CHAPTER 352: KISS!

Kiss!

The forest edge was quiet, heavy with the scent of pine and earth, the world holding its breath. Leaves stirred lazily in the breeze, a rhythm too soft to intrude. And within that silence, two figures stood so close that even the wind seemed to struggle between them.

Leon and Nova—his presence wrapped in dark, commanding strength, hers shining with vivid feminine grace—were bound in a fragile moment where the world seemed to narrow to only them. Their lips met, slow and deliberate, sealing them in a kiss that felt as though nature itself had paused to witness. The forest became their frame, a cathedral of trees watching in reverence as fire bloomed between their mouths.

The kiss was not rushed. It carried patience, weight, and a simmering intensity. Their mouths pressed together, at first tender, then deepening with a pull that grew bolder, hungrier, as though every second only tightened the knot binding them. The forest air was cool, whispering around them, yet the heat of their closeness eclipsed it, burning with a rhythm that belonged only to them.

Time slipped away. Each brush of lips lingered like an echo of memory, each breath shared like a vow unspoken. The world outside ceased to matter; there was no forest, no sky, no earth beneath their feet—only the quiet storm of them together.

At last, the spell fractured. A wet, intimate sound marked the reluctant parting of their mouths, the faint string of connection breaking with a soft slurp. Their breath still mingled in the narrow space between them, warm and unsteady, as if the kiss refused to end completely. Leon’s forehead hovered near hers, close enough that a single exhale might have bridged them again.

Nova didn’t retreat. Her face lingered in the shadow of his, emerald eyes fixed on him with unflinching intensity. Affection shone there for a heartbeat, soft and unguarded—until it froze. Her chest tightened.

In the rush of reunion, in the fire of that kiss, she hadn’t seen it. But now, so close that every line of his face was etched sharp into her vision, the difference struck her. He wasn’t the same. He was something more, something beyond.

Her lips parted in a fragile whisper.

"Leon..."

To Nova, he had always been handsome. But now? Now his presence felt dangerous, almost cruel in its beauty—like a flame that burned brighter the closer she reached for it. His jawline looked as though it had been carved by divine hands, sharp and merciless, the kind of face that could command both fear and desire. And those golden eyes—clear, fierce, burning with a light that seemed endless—dragged her into them with merciless gravity. If she stared too long, she feared she might never return.

That devilish allure etched into his expression should have warned her away. Instead, it pulled her deeper, like a tide that refused to release what it claimed. She didn’t even try to resist.

Her breath grew unsteady, chest rising quicker as if just looking at him stripped the air from her lungs. Her lips parted, soft and uncertain, yet unwilling to turn away. Every flicker of his features seemed to demand her attention, every shift of light across his face only drawing her closer.

But Leon wasn’t untouched by the moment either. His gaze traced over her, and in that quiet, he saw what had changed. It wasn’t dramatic—her silver hair still cascaded like a luminous waterfall, and her poise still carried that same effortless elegance—but there was a difference. Subtle, refined, as though time had polished her into something even more breathtaking. Her green eyes locked onto his, unwavering, unguarded, and filled with a purity that ached in his chest.

For a fleeting heartbeat, he wished he could hold the world still. He wanted this moment preserved forever, wanted her eyes on him just like this until everything else crumbled to dust.

But eternity was not his to command. The weight of silence pressed in until he exhaled, breaking it with a crooked smile that carried both mischief and restraint.

Leon let out a small cough, the sound slicing through the tension. "Cough—cough. Hah... Nova," he said, his voice low, amusement threading through each word. That familiar, arrogant curve touched his lips, making his expression as infuriating as it was irresistible. "You look like you’re a little lost in my handsomeness. Haven’t you gotten used to it by now? Careful, my love. If you stare too long, you’ll get addicted."

His teasing smile lingered, bold and wicked, as though daring her to look away, daring her to deny him.

The trance she had fallen into cracked at the sound of his voice. She blinked, as if waking from a dream, suddenly aware of how long her eyes had been fixed on him. Her chest tightened; her lips parted, but no words came. A rush of warmth spread across her cheeks, crimson blooming against her pale skin. Damn him. He had caught her staring.

Yet instead of retreating, Nova tilted her chin, the corner of her lips curling into something playful. "Well... maybe I have... but damn—" She lifted her hand, her fingers brushing his cheek with a touch both delicate and deliberate. Her eyes lingered on the sharp lines of his face, drinking him in with shameless fascination. "What on earth are you using in your cultivation? How do you end up this handsome?"

Leon’s chuckle rumbled low in his chest, amused and pleased by her words. He leaned ever so slightly into her touch, golden eyes gleaming. "If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me."

But the light in Nova’s face faltered. Her brow lifted, suspicion flickering like a spark. The playful softness in her aura hardened; a cultivator’s instincts never truly slept, not even in moments of intimacy. Her hand stilled, fingers hesitating before she pulled back, gaze sharpening on him.

"Leon..." Her tone carried warning.

"Hm?" His reply was gentle, curious, almost disarming.

"Your cultivation." The words came out tighter this time, edged with unease. She stared hard at him, as if trying to peel away the mask of his calm. "Leon..." she said again, slower now, voice trembling with something between anger and fear. "Your cultivation. It’s still... Grandmaster realm. You haven’t broken through."

For the briefest moment, surprise flickered across his face. Then, like a shadow passing, it was gone—replaced by a softer smile that only deepened her unease.

"You noticed."

"Of course I noticed!" Nova’s voice sharpened as she took a step back, her eyes searching his every feature, desperate for an answer. "Why? Why haven’t you broken through yet? Did something happen? Are you hurt?"

