ye Guan turned to look at her.
Zhou Fan's face flushed slightly. "Should we..."
Glancing at the serene surroundings, Ye Guan didn't hesitate and immediately said, "Yes."
Without another word, he moved behind Zhou Fan. Startled, she exclaimed, "Not here! Ah~!"