My Host Only Marries the Strong

The little Echo-orb floated forward another inch, hovering less than a knuckle’s width from Seraphine’s lips.

All Seraphine had to do was lean in slightly, and she would be able to kiss her.

Above the orb, the system bubble blinked with starry eyes, overflowing with anticipation.

Seraphine, however, remained teasingly still. She reached out and plucked Echo from the air, holding the orb between her thumb and forefinger to inspect her from side to side.

Two faint smudges of rouge remained on the silver surface of the bead, sitting right next to a pair of black “eye” circles—a sight that was as bizarre as it was festive.

The rouge had been applied by Seraphine herself before she faced the lightning tribulation.

She hadn’t expected Echo to keep it, using it as a sort of makeshift blush.

Now, the orb was begging for a kiss while still sporting that blush; she was as cooperative as ever.

“Pfft.” Seraphine tilted her head and laughed.

Don’t laugh! Give me a kiss! We haven’t kissed yet today! Echo struggled free from Seraphine’s fingertips and flew back up.

Seraphine held out her palm to block her, but Echo waved her matchstick arms vigorously, trying to squeeze into the center of her hand.

The hearts above her head transformed into a flurry of flowers.

“Just one kiss!” Echo repeated. “Do it for the world’s happiest little system!”

Unable to resist the charm, Seraphine lowered her head and pressed a soft kiss to the top of the orb.

Instantly, the silvery bead gained a third mark of crimson.

Having fulfilled her wish, Echo drifted down in total satisfaction, floated over to Seraphine’s waist, and tucked herself into the golden silk pouch.

“Please proceed, Seraphine.” Echo said tenderly.

A smile tugged at Seraphine’s red lips. She began to walk, her golden silk belt swaying with every step—and Echo swayed right along with it.

How interesting.

Echo retracted her matchstick arms and eye circles, pretending to be nothing more than an ordinary jade pearl.

Qiu Shuangshuang was a student of the spear and a member of the Flowing Water Academy.

Choosing not to use any flying artifacts, Seraphine walked all the way to the academy, letting Echo swing rhythmically by her side.

“I forgot to mention this earlier, but we have been at the academy for a year now.” Seraphine sent a voice transmission to Echo.

“The evaluations are approaching, where disciples from all academies will compete. However, this year is unique; those of us who returned from the Five Continents do not need to participate. The exams begin in two days.”

“Oh!” Echo replied. “Go, Seraphine! Fight!”

If she wasn’t worried about being seen, Echo would have loved to pull out some glow sticks and wave them for her.

Now that her status had changed, she felt she needed to be even more enthusiastic in her support.

Seraphine continued, “When I was young, my mother told me that the Insight Secret Realm only opens for the top scorer after the evaluations.”

“But ever since we arrived, all ten Masters have been given the authority to open it. The number of students training inside is much higher than in the past.”

“It’s clear that Elder Uncle Jing is doing his best to raise everyone’s cultivation levels.”

The Insight Secret Realm was a sacred place, but such frequent use would eventually deplete its energy—much like what had happened to the Twin Dragon Secret Realm.

“You guys are indeed a bit weak.” Echo said honestly.

Seraphine glanced down at her waist and deliberately jumped down a step. The golden pouch flew up and smacked against her leg with a sharp thwack.

Ow, ow, ow! Echo spun in circles inside the pouch, a few tiny stars popping out of her head.

System dizzy.

Qiu Shuangshuang stumbled out of the academy clutching a stack of books, looking dazed.

She was muttering to herself, “Reading is busy, reading is tiring…… why do even immortals have to study?”

Just as she was grumbling, a flash of red caught her eye.

Her eyes lit up, and she was about to wave and shout “Master’s Wife!” when she saw Seraphine raise a finger to her lips.

“I have something to discuss with you.” Seraphine said. “Let’s find somewhere private.”

“Yes!” Qiu Shuangshuang skipped along behind Seraphine.

“Has Master already gone to the Secret Realm? I wanted to see her off with you today, but the Master’s lecture was the last one before the exams. I had to attend.”

Seraphine chuckled, glancing at the books in the girl’s arms. “You have to take written exams too?”

At the mention of this, Qiu Shuangshuang’s face fell. “It’s only because I’m young and my cultivation is low.” she whispered.

“I’m not the only one; Sister Tao and Sister Murong have to take them too!”

“I see.” Seraphine nodded as they walked toward the maple forest beneath the Phoenix Perch Terrace.

This was where Qiu Shuangshuang’s jade tower was located.

The girl quickly invited Seraphine inside and began brewing tea for her “Master’s Wife.”

This was actually Seraphine’s first time inside the tower. Her gaze swept over the floor, which was cluttered with scattered books. She let out a small, disapproving “tsk.”

Qiu Shuangshuang blushed, murmuring, “The Masters here are so talented that they constantly reference obscure texts. If I don’t understand something, I have to record it and look it up later. Please don’t laugh at me, Palace…… Master’s Wife!”

Seraphine accepted the tea, gave it a critical look, and set it down. She cleared her throat and lowered her gaze. “Now that we are alone, there is something I must tell you.”

Qiu Shuangshuang sat up straight, her expression turning solemn.

Seraphine licked her lips, her fingers tracing the rim of the teacup as she stared at the floating leaves. She seemed to find the words difficult to say.

