That was wholehearted involvement.
But if he were to call it love... Lingchen shook his head slightly.
Sparkle and Feixiao had spent the least time with him.
At least Feixiao had chatted with him online, and even then, she had only developed a fondness for him.
Well, that fondness had grown by now.
After all, one drunken encounter and one intense [Purification] later, their relationship was bound to move forward, provided those experiences hadn't left her hating him.
Sparkle, however, really had only gotten to know him recently. Lingchen could say with certainty that she was curious about him, but he had only truly confirmed her affection when she made that remark to needle him.
After all, Sparkle had never been someone who took these things lightly.
But as long as she could be certain that her future involved Lingchen, that she couldn't escape his clutches, and that they had some degree of compatibility, Sparkle could be very bold indeed.
Experiencing a new kind of [Elation] ahead of time, then gradually deepening their feelings afterward, was effectively experiencing two kinds of [Elation] different from her own at once.
She was one of the Masked Fools, after all, and certainly far more adventurous than most.
"Lingchen, Lingchen, over here!"
"Hm? Bailu?" "Why did you come to Aurum Alley so early today?" Bailu asked curiously as soon as Lingchen sat down across from her.
"Because someone called me a weakling yesterday, only to become the weakling herself when we fought, begging me for mercy the whole time.
"I woke up feeling refreshed, so naturally, I had to treat myself."
"Speaking of which, I do feel like you've changed a little."
Bailu looked Lingchen up and down, then moved to sit beside him.
How should she put it? He seemed more enticing.
It was like an ordinary hawthorn becoming a Qiongshi Bird Skewer, enough to make someone's mouth water.
"How have I changed?" "You're more energetic and more charming." Bailu tilted her little head and studied Lingchen carefully before finally shaking it. "Hmm~ I can't quite put it into words. You're so much stronger than me that I can't tell just by looking. I'd have to check your pulse."
"Let's skip that. Speaking of which, little Bailu, why did you come here so early in the morning, and all alone at that?" Faced with Bailu's expectant gaze, Lingchen hurriedly shook his head.
He didn't yet know what Sparkle was thinking, but one thing was certain: now that she was thoroughly tied to him, she would probably seek out even more amusement.
Lingchen didn't really mind, though. That was Sparkle's one hobby, and with him there to back her up, who could refuse to let her have her fun?
"Hehe, I snuck out this time. It's been ages since I last did that, and I suddenly wanted to try it today."
Thanks to Lingchen, all Bailu had to do was say she was going out to play with him, and nobody dared stop her. With that kind of freedom, she hadn't secretly slipped out in a long time.
"I didn't expect it to be just like Miss Sparkle said. It really is pretty fun.
"But she always calls me Little Dragon. Hmph~" It had been a long time since Bailu had experienced the thrill of sneaking out.
Still, remembering the nickname Sparkle had given her left her annoyed by the end.
Lingchen's expression darkened. Of course it was Sparkle.
She had even corrupted such an adorable Little Dragon.
It looked like he'd have to give Sparkle another buff when he got back.
Several dozen minutes later, at Fu Xuan's mansion.
Fu Xuan had gone out early, though her expression hadn't been pleasant when she left, as if she were brewing something.
Meanwhile, in Lingchen's room...
Chapter 77: In the Whirlpool of Emotions
"Looks like the great Sparkle is pretty charming after all~" Sparkle stretched, casually swinging her wooden sandals from her feet.
The red ribbons formed a striking contrast with the fabric.
After their battle, Sparkle had an even richer allure than before.
And Lingchen had finally experienced just how wonderful Sparkle was.
The ranking he'd given Sparkle in his previous life had truly been justified. He wondered what the corresponding Herta and the others would feel like. "Mm, but darling, you fed me far too much.
"You didn't even care whether I was full."
Sparkle rubbed her slightly swollen belly. There was simply too much energy for her to digest.
The drink Lingchen had bestowed on her seemed to possess special properties.
At the very least, Sparkle noticed that her physique seemed to be improving at an extremely slow rate. Beyond that, her Imaginary Energy circulated more smoothly, and finally, there was the refreshed feeling in her body and soul. She knew Lingchen possessed great authority over [Purification].
