Sword Flight

"Frieren, you've got good taste."

Dugu Qing stood with his hands on his hips, basking in Frieren's praise.

Eating alone was far too lonely.

Now the three of them were eating together, and all the delicious food was made by him.

Dugu Qing felt such a sense of accomplishment that he was full without even eating lunch.

"Dugu Qing, come sit down and eat!"

Holding an egg tart, Frieren pointed to the sofa beside Fern.

Fern's eyelashes fluttered at her words, and her beautiful eyes suddenly widened.

If Dugu Qing sat beside her, their arms would touch, and they would be able to hear each other's heartbeats.

Isn't this too fast?

I'm not ready yet!

Fern's eyes reddened, and a cool dampness clung to her long eyelashes.

She sat primly, her back straight, as if facing a formidable enemy.

It was as though Dugu Qing were not a graceful, handsome young man, but a demon king who could devour people.

"All right."

Dugu Qing smoothed the wrinkles in his clothes in front of the mirror and sat down on the sofa beside Fern.

He sat down. He really sat down! What should I do? I'm so nervous!

Though Fern still wore her usual aloof, icy expression, her thoughts were in turmoil, and she could only play the lady to perfection.

She leaned slightly toward the table, planted both feet flat on the floor, and used her chopsticks to pick up meat slowly and gently, eating in small bites without making a sound.

"Fern, you look so elegant when you eat!"

Dugu Qing gave Fern an admiring glance.

Fern pretended not to hear him and continued eating with poise and elegance, the corners of her red lips lifting in a lovely smile.

Frieren, meanwhile, was immersed in the pleasure of enjoying the food.

Before long, the three of them had swept all the food on the table clean.

Frieren lay back on the sofa in complete satisfaction, her legs propped up on it as she stared at the ceiling without a care for appearances.

The food Lord Dugu Qing makes is so delicious.

Fern murmured softly to herself.

Dugu Qing gathered the dishes from the table, went into the kitchen, and quietly washed them.

Seeing this, Fern meekly entered the kitchen and reached for the brush.

"Fern, there's no need. You're my guest. How could I let a guest wash the dishes?"

Dugu Qing stepped forward and blocked Fern's hand with his body.

Fern touched Dugu Qing, and her face reddened slightly as she pulled her hand back as if shocked.

"I understand, Lord Dugu Qing."

"Lord? We're close in age, Fern. Just call me by my name."

Fern nodded quietly, her expression soft, and reluctantly left.

Dugu Qing watched the girl's retreating figure, meek and serene, quiet and well-behaved, and a faint smile rose to his lips.

Frieren and Fern spent some time exploring the castle, admiring the oil paintings on the walls.

They said their goodbyes softly and slowly left the castle.

When the two reached the entrance, Frieren gave a cough.

Fern lowered her head in shame, wishing she could disappear.

Frieren picked Fern up by her belt, flew into the sky, and took off.

Fern didn't dare look at Dugu Qing. Her eyes narrowed to slits, her face burning hot, she left in misery.

"Flying while carrying someone like that? Nicely done, Frieren!"

Smiling in surprise, Dugu Qing went for a walk in the forest.

The trees rustled, but the forest was silent. The world said nothing, and quiet returned.

Dugu Qing couldn't get used to it for the moment, so he returned home.

Taking a bath towel and a bathrobe, he found a clear pool and gently jumped into the water.

Early the next morning.

Dugu Qing got up early, took a bath, and flew into the sky in high spirits, heading for Heiter's home.

At Heiter's home, two thousand meters away.

Dugu Qing descended from the sky, his red robe dancing in the wind, ripples running through its hem and displaying the perfect curves of his body.

Hearing the sound, Heiter went to the window and looked at the white-haired young man outside.

A flash of amazement crossed his eyes.

Though this young man wasn't Himmel, his features were picturesque, his face like a peach blossom. He was delicate and graceful, beautiful beyond compare.

What good looks!

If Himmel were still alive, he'd surely scream with envy.

Even so, Heiter saw the same bearing in Dugu Qing that Himmel had possessed.

Elegant and holy, with an otherworldly air.

His face was exquisitely sculpted, like a beautiful work of art.

Just looking at him was pleasing to the eye and refreshing to the mind, lifting one's spirits.

"Meow~"

A kitten passed beneath the mailbox, holding up an injured leg.

Dugu Qing looked at the yellow tabby in surprise, drawn by its adorable little face.

"Meow~"

The kitten's mew had a babyish lilt, like the cry of a newborn, inspiring pity.

Dugu Qing bent down and used the goddess's healing magic to treat the injury on the kitten's leg.

The kitten meekly bathed in the green light. Its body gradually recovered, and it gave Dugu Qing a grateful look before bounding away.

"That fellow really does have time on his hands!"

Standing on the second floor, Heiter felt a trace of admiration quietly grow in his eyes.

So he's someone blessed by the goddess too!

"Dugu Qing, you're up so early."

Hearing the cat, Fern opened the front door. When she saw Dugu Qing, her face lit up and her spirits soared, and she hurried over to him.

"I've always gone to bed early. I'm used to it."

"Lady Frieren is still asleep, so I'm afraid she won't be able to teach you. How about we go for a walk?"

Fern's starry eyes rippled, light shimmering in them.

"Sure!"

Frieren was still asleep, and getting up, washing, and eating would take her quite some time!

Dugu Qing rarely traveled far from home, and feeling eager to have some fun, he invited Fern.

"Fern, let's go have some fun in the city!"

Fern had only wanted to chat with Dugu Qing nearby. She hadn't expected him to want to go so far away. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she lowered her head, her gaze shifting away.

"What's wrong?"

"Dugu Qing, um, I haven't learned flight magic yet!"

Fern lowered her eyes, looking troubled.

"I'll take you!"

Dugu Qing raised a slender hand, drew his sword, tossed it into the air, and jumped onto the Battle Sword.

The Battle Sword hovered steadily ten centimeters above the ground.

Dugu Qing stood at the front of the sword, leaving a large stretch of the blade behind him, enough to accommodate one person.

"What kind of magic is that? It's amazing!"

Fern looked up at Dugu Qing, a faint blush coloring her lovely face.

"This is the first magic I created myself."

After transmigrating, Dugu Qing learned flight magic and made a few changes to it, turning it into Sword Flight.

Carrying a passenger was a piece of cake.

"Dugu Qing, you're amazing! When I fly with Lady Frieren, she just picks me up by my belt and takes off. It's not elegant at all."

Fern grumbled about Frieren as she stepped forward and jumped onto the flying sword.

Dugu Qing thought of Frieren flying while holding Fern by her belt, and burst out laughing.

Fern's dark brows knitted slightly. She reached out a delicate finger and gently poked Dugu Qing.

Dugu Qing stopped laughing and activated Sword Flight.

The long sword carried them high into the sky.

Their speed rose rapidly from slow to fast.

The world stretched boundlessly before them, and the wind was sharp.

Dugu Qing's white hair streamed freely, dancing wildly in disarray.

Standing behind Dugu Qing, Fern couldn't hear the noise of the world or the roar of the wind.

She was completely still and quiet, as though wrapped in happiness, and an immense sense of security swept over her.

Dugu Qing's white hair fluttered and brushed across Fern's face.

She felt a tickle in her heart as she gazed at Dugu Qing's back, her eyes as gentle as water.

They traveled so fast that, in the blink of an eye, they arrived outside the Holy Capital.