“Attacking the Dragon race? Sister Bai Ning, what you’re saying is far too ridiculous…”
Zi Ya’s eyes widened, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Leaving aside how heavily fortified they are, Long Jiu is the Dragon King. Her strength is unfathomable. Isn’t this just suicidal?”
Bai Ning tapped her finger on the table, her expression solemn, without a hint of jest.
“Yes, you’re right, but that’s just a front. After all, I don’t want us sisters to actually cross blades and end up as enemies.”
“A front?”
Zi Ya tilted her head, still confused.
“Exactly.”
A confident smile played on the corners of Bai Ning’s mouth.
“As the art of war says, ‘to catch the bandits, first catch their king.’ Although our goal isn’t to take the Dragon King’s life, the principle is the same. As long as we spread rumors that we’re launching a massive invasion to take back Dad, she will definitely fall into a panic.”
She paused, continuing her explanation.
“To defend the border, she will surely deploy all the high-level combatants from the palace to the defensive lines. That will give us our chance.”
“We’ll simply use her own trick against her — sneaking into the Dragon Palace while it’s empty to save Dad… or rather, abduct him.”
“Uh… putting it that way, it does seem to make sense.”
Zi Ya rubbed her chin, nodding thoughtfully, but then a look of hesitation crossed her face.
“But… Long Jiu 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 for us to handle.”
“You’re right, so that’s where I’ll need your help, Sister Zi Ya.”
Bai Ning patted Zi Ya’s shoulder.
“I’ll take the lead and focus on keeping Long Jiu busy. Even if she’s at Tier 8 Upper, my Tier 8 Middle plus years of combat experience will allow me to hold her for a while. When it comes to thinking on one’s feet, she can’t compare to me.”
“And you will use that opening to utilize your Succubus magic for some underhanded work, sneaking into the depths of the palace to bring Dad out without anyone noticing.”
After hearing this, Zi Ya’s face fell, her voice filled with hesitation.
“That sounds like… there’s a lot of risk in this plan? What if you can’t hold her back, or if I’m discovered while sneaking in? Then we’ll…”
“Tsk, what’s a little risk compared to getting Dad back?”
Bai Ning deliberately provoked her, raising an eyebrow.
“Just think about it. Right now, Long Jiu might be in the palace, using all her charms to wrap Dad around her finger, coaxing him into a daze, or even… making him completely obedient?”
“Ugh…”
Zi Ya was left speechless, her cheeks flushing slightly as a strange sense of bitterness welled up in her heart.
“You wouldn’t want Dad to be completely trained by her into an obedient little wife or a good daughter, would you?!”
Striking while the iron was hot, Bai Ning mimicked a gentle tone, intentionally drawing out her words.
“Bai Ning, Zi Ya, I’m so sorry, but Father’s heart already belongs completely to Long Jiu. We can never go back to the way we were…”
“Uwaaah — that kind of thing absolutely cannot happen!”
Zi Ya’s eyes turned red with anxiety the moment she heard that, looking as if she were about to crumble.
“I definitely won’t let anyone steal Father away!”
“That’s the spirit.”
Bai Ning smiled and comforted her.
“Don’t worry. I’m a veteran of 100 battles; holding Long Jiu back for a while is more than enough. Your Succubus stealth skills are unparalleled in this world. As long as you’re careful, you definitely won’t be caught.”
Zi Ya sniffled, looking up at Bai Ning with a hint of grievance.
“Ugh… alright. So you’re already at Tier 8 Middle, Sister Bai Ning, and Long Jiu is at Tier 8 Upper… I’m only a pitiful Tier 6 Upper. I feel so useless.”
“Hmph, obviously~”
Bai Ning raised her chin proudly but then softened her voice.
“But don’t sell yourself short, Sister Zi Ya. It’s never been easy for your Succubus race to advance. Reaching Tier 6 Upper already shows extraordinary talent. Besides, your cunning and ever-changing dream-temptation magic often catches people off guard, allowing you to defeat those stronger than yourself. Its power shouldn’t be underestimated.”
She wrinkled her nose as if remembering something.
