Pulling Noah's arm so she could use it as a pillow, Ting remarked — You know, it's not because I have a sturdier body than normal that I like lying down just anywhere instead of on a very comfortable bed. A wooden porch certainly wasn't on my list of preferred places to spend the night.

  — Are you insinuating that I should make a bigger bed now?

  — And a house, too. — she added — I like this place, but I'd rather not have to calculate every single step just to avoid bumping into someone else inside the house. It'd be nice if it looked the same even after a change.

  — A new bed and a new house, anything else?

  — You'll need a new hand too if you move it any higher again.

  Turning his palm toward her belly, Noah waited for her reaction. Ting turned to hug him and wrapped her leg around him, making his hand slide down her back, slightly lower than before.

  — You're the one who started this, not me. — he argued immediately but didn't move his palm.

  — Worse than your hand's position, I think your habit of slipping your hand inside my clothes is getting way too recurrent.

  Ting felt the ground disappear beneath her and, when she opened her eyes, she was floating above Noah. With a raised eyebrow, she teased — Is this your way of protesting against what I said?

  He shook his head, denying it. But soon she realized what was happening, as her sash slowly gave way.

  — So, if I don't let you touch, are you saying you'd rather look?

  — No, I'm saying I won't give up on either. — the sash fell away and, slowly, Noah opened her garments — I don't think I can stay away from this much longer.

  Turning in the air, Ting latched onto him with her legs and sat on Noah's stomach. She threw her hair back.

  — I know I'm beautiful, but I must be even more amazing than I thought. — she joked with a smile — I'm curious to see if your feelings for me are really as intense as you claim. Because, if they're not...

  — And if they are, do I win a reward? ...A kiss, maybe? I think there's no greater connection than the one we're about to form, so in that case, our marriage would really just be a formality.

  — Amazing, you're really clever when it suits you. — Noah trembled as Ting leaned toward him. After kissing him a few times, she hugged him — However, you're right, so it's fine. If I'm impressed by what I feel, I'll let you- — she reconsidered. She was about to say "Do whatever you want," but she knew Noah wouldn't hold back at all after getting her first consent. He definitely wouldn't stop at just a kiss — I'll let you kiss me whenever you want, if we're alone.

  — Only when we're alone? — he started to get up, then returned to where he was. His body stiff and looking away — ...He Rui won't interfere with this, right? Otherwise, moments like this will never come.

  Ting sighed — Alright, but don't exaggerate when she's around, okay?

  After nodding, Noah gulped as he asked — Now, can you put that away? You know, you're messing around with something that could really hurt me.

  Her sword aimed at the space between Noah's legs, the black blade floated behind Ting.

  Laughing, she agreed, making the blade vanish.

  Noah sighed.

  — That wasn't funny.

  — Yes, it was. A lot.

  Changing positions and leaving marks on each other's skin, the two spent most of the rest of the night embraced.

  It wasn't long before Ting started to regret her promise regarding kisses, because it seemed to only make Noah more eager. Be it his touches or kisses, everything about him became more intense after she said that. Except for the times she stopped him from going further, she wasn't sure there was any part of her he'd left untouched. The marks on her belly were close together as there was no more space, and her back, she didn't even want to look, and was glad she couldn't, since Noah seemed to focus there the most for some reason.

  At least he didn't leave any in plain sight.. She told herself in relief with a sigh as she got up after noticing the first signs of sunrise in the distance.

  The sky brightened before anything on the ground could. Of course, the crystals surrounding them and the city torches didn't follow such a rule.

  After stretching, Ting began looking for the sash to close her clothes. She found it under Noah, and as she picked it up, noticed the door was still being opened.

  He Rui was rubbing her eyes, still waking up. She looked ahead, finding Ting in a situation she didn't want to be caught in, especially not at the start of their second day together.

  With no fuss, He Rui picked Xiao Ying up and retraced her steps, closing the door and saying — Sorry for the intrusion, you can continue.

  — Hey, it's not what you think! We didn't do anything yet. Tell her— Idiot, get your hands out of my clothes!

  Even though no explanation was really necessary, He Rui didn't even bother to ask or seem uncomfortable, Ting still felt a little awkward. So, she tried to explain herself as they walked into the forest.

  — You don't need to explain anything to me, Ting. — He Rui said — You two were already together before I met you, so it's obvious the two of you are closer. Noah was right when he said I need to get used to it.

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  — Noah…? Why does it seem so much easier for you to say my name than hers?

  Despite what she said, He Rui also felt something odd and persistent. And Noah's subtle glances and grins whenever Ting wasn't looking didn't help, as if he was bragging about beating her at something. It was strange. Her anger at his smile was even weirder. The urge to punch him and pull Ting away from him was tempting, but unrealistic. He Rui wasn't sure which thoughts and feelings actually belonged to her. Maybe the urge to hit him was hers, or the desire to keep Ting away from him. However, most likely it was the thought of how stupid he seemed to her now, so childish that Ting's previous worry seemed unfounded. But no, it was just because Ting was nearby, and she knew. No matter how well he pretended, so far, Ting might be the only one Noah couldn't fool.

  They stopped in a small clearing with short grass. Here, the cabin wouldn't be affected if something unexpected happened, as was the case with He Rui.

  — So, where did the essence she took come from?

  A basket appeared on the ground in front of them.

  — Oh, I'd seen that before in the inventory. But... — Ting looked at its contents, finding shiny broken pieces of — bones...? — she turned to Noah, analyzing him — Are these your bones? How?

  — Well, I'm not sure either. All I know is that my transformation wasn't as "smooth" as He Rui's.

