The dimensional palace reformed around us in the wake of the Void Wyrm's defeat, its walls sealing seamlessly as if the breach had never occurred.
The massive beast's corpse lay sprawled across the chamber floor, its black scales still smoking from the qi burns we'd inflicted.
Mei Ling and Lin Yue leaned against the silk-draped walls, catching their breath, while I knelt beside the fallen creature, my enhanced senses picking up a faint pulse of energy from its core.
"Look at this thing," Lin Yue said, wiping sweat from her brow. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed lingering exhaustion. "We actually took it down. What now? Leave it to rot?"
I shook my head, drawing a qi-infused dagger from my spatial ring—one of the new tools unlocked by the inheritance. "Not quite. These beasts have valuable cores. Let's see what we've got."
We gathered around as I carefully cut into the wyrm's underbelly, the blade slicing through tough hide with surprising ease thanks to my reformed strength. Mei Ling gasped as a glowing orb emerged, pulsing with dark void essence. It was the size of a fist, leaking wisps of ethereal light that formed... a key? No, not quite—a small, crystalline shard that shimmered like a fragment of starlight, embedded in the core's surface.
"What is that?" Mei Ling asked, leaning closer. Her hand brushed mine accidentally, sending a familiar spark through our bond.
[System Alert: Minor Contact - Vitality +5]
[Host Vitality: 205/200 (Overflow Stabilized)]
"Looks like a spirit key," Lin Yue mused, examining it without touching. "I've heard stories—fragments like this can unlock ancient ruins or hidden realms. We could sell it in the border markets for a fortune, or use it ourselves if we find the right door."
I nodded, prying the shard free and storing both it and the core in my ring. "No rush. It's valuable, but we have bigger priorities. For now, it's safe with me."
The palace hummed softly, as if approving the decision. With the immediate threat gone, I willed the space to shift back into its bracelet form on my wrist, the grand chamber dissolving around us.
We found ourselves back in the dim cave, the wyrm's corpse now a hulking shadow in the confined space. The air outside carried the distant chittering of the remaining devil rats, but the horde seemed to have moved on.
"Let's get out of here," I said, leading the way. The cave tunnel was narrow, forcing us to walk single file. Mei Ling followed close behind me, her presence a comforting warmth through our spiritual link, while Lin Yue brought up the rear, bow at the ready.
As we emerged into the dappled sunlight of Whispering Grove, the forest seemed quieter—almost respectful after the chaos we'd unleashed.
The ancient trees whispered in the breeze, their leaves forming patterns that might have been warnings or invitations. I paused, reaching into my ring and pulling out two simple cloaks I'd stored earlier—practical garments from the palace's wardrobe.
"Here," I said, handing one to each. "The fight tore up your clothes. These should help until we find better gear."
Lin Yue took hers, eyebrows raised in surprise. "You... had these the whole time? After everything in there, you were prepared?"
I shrugged, meeting her sharp green eyes. "I couldn't let you walk around unprotected. The grove's dangers aren't over yet."
Her face softened, a flush creeping up her cheeks as she draped the cloak over her shoulders. She grabbed my collar lightly, pulling me close—not in anger, but with a mix of exasperation and something warmer. "You damn fool. Acting like some guardian while we're all barely holding together. Don't think I didn't notice how you shielded us back there."
[System Alert: Bond Deepening - Harem Points +10]
[Lin Yue Bond Upgraded: A-Rank]
I looked straight into her eyes, my voice steady. "I couldn't turn away from you two. You're... too important to lose." The words hung between us, honest and raw.
She released my collar quickly, covering her mouth with one hand, her face turning a deeper red. "Damn you," she muttered, turning away to adjust her cloak. Mei Ling watched the exchange with a small smile, slipping into her own cloak gracefully.
We continued walking, the forest path winding deeper into the grove. Mei Ling fell into step beside me, her hand brushing mine again. After a moment, she halted, pulling me to a stop. Lin Yue paused ahead, giving us space but staying alert.
"Tianlong," Mei Ling said softly, her voice trembling. "Even after I... poisoned you, betrayed you—you saved me. Saved my brother. Why? I'm just a servant. Nothing special."
I chuckled lightly, cupping her cheek gently. Her skin was warm under my touch, her eyes searching mine. "You're more than that. You're strong, loyal, and... yes, beautiful. But it's not just about that. We're in this together now. Family, remember? I'll make sure you see your brother again—no matter what."
"This..." Her voice trembled, clearly on the verge of tears. That definitely hadn't pushed her to the limits yet, so I halted before giving this woman another shock, which was needed to keep them in the loop of push and pull until they realized how much pushing away from me might hurt them.
"And after I reconnect with your brother, I will leave, that way you will not have to look at old grandma, haha."
She stared at me, silence stretching for a heartbeat, her face flushing before she nodded. Without another word, she took my hand, and we kept moving. I tucked my free hand into my pocket, walking with a casual stride as the grove's whispers faded behind us.
"This..." Her voice trembled, clearly on the verge of tears. That definitely hadn't pushed her to the limits yet, so I halted before giving this woman another shock, which was needed to keep them in the loop of push and pull until they realized how much pushing away from me might hurt them.
"And after I reconnect with your brother, I will leave, that way you will not have to look at old grandma, haha."
The words hung in the air, delivered with a light chuckle to mask the underlying test.
Mei Ling froze mid-step, her hand slipping from mine as if I'd struck her.
Her eyes widened, a sharp ache blooming in her chest like a qi backlash—tight, constricting, making it hard to breathe.
It was as if I read her like a book what was going on inside the little maid's mind.
She pressed a hand to her heart, gasping softly, the sound barely audible over the rustling leaves.
'Leave?' The thought echoed in her mind, twisting like a knife.
After everything—the escape, the battles, the strange warmth of their growing bond—he would just... go? Leave her behind like some discarded servant?
She was an open book that I have read all night, but I just need to devour her with consent. It's a thrill when her heart flutters and she wants me, not just her body.
She stood there, rooted to the spot, watching as Lin Yue moved ahead without hesitation.
The archer woman fell into step beside me, her cloak swirling slightly in the breeze, a determined glint in her green eyes as she matched my pace.
"W-wait, I am coming!" Then Mei's voice came as she sprinted and joined us.
And I could just smirk, knowing she chose her options.
'She will be coming a lot from now on.'