“Attack the Dragon Race? Sister Baining, what you’re saying is far too ridiculous…”
Ziya’s large eyes widened, her tone filled with disbelief.
“Leaving aside the Dragon Race’s heavy defenses, Sister Longjiu is the Dragon King. Her strength is unfathomable. Isn’t this just throwing our lives away?”
Baining tapped the table with her fingertip, her expression serious, without a hint of jesting.
“Yes, that’s true, but it’s just a surface-level bluff. After all, I don’t want us sisters to actually cross blades and become enemies.”
“Surface-level?”
Ziya tilted her head, still confused.
“Exactly.”
A confident smile played at the corners of Baining’s mouth.
“As the saying goes, to catch the bandits, first catch their leader. Although our goal isn’t to take the Dragon King’s life, the logic is the same. As long as we spread word that we’re launching a massive invasion to take back Pops, she will surely panic.”
She paused and continued her lecture.
“When that time comes, to defend the borders, she will inevitably deploy all the high-level combatants from the palace to the border defenses. That will give us our chance. We’ll do exactly what she did before when she took advantage of a gap. We’ll sneak into the Dragon Palace and save Pops… no, I mean, kidnap him back.”
“Uh… put that way, it does seem to make sense.”
Ziya rubbed her chin and nodded thoughtfully, but her face soon clouded with worry.
“But… Sister Longjiu is the Dragon King. Her strength is above ours. Isn’t she the biggest problem? Even if she sends her subordinates away, she alone is enough to give us a hard time.”
“You’re right, so that’s where I’ll need you, Sister Ziya.”
Baining patted Ziya on the shoulder.
“I’ll take the lead and distract Sister Longjiu. Even though she’s an Eighth Rank Higher Grade, with my Eighth Rank Middle Grade strength plus years of combat experience, I can hold her off for a while. She can’t match me when it comes to thinking on her feet. And you, during the window while we’re fighting, will use your Succubus magic to sneak into the depths of the palace undetected and bring Pops out.”
“Uh…”
Ziya’s face instantly fell after hearing this, her tone hesitant.
“Why does it sound like… this plan is full of risks? What if you can’t hold her off, or if I’m discovered while sneaking in?”
“Tsk, for Pops’ sake, what’s a little risk?”
Baining intentionally provoked her, raising an eyebrow.
“Just think about it. Maybe right now, Sister Longjiu is in the Dragon Palace using every trick in the book on Pops, coaxing him into a daze, or even… already making him behave and listen to her?”
“…”
Ziya was left speechless by these words.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and a wave of inexplicable bitterness welled up in her heart.
“You wouldn’t want Pops to be completely trained by her into an obedient little wife or a ‘good daughter’ who follows her every word, would you?”
Baining struck while the iron was hot, imitating Pops’ gentle tone and intentionally dragging out her words.
“Baining, Ziya, I’m so sorry, but Father’s heart already belongs entirely to Longjiu. We can’t go back to how we were…”
“Waaaah — that kind of thing must never happen!”
Hearing this, Ziya’s eyes immediately turned red with anxiety, looking like she was about to have a breakdown.
“I absolutely won’t let Father be stolen away by someone else!”
“That’s more like it.”
Baining smiled and comforted her.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been through a hundred battles. Holding off Sister Longjiu for a while is more than enough. Your Succubus infiltration skills are unparalleled in the world. As long as you’re careful, you’ll definitely not be found.”
Ziya sniffled and looked up at Baining, her tone sounding a bit aggrieved.
“Fine… then okay. It turns out Sister Baining is already Eighth Rank Middle Grade, and Sister Longjiu is even Eighth Rank Higher Grade… I’m only a pitiful Sixth Rank Higher Grade. I feel so useless.”
“Hmph, obviously~”
Baining lifted her chin proudly, then softened her voice.
“But Sister Ziya, don’t underestimate yourself. It’s already difficult for the Succubus race to advance. Reaching Sixth Rank Higher Grade already shows extraordinary talent. Moreover, your cunning and ever-changing Dream Seduction Magic can often catch people off guard and defeat stronger opponents. Its power shouldn’t be underestimated.”
She scrunched up her nose as if remembering something.
“I once encountered a Succubus opponent. That person’s magic was impossible to guard against and honestly disgusted me. In the end, it took an immense amount of effort to barely win. So, you must never look down on your own strength.”
