Wang Yue let out a soft, trembling breath as their lips slowly parted. Her eyelids fluttered open, and her gaze met Chen Fan's. His eyes, slightly hazy with emotion, were locked onto her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
Before she could even process the moment, Chen Fan moved in again.
"Mm..." she murmured in surprise as he captured her lips once more.
The look she wore—that dazed, vulnerable, utterly entranced expression—lit a fire within him. His hand slid instinctively to her slender waist, the other wrapping around her back as he deepened the kiss. It lasted only a heartbeat longer than before, but it left a lingering warmth in his chest that refused to fade. And just like that, he drew her into a firm embrace, burying her within his arms as if trying to calm the storm rising inside him. If he kept staring at her flushed face, he feared he'd be unable to stop—he wanted to kiss her again, and again, as if each touch of her lips was an elixir he couldn't live without.
Feeling herself pressed tightly against his chest, Wang Yue slowly came back to her senses.
So warm… she thought.
She turned her face slightly, resting her ear against the firm wall of his chest. Beneath the fabric, she could hear his heartbeat—deep, rhythmic, but quickened. Somehow, it matched the rapid pounding of her own. Her fingers curled slightly, then tightened around his back, hugging him closer. Her face still tingled from their kiss, and her heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest. But strangely… she didn't dislike this feeling. In fact, she craved more of it.
They stood like that in silence, holding each other as if afraid the moment might slip away. Chen Fan lowered his head, breathing in the subtle, flowery scent of her hair. Then he looked down and saw her face hidden against his chest, her shoulders relaxed, her entire presence soft and trusting in his arms. Something inside him clenched. He tightened his hold around her, fingers digging just slightly into her back. She was too precious, too lovable. A fierce desire to keep her beside him, always, surged in his chest. This unfamiliar yet powerful emotion was utterly addicting—like a thread had tethered his soul to hers.
Even now, he struggled to restrain himself from letting the moment go too far.
This was new to him—these emotions so overwhelming that he could barely contain them. Thoughts of her flooded his mind, every idea, every impulse colored by her presence. He took a deep breath, forcing the storm inside him to still, if only slightly. Slowly, he eased the space between them, putting a bit of distance to regain some semblance of composure.
Wang Yue's gaze fell to the side. She didn't meet his eyes, and that unspoken silence stabbed at his heart.
Chen Fan's voice was low and hesitant as he dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry—"
"No," Wang Yue interrupted softly, her eyes lifting to meet his. "I don't hate it."
The words, simple as they were, struck him with the force of a thunderclap. Her expression—gentle, smiling, sincere—made him freeze in place.
She hadn't let go of him. Her hands still rested against his back, her fingers barely curled into the fabric of his clothes. Her face, her eyes, her entire being was focused on him—and for a moment, Chen Fan was utterly speechless.
A soft exhale escaped him, followed by a smile he hadn't even realized was forming. He leaned forward, brushed a gentle kiss across her lips, then rested his forehead against hers. Their breaths mingled in the narrow space between them.
"I like you," he said, then paused, voice trembling with the weight of his feelings. "No… I love you."
His gaze never left hers. He didn't hide, didn't dodge—because this truth, this feeling inside him, could no longer be denied. He didn't know when it began, but he was certain—his feelings had blossomed. Right now, she was the only one who filled his thoughts. The only one his eyes sought.
Wang Yue's eyes widened slightly. Her breath caught as she saw the sincerity etched in every line of his face, in every quiet word he spoke. He was close—so close that she could see her reflection in his eyes. And in that reflection, she saw her own racing heart mirrored.
Without hesitation, she leaned up and kissed him.
This time, it was she who took the lead. Her hands clenched tighter around his back, drawing him in with an urgency born not from passion, but from the certainty of her heart. As their lips slowly parted, she nestled back into his chest, her voice muffled but clear as day.
"I love you too."
There was no doubt in her mind. Right now, in this singular moment, she was happier than she had ever been in her life. She never imagined that to love—and to be loved in return—could be so sweet, so heart-achingly tender. Chen Fan's arms wrapped around her once more, firm and unyielding, and she felt herself melt into that embrace. The warmth that enveloped her, the steady pulse beneath his chest, the gentle touch on her back—it was all real. And it made her feel like she belonged, like she was safe, like she had finally found her place.
After some time, they finally released each other from their embrace and sat side by side. But this time, it was Wang Yue who took the initiative—she gently wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder. Chen Fan couldn't help but chuckle at the change in her demeanor. Someone who was usually so easily flustered and simple to tease had suddenly become bold and clingy.
"You're adapting way too quickly to this," he teased, his voice low with amusement. "Have you been imagining moments like this in your head already?"
Wang Yue's cheeks flushed a soft pink, but her smile deepened with quiet joy. "We're lovers now. This is normal," she replied, her voice slightly shy but filled with newfound confidence.
Chen Fan smiled at her words and chose not to say anything more. He didn't dislike this change—in fact, it brought a strange warmth to his chest. His mind, which had been heavy with thoughts moments before, now felt a surprising calm.
"Is there something bothering you?" Wang Yue looked up at him with a gentle, concerned gaze. Not long ago, she would've hesitated to ask, afraid to overstep. But now, she felt more certain—she wanted to be someone who could ease his burdens.
