As time passed, Feixiao's cheeks grew rosier, making him want to take a bite just to see whether they tasted sweet.
A mist gradually clouded her bright eyes, and strange little sounds escaped her lips.
"Oh my~~~!" Sparkle's eyes widened in surprise. She leaned her petite body forward and cupped her hands around her eyes like binoculars.
"H-have you finished touching me yet?
" Feixiao's voice trembled, but Lingchen, who had spent several days fighting with her, could still hear a trace of irritation in it.
Perhaps if he kept rubbing her ears a little longer, he would get to see her in a truly embarrassing state.
But clearly, Feixiao would not let that happen, especially in front of Sparkle.
Perhaps the other way around would have been easier to accept.
So, just as Feixiao's body began to go limp and she bit her lip, about to pull away, Lingchen unleashed the power of [Purification].
Imaginary Energy carried the power of [Purification] into the ears atop Feixiao's head like a rushing torrent, flowing straight through every part of her body.
In that instant, it was like a parched riverbed receiving the first flood of summer, or a wilting flower finally receiving the fresh water it had longed for.
But to Feixiao, it felt more like a tightly sealed floodgate, battered by floodwaters, had suddenly been opened.
A strange sensation traveled from her head to her tailbone, then back up to her head. She clenched her fists, then relaxed them, her head tilting slightly back. Her eyes went blank, and she bit down hard on her lip without making a sound.
Lingchen hurriedly caught Feixiao as she collapsed, her body still twitching.
For a moment, he was completely stunned.
Sparkle stopped fooling around too. She took out her phone and was about to do something, only to discover that it had turned into a hawthorn fruit roll. All she could do was pout and set it aside.
Although the hawthorn roll Lingchen had transformed it into was indeed edible, Sparkle still needed the information stored on her phone.
Several minutes later, Feixiao finally recovered. She was about to say something, but Lingchen spoke first.
"Wait, I didn't expect you to react so strongly either. Check the changes in your body first. This is my gift to you.
" At those words, Feixiao temporarily suppressed her urge to drag Lingchen to the Training Grounds for three hundred rounds of combat and examined her physical condition instead.
Foxians had constitutions similar to Xianzhou natives, and theirs were powerful too-powerful enough to repair even hidden injuries. But when those injuries became too frequent and numerous, and more and more external energy remained inside them, their bodies would begin to treat it as something that naturally belonged there. Thus, those hidden injuries or foreign energies remained.
Normally, however, those injuries caused Foxians no pain and could be ignored entirely.
Now, Feixiao could feel that every hidden injury in her body, whether from battle or training, had vanished.
Her mind had become much clearer too.
It was like a nearsighted person putting on perfectly fitted glasses.
The Heart Beast's agitation had almost disappeared, as though it had fallen asleep.
Although her Moon Frenzy had not been cured, its effect on her was now negligible.
For the moment, she lost any desire to get "revenge" on Lingchen. After all, he had not done it "on purpose."
"I know what you're thinking, and I know the conviction you've always held.
" Lingchen helped Feixiao up. With his other hand, he grabbed Sparkle, who was blocking the way, by the back of her collar and set her aside, then settled Feixiao on the sofa.
"So I'm not going to tell you to enter your Moon Frenzy state less often from now on. At present, I only possess the power of [Purification]. It can keep you free from Moon Frenzy's mental and physical effects for a month, letting you use its power as freely as you like.
" The power of Moon Frenzy would cause the energy within Feixiao to swell rapidly and run "wild."
If left unchecked, that energy would eventually burst through her body, tear her flesh apart, and blow her to pieces everywhere, making the "flying" in her name all too literal.
Now, the power of purification classified all of those effects as negative and suppressed them.
As for why he did not solve the problem completely, first, Moon Frenzy was connected not only to Paths and blessings, but also to bloodline and genetics. That would have to wait until he possessed the authority of [Life Force]. Second, "Although you won't feel pain, and Moon Frenzy will essentially become a skill, you'll need to come to me every month for purification.
" "Is that really true?" "Of course." Looking at Feixiao's eager gaze, Lingchen smiled and nodded.
"You can treat it as a skill, but once you notice very obvious emotional fluctuations while using it, you should come to me. Understood?" Having experienced how good the skill felt, how could Feixiao possibly want to return to the way things were? When the time came, that sensation might leave her terribly embarrassed, but little by little, she would grow used to it.
"All right.
Although I shouldn't ask this, could you make it into a pill? I asked Diviner Fu earlier, and she didn't hide anything.
