"Is this why you've managed to hold on until now?"

Sitting on a large rock by the riverbank, Bright looked up at the night sky. He casually picked up a flat stone, adjusted his stance, and threw it into the stream.

SKIP, SKIP, SKIP, SKIP... After bouncing eight times, it sank into the river.

He skipped a few more stones across the water; all of them sank after the eighth bounce.

Suddenly, he gripped a stone tightly. It began to glow with a white Radiance, and he fiercely slammed it vertically into the river—

BOOM!

The stone, flashing with white light, struck the river, unleashing a vast sword energy. It instantly bisected the stream, almost twenty meters wide, and the riverbed's sediment was blasted into the air!

He sighed. Love, oh love... Love makes me skip stones. Love makes one reluctant to become a demon...

Bright stood up. Noticing the snow had stopped, he turned and walked back to the camp. As soon as he returned, a Watcher came running to report, "Bright! The investigation leaders from other countries are holding a meeting, and they're looking for you."

While speaking, the Watcher also patted Bright's shoulder, brushing off the snowflakes.

"Alright, thanks, Onnit," Bright smiled in response and walked towards the central tent.

"It's so warm." As Bright lifted the tent curtain, a wave of heat washed over him. A smokeless charcoal furnace was inside the tent, and four Fourth-Stage Cultivators were already there.

"You had no patrol tonight and weren't in the camp. Where did you go?" You Jiu, sitting on a chair with his hands in his trouser pockets, glanced at Bright and was the first to ask.

"Reflecting on myself." Bright shrugged. "The operation to capture the Demon King isn't going smoothly. I was wondering if there was something I hadn't done well enough, so I went to a quiet place to think. It seems not everyone is here... Where's Kadell?"

"Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives." You Jiu glanced at the tent flap as Kadell happened to lift the curtain and enter. He shook the snow off his shoulders and silently sat down to one side.

Ursa was drinking flammable Water of Life again. Sakura Kyoko was dozing off, her legs crossed and chin propped on her hand. Dai Ze observed everything silently without saying a word. You Jiu had no interest in welcoming Kadell—he only bothered chatting with Bright because Bright was more personable.

Now that everyone was present, You Jiu asked, "Why call us together in the middle of the night instead of letting us sleep?"

Sakura Kyoko, who was on the verge of dozing off, nearly dropped her head onto the table. She rubbed her eyes and waved at the Red Armored Samurai in the tent, who immediately said, "Just thirteen minutes ago, a male voice was heard in the Kanto, Central, Kinki, and Northeast Regions. At the same time, the Watchers also reported that the same voice was heard at the same time in the Southern, Northeastern, and Midwestern regions of the Federation. The voice lasted for about 6.12 seconds, spoken in the official language of Mysterious Country. The content was..."

"Alright, that's enough." Sakura Kyoko waved her hand. "You all heard it, right? And you understood what that voice was saying, didn't you?"

No one shook their heads. It seemed everyone had not only learned the language of Mysterious Country but was also quite proficient in it.

"So now let's discuss what that voice means and if you can find the Demon King from those words," Sakura Kyoko said. "Also, is this related to the Demon King's Abilities?"

"What does it mean? Isn't it obvious?" You Jiu asked, bewildered. "Someone is professing their love to the Demon King. There's no need to discuss that, is there?"

Ursa belched and slammed his fist hard on the table—a gesture indicating feigned anger, as he would have smashed the table if he were truly furious—and said, "Then why allow the voice to spread across Flourishing Sakura and the Federation?"

"Oh, that," You Jiu said. "Some people, when they fall in love, get carried away. They want to use a method that catches others' attention to prove their sincerity. The most common method is to confess in front of many people. Now, it's as if this man has confessed to the Demon King before hundreds of millions; his intentions should have been conveyed."

"However, this kind of confession is really very superficial, like something a nouveau riche would do," You Jiu shook his head, indicating his disapproval of this method.

Upon hearing You Jiu's words, everyone in the room immediately focused their gaze on him. Do you take me for a fool who hasn't watched the 'Destiny' live stream? Who was it that chased after the Disaster Messenger, calling her 'wife,' in a broadcast watched by billions worldwide?

Dai Ze spoke up. "But why did it only resound in the Federation and Flourishing Sakura? It seems like other places didn't hear that voice."

Bright thanked the Martial Soul Hall Warrior who handed him some tea, then turned and said, "That's because just half an hour ago, a Source of Disaster had appeared in Federal New York."

