Zhu Ming clashed against Mulan again and again, but every attempt to break through her defense failed.
Flames spiraled around her like a living storm.
Her control over fire had always been formidable, but now it had reached a level Zhu Ming could hardly comprehend. The artifact she wore had completely transformed her—her appearance, her aura, even the way her power flowed.
Her outfit was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
It was not armor in the traditional sense. The design was sleek and strange, glowing faintly with lines of crimson light that pulsed with her profound energy. The flames surrounding her responded to every movement of her body as if they were extensions of her will.
Even her weapon had changed.
The polearm in her hands burned with an intense, oppressive heat. Each strike carried not only destructive force but also a strange suppressive energy that interfered with healing.
Zhu Ming could feel it clearly.
Even the slightest wound refused to close.
He gritted his teeth as he deflected another sweeping strike, barely managing to step back before the flames engulfed the space where he had been standing.
He had never encountered such a combat style before.
This was not the refined, traditional technique of noble families.
It was something entirely different.
Something unfamiliar.
Something terrifying.
And worst of all—
He couldn't even get close enough to land a single proper strike.
Zhu Ming gritted his teeth as he suddenly expanded his domain, his profound energy erupting outward in a blazing wave. The ground beneath them cracked as scorching flames spread across the battlefield, attempting to overwhelm Mulan with sheer pressure.
The air grew heavy with heat.
Within his domain, Zhu Ming's control over fire should have been absolute. Anyone trapped inside it would feel their strength suppressed while his own power surged.
"Let's see how you handle this!" he roared.
But Mulan didn't even flinch.
The flames around her armor surged in response, rising like a living mantle. The artifact she wore responded instantly, amplifying her elemental control.
Before Zhu Ming could fully assert dominance over the domain—
Mulan moved.
Her body flickered forward in a blur of crimson light.
Zhu Ming's eyes widened.
He barely managed to react before her polearm swept through his guard.
Slash—!
The blade carved across his shoulder.
Zhu Ming staggered back, blood spilling across his robes.
He immediately tried to circulate his profound energy to heal the wound.
But the injury did not close.
The weapon's strange energy spread through the cut, disrupting his recovery technique.
"What—?!" Zhu Ming's eyes widened in shock.
Mulan lowered her polearm calmly, the flames around it burning fiercely.
"Your domain won't save you."
The artifact's power had not only strengthened her flames—it had also allowed her weapon to deny healing, turning every wound into a lingering weakness.
Zhu Ming gritted his teeth and unleashed his domain's power, his profound energy erupting outward like a raging inferno. The ground cracked beneath his feet as waves of scorching heat expanded in every direction. Within moments, the battlefield was swallowed by a blazing field of fire.
Inside his domain, Zhu Ming's control over the flames became absolute. The air warped under the intense heat, and the pressure of his Emperor Profound power surged violently.
"Let's see how you fight inside my domain!" he shouted.
But Mulan did not retreat.
The flames around her armor surged higher, responding to her will as the Fire Booster artifact amplified her elemental power. Crimson fire coiled around her body like a phoenix awakening.
Zhu Ming's domain tried to crush her presence.
Instead—
Her flames pushed back.
The clash of fire against fire sent violent shockwaves across the battlefield. Zhu Ming's confident expression slowly faltered as he felt something impossible.
His domain… was being overpowered.
Mulan stepped forward.
Each step she took caused her flames to intensify, burning brighter and hotter than the domain surrounding them.
"You think flames alone belong to you?" she said coldly.
With a single swing of her polearm, a torrent of blazing fire erupted outward.
The impact tore through Zhu Ming's control.
BOOM!
The domain fractured like glass.
Cracks of collapsing energy spread across the burning field before the entire domain shattered violently, dispersing into scattered embers.
Zhu Ming staggered backward, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"How—?!"
Before he could recover—
Mulan was already in front of him.
Her polearm flashed through the air.
Slash—!
The blade cut across his side, sending him stumbling backward.
He immediately tried to circulate his profound energy to heal the wound.
But the injury refused to close.
The weapon's strange energy disrupted his recovery, leaving the wound burning painfully.
Mulan lowered her polearm as flames continued to swirl around her transformed form.
"You're done."
Zhu Ming staggered from the blow, blood dripping from the wound that refused to close. His shattered domain still crackled faintly in the air around him as he struggled to steady himself.
Then—
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone nearby.
His expression twisted.
In the next instant, Zhu Ming burst forward.
Before anyone could react—
He grabbed a figure and locked his hand around her neck.
It was Bing.
"Bing!" Jin Yuelian shouted in shock.
She immediately raised her hand, stopping Lin Yueru, who had already drawn her bow.
"Don't!" Jin Yuelian warned.
One wrong move and Bing's life would end instantly.
"Bastard!" Kon shouted, stepping forward.
"Kon! Stop!" Jin Yuelian snapped.
"But—!" Kon protested, his paws clenched.
He had no choice but to halt.
In Zhu Ming's grasp, Bing struggled weakly, her teeth clenched.
"Princess…" she muttered through the pain.
She hated this feeling.
Being used as a hostage… again.
"You bastard!" Mulan shouted, fury burning in her eyes.
But Zhu Ming only tightened his grip slightly around Bing's throat.
"Hand over the treasure on your arm," he demanded.
Mulan's jaw clenched.
This was playing dirty.
Zhu Ming's fingers tightened around Bing's throat as he lifted her like a rag doll, her feet barely touching the ground.
"The treasure… or her life?!" he sneered, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Choose!"
Bing's face was pale, her breath shallow beneath the crushing grip.
Nearby, Mio and Little Fairy were already moving—too fast, too direct. Neither of them sensed the subtle killing intent coiled in Zhu Ming's arm. If they rushed in now, if Zhu Ming's hand tightened even slightly…
Bing would die instantly.
Mulan saw it.
Her teeth clenched so hard her jaw trembled.
Slowly, her hand moved to the gauntlet wrapped around her arm—the Fire Booster Gauntlet. The crimson crystal embedded within it pulsed faintly, its warmth flowing through her veins.
Mu Che's final gift.
Yun Che and Nemu had completed it for her.
A treasure capable of turning the tide of battle.
For a moment… her fingers tightened.
Then she made her decision.
With a sharp motion, Mulan tore the fire crystal free from the gauntlet. The brilliant flames surrounding her body collapsed instantly, her blazing transformation dissolving as she returned to her original form. The battlefield suddenly felt colder without the fiery aura surrounding her.
She removed the gauntlet from her arm.
Her voice was cold and steady.
"Take it."
The gauntlet spun through the air as she threw it toward Zhu Ming.
Greed flashed in the ancestor's eyes.
The instant he caught the gauntlet, his grip on Bing loosened.
Bing dropped.
Before she could hit the ground, Mulan surged forward and caught her, pulling her safely into her arms.
Across from them, Zhu Ming stared at the gauntlet in his hand as if it were the greatest treasure in existence. His body trembled with excitement.
"The treasure!" he roared triumphantly, raising it high. "Finally… I have the treasure!"
His laughter echoed wildly across the battlefield.
"Bing!" Mulan cried as she caught her.
Bing's eyes fluttered weakly before slowly opening. Her breathing was ragged, her voice hoarse.
"Princess…" she whispered, shame filling her gaze. "I'm sorry… Even with this power… I'm still so weak."
Mulan shook her head immediately, tightening her hold on her.
"Don't worry about that."
Bing's eyes lowered.
"But… you gave up your treasure…"
For a moment, Mulan glanced at the gauntlet now clutched in Zhu Ming's greedy hands. Mu Che's final gift… the weapon Yun Che and Nemu had completed for her.
Then she looked back at Bing.
"It's just a treasure," Mulan said calmly. "I'm not losing my best friend over a mere treasure."
Bing's eyes trembled at those words.