"There was," Chen Fan said with a soft smile, meeting her gaze. "But it's already been resolved."
"Promise you'll tell me if anything's ever troubling you, alright?" Wang Yue still tried to press gently, but as she looked into his clear eyes—eyes that held no trace of falsehood—her heart settled.
"I will," he said simply.
Chen Fan's gaze drifted toward the pond that mirrored the sky's clear blue. Not long ago, his mind had been too occupied to appreciate such beauty, but now that his doubts and worries had faded, he could finally savor the peace—both around him and within.
As expected, I really love this kind of calm, this kind of serenity, he thought to himself. But as the silence stretched between them, a steely resolve began to take root in his heart. As much as he cherished this peaceful moment, he knew this wasn't the time to indulge in it for too long.
"You want to train, don't you?" Chen Fan's sudden words made Wang Yue instinctively look up at him, puzzled by the shift in conversation.
"No. Let's train now," he said firmly. It wasn't just about increasing Wang Yue's strength. He also planned to strengthen the heroes and the knights. With danger looming ever closer, this was the best time to sharpen their swords and harden their resolve. Instead of sitting still and overthinking, it was better to move forward.
"But you said rest is important too…" Wang Yue pouted, clearly reluctant for their moment to end, though not entirely displeased.
"I've rested enough," Chen Fan chuckled, then leaned down to kiss her once more. "We can spend the night together. We'll even sleep beside each other, if you'd like."
His teasing smirk lit up his face, and instantly, Wang Yue's cheeks flared red.
"T-That's too fast…"
"We've already slept together twice, haven't we?" he replied smoothly. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, "Or were you thinking of something else?"
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as he kissed her again.
"Alright, I'm heading off now, okay?"
Wang Yue didn't reply, only nodded and silently followed him while holding onto his hand.
When they arrived at the training grounds, several knights noticed them immediately. Some whistled, others exchanged knowing looks, causing Wang Yue to lower her head, her cheeks crimson. This was the first time they had appeared like this in public—and it made their relationship all but official.
"Oh, come on, sir! We're already exhausted enough. Don't go souring our hearts by showing off!" one of the knights called out, drawing a burst of laughter from the others.
"Don't worry, sir! We didn't see anything earlier. Not a single thing!" another chimed in, voice thick with playful mockery.
Wang Yue's face felt like it was on fire. T-They… saw us kissing? Her gaze sank lower and lower, unable to meet anyone's eyes.
Chen Fan chuckled quietly and turned to face the knights. There was no trace of hostility among them. In fact, ever since he had resolved the demon incident, they had started to genuinely respect him. The laughter was just that—harmless, light-hearted camaraderie.
"Do you want to fight again, sir?" one of the knights asked, eyes gleaming with anticipation. The others around him shared the same excitement—after all, they were eager to witness Chen Fan's techniques up close, and perhaps even learn from them.
"I do," Chen Fan nodded calmly. "Though I'll need a few volunteers to be my sparring partners."At his words, the knights practically lit up, like children offered a rare gift. Sparring with someone who could literally see the flow of mana in the air was an opportunity no one wanted to miss.
"I'll do it, sir!""Wait, you said you were tired earlier!""Let me fight! I still have plenty of stamina left!"
Their eagerness spilled over, voices overlapping, each of them hoping to be chosen.
Chen Fan chuckled softly. "Alright then. Let's fight until I can't move anymore."
With that, he strode toward the arena. The knights quickly understood his intent and gathered, forming a circle around the sparring ground. They agreed to fight in order, calling out their names as they stepped forward.
"You think too long."Chen Fan's fist sank into a knight's abdomen, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Too desperate. You need to think of your next move immediately."He glanced at a knight wielding a greatsword, who had just missed and was now trying to lift his weapon again—only to receive a clean punch to the face.
"Too rigid. Your stance reveals your every move."Chen Fan caught a blade aimed at his face with his bare hands and countered with a swift kick.
"Try casting magic while moving."A knight stood still while preparing a spell, only to be knocked back by a well-timed strike.
Despite lowering his strength to match his opponents, Chen Fan still defeated each of them with ease. Yet none of the knights showed shame. Instead, they sat in silence, listening closely to every word of critique, replaying the brief battles in their minds.
After each match, Chen Fan activated his magic eyes to observe the knights' inner mana flow. He offered personalized feedback—pointing out where their qi was leaking, where it lacked compression, or where imbalances disrupted their circulation. He guided them on how to stabilize their cores and taught techniques to cast spells more efficiently.
By the time the heroes arrived at the training ground and saw the exhausted knights lying around the arena, they couldn't resist joining in. However, they too were swiftly defeated, their excitement turning into grudging admiration.
This routine continued for an entire week.
Each night until dawn, Chen Fan would meditate, sharpening his senses and energy. By morning, he was already on the training field—sometimes conducting group spars, other times one-on-one duels, including with Wang Yue. At midday, he would visit the palace, where residents gathered to be checked for any lingering demonic parasites—but found nothing unusual among them.
Periodically, he visited the chamber where Celestia lay sleeping. He could sense the energy within her growing denser, more refined, with each passing day.
As for Wang Yue—still too shy to share a bed—she and Chen Fan spent their time together during quiet moments in the day, savoring each other's company.
And then, exactly one week later…Celestia finally opened her eyes.