  Ting picked up one of the bones and felt an uncomfortable sensation. As if they were alive, every piece seemed like an eye watching her. Swallowing, she took some blood-tonic pills from her spatial pouch. Her hesitant finger approached the tip. However, He Rui stopped her.

  — It wasn't easy when I did this. Something was there, something the pill alone couldn't handle. That's why I had to use the lightning technique.

  — Something...? — Ting drew her finger back and turned to listen intently.

  — They were like giant shadows, one like a serpent with red eyes and another like a bird with orange eyes. It was especially hard because they kept fighting each other, which seemed to hurt me, too. The lightning could reach them, so I used that to buy time for the pill to take effect.

  — Hmm, apparently, they were remnants of the semi-dragon and phoenix. — Noah commented — But, even if they're just shadows, I don't think any fire will be able to affect them. If you really plan to do this now, it seems using lightning to counterattack is the only way.

  Wrinkles formed between Ting's brows. She looked at the basket — But I didn't want to change my energy's nature... — squeezing the bone in her hand, she sighed. Her palm was cut and blood spread over the sharp surface. Stiffening, her body trembled briefly. The sensation wasn't at all what she expected — Alright, I guess lightning isn't so bad.

  Sitting in front of the basket, she plunged her hands in and squeezed the bones, crushing the eyes that sought to devour her. Yet once again, she didn't feel any real cut. Because, with each bone taken, it was as if her body was being bitten like never before.

  How did He Rui not notice something weird when she cut her finger on this?

  If each fragment contained a piece of Noah's essence, she'd rather not leave any behind. She didn't want to risk repeating that situation. So, after all the biting and staring, she sat cross-legged and took the pill. Closing her eyes brought darkness as she began to meditate.

  Dark and terrifying surroundings made her tremble all over. But it wasn't her body; it was her soul that shook. Ting stared around, but her vision could not see beyond her own body. If she moved too much, she would see her limbs fading into the darkness. There was nothing. Not until her apparent support vanished beneath her feet and, above, eerie eyes watched as she fell.

  Nervousness curled her lips into a smile.

  Looks like I went overboard… These things no longer resemble mere shadows.

  The orange feathers glowed, clashing with the darkness interspersing them everywhere. The heat was intense and the radiance sublime, making Ting consider bowing. However, on the side, pure terror was all that emanated from those shadowy scales.

  The beasts leaped at her, and another pill went into her mouth, dissolving. Her veins bulged, burning. Her bones vibrated, and organs tore, failing. Forced to do so, Ting opened her mouth to let the accumulated blood splash to the ground. Yet, she kept reciting the mantra.

  — Did the same happen with you? — Noah asked, seeing the amount of blood and the state of Ting's body with concern.

  Hugging Xiao Ying tight to her chest, He Rui shrank as she answered — I'm not sure... — The worry was intense inside her. Was it hers or Noah's? Maybe they were mixed, which made them so strong.

  Lightning expanded, enveloping Ting's body. Then, it shrunk back, wrapping her like a second skin.

  [Aid in the containment of inner demons has been activated for the listed wife, Huo Ting.]

  — Inner demons?!

  Noah turned, but didn't have time to do much. Grabbing He Rui by the waist, he jumped away with her as blue lightning changed its force and appearance. The nearby trees were destroyed, the ground dead. Nothing could grow there again.

  With no more ever-increasing light, the dawn sky darkened, then was lit up by a golden brilliance.

  Yet, as quickly as they appeared, the lightning bolts condensed, turned inward, and entered Ting's body.

  In the now-dark sky, black clouds gathered, charged with thunder rolling over the city and merging in one place above the forest. The morning's silence was broken by the rumbling of the bolts.

  — What the- Is this a tribulation?! She's not even at Foundation Establishment, so why-

  [Target found.]

  [Purification will begin.]

  — Purification? Don't tell me all this is part of the "aid"-?!

  A deafening sound erupted in the sky. In the clouds, something seemed to appear. Corporeal, with an unreal shape as if not from a dream. With no more scattered lightning, the golden dragon leaped from the black clouds and roared, shaking every fragile heart. Its radiant body moved in sublime arcs, circling the forest as if waiting for something.

  Noah looked between Ting and the creature, not knowing what to do. It seemed to be a beneficial act from the system, but why did the beast's mere gaze make his body tremble uncontrollably?

  Clinging to his arm, He Rui couldn't move anymore. The lightning running over her body, though, was reacting on its own. Glowing. Flickering. As if bowing before the beast.

  [Level 1 purification will fall.]

  [Level 1-]

  The screen flickered, blurring the view ahead.

  [L-]

  Unable to stand, Noah knelt down. He Rui let Xiao Ying on the ground to help him.

  [??10??]

  [Warning!]

  [Stay away from the target!]

  — Stay away? System, is this really dangerous?! Cancel! Hey, cancel this now—!

  The clouds split and the beast descended, ripping through the sky, the dragon roaring during its unstoppable advance. Something so monstrous entered Ting's body without leaving any expected sign that it had ever been there. Yet it didn't fully disappear, since the golden lightning followed its path, marking it.

  Her organs vanished on impact, as did her muscles and bones, immediately replaced. Her skin fell away like a shell, shattering at the slightest movement and revealing bright, pale scales that covered her completely. Her eyes opened, golden, calling the residual energy in the surroundings to come to them. She blinked, then closed them. Darkness still surrounded her on all sides.

  Ting touched the darkness carefully, causing it to crack and split beneath her feet. A breeze came, light and welcoming, swaying the trees forming around her with each step. In the distance, she saw an arch bridge take shape over a river of oppressive current. Something inside her was different, Ting felt it. Not just in appearance. Looking up at the expanding dark sky, she saw the shining beast still roaming all around.

  [Purification has been completed.]