In the vast ocean, a crimson yacht was speeding along.
On the yacht's deck, Xia Yi was lounging comfortably on a deck chair in just his swim trunks, sunbathing. The sun umbrella behind him only shaded his face, leaving his long, strong body fully exposed to the direct sunlight, making him appear even more powerful and robust.
On either side of him lay the Leng Yaozhu sisters, also clad only in swimsuits. The blazing sun bathed their bodies, making their fair skin glisten brightly, dazzling to the eyes.
Compared to Xia Yi and the Leng Yaozhu sisters, their companions Mu Xi and Ya Li weren't nearly as uninhibited.
But Mu Xi had been pinned down and stripped by Leng Yulai, forced onto a lounge chair.
As for Ya Li, Leng Yulai couldn't even be bothered to deal with her.
She wanted to see Ya Li itching to join them but too embarrassed to lower her pride.
"Shameless," Ya Li muttered, indeed tempted. Whether it was Xia Yi, the Leng Yaozhu sisters, or Leng Yulai, with just a little coaxing, she might have joined the sunbathing half-willingly like Mu Xi.
But these people were all ignoring her.
"Huh? The ice is all melted. This coconut's not cold anymore. Hubby, chill it for me," Leng Yaozhu crossed her snow-white legs and, after just one glance at Ya Li, ignored her again, passing her coconut to Xia Yi.
Xia Yi raised his finger, releasing absolute zero temperatures. Instantly, small square ice cubes appeared in the air and fell into Leng Yaozhu's coconut.
"Brother-in-law, me too," Leng Yulai held out her drink. Xia Yi sent over more ice cubes.
Watching the group treat her like air, Ya Li stomped her foot angrily and said coldly, "Xia Yi, I don't have time to waste here with you. There are many patients waiting at the hospital. If you don't tell me what we're actually doing, I'm leaving."
"I already arranged for two powerful Eight King Domain longevity tribe experts to hold down the fort at the hospital. With them there, I don't think you need to worry," Xia Yi sat up, smiling at Ya Li.
She wore a simple white long dress, yet still appeared pure and elegant.
Every time Xia Yi saw Ya Li like this, he remembered how she could be even wilder than the Leng Yaozhu sisters at times.
She was like a different person now.
"At least tell me what we're out here for," Ya Li bit her red lip, her beautiful eyes filled with frustration.
Yesterday, Xia Yi told her he wanted to take her out to handle something. She had righteously refused.
But this morning, she had shown up at the agreed location as if under a spell.
Only then did she realize the group included Leng Yaozhu, Leng Yulai, and Mu Xi.
She thought something serious was going on.
But once they got on the yacht, she realized this was clearly a vacation.
"We're going to get married, like I said before boarding," Xia Yi grinned.
"If you keep joking like this, I'm really leaving," Ya Li said coldly.
"If you don't believe me, what can I do?" Xia Yi shrugged. He really was going to get married.
This trip to the Eight King Domain was to transfer his household registration and complete their marriage registration.
Taking the yacht was Leng Yulai's idea.
With the cultivations of Leng Yaozhu, Leng Yulai, and Ya Li, they could have easily flown to the Eight King Domain in no time, even with Xia Yi and Mu Xi.
But Leng Yulai felt this journey was meaningful. Flying was boring. Cruise ships were crowded. So she suggested a yacht.
Surprisingly, Leng Yaozhu didn't object. She even arranged affairs at the Spirit Transmitting Pagoda in advance to ensure everything stayed in order while she was gone.
With the sisters united, and Lan Fozzi still in seclusion, the wedding could be postponed. Xia Yi agreed.
Looking at the speeding red yacht, Xia Yi now understood why red mechas were a path of no return.
He also understood why so many powerful beings were willing to give up the chance to become supreme powerhouses for a red mecha.
Red mechas could fight autonomously, transform into cars, planes, cannons—even yachts.
In terms of raw power, they couldn't compare to four-word battle armor, but in terms of style, battle armor was nowhere near as cool as red mechas.
Red mechas were the ultimate show-off machines.
How many men could resist such a cool, versatile weapon?
Xia Yi even began considering building his own red mecha. Though his current one was good and would eventually evolve into a red mecha...
It was monopolized by the Ice God's Heart, constantly being remodeled to her tastes.
He wanted a red mecha entirely his own, made to his specifications.
But to do that, he had to become a level-nine mecha designer first.
Xia Yi wasn't even level one yet.
He could let the Ice God's Heart build it, but then it likely wouldn't match his vision.
So, for now, he had to put that idea aside.
"Hmph! Even if we're willing to marry you, do you dare to marry us?" Ya Li snorted. She could imagine the issues Leng Yaozhu had already considered.
Leng Yaozhu had just restored the Sun-Moon Federation's authority. No way she'd personally trample it.
Nor did she believe Xia Yi would make things difficult for her.
"Ah!" Xia Yi and the Leng sisters were stunned.
"So easy? This vixen didn't even need to say anything; she volunteered." Leng Yaozhu was displeased. She'd hoped to watch Xia Yi squirm.
