Chapter 52: Li Tiance on the Roadside.

“Eek!”
Li Tianze yelped, startled by Xie Qiyang’s sudden “attack,” shrinking back like a frightened rabbit, nearly tumbling off the bed.

Her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes darting nervously, all traces of her earlier “forceful” demeanor gone.

“S-Sister-in-law! W-What are you doing…”
Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with shyness and fluster.

Heh, this is too fun.
Xie Qiyang reveled in Li Tianze’s reaction.
This low-attack, low-defense girl was a delight to tease.

Clearly desperate to get closer but lacking the courage to act.

Tilting her head slightly, Xie Qiyang reached out, her slender fingers gently lifting Li Tianze’s delicate chin, forcing those evasive eyes to meet hers.

Her red lips parted, her gaze teasingly languid, her voice soft and enticing:

“Hmm?”
She drew out the sound.
“You called me ‘husband’ so sweetly before, pushed me down so boldly… where’s that energy now?”

Her fingers pressed lightly, feeling the smooth skin and faint tremble of Li Tianze’s chin.
“Why so shy all of a sudden?”

“I… I…”
Li Tianze, flustered by the warmth of her touch and that magnetic gaze, stammered incoherently.

“N-No, it’s not like that! I just… I was reborn then… and… Sister—er, Brother! He’s too ruthless, too mysterious. In front of him, I… I can’t muster any resistance… but!”

She snapped her head up, as if rallying herself, her eyes reigniting with determination, locking onto Xie Qiyang’s.
Her voice was resolute:

“But! For you, Sister-in-law, it’s all worth it. Even if he beats me to death, I’d accept it!”

“Really?”
Xie Qiyang’s teasing vanished, replaced by a heart-wrenching look of loss and faint sorrow.

She slowly withdrew her hand, her blue eyes lowering, long lashes casting shadows, her voice catching with a subtle choke:
“Then… why did you shrink from me just now? Didn’t you say… you liked me most?”

She paused perfectly, crafting the image of a wounded lover spurned by her beloved.

But inwardly, she was barely holding it together.

Don’t laugh, hold it in! Heh, being a bad woman is too fun!

“No, that’s not it!”
Xie Qiyang’s teary-eyed act struck Li Tianze’s softest spot.
Overwhelmed by guilt and heartache, she forgot all restraint, lunging forward to grab Xie Qiyang’s hands tightly.

Her hands were cool yet burned with desperate intensity.

Raising her face, her beautiful eyes shimmered with tears, brimming with fervent pleading:
“Sister-in-law! I really, really love—”

BOOM!

Her heartfelt confession was cut off by a deafening roar, louder than before.

The stone door shattered, dust still swirling as a blazing, furious golden solar flame, like world-scorching fire, flooded the bridal chamber.

Trouble’s here.

Xie Qiyang swiftly pulled her hands free.
She’d played her part enough, and now the real Li Tianxing had arrived.
Seeing her flirting with his sister, his wrath would surely turn on her.

As for how he’d vent it… who knew?

Mourning Li Tianze silently, Xie Qiyang magnanimously stepped in front of her.

He looked furious, but with Li Tianze’s fragile frame, it was better to let her take the heat.

“My dear Tianze, what are you up to?”
Li Tianxing’s voice was calm—if you ignored the obliterated wall behind him, he seemed perfectly composed.

Li Tianze panicked, stumbling and crashing to the floor in a pathetic heap, stammering:
“Brother… I was wrong, really wrong! I didn’t touch Sister-in-law, not even a bit! C-Can you just… let me off like a fart?”

Seeing her grovel, Li Tianxing ignored her pleas, advancing relentlessly.

Suddenly, a blinding flash streaked by, so dazzling even Xie Qiyang behind him squinted.

Several sword beams erupted from Li Tianze’s back—not aimed at Li Tianxing, but hovering behind her.

“Hmph. In the past, you always crushed me. I didn’t even dare swing a sword at you.
Now, I’ve returned to your weakest moment. It’s not fair, but sorry—Sister-in-law is mine today.”

Li Tianze spat out sword runes, each flying to empower the radiant beams behind her.

The sword lights blazed, their aura fearsome, as if they could cleave Li Tianxing in two.

“One strike settles it! Winner gets Sister-in-law’s wedding night; loser watches.”
Li Tianze’s voice was confident, resolute.

“My foolish sister, so arrogant.
You thought you could claim my Solar Saint Body by disguising as a man.
Now, abandoned by the clan, you’re obsessed with your sister-in-law.
Not one elder supports you, do they?”

Li Tianxing finally spoke, utterly unfazed by her eagerness.

“You think you’re my match now? Soon, you’ll watch me consummate with your sister-in-law.”

Xie Qiyang, quietly spectating, flinched as she was pointed out, her calm unraveling.
Should I use my cheat to suppress them both?

Li Tianxing seemed to read her mind.
“Wife, save your little tricks. Rest up—you’ll need your energy later.”

Before Xie Qiyang could react, Li Tianze’s anger flared.

Sword qi sliced the air, bursting with divine light, illuminating the chamber.

“Brother, you’re too cocky! Sure you’ll win? Don’t cry when Sister-in-law’s in my arms later.”

“That’s a fine move, created by the Divine Emperor of old.
But it’s wasted on you.
No surprise—the Emperor’s childhood love was stolen too.
Or rather, she never even glanced at you, just like now.”

Enraged, Li Tianze held nothing back.

Countless sword beams condensed her full power—her strongest strike.
If he survived, she’d have to watch her sister-in-law truly become her sister-in-law.

Li Tianxing formed a blazing ruler in his hand, its tip engulfed in roaring flames.
With a fierce toss, it shattered her sword beams entirely.

“No!”
Li Tianze’s heart sank, her ultimate strike—her life’s effort—gone, just like that…

“Brother, please, don’t…”
Defeated, she blinked, squeezing out tears.
“Can you… not touch Sister-in-law yet?”

“Damn it!”
Xie Qiyang sensed trouble.
Li Tianze, losing, was redirecting his focus to her.

She even suspected—are these two in cahoots?

Li Tianxing’s gaze shifted to her.
She knew—today’s ordeal was inescapable…