After trading blows for who knew how long, Li Gongxuan sighed; his gaze deepened like a still lake at dusk. He stopped underestimating his opponent.

Li Gongxuan’s speed surged like a hawk on the drop. He slid sideways, a brush of wind dodging Eli’s straight thrust. He stepped back, sword resting against his hand—then flickered behind Eli like a shadow slipping past candlelight.

His fist glowed platinum, cold sunfire in his palm. Eyes narrowed, he twisted; the punch carried brutal momentum, and the air rippled like water.

The gale off his knuckles shredded Eli’s protective mana like torn silk. Li Gongxuan’s heavy blow hammered Eli’s waist.

Thoom!

A muffled thunderclap rolled. Eli flew backward, a comet tearing through the mountain behind him. He burst out the far side and crashed into earth, wedged deep like a broken spear.

Li Gongxuan hovered in the sky, a lone bird over storm-tossed sea. He slid Jade North Star into its scabbard, closed his eyes, and let a fierce aura rise, as if gathering clouds for rain.

Eli trembled his way out of the soil, blood-soaked, body numb like frostbitten wood.

He held a mouthful of iron-sweet blood. One punch—too heavy. Red seeped at the corner of his lips like a cracked seal.

He swallowed it back and traced a magic array across his chest with shaky fingers, lines glimmering like fireflies.

He sat down where he stood. Golden light pooled in his right hand; he pressed it over the wound at his waist, warmth against ache.

Li Gongxuan looked at him and called out, voice sharp as a temple bell, “Fresh into the Sacred Rank, and no grip on its perks—you’re already doing well.”

Eli gave a bleak laugh, bitter as cold tea. “You beat the hell out of me, then come over to lecture me? Seriously?”

“...Sacred Rank comes with strong self-healing. You’re a mage. Give it time; you’ll mend.” Li Gongxuan shrugged, helpless as wind in bamboo. He’d gone hot-headed and hit too hard. The guy was clearly not pleased.

“Heh.” Eli shook his head. His left hand opened; his palm faced Li Gongxuan. “Fine. I know you want peace.”

“Law: Flame Curse: Hongji Aurora.”

A pillar of fire surged with Sacred Rank force, rising like a volcano spout from Eli’s raised left hand. Two fire serpents coiled its sides, then shot for Li Gongxuan in the sky with a hiss.

Li Gongxuan had been storing power. He set his foot on the scabbard, took Jade North Star in a reverse grip, and dove like a falcon with the sun at his back, thrusting down at Eli.

“Yaaaah!”

“Haaaaah!”

..................................................

Yiyi was mid-talk with the Ninth Prince when her body went still, like a deer scenting storm. She bolted from the meeting room, sprinted through the corridor, and dove headfirst into her own room. Her voice flashed to Liqianyu: “Foodie, come guard me.”

Liqianyu nearly choked on her chicken leg. She dropped it, hid it behind her back, eyes darting like sparrows. “Who’s there? Come out! If you don’t, I’ll pound you!”

She paused, blinked. “Uh... that sounded like Yiyi.” She broke into a run, skidded to a stop at the doorway where Hilriad stood, confused as a statue. “Your High—Hilriad, did you see where Eli went?”

Hilriad blinked at her. “Oh, he rushed out suddenly. No idea where.”

Liqianyu nodded thanks, then sprinted for Eli’s room. She pushed the door. The room was neat and bright, and a girl sat obediently on the bed like a porcelain doll.

Liqianyu frowned. Yiyi had reverted to a small girl’s form. Her eyes were shut tight, face pinched with pain, like a flower in late frost.

Liqianyu turned, locked the door, then hurried to her side. “Yiyi-chan, Yiyi-chan, what’s wrong?”

Yiyi forced her eyes open, thoughts stumbling like tired oxen. “Probably... the main body’s out. Broke through to the Sacred Rank.”

“What? He’s out? Where?” Liqianyu looked around, hunting shadows.

Yiyi said, “Don’t cut in.”

“But breaking through’s good. Why do you look like this?” Curiosity pricked like needles.

“I’m talking about that. Can you stop interrupting?” Yiyi’s expression sharpened like a blade.

Liqianyu scratched her aqua-blue hair, sheepish. “I’m worried about you... honestly. No good deed goes unpunished.”

Yiyi ignored the clowning. “I don’t have the Sacred Rank. But I’m the soul avatar of the main body. I also draw that power in.”

“Huh?”

