Yao Yao had mentioned that the second host to emerge would bring him some trouble, and Lin Luo had been guessing which one it would be, and what kind of trouble it might entail... He mostly imagined it would be a girl with a tsundere complex, like Sister Cannon, Rin-sama, or Pineapple-chan. They might not actively cause trouble, but they would probably act prickly towards him for a while.

However, when he saw that strand of flowing silver hair in the darkness, Lin Luo couldn't help but freeze... He knew very few silver-haired girls, and only one was currently sequestered in the Sky Citadel, undergoing rigorous training by the greatest succubus in history—the incomparable Martial Emperor!

Knowing that the person emerging was Sakagami Tomoyo, the anxiety in Lin Luo’s heart immediately eased. The Martial Emperor was certainly remarkable and powerful; she had once been a formidable woman walking the paths of darkness and combat, capable of kicking open the heavens with her beautiful legs, dominating battlefields for over a year and a half, forging an adamantine body, and achieving unparalleled dominance. Yet, even in her dominance, she retained a gentleness, and there wasn't any overly ambiguous romance between them... If there was any trouble, perhaps the Emperor insisting on offering herself in marriage was the "trouble."

"Yo, long time no see." Lin Luo raised a hand and greeted the girl with composure.

Tomoyo’s expression upon emerging was similar to Lei's; fatigue was apparent on her face. Hearing a voice, she instinctively looked up, and upon seeing Lin Luo standing nearby, her expression abruptly shifted.

"W-wait a moment! Don't come any closer!" Her reaction was truly strange. There was none of the emotion or surprise of lovers reuniting—though they weren't lovers yet, which was understandable. But there was also no joy of comrades surviving a disaster, nor was her demeanor indifferent. Even if she and Lin Luo hadn't quite reached friendship, they were comrades-in-arms. All her face showed was panic and constraint.

Lin Luo was stunned. He had considered many possibilities, ranging from a casual greeting to throwing herself into his arms to pledge devotion—these were all things Sakagami Tomoyo might do... well, might.

But he never expected the Emperor to lose her usual imposing aura, instead resembling a little white rabbit startled by a great gray wolf. He couldn't sense her dominance, only disarray and helplessness.

"Um..." Lin Luo felt an overwhelming sense of cognitive dissonance; it was jarring, like seeing the stern authority of the Big Sister emanating from Kazami Yuuka.

"Don't speak!" Before Lin Luo could finish, Sakagami Tomoyo suddenly shouted. In the very next instant, seemingly realizing her tone was a bit too harsh, she quickly explained, "I’m sorry, I’m not psychologically prepared yet. If you come looking for me, it will be very troublesome for me, so... just let me collect myself first. Goodbye!"

With that, she swiftly turned and bolted away.

"..." Lin Luo watched her retreating figure, completely bewildered. What on earth was going on? He had just come to welcome her out of seclusion, not to propose marriage; what psychological preparation was necessary? Wait! Could it be...

Suddenly, a thought struck Lin Luo, and he seemed to grasp something.

Meanwhile, Sakagami Tomoyo had returned to her room. After her training concluded, she had planned to sleep soundly and rest for a few days to recuperate, but Lin Luo's appearance shattered that fantasy. Lying in bed, she felt utterly restless.

She didn't share deep feelings with Lin Luo; their relationship was less intimate than that she shared with her jiyou companions in the Peerless World. But precisely because their relationship was casual, she could view certain matters more objectively, unlike Misaka Mikoto and the others whose concern clouded their judgment.

She never believed Lin Luo would die. It wasn't based on what Lin Xiaoke said, nor what Gui Qu Lai Xi later conveyed. From the very beginning, she hadn't believed Lin Luo could simply die; it wasn't based on evidence, but intuition. After subsequently hearing both Lin Xiaoke and Gui Qu Lai Xi, she became even more certain that Lin Luo would return.

Therefore, while she felt emotion, she hadn't been excessively saddened.

But sometimes, things couldn't be considered too simply. At least for Zhi, this situation wasn't merely about sorrow or joy; it was far more complicated.

She was acutely aware of her own position and understood that a decision had to be made regarding Lin Luo. If Lin Luo were alone, without future children, and without so many girls by his side, then based on their respective statuses and the heroic scene he enacted, she wouldn't mind pursuing him. But!

Although she had spent over a year in ancient times, her thinking hadn't been molded by ancient concepts; she could accept polygamy. She couldn't deny that Lin Luo possessed qualities that attracted her, and prolonged contact might have led her to develop feelings. However, that position was already too crowded; squeezing in would only make things more chaotic. Therefore, applying the brakes before she fell completely was the wisest course of action.

