My Host Only Marries the Strong

Chapter 112: When Your System Finally Gets a Clue

Again……Seraphine calmly extracted the Spirit Heart from her collar, stuffing the chirping, crying little thing into its jade case before anyone could sense the excessive spiritual energy in the area. Her expression remained perfectly composed as she said, “I told you—I like the dumb ones.”

She walked forward, carrying the jade case with calm composure.

Evening mist painted the mountain forest in pale blue hues. The Profound Turtle flew low and sluggish today, melancholy clouds gathering in lonely colors across the sky, sprinkling fine droplets of rain.

Any cultivator could easily conjure a barrier to block the rain, but Seraphine seemed to have no such intention. She walked through the gentle drizzle, her lashes growing darker as they caught the moisture, while her eyes burned with an inner light—like flames that would never die.

Thoughtful ellipses materialized above Echo’s avatar as she hurried to catch up, tilting her head to study Seraphine.

Seraphine raised her hand, summoning a golden-red flame to light their path. She shot Echo a lazy look that seemed to say:

They walked between light and shadow—night at their backs, flickering firelight ahead. Rain traced Seraphine’s face, reflecting the flame’s glow until she looked like some beautiful demon of the night.

The ellipses in Echo’s thought bubble transformed into pink flowers, then red hearts. With hearts floating above her head, she said something completely unrelated: “Seraphine, you’re really beautiful.”

Seraphine rolled her eyes with zero dignity for a Palace Lord, shooting Echo a disdainful glance that clearly said:

“Haha.” Echo laughed, cupping her interface panel where over four hundred names glowed brightly, each followed by small brackets containing question marks.

Seraphine thought. But out loud, she returned to the topic of the soul remnants. “Zhan Ye split his spiritual consciousness into five pieces. Three are currently sealed at Insight Academy Palace under Elder Uncle Jing’s watch. We need to find the remaining two.”

“But somehow, I feel uneasy about this.” Seraphine held the jade case with one hand, pressing the other against its lid as she frowned. “What’s your take?”

Echo quickly closed the “Insight Academy Palace Disciples’ Intelligence Profiles” and pulled up a new panel—this one a mind map centered on the three fragments of Zhan Ye’s spiritual consciousness, with countless scenario branches fanning out toward potential minor and major antagonist arcs.

The map was crisscrossed with dense arrows and tangled lines. Seraphine took one look and felt dizzy from all the text.

She paused, saying nothing.

The panel kept updating—expanding, folding, compiling on its own. Holding it steady, Echo said gently, “According to Echo’s known data and system-level analysis: when Zhan Ye was defeated, his cultivation had reached the Mahayana stage. Venerable Jing, at the Tribulation stage, couldn’t fully destroy his spiritual consciousness.”

“Estimated probability of him being the final boss: 89%. Chance of internal issues at Insight Academy Palace: 71%. Degree of entanglement between protagonist and antagonist: 99%……”

Still silent, Seraphine glanced at the screen again. One sub-branch caught her eye: [Soul fragment escapes. Xue Bufanblamed for containment failure. Corruption risk elevated.]

Another term she didn’t understand. She pondered it thoughtfully, then saw another branch: [Xue Bufanframed, corrupts and turns demonic, opens cultivation subplot.] Subplot upon subplot—all the branches Echo had analyzed connected to Xue Bufan.

Seraphine tapped the case with her finger, lowering her lashes until a water droplet fell from them, splattering on her fingertip. A pale hand reached over to gently wipe the moisture from her face.

“Seraphine, you’re soaked.” Echo seemed unaware she was just as drenched, silver-white hair plastered to her blue robes, glowing like moonlight in the mist. “Is there anything I can help explain?” She asked gently.

Autumn rain grows colder with each shower. Even if cultivators don’t catch colds from mortal rain, they still feel hot and cold.

In the chill, the palm pressed against Seraphine’s cheek radiated warmth, making her want to nuzzle into Echo’s hand—but pride and reserve forced her to suppress the impulse. She said quietly, “I’m wondering how Xue Bufan got so thoroughly manipulated by a soul remnant.”

“If Elder Uncle Jing hadn’t confirmed that none of the tournament participants were possessed, I’d seriously suspect he was already bewitched by Zhan Ye.” Seraphine looked at Echo’s panel where words like “demonic transformation, dual cultivation of righteousness and evil” appeared, her brow furrowing tighter.

If Xue Bufan truly intended to embrace the demonic path—breaking before rebuilding—Seraphine stopped on the steps, gazing down at the view below.

Insight Academy Palace looked peaceful and serene in the rain, cleansed by the gentle shower.

If Xue Bufan meant to turn demonic, how many people would become stepping stones on his path to corruption?

But these were all baseless speculations from her heart. Zhan Ye had once commanded wind and rain, committing countless evils—perhaps he had methods to bewitch Xue Bufan that remained unknown.

