"Forget about indirect kissing entirely. If that counts as indirect kissing, then everyone breathing the same air as chickens, ducks, cats, and dogs has already been indirectly kissed by everything." Yao Yao's simple statement instantly shattered Lin Luo's beautiful fantasy.

"Hey, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? Everyone hoping for indirect kisses will collapse," Lin Luo replied, utterly exasperated. "Besides, do you dare say you haven't read my mind?"

"I'm just stating the facts, and no, I genuinely didn't read your mind," Yao Yao maintained an air of nonchalance. "What you're thinking, I can grasp just by glancing at you."

"Oh? Then what do you think I'm thinking right now?" Lin Luo asked with a perfectly straight face.

Yao Yao studied his face for a moment, then spoke, "My purpose for being here today, where I've been all this time, and... is it really alright to mock me like that just now? Probably just those things."

"..." Lin Luo was speechless. This monster had guessed everything correctly!

"Since you already know what I'm thinking, I won't ask anymore," Lin Luo conceded.

Yao Yao immediately stood up and stretched with a yawn. "I don't really have an obligation to volunteer information. I'm going to sleep now. As you know, I'm quite worn out today."

"I'm sorry, I was wrong." The instant Yao Yao's words faded, Lin Luo smoothly uttered those six words, as if he had practiced them a thousand times. In reality, while he hadn't intentionally practiced them, those six words had been the main theme of his life for the past six days. Now, saying "I'm sorry, I was wrong" was as effortless as eating or drinking, requiring no pressure at all.

Perhaps this, too, was a form of "growth" in a certain direction.

"Mm, since you’ve offered a sincere apology, I might as well let you speak. What did you want to know?" Yao Yao sat back down, saying so.

The truth proved that Yao Yao wasn't omniscient, because Lin Luo was entirely without sincerity.

Lin Luo began, "Just as you said earlier... a while ago, I called for reinforcements here to face the Dragon God, but you deliberately stayed hidden. Initially, I thought you wanted me to handle it myself, which is why you didn't appear. But then I realized something felt off. Given your personality, if that were the case, you certainly would have taken the opportunity to mock me thoroughly. So I thought, besides the reason I assumed, you were likely indisposed yourself back then."

"Daydreaming again," Yao Yao commented noncommittally.

Lin Luo shook his head. "It's not daydreaming. I have concrete evidence. You mentioned before that you remain in the Bright Realm specifically to guard against sudden attacks from the Proxy Gods. While your character might not be the best, you are absolutely serious when it comes to important matters and wouldn't abandon the Bright Realm. However, my battle with the Dragon God ended, and you still didn't show up. That proves my point. Furthermore, your current state is clearly post-battle. While I can't tell if you gained or lost ground—though probably the latter—if even I can see how drained you look, then whatever you encountered must have been quite troublesome."

Yao Yao glanced at Lin Luo with slight surprise. "Not bad. In just this short time, not only has your strength improved significantly, but your thinking has become so meticulous. Compared to the weakling you used to be, you're like a completely different person."

"...I'll just take that as a compliment," Lin Luo replied weakly.

"So, what I want to know is, what exactly did you run into?" Lin Luo continued his inquiry.

"Well, I hadn't intended to speak of this, but since you've already figured it out, there's no need for me to keep hiding it..." Yao Yao paused, then stated gravely, "I encountered the Heart of the World!"

"The Heart of the World?" Lin Luo's heart skipped a beat.

"Not just the Heart of the World, but an old acquaintance I haven't seen in several epochs," Yao Yao said, a rare trace of nostalgia and emotion coloring her tone.

Lin Luo frowned. "Are you saying the host of that Heart of the World is someone you know?"

"No, no, you misunderstand me," Yao Yao shook her head. "The one I speak of isn't some half-baked host. It is the Heart of the World itself."

Upon hearing this, Lin Luo immediately recalled the 'Unknown' entity he saw in the light mirror given by Tohsaka Rin, the one that had destroyed infinite worlds. He shot up from his seat with a start, exclaiming, "The Heart of the World appeared already?!"

Yao Yao waved her hand, signaling him to sit down, then said calmly, "Don't make such a fuss. It's not as dire as you imagine, and the Heart of the World I speak of isn't the same one you're thinking of."

