The crimson moon hung low over the Cloudstream Sect, bathing the world in a blood-red glow. On the secluded Azureleaf Pavilion, Wang Li sat cross-legged, his body glowing faintly as spiritual energy surged in and out of his meridians like a storm-tossed tide.
The frost moon technique that Feng Yuling had taught him was working… too well.
His body trembled as shards of freezing energy tore through his meridians, attempting to freeze him from the inside out. And yet, amid the pain, a strange warmth lingered… not physical, but emotional—etched into the very essence of his spirit.
The warmth of her touch.
The warmth of her gaze.
The warmth of all the ex-girlfriends who had somehow, impossibly, come back into his life.
He clenched his fists. "I won't lose to this. Not now. Not after everything."
Suddenly, a voice as soft as falling snow echoed in the moonlit courtyard.
"You're pushing too hard again, idiot."
It was Mu Qingling.
Wang Li opened his eyes slowly, his breath ragged, sweat freezing over his skin. She walked toward him barefoot, her robe only loosely draped around her shoulders, hair damp with mist from the nearby hot spring. Moonlight danced on her flawless skin.
"You always pretend to be strong," she murmured, kneeling beside him. "But I see through you."
He grunted. "I have no time to be weak."
"Then let me be strong for you tonight," she whispered.
Before he could protest, she placed her hand on his chest. A surge of fire element spiritual energy poured into him—not wild or burning, but warm and steady, perfectly balancing the icy rage of the frost moon technique.
His breathing slowed. His pain dulled.
"You…" he murmured, eyes half-lidded. "You always come when I need you most."
Mu Qingling gave him a rare, soft smile. "Because I never stopped loving you. Even after everything."
He looked up at her, eyes searching hers. "Why did you pretend to hate me, then?"
"Because I was scared," she admitted. "Scared of how much you still meant to me."
Silence stretched between them—until Wang Li chuckled weakly. "Guess we're both idiots."
Mu Qingling's eyes shimmered. "That's the first smart thing you've said all week."
She leaned forward, her lips brushing his.
Time seemed to stop.
But before the kiss could deepen, a powerful wave of qi rippled through the air.
A burst of golden light exploded in the sky above the sect, followed by a thunderous voice:
"WANG LI! COME OUT AND FACE ME, IF YOU DARE!"
Wang Li groaned. "Who the hell is it this time?"
Mu Qingling stood, her eyes narrowing. "That's… Ji Fengyu, the youngest elder of Azure Sky Sect. A monster at the Core Formation realm."
Wang Li's expression turned grim. "Why would someone that strong challenge me?"
She clenched her fists. "Because of Lin Ruoyan."
Wang Li blinked. "What does Ruoyan have to do with this?"
Mu Qingling shot him a sharp look. "Apparently, Ji Fengyu has been pursuing her for years. But rumor has it… she called out your name in public during the Azure Sky banquet."
Wang Li cursed. "Why do I attract trouble like this?"
She crossed her arms. "Maybe because every girl you meet falls for you."
He gave her a sheepish smile. "Not every girl…"
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't push your luck."
A second shockwave tore through the sky.
"COME OUT, WANG LI! OR SHALL I DRAG YOU OUT LIKE A DOG?"
Mu Qingling touched his arm. "I'll come with you."
"No," Wang Li said, rising to his feet. His qi flared, burning the frost off his skin as a storm of swirling energy gathered around him. "If I can't face this on my own, I don't deserve to protect any of you."
She watched him go, a complex mix of pride and worry in her gaze.
Moments later, Wang Li soared into the night sky, where Ji Fengyu waited—hovering above the Cloudstream Sect like a wrathful deity.
Ji Fengyu was tall and muscular, dressed in azure robes embroidered with dragons. His eyes blazed with contempt. "So, you're the boy who stole Lin Ruoyan's attention."
"I didn't steal anything," Wang Li said coldly. "She's not a thing. And I don't remember inviting you to my home."
Ji Fengyu sneered. "Then let me send you to hell in front of your precious girls."
Wang Li exhaled slowly.
This wasn't just another duel.
This was a declaration.
And he was going to answer it with everything he had.
"Let's dance, golden boy," he whispered—and unleashed his power.