Chapter Nine

Xiao Yan experienced both happiness and pain over the past month. The source of his happiness was self-evident, as was the source of his pain. Every night, he would find himself drawn to Hun Meier's room, as if pulled by some invisible force. He told himself this was the last time, but he broke his promise every time.

Soul Charm's body was simply too irresistible. The body forged by Yu Hongyan herself, combined with the soul imprints and memories of those eight women, allowed her to display unparalleled charm and skill in bed. She could simultaneously display Xiao Xun'er's gentleness, Cai Lin's passion, Xiao Yi Xian's shyness, Nalan Yanran's reserve, Yun Yun's composure, Zi Yan's mystery, and Ya Fei's allure. Each style seemed tailor-made for him, making her utterly irresistible.

What's even more terrifying is that her body seems to have been created specifically for his union. Her body temperature, her suppleness, her tightness, and the strange patterns within her body all perfectly matched his every need. Each time he entered her, it felt like experiencing that sensation for the first time—fresh, exciting, and addictive.

Xiao Yan had reflected on this countless times afterward—he was already a Dou Di, standing at the very top of the entire continent; he should be able to control his desires and make rational choices. But every time he saw Hun Meier's smiling peach blossom eyes, and saw her slightly open arms in a welcoming gesture, all his rationality would crumble instantly.

He knew this was wrong. She was the Soul Emperor, his former mortal enemy. In a way, she was the reason she was in this state. He should have pity on her, he should have helped her, instead of tormenting her by pinning her to the bed and tossing her around every day.

But every time he was intimate with her, the feeling of being filled from body to soul was truly irresistible. He even felt a touch of fear—he realized he was becoming somewhat dependent on her. It wasn't just physical dependence, but also some deeper, inexplicable emotional connection.

Perhaps it was because her soul carried the mark he left when he traveled through time, perhaps it was because their fates had been intertwined in countless reincarnations, or perhaps it was because—in that night of revelry, he had unknowingly accepted her, accepted everything about her, including her past hatred, her current contradictions, and the twisted yet sincere love that grew from hatred.

Soulful Fairy herself was completely immersed in this unprecedented happiness.

She never imagined she would one day be like this—lying in the arms of her nemesis, tenderly embraced and lovingly kissed, greeting each dawn and dusk with him. She had once thought her life was nothing but hatred and conquest, but now she discovered how wonderful it felt to be loved.

The soul imprints of those eight women slept peacefully within her, like children who had finally found their home. They no longer quarreled, no longer tore at her consciousness, but coexisted harmoniously, sharing this hard-won happiness. Sometimes she would think that perhaps the imprints of those eight women were not a curse, but a blessing—fate telling her that she too could be loved, that she too deserved to be loved.

Happiness is happiness, but problems also arise.

A month later, the concubines finally came to the door one evening.

Xiao Xun'er walked at the front, followed by Cai Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun, Zi Yan, and Ya Fei. The eight of them stood in a row, their powerful aura making the atmosphere in the entire courtyard heavy. Xiao Yan had just returned from a day of cultivation and his heart skipped a beat when he saw this formation.

"Xun'er, what's going on here...?"

“Brother Xiao Yan.” Xiao Xun’er’s voice was still gentle, but with an undeniable seriousness in it. “We need to talk.”

The women behind her nodded in unison, their eyes all falling on Xiao Yan.

"Talk about...what?"

“Tan Hun Mei’er.” Cai Lin crossed her arms, a hint of dissatisfaction in her purple eyes. “You’ve been going to her every night this month, and you’ve only come to us a handful of times. We want to know what’s so special about her that makes you so infatuated.”

Little Fairy Doctor added quietly from the side, "We're not jealous... we just... we just can't understand..."

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but the words caught in his throat. What could he say? Could he say that Hun Meier was the Soul Emperor? Could he say that he and his nemesis had been together for a month? Could he say that he was completely infatuated with her? He couldn't utter a single word of these things.

Just then, a soft voice came from behind him.

"Since everyone wants to know, then I'll tell you."

