My Host Only Marries the Strong

Acting cute? What’s that supposed to mean?

“How exactly does one act cute around Seraphine? I’m asking for your professional guidance here.” Echo made her most sincere expression while addressing Qiu Shuangshuang, extending what could only be described as a formal skill-learning invitation.

The master was asking her for advice! Qiu Shuangshuang’s chest puffed out with pride, and for a moment she felt like her eighteen years of existence had finally reached their glorious peak. But then—

Her entire life flashed before her eyes like a slideshow, and she slowly deflated. “Master,” she whispered, “when I was little, whenever I wanted something, my parents and senior disciples would just give it to me. If I really couldn’t get what I wanted, I’d hug my mother’s leg and cry……”

She couldn’t possibly suggest that master hug master’s wife’s leg and wail. The mental image was…… indescribable.

Plus, that would completely mess up the hierarchical relationships!

Still, Echo looked genuinely intrigued, her clear eyes sparkling with curiosity as she stared at Qiu Shuangshuang. “And that worked?”

Well, no. Mother would usually pick her up and lock her in her room. Then she’d hug Father’s leg and beg him to let her out. Qiu Shuangshuang sighed deeply. “Master, when things go really wrong, just apologize profusely. Being flexible is the key to survival.”

But please, Master, whatever you do, don’t hug master’s wife’s leg while crying. I might get expelled from the sect!

Error chimed in, “What does being flexible have to do with acting cute?”

Nothing whatsoever.

Qiu Shuangshuang mumbled, “Just keep asking nicely. Ask enough times and you’ll get what you want.” Like her—hadn’t she gotten what she wanted in the end?

Despite Qiu Shuangshuang’s obvious reservations, Echo filed away her advice.

She rubbed her chest where it ached and pulled out her medicine and a gourd of sweet pear water from her storage ring. She swallowed two pills with the water.

Error slithered closer, eyes bright with curiosity. “Does it taste good?”

She looked like she desperately wanted to try some.

Being an honest system, Echo shook her head and offered Error a pill.

Error sniffed it and immediately recoiled in disgust.

Echo placed the medicine bottle on the ground. Goodbye, little pills. She sincerely hoped their terrible taste was proportional to their healing effects, but so far, they hadn’t lived up to their potential.

Qiu Shuangshuang watched Echo’s pale face with concern. “Master, you should really go rest.”

“Right. Thank you, everyone.” Echo braced herself against the wall to stand, tucked her bloodstained handkerchief into her sleeve, and waved goodbye.

As she turned toward her room, the spiritual ship continued flying through the high altitude winds, which stirred her white hair and the edges of her blue robes.

Qiu Shuangshuang crouched on the ground, staring at Echo’s retreating figure. “Look at Master’s ethereal, about-to-ascend-to-immortality aura. Who would guess she was coughing up blood just moments ago?”

Error nodded and followed Echo into the room. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel⁂fire.net

Only Qiu Shuangshuang remained in the corridor—along with two weapons.

After Echo said goodbye, Water Dragon’s Hymn immediately transformed back into a spear and clattered to the ground.

Qiu Shuangshuang was still holding Nine Heavens.

“Master, you forgot your magical artifacts!” she called to herself, picking up Water Dragon’s Hymn. Like some kind of mystical weapon wholesaler, she gathered the artifacts and went to find Wei Yutong—they shared a cabin.

Before she could leave the deck, however, a woman carrying an umbrella approached.

She wore no makeup, yet her beauty rivaled morning flowers touched by dew in a secluded valley, soft as mist clinging to mountains at dawn and dusk.

Oh my. A certified beauty.

Qiu Shuangshuang quickly hid her foolish grin, composed her expression, and summoned her aura as the young lady of the Autumn Water Pavilion. She raised her hand in formal greeting.

The artifacts in her arms clinked together melodically.

“Fairy Yu.”

Yu Xuefei’s eyes curved into crescents. “Lady Qiu.”

Qiu Shuangshuang adopted a serious tone. “Where might Fairy Yu be heading?”

“Palace Lord Velka sent for me. She said someone in the palace was injured.” Yu Xuefei’s voice was as gentle as her appearance.

She smiled at Qiu Shuangshuang. “Lady Qiu, do you happen to know which room Fellow Daoist Xi is staying in?”

So she’s here to treat Master! Qiu Shuangshuang immediately brightened, hugging Yu Xuefei’s arm enthusiastically. “I know! Please, please, let me show you the way!”

Yu Xuefei seemed startled by her sudden enthusiasm but smiled. “Wonderful. I heard Lady Qiu took Fellow Daoist Xi as your master?”

“Yes, yes! A wise bird chooses its tree carefully, and my master is incredibly powerful!” She single-handedly destroyed the entire Jade Cauldron Sect!

“And so kind!”

She destroyed the entire Jade Cauldron Sect!