"Then what is it?" Lin Luo asked urgently.

"Ah... how should I put this?" Yao Yao tapped her forehead, a hint of distress flickering in her eyes. Lin Luo realized then that Yao Yao wasn't just worn out; she was deeply, deeply exhausted, so tired that speaking to him seemed to take all her remaining strength.

Fragile.

Yes, in Lin Luo's eyes now, Yao Yao had lost her usual assertiveness. Instead, she looked like a wounded, delicate woman, so fragile she seemed liable to shatter at any touch.

Even after her fierce battle against the Proxy Gods that knocked her out of the Heaven Beyond Heaven Realm, she hadn't shown such fatigue. Yet now... in just a few days, what kind of battle had she endured?

Perhaps it would be better to let her rest.

Lin Luo thought this, but before he could voice it, Yao Yao spoke, "People are different. Just as one genius might emerge who far surpasses others among ten thousand people, while the Hearts of the World are rare, some exceptions might arise among them, like the one I met previously."

"She is purely the Heart of the World, not possessed by any host. She never had or needed a host from the start, so the scenario you imagine won't happen—at least, there are no signs of it yet. As for her... sigh, that entity is incredibly troublesome. Although I had some interactions with her in the past, now she seems like a completely different person. I tried probing her stance. Not only did I gain nothing, but I nearly suffered a massive setback."

"Even you were defeated?" Lin Luo asked, incredulous.

"Idiot," Yao Yao scoffed, lightly chastising him. "In this era, there are hardly anyone stronger than me. If just anyone could defeat me, what purpose would I serve?"

Lin Luo immediately relaxed a fraction, but the stone in his heart didn't completely settle. Her current appearance offered little reassurance, and even if she hadn't been defeated, someone capable of pushing her to such a state clearly wasn't ordinary.

Moreover, Yao Yao herself said this person was someone she knew from epochs past. Clearly, this individual must be on the level of an Ancient Deity, perhaps with a history far older than the Heavenly Dao itself.

"Who exactly is she?" Lin Luo couldn't help but ask.

Lin Luo asked this casually, assuming that if the person was truly that ancient, he wouldn't know her, so he didn't expect an answer. However, contrary to his expectation, as soon as he asked, Yao Yao sat upright, fixed her eyes on his, and said, "The Mirror of Truth. Have you ever heard of it?"

Lin Luo shook his head. "What is that?"

"A terrifying thing. It is said that it can reveal the true state of anything in the world and return it to its original truth... You know the question of the chicken and the egg, right?"

Yao Yao stopped halfway through and asked, seeing Lin Luo nod, she continued, "That's it. If that question were shone upon by the Mirror of Truth, the answer would instantly manifest, and all chickens and eggs in the world would revert to their initial state. Correspondingly, the world is the same. Once illuminated by that mirror, and if its master wills it, even infinite worlds would instantly revert to their primal state... Naturally, all life within those infinite worlds would be instantly annihilated!"

"This..." Lin Luo was utterly stunned, unable to utter a word. This damned... what kind of broken mirror was that? It was too perverse!

"Could it be that this Mirror of Truth is in the hands of the person you just mentioned?"

"Yes," Yao Yao nodded. "But you don't need to worry too much. I tested her earlier. Although the Mirror of Truth she possesses is the original version, because her own existence is too fragile, she cannot unleash its full power—not even one percent of it. Destroying infinite worlds is simply impossible for her. Moreover, although her actions are somewhat extreme and manic, she absolutely would not destroy worlds."

"Even if you say so, this feeling of having everything controlled by someone else is truly awful. Who knows if I'll wake up tomorrow morning if I fall asleep tonight," Lin Luo offered a wry smile.

"Idiot, didn't I just say she isn't that strong?" Yao Yao shot him a look. "If she truly possessed that level of power, no matter how much I trusted her past behavior, I absolutely would not leave such a dangerous element alive. I would destroy her, even if it meant mutual annihilation."

The Time Traveler Corps, we sacrificed our lives to protect this world. I will never let anyone destroy it, not even that person!

Yao Yao closed her eyes, speaking silently to herself.

Lin Luo didn't know what she was thinking, but Yao Yao's determined tone gave him some reassurance. He then asked, "Is there anything else important I should know about this person?"

