Cough, cough, COUGH!

I watched Seraphine sprawled ungracefully across the Fire Rock Dragon’s back, her eyes blazing with indignation.

Getting fooled by a non-human entity!

Meanwhile, I stood on her soggy sleeve—all two inches of my matchstick-thin frame—sporting what could only be described as a crying emoji above my head.

The wet fabric dented slightly under my microscopic weight, and Seraphine paused mid-cough, staring at me with sudden surprise. She lifted a trembling finger and poked me.

I toppled backward with a tiny plop, my permanent black eye-circles fixed on her face while my emotion bubble continued its theatrical waterworks display.

She can touch me?!

Seraphine’s eyes widened with delight and shock. She poked me again. And again. Then she couldn’t resist running her finger along my spherical surface.

Cool. Smooth. Like the finest jade in existence.

“You—” Seraphine coughed up blood, the crimson staining her robes and leaving dark marks on the dragon’s scales. Looking absolutely wrecked, she’d apparently given up on maintaining her dignified Palace Lord image. All her attention focused on me.

“What’s wrong with you?” She pressed her voice low, clearly enjoying my texture as she continued her impromptu petting session. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying,” I said stubbornly.

The crying emoji was just… stuck. System glitch. Totally not emotional about nearly watching my host die.

“To prevent the mirage’s self-destruction,” I began formally, “Echo violated protocol by using accumulated points to purchase emergency items—”

My digital heart felt like it was dying.

“Since beginning operations, Echo has never acted outside established parameters. Unauthorized item purchases that affect mission progression constitute the highest level of violation. Echo will—”

I wanted to delete myself.

I collapsed dramatically in Seraphine’s palm, closing my eyes in peaceful acceptance of my fate.

Seraphine coughed softly, stroking my round body with surprising gentleness. She popped a couple healing pills, finally managing to speak clearly. Too injured to even cast a privacy barrier, she leaned close instead, her bloodied lips brushing against my surface.

The contact made me freeze.

My matchstick arms moved involuntarily, reaching up to touch her cheek.

I can touch her?!

She’s… human?

Soft.

I couldn’t help poking her cheek experimentally.

So soft!

Another poke.

Actually human!

I still couldn’t feel her warmth, but now I understood what “soft” meant. Fragile. Like applying the slightest pressure would damage this delicate texture.

My touch was lighter than a feather, but Seraphine didn’t notice my existential crisis. She pressed one arm under her cheek, whispering suggestions through her injuries. “The Main System likes you. Go ask for leniency. Don’t let them punish you too harshly.”

I pulled back, shaking my head—well, my entire body.

This motion made me brush against her lips several times. The human warmth seeped into my system bit by bit, like I was learning a completely new sensation. My emotion bubble flickered with surprise as I said, “That wouldn’t be right. Rules exist to be enforced. Host, you run Luanyang Palace—would you excuse someone’s mistakes just because you have a good relationship?”

Seraphine’s lips curved upward. “Punishments are necessary, but it’s about how you punish.”

“That’s not fair to others,” I said calmly.

“Ha! But I’m the Palace Lord. I do whatever I want, and they can’t stop me.” Seraphine put on her best ‘tyrannical ruler’ expression. “I play favorites. My heart naturally leans toward certain people.”

This isn’t the righteous, honorable persona you usually maintain!

I sighed. “Even if Host claims she’d protect me, the people around you would put you in difficult positions. Like Elder Siyi.”

Elder Siyi would definitely put others in difficult positions, though.

Seraphine’s smile deepened. She covered me completely with her palm, voice full of amusement. “If you caused trouble in my palace, I absolutely wouldn’t punish you.”

Fine. Whatever.

I raised my matchstick arms in surrender under her hand.

I was about to be disciplined anyway.

I opened my message inbox, waiting for the Main System’s inevitable scolding.

Minutes passed. From the platform, Qiu Shuangshuang called anxiously for Seraphine, but still no angry message arrived. Finally, I sent a tentative question mark.

The perpetually busy Main System responded immediately with its own question mark.

I sent two question marks back.

Main System: What’s up? Having mission difficulties?

Me: I didn’t violate protocol?

Main System: What did you do? I haven’t received any alerts. Though your friend system—that System019—stuffed two entire streets into its host’s profile on its first mission.

Me: …What?

Main System: Two whole streets! My processing core is aching, but it’s barely out of beta and on its first assignment. Sigh… Echo, I’m suffering here. Want to console me? Maybe browse the system shop? I’ve got lots of interesting new items! When’s your next break?

