My Host Only Marries the Strong

At first, it was only a tentative approach.

Warm, soft lips pressed gently against hers—a gesture so tender, yet Seraphine’s entire body went rigid.

It felt as though yesterday’s lightning tribulation had surged back, thundering with a resonance that shattered her sanity into ash.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Time ground to a halt. The world around them bled of all color.

Seraphine’s eyes flew wide, her fingers going limp with shock.

The clatter of the wine pot hitting the floor was swallowed by the frantic rhythm of her own heart.

What…… was happening? Echo was kissing her? No, it was impossible. Was this a dream? Was she drunk?

Through rigid pupils, she stared at the woman mere inches away. Echo’s dark lashes were half-veiled, her clear gaze fixed intently on Seraphine’s face.

In this supposed dream, Echo…… was kissing her.

A deep crimson tide rose from within Seraphine, drowning her skin.

The faint pink flush from the wine was utterly devoured by this overwhelming blush that swept across her ears, her cheeks, and her neck. Wherever the sensation touched, her composure crumbled.

Seraphine’s fingers trembled. Her palms, now burning hot, lifted instinctively—she didn’t know if she meant to push Echo away or pull her closer.

But before she could touch Echo’s shoulder, a loud BANG echoed from the mountains outside.

It was likely Error, having fallen out of a tree again while raiding nests.

The warmth at her lips vanished instantly as the cool evening air rushed into the space where Echo had been.

Seraphine’s mind was still spinning. She watched Echo glance toward the window with a clear, calm gaze.

To Echo, the moment seemed peaceful; to Seraphine, every hair on her body stood on end. She broke into a cold sweat, her throat parched.

“You……” Seraphine finally parted her lips. Her face felt scalded, her voice failing her as she produced only fragmented, breathless syllables.

“It’s nothing.” Echo said, returning from her brief reconnaissance with a small smile.

Outside, the last golden gleam of the sun sank beneath the horizon, and a misty blue twilight enveloped the peaks.

Inside the dim room, Echo remained kneeling, a faint smile on her lips. She reached out, one hand cupping Seraphine’scheek while the other rested gently against her neck.

Though the gesture was light, Seraphine felt like a swan caught by its vital point. She could only tilt her head back and gaze at Echo in bewilderment. She felt Echo’s fingers slide along her skin, tracing her pulse.

“Seraphine,” Echo whispered, “you’ve turned quite red.”

The gentle stroking of her crimson skin made Seraphine’s heart feel as though it might leap from her chest.

“I’m sorry, Seraphine.” Echo said suddenly. “I kissed you without permission. But I felt it was time for our relationship to change.”

“I’ve spent a year writing you love letters and a year giving you gifts, but you’re a bit slow on the uptake. I felt I had to do something direct, even if it was improper. Please forgive me.”

Echo spoke softly, a bright red, shy emoticon bubble appearing above her head. “You asked me to find you a dual cultivation partner. I’ve thought it over, and I believe no one in this world is more suitable for you than me. Please…… accept me.”

BOOM!

It felt as though a thirteenth bolt of lightning had struck without warning.

It was just like the kiss—sudden, overwhelming, and leaving Seraphine completely defenseless.

“Love letters?” Seraphine whispered, closing her eyes in a daze. “Love…… letters?”

Echo leaned in closer, but Seraphine’s hands shot up, pressing against Echo’s shoulders to hold her back.

Her chest heaved as her sanity finally returned. Scenes flashed before her eyes: dozen of letters written in crooked brushstrokes that read:

“Today’s food was good. Yesterday’s was good too. I hope tomorrow’s is even better.”

Seraphine let out a sharp, exasperated laugh. You call those love letters?!

Echo used her thumb to tilt Seraphine’s chin up until their eyes met. “Seraphine, do you think I could be your cultivation partner? I truly want to be. I am…… very smitten with you.”

“Ha!” Seraphine covered her face, glancing frantically at the spilled wine. “Are you drunk? Or have you finally gone mad?”

“I haven’t been drinking. I have been pursuing you this whole time.” Echo said seriously.

Above her, the system bubble held up little matchsticks, waving them in a pattern of encouragement. I’ve worked very hard, so please say yes.

