Facing the tea offered by Yue Lin, Ge Ling and Master Karan both gave polite thanks.

Ge Ling watched the seemingly naive little girl with an ahoge twitching prominently atop her head, his eyes guarded. He feared Yue Lin might say something that’d get him—or his family—into trouble, so he dared not sweet-talk her even a little.

Only Vivian seemed unable to adjust to the atmosphere, still adrift in a haze of confusion.

Back in the Dawn days, when guests visited, *they* were the ones hosting.

Well… that wasn’t quite right. It was really Tiffany handling hospitality. But Vivian at least sat in the main seat—part of the hosting side.

Yet how little time had passed before she became the "guest," seated across from Li Wei.

And the space beside Li Wei? Filled entirely by just one person.

So when Yue Lin offered the tea again, only Vivian sat dazed, saying nothing.

Vivian didn’t move. Yue Lin simply stood there, staring fixedly back.

(｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)

That stubborn ahoge twitching in her vision yanked Vivian’s thoughts back. Instinctively, she met the girl’s gaze—those beautiful, ruby-like eyes.

For a heartbeat, she mistook her for Tsukika and tensed.

Realizing it was Yue Lin, she exhaled in relief… then hesitated under the girl’s silent, unwavering stare, cheeks warming with awkwardness.

*She’s not being glared at by Tsukika…*

*…But is this little girl giving her the cold shoulder??*

Vivian quickly looked away, seeking help from Li Wei.

If Yue Lin had been sitting across, she might’ve endured it. But standing *right there*, staring straight into her soul? Unbearable.

Before Li Wei could speak, Tsukika let out a soft chuckle.

“You haven’t thanked this child yet.”

Vivian blinked awake. Looking at Li Wei and Tsukika’s daughter, a flicker of panic and inexplicable grievance tightened her throat.

“Thank you.”

Yue Lin gave a stiff, serious nod and returned to her mother’s side.

“See? Big sister’s so cooperative. Such a nice person,” Tsukika murmured, stroking her daughter’s hair. Crimson eyes gleaming with amusement, she casually drove another dagger into Vivian’s heart.

“So,” Li Wei said after sipping the warming tonic, his gaze settling calmly on the upright Ge Ling. “What brings you here?”

“Before discussing my own matter,” Ge Ling began, hesitating before forcing a wry smile, “I must confess—I carry an extra task from Miss Ying. She specifically asked me to check how you’ve been.” He cleared his throat. “And… to deliver a message.”

*“Why did you write to that woman… but not to her?”*

Ge Ling reached for his teacup—

A hand snatched it away.

He turned. Heart skipped. An expressionless, exquisitely beautiful little face stared back.

Tsukika smiled beside him. “Ah, nearly forgot. While my daughter brewed the tea… she might’ve added something strange. Poison would be *so* unfortunate, wouldn’t it?”

*Pfft.*

Master Karan spat out his tea.

“Miss Tsukika jests…” Ge Ling met those crimson eyes, a chill crawling up his spine. *The new tea she brings next… that’s the real poison.*

Life felt like a candle in the wind. He added hastily: “Please rest assured! Miss Ying sees Mr. Li Wei only as an elder brother!”

*Even if she doesn’t… she must.*

Ge Ling thought coldly—he’d never wanted his young mistress entangled with Li Wei.

*Ying…*

Li Wei pinched the bridge of his nose. A flash of that mischievous, yandere-tinged woman crossed his mind. He shook his head.

He’d expected Ying’s reach the moment Ge Ling revealed his Saintly Consortium ties.

*But… what if I never wrote anyone a letter?*

He glanced at Vivian. She flinched under his gaze, turning away guiltily, silent.

Li Wei didn’t bother explaining. “The past is past. These years without me… she’s likely happier. Just tell her to live well. My life needs no concern from her.”

Vivian: “…”

An outsider today—yet hearing Li Wei’s resolute words felt like another stab.

Tsukika watched the Chosen Hero’s placid face, thoughtful, then settled back with a faint smile.

“But for *just* a message,” Li Wei added mildly, “would a Saint-Spirit Forging master truly journey from the Holy City?”

He saw through it: Ge Ling invoked Ying not from loyalty, but to feign closeness.

“Mr. Li Wei’s perception is unmatched,” Ge Ling chuckled, producing a shattered armor. “My schemes never hide from you.”

Li Wei studied the armor, then turned to Vivian in disbelief. “When did you challenge the Demon Lord?”

Vivian: “?”

“Not the Demon Lord! Just… hit by a Domain technique.” She gritted her teeth—*too ashamed to admit it was a Demon Clan commander’s.*

“*Just?*”

“…One misstep, and you wouldn’t have taken the *full* brunt,” Li Wei murmured, tracing the armor’s ruin. *Flash-into-ultimate? Horse-trampling-arrows?* Not even gaming slang could capture that spectacular blunder.

