My Host Only Marries the Strong

Seraphine didn’t even blink, her hand merely brushing the red flower at her temple.

Behind her, a fierce light flickered in Error’s green eyes. If you want to hurt my Master, you’ll have to step over my corpse first!

Error caught the whip—which seemed pathetically slow to her—and channeled her spiritual energy, yanking the Young Sect Master clean off his spirit tiger.

A spectral image of a Fire Rock Dragon appeared behind her, baring its massive fangs at the group.

“ROAR!”

Fire Rock Dragons were never known for being gentle.

Error’s late-stage Golden Core pressure flooded the area, turning the onlookers’ faces pale and forcing them back.

The group directly facing the pressure felt their knees buckle, collapsing into the dirt.

Even the fierce-looking spirit tiger lowered its head and whimpered.

The Young Sect Master lay sprawled on the ground, trembling as he stared at the woman. “You…… you’re not human……”

What? Are dragon-kin not people? Have you never seen one before?

Error roared again before turning back with a cheeky grin. “Master, I only gave them a little scare, and look at them.”

“Hmph.” Seraphine looked back at the sweating man on the ground.

The Young Master scrambled backward in terror; to him, Seraphine’s gaze felt like that of a reaper.

“I came to this city and followed your rules out of courtesy.” Seraphine said coldly. “Whether you follow your own rules is your business. But to block my path like this—”

Error chimed in crisply, “It’s truly giving you face only for you to throw it back!”

“You!” The Young Master’s face flushed with humiliation, but fearing Error’s cultivation, he suppressed his rage and spat, “If you’re so capable, then don’t enter Wooden Cloud City!”

An amused expression crossed Seraphine’s face. She turned around and gave him a provocative smile. “Fine. I certainly don’t have to enter.”

“In fact, I can help you spread a notice across the Five Continents: not just this city, but every city under the Wooden Cloud Sect is ‘not welcome’ to cultivators.”

“I’ll save you the trouble of inspections entirely. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Ha! Such arrogance!” The Young Master struggled to his feet, sneering. “Who do you think you are?”

Seraphine’s mockery deepened. “Telling you my name would only bring me bad luck. I admit I am proud, but I despise it when others act arrogant in front of me.”

“It makes me want to test just how much substance you have. It seems the title of ‘Young Sect Master’ has made you quite delusional.”

She gestured toward the distant mountains and said leisurely, “I intend to build a city right there. For the first ten years, no entrance fees will be charged. Any merchant who rents a shop will pay no rent for a decade.”

“Furthermore, every cultivator who enters will receive a free bottle of mid-grade Recovery Pills and Fasting Pills every year for ten years—”

Gulp. The Young Master swallowed hard, visibly shaken by her extravagant promise.

Seraphine glanced at him with disdain. “Scared already? If I were to build such a city outside every single one of your sect’s territories, how long do you think the Wooden Cloud Sect would last?”

The Young Master stared at her with wide eyes, stammering, “Who…… who do you think you are?”

His followers, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, tugged at his sleeve. “Young Master, perhaps…… perhaps we should head back for today.”

“What? Does a little talk of spirit stones make you retreat?” Seraphine smiled, though her eyes remained frigid. “Why not keep pointing that whip at me? Where did all that bravado go?”

Fearing her mysterious background and her late-stage Golden Core bodyguard, the Young Master finally caved. “You…… you just wait!” he barked before fleeing.

He tried to mount his tiger, but the beast was so terrified by Error that it refused to move.

He kicked it viciously and ran on foot, his servants scrambling after him.

“Tch.” Seraphine scoffed.

Sustaining a sect was no easy task. From artifacts to basic necessities, everything required spirit stones.

Most sects without their own spirit veins relied on their cities for income.

If they relied solely on the random treasures found by disciples, they would never survive long-term.

Seraphine knew exactly who owned every major spirit vein in the Five Continents; she had never even heard of this “Wooden Cloud Sect.”

To think they were significant just because they occupied a few cities was laughable.

Seeing the tiger left behind, Error walked over, untied it, and shooed it back into the mountains.

The crowd outside the gate snapped out of their daze, looking at Seraphine with reverence.

An injured guard clutched his side and asked softly, “Senior…… the city you mentioned…… when will it truly be built?”

“For the sake of that whip your Young Master threw,” Seraphine replied casually, “let’s say…… within the year.”

Everyone watched her back as she departed, praying her words weren’t just a heat-of-the-moment retort.

The incident had soured Seraphine’s mood.

She checked into the most expensive inn in the city and immediately trapped the silver orb, Echo, under a teacup.

“You are not allowed to go looking for trouble with the Wooden Cloud Sect.” Seraphine told the teacup. “I will handle it.”

Back at the gate, the moment the whip was lashed, Seraphine had felt an icy, murderous chill emanating from Echo.

Had she not stepped in, Echo would have likely done something far more permanent than a “scare.”

But Seraphine’s plan to build a city was real; to a man who valued his status above all else, losing his foundation was the ultimate punishment.

Seraphine explained this in a low voice, but the orb remained motionless.

“Echo?” she called, lifting the cup. The silver bead was still.

After a long silence, a cold voice emerged. “They tried to hurt you.” Echo said simply.

“Those weaklings couldn’t touch me. Don’t dirty your hands.” Seraphine laughed. “Even if their Sect Master came, do you think we would be afraid?”

The teacup remained silent.

Seraphine waited, then softened her tone. “Don’t be angry over such people. We haven’t spoken for an hour; don’t you miss me?”

“It’s dark now. Let’s rest here for the night.”

As she spoke, silver-white data leapt from the rim of the cup, coalescing into Echo’s human form. Her long hair drifted in the air as her silver-white eyes gazed at Seraphine.

Though she was made of cold data, her gaze was filled with warmth.

Like seaweed swaying in the ocean, she reached out, her virtual palms gently cupping Seraphine’s cheeks.

Seraphine’s eyes widened as she whispered her name.

She reached up to touch Echo’s hands, but her fingers passed through the data, the only sensation being the warmth of her own skin where Echo “touched” her.

“If you forbid me from punishing them, I won’t go. I promised I wouldn’t do anything to make you angry.” Echo said with a soft, gentle smile. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against Seraphine’s.

Seraphine’s eyes filled with affection. “Mm~” she murmured. “You’re a good girl.”

“A good girl, am I?” Echo asked playfully. “Is there anything you want me to do? Should I read to you? Or play a song?”

None of that was needed.

Seraphine reached up, her finger brushing against Echo’s cheek. “Just kiss me~” she whispered.

Echo smiled, closed her eyes, and leaned toward Seraphine’s lips.

Though the data shouldn’t have been tangible, Seraphine felt as though she were being pulled into a deep, breathless embrace.

When she finally opened her eyes again, she saw the ethereal woman reach out a spectral tongue and lightly lick her lip.

Echo licked the corner of her own mouth, watching Seraphine’s flushed face with a chuckle.

“Goodnight, Seraphine.”

[Author’s Note]

Work Log:

Accompanied Seraphine to sleep. I hope she has sweet dreams. If she dreams, I hope she dreams of me.