"Yes, this is what I need to tell you next," Yao Yao opened her eyes and said seriously, "Although her motives are unclear, I believe she will seek you out one day."

"Why?" Lin Luo was instantly startled. Why would such a terrifying entity seek him out!

"You don't need to know the reason. Just know that she is incredibly terrifying—hundreds of times stronger than the Dragon God. If you encounter her by accident, you must never engage her head-on! Remember, absolutely never!" Yao Yao warned sternly.

Lin Luo subconsciously swallowed. Hundreds of times stronger than the Dragon God? Damn, that meant she was even stronger than the Heavenly Dao! Even if she told me not to confront her directly, if I actually ran into someone like that, I probably wouldn't even be able to escape!

Lin Luo was inwardly lamenting, but Yao Yao continued, "Of course, because that person has a somewhat... special relationship [with someone], she probably won't target you lethally. You don't need to obsess over it either. Furthermore, her sudden appearance isn't entirely a bad thing for us. The Proxy Gods have noticed her as well. In their view, this figure with an unclear allegiance must be on our side. So, having such a person present to sound the alarm should cause the Proxy Gods to temper their actions. At least until they have absolute certainty, they won't bother us again. This will make your subsequent movements much easier."

Lin Luo nodded. After all, since the person Yao Yao mentioned was the Heart of the World, it was natural for the Proxy Gods to assume that. However, Lin Luo clearly sensed an element of hesitation in Yao Yao's words. Special relationship? Who did that person have a special relationship with? Why wouldn't she target him lethally because of it?

Lin Luo vaguely felt that a crucial piece of information was being hidden here.

But he also knew that if Yao Yao didn't want to say it, no amount of questioning would yield an answer.

"Alright, that's everything I needed to say. Do you have any other questions?"

"I... never mind. I have no questions," Lin Luo reflexively started to speak, instinctively wanting to ask about the God War. Since hearing the Heavenly Dao's words, he had many doubts. But after saying just one word, he abruptly remembered the fatigue Yao Yao had just displayed and suppressed the question.

Yao Yao nodded and didn't say anything more, rising to leave. After taking just a few steps, she suddenly stopped, and without turning back, said, "Just keep what I said in mind; there's no need to dwell on it. The only thing you need to focus on now is raising your strength to the Heaven Rank as quickly as possible. Other matters... I'm not telling you now only because it would be useless and only bring you trouble. When the time is right, even if I don't tell you, you will know."

"...I understand."

"Good. Also, there will be a guest tomorrow. You are responsible for receiving them."

"A guest?"

Lin Luo was momentarily stunned, but before he could react, Yao Yao's figure vanished from his sight.

...

The thirteenth layer of the Sky City, Fantasy Paradise.

The room in the farthest corner had been converted by Yao Yao into her resting chamber. Upon returning, she immediately stripped off her outer clothes, clad only in her underwear, and fell straight onto the bed.

With a thump, due to the bed's excellent elasticity, she bounced slightly upon landing, followed by a breathtaking jiggle of her breasts, perfectly showcasing her stunning figure. If any man had been present to witness this scene, nine out of ten would have been filled with burning lust; the remaining one was either impotent or gay.

But regretfully, there was only one man in the entire Sky City, and he wasn't here, so no one had the fortune to appreciate this sight.

Yao Yao lay on the bed with her eyes closed for a long time, seemingly asleep. After an unknown duration, she finally slowly opened her eyes and spoke, "I'm back."

"How did things go?" A high-spirited, energetic girl's voice suddenly echoed in the room. Though the voice was clear, its source remained unseen.

"Not well. Or perhaps I should say... I failed," Yao Yao sighed.

"Is that so?" The energetic voice fell silent for a moment before sounding again. "Don't worry about it. That woman was always on our level. If not for what happened later, she likely would have become a member of the Time Traveler Corps too. Even though her current existence is weak, you aren't in peak condition either, and what's more, she holds a great weapon like the Mirror of Truth. Your failure isn't unexpected."

"I'll take that as comfort," Yao Yao replied, her tone somewhat dejected. "Hong Ling, what side do you think she will stand on?"

The source of the energetic girl's voice was Hong Ling, a member of the Time Traveler Corps who mastered myriad Heavenly Daos, currently "existing" attached to Lin Xiaoke, known as the Flying Perpetual Motion Machine.