Of course, aside from that last effect, she had only noticed the others because she was a little curious about the drink Lingchen had personally made.
After all, this was her first time drinking something he had mixed himself. It held some commemorative significance.
But Sparkle truly hadn't expected it to have so many uses. Most importantly, it tasted very good, with a uniquely refreshing quality.
Still, the great Sparkle wasn't a research genius, so after briefly sensing those effects, she couldn't be bothered to worry about them.
All she knew was that every time she and Lingchen
fought, she gained something.
After all, she'd already experienced their second battle that morning.
"I just didn't want you going hungry."
"Hehe, darling, I'm the first now, so do you think..." Sparkle didn't mind. She simply stopped swinging her shoes and gave Lingchen a smile tinged with [Elation].
"That doesn't depend on you. It depends on me. Once you can defeat me, anything you're imagining might happen."
Lingchen immediately cut off whatever Sparkle was about to say. He knew what he wanted and what kind of person he was, so he openly admitted it and worked toward it.
When it came to feelings, wavering and indecision were the worst things of all.
That was why he made his stance clear on this matter, sparing himself any future antics from Sparkle.
If this universe were another world with a two-character name, perhaps he could have become the Demon God of Ice Cream, or the Amorous Demon God.
"Darling, you really are a bad man."
Sparkle gave Lingchen a somewhat reproachful look.
Even though she knew her own peculiar nature meant she couldn't truly spend all her time clinging to him, she still had a maiden's heart.
But when she thought of all those women whose feelings for Lingchen ran deeper than hers, yet who had fallen behind her, a strange sense of satisfaction rose involuntarily within her.
"Still, darling has a point. The great Sparkle can't be a dutiful wife and mother, and I can't let you take whatever you want every single day. Ooh~~~ I suppose I'll just have to take the loss and let it slide."
Sparkle took it in stride. As she would put it, why be so serious?
She could experience a different kind of [Elation] with Lingchen and claim a portion of the heart of someone destined to reach the very highest heights.
Honestly, those things alone had already left Sparkle somewhat enthralled.
An angel's purity made people want to sully it, and Lingchen's nobility likewise made Sparkle want even more to see him descend into the mortal world and toil away.
"Still, I thought I'd get to see darling explain himself to that stern-faced pink-haired girl. What a shame~" Although Fu Xuan had looked unhappy when she left, Sparkle could tell it was only because she hadn't been his first. Fu Xuan had probably prepared herself long ago for having a few more sisters.
How humble people became in the whirlpool of emotions.
"I'll go see her."
"Hm? Really~?" Sparkle looked at Lingchen in surprise, her swinging feet coming to a stop.
Even if Fu Xuan had agreed, she was absolutely still angry right now.
"Of course. I know what I want. I can't give any one of you the entirety of my personal affection, but I also know what I ought to do."
Looking at Sparkle sitting on the bed with her feet dangling, Lingchen continued, "Even if I become an existence on another level in the future, I will remain true to my feelings. That's my promise."
He admitted that his affection was divided among many people, but every part of it was absolutely sincere.
Lingchen said no more, but the exceptionally clever Sparkle already understood.
It was just as they couldn't give all their feelings to Lingchen.
She was one of the Masked Fools. Even if Lingchen's [Purification] had freed her from the intense self-destructive urges that followed [Elation], she still loved seeking amusement. Put another way, she'd long since reached her own understanding of life. She couldn't possibly keep all her attention fixed on Lingchen forever.
Fu Xuan was a Xianzhou native who wanted to become a Xianzhou general, and she had a powerful sense of responsibility. In an era when the old guard lacked sufficient successors, she couldn't possibly abandon the Luofu entirely for romance.
Besides, given life on the Xianzhou, even if Fu Xuan and Lingchen got together, they couldn't possibly spend every day together.
After all, unlike the few decades available to short-life species, Xianzhou natives would remain married for at least several centuries.
And being with Lingchen meant eternity, even if they knew he hadn't yet reached the level of an Aeon.
