“Harem clothes?” Yung asked, confused. Is that what her skimpy bikini dress is? Right! That fat bastard Hong mentioned it too.

“Brother Yung is unaware? But you have been spending so much time with her.” Youjin Chao said.

“I’m a peasant and a country bumpkin. I don’t have a mysteriously powerful mother clan or a nobleman adoptive father to know what fancy clothes go on which social class.” Yung joked, “Now, can you explain rather than point out my ignorance?”

“If Brother Yung is illiterate, then what am I?” Youjin Chao took the banter in good humour, “Harem clothes are what concubines wear in the inner palaces of the aristocracy. A most sacred place no other man but the lawful husband can enter if you don’t consider the eunuchs. This odalisque inner palace attire is meant to stoke their husband’s carnal desires constantly to—how shall I say it—display their allure and have a chance to sire a child as fast as possible.

“Each concubine does her all to dress more ravishingly than her sister-wives, for one step up in the competition to rule the bedchamber is to rightfully earn a better life for herself and her children. In many grand empires, even the cultivation methods of harem consorts are changed to shape their bodies as… desirable.”

Yung rubbed his chin. Su Nanya’s ‘harem Clothes’ were basically a lacey, micro-bikini g-string, covered with see-through silken shawls adorned with golden accessories only escorts would have worn in some cheesy Turkish spy flick back on Gaia, the fox motifs otherwise.

Su Nanya neither hid nor shied away from showing her butt and bust to the crowd. It was a near-naked streaking outside the beach, and Yung had long wanted to call the police for indecent exposure. It was so beyond the traditions of this conservative world that one had to think,

Why though?

In a world most definitely patriarchal. Where a women’s purity, exclusivity, chastity, and modesty were valued above all, even if they were strong cultivators.

“Fairy Su’s harem clothes are from the Radiant sun empire if I am not mistaken. It even bears the imperial family’s sun insignia.”

“I’ve heard of that place. Isn’t it a large ren empire on the Gilded radiance continent? It borders our land bridge to the far north.”

Youjin Chao nodded, "It's the oldest and greatest empire on the Last ascension mortal plane, despite fracturing in a civil war many thousands of years ago. I'd known its might even when I was at my mother's clan." The taller boy thought momentarily, "The Su fox clan, conversely, is matriarchal. But they are not immodest like the lustful demonesses of the devil sects. On the contrary, they take face and image exceptionally seriously.

"And although it is said that they were the ones to cause the Radiant sun civil war in the first place, their current alliance with the empire has been amicable as both are in bitter war with the Holy demonic empire. Even now, the previous Su princess is betrothed to a Radiant sun prince. And this former princess is Fairy Su's blood sister. It is publicly acknowledged that their relationship is amicable.

“So it has always been a mystery why Fairy Su, a headstrong fairy that disdains all men, would openly display herself to other males wearing an authentic Radiant sun harem dress. That is like a slap to their imperial face, not to mention how it might cause discord among herself and her sister.”

“That bad?”

“It certainly is.” Youjin Chao said, “I respect her for it. She is not afraid to defy even the greatest authority. If her actions are targeted to insult a certain prince or a duke, that person would be too humiliated to even go out in public.” His eyes gleamed with a certain kind of light, “I think whichever person offended Fairy Su to receive such a slap in the face committed some manner of grave, unspeakable crime not only towards Fairy Su, but towards the Su fox clan as a whole.

“The fact that the Su fox clan has not removed her from her position despite Fairy Su’s erratic behaviour, might mean that the fault originally lies with the Radiant sun empire’s side. For throughout the past century, Fairy Su has shown far greater wit than to antagonise her own blood sister. She of course knows that intentionally causing discord in the Su clan’s rule is grounds for execution by their assembly of sages. Not to mention the Radiant sun empire’s feeble protests so far despite such a devastating loss of face. How utterly disgraceful, and as a man, I cannot help but pity them.”

Yung felt uncomfortable at the yearning look on Youjin Chao’s face. So he tried his best to hide his feelings and asked, “What makes you think that? At the end of the day, it’s just a dress. And she’s harming her own self-image more when she dresses like a bed-object. So would the Radiant sun empire even care?”