Across the battlefield, Zhu Ming examined the gauntlet like a starving man holding food for the first time. The madness of greed gleamed in his eyes.
Then his gaze snapped back toward them.
"Now!" he barked sharply. "Hand over those contraptions and the methods to control them!"
His finger pointed toward the drones still hovering in the sky above the battlefield.
"I want everything!"
Mulan slowly lifted her head, her eyes turning cold.
"Greedy bastard…" she muttered under her breath.
Mio and Little Fairy had already tensed to move, but both suddenly halted mid-step.
Their senses expanded.
Familiar auras.
Strong ones.
"…They're here," Mio murmured. "Took them a while."
Little Fairy lowered her stance as well. The killing intent that had been building around them slowly dissipated. "That rascal really takes his time."
Before Zhu Ming could press his demands further, a deep rumble rolled across the sky.
A shadow swept across the battlefield.
From beyond the mountains, a massive VTOL craft descended, its engines roaring like thunder. Its sleek metallic body glided through the air like some enormous flying ark.
Zhu Ming's eyes narrowed sharply.
What… is that?
The object had appeared almost out of nowhere. He hadn't seen it approach. Worse—he hadn't sensed it at all.
The aircraft slowed, hovering above the battlefield.
A side hatch slid open.
A figure jumped down first.
Yun Che.
He landed lightly beside Mulan, his boots touching the ground with calm precision.
Behind him, one after another, more figures descended.
Xia Qingyue.
Chu Yueli.
Unohana Retsu.
Cang Yue.
Jin Zhuo.
Zhong Chuke.
Tian Xi.
Yao Yao.
The moment their auras spread across the battlefield, Zhu Ming's pupils shrank. He is unaware that half of them returned from their own respective battlefields. His presence is meaningless before them.
Emperor Profound Realm…
So many.
Behind Yun Che's group, several of the newcomers quietly observed the situation.
Zhong Chuke squinted toward the burning figure surrounded by flames.
"The Zhu Family ancestor?" he muttered. "I haven't seen him for a very long time."
Yao Yao tilted her head slightly.
"He's the ancestor. Of course he's an old man."
Zhong Chuke gave a dry chuckle.
"That's not what I meant."
His gaze sharpened as he studied Zhu Ming more carefully.
"I've heard about him for years… but I never expected to run into him here."
He folded his arms, his voice lowering.
"Be on your guard, girls. He might look like a greedy old fool right now, but he's still a Ninth Level Emperor Profound Realm expert."
Both Tian Xi and Yao Yao straightened slightly.
"That man is practically a legend," Zhong Chuke continued. "For someone like him to personally appear and attack the Jin Family… this situation is far more serious than it looks."
Tian Xi glanced sideways.
"Master… can you take him on?"
Zhong Chuke shook his head without hesitation.
"I'm only at the Fifth Level Emperor Profound Realm," he said bluntly. "Against someone four levels above me, the difference is enormous."
His eyes shifted toward Yun Che's group.
"Only Grand Mistress Xue Yin could easily handle him now."
"She already stepped into the Sovereign Profound Realm."
He sighed.
"Shame she didn't come with us. She stayed behind to deal with the matter involving her sister."
Tian Xi and Yao Yao's eyes widened slightly.
Monarch.
With a single pill given by Yun Che, they jumped directly from First Level Sky Profound Realm directly to the First Level Emperor Profound Realm.
Even after escaping the chaos of the Northern Mountain—after fighting through nearly three thousand men and surviving the avalanche—they were still not used to hearing such terrifying cultivation levels being discussed so casually.
Then both of them remembered something.
The Jin Family also had a Monarch.
The two girls quietly exchanged glances.
Neither of them spoke again.
Zhu Ming gaze quickly hardened. Fortunately, he had already obtained the treasure.
He glanced at the Fire Booster Gauntlet in his hand, greed flashing across his face. Without hesitation, he shoved his arm into it.
Perhaps it would give him the same explosive power Mulan had used earlier.
Beside the newly arrived group, Yun Che looked around calmly before his gaze settled on Mulan, who was still holding Bing in her arms.
"I see you're wrapped up here," he said.
Mulan lowered her head slightly. "Yes… and I'm sorry."
Yun Che raised a brow. "For what?"
"He had Bing," Mulan replied quietly. "I couldn't let him hurt her."
Bing also forced herself to speak despite her weak state. "Lord Yun… I'm sorry…"
Yun Che's eyes shifted toward Zhu Ming.
More specifically—the gauntlet now on his arm.
"You gave up the gauntlet?" he asked.
Mulan nodded slowly.
"It's just a gauntlet," she said. "Bing's life is much more important."
Her fingers tightened slightly around Bing. "When I threw it away… it felt like I was letting him go."
Yun Che sighed faintly. "You did forget I upgraded that thing, didn't you?"
Mulan blinked. "…But you can make me another one?"
"I could," Yun Che replied casually. "I reverse-engineered it after all."
He scratched the back of his head as if mildly annoyed. "Still a shame seeing it blown away like that. It was Mu Che's after all."
Mulan frowned slightly. "…Blown away?"
Yun Che glanced at her.
"You were determined to let it go, right?"
Mulan closed her eyes briefly before nodding.
"Hnn… It's just a treasure," she murmured. "I was clinging to false hope and trade it for Bing's life."
"Hmph. So you brought allies?" Zhu Ming sneered, his gaze sweeping across the newly arrived group before settling back on Mulan. "Couldn't defeat me by yourself?"
He raised the gauntlet proudly.
"Once I master the power of this treasure… none of you will live to see tomorrow."
A quiet sigh came from the side.
Jin Zhuo stepped forward slightly, rubbing his forehead as if disappointed.
"To think… that I would live long enough to see the Zhu Family's ancestor making childish death threats."
Zhu Ming's eyes burned with fury.
"You dare mock me, Jin Zhuo?!"
Jin Zhuo's expression remained calm.
"You already lost the siege today," he replied evenly. "Your soldiers were defeated by my daughter alone."
A few of the newcomers glanced toward Mulan with faint approval.
Zhu Ming scoffed loudly.
"Hmph! Your bravery is amusing. You think sitting on a throne makes you worthy of challenging me?"
His arm lifted, proudly displaying the gauntlet.
"Like I said… with this treasure your daughter gave me, I can destroy the Jin Family!"
Without waiting another second, Zhu Ming activated the gauntlet.
The fire crystal blazed.
A surge of flames erupted around his body, swirling violently as heat rippled through the air.
His eyes widened with manic excitement.
"The power of the flames!" he roared triumphantly, basking in the blazing aura surrounding him.
"Wow… not exactly what I had in mind," Yun Che muttered with a sigh, watching the flames swirl around Zhu Ming. "You're really willing to see it gone?"
Across the field, Zhu Ming lifted his burning arm arrogantly.
"Jin Mulan!" he shouted. "Fight me one-on-one for your family! Or perhaps you're hoping to trick me into giving this back so you can overpower me again?!"
A soft, amused voice drifted from the newcomers.
"Ara… he's more delusional than I thought," Retsu remarked calmly.
Yun Che ignored the outburst and looked at Mulan. "Right. So, Mulan… are you really willing to let it go?"
Mulan inhaled slowly. "Hnn…"
Yun Che leaned slightly closer. "Then listen carefully. I'm going to say something in your mind. Repeat it exactly. Word for word."
She nodded.
A moment later, strange phrases echoed inside her thoughts—words she had never heard before. Their sounds were completely foreign.
"Your answer, Jin Mulan?!" Zhu Ming demanded again, flames roaring around him as he basked in his supposed advantage.
Mulan raised her head calmly. "I would rather you give it back of your own free will."
Zhu Ming barked a laugh. "Why would I do that?!"
Mulan's gaze sharpened.
"So you don't blow up."
Before anyone could react, she spoke again.