Hong Ling said, "I don't know. That woman has always been the most unpredictable. Even when Qi Qi was alive, she said if she had to choose one person in this world she least wanted to fight, it would be her. And now she's become erratic; it wouldn't be strange if she actively opposed us."

"I beg to differ on that point, little sister," a third female voice sounded in the room, its tone overflowing with seductive charm. It was easy to imagine the owner of this voice was an absolute enchantress capable of stealing souls. "In my view, if we let that boy deal with her, it might achieve unexpected results, after all, they have that kind of relationship, hehehe."

Hong Ling rebuked without hesitation, "Nonsense. That boy isn't him. Even if that woman can tell, given her crazed style of action, no one knows what she might do. If the two truly clashed, even if that boy was fortunate enough to survive, he would probably end up wherever we are... Also, since only the three of us are speaking right now, could you please stop calling yourself qie shen (an archaic, overly formal female pronoun)? It gives me goosebumps!"

"This is my usual way of speaking, isn't it? Who told me I'm so charming and alluring..."

"Yi Ren!" Before the other woman could finish, Hong Ling sharply exclaimed.

The charming woman was also a member of the Time Traveler Corps, currently possessing the Evil King Zhai Xin and controlling the chance and inevitability known as Yi Ren.

"Fine, fine. Alas, these days, it's hard even to express my true self. Who did I offend to deserve this?" Yi Ren replied with a tone full of helplessness, even letting slip a curse. Anyone unfamiliar with her would never imagine that the woman speaking so coyly just moments ago could curse with such boldness and dominance.

I think the current you is your true self... Yao Yao and Hong Ling both thought to themselves. Neither of them knew that the charming Yi Ren was merely a façade; the one who cursed fiercely and spoke with great authority was Yi Ren's true nature.

Simply put, this person loved to pretend... pretending to be cute, pretending to be seductive!

"Enough small talk, let's focus on the main issue," Hong Ling cut short the minor interlude with a single sentence.

Although Hong Ling usually behaved like a neighborhood girl, speaking childishly and playfully, occasionally zoning out and giving an air of ignorance, this was only in ordinary circumstances. When it came to crucial moments or important discussions, Hong Ling would become very composed, and her words usually convinced everyone. Because of this, she was the third highest-ranking figure in the Time Traveler Corps.

In truth, compared to the Corps' leader, who had a terrible temper, and the Vice-leader Qi Qi, who was perpetually stern—the top two figures—Hong Ling, who could banter cheerfully with everyone, was actually more popular. However, because the strength of the top two was so monstrous, everyone could safely entrust their backs to them, securing their status as unshakable regardless of the situation.

Of course, no one ever tried to shake it.

In fact, the Time Traveler Corps periodically generated a ranking list, and three specific rankings were consistently dominated by three people. First, Who everyone most wants to beat up: The leader always got ten votes on this list. The other two votes: Qi Qi abstained, and the leader voted for whomever he had the lowest positive impression of that day. However, with a ten-to-one margin, he was clearly the eternal "winner."

Second, Who everyone respects the most: Besides Qi Qi permanently casting her vote for the leader, everyone else voted for Qi Qi.

Third, Who everyone likes the most: This ranking was Hong Ling's domain. Except for her own vote cast for someone else, the other eleven members would choose her.

From this, one could easily imagine the internal atmosphere of the Time Traveler Corps.

Ending the idle chatter, once Hong Ling steered the conversation back on track, Yao Yao said, "Regarding that woman, I already mentioned it to that boy earlier. I think, given his cautious nature, he will take precautions."

"That boy's current strength is too weak. If that woman truly decides to seek him out, no amount of precaution will suffice," Yi Ren remarked.

"That's where our job comes in: we must exert our utmost efforts to prevent any contact between those two," Hong Ling stated.

"But in our current state, bullying the weaklings might be manageable, but if we run into that woman, we’ll have no choice but to flee for our lives." Yiren was clearly undermining their own confidence by praising the enemy.

Hong Ling seemed speechless too. After a brief silence, she finally spoke, "I didn't say we must succeed, only that we must do our utmost. Stop interrupting, or I’ll revoke your right to speak."

"..." Yiren.

"..." Yao Yao.