Youjin Chao grinned, “In the tales of minstrels, when two Radiant sun noblemen war, one thing they always do is break into their opponent’s inner palace. For his rightful concubines to be defiled by the gazes of other men would be the greatest proof of the husband’s lacking manhood and incompetence. Not to mention what fate the concubines inevitably suffer afterwards, in the hands of the brutish, berserk soldiers. It’s an insult as great as killing one’s parents. Blood feuds had lasted thousands of years, the husband’s nine generations becoming the laughingstock of the upper society if vengeance is not taken. They would have to save the world to regain their reputation back. And even then, the gossip might never stop.”

I don’t like this Radiant sun empire, Yung decided before asking, “And what would happen if a concubine voluntarily reveals herself like Nyanya is doing right now?”

Youjin Chao flinched when Yung referred to Su Nanya with that cute moniker. But he tried his best to cover that up with a grim face, “I am not too sure. But I would wager a guess. In the best-case scenario, their cultivations would be shattered and their beauty disfigured before being cast out. The luckiest of the unfaithful concubines might get traded as sex slaves amongst the noblemen or barbarian tribes? Most would be executed outright, and if the concubine’s clan does not apologise publicly with the highest reparations, a blood feud might be birthed between them and the husband’s clan. And rightfully so!”

Stolen story; please report.

Can’t know if I don’t ask her, Yung made a note to himself. But before that, he had to clarify his stance to Youjin Chao. That would only be fair.

“Brother Chao, I can’t tell you why Nyanya went nuts today in the restaurants. But maybe it’s the same reason why she cancelled the phase one of the sect recruitments. And it’s not because she thinks we’re weak.” Yung said.

“Are you sure?” Youjin Chao was taken aback.

Yung nodded, “Remember that talk we had in the restaurant when we first spoke?”

Youjin Chao affirmed, albeit with confusion.

“Nyanya overheard. She’s just throwing a tantrum because I refuse to act on my crush. Maybe she’s also throwing a tantrum with this whole harem dress thing?”

“Surely that is a joke?” Youjin Chao’s eyes widened as he exclaimed. He took a deep breath, and any semblance of emotion left his face. He asked with absolutely calm eyes, “I suppose that could be the case. But more importantly.”

“Yes?”

“Does Brother Yung desire to pursue her now, taking advantage of this so called ‘tantrum’?”

Wow, so you can be sarcastic when you try! Yung scratched his cheek sheepishly, “I’ve gotten to know her better these days since she’s been nursing me to health. She’s not a bad girl, maybe a bit wilful. So I thought I’d give wooing her a try. That is her wish, too, after all, so how can it be me taking advantage of her? She’s a legal adult that can make her own choices.” Jung was quite thorough when debunking the previous line of logic, “I mean, what’s the worst that can happen?”

“I see,” Youjin Chao said, walking past Yung at a faster pace. The side entrance to the Dim gold citadel was in sight.

Youjin Chao turned around. The sunlight reflected off his red eyes like sparkling stars. The wind rustled his hair, a few strands sticking to his face. His frame was a perfect v-shape, with lean, ripped muscles under his aesthetically dusty robes.

“The worst that can happen is a slow, painful death, Brother Yung. Since you do not even know that, I cannot accept that you will be a good match for her.” The main protagonist replied, making his stance clear too.

“Oh?” Yung acted surprised, “Do tell me why.” He did not think Youjin Chao was threatening him.

“Brother Yung is a fine man. Smart, wise, humorous. So I think a calmer life would suit you more. Pastoral perhaps, without bloodshed.”

“I agree wholeheartedly. No homo though. Not that anything’s wrong with it.”

“No what?”

“Ignore that. You were saying?”

Youjin Chao sighed, “Please take this seriously. For did you know, Brother Yung, that kingdoms have burnt for Fairy Su’s hand?”

“I didn’t.” Yung was genuinely surprised this time.

“Many a hero have slaughtered kin and kings to have Su Nanya praise sweet words to them. Kings ruined their nation to hand her the treasures she sought. Countless prodigies have been killed by other jealous suitors when Fairy Su deigned to even speak a word of interest to them. Her suitors come from all over the world and all its continents, each more vicious than the other.

“After Su Yinzhen, the previous fox clan princess failed her lightning tribulation, Su Nanya inherited the Revival Crown. Having her hand is the same as having all the riches in the world. Wooing her is the same as fighting a never-ending war with the world itself. It is going against the heavens. Both politically, and literally.”

“That sounds rather scary.” Yung smiled.