Qiu Shuangshuang gushed, “Being able to take Master as my teacher is the greatest fortune of three lifetimes!”

Yu Xuefei covered her lips with a soft laugh, but her eyes caught a flash of gold. She looked up to see Seraphine standing not far away, arms crossed, watching them.

“Qiu Shuangshuang.” Seraphine’s tone was flat as she called the girl’s name.

Qiu Shuangshuang jumped, quickly releasing Yu Xuefei’s arm with an awkward grin. “I’m just showing Fairy Yu the way.”

“Mm.” Seraphine nodded, then cupped her hands toward Yu Xuefei. “Lingren acts impulsively. She’s been seriously injured twice now. Please take care, Fellow Daoist Yu, and don’t let her develop any lingering ailments.”

Yu Xuefei nodded. “As a healer, I naturally do my utmost. However, Fellow Daoist Si mentioned that Fellow Daoist Xi’s injury affects her spiritual veins…… I’m afraid this time I’ll need to examine her veins directly for treatment, not just diagnose and prescribe medicine as I did in the Twin Dragon Secret Realm.”

Seraphine smiled softly. “That’s fine. However, before you begin your examination, I have something I’d like you to appraise.” She retrieved an exquisite jade box from her storage ring.

The box was beautifully crafted, carved with phoenixes and magical birds playing among a hundred flowers.

Seraphine’s slender hands held the jade box, her elegant fingers more exquisite than the jade itself. She smiled at Yu Xuefei.

Yu Xuefei looked puzzled. “This is……?”

“Don’t be hasty, Fairy.” After setting up a barrier, Seraphine opened the jade box with a soft laugh. “Please, take a look.”

The moment the box opened, a subtle fragrance wafted out. Anyone who smelled it felt their spirit calm and their mind clear, as if drinking cool mountain spring water on a scorching summer day. Absolutely refreshing!

Yu Xuefei gasped in amazement, her eyes widening with surprise and delight. Inside the box lay a snow-white, delicate flower, its pistil glowing with faint light—the Dragon Sand Pure Pistil that all medical cultivators in Thousand Beauty Valley desperately sought!

“When my junior sister went to search for it, she was ambushed by Meng Xiangfei from Mysterious Yin Sect. We thought the Dragon Sand Pure Pistil had fallen into her hands.”

“Rather than negotiate with her, we planned to search elsewhere later. I never expected the Dragon Sand Pure Pistil to be in Palace Lord Velka’s possession.” Yu Xuefei spoke softly, a glimmer of brightness flashing in her gentle eyes.

She curved her lips upward. “It seems Fellow Daoist Xi’s injury holds some mystery?”

Seraphine closed the spirit box with a click, the jade phoenix carving folding its wings to protect the treasure within.

She held the box out to Yu Xuefei with one hand, smiling faintly. “It’s not that her wounds are mysterious, but rather that certain aspects of her constitution are…… unique. It would be inconvenient if others were to learn of this.”

Yu Xuefei smiled. “Please rest assured, Palace Lord Velka. Since I began practicing medical arts, I’ve treated countless patients. Many fellow daoists indeed have constitutions different from ordinary people, but as medical cultivators, maintaining patient confidentiality is our responsibility.”

“If Palace Lord Velka is concerned I might gossip about Fellow Daoist Xi’s condition, this gift is unnecessary.”

She pushed away Seraphine’s jade box.

The box spun once in Seraphine’s palm before returning to its original position in front of Yu Xuefei.

Seraphine’s lips curved slightly. “How could I question Fairy’s Dao Heart? This Dragon Sand Pure Pistil isn’t a gift—it’s compensation.”

Yu Xuefei met Seraphine’s gaze directly.

In the small barrier, the red-robed woman remained calm and elegant, the purple-robed woman gentle and curious, while the brown-clothed girl in the corner looked utterly bewildered.

All three were renowned beauties, and just hearing their soft laughter was enough to stir one’s heart.

But what they discussed was far from the gentle scene it appeared to be.

The strikingly beautiful, proud woman in red looked up, her voice soft as if discussing someone else entirely: “I am naturally suspicious and overthink everything. Asking for Fairy Yu’s assistance while explaining all these trivial matters is both discourteous and presumptuous. If Fairy Yu cannot accept this apology gift, I fear I’ll return home restless, worrying day and night.”

As she spoke, Seraphine’s eyes shifted, glancing at Qiu Shuangshuang standing behind Yu Xuefei.

Qiu Shuangshuang straightened her spine immediately, set down the artifacts in her hands, and stepped forward with a smile. “Sister Yu, please accept it! Let Palace Lord Velka have peace of mind. If you don’t take it, she’ll really wear it as a hair ornament, and that would be such a waste!”

“Indeed, this item is useless to me.” Seraphine loosened her grip, and the jade box began to fall. Yu Xuefei gasped, but faster hands caught the box.