It was clear that Hong Ling was in charge right now; even Yiren, who held a seat just next to her, couldn't offer a rebuttal.

"Actually, I don't think we need to worry too much," Yao Yao suddenly interjected after a moment. "I’ve noticed that kid is a bit different from before; I feel like... he’s gradually transforming into that person."

"How do you know?" Yiren and Hong Ling asked simultaneously.

Yao Yao replied, "Because... he mocked me just now."

"Huh?"

The other two were clearly stunned by this statement, falling silent for a moment.

Yao Yao hastened to explain, "In the past, that kid always cursed me internally, but he never dared to show it. Yet today, he actually mocked me to my face. And not just once, but several times in a row. At first, I was a bit surprised and thought maybe he’d had too much to drink. But later, I realized he was genuinely becoming sarcastic... Hmm, it’s somewhat pleasing."

"Are you an M?" Yiren couldn't help but ask.

Yao Yao was speechless. "Don't you understand what I mean?"

Hong Ling cut in, "Of course, we understand. That person was born with a face designed for mockery, with a disposition so vile it’s utterly devoid of conscience. Anyone who spends more than a month with him wishes they could beat him into a pulp. Since that kid is slowly developing towards being utterly devoid of conscience, you think he’s close to awakening, is that it?"

"Yes, that's what I mean," Yao Yao nodded.

"Ah, no!" As soon as Yao Yao finished speaking, Yiren's mournful cry echoed. "I was bullied mercilessly by that guy before. Now that I finally have a chance for revenge, how can he awaken so quickly? I don't want this! I want to toy with him until he's utterly broken!"

"You're overthinking it. Yao Yao also said his awakening is just a nascent sign, still far from truly manifesting," Hong Ling stated calmly.

"A nascent sign? Where in Yao Yao's words did you see the word 'nascent sign'? Repeat it for me..."

Mid-sentence, Yiren's voice abruptly cut off.

"..." Yao Yao was speechless again; it was obvious Yiren had been stripped of her right to speak.

"And then? Were there any other signs?" Hong Ling inquired indifferently.

"Additionally, his planning has become much more meticulous—he's a different person compared to the last time we met. Also, he has learned Wuzhong Shengyou (Creation from Nothing)," Yao Yao reported.

Hong Ling commented, "He's mastered Wuzhong Shengyou already? That's actually a good sign."

"He mastered Wuzhong Shengyou without even reaching the Celestial Rank? That’s not magical at all!" Yiren's voice finally managed to squeeze in, but as soon as she said it, she immediately wailed, "I was wrong, I'm truly sorry, don't revoke my right to speak again."

"If you concentrate, you'll be fine," Hong Ling replied irritably.

Yao Yao continued, "The truth is, he knows very little about himself. Given his potential and understanding, by ordinary standards, he should have reached the Celestial Rank long ago. But he's different. The completely opposing forces of Creation and Destruction gathered in one body will compress all his power, like water in a cup being compressed into a single drop. At such a time, to fill the cup, the capacity of just one cup of water isn't enough; you need a bucket, or even more water. Therefore, for him to reach the Celestial Rank, he must spend more time, work harder, and accumulate more power than others..."

"So, even though he hasn't reached the Celestial Rank, he has grasped Wuzhong Shengyou, which should only be mastered after reaching that rank. That’s actually reasonable," Yiren finally said something sensible since the discussion began.

Hong Ling continued, "Although this compression slows his progress significantly, once he does reach the Celestial Rank, every drop of that compressed water can turn back into a cupful. By then, the capacity he possesses will instantly explode. It’s certainly something to look forward to."

"But that's all contingent on him successfully reaching the Celestial Rank first," Yao Yao pointed out.

"Did you tell him that?" Yiren asked.

"No, but I reminded him that beyond the Celestial Rank, he shouldn't worry about anything else," Yao Yao replied.

"Mhm, that is the correct approach. Knowing too much about certain things is actually detrimental," Hong Ling agreed.

The three discussed the matter for a while longer, finally concluding with Hong Ling’s summary: "Alright, let’s end this consultation for now. Everyone knows what needs to be done next. First, prevent that woman from contacting him. Second, strive to enhance our own strength. Third, do everything possible to awaken Xueyin; we desperately need her in the current situation. Fourth, if nothing unexpected happens, the one devoid of conscience should appear soon; prepare yourselves psychologically in advance... Dismissed."

