[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-160":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596683,846,"Chapter 160: Punishment Begins: Soaking in Hot Springs for Half an Hour is the Healthiest","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-160",160,"\u003Cp>The pool water rippled as mist rose into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the modest confines of the Mistbloom Everlasting Spring, silence hung thick in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li crouched in the water, the fruit in his mouth plopping into the pool unnoticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ying Bing stared fixedly at the illusory panel before her, her expression one of stunned disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Eastern Wasteland Domain’s Second-Ranked Prodigy: Ying Bing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Eastern Wasteland Domain’s Top-Ranked Prodigy: Li Mo.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wondered if this was a dream—one she hadn’t yet woken from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, their cultivation realms were the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, compared to her past life, she had grown immeasurably stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had mastered martial techniques to their absolute limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had even glimpsed the Bronze Divine Tree and was now condensing a Divine Form of the Great Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, she possessed the True Phoenix Feather bestowed by her system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, she had still lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had believed that, even across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, no prodigy who had just entered the Observation Divine Realm could match her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside other methods, within the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, she had already seen everything there was to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how many in the world could enter the Observation Divine Realm by witnessing a Divine Form of the Great Dao, let alone have a physique perfectly suited for it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never seen him observe a Divine Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t Li Mo only awakened his potential through a chance encounter with a natural wonder?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would mean his soul had merely grown stronger—he shouldn’t possess a Divine Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a Divine Form, how could he still surpass her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is the system malfunctioning?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crossed her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[This system operates on principles of absolute fairness and impartiality. Combat power comparisons are calculated based on the individual’s current peak performance.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In ten life-and-death battles, the host has only won three times.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[One of those victories was solely due to Li Mo’s clothing tearing, which inflicted a hard crowd-control effect, allowing the host to narrowly prevail.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing: “......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Li Mo sitting there dazed, his ears turning red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just an old issue… high blood pressure, you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li’s blood pressure might look high, but it wasn’t exactly low either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his mind, he wanted to look away—staring at the ice block for too long wasn’t proper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely enough, his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing pressed her lips together and slowly sank back into the pool, her emotions in turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system’s judgment seemed… oddly reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be… that this sixteen-year-old boy, whose “old issue” was high blood pressure, had truly surpassed her again in the same realm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t that even more absurd than the system being faulty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congratulations, host, for securing second place in this prodigy ranking.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rewards are being distributed…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Detected that the host has activated the “Punishment for the Defeated.” All rewards have been stored in the system’s inventory and will be issued upon completion of the punishment mechanism.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[This punishment’s content: Bathe together with ‘Li Mo.’]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Requirement: Wear the “special outfit” provided by the system.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For anyone else, stepping into the Mistbloom Everlasting Spring would have earned them a swift decapitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, they had already shared a bed once before. Compared to that, bathing together wasn’t entirely unacceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wearing that outfit…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she could, she would have long since destroyed that shameless garment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ding!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if on cue, another notification chimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Detected that the host’s current environment meets the scenario requirements. Punishment will now commence.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In ten seconds, the system will automatically equip the host with the designated attire. Countdown begins…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ten…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Nine…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Eight…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countdown ticked away mercilessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ying Bing’s eyes lost their focus, her mind a storm of chaotic thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo, who had been struggling to find a place to rest his gaze, suddenly frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed Ying Bing curling her fingers against the edge of the pool, her expression vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ice block, your whole vibe just changed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you sick? Your face is so red…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo stood with a splash and moved toward her, reaching out to press a hand against her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the warmth of his touch, Ying Bing looked up in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Five…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Four…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Three…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countdown continued, flickering right above the boy’s head in her line of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing: “!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: “(⊙ˍ⊙)”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Visibly, the “ice block’s” neck turned as red as a ripe pomegranate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo opened his mouth, but before he could speak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing suddenly stood, her hand shooting up to cover his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her movement was so fast it resembled a perfected palm technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li’s vision plunged into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her slender fingers trembled slightly, warm and unyielding as they pressed against his eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D-don’t… look at me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the ice block really sick?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since when did she stutter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo detected a faint quiver in her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he realized something else was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before his vision was cut off, his keen eyesight had caught a fleeting glimpse—a flash of silk-like white and an intoxicating black, both adorning Ying Bing’s dangerously alluring figure…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s inconvenient, I can leave first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ventured the question softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… can’t leave either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice, usually as composed as jade striking stone, now carried a forced calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: “??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he was thoroughly baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Ying Bing was proud and strong-willed at her core, unwilling to show vulnerability. That was why he offered to leave—to avoid another awkward situation like last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t look, and don’t leave? What kind of confusing logic is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… we’re just going to stand here like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Close your eyes… and sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of water shifting followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing seemed to be moving behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, she stumbled, nearly losing her balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. It’s just slippery… Don’t turn around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, Little Li sat in the pool, facing the wall as if in deep reflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the ice block hadn’t gone far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every now and then, he could feel her slightly uneven breaths brushing against his back—a ticklish sensation…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo had originally planned to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now? That wasn’t happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her bathing robe had vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shimmering water revealed glimpses of a breathtaking, almost mystical sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This outfit… is somehow even more embarrassing than being naked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s fingers had curled so tightly she couldn’t straighten them even if she tried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was close… Just a little more and he would’ve…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The system… actually set a distance requirement between us…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mind replayed the scene from moments ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had risen from humble beginnings to stand at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… she had never experienced anything like this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart refused to calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t help but wonder—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weren’t you once unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bathing countdown: Two quarters of an hour remaining.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As everyone knows, soaking in a hot spring for half an hour is the healthiest duration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another... half an hour?!\u003C\u002Fp>",1231,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","82ad7fe3333a5c2e91960cf5cb35cd3eeb9371d27379462df827f57c0f3d498a","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-161","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-159",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]