"In my heart, you're different from Keke and the others," Qianran said, planting a trail of playful bites from Juzi's forehead to her dainty nose before ending with a nibble on her soft lips.
Perhaps influenced by the scenes she had witnessed earlier, Juzi wrapped her arms tightly around Qianran's neck and hooked her legs around his waist. As soon as the kiss ended, she leaned forward to initiate another, biting at Qianran's lips with fervor.
Seeing the maids in their seductive outfits walking freely around Qianran, Juzi's sense of urgency skyrocketed.
She feared that if she didn't assert herself, she might rank even lower in Qianran's heart than these maids.
After all, the maids seemed utterly devoted. Juzi had no doubt that if Qianran merely commanded, they would obediently kneel and offer themselves without hesitation.
Even as a woman, Juzi could see the appeal of wielding such control over others. She didn't believe for a second that Qianran, despite his claims, wasn't enjoying it on some level. Why else would he specifically select such beautiful, elegant maids?
"Ah, ah, ah! Who is this shameless woman?"
Ice Emperor's familiar voice cut through the heated moment.
As mentioned before, Qianran hadn't been visiting the Sumeru Ring much lately.
For the past few nights, he had either been with Keke or Juzi, neglecting to come here.
Now that he finally showed up, he had the audacity to bring an outsider and even engage in intimate behavior with her!
Ice Emperor was already displeased with Qianran's absence. Now, seeing him prioritize an "outsider" over those who had been by his side all along, her irritation boiled over.
This was supposed to be their time with Qianran!
What made it worse was that the woman had initiated the kiss, infringing on what Ice Emperor saw as her domain.
A chilling presence emanated from behind Juzi, making her shiver involuntarily.
But that wasn't the worst of it—the oppressive aura was so overwhelming that it left her legs weak.
"Enough, Ice. Don't scare her," Snow Emperor intervened, raising her delicate hand to suppress Ice Emperor's energy.
Juzi awkwardly dismounted from Qianran, her gaze darting to Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor.
If the women she had seen earlier were first-class beauties, then the two standing before her were undoubtedly of the highest caliber. Their looks and auras surpassed even her own.
And their power? Absolutely overwhelming.
Juzi was certain that if these two women wanted to kill her, the sheer pressure they exerted could crush her effortlessly.
In fact, the strength radiating from them far exceeded even the titled Douluo-level experts she had encountered at Xu Tianran's side.
Once Juzi stepped away, Ice Emperor quickly climbed onto Qianran, mimicking Juzi's earlier position as she clung to him like an octopus.
Qianran could only sigh, his hands naturally resting under Ice Emperor's petite, firm hips to support her.
Ice Emperor's behavior was entirely childlike—a stark contrast to her reputation as one of the rulers of the Extreme North. Few would believe that this playful girl was the legendary Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.
Ice Emperor had always been playful, and her time with Qianran only amplified this trait. She relished the chance to act spoiled around him.
Only in the presence of outsiders did Ice Emperor adopt the cold, commanding demeanor befitting her status as a ruler of the Extreme North.
Snow Emperor, on the other hand, exuded the grace and warmth of a gentle, maternal figure. During her time in the Sumeru Ring, she had even taken to learning how to cook from Huo Yuner.
"Juzi, let me introduce you. This is Ice Emperor, and that's Snow Emperor," Qianran said.
"Ice Emperor? Snow Emperor?" Juzi's eyes widened in disbelief. Were those titles or actual names?
She vaguely remembered reading about the Extreme North's most powerful soul beasts, Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor, in a book.
"Exactly what you're thinking. I'm the Ice Emperor, the Ice Jade Scorpion of the Extreme North," Ice Emperor said smugly, clearly enjoying Juzi's stunned reaction.
Juzi inhaled sharply, her shock deepening as she looked to Qianran for confirmation. When he nodded, she felt as though the ground beneath her feet had disappeared.
These two were the Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor?
And they were in Qianran's spatial ring?
What's more, they were this close to him?
Were they also Qianran's women?
Juzi was completely floored, standing there in stunned silence for several moments.
The revelation was simply too much to process. Even after becoming accustomed to Qianran's penchant for surprises, this one left her reeling.
After all, these weren't just any soul beasts—they were among the top ten fierce beasts, each possessing strength comparable to a Hyper Douluo or even beyond.
Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor ranked high among the top ten, with Ice Emperor at least at the 98th level of soul power and Snow Emperor at the level of an Ultimate Douluo.
Juzi had heard plenty about powerful beings during her time with Xu Tianran, but even in the human world, Ultimate Douluo were incredibly rare. Snow Emperor, as the ruler of the Extreme North, undoubtedly had strength rivaling theirs.
Juzi was at a loss for words.
She had thought the spatial ring was Qianran's greatest secret. She never expected this.
The man who had conquered two of the fiercest beasts alive—how could anyone compete with that?
After her initial shock subsided, Juzi felt a mix of awe and pride. Her man had achieved something so unbelievable that she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment by association.
If he could hold the loyalty of such remarkable women while still cherishing her, didn't that mean she was exceptional too?
Juzi didn't consider herself particularly outstanding, but like any woman, she had a competitive streak. Standing among such company, she couldn't help but feel a little smug.
And Ice Emperor's jealousy only fueled her sense of satisfaction. After all, competing with a legendary soul beast for Qianran's attention was quite the feather in her cap.
Juzi's gaze toward Qianran shifted, admiration and affection sparkling in her eyes. If Ice Emperor hadn't been clinging to him so tightly, Juzi might have lost control and thrown herself at him again.
Qianran kept giving her surprises—too many to count.
After a brief moment of childish posturing, Ice Emperor extended an olive branch to Juzi, offering her a few treasures she had collected. She had learned from Qianran about the tactic of "hitting someone with a stick, then offering them a sweet treat" to win favor.
Juzi, overwhelmed by the kindness from Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor, quickly warmed up to them. In the spirit of deliberate goodwill, the three soon bonded. Despite Juzi's weaker power, her sharp mind and social grace helped her connect with the two beasts, who lacked such finesse.
Qianran had been bracing himself for potential drama but was dumbfounded when the three got along like old friends.
"Is this what they call a plastic sisterhood?" he mused, astonished by how quickly their relationship developed.
For a moment, he had genuinely believed Ice Emperor's earlier outburst was born of genuine anger. Turns out, it was all calculated to assert dominance.
Qianran couldn't help but reevaluate Ice Emperor. Her time in the human world had clearly taught her a thing or two about social dynamics.
(Chapter End)