“In short, Sacred Rank energy keeps pouring toward me here,” Yiyi sighed, like wind over an empty well.

“Emmmm, that’s good, right?” Liqianyu looked lost.

“It’s good if you’re at the mortal peak. You might jump into the Sacred Rank.” Yiyi frowned. “But I’m not at that peak.”

“What?” Liqianyu stared. “Aren’t you his avatar? How’s that work?”

“When have you seen an avatar as strong as the original?”

“Uh...”

“I don’t know what to do. I didn’t expect a breakthrough to cause this.” Her pretty face knotted like tangled thread.

“This is plain cruel,” Liqianyu agreed, then asked, “So what’s the danger now?”

“I’m about to be blown apart by Sacred Rank energy! Curse it!” Yiyi hopped, anger fizzing like hot oil.

“...” Liqianyu rolled her eyes. “So what do we do?”

“Only absorb it as fast as we can. That’s why I called you to guard me.”

Liqianyu felt the holy aura swelling in the room and the pressure ballooning inside Yiyi like an overfull spring. She narrowed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t even know what to say.”

She scooped Yiyi from the bed, cradling her as if sheltering a candle from wind. “Relax. I’ve got you.”

Yiyi opened her eyes. “Huh? What can you do?”

Liqianyu smiled. “Why do you think I eat so much?”

Yiyi tilted her head. “Because you’re a foodie, and your stomach’s linked to an extra-dimensional space?”

Liqianyu groaned. “No! Your brain’s really... Why’s your logic so much like Eli’s?”

“I’m his avatar,” Yiyi muttered, lips pouting like a cherry.

“Alright, alright. Just relax. Leave the rest to me.”

“You can fix this?” Yiyi doubted, eyes cool as winter glass.

Liqianyu studied her face, a sly smile blooming like moonlight over fox fur. “Good thing you’re a girl, even if that face matches his. Saving a life beats building seven-tiered pagodas. I’ll risk it.”

“Hey! What are you doing?” Yiyi glared, sparks in her gaze.

Liqianyu tightened her hold. One small hand pressed Yiyi’s head. She bent down, and her lips touched that small mouth, soft as petals.

“Mmm—!” Yiyi’s eyes flew wide like startled deer.

She tried to push away, but Liqianyu’s arms were iron vines, holding firm.

“Mmm, mmm!” Yiyi struggled. Then felt it—inside, the swelling Sacred Rank power began to flow out, drawn to Liqianyu like tide to the moon.

She paused, surprise melting like snow in spring. So this rogue was saving her?

“Mmm...” She stopped resisting, for now.

Inside, the rogue preened, smug as a cat with cream. Gods, these lips are so soft. Little lolis really are sweet.

When the force inside balanced a little, Liqianyu eased back. She looked at the dazed little girl she’d just kissed and smiled. “Better?”

“Mm... okay.” Yiyi hadn’t caught up yet. Then—

“Better, my ass! F— your ancestors!” She practically flipped a table, fury snapping like dry wood.

Ahahahahahahahaha—

Bright laughter filled the Ninth Prince’s manor, silver bells scattering across the courtyards.

..................................................

Now, Eli lay on the ground. Li Gongxuan’s sword rested beside him. Li Gongxuan lay to the side. Both panted hard, like fish flopping on river stones.

A sudden chill crawled over Eli’s skin. He shuddered several times. “Damn!”

Li Gongxuan turned his head. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing...” A bleak feeling settled, like twin green hats dropped on his head.

..................................................

Somewhere, Edlyn stared at a grand snowfield, mind drifting like mist.

Angela stepped close. “Sis, what’s wrong?”

Edlyn smiled at her, gentle as starlight on ice. “Nothing. I was thinking—about being the first heroine.”

“Uh, hehe...” Angela scratched her head, awkward as a sparrow in rain.

“Even the book title’s my showcase.”

“...”

Angela rolled her eyes, a slow wheel in the cold.

“Why? Why?” Edlyn whispered, voice thin as wind over ridgelines.

“Why, exactly?”

“Sis, calm down. Calm down!”

“I was first—first to transform, first to be the heroine. All me!”

“Sis! Don’t keep going! Something’ll break!”

“Why are you all so practiced? You want my place, hmm? I’m the first heroine. The rest of you, out!” Edlyn shouted at the snowy peaks. Avalanches roared, white rivers spilling like drums.

“Why!” She tilted her head. “So many chapters, and it’s only my turn now?”

Ahem, ahem, ahem...