Ji Xie wiped his bloodstained mouth, chuckled at Li Xian's expression, and said:
"Renewing our contract."
[Ding!] [Congratulations to Li Xian and Ji Xie for fulfilling the skill's hidden conditions again!] [The Marriage Bond has been detected to remain with the same partner. Skill automatically upgraded! Effect obtained: Pair for Life] [Pair for Life: When either partner enters an instance, the other will automatically follow them into it. Note: After obtaining this effect, the Marriage Bond will remain active by default. To dissolve it, destroy both Marriage Certificates held by the respective partners by any means. (Destruction by only one partner is invalid. If either partner accidentally damages theirs, a replacement can be issued for 100 points.)]
"Renewing... our contract?"
"Did you have to renew it like this?!"
"What do you mean, 'like this'? You're the one who taught me this method."
For a moment, Li Xian was speechless. He silently repeated to himself:
He's not human, he's not human, he's not human...
"What do you want from me?"
Li Xian composed his expression and asked the pointed question.
"You don't need to know that."
Ji Xie gave an evasive answer. Li Xian wanted to press him, but just then, the flames began to dwindle.
The fire had flared up suddenly, yet it died out just as swiftly. Once it began to burn itself out, it rapidly shrank and vanished. The paintings, too, seemed to disappear into thin air, leaving not a trace of ash behind, as though everything they had just set alight had been an illusion.
Song Qingzhang and Liang Pei walked over to Li Xian, completely unaware of what had just happened between the two men. Liang Pei asked in confusion:
"Why isn't the task to attend the art exhibition complete yet?"
Only then did