Zhang Yemiao couldn’t shake the feeling she was growing weaker… She hated how things always ended up like this. She’d meant to refuse, to push away—but somehow she’d wound up nestled in his arms again.

Yet… just this warmth from his embrace was dangerously addictive. It made everything in this strange world feel… right.

Was this what love felt like? No. Love took two people. This was just her one-sided crush.

Still, one truth cut through the haze: Zhang Yemiao now knew, with crystal clarity, that she had a home in this world.

…

Grunting, she heaved the massive nail-like object into the earth. Sweat beaded on her temple—manual labor still pushed her limits. But she had to finish this. Her EXP bar was climbing fast. Once all sixteen nails were set, she’d hit Level 2. At Level 2, she could craft far more.

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

The hammer fell relentlessly until the final nail vanished into the soil.

Sixteen colossal nails ringed the house. Each looked like a single spike, but was actually a complex puzzle of interlocking parts—joined by mortise-and-tenon joints. Since each tiny component only granted +1% bonus, Zhang Yemiao had maxed out the parts per nail. The trade-off? Every object needed sufficient mass to hold enchantments. She’d balanced size and function perfectly.

"Hmph. So this is another world?" She wiped her brow, glaring at the half-buried nails. "Last time, two idiots nearly wrecked my house and killed me. Like I’d just roll over for that."

She dragged another nail to its position. "Check it: +200 Defense/100 Nail. Damage Reflection Nail. Fire Resistance. Water Resistance…"

Sixteen nails total. One for each magic attribute of this world: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light, Dark, Life, Space, Time, Arcane. Plus Defense Boost, Damage Reflection, and a hidden bonus effect.

"Perfect."

The last nail sank deep. Her muscles screamed in protest—then a surge of energy flooded her veins. *Level Up.* Level 2. Now she could synthesize weapons directly: swords, blades, anything. Her base stats jumped too. Lifting these nails wouldn’t leave her gasping anymore.

*Strong enough to match an average adult back on Earth…*

She gauged her strength realistically. But her gaze drifted to the house instead. Half a month’s work. Half her and Wang Qi’s savings.

She nodded, satisfied. "I’ll call it… the Invincible Nine Heavens Ten Earths Array!"

The name was gloriously over-the-top. The array itself? Kind of trash.

Who cared? Neither she nor Wang Qi knew real magic anyway. These buffs were just gear stats brute-forced together. Which meant… she could always jam more pillars into the ground later. Need Fire Resistance? Add a Fire Nail. Simple.

A giddy thrill shot through her. *This cheat-like talent…* She snapped back to reality and returned to the forge.

*Tap.*

Her hammer struck a lump of iron. A stack of razor-thin blades materialized in her palm.

*Exactly.*

Her talent couldn’t make guns yet—but industrial-grade blades? Mass-produced? Perfect. Crafting these by hand would’ve taken years of training.

Time for traps.

Her home would become an impregnable fortress. No intruder would leave unscathed.

*Heh heh.*

She synthesized everything: bows, Divine Lances, shuriken, needles of every size. A lethal junkyard spread across the yard.

***Thwack!***

Wang Qi rapped his knuckles sharply against his Dorm Leader’s skull.

"Ow!" Zhang Yemiao clutched her head, eyes wide and pleading. "I-I just got carried away! Didn’t think it through…"

Wang Qi stayed silent. He pointed to the gash on his arm—already knitting itself closed. *Explain this.*

Zhang Yemiao forced a grin, grabbing his wrist. "Wow! Healing this fast? Amazing! Your Physical Enhancement is next-level, Wang Qi! I’d be bedridden for days with a wound like that—"

***Vise grip.***

"Eeek! Okay, okay! I’m sorry!"

Trapped in his iron hold, the Dorm Leader surrendered fast. Wang Qi sighed. "Bury the pillars. But ditch the traps. This is a blacksmith’s shop. You want customers walking in and dying?"

"…Fine."

She shuffled off, deflated. *That’s exactly why I set them… What if thieves come?*

Still, clearing them took minutes. She knew every hidden blade.

"Done?"

"Mhm."

Wang Qi turned toward the kitchen. "I’ll cook."

Zhang Yemiao tugged his sleeve.

"What now?"

She hesitated, then blurted: "How many levels in Physical Enhancement do you have?"

"...Three."

His instant answer warmed her. He wasn’t hiding things. Truth? She’d take his word for it.

"So… my traps hurt your Level 3 body?"

Wang Qi nodded. He’d been careless—but yes, she’d drawn blood.

"Could Level 3 magic do that?"

Another nod. Level 3 fireballs could kill a man. But Level 3 Physical Enhancement? It made him monstrously resilient. That arrow had *pierced* his arm. He’d ripped it out. The wound sealed in minutes. His defense was terrifying.

"Then… I’m ready."

Zhang Yemiao’s words hung in the air.

"Ready for what?"

She met his eyes, dead serious. "Take me with you next time you go out."

"Huh?"

Wang Qi almost refused—but her gaze pinned him. Refusal was impossible.

"I’ve secured the house with those nails," she pressed. "I’ll stash half our coins underground, half in my inventory. If I die, you won’t lose everything. And I’ve made portable weapons. You saw their power—they’re strong."

"But—"

He faltered. No argument came.

Zhang Yemiao held his stare.

"You made a pinky promise."

…Unanswerable. He’d sworn never to abandon her. How could he refuse her now?

Besides—she *could* protect herself.

"And I’ll disguise myself! Won’t cause trouble. I’m Level 2 now. Not so fragile anymore…"

She kept bargaining. Every condition, every plea—she’d worked toward this moment for weeks. She’d rather face danger *with* him than wait alone at home.

Ever since that crimson bead drained her life, she’d resolved to stay by his side. She’d stayed silent before—too weak, unprepared. And Wang Qi… he hadn’t taken her bait. If he had, he wouldn’t vanish daily. His trips to town were quick. The extra hours? Spent on the plains.

Zhang Yemiao wasn’t brilliant—but she wasn’t stupid. She’d pieced things together. Buried them deep.

Now, she’d asked.

Guilt crashed over Wang Qi. Her frantic bargaining revealed his neglect. While he roamed the city or plains, what had she endured alone? What had she built? He knew nothing.

Something cracked inside his chest. *All this effort… just to walk beside me?*

He couldn’t name the feeling. Only knew he had to hold her. Not like before—to comfort a scared girl. This was raw gratitude. He pulled her close.

"U-um…" Blushing, she whispered against his chest. "So… your answer?"

"I’ll take you."

"...Okay."