" Lingchen had taken out pills in front of Fu Xuan before, so she knew he could imbue his authority into them.
As for Feixiao, she wanted to carry them with her, and then she could... "Of course I can, but I don't want to. You need a break after fighting for too long, and besides, I want you to come see me.
" Lingchen spoke calmly, but Feixiao was anything but calm as she listened.
In the end, as they met each other's eyes, Feixiao conceded.
"All right.
By the way, does Sparkle want to leave too?" P.S. Thanks to Hope There Are No Courtyard Houses for the monthly ticket.
Thank you for your support, dear readers.
I feel like the person in the picture could be my wife.
Chapter 71: If You Insist. Hearing her name, Sparkle immediately ran over.
"What is it? What is it? Is Lingchen finally going to make his move? I never imagined you'd invite the great Sparkle too. Sigh~ Fine, since the great Sparkle is already your fiancée. Come on.
" Before Lingchen could say anything, Sparkle had already rattled off a string of words.
She even spread her arms and closed her eyes.
Lingchen's expression darkened, and he slapped Sparkle squarely on her pert backside.
He had to admit, that slap instantly made him feel better. Regardless of his mood, he felt a few slaps whenever he had time would not be a bad idea.
Like Silver Wolf, Sparkle was a woman who could relieve his fatigue.
"Heh, heh. Rather than that, I'd prefer you to help me with your feet.
" "S-so that's what you like, darling~" Sparkle's eyes widened. She looked down at her feet in their wooden sandals and unconsciously wiggled her round little toes, then glanced at Feixiao before finally looking at Lingchen. "You really do think of nothing but yourself~" "Of course. It took considerable resolve for me to say that.
" Lingchen looked smug. Even Feixiao, who had been feeling shy just moments earlier, was left speechless.
Why couldn't she understand them? "Tell me, why are you so determined to leave? Aren't my stories entertaining?" Lingchen pulled Sparkle in front of him, held her little hands, and asked "earnestly."
"Wait, don't tell me you can't bear to let the great Sparkle leave?" Hearing his question, Sparkle seemed to discover something. She leaned forward, her body beginning to sway from side to side in her excitement.
"Huh? Could it be... darling has been so hopelessly captivated by the great Sparkle's unrivaled charm that, faced with my departure, he can only beg desperately for me to stay?
Ooh~~ How pitiful~!" Sparkle held her little hands before her chest and twisted her body, pretending to look pathetic. Then her expression changed in an instant, filling with a different sort of anticipation.
"Hee-hee, why don't you beg Sparkle a little more? The great Sparkle will definitely agree to stay on account of how cute you are. How about it?" Before Sparkle could say anything else, Lingchen gave his answer.
Smack- One slap, and the little minx instantly stood at attention.
"Y-you..." This man had actually slapped her again! "You what? Little Sparkle, you can play your tricks, but if you play them on me, be prepared for the consequences. Such as me personally showing you a few tricks of my own.
You know I've been taking my time building affection, but that doesn't mean I can't get straight to it.
Especially since I've always thought you had another Edo Star-style name-Asakusa Sparkle.
" Building affection was a game for the strong, and a way for Lingchen to gradually grow accustomed to the power within him and elevate his "realm." But with someone like Sparkle, whether he built affection or went straight to it was a matter of a single thought.
If not for the fact that she was one of the Masked Fools, and it would be best if she were not his first, lest the subsequent romantic battleground become troublesome, Lingchen would have made his move long ago.
After all, having chosen to build a harem, he had to take some risks.
To keep everyone in line, wisdom and power aside, it would be best to have someone a little unhinged or exceptionally aloof.
Otherwise, someone like a Masked Fool might prove difficult to control, running around seeking amusement and setting the whole household off every day.
Hearing Lingchen's words and seeing the five fingers he extended toward her flexing,
Sparkle immediately covered her backside and obediently cooperated, looking "wronged."
"The great Sparkle understands.
" At present, Sparkle felt, at most, some affection and a great deal of curiosity toward Lingchen. But if they really got straight to it, she would still feel a little apprehensive.
After all, it was hard for a Masked Fool to develop ordinary romantic feelings.
"But if you insist, I can only give it to you.
" In truth, Sparkle herself did not mind all that much. After all, the instant Aha had thrown her over here, she had known that her future was already inseparably tangled with Lingchen's.
Sooner or later, it would happen.
Since that was the case, although she had her own way of [Elation], experiencing another kind of [Elation], one she had never ventured into before, did not seem so bad.
Besides, knowing Lingchen's intentions, she could later use her position as the first to find some amusement.