Under those circumstances, "If love endures, what need is there to be together day and night?" was the norm.
The other girls were the same. They each had their own work, responsibilities, interests, and hobbies.
In the world of ordinary people, if someone spent her entire life as nothing more than a decorative vase, Lingchen would actually like her less.
Lingchen was the same. Although his reason differed from theirs-he had divided his affection among many people-the result was similar: none of them could devote all their feelings to one person.
That was the adult world.
Beyond that, however, his promise that even if he became a god high above them, he wouldn't lose his humanity and his feelings for them would remain unchanged, strangely brought Sparkle a sense of relief.
Looks like the great Sparkle has gotten caught up in feelings too. Is this really the quickest road to a woman's heart?
"Darling, your adorable great Sparkle is planning to leave tomorrow~" P.S. There might be another chapter or two. Someone in the author's building is renovating today, and the power keeps going out. Every outage takes over an hour to fix. It's already happened five times today, and I still have an online class tonight. I'm so done.
Chapter 78: Was It That the Great Sparkle Didn't Want To?
Sparkle might have been one of the Masked Fools, but she was actually remarkably pure. After this encounter with Lingchen, she truly couldn't get away anymore.
What left Lingchen rather speechless, however, was that Sparkle put on her tabi right in front of him.
Her grand explanation was, "Darling loves the great Sparkle's feet, so I've decided that from now on, only darling gets to see them."
As a high-level Pathstrider, she didn't have to worry about sweaty odors or smelly feet. Even if she went months without bathing, the cleansing power of her Path could keep her spotless.
She was practically food-grade.
Then, after confirming that Sparkle would leave the next day, Lingchen went to find Fu Xuan.
Since he'd done it, he had to own up to it. Even if Fu Xuan was angry, he would just accept a few blows or harsh words. Building a harem always came at a price.
Qingque was more open-minded about it than anyone. Although she hadn't fully confirmed her feelings for Lingchen, she already thought that if they established a relationship, simply having a share in it would be enough.
After all, romance was merely a little seasoning for a life of slacking off.
As for Tingyun, he'd find out when she returned, but she would probably be fine after feeling resentful for a while.
After all, as the chief representative of the Minghuo Merchant Group, Tingyun was under no small amount of pressure at work.
She, too, was someone who didn't have much time to spend with Lingchen.
Besides, once she learned about Lingchen's combat prowess, she would probably be even more agreeable.
Between keeping him to herself and passing out every day, or sharing the burden with everyone else, she knew which to choose.
Just like Sparkle now. She might tease Lingchen, but a single sentence from him had immediately dispelled any intention she had of "keeping all the experience to herself."
Was it that she didn't want to? No. It wasn't merely because of Lingchen's strength, status, or choices. She genuinely couldn't take it.
She could originally have stayed a few more days, but instead, she chose to rest for a day and then leave, precisely because she was afraid she'd "die here."
Sparkle even held back from making another joking remark like, "Weakling, I was just playing with you. The great Sparkle can take you down all by herself today."
At the Sky-Faring Commission, Yukong was receiving two diplomats from the Interastral Peace Corporation with unusual standing.
"Hello, Miss Yukong. I'm Topaz, a senior manager in the Interastral Peace Corporation's Strategic Investment Department.
"This is Aventurine, also a senior manager."
Aventurine dipped his head slightly in greeting as Topaz introduced him.
Originally, Topaz had been the only one coming this time. After all, the other members of the Ten Stonehearts weren't available at the moment. Amber was at a crucial point in her own assignment. Pearl could have come, but she was still an Intellitron, and who knew what Lingchen's attitude toward
Intellitrons was.
In the end, however, Aventurine had proposed coming along himself.
After all, even if they couldn't build a friendship, they could still do business. Lingchen had family on the Luofu, which made the Luofu worth investing in, and Aventurine was more adept at making deals.
"Hello, Miss Yukong. I'm Aventurine, one of the Strategic Investment Department's Ten Stonehearts."
Rumor had it that the [Elation] Emanator also had an ambiguous relationship with this Helmsman. Neither knew whether that was true, but both had made sure to observe every courtesy.