The King of Black Fog

"Chun Emperor, is your hair dyed?"

"Once during a session of Visualization 'Riding the Clouds and Mist,' I lost my way, and when I woke up, my hair had turned all white."

"Wow, that's scary, but it's as pretty as snow, so beautiful!"

"I think so too," chuckled the Chun Emperor, lazily lifting her coffee cup.

Her sensual lips gently blew, and the steam from the coffee wafted around her.

Li Qianxia felt herself becoming entranced again, and couldn't help but envy her poise and temperament at that moment.

Those female celebrities, regardless of their background, deliberately learned manners after gaining fame to make themselves appear elegant and knowledgeable. But Chun Emperor was the epitome of elegance herself; every gesture of hers was a lesson in grace.

Compared to her, Yang Qinglan was simply natural, everything about her was pleasing and enchanting, but didn't invoke jealousy or envy, because it couldn't be learned, it was an intrinsic quality.

"By the way, Chun Emperor, you've been collecting Visualization techniques, how many do you have now?" Li Qianxia warned herself internally, but she remained composed on the surface.

The Chun Emperor put down her coffee cup, which was still emitting steam, propped her cheek in her hand, and gazed at Li Qianxia's pretty face.

"What's in it for me if I tell you?" she asked with a smile, her eyes shimmering like pools of spring water.

Li Qianxia's throat felt a little dry.

"Qian Xia," Li Changzhou spoke up, "eat your meal properly."

"Oh." Li Qianxia picked up the milk and took a sip.

She tried her best not to think about the Chun Emperor.

In the "Honey Pot World," the cow was pregnant and wouldn't get sick just because she wasn't milked for a short time. After this instance was over, they would see the calf.

Hopefully, it would be a heifer, as they could stay with them for a long time; a bull could only be eaten.

If Chun Emperor became her sister-in-law, wouldn't she have nothing to fear from her... Pfft!

Li Qianxia stopped her wandering thoughts.

A woman like the Chun Emperor, with such a personality, wouldn't be liked by her, and she knew her brother definitely wouldn't like her either.

The siblings had discussed it, and her brother was a man who, though out of touch with the times and burdened with a severe obsession with virginity (a remark only she was allowed to make), was quite traditional.

She had also talked with Qing Lan, the fairy-like bookstore owner, whose views on love were love at first sight (which could also turn into love over time), and then faithful forever.

Though they described it differently, these two were cut from the same cloth, and Li Qianxia thought there couldn't be a more perfect match in the world.

No matter how beautiful someone like the Chun Emperor was, she felt she wasn't worthy of her brother.

Seeing her not speaking, the Chun Emperor tapped her coffee cup lightly, and the steam seemed to thin a little more momentarily.

She took the initiative, "I've collected three so far, 'Riding the Clouds and Mist,' 'Thick Shadow'..."

Li Qianxia was all ears, but the Chun Emperor suddenly stopped and followed her line of sight to where her brother was chatting with Yang Qinglan at the center of the long table.

The voice was soft, but who else was there besides the maids? It would be impossible not to hear it clearly.

"...The milk is not as tasty as the one you milk."

Yang Qinglan rolled her eyes at him: "Whether it's tasty or not is the cow's business, it has nothing to do with who milks it."

"No, it definitely matters. Otherwise, why would there be traditions of virgins picking tea leaves with their mouths, witches chewing rice for wine, and farmers' wives stomping grapes? A woman's body is more beautiful than a man's, and a pretty young girl's body is the best. So, it must be because you personally milked the cow that the milk is tasty."

"Have you ever drunk tea picked by virgins' mouths?"

"Heard about it."

"Have you drunk wine chewed by witches?"

"Hmm... it's a bit disgusting, unless, cough."

"Wine from grapes that farmers' wives stomped?"

"Just thinking about that, I don't want to drink wine anymore."

"You've never drunk any of that, so how do you know that the vegetables they pick, the chewed wine, or the grape wine are better?"

"Anyhow, the milk here is not as tasty as the milk you squeezed."

Yang Qinglan laughed, but then couldn't help sighing, passing him a dumpling that had too much vinegar and chili sauce from talking.

Li Qianxia heard Chun Emperor's whisper: "Your brother is grinning like a dog."

"..." Li Qianxia took a deep breath and forcefully held back the agreement bubbling up inside her, "That's affection!"

"Still a virgin, right?"

"My brother is very pure-hearted."

"Never been in a relationship, never held a girl's hand?"

"...Gender integrity."

"Oh—" nodded Chun Emperor.

Huh? Li Qianxia looked at her, puzzled, not sensing any scorn or ridicule in her tone or manner.

She was lost in thought, looking at Li Changzhou.

Chun Emperor suddenly turned around, hooked her finger at Li Qianxia, and before Li Qianxia could react, she leaned in close.

Terrifying! Too terrifying!

"Actually, what I said last night was true, to possess S-grade Instinct 'King,' one must win my heart and body, but there are some prerequisites."

"What?" Li Qianxia asked subconsciously.

"The Harem has three thousand Beauties, all beloved by one—only a virgin has the right, and furthermore..."

As she spoke, the Chun Emperor glanced at Yang Qinglan, who was enjoying a "sweet" breakfast with Li Changzhou and wasn't paying attention to them.

The steam from the coffee cup thinned a little more.

"Just like that woman said, a man who hasn't been recognized by his Consort cannot truly be a 'King.' So, apart from being a virgin who hasn't shared his love—do you understand what I'm referring to by 'love'?" Chun Emperor asked.

"I think... I probably do," Li Qianxia blushed a little.

"Good, besides having to be a virgin who hasn't given his love away, he also cannot be bewitched by my 'Favored Concubine.'"

Li Qianxia pondered the deeper meaning of these words.

"You mean," she ventured hesitantly, "you want my brother to win your heart and body?"

"It's difficult, but I have thought about it. Your brother is very capable, meets the conditions, and most importantly, is very handsome."