Ten minutes earlier.

Falling Immortal Hotel.

The cute, silver-haired girl curled up under the covers, hugging a pillow as she watched a romance drama with great interest.

The woman said, “I love you.”

The man said, “I don’t love you.”

Chen Yanyu seemed to think of something and looked a little wronged.

Five minutes earlier.

Chen Yanyu sat up in bed, holding the pillow in front of her stomach. Her phone rested on top of it.

The woman said, “I don’t love you anymore.”

The man said, “Give me a chance. I love you now. Please!”

The corners of Chen Yanyu’s lips lifted. Her eyes shone, and she began to giggle to herself.

A few seconds earlier.

Chen Yanyu changed positions and lay on her back near the edge of the bed. Her phone was plugged in as she held it above her face.

The woman said, “I love you.”

The man finally said, “I love you too.”

“Waaah…” Chen Yanyu whimpered. Her little face flushed as she sincerely rejoiced for the couple in the story.

Then—

“Bzzzt—”

A WeChat notification popped up on Chen Yanyu’s screen.

The name was…

Luo Qingchuan.

The girl’s hand jerked nervously. Her phone slipped and smacked her in the face.

“Ow!”

That hurt…

Chen Yanyu hurriedly picked up her phone and rolled over. Luo Qingchuan had sent her a message.

【Want to go kill someone together?】

She froze for a moment, then clumsily typed a single character with her pale fingers.

【Who?】

…… ……

Chen Yanyu replied quickly. Luo Qingchuan guessed she’d been looking at her phone, so he briefly explained the situation.

Chen Yanyu: 【So you found the whereabouts of a wanted criminal, and you’re sure this big bad guy is going to hurt someone tonight?】

Luo Qingchuan: 【Yes.】

Chen Yanyu: 【I’m going. Where are you?】

Luo Qingchuan: 【I’ll pick you up. Wait for me.】

Chen Yanyu: 【Huh? Huh? Okay, I’ll wait for you!】

Luo Qingchuan called a car and got in. His destination was the Falling Immortal Hotel.

During the ride, his phone received another message.

When he opened it, however, it wasn’t from Chen Yanyu.

Su Yingsnow: 【Little Chuan-Chuan, I forgot to ask. What level of Qi Refinement are you at now?】

Luo Qingchuan thought for a moment before replying.

【Second level now.】

Su Yingsnow: 【You didn’t even have any spiritual energy last night. Did you take a pill?】

Luo Qingchuan: 【My family has money. I bought one on the black market.】

He wasn’t lying because he wanted to.

His progress had simply been too fast. He was afraid Su Yingsnow wouldn’t believe him if he said he was already at the seventh level.

Of course, an even more monstrous Child of Destiny would truly awaken tonight.

The road ahead was still long.

Su Yingsnow: 【Don’t take too many low-grade pills. They can make your foundation unstable… But your talent is already pretty good. Ask me if you don’t understand something. I can even teach you swordsmanship.】

【Okay.】

Luo Qingchuan knew she meant well, so he didn’t refuse.

But wait…

Wasn’t the sword art passed down through Su Yingsnow’s family only for women?

Su Yingsnow: 【The aptitude assessment is tomorrow. Go to bed early, okay?】

Luo Qingchuan replied with a simple 【Okay】.

Before spiritual energy returned, Su Yingsnow was only a student.

Luo Qingchuan was worried that taking her to face the evil cultivator Peony would put her in danger.

But Chen Yanyu was different. She was a demon immortal from the Dragon Clan, and her cultivation had already reached the third level of Foundation Establishment.

She could crush someone of a lower realm with ease.

Taking a champion into a Platinum match—how could they possibly lose?

Since human lives were involved, Luo Qingchuan wanted to play it safe.

…… ……

“C-Come pick me up?”

Chen Yanyu ran to the mirror in a panic.

She had rolled around under the covers so much that her clothes were messy. Quite a bit of her smooth, snow-white skin was exposed.

Several strands of her waterfall-like silver hair had sprung up into adorably clumsy cowlicks.

“W-What should I wear?”

She was going out with the boy she liked…

No, wait. She was going out to kill a bad guy.

What was she supposed to wear?

Chen Yanyu felt her head start to ache.

She had brought plenty of clothes, all packed inside her suitcase. A miniature spatial formation was hidden inside it, so it could hold far more than it appeared to.

The little dragon girl realized for the first time that she might have trouble making choices.

“Strange… I’m never this indecisive usually. Waaaah, Luo Qingchuan, this is all your fault!”

…… ……

Ten minutes later.

Luo Qingchuan arrived at the Falling Immortal Hotel.

He went to the lobby where he’d first met Chen Yanyu and sat in her old seat, waiting for her to come down.

He also sent her a message.

【I’m here.】

He waited for another five minutes or so.

At 19:07, Chen Yanyu replied:

【I’m coming down now!】

Luo Qingchuan wasn’t in a hurry. They had plenty of time.

