My Host Only Marries the Strong

Seraphine truly was the shyest person!

But a shy Seraphine was also incredibly adorable.

Echo hummed a tune as she tidied up the novels, musical notes floating above her head. “My Seraphine.” she whispered, before breaking into a fit of private, joyful giggles.

Outside the window, Error trotted past, dangling two plump birds by their legs. She poked her head in curiously. “Where’s Master?”

Oh, asking about my Seraphine! Echo tapped the book in her hand against the floor and said with mock solemnity, “She’s gone to bathe. If you have business with her, you can tell me instead.”

“What business could I have?” Error lifted the two fat birds. “Do you want to eat?”

Echo replied politely, “I’ll have a bit!”

She stood up to place the novels on the bookshelf. Looking at the neatly organized corner, her heart gave two happy thumps, and she couldn’t resist doing a few joyful spins on the carpet.

Error waited outside, watching her with a confused expression. “Are you feeling unwell? Why are you wiggling around like that?”

Echo looked at Error with a gentle, pitying gaze. She thought to herself: Even though Error is nearly a thousand years old, she’s still just an underage Fire-Rock Dragon. What does a dragon know?

Error had no idea how historic this room was now. Echo had already decided that if they ever left the Insight Academy, she would move the entire Phoenix Perch Terrace into the Twin Dragon Secret Realm.

Her Seraphine would surely agree!

“Hahaha!” Echo suddenly burst into laughter.

Error jumped, startled. She plucked a colorful feather from her own head and, as Echo hopped out the window, she used the feather to pat Echo repeatedly. “Soul come back, soul come back……”

What a strange dragon, Echo thought.

But as a System who now had a cultivation partner, Echo was full of grace and tolerance.

She stood calmly, letting Error perform her ritual. Once finished, the two tall women both broke into happy smiles and ran toward the kitchen.

Error borrowed Echo’s sword, Nine Heavens, from Echo to gut and clean the birds.

After stuffing their bellies with spiritual fruits and wrapping them in clay, they crouched behind the stove. Error’s large green eyes shone with pride.

“Orb, I’m telling you—if I hadn’t entered the Dao so early, I think I could have achieved enlightenment through cooking!”

“I’ve mastered bird-roasting. While you were away, I roasted every single type of bird on this mountain!”

“Amazing!” Echo clapped. “You really are an incredible dragon. I brought back plenty of food too. Yesterday’s feast only used a small portion. Oh, I also packed ten thousand Nanyang fish. Do you know how to roast fish?”

“How many?!” Error was shocked.

“Did you drain the Nanyang Lake dry?” a lazy voice asked from the window.

Echo’s head whipped around with a swoosh to see Seraphine standing there with her arms crossed.

Seraphine’s black hair fell loosely beside her face, which was tinged with a rosy flush—perhaps from her bath, or perhaps from something else.

As their eyes met, Echo’s eyes sparkled. “Seraphine! I didn’t drain it. The fish were a gift from Qiu Shuangshuang’sparents. I have spirit beast meat, fruits, and pastries too—all delicacies you can’t get at the Academy!”

Error looked at her friend with envy. “Orb, we really are the best in the world!”

As soon as those words left her mouth, a “VIGILANT” bubble appeared over Echo’s head. She took a step back and said seriously, “Please do not say such things.”

Especially not in front of Seraphine. I had worked incredibly hard to win Seraphine over; Error simply didn’t understand the struggle.

The little matchstick figure in the bubble drew a big ‘X’ over Error. “Seraphine and I are the best in the world.”

Error: “?”

Seraphine found this amusing and beckoned to Echo. “Come, ‘Best-in-the-World Echo.’ You’re entering the Secret Realm tomorrow; are you really going to spend your last night in the kitchen?”

Echo felt like Seraphine was hinting at something. She stood up and waved to the dragon. “I’m going. Goodbye!”

Error: “??”

Just like that? You haven’t even tasted the roasted bird! And you haven’t shared the snacks!

Error felt the friendship between Dragon and Orb was in a state of crisis.

She transformed into her true form, poking her massive head through the window to watch them leave.

Under the bright moonlight, Seraphine and Echo walked shoulder-to-shoulder, their hands tightly clasped.

“Sigh.” the dragon lamented. “Dragons are so lonely.”

Her stomach agreed. Two birds suddenly felt insufficient.

She pulled out a third bird and picked up Nine Heavens. “Oh? You’re still here?”

She laughed. “Fine, then you and I are best in the world!”