“I still need to intensify my cultivation.” Seraphine said quietly.

Only by growing stronger could she remain fearless.

Regardless of Xue Bufan’s innocence or guilt, the greatest current threat was Zhan Ye, and she currently possessed no ability to contend with his soul remnants. Having reached this conclusion, Seraphine stored the jade case in her storage ring and continued forward through the rain, no longer needing Echo’s response.

Echo opened Xue Bufan’s character panel, examining his personality traits: from “Don’t look down on the poor youth” to later additions of “Enduring,” “Polite,” “Honest”—impressions she’d added after several encounters with him.

The system pondered, then added “Filially foolish” and “Dumb” to the list.

But the moment “Dumb” appeared, Echo was shocked, staring directly at the panel.

Seraphine stepped onto the final stair, looking down and calling out: “Hurry up! The rain’s getting heavier—we’ll be completely soaked if we don’t get back soon.”

The two golden birds perched on Echo’s shoulders quickly flew to her head, spreading their four wings to shield her from the rain.

“Catastrophic news.” Echo murmured, looking at Seraphine through the rain curtain.

The intensifying rain poured down as if the little system were crying. Raindrops pattered on the forest leaves and struck her system heart.

Echo thought coldly, clenching her fists.

Rain streaked Echo’s face as she bounded up the steps in a few quick jumps, asking Seraphine: “What are your thoughts on soul cultivation?”

“No particular thoughts. Why?” Seraphine’s words had barely finished when her expression changed, quickly grabbing Echo’s wrist and gasping, “Wait, stop!”

Seraphine said quietly, “I’m only suspicious!”

She thought Echo wanted to move against Xue Bufan because of her suspicions, but—Seraphine pulled her close, asking softly: “Aren’t you afraid the world will collapse?”

Seraphine felt somewhat heartbroken, thinking Echo wasn’t considering this problem right now, completely unaware of her real reason for wanting to take action against Xue Bufan. They stood on the same step with the same position but different dreams.

“We need to hurry!” Echo felt heavy pressure, her icy brows and snowy eyes filled with frost, frozen solid.

Echo gripped her sword tighter.

Seraphine stared at Echo suspiciously, watching the golden exclamation mark in her thought bubble shift from bottom to top, turning red like a volcano about to erupt.

“Echo.” Seraphine raised a hand, conjuring a barrier and using her spiritual power to evaporate the moisture from both of them. With a puzzled look, she reached out and poked Echo’s cheek—but Echo suddenly grabbed her finger.

Echo held Seraphine’s index finger, meeting her gaze directly.

In her thought bubble, a little system stick figure with big watery eyes pressed her palms together, pleading: “Seraphine, do you really like dumb people?”

Under Echo’s expectant gaze, Seraphine’s heart skipped a beat, thinking Echo had finally realized something. Her face flushed slightly as she lowered her eyes and gave a soft “mm.”

Ah!

Echo was shocked, loosely releasing Seraphine’s finger before touching her waist again.

—Nine Heavens!

The thought bubble system wailed like the torrential rain outside the barrier.

“……Have you finally lost your mind?” Seraphine’s inner shyness transformed into embarrassed annoyance as she smacked Echo’s head. “Act normal.”

Echo experienced the taste of despair for the first time, gazing melancholically at the rain while murmuring: “Autumn rain falls drearily, bringing sorrow whether going out or staying in……”

“Seraphine, what do you think about dropping out?” Echo quickly updated her strategy, saying, “I’ll pressure the Main System to release new updates and get endorsement fees to buy you some Golden Finger!”

“Or what do you think about Qiu Shuangshuang? She’s eighteen this year—already an adult.”

Seraphine frowned, holding Echo’s forehead with both hands and making her bow her head.

With their foreheads touching, the rambling person’s temperature wasn’t much higher— Seraphine mused. Just as she was about to let go, Echo suddenly raised her hands, clasping Seraphine’s palms.

Rain formed a curtain outside the barrier, darkening the world as raindrops created rhythmic patterns on the steps, yet failed to disturb the two people breathing so close together within the barrier.

Echo blinked anxiously, saying quietly: “Seraphine, you…… you’re an honest Seraphine.”

Seraphine’s red lips pursed lightly as she gave a soft “mm.”

“Please tell me truthfully—do you already have someone you like?” Echo asked with furrowed brows.

BOOM—

Thunder suddenly crashed from the horizon, striking directly at Seraphine’s heart. She looked at Echo’s features so close to hers, feeling dizzy and disoriented. The word “yes” stuck in her throat under Echo’s clear gaze, unable to come out or go down, frantically lodged there.

In an instant, various questions flashed through Seraphine’s mind. Steeling herself to confess, she was suddenly stopped as Echo released the hands that had been holding her back, tilting her head to look aside.

