40: Tired of playing with the Fox Fairy?

The more she thought about it, the more an inexplicable anger flared up. She couldn't help but forcefully poke the blank memorial with the tip of her pen, revealing a rare, almost girlish vexation.

"Tsk, which fool is it this time, daring to anger Her Majesty the Empress?" A voice laced with laughter came from behind her without warning.

Empress felt a tremor in her heart, and before she could turn around, she fell into a warm, solid embrace. Chu Ye had performed a casual spatial jump, embracing her from behind as naturally as if he were returning to his own home.

She turned her head, her lips inadvertently brushing against his cheek. A flicker of embarrassment quickly passed. The Empress steadied herself, resuming her usual cool tone, yet laced with a subtle emotion she herself hadn't noticed: "Why are you here? Are you... bored with that Fox Immortal Empress?"

Chu Ye chuckled, not annoyed in the slightest, but instead looking as if he had discovered something amusing.

His hand slid down restlessly, his tone as righteous as if he were stating a universal truth: "That's right, I got bored. Because this place, Your Majesty... is the one that truly captures my soul."

"Especially this 'two ounces on the chest,' I've coveted it for a long time, and the memory is endless. Put aside state affairs tonight, Your Majesty must 'attend to the bedchamber.'"

Having said that, he gave her no chance to argue, immediately scooping her up by the waist.

Empress only had time to let out a short gasp, but her body honestly adjusted its posture, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, allowing him to carry her away from the pile of memorials that symbolized endless responsibility.

Soon, the two landed on the soft bed. Chu Ye was about to lean down, but Empress put a hand up to stop him on his chest.

"What's the rush?" She gave him a sidelong glance, uncharacteristically skipping the main event, and instead pulled him up. "First, a bath."

She led him to the Imperial Heaven Pool Bathhouse, where steamy heat permeated the air.

This time, she showed none of her usual shyness or resistance; her actions were as natural as a typical wife treating her husband returning home.

She first helped him unfasten his clothes, and then, under his burning gaze, slowly undid her own Imperial Robe.

In the warm pool water, Chu Ye naturally took every advantage. And Empress, for once, put aside all the airs and reserve of Her Majesty the Empress, giving him the utmost gentle service and response.

After a long time, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

Chu Ye lay on the bed, utterly satisfied, stroking Empress's smooth back intermittently, like petting a lazy, noble cat.

The Empress lay on his chest, rarely displaying such complete relaxation. The authority and worry that had long gathered between her brows seemed to have been smoothed out considerably, leaving only post-coital contentment and peace of mind.

"Hmph," after a while, she let out a muffled hum against his chest, her fingertip unconsciously drawing circles. "I, the Emperor, manage thousands of affairs daily, yet I still have to take time to serve a rogue like you... what a huge loss."

Chu Ye chuckled softly, hugging her tighter: "Yes, yes, Your Majesty works hard. So... next time, I'll 'attend to the bedchamber' for Your Majesty?"

Empress didn't reply, simply burying her face deeper into his embrace, as if that was her strongest fortress and most peaceful harbor.

That night, the clouds and rain had just ceased.

Empress lay in Chu Ye's arms, her fingertip unconsciously tracing circles on his chest, but her tone carried a hint of seriousness: "Great Qin received a special distress letter. It originated from... the Western Heaven Buddhist Nation in the Southern Domain.

The letter states that a shocking conspiracy capable of affecting the entire continent is brewing within the Buddhist Nation and is about to erupt. They implore me, the Emperor, to take action and nip the danger in the bud."

Hearing this, Chu Ye lightly patted her pert backside and laughed, "What, you've conquered the Western Domain and taken the Northern Domain? Is my Her Majesty the Empress getting greedy and now reaching for the Southern Domain too?"

Empress gave him a glare and went straight to the crucial point: "The one writing the letter for aid is Abbess Jing An, who is as famous as I am. Rumor has it she is the Reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, bearing immense Karma, who descended to the mortal world for Undergoing Tribulation... and her appearance is said to be peerlessly beautiful, so naturally..."

If it were any other time, upon hearing keywords like "peerlessly beautiful," Chu Ye would have long since been rubbing his hands together and planning his "Southern Domain Sightseeing Strategy."