The massacre would begin at 23:19:12, when Peony would instantly kill seventy-three people.

There were still roughly four hours left.

The elevator doors opened.

The silver-haired little dragon girl wore sunglasses. Somewhat shy, she followed the crowd out of the elevator.

Then she dazedly headed toward the lobby exit.

She foolishly assumed Luo Qingchuan would be waiting outside.

Luo Qingchuan spotted that eye-catching silver hair the instant it appeared among the crowd.

He rose and called out evenly, “Chen Yanyu.”

Chen Yanyu stopped.

He knew she would definitely hear him.

So, before the revolving doors of the lobby, amid the colorful stream of people coming and going, Chen Yanyu turned toward his voice.

Through her sunglasses, she saw Luo Qingchuan walking toward her from the lounge area.

The girl grew happy without realizing it. She stood there and smiled softly.

She looked so lovely that even time and space seemed to pause.

In Luo Qingchuan’s eyes, the noisy crowd around her quickly blurred, distorted, and receded.

It was as if the enormous lobby had vanished, leaving only Chen Yanyu’s clear and radiant smile.

Between the flashing, shifting figures, Luo Qingchuan saw her perfectly.

The crowd was a blur, but she remained strikingly vivid.

Chen Yanyu wore a light-gray, soft-brimmed wide hat and a thin, off-white knitted sweater.

A small crossbody bag rested at her waist.

The front hem of her sweater was tucked slightly into her elegant yellow pleated skirt, emphasizing her slender waist.

The skirt fell just below her knees, revealing a pair of slim legs that seemed to reflect the lobby lights.

Even with her sunglasses on, they couldn’t hide her dazzling beauty.

Her bare lips curved into a faint pink smile.

As people turned to look at her, she seemed like a gentle light blooming through every shadow.

No one could tear their eyes away.

Then, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, this impossibly beautiful girl ran happily toward a mysterious masked boy.

The flower already had an owner. Countless hearts shattered in silence.

Luo Qingchuan lowered the brim of his hat, trying not to attract too much hostility.

Keep a low profile. Keep a low profile.

“S-Sorry. Have you been waiting long?”

“I just got here too. I was taking a short break.”

The two walked side by side out onto the bustling main street, stepping into the vibrant world of ordinary people.

Luo Qingchuan wore a mask and baseball cap. Chen Yanyu had sunglasses covering her little face.

Together, they really did look like minor celebrities out on a date.

“Really…?” Chen Yanyu smiled. She’d clearly been waiting for more than ten minutes. “Where are we going?”

Her smile was sweet, carrying the youthful shyness and softness unique to a girl of fifteen or sixteen.

Luo Qingchuan couldn’t help staring for a moment.

The evening breeze brushed through her star-dusted silver hair.

A faint, clean fragrance lingered around him, stirring his thoughts.

“A bar.”

Luo Qingchuan looked away and lowered his head to call a car.

“Oh, oh… A-a bar!?”

Chen Yanyu’s face suddenly flushed. She whispered nervously, “Aren’t those places kind of chaotic?”

“That’s why it’s perfect for a bad guy to strike.”

Luo Qingchuan looked over her outfit and fell silent for a moment.

“This outfit… doesn’t seem suited for fighting.”

Chen Yanyu grew even more nervous.

“W-Why not?”

“You shouldn’t have worn a skirt. Pants would’ve been better.”

Luo Qingchuan sounded bluntly practical.

Chen Yanyu puffed out her lips in protest.

“That’s not true! You just don’t understand!”

“Hmm?”

“Hmph. Look closely.”

On the quiet roadside, beneath the calm streetlights, Chen Yanyu naturally pinched the side of her skirt between two fingers.

She lifted it slightly toward Luo Qingchuan’s gaze, without realizing how awkward the pose looked.

A pair of black shorts appeared beneath the skirt, along with a small stretch of smooth, fair skin.

It was like a shy girl showing her favorite person a carefully prepared surprise.

“See? They’re shorts!”

“I see.”

Luo Qingchuan nodded after taking a closer look, feeling a little embarrassed by his ignorance.

Chen Yanyu lowered her pale hand, patted the side of her leg, and gave Luo Qingchuan a triumphant smile.

When the taxi arrived, both of them only realized something was off after they were sitting side by side inside the car.

Had that little gesture been inappropriate?

Chen Yanyu’s pretty face turned bright red.

She quickly twisted around to stare at the neon lights outside the window.

The silver-haired girl pretended to admire the passing scenery. Her lips pressed together as she squirmed with embarrassment.

*I want to dig a hole and bury myself… I’m never showing my face again, waaaah…*

Luo Qingchuan stared straight ahead, sitting rigidly with both hands on his knees.

He remained silent, but his heart was pounding.

*So cute!*

Inside the quiet car, the atmosphere was awkward, yet touched by a hint of innocent, hazy romance.

……