The worry in her tone struck him deeper than any blade could. For a heartbeat, Leon hesitated, as though even he wasn’t sure how to answer. Then his expression steadied, the warmth in his golden gaze returning. He reached for her hand, catching it gently in his own.

"Hey, hey," he murmured, voice low, carrying the calm weight of command. "My love, be calm. Listen to me."

The fire in her eyes wavered. She pressed her lips together, torn between her instincts and the comfort that always slipped into her veins whenever he spoke in that tone. Silence claimed her, unwilling but inevitable.

"Good girl," Leon whispered, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. The touch lingered, coaxing her storm into stillness. "Now, listen carefully." His voice dropped, smooth and steady. "I told you before—I felt close to a breakthrough. I never said it was "Certain. I was near it, yes. But I never promised I’d definitely cross that line."

Nova froze. Her breath caught as her eyes widened, the truth slipping into place like a blade she hadn’t expected. He was right. He had never once told her he had broken through. She had simply assumed it, built her worries on a belief he never voiced.

Her teeth sank into her lower lip, worry refusing to loosen its hold. "But Leon—"

"No buts." His tone was firm but gentle as he reached out, tilting her chin with his fingers so she couldn’t look away. His gaze burned into hers, steady and unshakable. "Tell me, Nova. What if I haven’t broken through... but I’m still stronger than before? Would it really matter?"

The question landed heavier than she expected. She blinked, startled by the conviction in his voice. For a heartbeat, her suspicion lingered, but something in his eyes disarmed her. Slowly, a smile ghosted across her lips, though doubt still shadowed her expression. "...Then I suppose I’d have to believe you."

Leon’s smile answered hers, but behind that curve of his lips, another truth weighed on his chest—one he kept hidden. It’s not that I don’t want to tell her. One day, I’ll tell Nova everything... about the system, about this bloodline burning inside me, about the body that no longer feels the same. I’ll tell them all. But not now. Not yet.

Nova studied him carefully, searching for cracks in his words, but when she found none, the tension in her shoulders eased. Her breath softened, and with it, her smile returned, faint but genuine. "Fine. You win. But don’t think I won’t ask again."

His grin tilted, crooked and warm, carrying that infuriating charm only he could wield. "I’d be disappointed if you didn’t."

For a long moment, they simply stood there, hand in hand, the forest around them falling into a hushed stillness. The silence was not empty—it wrapped around them like a living thing, the whisper of leaves and faint rustle of branches making the world feel smaller, closer, as though it belonged to just the two of them.

Leon leaned closer, his head tilting with a lazy confidence, his voice sinking into a low, teasing drawl that carried both danger and promise. "So tell me, my love... do you want me to keep you in my arms forever, or shall I follow you to your mansion, so I can enjoy the company of that charming sister of yours again?"

Nova blinked at him, surprise flashing across her emerald eyes before laughter spilled from her lips. It was light, effortless, but tinged with disbelief. "You..." She shook her head, the corners of her mouth lifting into amusement. "Always so direct. Though honestly... I expected this."

Leon’s grin deepened. "Expected?" he echoed, baiting her with his tone.

"Mm." Nova’s smirk curved like a secret she refused to hide. "If I wanted to stop you, Leon... could I?" Her words danced between jest and challenge, her voice low and playful.

Her mood fed into his. Leon’s arms tightened around her waist, his chest brushing against hers as his smile turned sharper. "No," he murmured. His lips lowered until his breath caressed her ear. "But your sister might."

Nova sighed, though a laugh slipped free despite herself. "Then let’s go," she said, her voice colored with reluctant surrender.

She shifted as though to step away, but his grip stayed firm, holding her against him. Startled, she turned back, brows drawing together. "What is it? Why won’t you let me move?"

Leon’s eyes gleamed with mischief. His smile was the kind that made words feel heavier than they should. "Because, wifey... why are you trying to separate from me?"

Her lips parted, her breath catching on confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well," he drawled, his grin widening with unrepentant wickedness, "if you insist on walking, I’ll just carry you the whole way. You give the directions, and you’ll never have to leave my arms."

Nova’s eyes widened, caught off guard for the briefest moment before she rolled them, exhaling in sharp exasperation. "Stop it. I know you’re just eager to meet your other wives too soon."

Her words landed sharp, but they didn’t wound. Leon’s chuckle rumbled in his chest, the sound smooth, betraying his thoughts without a single denial. His expression alone confessed the truth she already knew.

Finally, his hold shifted—loosened just enough so that his hand slid down to capture hers instead. Their fingers threaded together naturally, an unspoken bond pulling tight as though even the forest around them conspired to tie them close.

Nova breathed out a second sigh, this one touched with a kind of mock defeat, though her lips softened. "Fine." Her fingers curled around his, gripping firmly. Her smile warmed, tender in its surrender. "Then let’s go."

Leon gave a quiet nod, a silent promise in his eyes. Without letting go of each other, they turned together, their silhouettes merging with the dim curtain of trees. The forest loomed ahead, dark and endless, but their hands remained bound tightly, fingers locked as if nothing in the world could tear them apart.

Nova moved ahead with unshaken certainty, her steps light yet deliberate, leading them into a narrow passage veiled by vines and shadow. The air grew cooler the deeper they went, damp earth pressing its scent into their lungs, the soft crunch of leaves beneath their boots marking each step away from the open world they had left behind.

The hidden path twisted like a secret carved by time itself, guiding them toward Blackthorn City. Every sound—the whisper of branches swaying overhead, the hush of unseen creatures stirring in the dark—seemed to echo the gravity of their journey.

And so, with hearts entwined and bodies drawn close, the lovers vanished into the depths of the green wilderness. The forest consumed them slowly, until only silence remained, as they walked hand in hand toward the next Chapter of their fate.