Hun Meier emerged from the house. She wore a plain white dress, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders, and a faint smile graced her face. Her steps were light and elegant as she walked to Xiao Yan's side and naturally took his arm.

The gazes of several concubines fell on her arm linked with Xiao Yan's, their expressions becoming even more complicated.

"Go ahead," Xiao Xun'er said calmly, but her clenched fist tightened slightly.

Hun Meier glanced at Xiao Yan, who nodded helplessly. She took a deep breath and then spoke.

"I am the Soul Emperor."

The air seemed to freeze.

The girls stood there, stunned, not immediately realizing what the short sentence meant.

"Are you kidding me?" Cai Lin was the first to speak, her voice filled with obvious disbelief. "The Soul Emperor was clearly killed by Xiao Yan; we all saw his body with our own eyes—"

“That was my original body,” Hun Meier interrupted her calmly, “but my soul did not dissipate. I was cursed by Yu Hongyan and turned into what I am now, and then sent to Xiao Yan’s side.”

Her voice was soft, but everyone present heard it clearly. Xiao Xun'er's expression changed, Cai Lin's brows furrowed, Xiao Yi Xian covered her mouth, Nalan Yanran took a step back, Yun Yun's gaze became more serious than ever before, Zi Yan tilted her head thoughtfully, and Ya Fei narrowed her charming eyes.

"Before Xiao Yan killed me, I traveled back in time countless times," Hun Meier continued, her gaze slowly sweeping across every face present. "I entered your bodies and had relations with Xiao Yan time and time again. On Xiao Xun'er's wedding night, beside Cai Lin's Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, in Xiao Yi Xian's fragrant medicinal cave, in Nalan Yanran's Yunlan Sect alley, in Yun Yun's back mountain courtyard, in Zi Yan's bloodline awakening cave, and in Ya Fei's auction house inner room. Each time, I was inside your bodies, feeling your love for Xiao Yan, and being conquered by him time and time again."

Her voice was devoid of any emotion, as flat as if she were reading a diary entry unrelated to herself.

The expressions of the concubines had changed from shock to disbelief, and from disbelief to a complex and indescribable look.

They began to reminisce. They recalled the moments they had with Xiao Yan, and the sensations they felt in their bodies at those times. Xiao Xun'er, on her wedding night, remembered feeling an indescribable strangeness, as if her body wasn't entirely under her control; Cai Lin, by the underground magma, remembered being in the process of evolution, her consciousness already blurred; Xiao Yi Xian, in the cave, remembered being backfired by the Calamity Poison Body, her consciousness already clouded; Nalan Yanran, in the alley, remembered being overwhelmed by the emotions of their reunion after five years; Yun Yun, in the courtyard behind the mountain, remembered being in an abnormal state due to her injuries; Zi Yan, whose bloodline had awakened, remembered being driven by instinct; and Ya Fei, in the auction house's inner chamber, remembered being more proactive and alluring than usual that day.

They always thought it was their own choice, but now that they think about it, the "self" in those moments does seem to be somewhat different from usual.

"So..." Xiao Xun'er's voice trembled slightly, "the person who was with me that night wasn't entirely me?"

“Not entirely,” Hun Meier readily admitted. “Your soul and my soul were both in that body at the same time, your emotions and my feelings were intertwined, and we couldn’t distinguish one from the other.”

Silence fell.

The silence in the room lasted for a long time, so long that it got dark outside.

Then, Cai Lin spoke first, her voice carrying an extremely complex emotion: "So, every night for the past month, the Xiao Yan who was with you was actually with the Soul Emperor—"

“And the person who once tried to kill him.” Hun Meier finished her sentence for her, a faint smile on her lips. “Yes. Your husbands sleep with their nemesis every night, and you have been kept in the dark.”

These words were like a knife, piercing precisely into the heart of everyone present.

Ya Fei squinted and stared at Hun Mei'er for a long time before suddenly chuckling softly, "So your current identity is both the Soul Emperor and the combined entity of the eight of us. You love Xiao Yan because your soul contains the love of all eight of us; you also hate Xiao Yan because you once truly wanted to kill him. You are the embodiment of us, and also our opposite."