“Brother Yung,” Youjin Chao beat around the bush no longer, “I had wanted to ask for your counsel and support in vying for Fairy Su’s hand. Because we are soulmates, she and I. I can feel it!”

“Youjin Chun will have a heart attack if she hears this.”

“Irrelevant.” Youjin Chao shot Yung’s words down rather violently, “So, what do you think?”

Yung’s smile didn’t falter. He didn’t avert his eyes from Youjin Chao’s burning gaze either,

“I think,” Yung said, “you want to make her yours.”

Youjin Chao nodded, eagerness returning on his face. He might’ve taken Yung’s words for agreement.

“You want to own her, like some object.” Yung corrected Youjin Chao’s misunderstanding with clear words, “Like whatever prince or duke might’ve wanted to own her into their harem. Whom Nyanya hates to such an extent that she’d smear her own reputation to shame his name every waking moment.”

Youjin Chao opened his mouth, then closed it with a strange expression, “If I have her hand, of course she will be mine alone if that is what you mean by owning.”

“Then will you be her’s alone? Can you tell Ziyou Ling to her face that you can’t make her a wife, even if you had made her a woman?”

“How do you—?”

“Everyone knows!” Holy shit, the rumours were true! And he admitted it. Yung had only hazarded a guess. “Why do you think Ziyou Maque treats you so well? Because he’s expecting you to be his son-in-law.”

“As an outsider, you cannot comment on my relationship with Ling. She knows I have to leave one day for the Violet horn continent and accepts that.” Youjin Chao’s eyes were steady. But to Yung, what he spouted were excuses, and Yung refused to acknowledge them as anything but. “Even when I was with Chun, Ling would always pester me that she would not mind being a concubine. And after my engagement was annulled, it was just one night. If Fairy Su, no, Su Nanya—”

“Leave Ziyou Ling if you want to pursue Nyanya in good faith.”

“I do not want to make Ling sad. I know she will be happier by my side.”

“That’s impossible.”

“In front of an iron will, nothing is impossible. Even the heavens will bow to unwavering resolve and courage. Su Nanya herself is the living embodiment of that proof.”

“That’s false on so many levels,” Yung was amazed, “But I digress. Maybe you really do like Nyanya. But it’s also true that she can help you greatly with your revenge. Or perhaps she can even restore your cultivation?”

“It is all of them, Brother Yung. One does not need a sole reason to like someone. There can be many.”

Yung laughed. “Then I can’t accept your intentions as ethical. All this time, you’ve been talking about you making her happy from your own perspective. It feels to me like you want Nyanya’s hand because you can make use of her for your selfish ends. But have you thought even for a moment about what she might need? Emotionally, spiritually?”

“I believe that one day, I will be strong enough to meet their needs. Both Ling’s and Su Nanya’s.”

“Why would you even say that?” Yung shook his head as though he’d heard a joke that wasn’t funny, “Some things really are impossible, Brother Chao. There is no shame in accepting that fact.” And decades of relationship science proved that impossibility. Sapient creatures didn’t like sharing. Those who claimed they did, were nothing but avoidantly attached to the objects of their love.

From what Yung gleaned about Su Nanya's personality, her attachment style was highly anxious. She got jealous easily, played mind games, and quickly jumped to conclusions. Yung believed she needed a secure base, a stable foundation to heal her emotional wounds. But a couple with one partner anxious and one avoidant was more volatile than a hydrogen bomb. It would flame Su Nanya's insecurities until she lost all confidence in her beauty. In her self-worth.

For some reason, Yung hated that idea. He didn't claim to be the most secure person himself. Nor that he was a good match for Su Nanya. But by Moira's might, he was damn sure Youjin Chao wasn't. Youjin Chao carried so much emotional burden that it could fill an ocean.

No way will he put Nanya’s needs before his. To him, revenge is the only thing that matters. And everything else is to that end.

Youjin Chao might be a beast when it came to fighting, but he was a naive teen regarding human relations. Unless the world itself conspired to bring Su Nanya and him together, Su Nanya would not give him the time of day.

No, even if the world does conspire, Yung glanced at the sky through the corner of his vision. He looked at the infinite golden threads crisscrossing through the heavenly firmament. He looked at Youjin Chao's celestial link, and wondered how strong he would have to be to sever it with thread cutting. I have the power to change fate.