Tang Yue had been away for nearly half a year, so naturally, they had a lot to catch up on. They'd only just finished a simple recap when dusk fell.
"Gurgle, gurgle~"
It wasn't until Tang Miao's stomach started protesting that the two of them finally got up and jumped down from the Dark Serpent's head.
Tang Yue was doing a little better, since she was already an Intermediate Mage.
After leaving the middle of the lake, the two headed toward their village. The Dark Serpent shrank down and coiled around Tang Miao's shoulder.
Seeing this, Tang Yue said helplessly, "Do you take it with you everywhere you go...?"
"Of course! It's my loyal little fan now."
Tang Miao glanced at the mini Dark Serpent on his shoulder, then looked back at Tang Yue, his eyes practically turning into hearts.
Tang Yue reached out and pinched his ear, scolding him, "Didn't I tell you? The big guy can't leave this place!"
"Ow, ow, ow..."
Tang Miao was utterly aggrieved. I used to flirt with her as my future wife, and now she's practically become my elder...
Watching him howl like a ghost, Tang Yue said helplessly, "Come on~ I'm not even using that much force!"
Tang Miao slipped free of her hand in a flash, then wrapped an arm around her slender waist. With a slight pull, they were standing face-to-face. He grinned. "Oh, I was just practicing!"
Pressed close together, they felt so good to Tang Miao that he was practically in heaven!
Tang Yue felt herself being squeezed and blushed, trying to escape his embrace. But somehow, he was stronger than she was. She couldn't push him away at all...
As Tang Miao puckered his lips and leaned closer, Tang Yue instinctively put a hand over his mouth. She asked in surprise, "When did you get so strong?!"
She might have been a woman, but she was also an Intermediate Mage.
It wasn't as if Mages had especially powerful physiques, but surely an ordinary person shouldn't be able to hold her so tightly that she couldn't break free!
It looked like kissing her was out of the question, so Tang Miao said, "Ah, I was so caught up listening to your story that I forgot to tell you. I'm a Mage now too."
Tang Yue was surprised. "You awakened?!"
But soon, she realized something didn't add up. Almost everyone in this village was a Mage, and if someone awakened, her uncle—Tang Zhong—would know right away. He might not pay attention to everyone, but he couldn't possibly overlook Tang Miao, the one chosen by the Dark Serpent.
Then Tang Yue hurriedly asked, "When did this happen? How come I didn't know?"
Seeing her puzzled expression, Tang Miao let go of her. Then he replied, "Your phone's been unreachable, so I haven't had a chance to tell you."
Then Tang Miao began connecting the Star Seeds, one... three... until the seventh Star Seed lined up with the other six.
In an instant, a dazzling Star Path appeared within the gorgeous Star Dust. It shone with the purple energy of lightning, using the first Star Seed as a medium, like a shooting star dragging a long, magnificent purple tail as it streaked past the other six Star Seeds!
The Star Path formed!
Magic appeared!
"Purple Sky, Thunder Seal, Serpent Scar!"
With the spell complete, Tang Miao unleashed it at the ground in the distance.
"Rumble~!"
A bolt of lightning, a deeper purple than ordinary Lightning Magic, came crashing down from the sky. A semicircular crater, five or six meters wide, appeared in the ground.
Looking at the earth split by the lightning, Tang Yue's mouth fell open. For a moment, she could hardly believe what she was seeing.
"This..."
Tang Yue didn't know what to say. After looking around and making sure no one was nearby, she went over to Tang Miao, took his hand, and led him into the woods.
Tang Yue suddenly pulling him toward the trees sent Tang Miao's imagination running wild. After all, he was usually the one who liked doing this sort of thing!
Once they were in the woods, Tang Yue checked their surroundings again to make sure they were alone. Only then did she look at Tang Miao with a grave expression. "Tang Miao, tell me the truth. What's going on? Have you... have you been in contact with any strange people?"
Tang Miao had been about to tell her there were mosquitoes around. Sneaking off into the woods was exciting, sure, but getting bitten by mosquitoes was miserable.
But after hearing her question and seeing how serious she was, he understood. She was afraid he'd gotten mixed up with the Black Vatican, wasn't she?
He knew Tang Yue was worried about him, but the dangers of the Black Vatican weren't news to him. Tang Zhong had nagged him about it at least ten times, and he'd read plenty of novels himself!
"What are you thinking? The Dark Serpent is with me all day. You can ask it whether I've been in contact with anyone!"
The Dark Serpent seemed to understand that Tang Yue had wronged its little boss.
It flicked its tongue and hissed, explaining things to Tang Miao's defense.
Seeing the Dark Serpent speak up for him, and Tang Miao's displeased expression at being distrusted, Tang Yue relaxed. She wrapped an arm around his and gave it a gentle sway, her voice turning sweet. "I was just worried you were young and didn't know any better. I didn't distrust you."
And sure enough, Tang Miao had been pretty annoyed, but the moment he felt that soft warmth against him, all his frustration vanished...
"Couldn't you try a different approach? You always pull this one."
Tang Yue blinked her alluring eyes and smiled. "It doesn't matter how many approaches there are, as long as it works, right?"
She knew Tang Miao's temper. He got upset quickly, but just as quickly got over it. Still, she had been unfair to suspect him, so Tang Yue explained again, "I was only worried the Black Vatican might trick you. That's why I got so tense. I didn't distrust you."
Tang Miao waved a hand. "Your husband isn't an idiot. How could I be fooled by those things that skulk in the dark?"
At his calling himself her husband, Tang Yue let go of his arm and stepped back. She spat, "Husband? Don't be shameless..."
The warmth was gone, and so was her fragrance. Tang Miao protested, "Hey, hey, hey! You promised to marry me ages ago!"
Tang Yue gave him a coquettish, exasperated glare, then softly clicked her tongue. "You said you'd let me live carefree, like a princess. How come it seems like you're the prince now?"
Tang Miao licked his lips. "That was then. From now on, I'll protect you. Why don't we go register our marriage first?"
Tang Yue's cheeks burned. She blew him a kiss, lifted her head with a hint of pride, and walked ahead on her own, not bothering to pay him any attention.
Get married now?
What would people think of her?
Tang Miao was only sixteen, after all!
Watching the soft sway of her hips, Tang Miao muttered to himself, I wonder when I'll finally score... Then he hurried after her.
But after walking a few steps, Tang Yue suddenly stopped. Tang Miao acted as though he hadn't seen her and walked straight into her, wrapping an arm around her to keep her from falling.
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