My Host Only Marries the Strong

Seraphine’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at the pink petal she had unconsciously plucked, murmuring, “What?”

She looked up at Echo, asking hesitantly, “What did you say?”

Did she miss me? How exactly does she mean it?

A flurry of questions crowded Seraphine’s mind, but she feared she might be overthinking it.

Just as she was about to press for an answer, she was suddenly buried under a mountain of flowers.

“Seraphine, this is the gift I brought for you. Do you like it?” Echo asked.

The heavy bouquet and its overpowering fragrance crashed into her, making Seraphine’s face darken for a moment.

She told herself she shouldn’t have expected anything more from this “clueless block of wood.” She let out a cold snort. “I like it.”

Echo’s eyes lit up. She wondered if this was the perfect moment for a decisive strike.

A system should speak when the time is right! Gathering her courage, she spoke through the mass of petals, “Seraphine, then do you like—”

“Master!”

Nearby, Qiu Shuangshuang, Siyi, and the others flew toward them, landing with joyful expressions to congratulate Seraphine on her breakthrough.

—me? Echo paused, her gaze landing on Qiu Shuangshuang.

“Master, you’re finally back!” Qiu Shuangshuang said happily. “We’ve all been so worried about you! Especially Palace Lord Velka!”

“Oh.” Echo turned her gaze back to Seraphine.

Hidden behind the bouquet, Seraphine let out a cold, detached “Heh.”

After a moment’s thought, Echo asked sincerely, “Seraphine, can you put the gift away for a moment?”

“Why?” Seraphine asked indifferently.

“Because if you’re holding it, I can’t see you.” Echo replied quickly.

“……”

The surrounding area fell silent. Siyi was the first to look away, gazing at the horizon. Today is a fine day. I should have stopped Lady Qiu earlier. What a pity.

Without a word, Seraphine swept the flowers into her storage ring.

With Qiu Shuangshuang and the Fire Rock Dragon watching with wide eyes, her ears turned a faint red. She announced, “I have successfully reached the Nascent Soul stage.”

“That’s wonderful!” Echo clapped happily. “Seraphine really is the most incredible cultivator in the world!”

“Hmph.” Seraphine’s expression softened. She looked at Echo and said, “You’ve worked hard on your long journey. Do you need to report to Elder Uncle? I’ll change my clothes and go with you.”

Echo curved her lips into a smile, manifesting a silver-white spiritual flower to show Seraphine.

Seraphine is the best. System is moved by you.

Nearby, Siyi smiled and said, “Since the Palace Lord has broken through, you should both take some time to relax. I’ll take the others back to Phoenix Perch Terrace and prepare a feast for your return.”

“Very well.” Seraphine nodded. She then tapped Echo’s shoulder. “Do you have nothing for Siyi?”

Echo’s eyes sparkled as she pulled out various delicacies from her storage ring to give to Siyi for the banquet.

Siyi couldn’t help but laugh. “It seems Fellow Daoist Xi has returned with quite a harvest.”

“It was nothing.” Echo said modestly. “There is still room for improvement.”

“……” Hopeless, Seraphine thought with a twitch of her lips. She threw on a clean outer robe and pulled Echo toward the study halls.

Ah, it’s Seraphine’s hand. Echo looked down at her wrist being held by Seraphine, her smile deepening.

Sensing her gaze, Seraphine teased, “Why are you so happy?”

I’m just…… happy!

Echo looked around and, seeing no one else nearby, she opened her palm and formally presented a red spiritual flower to Seraphine.

Seraphine laughed softly and tapped Echo’s palm; the moment her fingertip touched the center, Echo caught her hand.

“Seraphine, may I hold your hand?” Echo asked with great solemnity.

Seraphine looked puzzled. “What is wrong with you? Haven’t you always just held it whenever you wanted before?”

Because now it’s different, Echo thought with a smile. I am your pursuer now; I cannot be improper.

Silly thing, always smiling like a fool. Seraphine’s smile didn’t fade until they reached the Academy and she regained her composure.

In the study hall, Zhu Shiyu had already met with Jingxing and was leaving just as they arrived.

Jingxing smiled at them. “First, congratulations to Seraphine on your promotion to Nascent Soul.” He handed her a jade box. “This is a gift from me.”

