"Exactly. If you get drunk, then we might be able to indulge in some wild, uninhibited acts. I'm looking forward to that," said Meng Qi, licking her lips with a sultry gaze, her tone half teasing and half serious.
"Tell me—what are you really planning? Ever since you came in, you've been doing everything to seduce me. That's not like you at all. This isn't your usual behavior. You clearly have another motive. You might as well be honest," said Yi Tianxing with a calm smile.
He wasn't a fool. Meng Qi was acting very differently from how she had in the past.
"I think... it's necessary for us to have a child together."
Hearing her words, Yi Tianxing's expression shifted slightly. He stared at her intently.
"What do you mean?"
"You're the ruler of the Great Yi Emperor Dynasty, the Emperor of the Living Realm. You can't stay in the Underworld permanently. Since you've established an immortal city in the world of the living, you must also establish one in the Underworld. Any cooperation between us must be anchored with real stakes. Even if our alliance is built on shared interest, do you really think it's just about the Yin-Yang Market?"
Meng Qi looked at him meaningfully.
"Oh? What does the proprietress believe then?"
"This Yin-Yang Market—it's probably only your first step into the Underworld. Next, you'll definitely make more moves. You probably want to establish an Underworld Destiny Dynasty. Once your plans are complete, I suspect you'll toss Yellow Springs Inn aside like some useless pawn."
Her gaze was sharp. She hadn't underestimated the ambition of an emperor—especially not the sovereign of the world's first Destiny Dynasty. Just the boldness to initiate the Yin-Yang Market already made it obvious he had designs on the Underworld.
And if he could pull the Yin Envoys into the market today, then he could draw in other major factions tomorrow. The Underworld had plenty of forces comparable to Yellow Springs Inn. If things came to that, she might be discarded at any moment.
But if she bore him a child, that would change everything.
"Even if I tell you I have no intention of interfering in the Underworld or founding a Destiny Dynasty here, you wouldn't believe me, would you?" Yi Tianxing said with a strange look.
The Underworld was far more complicated than the world of the living. The power structures were intricate, tangled, and chaotic. In many ways, it still operated under a semblance of order. Reincarnation was one of its core principles. And if the seal of the Heavenly Dao disappeared, the most powerful forces of the Underworld would undoubtedly act—and when they did, it would be terrifying.
Besides, he had no foundation here. The environment alone wasn't suitable for the human race to thrive.
So even if he had plans, it was definitely not the right time to act.
He sensed that Meng Qi had another, deeper reason for all this—a reason she wasn't sharing. Everything she'd said might just be a smokescreen.
But if she didn't want to say it, no one could force it out of her.
Yi Tianxing just smiled, enjoying the food while casually chatting about matters related to the market. Building a city in the Underworld was no easy feat. Everything hinged on the King of the Underworld giving the green light. Only then could they proceed safely.
"There's a market event tonight in Yellow Springs Inn. You might find something interesting there," said Meng Qi with a smile.
"Oh? I wouldn't mind going again. But I'm afraid I don't have enough time. I only entered the Underworld by forcibly using the Yin-Yang Bridge, which still doesn't have the power to fully connect the two realms. So I can't stay long—at most, two days."
Yi Tianxing smiled. The last time he'd attended the market, he'd disguised himself as a Synthesis Master, using the Creation Cube to shock the entire gathering. Even now, tales of that master still circulated within Yellow Springs Inn.
But keeping the Yin-Yang Bridge open consumed massive amounts of power every moment. Even the Primordial (Hongmeng) Heavenly Emperor Pagoda could only support it temporarily.
"Two days?" Meng Qi muttered. "That means the Yin-Yang passage still hasn't stabilized. That won't be good for regular trade."
"Don't worry. I'll build a city in the Underworld, and one in the world of the living, both with array formations and seals. Within two years, it'll be done. Until then, I'll open the bridge every few days for short-term trade. Once the channel stabilizes, we'll open the market fully. It won't delay anything, and it'll help solidify the foundation."
Yi Tianxing chuckled, then looked at Meng Qi with a teasing smile. "And didn't the proprietress say she'd leave the door open for me tonight? How could I disappoint such a beauty?"
"If you dare to come, I dare to welcome you."
Meng Qi giggled.
"Then don't regret it. I mean it. Once this happens, there's no turning back."
"You dare?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
With that, Yi Tianxing stood up and swept her into his arms, heading upstairs.
"Yellow Springs."
Meng Qi wrapped her arms around his neck and mouthed two silent words. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
That night, the Flowers of the Other Shore bloomed.
That night, spring filled the entire garden.
The next morning, Yi Tianxing opened his eyes and looked at the woman resting in his arms. A complex light flashed across his gaze.
"You did all this... just to get pregnant. Why? If you tell me, I might be able to help."
He looked at her belly and shook his head.
He could already sense it: life had taken root. In a single night, she was already pregnant. This was clearly her intention. For cultivators, conception wasn't difficult. It could be controlled. Meng Qi had deliberately conceived. Her motive was clear.
"It cannot be said. One day, you'll understand. Just think of it as me borrowing your seed. From today onward, let's pretend nothing happened. Our relationship remains unchanged. Don't worry, I won't cling to you."
She gently traced circles on his chest with one delicate finger, her expression radiant and glowing—clearly thoroughly satisfied.
"Fine. If you won't say, I won't ask. But now that you're my woman, there will always be a place for you in the Great Yi Emperor Palace."
He looked deeply at her, then changed the subject. "Now tell me—what's the King of the Underworld really like? I know of the Ten Yama Kings and the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu, but the King of the Underworld seems shrouded in mystery."
Typically, the Yin Envoys should be under the jurisdiction of the Underworld Courts. The sudden appearance of this King naturally drew his curiosity.
"The King of the Underworld is no weaker than the Ten Yama Kings. Her origins are anything but ordinary. Rumor has it that she is the younger sister of Chi You, the God of War. No one knows for sure, but she's certainly a terrifying existence."
Meng Qi's face showed visible fear.
"In this new Era of the Myriad Realms, she was appointed by the Heavenly Dao to oversee the Yin Envoys and guide the dead. As for her true strength... all I can say is that Granny warned us never to provoke her."
"She's notorious for her cruel and erratic personality. Her so-called 'pranks' can be deadly."
"And yes, she's incredibly beautiful. Rumors say she's been waiting for a man who can conquer her. Of course, you could try—just be prepared to pay a price you might not afford."
Yi Tianxing raised his eyebrows. "Chi You's sister... that's unexpected."
"It's said that she once fought the Ghost Mother... and the Ghost Mother lost. No—more than that. She lost one of her lives."
Just that was enough to silence any would-be challengers. The King of the Underworld was not someone to provoke.
"Do you know anything about the Yin Ruins between the two realms?" Yi Tianxing asked, steering the topic back.
He'd seen firsthand the terrifying oddities there, but also the great opportunities. A stable passage between the realms meant frequent encounters with the Yin Ruins.
"You've encountered the horrors of the Yin Ruins?" Meng Qi's expression changed.
"A giant python," Yi Tianxing replied, then explained everything that had happened.
Meng Qi listened silently, then spoke:
"The Yin Ruins are a space between the living and the dead—a liminal layer where the laws of both realms intersect, twist, and mutate. It's a place of distortion and aberration. The Buddhists call it the Sea of Suffering. The Daoists call it Wujiān—the Endless Abyss."
"The beings there... they exist outside the Six Paths, beyond the Three Realms."