Seraphine’s arms fell, the crimson color fading from her eyes along with her lowered hands. She clicked her tongue lightly and turned to look.

Not far away, a graceful figure approached through the rain, holding a light purple umbrella. It was Yu Xuefei.

“The doctor’s come to treat me.” Echo told Seraphine. She wore a rare, conflicted expression—something not often seen on her face—but Seraphine didn’t seem in the mood to appreciate it. Her gaze quickly swept past Echo’s eyes and settled at the corner of them.

Questions lingered on her tongue, ready to investigate further, when Echo suddenly lowered her head and whispered in Seraphine’s ear: “Seraphine, for the sake of our world-class friendship, please don’t develop any feelings for a dumb protagonist. Just for my sake—please, pretty please~”

Having said this, Echo clasped her hands together gratefully, bowing repeatedly to Seraphine.

“……”

The usually elegant Luanyang Palace Lord cursed internally, flicking her sleeves as she left, not forgetting to dispel the barrier.

Palace Lord Seraphine stormed off in a huff, nodding politely to Yu Xuefei as she passed before charging into the Phoenix Perch Terrace without looking back. Her red robes tumbled in the rain like flames on water.

Echo pouted, walking forward somewhat dejectedly, step by step, thinking:

Echo walked dejectedly up to Yu Xuefei and said, “Hello, Yu Xuefei.”

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Xi. I’ve come to deliver your medicine.” Yu Xuefei smiled.

Echo extended her hand, accepting the medicine bottle from her and expressing her gratitude.

Yu Xuefei’s lips curved in a slight smile as she looked at Echo’s rain-soaked shoulders, then at the rain curtain. Large raindrops fell like pearls on a plate, striking the green stone steps.

Remembering the scene she’d just witnessed, Yu Xuefei couldn’t help clearing her throat: “Sorry for coming at an inopportune time and disturbing…… you and Palace Lord Velka. But please rest assured, I’ll keep it secret and won’t let others know about your relationship.”

At this point, Yu Xuefei smiled and said, “Though you two go everywhere together daily, I imagine everyone already has a pretty good idea.”

Echo tilted her head, confused: “What do you mean?”

Yu Xuefei looked at Echo’s completely bewildered expression, raising her hand in surprise and saying quietly: “Fellow Daoist Xi, weren’t you and Palace Lord Seraphine just now……”

Yu Xuefei pressed her finger to her lips, blushing.

“???”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Echo pondered, then asked seriously: “You think I was just kissing Seraphine?”

Yu Xuefei’s face grew redder, but her gaze seemed to ask:

Echo laughed “hahaha” and said to Yu Xuefei: “Although I really hope Seraphine can find a good partner soon, she’s somewhat picky, which troubles me. I’ve recommended many people to her, but she doesn’t like any of them.”

Yu Xuefei also: “?”

YuXuefei was stunned, pointing at Echo, then at the steps behind the rain curtain.

But she’d clearly just seen Palace Lord Seraphine cupping Xi Lingren’s face, their heads pressed together—

“Ah, I see now.” Yu Xuefei smiled sheepishly. “I made assumptions. It’s just that you and Palace Lord Velka are so intimate, and since you’re not fellow disciples from the same sect, not to mention sharing treasures found in secret realms and even splitting fragments from competitions equally—not just me, but many fellow daoists assumed you two were lovers.”

BOOM.

Another thunderclap fell from the horizon, striking directly at Echo’s head.

After the thunder came lightning, instantly illuminating everything brightly.

It also reflected Echo’s face in the glazed windows of the Phoenix Perch Terrace. For a moment, she stared wide-eyed at her reflection in the mirror.

The silver-haired woman was refined as jade, standing gracefully under the eaves. Even soaked by rain with water droplets rolling off her hair, she didn’t look pitiful at all.

She remained so beautiful as to be untouchable, making people hold their breath and look up at her carefully, not just because of her beauty, but because she was also a powerhouse in this world, a once-in-a-millennium, eternally rare absolute genius.

“BOOM!”

Another thunderclap fell. Yu Xuefei had apologetically left at some point, leaving only Echo standing alone under the eaves. She stared in shock, so dumbfounded that even her expression data froze, locked in eye contact with her reflection.

Except for “dumb” not matching this body, everything else perfectly fit Seraphine’s standards for an ideal partner.

All the criteria Seraphine had mentioned flashed through Echo’s ears.

But more importantly—

“Strong.” Echo murmured, as her Nine Heavens sword dropped with a splash, creating ripples.

SMACK.

Seraphine, who’d been watching Echo for quite some time from inside, finally couldn’t stand it anymore. She walked over and pushed open the window, saying coldly: “What are you standing there for? Aren’t you coming in?”

“Ah.” Echo looked at Seraphine, her large eyes dazed and confused, muttering to herself:

“Would that be…… inappropriate?”