But sure enough, when the moment really arrived, she still got a tiny bit nervous.
??? Lingchen's earlier thoughts were overturned in an instant. He did not even care that she still called herself "the great Sparkle" while backing down. After all, she had "invited" him like this. If he still did nothing, wouldn't he be letting down Sparkle's name? Suddenly, Lingchen felt that taking her right away might not be such a bad idea.
After all, he had realized that a Masked Fool's love was not easy to obtain.
If not for certain reasons, why would those people put on masks?
In that case, they might as well first get intimately acquainted with each other. After enough times, their feelings would surely deepen.
After all, Sparkle's future was already bound to his.
Sparkle had yet to realize that Lingchen had made his decision.
"You still haven't answered my question~" With his thoughts settled, his horizons opened, and Lingchen instantly became calm.
Feixiao tilted her head. Although she did not quite understand what the two were talking about, her warrior's sixth sense told her that Lingchen seemed to have made some sort of decision.
"Although your stories are like fantasies made up by ordinary people, they really are interesting.
" "Then were the stories I made up especially for you boring?" At that, Sparkle obediently shook her head, then nodded.
"Not those either. Like the one where Princess Sparkle chose to help Prince Lingchen sell bananas so they could elope and live happily together, but came home that night crying in Prince Lingchen's arms, saying she'd lost money on the bananas.
But... sigh~ The great Sparkle is just a pure, innocent, adorable girl. How could I possibly know what Prince Lingchen was talking about~?" Listening to Sparkle mutter, then seeing her suddenly look up and wink at him, Lingchen rolled his eyes speechlessly.
He had never told that story.
Actually, since Sparkle usually had little entertainment, she would listen nearby when Lingchen played with Bailu and told her stories. Sometimes, he would make up an identity or background for Sparkle for fun.
"In that case, why do you want to leave?" P.S. I can still update two more chapters today. Registration has ended. More than 1,200 people-my scalp is tingling.
Chapter 72: An Evening Stroll
Sparkle's eyes instantly filled with longing for the world beyond her cage. "The world is so big. I want to see it.
" "Little Sparkle really does only think about herself in everything." Lingchen chuckled. "In that case, do as you please. I knew from the start that you weren't the type to sit still. You've stayed on the Xianzhou for so long that you've already exceeded my expectations. Speaking of which, when are you leaving? Want to hitch a ride?" Lingchen pointed at Feixiao, whose complexion had returned to normal. As it happened, she was leaving tomorrow too.
"I'll pass. The great Sparkle has already found her destination civilization.
" Sparkle blinked playfully.
Clearly, that civilization was not on Feixiao's route.
Just looking at Sparkle's eager expression, Lingchen observed three seconds of silence for that civilization he had never encountered.
Night descended on the Luofu under the regulation of its ecological climate system.
"I didn't expect you to accompany me on a walk.
" When Fu Xuan was not at the Divination Commission, Lingchen knew Qingque was still burning the midnight oil.
If this went on much longer, her Imperial Jade tiles would probably gather several layers of dust.
"That's because ever since Jing Yuan mentioned the idea of 'General Qingque' last time, you've stepped up her training.
" Training someone meant investing considerable energy and time, especially for the Diviner. Even on days off, members of the Divination Commission had to return to work whenever they were needed.
And the Diviner was naturally the busiest of them all.
Fu Xuan blushed at Lingchen's words.
"Ahem, that's because I think highly of Qingque. Her ability to handle problems has improved considerably lately compared with before.
" "That still isn't a reason to shift some of the general's office's duties onto her, is it?
" Lingchen was rather speechless.
Yes, Jing Yuan's remark had indeed prompted Fu Xuan to intensify Qingque's training. But although Jing Yuan had mostly abandoned that idea, mostly did not mean entirely. Thus, work from the Seat of Divine Foresight would sometimes find its way into Qingque's hands too.
Qingque had also noticed that some matters did not fall under the Divination Commission's responsibilities, but Fu Xuan had brushed her off with, "If you can also handle matters outside the Divination Commission's duties in an orderly fashion, I will reduce your workload accordingly."
"You should know what Jing Yuan thinks of me, right?" Rather than answering directly, Fu Xuan asked this question while sipping her milk tea.
"I do. The Diviner of the Divination Commission is straightforward, impatient, and stubborn. She puts too much trust in the Divine Eye and in elusive fate, overlooking the complexity of reality, so she still needs some tempering.
" Listening to Lingchen recite those words, Fu Xuan could not help feeling that something about them was a little off.