If it only concerned personal affection, she wouldn't hesitate in this decision, but... her current stance involved more than just personal matters. Her decision could potentially affect the safety of many others. Setting aside other matters, if she hadn't signed a contract with Lin Luo, one deceased host wouldn't have been saved!

Tomoyo possessed an extremely strong sense of justice. Her experiences in the Peerless World also made her fiercely protective of her comrades. If her companions were trapped in a fiery pit ahead, she would charge in without hesitation to rescue them. Even if she didn't know every host, the hosts were all her comrades, of that there was no doubt.

Since her decision could save a host, why shouldn't she make it?

But...

As a woman, she ultimately couldn't compromise her feelings.

However...

Lin Luo’s actions at that moment had indeed saved her, and even if he didn't expect repayment, she couldn't pretend she hadn't received that grace.

"Ahhh... isn't this deliberately making things difficult for me? What should I do?" Tomoyo stared at the ceiling, her heart lost. She stood on the two pans of a scale, where the weights on both sides were not single entities but complex combinations. Neither side outweighed the other; it just swung back and forth uncertainly.

Tomoyo knew she had to make a choice, but whether as a woman or as a host, neither option could be decided instantly. Her complicated feelings left her deeply conflicted.

"Perhaps... there is a simpler way?"

Suddenly, Tomoyo’s eyes lit up. She recalled a saying she had once heard: If you cannot determine which side is right or wrong, and your emotions refuse to lean definitively toward either side, then discard your own identity and use your power to break through from a third-party perspective. Regardless of the final outcome, good or bad, you won't have regrets, because you've made the most suitable choice.

"Yes, choosing as a third party. Besides being a host and a woman, I am also a martial artist!"

Tomoyo sprang off the bed, her eyes devoid of confusion or hesitation.

Lin Luo had somewhat guessed why Sakagami Tomoyo was conflicted, and he could understand it to some degree. Although her reaction was a bit extreme, a girl's mind was often strange.

But Lin Luo hadn't anticipated that less than half an hour later, Sakagami Tomoyo would reappear before him, radiating commanding presence, completely contrary to her previous panic.

Lin Luo asked tentatively, "You..."

"Follow me." Before he could finish, Tomoyo cut him off, then turned and strode forward first.

Lin Luo was surprised but followed without hesitation.

After leaving the main hall, Tomoyo quickly arrived at the railing of the Sky Citadel. She then threw herself over without hesitation; the three thousand meters of altitude presented no pressure for her.

Below the Sky Citadel lay only the sea and the Demon Metropolis, and her target was clearly neither of those places. Midway through her descent, she gathered her qi and shot straight out, accelerating forward like a rocket.

Though Lin Luo's strength didn't match hers, he could keep up with this speed.

Moments later, Tomoyo stopped in a quiet grove. She looked around, seeming satisfied, before turning to face Lin Luo, "Alright, let's settle things here."

"Huh?" Lin Luo was momentarily bewildered. The environment here was elegant, suitable for an open-field skirmish, but he didn't think the Martial Emperor wanted to fight him in the field; it felt more like a confrontation.

Reality proved Lin Luo's speculation correct. Tomoyo's expression was calm as she got straight to the point: "I know you intend to sign a contract with me. In terms of status, I don't object, but as a woman, I don't wish to interfere in your affections. Therefore, I can only choose a compromise..."

As she spoke, the girl pointed a finger at Lin Luo and declared sternly, "Now, as a martial artist, I challenge you. If you can defeat me, I am yours!"

"What!" The Emperor's domineering declaration sent a jolt through Lin Luo’s body, but instead of excitement, he felt only dread. "Are you joking? Your current strength is at least above the Earth Rank. Even if I'm at the peak of the Spirit Rank—a weakling who hasn't even reached that level—after your training, I still couldn't possibly defeat you!"

Lin Luo was depressed. The Emperor's proposal was clearly a trap. She knew he was currently weak as dust, yet she proposed a martial contest for marriage. If she liked contests for marriage so much, why didn't she propose it back in Volume Ten?

Tomoyo paused slightly, then realized her action was somewhat unreasonable. Even if this was the method chosen, it should be done when their strengths were comparable. Now, if she fought Lin Luo, the result was obvious. But...

"Words are useless. What I have decided, even I cannot stop. I will absolutely not yield!"

What I have decided, even I cannot stop... Lin Luo muttered inwardly.

"Of course, considering the disparity in strength between us, I won't ask you to fight me. You only need to defeat my Guardian Beast."

"Guardian Beast?"

"Come forth! Martial Emperor Bear!"

Lin Luo froze, not understanding what was happening, when, at Sakagami Tomoyo’s magnificent command, a colossal gray bear descended from the sky!

BOOM!!! RO