Su Li watched Saina's retreating back.
"Say less. She grew up in the village, and she's soft-hearted by nature."
Elena lounged against the chair, her long legs crossed, the hem of her red dress eye-catching.
"I'm teaching her the rules. If a third-tier knight still carries around the heart of a bleeding fool, she'll get herself killed sooner or later. You can't protect her behind your back for the rest of your life."
Su Li said nothing. He rose to his feet, ready to return to the woodshed and continue forging.
"Wait." Elena called after him.
"Are we still bathing tonight?" she asked in a lowered voice, her tone unnatural.
Su Li glanced back at her.
"Obviously. I just broke through to the third tier, and my realm hasn't stabilized yet. We'll keep charging tonight."
Elena's face flushed slightly, and she stiffly turned her head away.
"The tub's too cramped. We'll buy a bigger one tomorrow."
"You're paying for the tub?"
"I'll pay, then! This young lady has plenty of money!"
Night fell.
Oil lamps lit up in every household along Ginkgo Alley.
In the little building where Su Li lived, the bathroom door was tightly locked.
Steam billowed within.
"Don't move," Su Li said, stopping them.
The two immediately settled down.
Su Li felt the immense power within him. Once the barrier of the third-tier knight had been broken, his meridians had widened by a full twofold.
Aether surged through his limbs and bones like a roaring river. The Sword Spirit Root was like a tireless water pump, violently wrenching the free aether from the air into his body.
"Su Li," Saina said softly.
"Mm?"
"If... I mean, if the war really reaches the Free City-State, what will we do?"
The bathroom fell silent.
Only the faint sound