After a long wait, Luo Yu kept yawning, her eyelids drooping.

"Hmm?"

A rustle came from the bed. Luo Yu frowned, finally sensing the Champion’s simmering fury.

Er Yue Feng flopped onto the floor right there, facing the bewildered girl. He began doing knee push-ups.

"Little girl," he puffed, "behold the mighty physique of your Champion!"

One. Two. Sweat dripped steadily from his brow.

Sadly, he looked utterly limp.

Luo Yu glanced up from beneath him and deadpanned, "If you’re done, just quit. No need to force it."

"Damn it," Er Yue Feng gasped, drenched in sweat. He stared at Luo Yu’s confused face. "I’m *this close* to building strength… I’ll crack that armor yet."

"Go, husband! Let me help!" Chai Jiu’s worried frown deepened. She circled behind him and plopped onto his hips, beaming proudly. "Little Yu, don’t be fooled—he looks lean, but his strength is immense!"

"Wife, no—don’t push! Ow! Ow! I can’t take it!"

Er Yue Feng yelped, scrambling away.

After just three knee push-ups, he collapsed on the floor, utterly spent.

Luo Yu: "..."

Boring.

Utterly unimpressed, Luo Yu retrieved the sword hilt she’d tossed near the bed and lobbed it at his head. "You’re really *flying high*, huh?" she mocked.

"It’s psychological," Er Yue Feng panted, sitting up. "I used to be strong. Why this year? Especially this month…"

"Right?" Chai Jiu sat beside him, her expression crumpling. "Husband… if you can’t get it up again, my sisters and I will be so worried. We might just… take matters into our own hands."

Er Yue Feng jolted upright. "Absolutely not!"

"What? That’s great news!" Luo Yu perked up instantly, sitting straight and raising a hand. "Dragon Lady, I want to join your group too!"

Chai Jiu flicked her dragon tail, slamming Luo Yu face-first onto the bed. "Adults are talking. Go play by yourself."

"Fine…"

"Hmm…" Er Yue Feng rubbed his chin, muttering. "But recently, when I camped with Cat Ten… I *did* get it up once. Strange. My body’s flawless—it must be psychological. Definitely psychological."

Luo Yu spat water onto his head, cackling. "Old man, stop lying to yourself! Your body’s wrecked. Disband your harem and hand it over to me, Luo Yu-sama! Hahaha—"

"Gah! Don’t get cocky, kid! I’ll deal with you later!" Er Yue Feng snapped.

"You can’t do a thing to me." Luo Yu bent down, spraying two more streams of water onto his face. She grinned ear to ear at his feeble form. "This is how you run a harem? *Fancy moves~*"

"You—! You—!"

"Husband, calm down."

Chai Jiu gently massaged his shoulders, gazing at him with tender eyes, tiny fists clenched. "I believe in you. You can do it. Go on."

"Relax." Er Yue Feng flashed an OK sign. "Jiu’er, step out for now. Too many people make me nervous. After resting, I’ll regain my strength."

"Stop fooling yourself," Luo Yu said, pressing her bare foot against his head. "If rest fixes it, what kind of problem is that?"

Er Yue Feng clenched his fists, fury flaring. "I’ll—!"

"See? Getting angry again." Luo Yu pointed and laughed at his helpless rage.

"Then… I’ll go, husband. My sisters are waiting." A trace of disappointment flickered in Chai Jiu’s eyes. She covered her mouth with a fan and slipped out, closing the door with a soft *click*.

Er Yue Feng watched her leave, pulled up his pants, and sat heavily on the bed, scowling.

"Hehehe."

Luo Yu draped an arm over his shoulder, blowing softly into his ear. "Minnow~ minnow~ minnow~… Waste of space~ waste of space~…"

"You little—!" Er Yue Feng pinned her to the bed again, seething.

"Don’t push me, girl," he growled. "When a man snaps, you won’t like the consequences."