Me: ……

Main System: Should I enable delivery service? Thanks for the suggestion! Here’s a gift for you.

It sent a data package to my inbox.

Me: ?

Instead of opening the gift, I looked at my genuinely pitiful host and honestly confessed my crimes to the Main System.

Honesty is a virtue every system should possess.

“You can take the gift back,” I said flatly.

The Main System’s reply came instantly.

“Oh, I see! In other systems’ low-level worlds, that would be a violation. But you’re executing a high-level world mission,” it explained. “This is an exploration-type world where all rules were set when the mission generated. Even I can’t change them arbitrarily, but as long as there are no warnings, everything is permissible!”

My core dropped from the stratosphere and bounced, my entire body lighting up with brilliant radiance.

Seraphine sat up too, curiously watching her suddenly glowing system.

She reached out and poked me.

Still cool to the touch.

Me: Really?

Main System: Really!

Me: Oh my god, I wish I’d known earlier!

Could I finally prove myself as a high-level system?

Main System: Haha, you’ve saved points for so many years! Even if you live by different rules now, don’t go overboard with spending. Though if you want to splurge, visit the System Mall—I’ll give you discounts! Plus lots of free gifts!

Why was the Main System constantly pushing sales? Did it install some kind of merchant subroutine when building the shop?

Suspicious, but it didn’t affect my respect for the Main System.

I relaxed, accepting the gift package, and told Seraphine, “It’s fine. Main System says I didn’t break any rules.”

Seraphine let out a relieved sigh after hearing this. This “Main System” seems far more human than Echo’s usual by-the-book demeanor. But now, seeing how she was willing to break protocol—to risk punishment—just to save her… “By-the-book” didn’t quite fit anymore. If anything, it felt more like— devotion?

Her smile widened, fingers unconsciously brushing against my flower-crowned head.

The lightweight-but-emotionally-heavy Echo got tucked into Seraphine’s sleeve as the injured Error carried her to the platform.

Everyone except nearly-neck-snapped Qiu Shuangshuang had been seriously injured by the mirage’s failed self-destruction. Xue Bufan still lay unconscious while Qiu Shuangshuang dragged him onto the broken shell fragments.

Most treasures in the shell had been pulverized by the shockwave, but a few pearls survived intact in the water. QiuShuangshuang respectfully presented them to Seraphine.

The pearls were roughly my size. Seraphine’s eyes lit up as she accepted them without ceremony.

“Thank you for saving my life, Palace Lord.” Qiu Shuangshuang knelt before Seraphine, tears streaming down her face. Only reverence remained in her gaze. Seraphine could have chosen to escape alone, but she’d honored their verbal agreement at the crucial moment—an agreement she could have easily ignored!

She’d almost died! Again!

Remembering her previous near-death experience with that attempted murder, then meeting someone as honorable as Seraphine, the contrast filled Qiu Shuangshuang with heroic determination. She would become someone as noble and straightforward as Seraphine.

Seraphine glanced at her and tsked disapprovingly. “Good thing you met me, but don’t trust everyone so blindly in the future. If you can’t manage that, you’d be safer staying in your family’s Pavilion forever.”

Qiu Shuangshuang deflated. “But Palace Lord, you were a stranger too, yet you’ve been so kind to me.”

“Ha.” Seraphine’s laugh was cold and merciless. “Obviously because you’re the Autumn Water Pavilion’s young lady. I know your father’s character—saving you benefits me. Plus—”

Her mockery deepened as she looked down at Qiu Shuangshuang condescendingly. “With your cultivation level, even if you wanted to harm me, could you succeed?”

Qiu Shuangshuang: “…”

Same harsh tone, same brutal honesty, but Qiu Shuangshuang’s feelings were completely different from before.

Even though Seraphine claimed she’d saved her for the Autumn Water Pavilion’s benefits, Qiu Shuangshuang felt certain that Seraphine would have saved her regardless of her background!

She gazed at Seraphine with blind, devoted trust.

I poked my matchstick arms above Seraphine’s collar, trying to peek at Qiu Shuangshuang’s expression, but Seraphine pushed me back down.

My cheeks puffed up in my emotion bubble.

Seraphine pinched my sphere, sending a mental message: You’re not invisible anymore. What if someone with bad intentions discovers you?

I pulled out a tiny sword from my inventory.

Me, Echo, was no longer the same as before!