Hun Meier looked at Ya Fei, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "You're absolutely right."

“For someone in the auction house, judging people is a basic skill.” Ya Fei smiled, but her eyes were incredibly sharp. “So now I want to know—what do you plan to do? Are you just going to keep monopolizing Xiao Yan and let us watch from the sidelines?”

Hun Meier fell silent.

She knew she would have to face this problem sooner or later. For the past month, she and Xiao Yan had been indulging in nightly revelry, and the other concubines had indeed been neglected. Although she was not Xiao Xun'er and the others themselves, they bore their imprint in her soul, and she could feel the complex emotions they were experiencing at this moment—jealousy, resentment, confusion, and an indescribable sense of absurdity.

Their men have fallen in love with a composite of themselves. What kind of situation is that?

"I didn't want to possess him," Hun Meier finally spoke, her voice low. "I just... couldn't control myself. This body contains the love of all eight of you for Xiao Yan. The combined power of your eight emotions is too strong, too strong for me to resist. If I don't go to him, my body will go to him; if I don't love him, my soul will love him for me. I..."

She lowered her head, looking at her fingers, and her voice became even softer.

"I had no choice in the matter."

Another silence followed.

Then, an unexpected sound broke the silence.

"Let's go together then."

Everyone was stunned and looked at the speaker—it was Little Fairy Doctor.

“I have sensed her soul,” Little Fairy Doctor said softly, her gaze falling on Hun Meier with a complex expression that only the two of them could understand. “That time in the cave, my consciousness and her consciousness coexisted in the same body. I could sense that she wasn’t a bad person; she was just… in great pain. She didn’t know how to deal with her complicated feelings. She wanted to hate Xiao Yan, but she couldn’t help loving him.”

Hun Meier raised her head and looked at Little Fairy Doctor, her eyes glistening with moisture.

“She is a person born from the combined qualities of all eight of us,” Little Fairy Doctor continued, her voice soft yet firm. “She is a part of us, an extension of our love for Xiao Yan. If she were to try and take Xiao Yan from us, I might be jealous. But if she is willing to be with us… I think that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Yun Yun sighed softly and nodded gently: "Little Fairy Doctor is right. Her current state is indeed partly our fault." She looked at Xiao Xun'er, "Xun'er, you were one of the first people to follow Xiao Yan, what do you say?"

All eyes were on Xiao Xun'er.

As the person who accompanied Xiao Yan from the very beginning, and as the rightful Mrs. Xiao, her attitude carried significant weight in the hearts of the other women. Xiao Xun'er remained silent for a moment, then spoke, her voice calm and composed.

"I have one condition."

Hun Meier looked at her and said, "You speak."

"From this day forward, you are one of us. No longer the Soul Emperor, no longer our enemy, but a sister who shares the same husband." Xiao Xun'er's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "You must put aside all hatred and scheming, and sincerely live with us. If you can do that, we will accept you."

Hun Meier stared blankly at Xiao Xun'er, then turned to look at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan stood silently to the side, listening to their conversation, his expression complex. He looked at Hun Meier; those eyes, once filled with hatred and killing intent, now held only a soft and complicated light.

He gently squeezed her hand.

This action speaks louder than any words.

Hun Meier's eyes reddened. She lowered her head, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then looked up at Xiao Xun'er, revealing a tearful smile.

I promise you.

Xiao Xun'er nodded gently, walked over, and extended her hand.

Hun Meier stared at the outstretched hand, paused for a moment, and then slowly grasped it.

The other girls looked at each other and then went over to place their hands on top of each other's.

Eight hands, plus one from Hun Meier, make nine hands stacked together, like a blooming flower.

Xiao Yan stood aside, watching this scene, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. He had killed the Soul Emperor, yet gained Soul Beauty; he had lost an enemy, but gained a lover. Fate is sometimes so absurd—it uses the most unbelievable methods to tightly bind together the people who seem least likely to be together.