But this time, the language that left her mouth shocked everyone present.
"Fire Booster Gauntlet, command… function override, code ten."
The words were clear, precise—
Yet completely foreign.
Even Mulan herself did not understand what she was saying.
The battlefield fell silent.
The strange language rolled off her tongue with unnatural fluency.
Xia Qingyue's brows knitted slightly. Even she had never heard such speech before. The songs Yun Che once played during the Sword Discourse Arena had sounded vaguely similar—but back then they had seemed like meaningless sounds.
This was different.
This sounded deliberate.
Up in the air, the Fire Booster Gauntlet on Zhu Ming's arm suddenly began to glow.
A pulse of light ran through its engraved circuits.
Then a calm female voice suddenly projected from the device itself.
"Override accepted. Activating voice command."
Zhu Ming froze. "What is this?!"
Mulan spoke again.
"Fire Booster Gauntlet. Self-destruct in thirty seconds."
Then she added another phrase, exactly as Yun Che had instructed.
"Command code zero… zero… zero… destruct zero."
The gauntlet responded instantly.
"Destruct sequence completed and engaged. Detonation in T-minus thirty seconds."
A steady ticking sound began coming from the device.
Zhu Ming stared at the gauntlet in confusion.
He didn't understand a single word the device had spoken.
But the ominous ticking…
And the sudden panic rising in his chest…
Told him something was very, very wrong.
"What did you do?!" Zhu Ming shouted, panic finally creeping into his voice as the gauntlet continued its relentless ticking.
Mulan looked at him calmly.
"I told you," she said. "If you didn't give it back… it would blow up."
Zhu Ming's eyes twitched.
Mulan turned towards Yun Che. "But you said in my mind just now—if it explodes, it would take the watchkeep with it!"
"That only happens if you pour a massive amount of profound energy into it," he said casually. "You didn't do that."
Yun Che answered as he shrugged lightly.
"So now… it'll just blow up in his face."
Zhu Ming's expression twisted.
"You're bluffing!" he roared. "You wouldn't destroy such a powerful treasure!"
Instead of removing the gauntlet, he did the opposite. Flames surged violently around him as he began channeling even more profound energy through his body.
The gauntlet's voice responded coldly.
"Detonation in T-minus twenty seconds."
Zhu Ming ignored it completely, continuing to gather power as if proving his dominance.
The ticking grew faster.
"Detonation in T-minus ten seconds."
His rage exploded.
"ARRRGHHH! If you won't give me those contraptions, I'll kill all of you!!"
With a furious roar, Zhu Ming shot forward like a flaming meteor toward Yun Che and the others.
None of them moved.
Not even slightly.
The gauntlet continued its countdown.
"Five."
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
A sharp ping rang out.
Then—
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion erupted from Zhu Ming's arm, fire and shockwaves blasting outward.
At the same moment, Yun Che casually raised a barrier in front of the group. The translucent shield absorbed the shockwave effortlessly, preventing the explosion from touching anyone behind it.
Smoke and flames scattered across the courtyard.
"Arrgghh…!"
Zhu Ming's body flew through the air like a broken arrow before crashing into the far end of the front yard.
When the smoke cleared, he lay sprawled across the ground.
His arm was charred and mangled—the shattered remains of the Fire Booster Gauntlet still smoking where it had detonated.
A brutal reminder of his greed.
Silence fell across the battlefield.
Mulan lowered her gaze slightly as she picked up the pieces of the tool. The gauntlet…
Her wedding gift was Mu Che's final present. She had only just received the completed version… and now it was gone.
Blown apart by her own command.
Yet strangely—
She didn't feel the pain she thought she would.
Instead, there was a quiet sense of release.
If she truly wanted to move on from Mu Che… perhaps this had been the right way.
A clean break.
Her eyes drifted toward Yun Che.
If she ever wanted another gauntlet…
She could simply ask him. He could procure her a new copy.
And this time—
It wouldn't be Mu Che's gift.
It would be Yun Che's.
===========================
"I can't believe it," Yun Che said as he leaned back slightly, looking across the battered courtyard. "We just fought a war with the Qiang State, repelled the Hutu Monks, dealt with the Zhu Family, and even stopped an assassination attempt from the Shu State."
He let out a breath as he sat on a stone bench in the frontal yard of the Jin Family Watchkeep, surrounded by his companions.
All around them, the Jin Family soldiers were still busy with the aftermath of the battle. The courtyard and surrounding grounds were filled with activity. Soldiers moved back and forth as they captured the remaining survivors of the Zhu Family's assault and began the grim task of clearing the battlefield.
Bodies were being gathered.
Weapons collected.
Prisoners restrained.
Earlier, Yun Che, Retsu, and Nemu had personally immobilized the surviving enemies using kido, binding their movements so the Jin Family soldiers could secure them without difficulty.
The captured Zhu Family soldiers were now under heavy guard.
Meanwhile, Jin Zhuo had already taken action.
Without wasting a moment, he led a force directly toward the Zhu Family estate to seize control of it before any resistance could form.
His orders were clear.
The women and children were to be spared.
The soldiers were also spared—on the condition that they would swear allegiance to the Jin Family. With the Zhu Family leadership captured and imprisoned overnight, the newly appointed patriarch had no choice but to submit to Jin Zhuo's authority.
It was the price for attempting to lay siege to the Jin Family.
Out of the thousand soldiers who had participated in the attack, nearly two hundred had died during the fighting.
The number could have been far higher.
But Retsu, Mio, Yoru, Little Fairy, and Mulan had all deliberately held back, choosing to show mercy once the enemy forces had begun to collapse.
Another war was already looming on the horizon.
The city would need every soldier it could gather.
Killing surrendered enemies might have been satisfying in the moment—but it would leave a bitter taste.
Especially when those men had already laid down their weapons.
With the courtyard finally cleared, the chaos of battle slowly faded into a heavy silence. The once-crowded yard of the Jin Family Watchkeep was now mostly empty, the soldiers having moved on to their duties—securing prisoners, tending to the wounded, and cleaning the remains of the battlefield.
Yun Che and the rest of his companions had gathered on the wide stone stairs leading into the main hall. The long day had left everyone visibly exhausted.
Among them were Jin Yuelian and Bing, both of whom had already recovered after drinking one of Yun Che's HP potions.
"Haah… that was tiring," Kon groaned as he slumped sideways onto a decorative bush near the steps, clearly too exhausted to care about appearances.
Nearby, the small Nezukos happily leaped into the arms of Chu Yueli and Jin Yuelian, curling up immediately as if the warmth of their laps was the most comfortable place in the world. Within moments, they were already asleep.
Even after the potions had restored Bing's health, Mulan remained beside her, still fussing over her like an overly protective guardian.
"Yup," Kon continued lazily. "A siege, an assassination attempt, and a full-on battle… but at least things worked out."
He tilted his head toward Yun Che.
"So how did your side go, man? Did you manage to heal the Fairy of the Northern Mountain?"
Yun Che nodded calmly. "Xue Ling's sister has recovered."
He leaned back slightly against the pillar behind him. "Looks like we just gained another Monarch as an ally."
Kon immediately sat up. "Another one?!"
His eyes widened in disbelief. "I thought Mio-neesan was already ridiculously powerful!"
"Well… at least it ended well," Yun Che sighed as he leaned back slightly. "Despite the part where we almost got caught in a nuclear explosion."
"Ufufu… good thing we're such excellent doctors," Retsu mused lightly.
She sat beside Yun Che on the steps, with Nemu quietly positioned on his other side. The three of them looked far too relaxed for people who had just fought through a war.
Nearby, Mio lazily fanned herself while sitting beside Little Fairy, who appeared just as unconcerned about the chaos that had taken place earlier.
Not far from them, Cang Yue was currently speaking quietly with Lin Yueru.