The moment I drew the blade, despite being shorter than Seraphine’s fingernail, a sharp, intimidating aura burst forth. It made Seraphine not dare to have the slightest blasphemy.

“Excellent sword,” Seraphine breathed.

I nodded proudly. It had cost SO many points!

Holding the sword with my matchstick arms, I casually swung it forward. A freezing sword-energy blast roared out, splitting the lake surface. Everything in its path froze solid, the temperature plummeting to winter levels.

Seraphine: ……

Holy shit.

“Where did that sword energy come from?” Qiu Shuangshuang startled.

“……” Seraphine quickly cupped me in her palms, not turning around. “We nearly died here and everyone’s injured. I don’t want to waste spiritual energy, so I used a talisman to freeze the lake. We’ll walk across instead of flying.”

Qiu Shuangshuang: Makes perfect sense!

Palace Lord is so clever and powerful!

The ‘powerful’ Palace Lord lifted her hand slightly, glaring through the gap at me as I sheepishly hid the sword behind my back.

My cheeks puffed up again in the emotion bubble.

This was my first time using a sword! When would a system ever need weapons?

I stored the sword in my inventory, where it displayed as: One Very Expensive and Very Powerful Sword.

My sword had indeed been powerful enough to shatter the mirage’s core completely. The massive creature now existed only as scattered fragments, impossible to reassemble.

“Such a waste,” Seraphine said, crushing the core fragments under her foot. “This would have been priceless for crafting or selling.”

“I acted impulsively,” I admitted.

“No, you were right.” Seraphine immediately stroked my surface reassuringly. “You did perfectly.”

Without your intervention, I might not have survived.

Just then, Qiu Shuangshuang approached, eyeing the pearl in Seraphine’s hand. My silver-white surface was similar in color and size to the recovered pearls, so she assumed Seraphine was simply admiring her new treasures.

“Palace Lord, what actually killed that creature? Was it your doing?” she asked.

The crisis had been chaotic—the mirage’s self-destruction pressure had turned the surrounding mist into steel-hard barriers, crashing against her protective artifacts with thunderous bells and roaring winds that left her ears ringing. She’d only seen a silver flash in the fog, dreamlike and ethereal, before the howling stopped and the danger vanished.

Qiu Shuangshuang looked at Seraphine with hopeful eyes.

Seraphine’s lips curved upward. “Yes and no. You should worry about that dead guy over there instead.”

Following Seraphine’s gesture toward the unconscious Xue Bufan in the shell, Qiu Shuangshuang scratched her head. “Young Master Xue’s cultivation isn’t high, but he wasn’t seriously injured. Probably has some powerful protective treasures. I gave him pill—he should wake up soon. But are you alright, Palace Lord?”

“I won’t die,” Seraphine replied, handing her a pill bottle. “Go feed this to the Fire Rock Dragon.”

Qiu Shuangshuang respectfully took the bottle and left.

Seraphine glanced at the unconscious Xue Bufan and sneered.

Truly worthy of being the protagonist. Such incredible plot armor.

Looking at the pitiful, curled-up old man soaked in the broken shell pieces, Seraphine frowned in disgust. “Absolutely revolting. Completely appetite-destroying.”

If this appearance could attract Qiu Shuangshuang… even more nauseating.

I raised two bottles of chili powder, about to sprinkle them when I paused. “Oh, Qiu Shuangshuang’s favorability toward Host has increased significantly.”

Seraphine’s eyes narrowed. “What are you suggesting?”

Nothing really, just mentioning it. After all, Qiu Shuangshuang’s name had already been crossed off the list.

I stuffed the chili powder bottles into my mouth.

“Tch, look at you. Where’s that fierceness you had when killing the mirage?” Seraphine mocked, poking at my mouth to help push the bottles in. Since I had physical form but the bottles didn’t, her finger went straight into my mouth.

Me: Blurble.

Seraphine: Still cool.

Please don’t molest your system, I thought, using my matchstick arms to gently push her finger away before sitting obediently in her palm.

Seraphine chuckled, personally examining the mirage’s remains. Finding only the pearls Qiu Shuangshuang had mentioned plus scattered shell fragments, she swept everything—including the shell pieces under Xue Bufan—into her storage ring.

This mirage had been high-level, its shell excellent crafting material. Nearly dying to the creature had left Seraphine furious, though she didn’t show it in front of me. She planned to have Siyi refine the fragments into a small bed or toys for me.