Qiu Shuangshuang wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead, turned around, and cheerfully grabbed Yu Xuefei’s arms, shoving the jade box into her embrace.

“Accept it, accept it, please! You don’t know—this flower is less remarkable to my master and the palace lord than a common daisy growing by the roadside!” Qiu Shuangshuang blinked her large eyes innocently. “Only in the hands of a medical cultivator like you can it fulfill its true purpose!”

Yu Xuefei held the jade box, feeling caught between accepting and refusing. The cool jade felt almost burning in her hands, but Dragon Sand Pure Pistil were priceless treasures—who knew when the next one might appear……

Seraphine noticed the struggle in Yu Xuefei’s eyes. Her smile flickered. She maintained her composed demeanor. “If Fairy feels uncomfortable simply accepting the Dragon Sand Pure Pistil, why not make a Heavenly Oath? Whatever you discover while examining Xi Lingren’s veins, you won’t tell a third person?”

Yu Xuefei paused, looking down at the jade box with an amused expression. “So this is where the palace lord was leading me.”

“Well said.” Seraphine chuckled, raising her hand to pat the jade box. The slender joints of her fingers caught the light from her red, emerald, and gold storage rings.

“As I mentioned, I’m naturally suspicious. I can only impose upon Fellow Daoist Yu in this manner.”

Yu Xuefei sighed softly and smiled. “Alright. If this is what it takes for the palace lord to feel at ease, I’ll accept the Dragon Sand Pure Pistil. But for this consultation and all medicinal materials for Fellow Daoist Xi’s treatment, I’ll provide everything myself.”

Seraphine smiled warmly. “Many thanks, Fairy Yu.”

Yu Xuefei stored the jade box in her storage ring and made a heavenly oath in front of Seraphine. Golden light wrapped around her briefly before disappearing.

Seraphine felt a weight lift from her shoulders, her voice becoming gentler. “Xi Lingren’s injury won’t heal quickly. Whether on the ship or off, if Fairy Yu grows bored, feel free to visit us for tea, wine, and pleasant conversation.”

Yu Xuefei smiled back, using Seraphine’s earlier words: “Well said.”

She continued thoughtfully, “After the second round of competition, who doesn’t know about the change of ownership in the Twin Dragon Secret Realm?”

“If I could become friends with you two, perhaps when the secret realm produces spiritual medicines like Dragon Sand Pure Pistil again, you might think of me. I might have to visit daily with good wine and tea.”

Seraphine couldn’t help but laugh. She dismissed the barrier and gestured toward the door behind her. “You’re always welcome, Fellow Daoist Yu. Please.”

Yu Xuefei nodded and walked forward at a measured pace, gently knocking on the door.

Creak.

The door closed again, leaving only Seraphine and Qiu Shuangshuang in the corridor. Seraphine’s smile faded as she turned, her gaze landing sharply on Qiu Shuangshuang’s foolishly grinning face.

Qiu Shuangshuang, who thought she’d performed admirably in front of her master’s wife, saw her smile freeze. She pointed at herself. “Do I need to make an oath too?”

Seraphine raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

Obviously.

Waaah.

Qiu Shuangshuang wiped away tears and made a heavenly oath not to reveal what had just transpired.

After the golden light faded, Seraphine pulled a small pouch from her storage ring and tossed it to her.

The pouch was a small storage artifact containing spirit pearls, medicines, and magical tools suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Something to play with.” Seraphine said.

“Thank you, Master’s Wife!” Qiu Shuangshuang clutched the pouch happily.

As the young lady of Autumn Water Pavilion, she naturally didn’t lack such things, but this was from her master’s wife—the meaning was entirely different.

Seraphine pulled out a handful of milk candies from her storage ring—originally bought for Echo in Sunset Glow City, but she was still angry and didn’t want to give them to Echo.

Watching Qiu Shuangshuang’s cheeks bulge, she asked casually, “What were you all discussing outside earlier?”

Qiu Shuangshuang’s eyes darted around. “Master was thinking of ways to make you stop being angry, and I gave her a great idea!”

Seraphine raised an eyebrow, staring into Qiu Shuangshuang’s eyes while grabbing another handful of candy.

Qiu Shuangshuang respectfully opened her hands to receive more candy, but when it didn’t fall, she said quietly, “It’s not that I won’t tell you, but I think…… you should personally test the effectiveness!”

“Heh.”

Seraphine flicked her fingers, and the milk candy instantly returned to her storage ring.

She took a small piece and put it in her mouth, her red lips pressing together. The sweet taste did nothing to suppress her dissatisfaction. “Give me Nine Heavens.” she said coldly.

“Yes!” Qiu Shuangshuang quickly picked up Nine Heavens from the ground, wiped it with her sleeve, and respectfully handed it to Seraphine.

“Confiscated.” Seraphine gripped the sword. “Dismissed. Go rest properly.”

Qiu Shuangshuang bowed: “Yes, Master’s Wife. Please take care.”