All of them had just participated in a battle that could have easily destroyed the entire watchkeep—and yet now they sat here as if it had merely been an exhausting training session.
In a single evening they had experienced the siege of the watchkeep, the battle in the Northern Mountains, the wrath of a natural avalanche, and the attack of the Hutu Monks.
At one point, Yun Che and Retsu had even nearly been blown apart when Xue Yin's body had nearly gone into core meltdown.
Yet somehow…
Everything had ended well.
Xia Qingyue quietly observed the group around her.
She had to admit—it had been a long time since she felt this kind of excitement.
Perhaps not since the Hollow attack in Asgard.
Her gaze eventually drifted toward Yun Che.
She remembered the moment he had entrusted her with his real name.
Yuuki. The thought lingered in her mind.
She wanted to ask him about it… but she also understood that it was something he probably preferred to keep private.
Even Cang Yue seemed to feel the same way.
Following Yuuki had brought nothing but trouble.
But strangely…
It was the kind of trouble he always seemed capable of solving.
And now, barely a week after choosing to follow him, Qingyue had already been dragged into one war—with another looming on the horizon.
She glanced toward the others.
Retsu.
Yun Che.
Nemu.
Cang Yue.
Mio.
None of them looked even slightly shaken.
"Ufufu… everything happening in a single day," Retsu said softly. "And we almost blew ourselves up too."
"Blew up?" Qingyue asked, turning toward her.
"Parasite issue," Yun Che replied casually.
Then he glanced toward Retsu. "Well… sort of."
"Almost."
He shrugged lightly.
"Good thing you removed that parasite in time."
He leaned forward slightly. "There are actually organisms capable of turning a human body into something like a tactical nuclear bomb."
His eyes lit up slightly as he continued. "Now that I've gathered the data I needed… we might even be able to utilize that concept someday."
Qingyue blinked. "Nuclear?"
Yun Che tilted his head. "Do you want to know?"
She immediately shook her head.
"I would rather sit next to Nemu," she replied calmly, "since I only understood half of what you just said."
Yun Che chuckled. "Fair point."
At that moment, several Jin Family soldiers began escorting prisoners across the courtyard.
Among them was Zhu Ming, heavily injured and barely conscious.
A profound barrier had been placed around him to prevent any chance of escape.
He would make an excellent bargaining piece.
A hostage valuable enough to negotiate with the Zhu Family.
Zhong Chuke and his two disciples, Tian Xi and Yao Yao, had already taken residence in one of the guest courtyards within the Jin Family estate. Though they had only just arrived after escaping the chaos of the Northern Mountains, Zhong Chuke clearly had no intention of wasting time.
The situation in the city had changed overnight.
With the Zhu Family crushed and their leadership captured, the Jin Family had effectively become the most powerful household in the city. By tomorrow, the news would spread throughout the entire region.
And Zhong Chuke knew opportunity when he saw it.
Why not strike while the iron was hot?
If the Lunar Blossom Sect could form an alliance with the Jin Family now, both sides would gain tremendous advantages moving forward.
Meanwhile, back in the quiet courtyard near the watchkeep's main hall, Yun Che and the others continued resting on the stone steps.
Cang Yue glanced toward Mulan thoughtfully.
"It's a shame such a treasure was destroyed," she said. "We didn't even get to see it fully in action."
She had only heard about the artifact Yun Che had completed for Mulan.
Only those present during the siege—Little Fairy, Retsu, Mio, Jin Yuelian, Lin Yueru, Kon and Bing—had actually witnessed its power firsthand.
"Don't worry, Yue-nee," Nemu said calmly. "We can rebuild it. We already reverse engineered it."
Cang Yue blinked.
"I don't know what reverse engineered means," she admitted honestly. "But it sounds exciting."
"It is," Yun Che said with a grin. "I can remake the artifact and even improve its design."
He turned toward Mulan. "I'm sorry you had to blow it up, Mulan."
Mulan simply smiled and shook her head. "It's fine."
"You said I needed to move on."
Her expression softened slightly. "And… it actually felt better."
Xia Qingyue, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "What exactly does this artifact do?"
Yun Che paused for a moment before answering.
"It creates a custom transformation," he explained casually. "And boosts your elemental power by one hundred percent."
"…." The courtyard suddenly went completely silent.
Everyone stared at him.
Then Yun Che continued as if he had just described something completely ordinary. "It's actually a very interesting design."
"It was originally created by Mu Che."
His eyes showed genuine curiosity. "That guy had brilliant ideas… but he didn't have the ability to fully build them."
"I simply finished one of his unfinished projects."
He leaned forward slightly. "Now that I have the blueprint, I can redesign the artifact."
He looked around at the girls present. "In theory… I could design custom transformations for each of you."
Cang Yue blinked. "For us?"
Yun Che nodded.
"It doesn't increase your cultivation level," he clarified. "But it amplifies your elemental power output by channeling your profound energy as fuel."
"Just like the armor I completed for her." He gestured toward Mulan. "A transformation armor powered by your own profound energy."
He smirked slightly. "And if you combine that with your bending techniques and Haki…"
He spread his hands. "Imagine the kind of power that would produce."
"Sugoi!" Mio clapped her hands excitedly. "You're going to make these artifacts for all of us?"
"Yeah," Yun Che replied casually. "These booster systems are pretty interesting once you understand how they work. As soon as I find armor designs that match each of you, I can start building them."
He leaned back slightly.
"So far, I've only completed one suitable design—for Mulan. That one's called the Fire Booster: Moonglare."
Mulan glanced at him with mild surprise hearing the name spoken aloud.
Yun Che continued explaining.
"Once the rest of you awaken your elemental haki, I can design appropriate booster artifacts for each element."
He then glanced toward Qingyue, Little Fairy, and Chu Yueli. "As for you three… I already have a few ideas."
"A Water Booster artifact would complement your Winter Fairy forms perfectly."
That immediately made Cang Yue puff her cheeks in protest. "No fair!"
Yun Che turned to her and grinned. "Relax, relax."
"Nemu and I already have plans to design outfits that match your power too."
Cang Yue crossed her arms suspiciously. "They better not be skimpy."
Lin Yueru immediately smirked from the side.
"Oh? Are you sure about that?" She glanced teasingly at Yun Che. "I wonder what kind of outfit he's planning. Probably something perverted."
Yun Che shot her an incredulous look.
"What do you think I am?!"
That immediately caused the others to laugh. Despite the teasing, the idea itself was incredibly tempting.
Mulan already had a custom transformation armor. There's no need for her to donned her red armor anymore.
The others had gained wings thanks to Nemu.
And now Yun Che was offering to design personalized elemental artifacts as well.
The thought alone made the group quietly excited.
"Looks like everyone is eager to receive quite a lot from you, Yuu-sama," Nemu said calmly.
Yun Che grinned. "Of course. These artifacts open up a lot of possibilities for upgrading the look of my girls."
He stretched his arms slightly as if already imagining the designs. "But honestly… it feels like playing games back where I came from."
Nemu tilted her head. "Games?"
Yun Che's eyes immediately lit up.
"Games are awesome," he said enthusiastically. "You can create characters exactly how you want them. Perfect body proportions, curves in all the right places—boom! A total bombshell straight out of your fantasies!"
He began gesturing wildly with his hands.
"You mix different armor sets, outfits, accessories, hairstyles—suddenly you've got this powerful warrior woman who's also ridiculously stylish. Some players even install mods to create the ultimate dream character!"
He continued rambling excitedly about character customization, outfits, aesthetics, and how gamers spent hours designing the perfect look.
"Ara… there he goes again," Retsu sighed.
Mio, Nemu, and Cang Yue simply nodded sheepishly as if this were something they had seen many times before.
"Danna-sama does this quite often," Mio said with a small huff.
"We're used to it," Nemu added calmly.
