Calm down and hear me out!

Jianxin nodded. "I promised not to use my abilities to win, but Zhiyuan still couldn't withstand a single move."

"After his defeat, Zhiyuan realized that Remnants aren't human, and that he couldn't even protect himself. His talk of fighting enemies on the battlefield was nothing but empty words."

"What you said earlier was right, Master. There are indeed things he can do in the military camp, but he should work within his abilities rather than just talk strategy on paper."

Lu Li sighed. "That's good, then. But that means we'll have to part ways."

"What am I going to do without my clairvoyant eyes...?"

Jianxin smiled at his words, then stepped forward and hugged Lu Li tightly.

Lu Li was a little bewildered. Looking down, he found Jianxin nestled against his chest, her cheeks flushed as she gazed up at him adoringly with her clear eyes.

Lu Li's voice tightened. "My disciple, romance between master and disciple isn't a good idea!"

Jianxin shook her head, a glimmer of resolve flashing in her eyes. "Master, Master Rong Fu once taught me to follow my heart."

"Right now, I have no other thoughts. I only want to hold you and feel the warmth of your broad embrace."

"I believe someone like you will surely walk a noble path, Master. I'll work hard to keep up with your footsteps, too."

Jianxin's words left Lu Li feeling ashamed.

What fucking noble heart do I have?

I've got plenty of room for bullshit, though.

[Ding! Choices triggered!]

[Option 1: Accept the girl's overflowing love. Reward: Skill "Red Skies • Shadowless."]

[Option 2: Firmly reject her and give Jianxin a lecture. Reward: "Run Like a Boss" increases by one level.]

[Option 3: Neither accept nor reject her. Reward: "Blood Blade Technique" increases by one level.]

"Uh..."

"Those are all pretty generous rewards..."

As tempting as another level in the Blood Blade Technique was, he really wanted to know what "Red Skies • Shadowless" was.

As the saying went, you could never have too many skills!

A Piao, Yangyang, Chixia, Sanhua, Bai Zhi, Jinhsi, it really isn't that I want to accept her. The system is forcing me!

Blame the system if you have to blame someone!

It absolutely isn't because I want to accept her. Absolutely not!

[System: I don't know whether Big Yellow is a dog, but you certainly aren't human.]

Lu Li held Jianxin against his chest, lowered his head, and gently nuzzled her with his cheek as he said softly:

"Jianxin, I understand your feelings now. I'm very fond of you, too."

"But there are more important things to deal with right now. Once everything has settled, we can try being 'lovers' together. How does that sound?"

With that, Lu Li's lips brushed gently over Jianxin's forehead, leaving a light kiss.

"Mm..."

After a long while, Jianxin gently pushed Lu Li away and cupped her fist in salute.

"Master, A Piao, Yangyang, I'll be taking my leave. Once I've settled things on my end, I'll come find you all."

After speaking, Jianxin stole another shy glance at Lu Li before leaving.

The setting sun stretched the girl's shadow long.

It was hard to tell whether the sunset enhanced the beauty of her face or her face adorned the sunset.

Lu Li watched her retreating figure with a smile on his lips. Even the bustling camp seemed less tense amid that tender atmosphere.

Just as Lu Li was still immersed in those feelings, he suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck.

A Piao's delicate hand stroked the back of Lu Li's neck, neither too gently nor too firmly.

"You're quite popular with the ladies, aren't you?"

"You're even going to try being 'lovers' with her? Hmm?"

Sensing A Piao's murderous intent, Lu Li gave an awkward smile. "A Piao, calm down and hear me out!"

"What, do you have any last words?"

Lu Li declared righteously, "As Jianxin's master, I have to guide her down the right path!"

"I once taught her what it means to love the world. Now she wants to learn about personal love, so as her master, I naturally have to lead by example!"

"I can't let someone with ulterior motives lead my dear disciple astray!"

A Piao sneered. "Hmph. I think you're the one with ulterior motives!"

Lu Li said, "Hey! That's where you're wrong!"

"If even her master can't guide Jianxin down the right path, no one else stands a chance!"

"A Piao, do you still not understand my good intentions?"

For all Lu Li's silver-tongued eloquence, he still couldn't change A Piao's determination to pin him beneath her.

[Ding! Option 1, "Accept the girl's love," completed. Skill "Red Skies • Shadowless" obtained.]

[Red Skies • Shadowless Lv1: Searches the surrounding area for the nearest enemy target and launches 10 consecutive slashes against them, stunning the target for 2 seconds on the final strike. If the enemy target dies during the slashes, another target will be sought until all 10 slashes are complete. (Note: This skill has an extremely high consumption cost. Use with caution.)]

[Ding! Option 3, "Stay by A Piao's side," completed. Talent "Sharpshooter" obtained.]

[Sharpshooter: Every shot hits. No bullet misses.]

Yangyang looked up at A Piao, who was riding on Lu Li's shoulders, with a complicated expression.

"Meeting the young Daoist Jianxin should have been a coincidence. If the Mangosteen points to war, what exactly was Magistrate Jinhsi trying to tell us?"

A Piao gently stroked Lu Li's head. "The world is born of war and suffers because of it."

"Perhaps she wants me to meet someone."

"Maybe it just hasn't been triggered yet."

"She's only giving me an opportunity."

Lu Li tilted his face and glanced upward. "A Piao, talking from so high up must be tiring. Come down and take a break!"

A Piao smiled. "Not at all. It's very comfortable."

Her hand slowly moved down, brushing against Lu Li's cheek.

Lu Li: ...

I'm shaking with rage! When will the strongest Resonator in Solaris finally get to stand tall?

Yangyang said, "...What have you two thought of?"

The corner of Lu Li's mouth lifted. "As I see it, the answer is already obvious!"

A Piao smiled. "Oh? Let's see if we're thinking of the same person."

"The person Magistrate Jinhsi wants us to meet is the commander of Huanglong's Midnight Rangers-Jiyan!"

Lu Li spoke with certainty. A Piao nodded in satisfaction. "Exactly. As expected of my ultimate mouthpiece."

"?"

"Since when did I become your mouthpiece?"

Just as Lu Li was still looking utterly baffled, the Tacet Mark on A Piao's right hand, which was stroking his cheek, suddenly lit up.

Almost simultaneously, a young, urgent voice echoed through Lu Li's and A Piao's minds.

"Food... food..."

Suddenly, their consciousness seemed to be dragged by an invisible force, and a profound darkness swallowed their vision.

Then a dazzling white light flashed deep within their consciousness, like a guiding beacon.

Their consciousness involuntarily flowed along with that wave of light, as though it were pulling them forward...

Suddenly, the wave of light exploded within their consciousness, like the birth of a supernova, brilliant and fleeting.

The sudden explosion seemed to interrupt both their thoughts.

Their consciousness began to sink slowly, as though descending into a boundless ocean, its depths unfathomable...