“I once encountered a Succubus opponent whose magic was impossible to guard against. It disgusted me, and it took everything I had just to barely win. So don’t you dare underestimate your own strength.”
Zi Ya felt a bit better after hearing that and nodded.
“…Yeah, I understand. I’ll work hard.”
“Then it’s settled!”
Bai Ning 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 full-scale invasion. I guarantee it’ll leave Long Jiu spinning in circles~”
“Okay!”
Zi Ya agreed without hesitation, then looked at Bai Ning with a determined gaze.
“But Sister Bai Ning, you have to teach me how to lead troops and manage a country, too! I don’t want to keep holding the Demon race back. I want to keep up with you and become a powerhouse who can stand on her own!”
Looking at her serious expression, Bai Ning reached out and ruffled her hair.
“Alright, no problem. Don’t worry, we sisters might have our own motives right now while fighting over Dad, but we still love each other deep down. This plan is just a temporary measure, so don’t take it too far.”
“Yes, okay!”
Zi Ya nodded heavily, her eyes full of fighting spirit.
“We must work together to take Father back!”
“Right!”
Bai Ning also showed a determined smile.
The two smiled at each other, and the previous friction vanished instantly, leaving only a common goal.
After a heart-to-heart conversation, the two sisters reached a perfect consensus.
Their fighting spirit blazed as they waited for the right moment to act.
—
While the two girls, Bai Ning and Zi Ya, were busily planning their mission to rescue Dad, the atmosphere in the depths of the Dragon Palace was one of entirely different tenderness and intimacy.
Long Jiu’s plan to train her “daughter” was progressing smoothly and systematically…
On the soft couch, Bai Li’s cheeks were flushed red like ripe cherries.
Her eyes darted around, not daring to look directly at Long Jiu in front of her.
Her small lips still carried a moist luster from being lightly touched.
She hesitatingly raised her hand, gently clutching Long Jiu’s sleeve.
Her voice was as faint as a whisper, filled with shyness and uncertainty.
“Jiu~ Mo… Mother, is… is doing this… really right?”
Long Jiu gave a meaningful, shallow smile and lightly tapped her forehead with a finger.
“It’s right, my good daughter. You did it perfectly~”
“But try to stay a bit longer next time. That way, you can better feel the warmth between family members, and you’ll feel more at ease~”
“O… okay, Mother.”
Bai Li nodded obediently, yet she remained hesitant, her eyes full of confusion.
“But… for some reason, I always feel like a goodnight kiss shouldn’t be like this?”
Her voice grew smaller and smaller.
The inexplicable sense of incongruity in her heart wouldn’t go away, yet she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.
Long Jiu chuckled inwardly, but her face remained solemn as she reached out to stroke the top of Bai Li’s head.
“Good daughter, this is a unique family ritual of our Dragon race~”
She paused intentionally.
“Mothers and daughters of our Dragon race say good morning and good night by touching foreheads and lightly pressing their lips together. This is the purest way to maintain family bonds~”
These words were naturally a blatant lie, but the sincerity in Long Jiu’s eyes made it impossible to doubt her.
“You’re just not used to it yet. It’ll be fine once you practice 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 right here with you.”
Confused by her coaxing, most of the doubts in Bai Li’s heart were instantly dispelled.
Looking into Long Jiu’s gentle eyes, she felt that Mother wouldn’t lie to her.
Her own blurred memories made her believe that the customs of the Dragons might truly be different from other races.
Thus, she nodded heavily, a bit more determination appearing in her gaze.
“Oh, okay, Mother~ I’ll practice hard!”
With that, she took a deep breath as if making a great resolution and proactively stood on her tiptoes, leaning toward Long Jiu’s cheek.
This time, she kept Long Jiu’s instructions in mind and obediently stayed for a moment, her movements somewhat raw and ignorant.
*Chu~*
A soft sound of contact echoed in the quiet palace, carrying a hint of pure warmth.
The smile in the depths of Long Jiu’s eyes deepened.
She raised her hand to gently pull her by the 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 as if it were smoking.
Yet, she felt strangely at peace and was reluctant to let go.
And this was only the beginning of how Long Jiu would reveal the obsession in her heart…
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