Cang Yue nodded in agreement.
Little Fairy looked between them in confusion. "Does this happen a lot?"
Retsu gave a tired smile. "Well… Yuu-kun tends to talk about things half of us don't understand."
She waved her hand slightly. "Last time he went on a long rant about something called anime, cosplay culture, and even maid cafés."
Little Fairy blinked. "I don't even know what those are."
Xia Qingyue looked toward Retsu curiously. "So what do you usually do when he gets like this?"
Retsu shrugged lightly. "We just let him talk."
"Eventually he forgets what he was explaining halfway through."
Qingyue nodded slowly. "It takes patience to be his listener."
Retsu laughed softly. "You have no idea, Qingyue-chan."
"Sometimes Nemu is the only one who understands what he's talking about." She pointed at the quiet girl beside Yun Che. "And then we just ask her for the short version."
Nemu nodded politely. "Though… there are still topics even I don't understand at all, Nee-sama."
Chu Yueli folded her arms thoughtfully. "His knowledge of the world he came from really is vast."
Mio sighed lightly. "We just hope he eventually summarizes whatever he's talking about so the rest of us can understand."
Retsu smiled faintly as she looked at Yun Che, who was still passionately explaining something about "character builds" and "aesthetic armor sets."
"But honestly… we just let him be." She leaned back slightly. "Yuu-kun doesn't actually need us to understand everything."
"He just needs someone to listen."
Her smile softened. "Eventually he always gives us the short version."
"And when he does… it helps ease his mind."
"It's his way of letting out stress."
"You seem to know him very well," Qingyue said quietly.
Retsu smiled gently. "It takes time, patience… and love, Qingyue-chan."
Her tone was warm, almost teasing as she added the small honorific. "Eventually, we become the people who understand him best."
Qingyue blinked slightly. "Qingyue-chan?"
"Ufufu," Retsu laughed softly. "Adding honorifics means I've already acknowledged you."
Qingyue lowered her head politely. "Thank you…"
At that moment Yun Che suddenly noticed the group looking at him with amused expressions after his long rant. He scratched his cheek awkwardly and glanced sideways.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Bad habits tend to take over sometimes."
Qingyue gave a small nod. "Don't worry. I'll listen to you."
She paused before adding calmly, "Even if half of what you say makes no sense."
Yun Che laughed. "Thanks… I guess."
He stretched slightly before continuing. "Well, once I find suitable outfits for everyone, I'll start working on the artifacts."
Then he turned his eyes toward Lin Yueru. "And don't worry."
"They won't be skimpy."
Lin Yueru clicked her tongue. "Tsk."
Yun Che grinned mischievously. "Unless you want one that's skimpy."
"I'm sure I could design something that highlights certain… features."
"You— you— pervert!!" Lin Yueru shouted immediately.
Her face flushed with anger as she pointed a finger at him. "I'll forgive you if you leave your eyes here!"
"Scary~" Yun Che replied with a playful grin, completely unfazed.
The others couldn't help but laugh at the familiar back-and-forth between them, the tension of the day slowly fading into a much lighter atmosphere.
Jin Yuelian smiled quietly as she gently patted the head of one of the sleeping Nezukos curled up in her lap. The little girl stirred slightly but remained fast asleep.
"You truly have… interesting companions, Mulan," she said with mild amusement.
Mulan glanced toward Yun Che and the others, who were still laughing over Lin Yueru's outburst.
"Yes…" she replied softly. "It feels like I'm getting to know a completely new version of him."
Jin Yuelian nodded thoughtfully.
"He's certainly nothing like the Mu Che we used to know."
Her gaze drifted down toward the weapon resting beside her.
It was the Meito Yun Che had given her during the battle against Shu Jiantian and several Shu Family assassins. Even now, she could feel the faint pulse of power within it.
"Everything he creates seems… unusually powerful," she said quietly.
Perhaps, she thought, she would have the chance to get to know her new son-in-law better in the future.
Beside her, Mulan's eyes settled on the polearm resting near her.
Yun Che had mentioned that it was the first weapon he had ever created with the ability to evolve—a weapon that could grow stronger with its wielder and even possessed a hidden technique that stopped Zhu Tian's healing.
She ran her fingers lightly across its shaft.
And now… he had already begun talking about improving the Fire Booster as well.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
She couldn't help but wonder what else he might create for her one day.
"Well, if Yuu-kun is preparing it, I'm sure he'll make the best booster artifacts for all of us," Retsu said cheerfully as she clapped her hands. The group had begun walking back toward Mulan's courtyard after the long evening of battles and discussions.
She glanced at Yun Che with a playful smile. "Yuu-kun, it's the seventh night. You know what that means, right?"
Yun Che blinked once before letting out a small chuckle.
"Is it that night already?" he mused. "What a shame Sister Ling can't join us."
"Seventh night?!" Lin Yueru suddenly squealed with excitement. "I'm starving!"
After fighting through a war and surviving the chaos of the day, the anticipation seemed to energize her all over again.
"Well, she's with her sister tonight," Yun Che said. "We can carry on without her."
Xia Qingyue tilted her head slightly.
"What happens on the seventh night?"
Little Fairy quietly glanced sideways, clearly recognizing the occasion but choosing not to explain it herself.
Chu Yueli and Qingyue both looked puzzled. Mulan knew what it meant—she had already stayed with them long enough to learn about the tradition—but Jin Yuelian remained completely unaware.
The Nezukos, however, erupted in cheerful excitement the moment they heard the words.
Yun Che smirked mischievously.
"You'll find out once you all freshen up."
Night soon fell over the watchkeep.
When everyone gathered again in the courtyard, Jin Yuelian, Chu Yueli, and Qingyue stopped in surprise.
At the center of the courtyard stood a massive pot of simmering sweet-and-sour soup, its fragrant steam rising into the cool night air. Surrounding it were smaller sizzling pans and trays filled with thinly sliced meats, chicken strips, vegetables, and countless raw ingredients waiting to be cooked.
Yun Che spread his arms proudly.
"Seventh Night! Hotpot Night!"
"Hotpot!!" the Nezukos shouted excitedly as they flew around the table.
Even Yoru looked unusually eager as she took her seat.
"Bring on the meat!" Kon shouted enthusiastically.
The giant soup pot was large enough to feed an entire family, and the group quickly gathered around it. Retsu and the others began placing slices of meat onto the sizzling pans, the delicious aroma instantly filling the courtyard.
As the broth in the pot began to boil, everyone's hunger awakened at once.
This was the moment many of them had been waiting for.
Retsu folded her arms proudly, a satisfied smirk on her face.
Her hotpot night had become a tradition the entire group looked forward to the most.
"This smell… I've never encountered anything like it before," Jin Yuelian remarked as the fragrant steam from the giant pot drifted through the courtyard. It was a pity Jin Zhuo was still away dealing with the aftermath at the Zhu Family estate. Otherwise, he would surely have enjoyed the occasion.
"Ufufu… that's because it's something Yuu-kun introduced to us," Retsu said proudly. "He created a Tom Yum paste using lemongrass, galangal, and makrut lime leaves. It's a signature dish from a place called Thailand."
"Thailand?" Jin Yuelian repeated curiously.
"One of the cultures from the Dead Spirit Realm," Yun Che explained casually.
Everyone soon gathered around the large table surrounding the boiling pot. Mulan patiently showed her mother how to cook the ingredients, while Little Fairy did the same for her sister. Yun Che leaned over slightly to help Qingyue prepare her own portion.
"Hotpot night happens every seventh night," he explained. "It started with just Retsu, Little Fairy, and me back when we were traveling together."
Back then, the idea had been simple. It was meant to lure Little Fairy into joining them regularly. Surprisingly, it worked. The system-generated food they created never caused weight gain since it was converted directly into profound energy. Once a person's energy pool was full, the excess would simply dissipate harmlessly.
