Above the Endless Sea, a massive silver dragon cut forward at speed; each beat of its vast wings blew the nearby clouds aside.

Xinuo, we’ve been flying for a week. Why aren’t we at the Eastern Moon Continent yet?

Lying on Hill’s broad back, I stared into the blue glaze of the sky and asked without thinking.

Servant, you think crossing continents is easy? A week from the Central Continent to the Endless Sea is already fast.

Xinuo kept reading, pages fluttering in the gale; I had no idea how she could keep her eyes on the lines.

Mm, then why not just take us straight there, Xinuo?

That’s boring. A straight arrival kills the mood; the grind like this is what makes it feel like a journey.

Oh...

By the way, Servant, sit up for me. Now.

She set the book down and pinched my cheeks. Servant, I want a lap pillow. Lap pillow!

She tugged my face upward as if hauling a kite.

Ow, ow! That hurts! Xinuo, stop pulling, I’ll sit up!

I rubbed my flushed cheeks, knelt and sat, and let Xinuo rest her head on my thighs.

Mm. The lap pillow feels like warm clouds.

She nodded, satisfied, and went back to her book, pages whispering like leaves.

After a while...

Bored to the point of fidgeting, I lowered my head and watched Xinuo resting on my lap.

I knew she was a peerless beauty, but up close she was breathtaking; her snow-white hair cascaded like frost. I wanted to touch it, yet hesitated, afraid she’d get mad.

Servant, what are you staring at?

Xinuo lifted her eyes from the page and looked at me, puzzled.

Uh, it’s nothing. I just think you’re gorgeous, Xinuo—still stunning.

It slipped out of me while I was dazed.

Of course. But, Servant, have you stared enough?

Ah—s-sorry! I was just looking. Totally didn’t want to touch your hair or anything!

Huh? Then I realized I’d said the quiet part out loud, and my face burned as I turned away.

Bold of you, Servant. But I can grant that wish.

She smiled at my tomato-red face; that beauty stunned me all over again.

Hey, don’t zone out. Servant, brush my hair for me.

Xinuo produced a delicate comb and handed it over, light glinting like water.

Ah—okay!

I grabbed the comb, flustered, and started brushing her hair.

Wow!

When my fingers touched Xinuo’s hair, my heart sighed; it felt like top-grade silk, smooth as water, perfect to the touch.

No—better than even the finest silk!

So I brushed slowly, savoring it like tea warming the hands.

Three minutes later.

Servant, you’re surprisingly skilled with a comb.

As she flipped the last page, Xinuo glanced at me and smiled.

Comes with practice.

I kept brushing, strokes steady as rain.

Practice?

Yeah. I often comb my sister’s hair and Serenemoon’s. They’re girls, yet they keep roping me in.

Thinking of the Mizumi Clan days—combing their hair under plum blossoms—I couldn’t help but smile.

It’s because you’re so good at looking after people. Truly, you’re the perfect housewife, Servant!

Xinuo praised me; I didn’t feel happy—okay, maybe a little—but mostly annoyed.

Xinuo, I’m a guy! Not some housewife!

I puffed my cheeks and protested at her.

Men can be housewives too. Besides, aren’t you one already? Mm, so soft!

Xinuo’s fair, delicate fingers pinched my puffed cheek.

Wait, I’m a housewife? Whose?

Isn’t it obvious? Of course—

She pointed at herself. Mine, of course!

...

I had no words. So I shut up and kept brushing her hair.

Xinuo smiled and pulled out a second book.

And quiet settled; neither of us spoke, just let the calm ripple like moonlight.

Mmm, Master, this humble one wants to pinch Boss’s cheek too!

The peace didn’t last; Hill’s voice rolled like distant thunder, thick with longing.

...Fine. Once we reach the Eastern Moon Continent, you can pinch—just once. So fly hard, Hill; let’s get there sooner.

Hill’s flown tirelessly these days; a little reward wouldn’t hurt. I smiled as I said it.

Oooh! Really? This humble one is suddenly brimming with drive!

Hill bellowed with spirit and drove her wings harder; our speed surged like a storm current.

Hill’s a good child, indeed.

Xinuo popped a piece of cake into her mouth as she said it, sweet crumbs sparkling like snow.

Yeah—hey! Xinuo, no eating while lying down! How many times have I told you?

And Servant is a bad child!

Yes, yes, I’m the bad one, sorry. Sit up if you’re going to eat!

Servant, whose mother are you supposed to be?

I’m not even old enough to be a mother! Uh—this isn’t the time to argue. Don’t eat lying down! Cake crumbs are falling.

I’ll finish, and you can clean up, Servant.

Hey, hey—Xinuo!

...

Well, well! Riding a dragon as a mount—truly the Mizumi Clan’s lavish style!

While we bantered, Hill suddenly stopped; ahead, a flippant male voice floated over.

Quit the chatter. Let’s get the job done.

As his words ended, a mighty pressure from a Sacred Realm expert flooded the area, caging the sky.

What’s going on?

I frowned and looked ahead.

...

Two men stood ten meters ahead of Hill—one flippant, one plain. Both were Sacred Realm mages.

What do you want?

I spoke, annoyed, eyes on them.

Nothing big. Just come with us quietly, or I won’t mind using force to make you obey.

The flippant one grinned as he spoke, and disgust rose in me like bitter smoke.

You...

But Xinuo cut me off. Servant, keep brushing. Ignore them. Hill, those high-tier Sacred Realm ants are yours. Clear them.

Mm, this humble one understands!

At once, Hill unleashed her Dragon Aura, a Holy Peak surge that shook the air.

Hey, this can’t be real—a Holy Peak dragon! Soulreap, what do we do!?

Bad news, Shadow. We run—now!

When Hill’s Dragon Aura crashed out, the two men staggered back, desperate to flee.

Hmph! You disturbed Master and Boss and still think you can run? Stay.

She opened her vast jaws and loosed dragonfire, a stream of raw, destructive energy.