“Thank you, Elder Uncle.” Seraphine accepted it gracefully.

“All the cultivators have returned from the Five Continents.” Jingxing continued. “The Blue Jade Beads have been placed in every sect, and the inspections found no one possessed by demons.”

“In fact, those troublesome demon cultivators seem to have vanished into thin air. Peace has returned.”

“Strange. What are they planning?” Seraphine asked. “Did we alert them? Elder Uncle, how is the Northern Border?”

Jingxing shook his head. “Lanzhi has investigated for a year and found no anomalies in the formations. Their origins remain a mystery. We cannot let our guard down.”

“Seraphine, now that you are in the Nascent Soul stage, your strength is a great asset, but you must not neglect your training.”

“And Lingren.” Jingxing handed a key to the Secret Realm to her. “You worked very hard during your time abroad. This key allows you to cultivate in the Secret Realm for one year. Take it.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” Echo accepted it and asked, “Can I give it to someone else?”

Jingxing glanced at Seraphine and smiled. “No.”

Sigh, alright. Echo tucked the key away, feeling a bit disappointed.

Seraphine’s smile also dimmed slightly.

After discussing a few more things, they bid Jingxing farewell.

⁂

At Phoenix Perch Terrace, the atmosphere was lively.

Siyi had invited all the disciples of the Lanyang Palace, and Qiu Shuangshuang had brought her fellow disciples from the Autumn Water Pavilion.

They feasted and toasted to Seraphine’s breakthrough.

Usually, everyone was too busy competing to relax, so they cherished this rare moment of celebration.

It wasn’t until the next day that the crowds finally dispersed.

When they were finally alone, Seraphine sat drinking wine.

Echo said curiously, “Seraphine, I feel like you aren’t happy.”

Seraphine raised an eyebrow and teased, “Not bad. You can actually sense my mood now?”

“Then look again—what am I thinking now?” She propped her chin on one hand, staring intensely into Echo’s clear eyes.

Echo stared back. Seraphine is so beautiful!

After a long silence, Seraphine poked her forehead. “Well? Did you figure it out?”

Echo slowly shook her head.

Hmph, as expected. You silly thing. Seraphine laughed, picking up her wine jar.

“Forget it. I’ll tell you. I was thinking that you haven’t read to me in a long time. Today is my big day, isn’t it?”

“I command you to read to me all night until I’m satisfied. Only then will I let you go into the Secret Realm.”

“Okay, Seraphine!” Echo jumped up to follow her. If Seraphine likes it, I’ll read for two nights!

They went to the library in the side building. Seraphine piled up some cushions by the window and lay down.

She looked at the red beams of the ceiling and sighed softly. Echo finally became a human, yet it feels like we spend even less time together now.

Echo, unaware of her thoughts, pulled out the storybooks she had bought as gifts.

“Seraphine, which one do you want to hear? Or should I read them one by one?”

Seraphine pulled one out randomly. “This one.”

“Okay.” Echo began to read in her clear, gentle voice.

Seraphine reclined on the cushions, watching Echo.

Above Echo’s head, little “emoticon” bubbles popped up, acting out the characters’ emotions.

As the sun began to set, the stack of finished books grew, but Echo remained patient and gentle, reading whatever Seraphine picked.

The story told of a girl and her lover meeting at twilight, as the wind shook the shadows of the flowers.

It was dusk at Phoenix Perch Terrace. The slanted rays of the setting sun filtered through the glazed windows, casting a warm, golden glow over the two of them.

Seraphine reclined against the soft cushions, her expression languid and relaxed.

She held a wine cup loosely in her hand, her gaze fixed dreamily on Echo’s fingers as they held the book. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice when Echo momentarily trailed off mid-sentence.

Her face was faintly flushed from the wine, and a soft, lingering smile played on her lips.

Outside in the mountain forest, a bird took startled flight—likely Error pretending to be a snake again to raid a nest for a bit of mischief.

Inside the room, a subtle fragrance drifted through the air.

Golden light danced between the bookshelves and illuminated the incense burner, where jade beads caught the sun’s rays and refracted them in shimmering patterns.

Seraphine turned her head slightly to avoid the bright glare, pulling herself away from the ill-timed distraction as she finally returned to her senses.