That meant everyone could eat as much as they wanted.
Little Fairy eventually began joining them regularly. Soon after, Cang Yue joined in as well. Then came Nemu, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Kon. Yun Che had even invited the Feng Family once, bringing Mai and Mei along with Yuanba.
Over time, the tradition grew larger. Even Yoru and Yoruko now took part in the gatherings.
Qingyue puffed her cheeks slightly when she realized how long this had been happening.
"You've been doing this every seventh night?"
Chu Yueli glanced sideways at her sister with the same surprise.
Yun Che nodded.
"Yeah. It started as a way to pull Little Fairy into the group… but eventually it became a tradition among the flock members."
"They liked it."
"So we kept it going."
The pot began to bubble intensely as the broth reached full boil.
Yun Che grinned and raised his chopsticks.
"Ready?"
Around the table, everyone tightened their grip on their chopsticks like warriors preparing for battle.
"Start!"
Immediately, chaos erupted.
Hands darted toward the pot as cooked meat and vegetables were snatched away in seconds.
"This is—!" Qingyue stared in shock at the speed of everyone around her.
Little Fairy calmly snatched several slices of marinated meat and vegetables before anyone else could reach them.
"Hotpot is a battle, Qingyue," she said casually while dipping the meat into her bowl.
"You snooze, you lose."
"If you miss the cooked ingredients… you'll have to wait for it to cook."
Qingyue watched the scene unfold in front of her with quiet astonishment.
Everyone around the table seemed to be having the time of their lives. Chopsticks flashed back and forth as cooked slices of meat and vegetables disappeared from the pot almost the moment they were ready.
Even the Nezukos floated above the table, snatching pieces of meat before they could vanish into someone else's bowl.
Qingyue barely had time to react.
Each time she reached toward the pot, the ingredients had already been taken.
Beside her, Chu Yueli and Jin Yuelian looked equally stunned.
"Trust me, Mother," Mulan said with a small laugh. "I was just as surprised when I joined them for the first time."
She casually picked up a piece of meat from her bowl.
"I even had to practice my reflexes the night before hotpot night."
Qingyue blinked.
"You practiced…?"
Mulan nodded.
"The battle only lasts a few minutes."
She gestured toward the boiling pot.
"After that, things calm down and it becomes a normal meal where everyone eats slowly."
Qingyue watched the frenzy for another moment.
She had always believed her reflexes were excellent.
But in the battlefield known as Hotpot Night—
She was clearly the slowest person at the table.
Meanwhile, Cang Yue only joined the initial chaos for a brief moment before settling down to eat normally once the "battle" phase ended.
Once the rush subsided, the atmosphere relaxed considerably. Everyone began eating at a comfortable pace as more ingredients were added into the pot.
There was no need to worry about running out of food.
Thanks to Yun Che's system, the supply of ingredients was practically endless.
"Umaii!!!" Mio squealed happily as she devoured another plate of cooked meat.
Retsu and Yun Che were responsible for preparing most of the ingredients.
Or rather—
They had already created preset ingredient packs within the system. Whenever something ran low, Yun Che simply purchased the ingredients with SP points, and they would instantly appear.
Sometimes they experimented with new marinades for beef or chicken. When they discovered a combination they liked, Yun Che simply saved the recipe as another preset.
From then on, the system could spawn the same dish instantly whenever they wanted.
Which meant that on Hotpot Night—
No one ever went hungry.
When Qingyue finally managed to take a bite of the hotpot, she froze for a moment.
The taste was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
In the past, meals had simply been nourishment—something necessary for cultivation and survival. But ever since she met Yun Che and the others, food had become something entirely different.
It had started during the Blue Wind Cooking Tournament, when Retsu and Yun Che first offered their dishes. Later, after following Little Fairy to the palace, she had tasted even more of their cooking. Now that she had joined them here, almost every meal she ate was something prepared by either Retsu or Yun Che.
And every time, it was delicious.
She had even tried things she had never imagined before—pancakes, and a strange drink Yun Che called latte coffee.
Other than training, mealtimes had quietly become something she genuinely looked forward to.
"My, I'm glad everyone is enjoying it," Retsu said warmly as she looked around the table.
There was genuine happiness in her voice.
She truly loved seeing people enjoy her cooking. Ever since traveling with Yun Che, she had learned countless new recipes from him, and every meal was another opportunity to try something new.
Sitting beside Yun Che, she leaned slightly closer.
Then, without warning, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
Yun Che blinked before smiling.
"What was that for?"
"Nothing~~," Retsu replied innocently.
She then glanced toward Qingyue with a playful, triumphant look.
Qingyue paused mid-bite.
Her gaze shifted between the two of them.
A faint hint of jealousy flickered in her eyes.
Even though she was sitting right next to Yun Che, their relationship hadn't progressed to the point where she could do something like that so casually.
"Kon-sama can't take another bite," Kon groaned dramatically as he leaned back and lay flat on the ground, completely defeated by the meal.
His stomach looked like it might burst at any moment.
"How can all of you still eat so much?" Lin Yueru asked in disbelief. She too had reached her limit and set her chopsticks down.
Yet across the table, Retsu, Mio, Nemu, Cang Yue, Yun Che, and even Yoru were still eating without slowing down.
There was simply no competing with such gluttons.
"Same here," Mulan said with a small sigh as she leaned back beside her mother.
Both she and Jin Yuelian had eaten quite a lot already. After fighting assassins and armies earlier in the day, the hot meal had helped restore their energy quickly. But even so, their stomachs still had limits.
Chu Yueli also let out a quiet sigh as she finally set her chopsticks aside.
She had eaten more than usual due to the exhaustion from battle, but once her profound energy pool had been replenished, she could only continue eating enough to satisfy normal hunger.
Even then, she was still feeding the small Nezuko sitting comfortably in her lap.
Qingyue was in a similar state. Maintaining her Winter Fairy Form during the battle had drained a great deal of energy, allowing her to eat far more than usual tonight.
Even so, she eventually reached her limit.
Little Fairy also surrendered soon after.
Although the food they ate would never cause them to gain weight, she still preferred eating only until her stomach felt full—especially since she had expended far less energy compared to the others.
Meanwhile, Qingyue slowly finished the last of her portion before quietly setting her chopsticks down.
She had done her best.
But she had finally accepted defeat.
She glanced toward Yun Che and the others who were still happily eating.
Where did they even store all that food?
Was their energy pool really that large?
===========================
"Oh man… hotpot nights are the best," Yun Che said contentedly as he leaned back against the veranda railing.
Beside him, Retsu stepped out to join him after finishing part of the cleanup. Neither of them seemed particularly aware that just moments ago Yun Che, Retsu, Mio, Nemu, and Cang Yue had eaten enough to feed an entire squad of soldiers.
"Hai… I'm glad everyone is helping with the cleaning," Retsu said with a satisfied smile.
Behind them, the others were busy tidying the courtyard. Mio and Cang Yue were wiping down the tables while the remaining dishes were being gathered together.
Yun Che snorted lightly. "Pff. We could just use the system to clean everything."
Technically, he wasn't wrong.
So far, Retsu had only used the system's cleaning function to wash the giant hotpot and grill. Everything else was being handled manually.
Even Mulan and Jin Yuelian had joined in. In fact, Jin Yuelian had naturally taken the lead, guiding the girls through the basics of proper household chores. Even older women like Little Fairy and Chu Yueli joined in. They're proud and prideful Asgardian fairies but, they didn't mind helping out in household chores like this.
Retsu glanced over the courtyard where everyone was helping one another.
"We could use the system," she admitted. "But if we want the flock to function properly, everyone has to participate."
She folded her arms lightly. "Each person needs a role. That's how you maintain healthy relationships within a group."
