Li Pingtian sank into deep dejection. Though she usually seemed aloof, she turned extreme when fixated on something.

Zhang Yemiao didn’t know how to comfort her. Maybe she didn’t need comforting—perhaps she’d figure things out alone eventually. Still, Zhang felt she should do something.

Mimicking Wang Qi’s usual head-pats, she gently stroked Li Pingtian’s hair. "It’s okay. Everyone’s scared facing this for the first time. And hey—I’m the Dorm Leader! Speaking up for our dorm is my duty. *You* are my courage to face that person."

Golden hair and silver hair pressed close… Wang Qi bit back the comment.

Truthfully, Wang Qi should’ve been most worried. Yet he felt nothing. That ring? Swallowed it whole. If it got eaten so easily, it couldn’t be that powerful anyway. Besides, his body already held too many weird things.

He’d been concerned about Li Pingtian, but Zhang Yemiao’s comforting her seemed to help. He turned to Zou Moan instead.

"What’s the absolute minimum requirement for your earlier plan?"

Zou Moan frowned, eyeing Wang Qi coldly. "What are you scheming?"

"Just preparing for the worst."

*Preparing for the worst*—Zou Moan hesitated, weighing his words. "I need to reach Level 7. A mere Spiritual World won’t imprint your trace with Time Magic. At least Level 7… to materialize my will."

Wang Qi nodded silently. His gaze drifted to Zhang Yemiao, smiling softly as she comforted Li Pingtian. He smiled back, warm and knowing. Zou Moan followed his eyes and sighed inwardly—*truly, beautiful girls are most adorable when clinging together*.

After a while, Zhang Yemiao sensed Li Pingtian’s mood lifting slightly. She stole a glance at Wang Qi beside Zou Moan—only to find him staring right back. Flustered, she ducked her head.

"It’s fine, Dorm Leader. I’m okay," Li Pingtian said calmly. "Just… a little disappointed. Give me time."

She closed her eyes. Pure white Divine Power flowed from her fingertips, forming an eggshell-like cocoon around her.

*Divine Art training? So fantasy-novel-ish!*

Zhang Yemiao felt a pang of envy. Wang Qi trained his body daily. Zou Moan and Li Pingtian cultivated like this. Only she… wasn’t really "cultivating" at all.

*Well, at least my ability’s useful. Just keep hammering things to level up.*

She was Level 2 now. *Do I need to hammer every cold weapon?* Her spatial storage already brimmed with gear—not just the Great Longsword, but greatswords, daggers, bows, even hooks, spears, axes, halberds…

Some weapons had no equivalent here. No one but her could wield them. *Unsellable. I’ll go broke.*

*If only someone would buy them…*

Lost in thought, she drifted toward Wang Qi. Zou Moan subtly elbowed him, then closed her eyes as magic swirled around her—deliberately leaving the two alone.

Zhang Yemiao sighed, reshaping a carriage compartment. The swiftclaws still lay motionless on the ground, looking half-dead.

Wang Qi and Zhang Yemiao stepped inside.

The door sealed them in private space.

Zhang Yemiao’s "strong" mask slipped. Like a timid kitten, she clung to Wang Qi, draping herself over him.

Wang Qi sat down helplessly, trying to peel her off. She squirmed, refusing to let go. Her near-purring affection left him trapped—too gentle and he’d seem to enjoy it; too rough and he might hurt her.

"I’m scared," she whispered, fearing his misunderstanding. "Scared you’ll die. That Elira person… she’s strong. If even *she* said there’s no cure…"

"I won’t leave you behind."

He’d told her this before. Yet the girl in his arms craved constant reassurance, haunted by abandonment. *Am I spoiling her too much?* But the way she nuzzled his chest like a kitten… who *wouldn’t* spoil her?

*This is too close… but how can I push her away?* Wang Qi scolded himself. *Hypocrite.*

Zhang Yemiao didn’t care about his thoughts. She only knew fear. Since arriving in this world, Wang Qi was her lifeline—the reason she could face anything. Without him? Survival meant nothing.

*If he must die… I’d rather die first. At least I’d have him with me till the end.* She flushed, realizing how extreme that sounded.

Wang Qi was unusually compliant today. Usually, his "iron hands" would grab her head to stop this. *Can I be bolder?*

A sly glint flashed in her eyes. Nestled against his chest, she tilted her head—just enough to reach his neck.

Her tongue flicked against his skin.

Wang Qi froze. Muscles locked. He didn’t dare look down, terrified of seeing her tempting expression. *She’s getting bolder every day…*

*Drat. I’d planned to kiss him when he looked down.* Zhang Yemiao pouted internally. *No peeking? Fine.*

She licked him again.

Salty. Not tasty at all—but thrilling! Excitement surged through her. Like a housecat claiming its owner, she marked him with affection.

Wang Qi felt his self-control fraying.

Zhang Yemiao wriggled, her thigh brushing against something hard. *Oh? So you* do *react…*

As her hand reached down, she suddenly floated upward—Wang Qi had lifted her by the armpits.

His face darkened. "Dorm Leader. That’s enough."

"Mew?"

Her attempt to cute her way out failed. Annoyed (and flustered), Wang Qi "punished" her—not indecently, but with relentless tickling.

Giggling uncontrollably, Zhang Yemiao collapsed, flushed and breathless. Wang Qi straightened his rumpled clothes and jumped down from the carriage.

Li Pingtian still glowed with Divine Power. Zou Moan remained wrapped in magic. Both were deep in cultivation.

Wang Qi exhaled sharply, forcing blood to retreat from… elsewhere. *She’s too skilled. I can’t take this.*

*Wait—wasn’t she a guy before? How’d she learn this?! Who taught her?! At this rate, I’ll become her plaything…*

*…Actually, that sounds kinda—NO. Terrifying.*

He retreated to a distant spot to train.

Li Pingtian noticed him leave. Even as Zou Moan cultivated, Li’s Divine Power thickened, swallowing her form completely.

She recalled what she’d seen with Heavenly Sight earlier.

*The Dorm Leader’s that bold?* She’d clearly "seen" Wang Qi’s arousal. Only his last-minute restraint saved Zhang Yemiao from being… claimed.

The pure nun. Silver hair symbolizing innocence. The stoic, doll-like beauty radiating holiness.

Now, for the first time, hidden within pure white light, she began truly exploring her new female body.

---

Far away, Wang Qi’s acute hearing caught a faint, unfamiliar moan beneath nature’s sounds.

*?!*

*Zhang Yemiao? Doesn’t sound like her…*

He activated Heavenly Sight. It pierced the Divine Power’s veil effortlessly—revealing the figure within.

Wang Qi’s blood rushed south again. Training became impossible.