Smack, smack, smack

"Girlfriend? But I thought Timothy didn't have one," Sylvia squinted her eyes, a playful smile spreading across her face as she looked at Zephyra.

It was rare for Zephyra to see the goddess smile, and now that she finally did, it inexplicably sent a shiver down her spine.

Was it just her imagination?

It must be.

Zephyra quickly perked up again, proud of herself for learning so many social skills just to please the goddess today.

One of those skills was to compliment others to indirectly praise someone she admired.

If the goddess praised Timothy, then by praising Timothy, she was essentially complimenting the goddess's good taste.

Not only was this a slick way to suck up, but it also wasn't too obvious.

She really was a little genius!

Zephyra beamed with confidence: "Don't worry, Goddess, her and Timothy are really close. She was so sad to leave him, even cried a bit. That just shows how tight they are."

Sylvia's voice turned icy: "Oh? Sad to leave, you say? And you're close with Timothy too?"

"How close exactly?"

Zephyra puffed out her chest, looking quite smug, "As close as can be!"

"Is that so? That's nice to hear."

But as soon as she finished speaking, Zephyra felt a chilling cold envelop her.

She shuddered, suddenly feeling uneasy, and quickly backtracked: "Heh, I mean, Goddess, maybe I exaggerated a tiny bit."

"If I said anything wrong, just pretend you didn't hear it."

Sylvia's lips curled into a strange smile, her voice soft, "Turn around."

"Huh? Turn around for what?"

Zephyra was puzzled but didn't dare disobey, so she turned around.

Sylvia commanded, "Stick out your butt."

Zephyra's confusion deepened, yet she suppressed her embarrassment and did as told.

Then Sylvia continued, "Lift your skirt."

Zephyra's face turned pale: "Goddess, you—!"

But before she could react further, Sylvia raised her hand and brought it down sharply.

"Smack!"

...

"Smack, smack, smack."

"What's that noise?"

Outside the goddess's chamber, Timothy thought he heard some strange, muffled sounds.

And was that a woman's crying mixed in?

But this was the mighty Goddess Sylvia's chamber. He must have heard wrong.

"Why isn't she coming out yet?"

After a tense wait, Timothy finally saw Zephyra emerge from the chamber door.

But he was stunned.

The Zephyra who had just slain the Mystic Core's old monster Drevok, radiating a heroic aura, now limped pitifully, clutching her butt.

Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red from crying, looking utterly pitiable and heart-wrenching.

"What happened to you?" Timothy asked, a bit awkwardly.

"Nothing! I absolutely won't say a word!"

Zephyra cried even harder.

She couldn't understand it—after all her efforts to master the art of flattery, not only had she failed, but she'd also gotten spanked by the goddess!

The last time the goddess had spanked her was a hundred years ago, when she'd made a huge mistake.

And this time, she hadn't done anything wrong at all. Zephyra felt so wronged!

"Head to the chamber, the Supreme Goddess wants to speak with you," Zephyra said, kneeling outside the chamber, her voice full of grievance.

Timothy sensed something was off.

He had thought that after their last date, which had gone so well, maybe next time they might even progress to kissing. But now, it seemed like things had taken a drastic turn!

With no choice, Timothy steeled himself and entered the chamber.

As he walked in and saw the stunning figure before him, he couldn't help but think to himself.

"My wife is truly the best. No matter how many times I see her, she's always just as beautiful."

"I've missed you so much today, it's been torture," Timothy said, feigning heartache as he approached.

"Missed me? I wonder who exactly you've been missing," Sylvia's voice was icy cold.

Timothy suddenly realized something was wrong and looked closely.

Sylvia's beautiful face was smiling sweetly, but the smile seemed to carry a chilling undertone, almost terrifying.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Recalling how the mighty envoy Zephyra had just left crying and clutching her butt, Timothy felt a shiver run down his spine.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and tried to smooth things over, "Sylvia, don't believe everything you hear. You know, seeing is believing."

"Really? Then perhaps you can explain your girlfriend at the Doomed Soul Sect, and your 'close relationship' with Envoy Zephyra?" Sylvia's voice was light and melodious, very pleasant to the ears.

But to Timothy, it sounded terrifying.

"Honey, listen to me, I mean, let me explain..."

...

An hour later, Timothy straightened his disheveled clothes.

It wasn't that kind of mess!

...After a heartfelt and eloquent defense, he had somehow managed to clear himself of suspicion.

But looking at the pillar behind him, which was thick enough for three people to embrace and had been cleanly sliced in half, Timothy still felt a chill.

After all, his own manhood was nowhere near as thick as that pillar.

If it had been struck by that sword, it would have been the end of him.

Sylvia still seemed somewhat angry: "Are you sure everything you said was true?"

"Of course, trust me. I just met Envoy Zephyra today, we barely spoke on the road. And that junior sister inside, I just taught her some cultivation techniques, that's all," Timothy insisted earnestly.

"Alright," Sylvia finally sighed and sheathed her sword, which had been shimmering with a cold light.

"You've finally calmed down! Long live understanding!" Timothy exclaimed excitedly.

"Cough, I may have been a bit hasty," Sylvia admitted, slightly embarrassed as she turned her head away.

After all, the image of her carrying Timothy in a princess hold in front of many monks the night before was still fresh in her mind.

Timothy smiled, "Admitting one's mistakes is a great quality, honey."

"Cough, what are you talking about?"

"Praising my own wife is only natural, what's wrong with that?"

Sylvia was momentarily flustered and quickly tried to change the subject, "Go call Zephyra back in, I still have something to say to her."

"Right away, honey."

Soon, Zephyra returned to the chamber, visibly excited, "Supreme Goddess, you've forgiven me!"

Sylvia nodded slightly, "Yes, I acted hastily earlier. Since you admitted your mistake promptly, I'll let it go."

"That's wonderful!" Zephyra was thrilled, but then she looked puzzled, "Supreme Goddess, why are your cheeks red?"

"Red?"

Sylvia touched her cheek, only then realizing that her face had flushed from Timothy repeatedly calling her 'honey.'

"Are you feverish, Goddess?"

Zephyra was astonished, "No, that can't be right. You've reached the Transcendence Realm, immune to all poisons, you can't possibly have a fever. Could it be that you are..."

"Turn around," Sylvia's lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Goddess, I won't guess anymore!" Zephyra's face fell instantly.

"Turn around."

But the authority of the goddess was unquestionable.

"Smack, smack, smack."

Cries of distress echoed once again through the chamber.