Her gaze softened as she watched them working together. "And everyone here understands their role."
Despite being powerful cultivators capable of shaking mountains, the group now worked together like an ordinary household. With their profound energy, most of the cleaning only took a few minutes anyway.
Yun Che chuckled. "You really are alpha-wife material."
"Ufufu… I've been expected to act that way by everyone," Retsu replied playfully. "If you want me to lead the flock, I'll do it with absolute trust."
"Well," Yun Che said warmly, "I have complete faith in you, sweetie."
Retsu smiled brightly. "Ehee… you really know me well, Yuu-kun."
She leaned gently against his shoulder, enjoying the quiet moment. For a brief while, the courtyard behind them hummed with soft chatter and laughter as the others finished their work.
And Retsu silently wished that this peaceful moment could last forever.
"Is Yuu-kun short for Yuuki?"
The quiet question came from behind them.
Yun Che turned his head slightly. Standing a short distance away were Xia Qingyue and Cang Yue, both of them looking at him with curious expressions.
"Qingyue… Little Yue…"
Beside him, Retsu raised an eyebrow. "Ara… I assumed you had already told them."
Yun Che scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah… I figured I'd have to come clean eventually." He glanced at Qingyue. "Besides, Qingyue isn't the type who lets something go until she gets an answer."
"Yes," Retsu whispered teasingly into his mind, "she's still wondering where babies come from."
Yun Che nearly choked and sweatdropped. He quickly cleared his throat and turned back to Qingyue.
"Yeah," he admitted. "That's my real name."
"Yun Che is the name I was given when I was born in this realm. It was the name my parents here gave me."
He paused briefly. "But when the Divine Cultivators brought me to the Dead Spirit Realm, I was given another name."
He straightened slightly. "Yukihira Yuuki."
He gave them a small nod. "Pleased to properly meet both of you."
Qingyue quietly repeated the name to herself. "Yukihira Yuuki…"
"So that's your real name."
Cang Yue tilted her head slightly. "What does it mean?"
Yun Che smiled faintly.
"Yukihira roughly means blessing of the ordinary."
"And Yuuki can mean several things—courage, bravery, or boldness." He shrugged lightly. "Depending on how it's written, it can also mean gentle hope, excellence, or abundance."
He added with a small chuckle, "And if you remove a single letter, it can even mean pure white snow."
Cang Yue nodded softly.
"It's a nice name."
"Little Fairy?!"
Yun Che suddenly jumped slightly in surprise.
Standing right behind him was Chu Yuechan, who had appeared quietly without him noticing.
She looked at him with her usual calm expression. "Couldn't you tell me your name yourself, you rascal?"
"I was planning to tell you eventually," Yun Che sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But… I guess the cat's out of the bag now."
Qingyue tilted her head slightly. "What does a cat have to do with this?"
"It's an English idiom, Qingyue," Retsu explained gently. "It means the secret is already revealed."
She had recently begun studying English under Nemu's guidance. In just a short time she had already picked up many phrases and expressions. At this pace, she might master modern English within a few months. She could just have the system build it in her but, she wanted to learn it manually as an excuse to spend time with Nemu.
"Oh," Little Fairy murmured thoughtfully. "English really is an odd language."
"It might have been odd in the ancient era," Yun Che said with a small shrug, "but modern English is actually very simple. That's why it became so widely used in my realm."
Qingyue nodded slowly, absorbing the explanation before returning to the matter at hand. "So… that truly is your real name."
"Yes," Yun Che replied.
He looked at Little Fairy, Qingyue, and Cang Yue in turn.
"That name—Yukihira Yuuki—is the one Retsu, Mio and Nemu always known."
"All of them are from the Dead Spirit Realm, so they know my past. I grew up there… and fought alongside them." He exhaled quietly. "But please continue calling me Yun Che. I'd rather my real name doesn't become common knowledge."
Little Fairy folded her arms lightly.
"Very well," she said calmly. "I'll keep calling you rascal like always."
A faint smile appeared on her lips. "But I may use your real name… in private."
Cang Yue spoke next, her voice softer. "Then I'll keep calling you Che'er."
She hesitated slightly. "But… may I also call you by your real name in private?"
Qingyue stepped forward slightly. "You entrusted something very important to me."
Her gaze remained steady. "Does this mean… you finally acknowledge me?"
Yun Che nodded slowly.
"Yes."
His voice carried genuine sincerity.
"And… I'm sorry." He looked down briefly before meeting their eyes again. "I acted like a jerk before. I tried to keep everyone at a distance."
He let out a small breath. "But I suppose the heavens had other plans."
A faint smile returned.
"So this time… I'd like to properly get to know all of you."
"You, Little Fairy… Qingyue… and everyone else. Just like how I get to know Retsu, Mio and Nemu." Cang Yue tilted her head.
"Then what about Mulan and the others?"
"I'll tell them… eventually," Yun Che replied. "For now, my real name is something I only share with those I truly consider part of the flock."
"To the outside world, I remain Yun Che."
"But to the three of you, Just like Retsu, Mio and Nemu… you may call me Yuuki."
Cang Yue frowned slightly. "That doesn't seem very fair."
Yun Che chuckled softly. "For now, it's limited to flock members."
He shrugged. "Things like that should happen naturally. One day, if I entrusted my name to the others, you can see how much I valued them."
Qingyue lowered her head slightly in gratitude.
"Thank you… for entrusting Qingyue with your real name."
Yun Che smiled gently and reached out, patting her head.
"Anytime."
Qingyue smiled faintly.
For some reason, she had grown to like that simple gesture. Whenever his hand touched her head—or even brushed lightly against her skin—her heart reacted in a way she couldn't fully understand.
It was troublesome, she admitted to herself.
Yet the feeling it stirred inside her was strangely warm… almost bubbly.
Even so, her face remained calm and composed as always.
Before the moment could linger any longer—
Thump.
A small snowball hit Yun Che squarely in the face.
Little Fairy stood a few steps away, her arms folded.
"That's for treating her unfairly on your wedding day," she said coolly.
Cang Yue, standing beside him, jabbed her elbow into his side. "You were quite a jerk to Qingyue back then."
Yun Che wiped the snow from his face and sighed.
"Hey," he protested. "I had just been released back into the world from the Dead Spirit Realm and got shoved into a wedding without my consent."
He raised his hands defensively. "Cut me some slack."
Little Fairy suddenly reached over and grabbed Yun Che by the ear. "Are you talking back to me?"
"No, mum!" Yun Che squealed instantly.
The word only seemed to annoy her more.
She twisted his ear harder.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" he yelped.
"You didn't even tell me your real name back then," Little Fairy scolded him. "It took me six months to find out. Do you even care about me?"
Yun Che winced but still managed to grin. "Do I have to, mum?"
Little Fairy immediately twisted his ear even harder.
"Okay! Okay, mum! I'm sorry!" Yun Che surrendered.
Cang Yue sighed at the familiar scene while Retsu stood nearby, giggling softly.
Qingyue watched the entire exchange with visible confusion.
"How is she able to control him like that?" she asked quietly. "He possesses abilities even I cannot comprehend."
Retsu smiled knowingly. "Ufufu… that's love, Qingyue."
She folded her arms as she watched Yun Che continue struggling under Yuechan's grip. "If Yuu-kun didn't love Sister Yuechan, do you think he would let her do that so easily?"
"He could dodge or escape whenever he wanted." Retsu tilted her head slightly. "A powerful man allowing a woman to hit or scold him like that… it's a sign of how much he cares for her."
Her voice carried a playful edge. "Of course, if some other woman tried that…"
Her smile sharpened slightly. "…it wouldn't end well for them."
"Yuu-kun wouldn't harm a woman without reason," she continued. "But that doesn't mean we'll tolerate anyone mistreating him."