"Thankfully, Mr. Ren Han from the Fairy Palace intervened again; otherwise, New York would have definitely suffered greatly," Bright said. "Captain Zack isn't in New York right now. It would have been too late by the time he got back…"

"So what does the Source of Disaster have to do with confessing love?" You Jiu asked.

Bright's smile vanished, his expression turning slightly grave as he said, "Perhaps… it's a celebration."

"To confess love to the Demon King, the Demon King's accomplice releases a Source of Disaster, destroying a city as a gift…" Bright gave a bitter smile. "This plot appears in many entertainment works. But when you realize your own city has become that gift, it feels terrible…"

The others also realized the implications. Sakura Kyoko couldn't help but clasp her heart, staring into the void, her eyes seemingly filled with longing. "How wonderful..."

Noticing everyone looking at her, Sakura Kyoko coughed twice and said, "So… is the Demon King provoking us? She's not only unafraid of our pursuit but even has the inclination to destroy the world while enjoying a romance on the side?"

"Seems like it," Bright replied.

"Damn it!" Sakura Kyoko said through clenched teeth. "We're being underestimated!"

Kadell suddenly asked, "That wide-area sound transmission Ability…"

Bright looked at You Jiu, who shook his head. "Mysterious Country has mobile phones and loudspeakers. Such a Spell… she wouldn't have had the chance to learn it, at least."

"Then it's most likely the Demon King's Ability," Bright stated. "This Spell could be used when wreaking havoc on the world to inform victims over a large area exactly who is destroying their world. This would allow all their Resentment to flow into the Demon King, becoming her power…"

Huh!?

Everyone thought about it and found it quite reasonable, nodding in agreement. Sakura Kyoko said earnestly, "Then just now, if the Demon King had loudly declared she was the Demon King who created the Source of Disaster…"

"According to the Watchers' prophecy, the Demon King would have gained unimaginable Power of Resentment," Bright said. "Fortunately, this time she didn't use it to harvest Resentment, but rather to have her man confess his love to her.

"We still have a chance to rectify this. We need to control public opinion immediately. We must make everyone ignore that voice and prepare an announcement. The announcement should state it was just a test of new technology and that the content is all movie plot.

"That way, if the Demon King tries to use this sound transmission Ability to bewitch the populace or frame someone, the public won't believe her."

"Such a cunning Demon King." Sakura Kyoko took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll inform the government immediately and have them prepare."

Ursa, Dai Ze, Kadell, and the others also nodded, indicating they would inform their respective governments. You Jiu glanced at Bright, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately remained silent and agreed with the suggestion.

"Then everyone go and rest. The Demon King will most likely continue to flee tomorrow. Rest well so we can strive to capture the Demon King tomorrow!" Bright cheered everyone up. After the meeting dispersed, he returned to his tent, slipped into his sleeping bag, and prepared to sleep.

"Bright, do you want me to wake you in the morning?" a blonde Female Watcher asked softly, lifting the tent curtain.

"Thanks, Seres. You don't have to wake me tomorrow; I might sleep in late," Bright apologized with a smile.

"That's true, you're already very tired today. Get some good rest," Seres said considerately, gently letting the curtain fall as she left.

Inside his sleeping bag, Bright closed his eyes and murmured softly, ...Just how far has she investigated...?

...I'll just leave her one piece of bait.

...

...

「November 27th, 8:30 AM.」

When Ren Suo awoke on a pile of grass, the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Qiao Muyi's.

She was nestled in Ren Suo's arms. She had been awake for an unknown period, watching him quietly and obediently.

Ren Suo thought for a moment, then took out a small box from his clothes and retrieved two pill-like objects. He bit into one and placed the other in Qiao Muyi's mouth.

Qiao Muyi took his fingers into her mouth along with the pill. She licked them before biting down on the small pellet, her eyebrows raised teasingly as if avenging last night's flirtations.

"Don't swallow it, okay? Crush it with your teeth and chew for three minutes, then rinse and spit it out," Ren Suo instructed.

He knew he would be spending the night outdoors and couldn't bring a toothbrush. Therefore, he had brought a small box of solid toothpaste pellets specifically for temporary oral hygiene.

Cultivators are human too; naturally, they can't always be fresh and clean around the clock—at least, Third-turn Cultivators can't manage that.

When will the internal network finally develop a 'Cleaning Technique'...?

But after thinking it over, Ren Suo felt that an oral Cleaning Technique would likely create a water flow that staged a Tsunami storm in one's mouth. Brushing my own teeth still seems more practical.