At her waist, the silver bead brightened. Sensing that Qiu Shuangshuang’s cultivation was too low to notice her, Echo popped out her matchstick arms and large eyes.

[You can do it!]

Echo held up a tiny digital panel and waved it encouragingly at Seraphine.

Suddenly, the water-blue spear resting on the weapon rack in the inner room flew out, transforming into a blue dragon that swam toward them.

“Water Dragon’s Hymn? Why are you out?” Qiu Shuangshuang asked, confused. “Only Palace Lord Velka is here. My Master isn’t.”

She had noticed that the spear acted like a Master-detector; whenever Master was nearby, it would immediately appear.

The dragon ignored her, nodding to Seraphine before lowering its head to look at the silver orb nestled against her leg.

“Fight?” the spear asked with characteristic brevity.

Echo held up her panel, equally brief: [No.]

Fine then. Water Dragon’s Hymn swam back to the inner room, looking bored. It seemed it had only come out to ask that one question.

A hint of a smile appeared in Seraphine’s eyes. She spread her palm over the bead, and two long, thin matchstick arms poked through her fingers, gently stroking her hand before curling around to hug her knuckle.

System holding hands with Seraphine.

“This is something your Master should have told you herself.” Seraphine said softly, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.

“But she will be in the Secret Realm for a year, and we did not want to keep this from you. I have obtained your Master’s consent. From now on…… you may address me as ‘Master’s Wife’.”

“Cough.” After speaking, a faint blush bloomed on her face. To hide it, she took a sip of the tea, but paused the moment it touched her tongue, slowly setting the cup back down.

“Ah?” Qiu Shuangshuang froze for a second, then suddenly leaped up, her eyes wide and sparkling. “Master’s Wife—you mean?!”

“Ahem.” Seraphine cleared her throat. Her mouth felt dry, and she instinctively reached for the tea again, but stopped herself the moment her fingers touched the porcelain.

She looked down at her lap, where a silver ball was projecting a small bubble.

The “System” in the bubble had eyes curved into happy lines, and musical notes were drifting out.

“It is exactly as you think,” Seraphine said with feigned composure. “Your Master said she likes me and asked me to be her cultivation partner. I agreed.”

Qiu Shuangshuang’s eyes shone with excitement. She clapped her hands and cried out crisply, “Master’s Wife!”

“Mm.” Seraphine nodded with dignity.

“This is wonderful! Master’s Wife! I love calling you that. You are the best Master’s Wife in the world! From the start, I thought you and Master were a match made in heaven—talented, beautiful, and flawless.”

“Aside from my parents, you two are the most well-matched couple I’ve ever seen!” Qiu Shuangshuang declared loudly.

She called her “Master’s Wife” again, refilled the tea, and offered it with both hands. “Please drink tea, Master’s Wife!”

Master’s Wife: “……Alright.”

She took the “formal greeting” tea from the girl, took one sip, and quickly set it aside.

“I knew this day would come!” Qiu Shuangshuang said excitedly. “As expected of my Master’s Wife!”

The Palace Lord had said she would make the Master confess first, and she had actually done it!

Seraphine smiled proudly. She withdrew a manual and a jade box from her storage ring. “This manual contains the techniques your Master is passing down to you. She personally adapted the sword styles of the Chongshan Immortal into a spear style for you. You are not to share this with anyone other than your own direct disciples in the future.”

Qiu Shuangshuang’s expression turned serious. She knelt toward the direction of the Secret Realm and kowtowed. “Thank you, Master! I will study diligently and never disgrace the name of the Lingshan Sword Venerable!”

Good, good. A tiny Lingshan Sword Venerable sat on Seraphine’s knee, the entire orb bobbing up and down as she gave Qiu Shuangshuang a thumbs-up of encouragement.

Seraphine smiled. “If your Master were here, she would be very pleased.”

She pushed the jade box toward the girl and said warmly, “Since you call me Master’s Wife, I naturally cannot mistreat you. You liked the ‘Ten Thousand Phoenixes’ move from my cultivation method; I have condensed the essence of that technique into these five talismans for your use.”

Qiu Shuangshuang turned toward Seraphine and bowed. “Thank you, Master’s Wife!”

She rose after the formal bow, still trying to offer more tea.

Seraphine’s heart gave a little skip of dread, and she immediately said, “The exams are coming. I won’t waste any more of your time. Practice well, and come find me if you need anything.”

“Yes, Master’s Wife!” Qiu Shuangshuang continued her barrage of “Master’s Wives” seeing Seraphine to the door and watching her leave.

Once Seraphine’s back disappeared into the forest, Qiu Shuangshuang clasped her hands behind her back and swayed like an old scholar. “As expected of me” she mused.

To find such a wonderful Master, who in turn found her such a wonderful Master’s Wife…… she truly was the luckiest person alive!

Qiu Shuangshuang went back inside, satisfied. She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup.

But as soon as the warm liquid touched her tongue, her face twisted, and she spat it out with a loud pfft.

“So bitter!!”

She stared in shock at the other teacup—the one belonging to her Master’s Wife that had barely been touched.

Qiu Shuangshuang scratched her head and whispered, “This disciple’s tea-making skills are truly lacking. Please don’t be angry, Master’s Wife. But even if the tea is bitter…… the love is still sweet!”

“Hehehe.”