This time, Luo Yu showed no fear. She sprawled on the bed, legs apart, smirking defiantly. "Oh yeah? What’ll you do? *Do* me?"

"Go on. Hit me with your stick." She tapped her cheek with a finger. "You can’t even pierce my armor, minnow."

"In all my years as Champion," Er Yue Feng shook his head, suddenly spreading his hands, "I’ve never been humiliated like this. Hey, girl… have we met before? You look familiar."

"Oh!" Luo Yu froze. She’d been so caught up in the tavern capture, she’d forgotten—weeks ago, she’d sneaked into the Champion’s camp. He’d caught her. *Something* happened. Her lower abdomen had ached for days after.

She’d thought she was pregnant. But that old healer found nothing—just gave her useless potions.

He’d seen her face. Only this damn Champion knew what happened that night.

"Wait." Luo Yu’s eyes narrowed, a sly grin spreading. "Trying to dodge your performance issues again with small talk?"

"Ah…" Er Yue Feng chuckled awkwardly.

"I don’t care! I’m mocking you—it feels *amazing*!" Luo Yu whooped. "The Champion’s a Phantom Man! I’ll spread it worldwide so every girl knows!"

"Alright, alright," Er Yue Feng sighed in defeat. "I yield. I’m useless. Can we drop this?"

Luo Yu: "Sure thing, Phantom Man."

"..."

Just as Luo Yu savored her victory, a soft knock came at the door. Cat Ten’s voice floated in:

"Champion… about what happened when we captured her—may I tell her?"

"Huh?" Er Yue Feng blinked. "What happened?"

"You bastard!" Luo Yu kicked him off the bed. "You don’t remember what you *did* to me that night?!"

"Whoa! Violent kid!" Er Yue Feng staggered up, spitting blood. "You actually shook my decade-trained body! Your martial arts… impressive. Acknowledged."

"Scared now?" Luo Yu puffed out her chest.

"Master, you’re injured again," Cat Ten said, stepping in. "But she shows zero training. She’s from the weakest Demon Kind bloodline."

"..." Er Yue Feng glared. "Must you keep undermining me?"

"So what *did* this bastard do to me?" Luo Yu demanded, staring at Er Yue Feng. "And why doesn’t he remember? Or even recognize me after all this time?"

"Yeah…" Er Yue Feng frowned at her. "Why *don’t* I know her?"

"..." Cat Ten sighed. "You’re humanity’s strongest warrior. Have some dignity."

"Ah!" Er Yue Feng straightened his slumped back instantly.

"..." Cat Ten grabbed his hands, pressing them together. Dark energy surged from his palms, spilling into the room. Wisps seeped into the walls, swirled back into Er Yue Feng, flowed into Cat Ten—and flooded Luo Yu’s body.

Her hair lengthened slightly. Her chest swelled a fraction.

Luo Yu flushed. "Ah?!"

"This energy," Cat Ten explained, gripping Luo Yu’s head, "is the Champion’s imagination made manifest. He’s a master of fantasy magic. Having fought in the Demon God War, memories of high-bloodline monsters he’s slain, echoes of ancient Demonic Gods—all linger as illusions within his power."

"Your body changed because his stray magic altered you. But the transformation was interrupted, causing your pain." Cat Ten released her, exhaling. "Creatures reshaped by his fantasy magic are called… Imaginaria. That’s why Chai Jiu shifted from dragon to woman."

"Whoa!" Er Yue Feng’s eyes lit up. "So *that’s* why she always wants me to ride her and fly—"

"..." Cat Ten shot him a withering look. "Also, his constant exposure to his own magic eroded his memory. He forgets people. And his… *condition*? That’s just his own lack of restraint."

"Cat Ten! Don’t pretend to know things!" Er Yue Feng sputtered.

Luo Yu heard none of it.

Her mind went blank.

All that remained was an empty shell of a girl, tongue unconsciously tracing her lips—repulsed, yet craving the taste.