Mortified, Vivian wanted to bang her head on a block of tofu. *I knew coming here meant getting scolded.*

Li Wei opened his mouth—then stopped. Seeing her expression, he shook his head, silent.

Vivian noticed the abrupt halt. Usually, this was lecture time. But his *chosen* silence left a hollow ache where annoyance once lived.

Ge Ling’s voice cut in, tinged with envy: “If I’m not mistaken… this armor used the Saint-Spirit Forging Technique. Triple-layered artifice on star-iron ore? Only spiritual blessing enables such stacking.”

Li Wei didn’t deny it. He’d known Ge Ling came certain of this.

Rumors had swirled before he left the Holy City—whispers that The Smith’s legacy reached him. *Ge Ling started them.*

At a Holy City auction, Ge Ling spotted “antiques” suspiciously fresh—less relics, more *last-week leftovers*. Few believed him. Smart man: he kept the secret.

Back then, Li Wei’s shadow still loomed. No faction dared openly sever ties, even while plotting his expulsion. A rumored technique? Not worth the risk.

But Ge Ling never stopped coveting it.

Years out of sight… perhaps an opening.

Li Wei had always shared freely—strategies for the Demon King Citadel, even after leaving. Pride made them cut contact. Then came stalemate. Years. Resources poured. Not one new citadel fallen since Li Wei paved the way.

Surface victory masked deep strain. The upper echelons *ached* for breakthrough.

Ge Ling pieced it together: For Li Wei, demon-slaying was purpose. He’d still push the cause.

*Use the greater good. He’ll yield.*

Ideally… willingly.

Ge Ling suppressed the heat in his chest. “If I’m correct… The Smith’s Saint-Spirit Forging Technique isn’t lost. Mr. Li Wei—you alone inherited and *use* it, yes?”

Li Wei sipped the bitter tonic, frowning. *How many tonics did this Demon Lord cram in…? Needs sugar next time.*

As he set the cup down—Tsukika peeled a candy wrapper, pressing the sweet to his lips. Delicate fingers brushed his mouth.

Her teasing gaze said: *Open up… or I’ll get creative.*

Under everyone’s eyes, Li Wei accepted it calmly, expertly.

Vivian watched, dazed—then flinched when Tsukika’s gaze flicked her way. To hide her turmoil, she turned to Ge Ling. “Even if The Smith left a legacy… how can he use it *without* a status panel?”

She still couldn’t believe Li Wei forged her armor.

“A mystery long unanswered,” Ge Ling replied, eyes deep. “Many doubted. Yet reality remains: Mr. Li Wei *can*.” He leaned forward, earnest. “The Saint-Spirit Forging Technique transcends skills or Miracles. It cannot be learned via panel or experience. So… isn’t it *natural* that a panel-less Li Wei wields it?”

He held Li Wei’s gaze.

“I came today to request the inheritance of the Saint-Spirit Forging Technique.”

“For humanity’s future. To break the stalemate against the Demon King Citadel…”

“Will you entrust it to us?”

As the words settled, the air in the room froze solid.

Vivian stared at Ge Ling in a daze, while Karan seemed utterly stunned.

Tsukika’s crimson eyes flicked indifferently toward Ge Ling, then she gently tousled the ahoge atop her bewildered daughter’s head—silent.

Li Wei showed no surprise at Ge Ling’s sudden reveal of true intent. Calmly, he asked, “Hand it over to *all* of you… or just to *you*?”

Ge Ling straightened. “What’s the difference?”

“A world of difference,” Li Wei replied evenly. “Exclusive access for you alone—or something everyone else can learn.”

“Why harbor such prejudice against me, Mr. Li Wei?” Ge Ling’s face tightened with wounded indignation, as if deeply insulted.

“Perhaps it isn’t prejudice,” Li Wei countered, “but clear-sighted judgment.”

Ge Ling shot back, “Yet you alone hold the legacy of The Smith. Doesn’t that restrict the spread of this technique? Aren’t *you* the one hoarding it?”

Li Wei remained calm. “If the Saint-Spirit Forging Technique were so simple to master, The Smith wouldn’t have chosen only me. I vowed to pass it on—to those truly worthy.”

“And what makes someone ‘worthy’?”

“Certainly not you.”

“How am I unworthy? You haven’t even tested me—doesn’t that feel dismissive? Have you stopped caring about contributing to humanity?” Ge Ling’s voice dipped with disappointment.

Li Wei paused thoughtfully. “What if ‘worthy’ means meeting *two* conditions?”

“…???”

While Ge Ling stood frozen, Li Wei shrugged. “So refusing to give *you* the Saint-Spirit Forging Technique equals refusing to serve humanity? Listen to yourself—does that even sound human?”

“Don’t moral-guilt-trip me. I’ve done more than enough for humanity. And do you truly believe you’re qualified to question me? When *I* was serving humanity… pray tell—what were *you* doing?”