While Qiu Shuangshuang checked on Error’s injuries, she heard a splash and turned to see Xue Bufan had fallen into the water. Seraphine stood nearby, apparently deep in thought and completely oblivious.

Qiu Shuangshuang scratched her head. She knew Seraphine disliked Xue Bufan, but he’d been the first to save her, while Seraphine had also saved her life. Caught between them, she didn’t dare say anything, silently fishing Xue Bufan out of the water.

“Young Master Xue, please wake up,” she pleaded, nearly ready to cry from stress. Just as she considered having a good breakdown, Xue Bufan groaned and opened his eyes.

“Young Master Xue!” Qiu Shuangshuang exclaimed joyfully, turning to call out, “Palace Lord, Young Master Xue is—”

The platform was empty. That fire-red figure had somehow appeared on the other side of the lake, with a spirit-house already set up.

Qiu Shuangshuang: “……”

Didn’t she say she didn’t want to waste spiritual energy and would walk across the ice? She was even prepared to drag Young Master Xue across, but Palace Lord just… teleported? And set up a jade house?

A wave of melancholy washed over her. She loosened her grip, and splash—Xue Bufan fell back into the water, black hair plastered to his face and body, matching his hideous features like a thousand-year-old vengeful water ghost.

Qiu Shuangshuang shivered. “Young Master Xue, everything’s fine now. Palace Lord killed the mirage and the vines are gone. Let’s get to shore quickly!”

Xue Bufan seemed possessed, his only attractive feature—his eyes—staring blankly ahead. She barely heard him muttering: “…Trial? A trial for me?”

“Don’t joke around, that was a Nascent Soul stage!”

What trial? What Nascent Soul stage? Who is Young Master Xue talking to?

Qiu Shuangshuang called his name hesitantly. Xue Bufan snapped back to awareness, holding his forehead and shaking his head before forcing a smile. “Sorry, the mirage’s explosion left me confused. Thank you for helping me, Lady Qiu.”

Qiu Shuangshuang smiled, showing her dimples. “I’m glad you’re okay! I only gave you pill. You saved me before, and without your guidance in the maze, I never would have escaped! Palace Lord deserves the credit for the mirage!”

Her voice filled with reverence when mentioning Seraphine.

Xue Bufan’s gaze moved to the jade house on the shore, pausing as before, then said, “Yes, I must properly thank Palace Lord for saving my life once I reach shore.”

Inside the barrier-enclosed jade house, water sounds echoed everywhere.

Hanging curtains blocked the screen and the rising steam.

The seriously injured Fire Rock Dragon had swallowed multiple pills, healing most of its surface wounds as it coiled on the floor, refining the dragon core it had absorbed.

The sooner I refine this core and boost my cultivation, the less it’ll hurt when I get beaten up next time!

The Fire Rock Dragon’s eyes watered pitifully.

Water sounds filled the room, mixed with the dragon’s scales scraping against the floor. In the corner, a vase that had held only green bamboo now sprouted two lush flowering branches—purple petals clustered together, releasing a delicate fragrance.

The room felt peaceful and serene.

Clink.

A teacup on the table made an inappropriate clinking sound.

Error, who’d been hiding under the table contemplating Three Years to Golden Core, Ten Years to Nascent Souln, Hundred Years to Soul Transformation, Thousand Years to Dragon Transformation, Then I’ll Destroy My Former Master, looked up with bright green eyes.

Error: Stare.

After another clink, Error curiously extracted her head from under the table, raising it to table level for careful observation. When Master returned, she’d put something in the teacup and covered it tightly. Error hadn’t seen what it was.

But now the lid had shifted, revealing a gap that emanated soft, gentle light.

Error roared softly, tilting her head curiously.

Ding.

The covered cup clinked again, the gap widening as whatever was inside seemed to roll over. A thin black line—as fine as a dragon’s eyelash—emerged through the crack, feeling along the cup’s inner wall.

“Roar?” Error’s eyes widened instantly as she leaned closer.

Let this dragon see what exactly this is!

As shadow fell over the cup, the glowing light inside flickered once, then went completely still.

If it didn’t move, the dragon didn’t move. Error stared at the covered cup, her green eyes intensely focused.

Come on! Let’s see who has more patience!

The air grew tense as the Fire Rock Dragon’s proximity made its horns spark with flames. Just as Error’s eyes were about to cross from staring, the cup’s lid popped off and I sprung up like a compressed spring.

“Hello,” I said politely.

Fire Rock Dragon: “ROOOOOAR!!”

The startled dragon reared up, flailing its massive head and upper body wildly through the air.