Seraphine was caught between fury and laughter. She pressed her hand against Echo’s collarbone. “Is this really not a dream? If I say no, are you going to start with that ‘pretty please~~~’ nonsense again?”

Echo smiled shyly, then grew solemn. “If you don’t like it when I say those things, I won’t. The Romance System says actions are more important than words.”

As Echo’s hand moved up her neck, Seraphine felt a shiver run down her spine.

She looked at Echo’s face, now partially veiled by the shadows of the night. “And what do you plan to do now?”

Echo didn’t answer with words. Her expression became calm as she cupped Seraphine’s face again. Her long lashes fluttered, and suddenly, two lines of tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Please let me be your partner~” Echo sobbed quietly. “Fulfill my heart’s wish~~ Do it for the sake of the only little system in this world~~~”

Seraphine stared. “You!”

Absolutely despicable! Using the same trick over and over again!

In a matter of minutes, Seraphine had been through an emotional hurricane.

Speechless, she used her sleeve to wipe Echo’s tears. “Don’t cry! I’m the one who was kissed—why are you the one crying? Are you a fool or a lunatic?”

“I’m a system who likes you.” Echo replied, her expression blank even as the tears continued to fall.

Above her, the bubble showed a pair of tiny system orbs wailing as if the world were ending.

Likes.

Seraphine’s heart skipped a beat. She pressed her fingers firmly against Echo’s cheek, leaving a faint red mark on the pale skin.

“What will it take for you to agree?” Echo whispered, her eyes like a lake shimmering through a veil of rain.

Seraphine looked away, her blush returning with a vengeance.

Echo sniffled, watching Seraphine’s trembling lips. “I can try even harder.” she whispered.

“What are you planning to—”

The rest of Seraphine’s sentence was swallowed as their lips met again. This kiss was different—there was an urgency to it.

Echo, eager for an answer, parted her lips and took Seraphine’s breath away.

The world overturned. The sky was no longer the sky; the earth was no longer the earth. The kiss was hotter and more visceral than any spiritual awakening Seraphine had ever experienced.

In a brief gap for air, Echo hovered near Seraphine’s ear. “Please close your eyes. I’m feeling…… bashful.”

You have no right to use that word! Seraphine thought with a mental sneer, but she reached up and grabbed Echo’s collar, pulling her back down.

This time, Echo was obedient. As their lips met, she deepened the kiss, her movements polite yet insistent.

The scent of fresh tea mingled with the crisp aroma of wine. Seraphine’s rationality finally collapsed.

Her fingers climbed frantically to Echo’s shoulders, clinging to her as the moonlight spilled through the window, coating the room in pearl-white light.

Silver hair clashed with black tresses against the soft cushions. It was like a moon fairy descending to earth, or crystal snow melting into red plum blossoms.

Books were brushed off the table, their ink bleeding into the spilled wine on the floor.

Eventually, Seraphine could take no more. She patted Echo’s shoulder, pushing her away to catch her breath.

Echo sat up, the separation of their lips making a soft pop. She looked down at Seraphine, who was gasping for air among the carpets.

After a long while, Seraphine opened her eyes and glared.

“How convenient for you!” she snapped, her face crimson. “Where did you learn such things? Is this not your first time being human?”

Echo looked genuinely surprised. “I only have theoretical knowledge. Kissing is quite strange—I just put my tongue in, and it seemed to move on its own—”

WHAP!

A soft pillow slammed into Echo’s face. She caught it as it slid down, laughing as she rubbed her forehead.

Seraphine sat up against the wall, straightening her tattered composure.

She kept glancing at Echo, her lips twitching into a smile she desperately tried to hide behind an icy expression.

Echo began stacking the scattered cushions neatly. “Seraphine, we’ve kissed twice now. Will you take responsibility for me?”

Seraphine paused. “……Who made the first move?”

Echo beamed. “Excellent! I will take full responsibility for you, Seraphine. Do not worry!”

“……”

“Heh, you certainly have a brain when it comes to scheming against me.” Seraphine muttered, her voice cold to hide her embarrassment.Echo rested her chin on her hands atop the soft cushions, gazing at Seraphine with a beaming smile.

In the thought bubble above her head, the little system-balls were cheerfully performing a synchronized routine of morning calisthenics.

“I am a very clever system.” Echo said brightly. “Since you once said you liked ‘silly’ people, I was actually quite troubled before I decided to pursue you.”