Now what was she supposed to do!
"Holy Spirit Douluo? Hmph, more impatient than I am," Leng Yulai huffed.
Although Ya Li had been joking...
Her words made convincing her much easier.
"Wifey Ya Li, you said it yourself—no backing out," Xia Yi beamed, leaping off his chair and appearing behind her, hugging her from behind.
"Wait…" Seeing Xia Yi's excitement and the disdainful looks from the Leng sisters, Ya Li realized something was off. Xia Yi seemed serious.
"Wait for what? What, Your Holiness, backing out already?" Xia Yi chuckled.
"You better explain what you plan to do." Ya Li took a deep breath. She still suspected Xia Yi was teasing.
She didn't think he would make things difficult for Leng Yaozhu.
"Ya Li, wifey, you know why we're going to the Eight King Domain…" Xia Yi whispered, explaining the Eight King Domain's autonomy laws.
"I see. Your martial soul is a fox. And the Federation publicly claims it's the Nine-Tailed Fox during the Star Dou Network Tournament. So if you say you're from the Heavenly Fox Tribe in the Eight King Domain, no one would question it." Ya Li turned to him. "You planned this all along."
"Heh, that's not important. What matters is—you just asked me to marry you," Xia Yi grinned.
"No way. I was joking. I won't agree." Ya Li shook her head firmly.
Marrying Xia Yi? She had her pride.
"Joking? What joke? I took it seriously. We've already done the deed; it's only right we have the title too. Otherwise, people might say I'm a scumbag playing with innocent women," Xia Yi replied.
"I told you, I was joking. This is absolutely impossible." Ya Li gritted her teeth.
Smack! Xia Yi slapped her butt and growled, "Refuse and you'll see. I'll even force you if I must."
"Fine! Then keep hitting me." Ya Li knew reasoning wouldn't work now, so she turned to sarcasm.
"You think you can get off this pirate ship once you're on it?" Xia Yi teased.
Ya Li took a deep breath and relented. "I'll compromise. I'll go with you to the Eight King Domain and register the marriage. But I won't attend the wedding, and you can't make our relationship public. Is that good enough?"
"No way." Xia Yi shook his head. He knew he had to press while she was wavering.
If he failed now, he might never get another chance.
"Xia Yi, must you force me? Ruin my reputation?" Ya Li asked, disappointed.
"I have to. But it won't ruin your reputation," Xia Yi said, eyes fixed on her. "I know marrying me might hurt Shrek Academy's and Yunlan's reputations. But Yun Ming is dead. Shrek is gone. And their names aren't that great right now anyway. What are you still afraid of?"
"I…" Ya Li opened her mouth, then said, "I was once the Sea God Pavilion Master at Shrek. If I marry you publicly, how can I face anyone?"
"What's there to be ashamed of? Look at Zhu'er and Yulai. Are their identities lesser than yours?" Xia Yi stared into her eyes and said, "Ya Li, you know I'm serious. Otherwise, I wouldn't be holding this wedding. If you think you're too good for me, or can't accept polygamy, leave now. I won't stop you. But if it's something else, tell me, and I'll explain everything."
"I…" Ya Li opened her red lips, unable to speak.
It wasn't that Xia Yi wasn't good enough.
It wasn't that she couldn't accept his polygamy.
It was her identity she was worried about.
"Ya Li," Xia Yi hugged her again, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Marry me, okay?"
"I won't. Don't force me. Let me think," Ya Li shook her head frantically. She wanted to run, to escape.
But her legs wouldn't move.
"No, I want an answer now," Xia Yi said firmly. "You're mine. I lied before. Even if you think I'm not worthy, or hate polygamy, I still won't let you go."
"I'm not listening!" Ya Li covered her ears, shaking her head, nearly crying. "Xia Yi, please, let me go! I'll be disgraced!"
"It's not me letting you go. It's you letting yourself go. We love each other. What's disgraceful? And weren't you the one who advised Zhu'er to marry Yun Ming?" Xia Yi placed his chin on her shoulder again. "Think about it—if we don't marry openly, what if we have a child someday? Do you want them to be mocked? Called illegitimate?"
"Child!" Ya Li trembled violently, instantly freezing.
"Yes. I can feel the Huangdi Neijing has healed your internal injuries. You know it too. You can be a mother now. For our future child, no matter how embarrassing, we must be together and give them a proper home." Xia Yi placed his hands on her belly and gently stroked it. He knew this was her soft spot and saved it for last.
"Ya Li, we can't be so heartless. We must think of our future child. Or… do you not want to have our child?" Xia Yi asked softly.
"Xia Yi, are you serious? You're not just playing with me? You don't mind that I was with Yun Ming?" Ya Li's voice trembled.
She feared he might reject her for having married Yun Ming.
Before, she didn't feel this way.
But now, deciding to be with Xia Yi, the fear arose.
Smack! Xia Yi spanked her again. "If you keep overthinking, I'll punish you."
He knew why she thought that. Because she cared—she cared how she looked in his eyes.