They decided to head back. With nothing at their destination, returning home was the sensible choice.

Once again, Li Pingtian prepared to part ways—not out of spite, but with quiet resolve. "When I left, I’d already filed a pilgrimage request with the Church. These journeys usually last years… Going back now would be shameful."

"But alone—" Wang Qi hesitated, uneasy about Li Pingtian roaming the world solo.

"Relax. Plenty of weaker cultivators travel safely if they’re not greedy."

Zhang Yemiao frowned. "But as a Divine Art Mastery user, won’t you grow weaker without building your own faith? Advancement will stall."

"I need to understand faith’s essence," Li Pingtian said firmly, locking eyes with her. "Fighting you showed me my divine arts are hollow—surface-level power, not true substance. Chasing this with you would waste your time."

"I’ll go with you." Zou Moan suddenly stepped forward, swaying like a street thug. "Dorm Leader and Wang Qi clearly crave quiet lives. Try not to overdo the ‘twice-daily routines’—I don’t want your kids walking by the time we reunite."

Both blushed. Since confessing feelings, they’d kept careful distance.

Zou Moan slung an arm around Li Pingtian. "Ping Tian’s mine now! Traveling with a nun? Thrilling!"

Li Pingtian shot her a disdainful look, then leaned close to Zhang Yemiao’s ear: "I haven’t given up~"

She spun, grabbed Wang Qi, and kissed him—a fleeting dragonfly’s touch. Pulling back, she flashed a radiant, unfamiliar smile. "I’ll return!"

She strode off in the opposite direction of home. Zou Moan waved wildly until the silver-and-purple figures vanished. Only then did Zhang Yemiao and Wang Qi exchange glances.

"Suddenly so quiet," Zhang Yemiao murmured.

"Even with your rival gone?" Wang Qi teased.

She kicked him. "Jerk! Planning to bully me now they’re gone? Forget it!"

Wang Qi grinned, tilting her chin up. "Hmm? Miles from anywhere… endless plains. No one would hear you scream—"

"Help!" she yelped, playing along.

Unsatisfied, he leaned closer. Zhang Yemiao’s gaze dropped to his lips. *Last time, we almost… This time…* Should she close her eyes? *Yes. Close them—*

She kept them open.

Wang Qi suddenly released her, turning away to spit blood.

Zhang Yemiao fumbled healing potions and bandages from her spatial pouch.

Wang Qi ripped open his shirt. A pitch-black ring-shaped seal glowed on his chest.

*That whirlwind girl—Elira. She was searching for a ring…*

Wang Qi wiped his mouth, baffled. "What *is* this? It burned the moment we kissed—like a punch from inside my ribs."

"Are you hurt?" Zhang Yemiao fretted over the blood.

"Pfft. Bleeding’s healthy, right? This is nothing." His Physical Enhancement could handle worse.

But—

He yanked Zhang Yemiao into another kiss. Pale-faced, he broke away and spat blood into the air.

"Holy crap! Kissing literally makes me bleed?!"

Zhang Yemiao grabbed his hand and pressed it to her chest. Wang Qi froze at the soft warmth.

No blood.

"Only kissing triggers it," she concluded, cheeks flaming as she dropped his hand.

"A no-kissing curse? What’s the point? Ridiculous!" Wang Qi grumbled, then perked up. *At least other things are fine…* His eyes roamed over her.

Zhang Yemiao stepped back. "Wang Qi! Since when are you a pervert? You never acted like this before!"

He spread his hands. "Dorm Leader, do you know how hard I’ve held back? Those ‘benefits’ you casually gave… terrible influence on a growing teen!"

*Unrefutable.jpg.*

"Anyway," Wang Qi beamed, "spitting blood won’t kill me. No kissing? Easy fix. Let’s head home—Yinai City’s scholars in the Arcane Principality must know a cure."

"Agreed. Their magic research runs deep."

"How do we return? We released the swiftclaws—they only obeyed Zou Moan anyway."

Wang Qi crouched. "Hop on, Yemiao. I’ll carry you."

She eyed his broad back, then her short skirt. "This might… flash a bit."

"Hmm…"

"Piggyback? Or princess carry?"

"Really?! …Wait, piggyback’s safer if trouble comes." She abandoned the tempting option.

Wang Qi smiled fondly. "Sure? No one’s here to see you spoil me."

"I’m not a child."

"Alright. Hold tight~" He stood, hands circling her slender thighs. The smooth skin beneath her skirt sent a jolt through him.

"Since when did you stop wearing stockings?" he murmured. She’d arrived in a miniskirt and black stockings—that tempting strip of bare thigh. Now she wore practical shorts.

"They felt odd. Besides…" She whispered against his ear, serious. "Do you want stockings or legs? I’ll wear them if you like."

His imagination ignited. *She’d wear them just for me?* His grip tightened slightly on her thighs.

"Not now. Save it for home…"

"We walked *hours* to get here."

"Then… at least wait till nightfall."

Their banter turned pink as Wang Qi strode down the road. Wind rushed past; his steady steps lulled Zhang Yemiao. *Sleeping would make night come faster… but this is nice.* She traced the ring seal in her mind. *No kissing? Plenty else we can do…*

*Would baby-making work?* Zou Moan’s teasing echoed. *Childbirth must hurt… but magic probably has pain relief. Still—shouldn’t we marry first? Though modern folks…* Her thoughts tangled pleasantly against his back.

*Maybe I could forge a similar ring someday…*

*Punch cheaters? Too harsh. Make them feel ticklish instead?*

*Yeah. That’d work.*

---

"You really like Wang Qi?" Zou Moan eyed Li Pingtian suspiciously.

"Yes. I do."

"Since when?"

"The very beginning!"

Zou Moan shuddered, hugging herself. "Ew! A gay guy right beside me!" She edged away.

"Please. You didn’t *admire* his muscles when you touched them?" Li Pingtian’s gaze pierced through her.

"Bull! That was pure aesthetic appreciation! The ultimate male romance—like Gundams, like Kamen Riders! Irresistible!"

"I’ll never understand people like you."