Hearing this, Ziya felt a bit better and nodded.
“…Okay, I understand. I’ll work hard.”
“Then it’s settled!”
Baining clapped her hands, her tone light.
“Now, lend me the military authority of your country. I need to make some simple border adjustments, and troop deployments to create the illusion of a massive invasion. I guarantee it’ll trick Sister Longjiu into circles~”
“Okay!”
Ziya agreed without hesitation, then looked at Baining with determined eyes.
“But Sister Baining, you must also teach me how to lead troops and manage a country! I don’t want to keep dragging the Demon Race down. I want to keep up with you and become someone strong enough to stand on my own!”
Looking at her serious expression, Baining reached out and ruffled her hair.
“Sure, no problem. Don’t worry, even though we sisters have our own motives for fighting over Pops right now, we still love each other deep down. This plan is just a temporary measure. Don’t take it too seriously.”
“Okay!”
Ziya nodded heavily, her eyes filled with fighting spirit.
“We must work together and take Father back!”
“Right!” Baining also showed a determined smile.
The two shared a smile, the slight estrangement from before vanishing instantly, leaving only their common goal.
After a heart-to-heart conversation, the two sisters reached a perfect consensus.
Their fighting spirit blazed anew, waiting only for the right moment to put their plan into action.
While Baining and Ziya were busy planning their rescue mission, the atmosphere deep inside the Dragon Palace was one of a completely different kind of tenderness.
Longjiu’s plan to train her daughter was progressing smoothly and systematically…
On a soft couch, Bai Li’s cheeks were flushed bright red like a ripe cherry.
Her eyes darted away, not daring to look directly at Longjiu in front of her.
Her small lips still held the glistening moisture from just having been touched.
She hesitantly raised her hand, lightly grabbing Longjiu’s sleeve.
Her voice was nearly silent, carrying a hint of shyness and uncertainty.
“Longjiu… M-Mother, is… doing this… really right?”
Longjiu smiled meaningfully and lightly tapped her forehead with a fingertip.
“It’s right, my good daughter. You did it very well~”
“Just try to stay for a bit longer next time. That way, you can better feel the warmth between family members and feel more at ease.”
“O-Okay, Mother.”
Bai Li nodded obediently, but she was still hesitant, her eyes full of confusion.
“But… for some reason, I always feel like a bedtime kiss shouldn’t be like this?”
Her voice grew smaller and smaller.
The inexplicable sense of wrongness in her heart wouldn’t go away, yet she couldn’t say exactly what was wrong.
Longjiu laughed inwardly, but her face remained serious.
She reached out to rub the top of Bai Li’s head.
“Good daughter, this is a Kinship Ritual unique to our Dragon Race~”
She paused intentionally.
“The daughters and mothers of our Dragon Race say good morning and good night by touching foreheads and lightly brushing lips. This is the purest way to maintain family bonds~”
These words were, of course, complete nonsense, but the sincerity in Longjiu’s eyes made it impossible to doubt her.
“You’re just not used to it yet. It’ll be fine after practicing a few more times.”
As she spoke, she gently cupped Bai Li’s cheeks, her gaze tender and firm.
“Come, let’s keep practicing~ Remember to stay a little longer this time. Mother will be with you.”
Bai Li was coaxed into a daze, and most of the doubts in her heart vanished instantly.
Looking into Longjiu’s gentle eyes, she felt that Mother wouldn’t lie to her.
Her own fuzzy memories made her think that perhaps the habits of the Dragon Race truly were different from other races.
So, she nodded heavily, her eyes reflecting more determination.
“Oh, okay, Mother~ I’ll practice hard!”
After saying that, she took a deep breath as if making a great resolution.
She actively stood on her tiptoes and leaned toward Longjiu’s face.
This time, she kept Longjiu’s instructions in mind and stayed for a moment, her movements somewhat stiff and naive.
*mwah* —
A soft sound of contact rang out in the quiet palace, carrying a touch of pure warmth.
The smile in Longjiu’s eyes deepened.
She raised her hand and gently held Bai Li’s shoulder, her movements tender and restrained.
Bai Li only felt an unfamiliar warm sensation on her cheek.
Her heart pounded like a drum, and her face was so hot it felt like it was smoking.
Yet, she felt inexplicably at peace, reluctant to let go.
And this was only the beginning of Longjiu showing her obsession…
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