With that, she used the legendary sword to gut the bird.

⁂

The next day, at the Insight Academy Secret Realm.

It was early summer, and the Academy was lush and verdant.

The Secret Realm was a forbidden area; no one could enter without a key.

After a brief rest, the returning students were entering one by one. Outside the barrier, only Echo and Seraphine remained.

“Seraphine, you must take good care of yourself.” Echo said, nagging like a worried mother. “You’re a hardworking girl, but remember to relax. Don’t overwork yourself.”

Seraphine replied curtly, “Mm.”

“You’ve just reached the Nascent Soul stage.” Echo continued. “There’s still a gap between you and the other veterans. Don’t be hard on yourself if you lose a few matches in the martial arena.”

“Oh.”

“And make sure you supervise Error’s cultivation. I think she’s about to break through.”

“……” Seraphine looked at her lazily. “You certainly have a lot to worry about. Anything else? Say it quickly and get inside.”

Echo sighed deeply. Last night, Seraphine had been so tender, admitting her low mood had been because they spent so little time together.

Yet now that they were official, Seraphine seemed impatient to see her go. The hearts of lovers are truly difficult to manage!

Echo took out a manual from her storage ring and handed it to Seraphine. “This is a Spear Technique I adapted from the “Sword Immortal Arts”. I’ve run the simulations; it’s perfect. Please give it to my disciple, Qiu Shuangshuang.”

“Alright.” Seraphine tapped the manual against her palm. She raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of which, since we are together now, should your disciple change the way she addresses me?”

“Huh?” Echo looked at her. “You mean…… you want her to call you Master’s Wife?”

Seraphine lifted her chin proudly. “And why not? Is it not allowed?”

“I just thought she’d wait until our Bonding Ceremony to change the title.” Echo said honestly.

Bonding Ceremony.

Seraphine’s heart skipped a beat. She suppressed her nerves and asked calmly, “So I can’t be called Master’s Wife without a ceremony?”

“Of course you can!” Echo smiled brilliantly. “Seraphine can do whatever she wants. We are of one heart and one mind!”

Seraphine couldn’t tell if Echo was being sincere or teasing, but she suspected the latter. This girl had quite a strong will beneath that innocent face.

“Heh, fine. ‘One heart,’ then.” Seraphine poked Echo’s shoulder. “Get in there.”

“Oh!” Echo feigned weakness, took a step back, and shouted “I can’t bear to leave you!” before waving and disappearing into the Secret Realm.

Seraphine stood there, watching the barrier. She didn’t move. She began to count. “One, two, three……”

She barely reached ten when the golden silk pouch at her waist twitched. A silver ball popped its head out, saying, “Hello, hello!” and flew out.

“Seraphine, did you miss me? I missed you so much!” Echo’s cheerful voice rang out as the orb dove into Seraphine’ssleeve.

Seraphine let out a soft “Tsk” as she felt the orb wiggling its way upward with practiced familiarity. It took a sharp turn and…… settled in.

Nestle, nestle!

Echo skillfully wedged herself into her favorite spot and looked up at Seraphine with a golden “Thumbs Up” emoji.

“Seraphine, you don’t look happy! Are you missing me that much? Don’t worry, ‘Orb-Echo’ can make you happy too!”

“……Get out of there!” Seraphine hissed.

“Can’t I nestle?” Echo held up her little matchstick arms. “I’m just a tiny orb.”

“No! If someone sees……” Seraphine’s face reddened. “Come out, or I’ll make you sleep in a bird nest in the forest!”

What a terrible punishment! Echo thought. With a pop-squish sound, she squeezed out of the “bulging area” and floated upward. Seeing no one around, she projected a sad face.

“Seraphine, we only just got together yesterday.” And today she was being cold. Echo wouldn’t stand for it.

Seraphine crossed her arms and stared. “So?”

“New lovers are supposed to be passionate.” Echo said. “I want you to be more passionate with me.” She floated up until she was level with Seraphine’s lips. Hearts appeared above her head.

“Seraphine, please give me a kiss.”

[Author’s Note]:

Work Log…

Actually, I could kiss Seraphine instead.

Main System Response: Huh? Huh huh? Huh huh huh? (stares at the words “Work Log” lost in thought)

Someone’s a little shy about public affection, and honestly, that just makes it more fun. What’s a little mischief between lovers? Find out how I win my kiss—20 chapters ahead at Pxtreon➡️LoveisLove520!