But at this moment, he fell into an uncharacteristic silence.

He recalled the fragment of future calamity he had previously glimpsed through the Ancient Land.

The source of the crisis clearly pointed towards the Southern Domain Buddhist Nation. This meant that the great ill omen he had foreseen was likely to manifest there.

Chu Ye was lustful—that was his nature—but he valued his life more.

If his life was gone, how could he enjoy beauties?

Although, with the power he currently commanded—two Immortal Empresses plus a Fox Immortal at the Third Immortal Realm, along with the entire Great Chu Imperial Family backing him up—he could theoretically walk sideways across the world.

But the Fox Immortal's failure was a clear precedent: she had only set up the Ten Aspects Nine Absolutes Formation, that desperate, extinction-level scheme, because she had glimpsed a fragment of the future.

Looking at the result, she failed, losing everything and becoming a blood pact recipient; but from another perspective, she won, successfully achieving Immortal Ascension, and her current situation wasn't bad.

Fate, especially a future glimpsed only in fragments, is the most treacherous and unpredictable thing. The "cause" seen may not necessarily yield the anticipated "effect."

Just as Chu Ye was wrestling with the dilemma of whether or not to go to the Southern Domain, the next day, the Fox Immortal actually came to him proactively with a rare request.

"Chu Ye, please grant me one month of freedom. I am willing to pay any price."

Her voice remained cool, but her eyes held a very rare ripple of human emotion.

Chu Ye found this extremely strange. The Fox Immortal, who was indifferent to almost everything except cultivating the Dao and fulfilling her 'master's duties,' actually had a moment where she actively sought help?

"Reason?"

He asked.

"Abbess Jing An... also sought my help. She once saved my life when I was weak." The Fox Immortal was concise. "This debt must be repaid."

Chu Ye stared at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

Well, two women—one to expand territory, the other to repay a debt—both wanted to go to the Southern Domain.

Fate's vague warning also seemed to point there.

"If I can't avoid it, I'll face it."

Chu Ye made up his mind. "There is strength in numbers; we shall all go."

However, since he rarely had the chance to manipulate this cold Fox, he wouldn't let it slip. Chu Ye curled his lips, showing a fox-like smile: "You can have your freedom. But, you will owe me one request. Whatever I ask of you in the future, you must agree."

The Fox Immortal didn't hesitate, looking at him calmly with her ice-blue eyes: "Agreed."

Chu Ye nodded in satisfaction.

Chu Ye decided to set off for the Southern Domain.

Before leaving, he gathered his entire core team: Empress, Witch Empress Jiuyou, the newly acquired Fox Immortal, Imperial Father Chu Tianxing, and Old Ancestor. They held a brief meeting in the main hall.

"Old Ancestor, Imperial Father, gather all personnel at home and guard the perimeter of the Southern Domain, ready to provide support at any moment."

Chu Ye assigned the task. "This trip to the Southern Domain might have a slightly high risk factor. Prepare for them to jump the wall in desperation and counter-attack our borders."

Everyone nodded.

Chu Ye, meanwhile, still took his "Immortal Maiden Dream Team"—Empress, Witch Queen, and the Fox Immortal—traveling light and heading straight for the Southern Domain.

Just as they stepped into the Southern Domain border, an invisible "resilient barrier" quietly appeared.

Ordinary Cultivators might not have noticed anything, but to the three Immortal Rank senses, the sky seemed covered by a vast yet gentle "Sea of Will."

"It is Power Of Will."

Ghostly light flickered in the Witch Queen's eyes, revealing the truth in a single sentence: "It is unique to Buddhism. By making grand vows and performing great Karma, the Heavenly Dao is moved and bestows this power."

"Usually it is as faint as fireflies, but this one before us..."

She looked up. "It can be called a Sea of Power Of Will. Someone has woven it into a barrier covering an entire domain."

This barrier does not harm or retaliate; it merely gently and firmly rejects "uninvited" guests.

It's not impossible to break it forcefully, but it would certainly cause a massive disturbance, equivalent to knocking on the door and shouting, "We're here! Get ready to fight!"