With the final component in place, a complete humanoid figure stood before Zhang Yemiao. The shadow circled the soon-to-be vessel several times, seemingly dissatisfied. "Didn’t I say bigger breasts? And the height seems a bit..."

Zhang Yemiao ducked behind Wang Qi, refusing to address the shadow.

Wang Qi gently squeezed her hand. Zhang Yemiao retrieved a golden cube from her spatial storage—the Life Cube. Only a life-imbued vessel could anchor a soul.

"How’s this used?"

"Just give it to me."

No hesitation. Wang Qi handed over the cube. Though incorporeal, the shadow caught it with a wisp of mist.

The cube shrank instantly. It phased through steel plating and sank into the metal core. Golden light erupted, piercing the iron shell and flooding the room.

The shadow dissolved under the radiance, vanishing completely.

When the glow faded, a woman stood before them.

Ocean-blue hair cascaded like deep-sea currents. Starlight shimmered in her eyes—holy, noble, utterly mesmerizing at first glance.

Zhang Yemiao and Wang Qi, both sheltered in their own ways, fell utterly silent.

"Wait! What about the steel body?" Zhang Yemiao snapped back first. "We forged it from iron—why’s it human now?"

A voice like sharp, mocking birdsong replied: "You refused to fetch me proper skin. I had to burn life force to grow this flesh. Now my power’s crippled."

"So the Holy Sect... belongs to the Hanhai Duchy?" Wang Qi caught the key detail. Blue hair symbolized Hanhai’s aquatic citizens—though real seawater was colorless, not this vivid azure.

"Precisely." The woman lifted her chin, radiating pride.

Zhang Yemiao coughed pointedly. "Ahem! Could you... put on clothes first?" She tiptoed to cover Wang Qi’s eyes, but he caught her wrist, gazing deeply at her.

"Don’t worry. I only have eyes for you."

"Mmmph..."

Zhang Yemiao melted instantly. All strength left her body as she slumped against Wang Qi, limp and pliant.

"Get me clothes first," the woman insisted.

Zhang Yemiao tossed two sets at her and turned away. The reborn woman meant nothing now—their deal was done.

Would it be just the two of them again?

And that catgirl... though serving as a maid felt nice, their home needed no extra girl.

Soon dressed, the woman approached the clinging couple. "Well done, Wang Qi. I’m pleased with this transaction. Before I leave, I’ll grant you one future bargain." She produced a blood-red bead. "Drip your blood on this. I’ll honor our deal—letting you reap rewards before paying the price."

Wang Qi finally met her gaze. "Your name?"

"Deep Blue. Holy Maiden Deep Blue. Remember it."

"Take the catgirl. Handle her as you wish. She was merely payment for our deal—yours to claim." Wang Qi knew Zhang Yemiao’s thoughts. Truth was, he disliked being served. Coming from a land of order, such feudal remnants felt wrong.

Deep Blue glanced at the corner where the catgirl cowered innocently. She smirked. "This deal leaves you shortchanged. I’d compensate you, but I’ve nothing left to give. So... I’ll spare you further trouble."

Gray mist swirled from her palm, engulfing the catgirl. Both vanished.

Zhang Yemiao opened her mouth, but Wang Qi shook his head. He stood silently, waiting.

Minutes passed. He finally exhaled, shoulders relaxing. "Gone at last. That thing was rotten to the core. Talking to psychos is exhausting."

At the furnace, Wang Qi tossed the blood-red bead into the flames. It melted under the heat, dissolving into a wisp of black smoke.

"But she offered another trade?" Zhang Yemiao frowned. Deep Blue hadn’t been kind, but she’d kept her word this time.

Wang Qi ruffled her hair. "How much of her truth do you believe?"

Zhang Yemiao thought hard, then shook her head. "I don’t know."

"Everything but her name was likely lies. Even that might be fake."

"Eh?!" Zhang Yemiao gasped. "All lies?"

"Before merging, she never mentioned using life force to grow flesh. She had other plans—plans requiring preserved power. Without this body, she’d be strong enough to devour us both. That Life Cube held a Seventh-Tier Life Mage’s core." Wang Qi chuckled. "She didn’t fight because she was weakened. And you’d rigged her steel frame with failsafes. Even with flesh, her bones are still metal." He pinched Zhang Yemiao’s cheek fondly. "See? You’re clever."

She knew he was humoring her, but warmth flooded her chest. She hummed a happy tune, snuggling closer.

"Besides," Wang Qi added, "she’s no Hanhai noble. As we guessed—she’s a heretic’s ‘Holy Maiden.’ If she’s even that."

Zhang Yemiao stopped questioning. Wang Qi’s word was law.

She was just a silly girl, happy to be his ornament. Pressed against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, she whispered: "Now that strangers are gone... can we?"

Her pale hand drifted downward. Wang Qi stiffened.

"Dorm Leader," he hesitated, "daytime lewdness isn’t proper..."

"The catgirl’s maid dress was long," Zhang Yemiao murmured, eyes glinting like a horned imp’s. Her tail seemed to sway behind her. "But mine’s a short skirt. With garter stockings~"

Wang Qi swallowed hard.

A garter-stockinged maid was impossible to refuse.

"Yemiao... can you handle it? After last time..."

"If you don’t take off the maid dress..."

Wang Qi understood. The outfit had its perks. Underwear—and perhaps the garters—could stay. Sometimes, allure lived in what remained covered.

Then... he’d just have to be a beast.

After all, humans were creatures of year-round appetite.

***

"Think the Dorm Leader’s already been taken by that bastard Wang Qi?"

That night, in a cheap inn room, Zou Moan and Li Pingtian shared a double bed. They could afford better—skipping meals and selling materials earned decent coin—but frugality was habit.

Li Pingtian glanced back. "Impossible. Wang Qi wouldn’t do that. If anyone’s pushing, it’s the Dorm Leader throwing herself at him."

"Bah! Are you trying to kill me laughing?" Zou Moan burst into giggles. "Our Dorm Leader? The coward who needed all three of us to even ask for Wang Qi’s contact info? She’d never make the first move!"

Li Pingtian thought Zou Moan sounded like an idiot—but kept quiet. She still relied on her. As a Third-Tier mage peaking in power, Zou Moan’s versatility was terrifying: softening earth while sprouting spike traps beneath, then flooding them with water. Even a Fifth-Tier mage might die to such combos.

Their journey had been smooth thanks to Zou Moan’s strength. Only Wang Qi’s brute force could rival her—and he might lose now.

Silence was safest.

Zou Moan’s laughter died abruptly. She fixed Li Pingtian with a stare. "Pingtian. The Dorm Leader’s got Wang Qi. Why don’t we pair up? Two girls—no risk of some guy sticking his—"

" I’d rather be taken by Wang Qi."

Such vulgar words from a beauty were jarring. Zhang Yemiao would never say such things.

"Traitor! After all I’ve done? I followed you when you ran away! And you’d choose Wang Qi? Your emotionless nun act is my ultimate fetish, and you betray—" Zou Moan lunged from her bed.

Silver light flared.

That night, the entire inn slept peacefully. Guests later remarked it was the most restful sleep they’d had in years.

"Damn you, Li Pingtian..."

"Sleep."

***

In a village cottage, a golden-haired girl hung bonelessly from Wang Qi like an ornament. Her crumpled maid dress clung to her, amplifying her fragile beauty.

"I was bad, Master... please forgive me~" After a day of maid play, Zhang Yemiao was utterly spent.

Wang Qi relented, stroking her hair. "No more mischief next time."

"Mmm..."

He sighed. She’d never learn.