Upon hearing the last point, both Yao Yao and Yiren looked utterly mortified.

However, they certainly didn't take it as a joke, because the one devoid of conscience was truly terrifying!

"The one devoid of conscience..." After ending the call with Yiren and Hong Ling, Yao Yao lay sprawled on the bed, murmuring to herself, a faint smile playing on her lips.

...

"Guest?" Lin Luo had no idea that in certain eyes, his name had already been replaced by 'The One Devoid of Conscience.' At this moment, he was still pondering Yao Yao’s final words before she left—what kind of guest was so important that Yao Yao needed to attend to him personally?

He truly couldn't fathom it.

After long contemplation, he still found no answers, so he eventually cast the issue aside, reasoning that the answer would naturally be revealed when the time came tomorrow.

True to Lin Luo's anticipation, Yao Yao did not come down the next day. Perhaps she was genuinely exhausted this time and urgently needed rest. Lin Luo decided not to disturb her, staying alone in the living room, calculating the distance to his own Celestial Rank breakthrough while awaiting the guest Yao Yao had mentioned.

But to his disappointment, even after noon, he hadn't seen a shadow of a guest—not even a hair.

It was two hours after lunch when Lin Luo suddenly sensed a potent aura flooding into the world. He rushed outside immediately and saw a woman in a white dress standing at the doorway.

"Well, it’s been a long time, hasn't it?" Lin Luo was momentarily stunned upon seeing the person. Before he could react, a rush of floral fragrance enveloped him as the woman threw herself into his arms.

"..." Lin Luo froze.

It wasn't because a woman was actively embracing him, but because of the identity of the woman doing the embracing... It was Lin Xiaoke!

"You... what's going on with you?" Lin Luo placed his hands on her shoulders, instinctively pushing her away slightly. He certainly wouldn't object to a woman initiating an embrace, but this Lin Xiaoke was problematic.

Although Lin Xiaoke was lively at the very beginning, during the final phase of the Fifth Divine War, her Saintess Sacrifice had transformed her from a cheerful young girl into a quiet, emotionless shell—a state she hadn't reverted from even during their last meeting. Thus, he was utterly bewildered by Lin Xiaoke’s sudden enthusiasm.

As the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's fire; he couldn't afford to be careless.

"So cold. I'm clearly very excited to see you," Lin Xiaoke said, looking quite wronged by Lin Luo's distant demeanor.

Her and her!

Although Lin Xiaoke was a beautiful girl, and her attempts at coquetry could easily stir up impulse, Lin Luo was long accustomed to her detached, flat affect. Hearing her speak in such a saccharine tone now felt incredibly awkward.

"Are you today's guest?" Finally managing to break free from the physical entanglement with Lin Xiaoke, Lin Luo asked.

"Yes! Didn't Yao Yao tell you?" Lin Xiaoke said with a smile, making a move as if to pounce on him again.

Lin Luo instinctively stepped back, affecting the demeanor of a proper gentleman, and gestured inside with a smile, "Since you're a guest, please, come in and sit down."

Lin Xiaoke glanced inside and immediately frowned. "Huh? Why is this the living room? I don't like it. Isn't there a quiet private room?"

"...We do have those."

Lin Luo was speechless. Seeing Lin Xiaoke looking as if she wouldn't enter without a private room, he reluctantly led her into a nearby alcove.

They were seated facing each other, exchanging meaningless small talk until the maid brought the refreshments and withdrew. Then, Lin Xiaoke suddenly zipped over, like a rabbit, to sit next to Lin Luo. She wrapped both her arms tightly around his arm, pressing her body close to his, gazing at him flirtatiously while speaking softly, "Hey, what do you think of me?"

Lin Luo felt immense pressure.

The space here was far too cramped; there were almost no routes for escape. Of course, he could always use instant transmission to leave, but doing so would be incredibly rude to the young lady... And there was also a very, very small reason—a male instinctual dilemma.

When a beautiful woman throws herself at you, even if you're wary, your instincts won't put up much of a fight.

Lin Luo pretended not to understand her meaning, "What do you mean, 'what do I think'?"

