Lin Wan’er’s words always managed to calm Ye Chen’s emotions at exactly the right moment and in the most effective way.
Ye Chen instantly realised that these hand seals might be far from over. If they really were, as Lin Wan’er had said, a set of progressively advancing techniques, then as long as he persevered, he might reap even greater rewards.
So he spoke to the three women. “In that case, let’s head back first and return tonight.”
All three nodded in agreement, and Ye Chen returned with them to the Nordic royal family’s holiday villa.
At that moment, Helena was wearing a smooth, silky nightgown and busily preparing breakfast for the four of them inside the villa.
She fried sausages and eggs, toasted bread, made sandwiches, and warmed milk, waiting only for the four to come back so they could enjoy it together.
When the four stepped into the warm villa, no one had expected that the eminent Empress of Northern Europe would personally prepare a lavish breakfast spread for everyone.
Although Yun Ruoge and Song Ruyu had already reached the stage of bigu and no longer needed food, seeing the empress so enthusiastic, neither felt able to refuse. They joined Ye Chen and Lin Wan’er at the dining table.
Only then did the several women notice Helena’s figure. Beneath the nightgown, it was full and graceful, especially the proud curves at her chest, which secretly aroused envy even in them as fellow women.
Whether it was Lin Wan’er, Yun Ruoge, or Song Ruyu, they all possessed the classically elegant beauty and slender builds typical of Eastern women. Compared to Helena, they were noticeably more delicate and naturally lacked such pronounced hourglass contours.
After everyone finished breakfast, Helena smiled and asked, “What are your plans for the morning? Would you like me to show you around?”
Ye Chen replied, “Helena, Miss Yun, Miss Song, and I all need to enter closed-door cultivation shortly. For safety, it would be best if you and Miss Lin do not leave the villa.”
Helena immediately looked a little disappointed. She had waited all night for Ye Chen, yet the moment he returned, he only ate breakfast before going into seclusion. She had set aside royal duties and rushed here precisely to spend more time with him, but at this rate, even finding a chance for a private word each day might prove extremely difficult.
Still, Helena was a sensible woman. She knew Ye Chen had important matters to attend to and that she must not hold him back at such a time. So she nodded and said, “Very well, Mr Ye. If you need anything at all, just let me know. While you are in seclusion, I will not leave the premises.”
After breakfast, Ye Chen turned to Yun Ruoge and Song Ruyu. “If you ladies have no objection, please come to my room later for joint cultivation. I have another set of hand seals that I need you both to help verify.”
Song Ruyu nodded without hesitation. “Of course, Mr Ye.”
Yun Ruoge was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly recovered and smiled. “I will follow Mr Ye’s instructions completely.”
Ye Chen once again reminded Lin Wan’er and Helena not to leave the villa, then took Yun Ruoge and Song Ruyu to the room Helena had arranged for him.
Fortunately, the royal holiday villa had spacious rooms, each with its own sitting area. Ye Chen simply sat cross-legged on the carpet in the living room with the two women.
The first set of hand seals acted as a reverse technique on Ye Chen. It drained his spiritual energy, and it did so rapidly, far exceeding the rate at which the second set generated energy, by a factor of a hundred times or more.
