Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

“That’s exactly what I did, Feng,” came the entirely unapologetic response.

But before the teen could begin a truly unladylike cursing spree, Quinlan continued. “As for being a bad girl… let’s not forget that this is the second time you tried to cockblock me. During my first kiss with Serika, you outright tried to rip her off me. This time? You conducted a full-blown wrestling match. Perhaps I would’ve found it hilarious if it didn’t mean her tongue wasn’t interwined with mine.”

Her cheeks went bright pink instantly.

Caught red-handed.

Feng stomped her foot with an exaggerated huff, turning away sharply, even though turning away didn’t help when she had no idea where his voice or his gaze was coming from. Who knew if he could still observe her expression even now?

Still, she tried to save face. “I didn’t mean it like that! Serika’s just… just annoying, okay? I didn’t want to get in the way of your stupid romance, but…”

Suddenly, she found herself standing as her brain brought up a rather good argument, or so the girl thought. “But I deserve a moment too, don’t I?! I was deathly worried for you! Despite your cocky smile and arrogant declaration, I know you almost died! I-I missed you too!”

Her voice cracked at the end, and for a moment, she just stood there, fuming and flushed and very, very small in the middle of his soul realm.

There was a pause. Then, the voice of Quinlan came again—this time with a lazy kind of cruel mirth that made her whole body bristle.

“Hmm. Cute. But you’re clearly forgetting how the two of us hugged first… Feng Jiai, you’re undisciplined. Your father did a horrible job. So…”

He paused for a moment before declaring, “It’s punishment time. You’re staying here until you learn to behave.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“Y-You can’t be serious! You’re locking me in your freaky inner world?! Or what even is this place?! I’m pretty sure this is child abuse by the way!!!”

“Child abuse?” His voice came, dripping with amusement. “Based on whose laws, exactly?”

She rolled her eyes, finding his question dumb as rocks. “Zhenwu, of course! All four nations have strict protections for children—don’t play dumb! I read the scrolls!”

A warm, lazy chuckle swirled across the wind like a teasing whisper brushing against her ear.

“That’s really cute, Feng. But the last time I checked… the leaders of Zhenwu bowed their heads to me. All four nations, either kneeling or without a living sovereign, all owing me their allegiance.”

“Hah?” Feng gasped.

“They accepted me as their Grand Emperor. Which means…”

A pause. A gust of wind brushed her hair, and though he wasn’t visible, she could feel him smirking, annoyingly smugly at that.

“The laws of Zhenwu are written by my whims.”

Her entire body jolted as if struck by lightning. “WHAT?! Y-You’re making that up!! That’s so shameless, how are you saying that with a straight voice?!”

“Without a single ounce of difficulty, my dearest Feng,” he replied smoothly.

Then, in an even cockier tone: “Besides, aren’t you the one who goes around calling herself a ‘Jade Beauty’? Always brushing your hair and talking about your glow? You can’t just flip-flop between being a national treasure one minute and a poor, defenseless child protected by state legislation the next. You can’t have your cake and eat it too… or however the phrase goes.”

There was another pause.

Then came the sound of a single, helpless stomp.

“Hmph!”

Another stomp, harder this time. “Bastard!!”

Yet another. “Hmph!!”

She stood there in the middle of the soul realm, with a glorious sky stretching above, tranquil rivers winding in the distance, elemental winds brushing her cheeks, and glared in every direction, cheeks puffed so hard her whole face trembled.

She screamed again. “NOT FAIR!”

But no matter how many times she yelled, how many times she huffed, stomped, or tried to demand release from this “divine prison,” all she ever got in return…

Was that smug, endlessly amused laughter echoing faintly across the realm.

Feng Jiai had been grounded.

In style.

But just as she drew another deep breath to launch into her fifth tantrum of the day…

The world shuddered.

The sky above quivered, and then a rippling distortion cleaved through the air in front of her.

With a low hum, a doorway materialized from pure light, coalescing out of nothing. Its frame was carved from bright jade, etched with golden characters that shimmered in the script of her nation, Naryssia.

Above it, in bold calligraphy that pulsed like a heartbeat, hovered a single word:

“Zhenwu.”

Feng’s eyes went wide.

A cool breeze blew through the field, tugging at her hair, and she instinctively knew: this wasn’t an illusion. This was a real portal. An exit.

A chance to escape.

She didn’t hesitate.

Like a rabbit spotting a gap in the predator’s cage, Feng sprinted.

Her feet kicked up grass and wind as she dashed full speed for the glowing doorway, the jade shimmer reflecting in her wild eyes.

She was three steps away. Two. One…

*CLANG! CH-CH-CH!*

A thunderous crash sounded as heavy spectral chains erupted into existence, snapping down across the portal.

They crisscrossed over the entrance in gleaming X-shapes, forged of glowing soulsteel and elemental script, locking it shut with an almost cruel finality.

From the heavens, his voice fell. Smooth, unhurried, smug as ever.

“Nope.”

Feng skidded to a halt, heels digging into the ground. Her eye twitched. Her mouth opened. No sound came.

But just for a single moment. As in the next…

“YOU SMUG, ARROGANT, OVERGROWN JERK! I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON SERIKA’S TONGUE!”

Her voice rose higher, each word more profane than the last.

“CREEPY TYRANT WHO LOCKS INNOCENT GIRLS IN HIS HEAD!”

But the only response that came…

Was his laughter.

Smug.

Echoing.

Unbothered.

Floating on the wind like petals in spring.

Feng Jiai had officially been grounded.

And she had many opinions on the matter, and she ensured he would hear them all.

Now… It was time!