Lin Xiaoke smiled and patted him lightly, chiding, "You’re such a blockhead. Of course, I mean that."

Lin Luo wanted to cry. I know what you mean, but I don't understand why you mean that to me! Weren't you an emotionless girl last time? Why have your attributes changed today? Even if you were going to change attributes, couldn't you give a heads-up? You’re attacking so suddenly, and it’s putting a lot of pressure on me!

"I don't understand what you mean," Lin Luo continued feigning ignorance.

But Lin Xiaoke wasn't easily fooled. She pouted, "Stop pretending. You clearly know what I'm referring to, yet you play dumb with me. I'll be direct: do you like me or not? If you don't like me, just refuse me clearly; don't beat around the bush."

Lin Luo genuinely wanted to weep. Sister, you've made your meaning so explicit; even if I intended to refuse, I’d feel too embarrassed.

"Well... how should I put this? From a personal perspective, I don't dislike you. I even feel a slight fondness for you..."

"As long as you like me, that's enough. When will you marry me?" Before Lin Luo could finish, Lin Xiaoke dropped a heavy bomb.

Lin Luo was instantly dazed and dizzy. Sister, I beg you, can your thoughts not jump so fast? I can’t keep up at all!

"Wait, wait. I think there's a major issue with what you just said."

"What issue?"

"Although I said I like you, this 'like' is merely appreciation; it’s far from the stage of discussing marriage. Furthermore, our statuses don't seem suitable either," Lin Luo tried to be tactful to avoid making the other party too awkward, phrasing it so vaguely he wasn't even sure if he was being clear.

Lin Xiaoke was adept at finding the direct meaning within tact, stating calmly, "As long as there is affection, even blood relatives are fine. Marrying because of affection—isn't that very normal? As for status, we are both Kings of the World; we are perfectly matched."

"..." Lin Luo was momentarily speechless. He felt this girl simply didn't grasp what he was saying, or perhaps she deliberately refused to. He decided to abandon subtlety and take the direct path.

"You still haven't understood me. What I mean is: we have never had any emotional exchange before this. We have always interacted as friends and allies. But today, you suddenly come here saying you like me and want to marry me. This... Everything in the world requires a gradual process, especially love and marriage. Isn't your lightning-fast approach a bit too sudden?" Lin Luo asked with a bitter smile.

"Ah!" At this remark, Lin Luo instantly gasped and then clamped his hand over his mouth with lightning speed, his face a picture of shock.

"What's wrong?" Lin Luo was rather bewildered by this reaction. Lin Xiaoke was intellectually detached... well, clearly not detached now, but when they first met, Lin Luo knew she was a highly intelligent and well-mannered girl. She couldn't possibly fail to understand the logic he just laid out. So why did she look as if she had just discovered something for the first time?

This didn't resemble an intelligent girl at all; she looked like an ignorant maiden!

Did she suffer a cultivation deviation, burning her brain out?

Lin Luo muttered internally.

At that moment, Lin Xiaoke suddenly sprang to her feet, her face flushed crimson. She bowed deeply to Lin Luo. "I am so sorry, I truly apologize. I didn't consider that point at all. I sincerely apologize for causing you trouble. I'll go fetch... Oh no, I'll just go to the restroom. Please wait for me!"

Saying that, Lin Xiaoke bolted out like the wind.

Lin Luo watched her retreating figure, his mind filled with question marks.

Regardless of Lin Luo's state of mind, once Lin Xiaoke reached the restroom, she quickly locked the door, activated a barrier around her cubicle, and cried out in panic, "Yao Yao, hurry up and help me! I think I messed something up; what should I do next?!"

"What on earth are you playing at?" Yao Yao's exasperated voice sounded.

Lin Xiaoke's face crumpled. "I don't know! You know I've never been in love, and I certainly don't know how to date. Everything I just did was taught to me by Yiren, but now it seems a bit off."

"Please! Although you're completely ditzy when not discussing serious matters, you shouldn't be this spaced out! And you actually believe that pretentious airhead Yiren? Asking her for advice was just giving Yiren an excuse for revenge."

Lin Xiaoke was on the verge of tears. "How was I supposed to know? My IQ drops into the double digits when I'm not focused on business, you know that!"

"..." Yao Yao was utterly speechless. (To be continued)