Only after their bodies were fully awakened by the heart-pounding exchange of fluids did Ren Suo softly ask, "Ready for breakfast?"

"Fried chicken?"

Ren Suo nodded, squatted down, rummaged through the pile of grass, muttered, "Fried Chicken Combo," and then pulled out a Fried Chicken Combo meal.

In ancient times, Ren Suo's Ability alone would have been more than enough for him to pass as a Swindler. This was the third time Qiao Muyi had seen him miraculously produce chicken, and she still found it unbelievable. "Is your Awakening Ability actually a Space-Time Category one?"

"No, this is... a prop I acquired by accident. It's unrelated to my Ability," Ren Suo shook his head. "It's similar to the mystical props obtained from the Tactical Bureau."

"The props from the Bureau are nowhere near as useful as yours." While munching on a chicken cutlet, Qiao Muyi tilted her head and asked, "You have magical props, you know important people from the Fairy Palace, and you possess almost precognitive intuition... How many more secrets are you hiding?"

"Plenty more," Ren Suo winked. "It will take you a lifetime to uncover all my secrets."

"Save your cheesy lines," Qiao Muyi poked Ren Suo's forehead. After eating a few pieces of chicken wings and cutlets, she wiped her hands with a napkin. She stood up, patted her bottom, and said, "I'm full. Let's go."

"Where to?"

"To find the last clue, and then let's head back," Qiao Muyi looked down at Ren Suo, her lips curling into a sincere smile as she said, "Let's go back together, to a peaceful and safe life. Just the two of us, returning safely together."

Ren Suo tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Young Master, saying things like this now is as dangerous as planting a flag. Let me say a few contrary things: When you're in the Martial World, you can't control your own fate. When you're adrift in the Martial World, how can you avoid getting cut? Since time immemorial, who hasn't faced death..."

"Alright, alright, finish eating quickly so we can go." Qiao Muyi hastily interrupted him and then sighed softly. "Though I say that, we're still far from our goal. The Joint Investigation Team has surely sealed off the mountain to search by now. The two of us, traveling on foot, perhaps..."

After finishing the last chicken leg, Ren Suo wiped his mouth, thought for a moment, and said, "Young Master, you are the protagonist of my story, and mine alone."

"I've weathered so many shocking waves with you. From now on, it must be smooth sailing," Ren Suo said lightly. "You should be able to trust me by now, right?"

"Indeed." Qiao Muyi nodded and asked, "But why do you still call me Young Master?"

"Hmm? Oh, I just got used to it," Ren Suo blinked. "How about... Muyi? Little Mu? Little Yi? Little Qiao?"

"No, just 'Young Master' will do." Qiao Muyi shook her head. "Others might use those names for me. But this one is exclusively yours. Only you can call me that."

"Hmm, I like exclusive limited editions," Ren Suo said, quite pleased, but then he quickly realized, "So, what are you going to call me?"

"Of course, 'Xiao Suo,'" Qiao Muyi stated as if it were obvious. "Would anyone else call you that?"

"Hmm... no." Ren Suo thought about it. Indeed, apart from Qiao Muyi, no one else called him that. His parents called him Little Suo or "son."

"Then I'm claiming this nickname! From now on, only I can call you that!" Qiao Muyi beckoned with her finger and smiled. "Xiao Suo, let's go!"

Ren Suo went over and took her hand. Together, they walked from the dark cave toward the bright, sunny wilderness.

At that moment, Ren Suo heard Qiao Muyi whisper softly, "Xiao Suo, I don't want to die. I want to live."

That confession hadn't been a waste.

Qiao Muyi, who had wandered in bewilderment, befriended Despair, and awaited the arrival of death, had finally been dragged from the mire by his extravagant yet remarkably effective gesture, her Hope rekindled.

The Hope for the future Ren Suo had instilled in her had overwhelmed all her unease and apprehension.

She had once been willing to die for Ren Suo; now, she was willing to live for him.

Ren Suo squeezed Qiao Muyi's soft hand and smiled. "Is merely living enough for you? Not for me! Since we're alive, we should expect more, obtain more!"

He suddenly strode across the boundary between the cold cave and the outside world, stepping into the sun-drenched land. He turned, extended his hand to Qiao Muyi, and invited her, "I want to live with you, play with you, until we're old. And you?"

Without hesitation, Qiao Muyi stepped out of the cave and grasped his hand. She smiled playfully and said:

"+1."

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