“Oh, right.” Cai Lin suddenly remembered something and looked at Hun Meier with a strange look. “You just said that you’ve entered our bodies, so you…”

“Yes.” Hun Meier knew what she was going to ask and nodded frankly. “I’ve been through everything you and Xiao Yan did. I know exactly how you felt.”

The girls blushed at the same time, especially Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun. Their encounters with Xiao Yan had always carried a special sense of taboo, and now that it was being brought up in front of them, they felt even more embarrassed.

"Then you mean..." Ya Fei narrowed her eyes, "that you understand us better than we understand ourselves?"

Hun Meier smiled slightly, a hint of slyness in her smile: "What do you think?"

The women exchanged glances, then laughed simultaneously. Their laughter carried a sense of relief, a touch of helplessness, and a calm acceptance of fate.

Amidst the cheerful laughter, Hun Meier suddenly felt a strange sensation rising from her abdomen. Her body swayed slightly, and her face turned somewhat pale.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Yan immediately helped her up and asked with concern.

Hun Meier clutched her lower abdomen, blankly sensing the faint yet incredibly real aura within her body. She froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

"I……"

Her voice was trembling.

"I am pregnant."

The room fell silent again.

All eyes fell on Hun Meier's lower abdomen, and then turned to Xiao Yan in unison.

Xiao Yan's expression became incredibly complex in that instant—a mixture of shock, disbelief, and an indescribable complexity. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to utter a single word.

I'm pregnant.

The woman who was the Soul Emperor in disguise became pregnant with his child.

This kind of thing is probably unprecedented in the entire history of the Dou Qi Continent.

"Are you sure?" Xiao Xun'er was the first to come to her senses and asked softly.

Hun Meier nodded, her fingers gently resting on her lower abdomen, feeling the faint, almost imperceptible breath of life. A light she herself couldn't describe shone in her eyes—a mixture of surprise, panic, confusion, and a strange feeling of maternal instinct being awakened in that instant.

She had never imagined she would become a mother. As the Soul Emperor, she only thought of conquest and domination, never considering the matter of continuing her lineage. But now, a small life was sprouting in her womb—her child with the man she once hated to the bone, but now loved beyond measure.

She raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I...I don't know...whether I should be happy or scared...but..."

She lowered her head, looking at her flat stomach, and a gentle smile slowly curved her lips.

"But suddenly I felt so happy."

Seeing her laughing and crying at the same time, Xiao Yan felt a chord gently plucked in his heart. He walked over, pulled her into his arms, and gently patted her back.

“Then be happy.” His voice was deep and gentle. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Hun Meier buried her face in his chest, and tears finally streamed down her face. Those tears contained so much—three thousand years of loneliness and hatred, eight cycles of humiliation and depravity, a month of pleasure and happiness, and the unprecedented feeling of happiness that made her tremble at this moment.

The other concubines stood aside, watching the embracing couple, their expressions varied. Some smiled, some were relieved, some were slightly jealous, and some had a calm acceptance of reality.

“It seems,” Ya Fei said softly, a half-smile playing on her lips, “that our Miss Hun Mei’er is about to become the Empress.”

Cai Lin gave a soft hum, but did not refute it.

After all, who can compete for the emperor's favor with a pregnant woman?

Xiao Xun'er looked at the two embracing, smiled slightly, a smile containing a hint of relief and a touch of helplessness. She sighed softly and said, "From now on, there might be a waiting list for serving Brother Xiao Yan in bed..."

Her words drew a few light laughs from the girls, and the previously tense atmosphere finally eased completely.

At this tender moment, Hun Meier suddenly raised her head. Tears welled in her eyes, but a radiant smile graced her lips. That smile contained the gentleness of Xiao Xun'er, the pride of Cai Lin, the kindness of Xiao Yi Xian, the reserve of Nalan Yanran, the composure of Yun Yun, the mystery of Zi Yan, and the allure of Ya Fei.

But more than anything, it belonged to her—to the stubbornness and pride of the Soul Emperor, and to the satisfaction and happiness of Soul Fairy.

She said something that stunned everyone present. Her words were calm yet firm, carrying an undeniable certainty and expectation: "From today onwards, you will call me 'elder sister'."