Liang Qiqi, Feng Liuliu, Wang Hao

The three of them instantly turned their gaze toward the door. A tavern this early in the morning?

Virgo and Leo looked at Wang Hao—unless they had the same purpose as him.

"I'll go, I'll go!" Leo stood up excitedly and ran toward the door.

Wang Hao's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. It must be White Court sending more people.

"Hey hey~ What can I do for you two?" Leo bounced over and opened the shop door.

A man and a woman exchanged a glance before speaking slowly: "Stars Emerge from the Sky Curtain, Black Palace Eternal."

Leo's eyes lit up. "Welcome, welcome~ Come in, come in!"

New people at last!

Leo couldn't stand boredom, so having someone join was thrilling.

She led them to a table, and they sat across from each other.

This meant a test was coming. Last time, Virgo had tested Wang Hao.

This time, since Leo was here, she'd let her handle it.

"First, introduce yourselves. Then I need to assess your strength," Leo said cheerfully.

The woman laughed openly. "No problem. I'm Liang Qiqi, twenty years old."

Tall figure, neat high ponytail, a bright smile at the corner of her mouth.

Leo really liked Liang Qiqi!

The guy beside her pushed up his glasses. "Feng Liuliu, twenty-one."

Short hair, glasses, fair skin, a cool temperament.

Leo felt he was like a venomous snake hiding in the shadows.

"My test is—arm wrestling! Use whatever method you want. Two hands, four hands, anything goes." Leo planted her hands on her hips, confident.

"Alright!"

Liang Qiqi smiled confidently and placed her hand on the table.

Leo grinned and gripped Liang Qiqi's hand.

Virgo stepped between them. "Ready... go!"

Boom!

An invisible shockwave rippled out from between their hands, rattling the drinks with a clink.

Leo's eyes lit up. This girl had some strength!

But Liang Qiqi's face turned serious. She felt like she was facing a towering mountain—no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't budge it an inch.

Then Leo looked at the unmoved Feng Liuliu. "You're not joining in?"

Feng Liuliu smiled. "Leave this to Qiqi."

Virgo's eyes flickered at that.

Seeing that Leo still had the nerve to worry about Feng Liuliu, Liang Qiqi's competitive spirit surged. She gritted her teeth. "Are you... looking down on me?!"

In an instant, a layer of white True Qi spread over her hand, and for a moment, she actually pushed Leo's hand back a little.

"Ooh! That's interesting." Leo was pleasantly surprised.

But Liang Qiqi's heart grew heavier. This little girl in front of her was still using pure physical strength, even at this point.

"But, playtime's over!"

Leo grinned. Liang Qiqi only felt an overwhelming force surge through her hand—unstoppable!

"Are you ticklish?"

A voice suddenly came from beside Leo, making her pause.

She answered instinctively, "A bit."

"Good."

The moment the words left her mouth, Leo sensed something wrong. Before she could speak, she felt fingers wiggling under her armpit.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Laughing uncontrollably, Leo couldn't keep up her strength.

Liang Qiqi felt the pressure release and pushed Leo's hand down.

She pulled back her hand, only to see Leo spring up and land on the floor.

Rolling around, laughing hysterically.

"HAHAHA! You... HAHAHA!"

Feng Liuliu crouched beside her, looking a bit helpless, still holding the tickling pose. "I only did it once."

After about half a minute, Leo finally stopped, wiping tears as she stood up.

"How did you get to that place?"

She hadn't noticed at all!

Feng Liuliu pushed up his glasses. "Secret."

Virgo nodded in understanding. "Alright, no matter what, you've passed! Little lady, you've got some strength in those hands! Practice a bit more and you can spar with me!"

Liang Qiqi gave a wry smile. "Not at all, Sister Leo is the impressive one."

Leo puffed up with pride at that and rubbed her nose.

But then Virgo stepped forward. "Hold on, I have something to ask you."

"From the way this Feng Liuliu talks, it sounds like you two know each other?"

Virgo's eyes turned dangerous. In her logic, the people of Black Palace from back then were either dead or scattered—how could the younger generation know each other?

Leo scratched her head, still wondering what the big deal was.

Feng Liuliu adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "Our fathers knew each other, so of course we do. We've even aimed to join Black Palace since we were kids."

"Is that so?" Virgo frowned slightly.

At that, Feng Liuliu turned his gaze to Wang Hao. "If you don't believe me, ask my big brother."

Leo & Virgo: ???

Wang Hao clasped his hands behind his back, fists tight.

Damn you, Feng Liuliu! You pull this kind of stunt without discussing it with me!

Though rage boiled inside, his face stayed blank. "Yeah, I'm their big brother."

Virgo raised an eyebrow. "Elaborate?"

"Fate. We all lived together."

"And then you got along?"

"Pretty much."

"Oh."

Virgo nodded.

Feng Liuliu: ???

Wait, hold on? That's it?

Now it was his turn to be baffled.

Feng Liuliu had meant to mess with Wang Hao, expecting him to fumble his way through, but he hadn't expected this woman to trust Wang Hao so completely!

He shot Wang Hao a "not bad" look, only to meet eyes blazing with murderous intent.

Feng Liuliu chuckled nervously and sidestepped a couple of paces.

"What can you do out in the open?" Virgo asked.

"Mm... I can only work as a waitress," Liang Qiqi said after a moment's thought.

"I can mix drinks." Feng Liuliu smirked.

Virgo and Sister Leo's eyes lit up.

A bartender! They were sorely lacking one!

Leo and Virgo both slapped Feng Liuliu on the shoulder. "We're leaving it to you from now on."

"No problem." Feng Liuliu smiled.

But he had no idea that these two would become his nightmare.

Over here.

Wan Qingyun and Jiang Junyi had already left the earlier high-temperature environment and were each tending to their own matters.

Jiang Junyi was browsing Taobao, thinking that couples and spouses ought to have little surprises for each other.

Wan Qingyun was focused on processing documents, occasionally stretching.

Jiang Junyi noticed this and remembered he had the God-tier Massage Technique!

So he quietly slipped over to Wan Qingyun, placed his warm, large hands on her shoulders and neck, and gently kneaded.

Wan Qingyun sensed it but didn't stop him—she really was a bit tired.

"Qingyun~"

"Mm?"

"I've got a massage technique that's unbeatable. Want to try it?"

"Aren't you doing it right now?" Wan Qingyun asked, puzzled.

"Uh... this technique of mine is the Foot Therapy Skill."

Foot therapy?

Wan Qingyun paused. "But my calves have no feeling..."

Hearing this, Jiang Junyi's movements softened. "Just give it a try. My foot therapy skill might help you recover."

Wan Qingyun hesitated. She really did want to stand again, but...

"You don't have some perverted idea, do you?"

"Me!" Jiang Junyi was momentarily speechless. "How could I? I just want to try... see if it... works..."

"Hmph... Sounds a bit guilty."

Wan Qingyun gave a cold snort, but then let out a sigh.

"Forget it. I'll give it a try."