“Why did you stop reading?” Seraphine asked, her voice carrying a low, playful reproach tinged with the sweetness of wine.

She let out a soft chuckle and reached up, tugging at Echo’s collar to pull her down to lie beside her.

Perhaps her hand was weakened by the alcohol, or perhaps there was another reason—but despite the gentle tug, the person who usually complied with her every whim didn’t move an inch.

Echo remained sitting perfectly upright.

The sinking sun traced a golden edge along Echo’s serene profile.

Her silver-white hair shimmered like flowing liquid gold, and even her eyelashes seemed gilded by the light.

That reflected glow danced in the depths of her eyes, making her usually cool gaze look as though it had been set ablaze—radiant and breathtaking.

Echo…… oh, Echo.

For a fleeting moment, Seraphine found it nearly impossible to suppress her emotions. She desperately wanted to lean in and kiss the corner of Echo’s mouth.

She thought to herself: If even the sunset is allowed to kiss her, why am I not?

Yet, when she finally spoke, the words that came out were: “Are you tired? Lie down then.”

The sunlight was too brilliant, and the fragrance of the wine too crisp; they provided the perfect excuses to mask the tender longing in her eyes and her tone.

Seraphine stared into Echo’s eyes, but Echo lowered her gaze, shifting her attention from Seraphine’s face back to the book. She slowly turned the page.

Seraphine leaned closer, asking in a low, lingering voice, “And then what happened?”

“Then…… they kissed beneath the western tower.” Echo summarized. “Passionately.”

The room fell into a sudden, heavy silence. Seraphine’s face flushed a deep crimson, and she quickly looked away, only to turn back a few heartbeats later.

She felt a surge of silent frustration: Echo is about to enter the Insight Secret Realm, and we won’t see each other for another whole year. Why shouldn’t I look at her a few more times while I can?

A whole year.

I really should have just kissed her a moment ago.

Seraphine let out a soft huff of annoyance. She tossed aside her wine cup and hooked her finger around the neck of the jade wine pot instead.

As she tilted it, the clear liquid flowed past her lips, spilling onto her collar and drenching her dark hair.

The scent of wine in the air grew intoxicatingly thick.

As Echo’s fingers flipped through the pages, her mind drifted, suspended between the aroma of the wine and the natural fragrance of Seraphine’s skin.

The Romance System had once told her: One must be decisive when the moment calls for it.

The Romance System had also said: It is far more regrettable to give up at the very beginning than to have loved and lost.

She would not give up; she wanted this, too.

Rustle.

The pages turned. Echo shifted her gaze from the sentimental words of the novel back to Seraphine’s face.

With a slight smile, she asked, “Seraphine, in stories, once there has been sufficient buildup, the narrative reaches its climax. What do you think?”

Seraphine raised her hand and took another sip of wine, trying to suppress the tide of emotion surging in her chest.

Her ears were filled with Echo’s voice, her nose with Echo’s scent, and her vision with the flowing gold of Echo’s presence.

Her mind was a chaotic tangle of thoughts, and she let out a distracted, mumbled “Mm.”

So, Seraphine agreed.

If that was the case, “I’ll give it a try.” Echo said softly. Her pale fingers closed the book and set it aside.

“Seraphine.” Echo called out.

Seraphine set down the wine pot and lazily lifted her gaze. “Yes?”

A pair of warm hands reached out to cup her cheeks. In Seraphine’s line of sight, Echo gave a very faint, almost bashful smile before leaning down.

The slanted rays of the evening sun were cut short by their silhouettes.

The one leaning over brought with her the crisp scent of fresh snow, overwhelming the drifting incense and the sharp aroma of wine.

It was like a clear breeze meeting a bright moon, or a high mountain welcoming the first snowfall—a kiss that was gentle, calm, and yet utterly undeniable.

The finger hooked around the handle of the wine pot loosened uncontrollably.

Clink.

The jar hit the floor, and the clear liquid splashed out, drenching their overlapping shadows.

[Author’s Note]:

It’s about time, right? The air was thick with tension, and it was either that or read another novel. To find out what happens next and get all the juicy details, you know where to go. Check out Pxtreon➡️LoveisLove520 for chapters 20 ahead!