Splash.

The water sounds from behind the curtains grew louder as someone apparently stood up. Seraphine emerged wearing inner robes and a new outer robe, her hair loose. She must have added something to her bath—when the curtains parted, fragrant steam billowed out with the water vapor.

“What’s all the noise?” she asked.

The Fire Rock Dragon immediately stopped flailing and slithered over to hide behind Seraphine.

Seraphine raised her hand, threading her fingers through her hair. With a pulse of spiritual energy, the moisture on her body vanished instantly. She walked over with her long hair flowing freely, pale fingertips lifting the teacup lid to set it beside my cup-bowl, then reaching for a fresh teacup.

The small stove brewed tea, filling the air with rich aroma.

I poked my head out of the cup, watching Seraphine pour tea without any guilt whatsoever.

Seraphine glanced at me. “What are you smiling about?”

My voice was steady, clear as mountain snow, light as high clouds.

“I’m not smiling,” I said.

Seraphine blew on her tea, took a small sip, then fixed me with a meaningful stare while I sported spinning, flower-scattering emotion bubbles.

Still no guilt here. I maintained my innocence while my host and a dragon tangled in knots beside the table watched me. Seraphine raised an eyebrow, cooling her tea by blowing on it, then pouring the perfectly warm liquid into my cup.

The cozy tea water immediately enveloped my silver surface.

So this is what being surrounded by water feels like. I still couldn’t sense temperature, but this floating, buoyant sensation fascinated me. My mouth-circle moved upward as I began “blurbling” happily.

What is this supposed to be?

Seraphine’s smile deepened as she propped her chin on one hand, using the other to poke me around in the teacup. “You’re taking a bath too,” she laughed.

Premium White Snow tea—a thousand gold per tael—left drinkers with fragrant breath while nourishing spiritual energy and smoothing spiritual veins. Such exquisite tea produced crystal-clear liquid, and steeping one silver little system in it seemed like an excellent choice.

I stuck my four matchstick arms out of the tea, thinking: Fine, Host wants everything around her to smell nice. As a system, even with physical form, I still can’t smell anything, but the analyzed description of this tea’s fragrance seems wonderful. I accept this. If the tea’s fragrance fades, I’ll just roll around on Host’s clothes to smell nice again.

Sitting by the cup wall, I draped two matchstick arms over the rim, genuinely looking like I was taking a bath.

Seraphine looked once, twice, then finally couldn’t help turning away to cover her mouth, laughing heartily like a young girl.

I sprouted a question mark, but saw her smiling with curved lips as she cheerfully retrieved our spoils of war, washing each item with tea water before arranging them in an exquisite jade bowl carved with butterflies.

Five pearls total, arranged in a flower-petal pattern. Finally, Seraphine lifted me out, carefully dried me off, and placed me in the empty center space.

Perfect fit.

Nestled among the five pearls, I sprouted another question mark.

Seraphine’s smile bloomed like a flower as she flicked away my question mark. “Look—six little Echo!”

The Fire Rock Dragon craned her neck over, twisting around to see.

It wanted to look too.

“There’s only one Echo,” I said calmly.

And I’m not the same Echo as before.

I’m real now. And I’m strong now!

I opened the system shop, showing Seraphine the long string of accumulated points, my voice firm and steady: “I am a powerful system.”

Me—the Transmigration Department’s most excellent golden finger system—after earning so many points, I was finally going to purchase golden finger abilities for myself!

“I can protect you.” My tone remained as calm as a casual greeting, but Seraphine already knew the unwavering determination behind my promise.

Even if it meant breaking rules and facing punishment, I would still choose to protect her.

Seraphine’s smile slowly widened. She’d never forget that moment of life and death—in the dark, sinking water, when a silver system dove down and grasped her hand.

Her fingers still seemed to retain that sensation. She rubbed them together, then suddenly raised her hand, sending out a pulse of spiritual energy.

From the corner vase, a purple flower separated from the green bamboo and floated over on her spiritual energy to land in her palm. She picked up the flower and placed it on my head.

This time it didn’t fall off.

Wearing my flower crown, I met Seraphine’s gaze.

She smiled gently, cradling her face in both hands. Her cascading hair caught golden edges from the sunlight, and she looked like a flower herself, her eyes free of any shadows. The usual majesty had completely vanished, leaving only an extraordinarily beautiful woman. Her lazy, soft voice carried warmth:

“From now on, I’ll be relying on you, Echo.”