She placed a hand on her hip proudly. "If we're going to be his wives someday, shouldn't it also be our duty to protect him?"
Qingyue silently watched the scene before her.
It was strange.
Someone like Yun Che—someone who possessed such terrifying power—was being completely subdued by a single woman pulling his ear.
And yet…
He wasn't resisting at all.
Retsu giggled again. "Ufufu… it's nice seeing everyone get along like this."
Notably, she made absolutely no attempt to help Yun Che escape his punishment.
Qingyue remained silent for a moment, watching the exchange between Yun Che and Little Fairy. Then she stepped forward and turned toward Retsu.
"Sister Retsu…" She lowered her head in a respectful bow.
"This Qingyue humbly asks you to train her."
Retsu blinked in surprise. Even Yun Che and Little Fairy stops their shenanigans because of it.
"…Me?" she asked. "Why not ask Yuu-kun instead?"
"He has already promise to teach me advanced techniques," Qingyue replied calmly. "But Qingyue wishes to learn swordsmanship from you."
Her gaze was steady.
She knew very well that Retsu stood like an immeasurable wall before her—a level of mastery she could not hope to surpass anytime soon. Plus, Retsu was versatile in any form of weapons. She would be a perfect master.
But that did not mean she could not begin climbing.
And perhaps, one day…
Instead of climbing the wall, she might find a way to pass through it.
Retsu crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"I'm currently training my sister," she said. "And once everything here is over, it's not like we'll see each other every day."
Qingyue paused briefly before speaking again.
"Then… would you accept if Qingyue offers her blessing?"
"…."
Retsu froze.
"Wow," Yun Che muttered from the side. "She got you there, Retsu."
Yun Che was amused as Qingyue used her blessings to get what she desires from his current fiancées. This was not a blessing in terms of power or cultivation.
It was something else entirely.
A wife's blessing.
Qingyue was acknowledging Retsu's place beside Yuuki and granting her approval.
Retsu was not the kind of woman who would simply take Yuuki for herself without honor. But receiving Qingyue's blessing in exchange for training her…
That was an offer she could hardly refuse.
After a long moment, Retsu let out a small sigh. "Very well…"
"I accept your proposal."
She looked directly at Qingyue. "If you wish to learn from me, I will train you the same way I train my sister."
Both Yun Che and Cang Yue's eyes widened.
Not because she accepted—
But because of how she accepted.
They had both seen how Retsu trained Nemu.
Calling it "not easy" would have been an understatement.
It was brutal.
An agreement both sisters had accepted.
Retsu's eyes sharpened slightly. "I won't go easy on you."
Qingyue nodded without hesitation. "Qingyue understands."
"We'll begin tomorrow," Retsu said with a gentle smile. "Don't be late."
She then turned slightly and bowed toward Yun Che.
"Ufufu… I should prepare tea and snacks for supper."
With a soft chuckle, she headed toward the kitchen to join Nemu, who had already begun preparing the late-night refreshments.
Once she was gone, Yun Che looked back at Qingyue.
"Well… I'm surprised she offered to train you the same way she trained Nemu."
Cang Yue nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
Qingyue blinked slightly. "Is that… bad?"
Yun Che shook his head slowly. "Not exactly bad."
He leaned against the veranda railing as he spoke. "Retsu might be the gentlest person you'll ever meet, but when it comes to weapons, she's terrifying. She can come up with ten different ways to destroy a cultivator using a pocket knife."
"When she trained her sister, she was actually being extremely gentle with Nemu." He paused briefly. "And even then… it still wasn't easy."
Cang Yue folded her arms as Yun Che continued. "Her training style can break the morale of dozens of cultivators."
"It's strict. Brutal, even."
"Back in the Dead Spirit Realm, most soul cultivators wouldn't even dare approach her to become her disciple."
"Not because she's cruel." He gave a small smile. "But because of her violent tendencies with weapons."
"Even though she's soft-spoken and kind… her smile alone makes people nervous."
Qingyue considered his words. "What makes her act like that?"
Yun Che answered simply.
"Love." He glanced toward the kitchen where Retsu had gone. "She loves her sister more than anything."
"When she trains Nemu, she tries to be strict because Nemu asks for it… but you can't truly be harsh with someone you love."
"So she's always balancing between gentle and strict." He looked back at Qingyue. "That's why it's surprising she offered to train you the same way."
Cang Yue then turned toward him. "You still accepted her… even knowing all that?"
Yun Che chuckled softly. "Of course."
"We grew up together."
"She's gentle. Soft-spoken." He shrugged slightly. "And she's fiercely loyal to the people she calls family."
"That's something I really admire about her." He glanced back toward Qingyue. "If she disliked you, she would have rejected your request immediately."
"But she didn't."
"In fact, she offered to train you like she trains Nemu." He shook his head with a faint grin. "Which, by the way, is her version of going easy."
"Even though it's not actually easy at all." He looked at Qingyue seriously. "So you better be prepared."
"Retsu doesn't go easy on anyone."
"And when she says that… she means it."
Little Fairy nodded in agreement. "You should take this opportunity, Qingyue."
"Sister Retsu accepted you."
"Don't betray that trust." She crossed her arms. "Even I wouldn't want to provoke that woman when she's not holding back."
She paused briefly before adding calmly, "She could still defeat me… even if she were only at the Spirit Profound Realm."
"But when she accepts you," Cang Yue said, nodding slightly, "you'll see the kindest side of her. That's something she only shows to us."
Qingyue considered that for a moment. "I admit… she is much kinder now compared to when we first met in the arena."
Yun Che chuckled softly. "Back then, she was testing you."
"And to be honest, she didn't have a very good impression of you at the time."
Qingyue lowered her gaze briefly. "Qingyue is sincere in learning under her."
"That's exactly why she accepted you," Yun Che replied.
He folded his arms lightly. "Like Little Fairy said—don't waste this chance."
"Retsu rarely accepts anyone." Yun Che gestured casually toward their small group. "This little flock of ours? We're basically the only ones she willingly lets close."
He shrugged lightly. "She's friendly to everyone… but she doesn't really like men. Not unless it's me."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Kind of like you Asgardians."
Cang Yue let out a soft laugh. "You should've seen what happened when Ling Yun tried flirting with Nemu."
Xia Qingyue blinked, curiosity piqued. "What happened?"
"Mio knocked him out with her toxins," Cang Yue said, clearly amused. "And Retsu just… tossed him outside."
"…."
Qingyue fell silent.
Cang Yue shook her head, still smiling faintly. "Just remember what she told you earlier."
"Be yourself."
"That's the easiest way to get along with her."
Yun Che stretched slightly, then gestured toward the kitchen. "Alright, enough standing around. Let's go eat."
Little Fairy rose first, graceful as ever. Cang Yue followed, and Qingyue stepped in behind them, moving quietly with the group.
But as she walked—
She paused, just for a brief moment.
Then gave a small, almost imperceptible nod to herself.
For the first time, she felt it clearly.
She was stepping closer.
Not just to Yun Che—
But to this strange, powerful… family that had formed around him.
Retsu's words from earlier resurfaced in her mind.
A quiet warning.
Cold. Absolute.
Betray him… and I will hunt you down.
Qingyue did not doubt it.
Not even for a second.
Retsu was not merely strong—she was the kind of existence that could one day shake entire star realms. If she chose to pursue someone, even death itself might not be enough to escape her.
The thought lingered—
Then faded.
Qingyue shook her head softly. There was no need to dwell on it.
Because she knew her answer.
She would never betray that trust.
Not Yun Che's.
And certainly not the quiet kindness Retsu had shown her.
Retsu had already begun to treat her the same way she treated the others—not as an outsider, but as someone within her circle… almost like a sister.
That alone was enough.
Qingyue's gaze steadied.
A decision, firm and unshakable, settled in her heart.
She would never betray that kindness.
Ever.