After all, a system has no way to lower its own IQ—she was a high-level entity endowed with supreme wisdom!

Seraphine: “……” And: “…………”

Seraphine’s lips twitched. She suddenly recalled the many times she had tried to confess subtly, only to find Echo’s head seemingly stuffed with cotton.

Back then, the girl had been obsessed with playing matchmaker for Seraphine and other people, never once considering herself an option. But then again—

“It really was my own fault.” Seraphine narrowed her eyes, muttering under her breath.

Why had she bothered being subtle with a “stupid orb” who didn’t understand nuance at all? She had personally seen Echo floating around with a digital panel that literally said: “PLEASE SPEAK HUMAN.”

If she had just been direct from the start, would they have reached this point sooner?

Seraphine’s face flushed. She let out a sudden, fierce huff of annoyance.

Echo, who had been mentally “doing calisthenics” along with her bubbles, jumped at the sound and looked at the sulking Seraphine with concern.

After a moment of thought, Echo asked, “Seraphine, since you didn’t refuse my kiss, does this mean our relationship is official now?”

Seraphine wanted to fire back a few sarcastic remarks, but she was terrified Echo would misunderstand again.

After holding it in for a long while, she finally muttered sulkily, “And what if it is!”

Oh my god! She did it!

Hearing the word “is” from Seraphine’s own mouth caused a literal explosion of flowers and musical notes to shoot out from the bubble above Echo’s head. A gentle warmth spread across her face.

“Ah” Echo whispered, reaching up to touch her cheek.

Sitting opposite her, Seraphine watched as Echo’s face turned a deep, radiant red—like twilight clouds gathering across a vast horizon or a warm breeze sweeping over a mountain ridge.

Seraphine’s own eyes grew misty in response, and a single tear escaped, landing with a soft plop on the back of her hand.

“Hmm?” Echo looked down, confused.

“Why are you crying again?” Seraphine moved to Echo’s side.

This time, she cupped Echo’s flushed face in both hands, her thumbs gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Despite the tears, Echo’s eyes were brilliant, shining like stars. She smiled and said, “Seraphine, I’m just so happy.”

“You big dummy.” Seraphine said helplessly. “If people saw the dignified Sword Venerable of Lingshan crying like this all day, what would they think?”

“I don’t cry all the time. I was just faking it earlier.” Echo confessed honestly, the bubble above her head showing a sheepish, blushing system-ball.

She caught Seraphine’s hands, cradling them in her own to examine them before tentatively kissing her fingertips.

Seraphine’s fingers curled. She let out a soft huff and playfully pushed Echo’s face away. “Fine, fine. You’re the most capable one here.”

“I’ll be even more capable in the future.” Echo said, interlacing her fingers with Seraphine’s.

With tear tracks still damp on her face, she spoke with profound solemnity. “From now on, I will love you and protect you. I won’t let anyone bully you ever again.”

Hearing those long-awaited words, Seraphine felt a sharp, sweet ache in her heart.

She squeezed Echo’s hand and whispered, “Alright. You must stay with me always.”

“Mm!” Echo nodded vigorously. After kissing Seraphine’s hand one more time, she reached into her inventory and pulled out a manual she had exchanged for long ago: The “Primordial Unity Manual”. She offered it to Seraphine with immense enthusiasm.

“Seraphine, I’ve thoroughly researched this dual cultivation manual! I’m giving it to you to study now.”

“However, according to my Big Data simulations, dual cultivation will only reach its maximum power once you find the “Phoenix Codex” and complete your cultivation method. So…… please try to endure and hold back until then.”

Seraphine’s mouth fell open. The tender, romantic atmosphere hadn’t even dissipated before Echo started waving a dual cultivation manual in her face.

“But,” Echo continued passionately, “I promised to be a qualified partner. If you have certain needs I can use other methods to help provide relief—”

SMACK!

In the middle of her enthusiastic declaration, Seraphine’s palm came down without mercy, slapping over Echo’s mouth.

With a dark expression, Seraphine effectively silenced her.

Echo simply smiled with crescent-shaped eyes and traced a heart in the air with her hands.

—Desire!

[Author’s Note]:

Work Log…

System worked hard, System succeeded, System is amazing!