"When did I ever lose control around you!"
Sean Shaw pulled her close, lowering his head toward her lips. "Didn't you?"
His breath enveloped her. Staring at his lush, sexy lips, Lily Bai realized she really couldn't control herself.
"You're... you're so annoying..."
"Annoying, am I?"
"Very annoying!"
...
Radiant Palace.
A little swallow peeked around and sneaked into Qilin Divine Lord Soren Lann's palace.
"Stop right there!"
The little swallow froze, turned to look, and saw Soren Lann striding toward her with a darkened face.
"Didn't I tell you already? You're not allowed in the Radiant Palace anymore!"
Azure Flame shifted back into human form, tilted her head at him: "I'm here. What do you want to do about it?"
"Are you relying on your seniority to ignore my authority?"
"Hmm... If you insist on thinking that way, I can't help it. But you know the truth—I only came because I wanted to see you." She found a chair, sat down, and crossed her legs.
Soren Lann nearly choked with anger, summoned his weapon: "Let's take this outside and fight! If you lose, you leave."
"This isn't about fighting, is it?" Azure Flame said.
"Let me be clear—" Soren started, tense.
"You don't like me. You like Lucy Luan. Everyone knows it." Azure Flame said. "But she's already married the Crown Prince! Are you going to spend your whole life clinging to memories? You need to learn to love someone else."
"Even if I do learn to love another woman, it will never be you."
"Why?" Azure Flame stepped in front of him, pursed her lips. "Am I not beautiful?"
Soren Lann paused for a moment. "No."
"You're lying." Azure Flame said. "Everyone says I'm actually very beautiful."
Soren's Divine Power surged throughout his body. "Are you really going to force me to act?"
"Fine, fine, I'm leaving." Azure Flame turned back into a little bird and flew away.
Soren stood there, stunned for a long time. How could she just leave like that?
She comes and goes as she pleases, really treating the Radiant Palace like her own nest!
With a sweep of his wide sleeves, he shut the door tightly.
...
The Lumina Realm was full of volcanoes and hot springs.
Every so often, Soren Lann would go to the Fire God Mountain hot spring for a soak.
He went again that day.
On the way, he thought to himself that Azure Flame hadn't shown up since she left last time.
He wondered what she was up to... Had she finally given up?
At the spring, he undressed, changed into his special divine robe for soaking, and entered the water.
He was meditating and cultivating in the hot spring when he suddenly felt an itch on his thigh.
He looked down and saw a fish in the water, its big eyes staring and blowing bubbles, rubbing against his leg.
He grabbed the fish, gritting his teeth. "Azure Flame!"
With a pop, Azure Flame turned back into human form, dripping wet, grinning. "How did you know it was me? You shouldn't be able to see through my magic!"
She'd lived under his eaves for so long before, and he never saw through her tricks.
"There aren't any fish in the hot spring! Who else would dare to do this but you?" Soren shouted angrily.
Azure Flame stared at him blankly, saying nothing.
Seeing the way she looked at him, Soren grew even angrier. "You're still not leaving?"
"Soren..." Suddenly Azure Flame braced her hands on either side of his head, leaning in close. "I just realized, you look even more irresistible when you're wet..."
Soren struck her chest with his palm.
Azure Flame was sent flying, landed in the water, and sank beneath the surface, motionless.
Soren glanced in her direction, closed his eyes, and resumed his meditation.
But after a long while, Azure Flame still didn't move.