The fragrance drifting from inside the shop was layered to an almost unreasonable degree.
The first note struck hard—intense heat, baked wheat, butter pushed to the brink of caramelization, a crispness so aggressive it pierced straight through the nostrils.
Then came the second wave.
Warm.
Soft.
Sweet.
Milk kissed by fire, fresh egg folded gently inside—no longer assertive, but enveloping. The two scents intertwined perfectly, domineering yet tender, forming a temptation that skipped the nose entirely and went straight for the soul.
A primitive craving detonated.
Bi Ji stopped.
Her jade-green eyes went briefly blank.
Without permission, saliva flooded her mouth.
Zi Ji's reaction was worse.
"Gulp."
The sound of swallowing was loud—clear enough to drown out her own pounding heartbeat.
Her hands, still clutching the doorframe, began to tremble uncontrollably.
Fear remained on her face.
But it was being overwritten.
The left side of her mind screamed in panic:
Danger! Run! That man is a demon! He'll pin you down and spank you again!
The right side answered with divine authority:
Eat. Eat it. That is the most delicious thing in the world.
The internal battle lasted exactly 0.1 seconds.
Appetite won by total annihilation.
"It smells… so good…"
The words slipped out like a dream.
Zi Ji's purple pupils lost focus.
Fear, hesitation, resistance—burned away by a single instinct.
It's just a butt.
I don't care about my butt.
I want to eat that.
The next instant—
Zi Ji moved.
No warning.
Her hands released the doorframe and her entire body shot forward like a purple cannonball, charging straight toward the source of the fragrance.
"Eh?"
Bi Ji only managed a startled sound.
She was still gripping the fabric at Zi Ji's back.
The sudden acceleration yanked her off balance completely.
"Splat!"
Bi Ji didn't even have time to scream.
She slammed face-first onto the floor of Feng Ran Pavilion.
"Screeeech—!!!"
The sound of fabric scraping violently across the ground echoed through the entire restaurant.
Qian Daoliu.
Bo Saixi.
Sea Horse Douluo.
Three people. Three expressions. Complete petrification.
They watched, eyes wide, as the woman who moments ago looked like a gentle fairy stepped from a painting—
Was dragged face-first across the floor at high speed by her deranged sister, sparks practically flying as she was hauled into the shop.
"Save—save some food for me!!"
Zi Ji wailed like a dying beast.
Unfortunately.
She was still too late.
Just meters from the table—
A pale hand casually picked up the last golden egg tart.
Zhu Zhuyun didn't even look up. She only thought it would taste better while warm.
She popped it into her mouth.
"Crunch."
The sound of shattering pastry echoed like a divine judgment.
For Zhu Zhuyun, it was bliss.
For Zi Ji—
It was the end of the world.
"No—!!!"
All momentum vanished.
Her legs gave out.
Her body collapsed to the floor with a dull thud, inertia dragging her forward a final few centimeters, cheek pressed flat against the cool tiles.
"Screech—"
Her head bumped lightly against a table leg and stopped.
Zi Ji slowly lifted her face.
She saw the plate.
Empty.
Only crumbs remained.
Her pupils lost focus.
Color drained from the world.
Appetite. Craving. Madness.
All dissolved into gray.
Her dragon life… had lost meaning.
Behind her, Bi Ji finally staggered upright.
Her pristine emerald dress was dust-stained. Her hair disheveled. A bright red mark bloomed on her cheek where it had kissed the floor far too intimately.
She looked down at Zi Ji's hollow-eyed form.
A large, invisible "well" popped on her forehead.
Her fist clenched.
Relaxed.
Clenched again.
Calm down.
She screamed at herself internally.
I am Bi Ji.
Emerald Sky Swan.
Gentlest healer of the Soul Beast Clan.
I cannot lose my temper.
And I absolutely cannot strangle my own sister in front of a god.
After several breaths, she regained composure.
She smoothed her hair, adjusted her dress, and raised her head.
Lin Feng's gaze met hers—calm, faintly amused.
Bi Ji bowed gracefully, posture perfect, as if she had not just been dragged face-first across the floor moments ago.
"Greetings, esteemed God," she said gently.
"My name is Bi Ji. I represent the Soul Beast Clan and have come to visit."
Lin Feng nodded.
Before he could respond—
Zi Ji, still sprawled on the ground, suddenly seemed to grasp a profound truth of existence.
Her despairing eyes refocused.
Resolve ignited.
Whoosh!
She sprang to her feet so suddenly that Bi Ji nearly attacked on instinct.
Then—
Zi Ji rushed between Bi Ji and Lin Feng, turned sharply, and faced away from him.
She lifted her round, perky backside—tightly wrapped in purple combat attire.
Eyes shut. Teeth clenched.
Her voice trembled with shame and determination.
"You can… spank my butt however you want!"
"As long as— as long as you give me one of those things from just now!"
She swallowed hard.
"One spank for one bite… is fine too!"