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"I'm fine... Nothing's wrong... You're overthinking it..." Cang Xiaoxi averted his gaze slightly, avoiding Jikuhir's unwavering stare.

"How can you say nothing's wrong?" Jikuhir pressed on, unconvinced. "Your face is paler than ice! Did those people do something to you? Wait right here, Xiao Xi—I'll go teach them a lesson! How dare they lay a hand on someone under this Sovereign's protection? I'll make them regret ever being born..."

"I already said it's not that! Can't you just drop it? Are you trying to annoy me?!"

"...Xiao Xi, you..."

Jikuhir's pupils contracted slightly; her eyes widened. Her foot, lifted mid-step, froze in midair.

She was genuinely startled—by the anger Cang Xiaoxi had shown for the first time in years.

Stunned into silence, she stood motionless. Slowly, glistening tears welled in her eyes, swirling unshed.

Through choked sobs, she whispered weakly:

"I... I'm sorry. Truly sorry. I only... I was worried about you, Xiao Xi... I didn't mean to upset you... I'm so sorry..."

"Ah..."

Witnessing this unexpectedly dramatic scene, Cang Xiaoxi froze. In that moment, he realized how deeply his harsh words had wounded the girl who'd always cared for him with quiet devotion.

Jikuhir's soft sobs echoed sharply in his ears. Memories flooded his mind: years of her staying by his side, accepting his coldness with a cheerful smile no matter how he pushed her away.

And in that instant, the ice sealing Cang Xiaoxi's heart began to crack.

"I'm sorry... I went too far."

He gently placed a hand on the sobbing girl's head and stroked her hair.

Through her tears, Jikuhir saw it all—the pain, the tenderness, the conflict etched across his face.

*Why does he look worried? Didn't he always find me annoying? Why is he touching me now... comforting me?*

Feeling his first intentional touch in years, warmth bloomed beneath her sadness—a tiny, secret thrill she'd never admit.

A woman's pride could be stubborn like that.

"It's okay... I understand." Jikuhir wiped her tears and forced a stiff smile. "I was being presumptuous. I've always known how you feel, Xiao Xi... yet I kept meddling. Let's go—Xiao Fen's waiting at the inn."

Her smile strained. Her steps hesitant. Everything about her felt fragile.

Watching her retreating back, Cang Xiaoxi felt a chilling thought: *If I don't reach for her now... I might lose her forever.*

"Wait... Jikuhir... Hill..."

"...What... did you just call me?"

Jikuhir spun around. Faint though it was, she'd heard it clearly—he'd used her nickname.

Before she could ask further, Cang Xiaoxi tossed her a small bag.

"These are... Spirit Peaches!" Joy lit her face as she cradled the plump, golden fruits. "For me?"

"Who else?" Cang Xiaoxi kept his face neutral, tilting his head away slightly. "I promised. I don't break my word."

"Xiao Xi... Thank you!"

Her sweet smile matched the sweet fruit. She took a eager bite—somehow, gifted by him, it tasted sweeter than ever.

Watching her radiant expression, warmth spread gently through Cang Xiaoxi's chest.

In this fleeting moment, unbeknownst to either of them, the first thread of acceptance began to weave.

"That person... looks so much like my late father..."

On the walk back, Cang Xiaoxi recounted his herb-gathering encounter. Now explaining why he'd instinctively called Frederick "Dad."

"He resembles your father... and his deceased son looks like you too," Jikuhir mused, munching a Spirit Peach while propping her chin. "Coincidence? Or something deeper? He's one of the world's five Divine Tier beings—this feels too precise for chance."

"I don't know." Cang Xiaoxi shook his head, gently wiping juice from her lip. "Maybe just resemblance. I'm not from this world, after all."

"Mmm... but still." Jikuhir frowned, cheeks faintly flushed. "Father, son, *and* Divine Tier status? Hard to call it luck."

"No clues yet. Just guessing in the dark."

"An escape method that evaded even Boundless Realm Xiao Xi?" Jikuhir snapped her fingers. "Must be a new Arcane Artifact from a ruin or labyrinth. Many don't follow known magic systems—teleportation wouldn't be strange."

Cang Xiaoxi nodded, then frowned. "But that discomfort when Sadom activated the Imitation Holy Sword... Without it, I might've reacted in time."

"If it's *that*..." Jikuhir hesitated. "No—probably not. But... it's the only explanation that fits."

"Say it. We'll judge later."

"Right." She turned serious. "You know our magic energies merge, yes?"

"Yeah. Same frequency—why adding power to your spells never caused backlash."

"And why my Dragon's Eye works perfectly on your Arcane Artifacts." She puffed her chest proudly; her tail swished rapidly.

Magical energy was as unique as snowflakes—no two identical. Yet theirs matched perfectly. An anomaly.

To Jikuhir, it was proof of destiny. That's why she'd always blocked his past attempts to investigate. She feared it *was* mere coincidence.

But time had passed. And honestly? This very anomaly made crafting attribute-enhanced artifacts seamless. With no downside, Cang Xiaoxi had let it be.

"Actually," Jikuhir said softly, "both the Holy Sword and Imitation Holy Sword were originally forged to slay the Primordial Dragon King—to exterminate *us*, the Dragonkin. That's why Xiao Xi, carrying Dragonkin power, felt repelled by it."

"Exterminate the Dragonkin?!" Cang Xiaoxi halted, eyes wide. "But you taught me they were for monsters—Demon Kings, Demon Gods—"

"*After* the Non-Aggression Pact. *Before*? They were dragon-slaying blades."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

A cold unease settled in Cang Xiaoxi's chest. The Holy Sword was gifted by the Luminous Church's goddess... Did that mark Dragonkin as her sworn enemies? The Pact ensured peace now—but if a divine decree came... war might be inevitable.

His gaze drifted unconsciously to Jikuhir, happily biting into another Spirit Peach, utterly carefree.