The embrace around her was a force one could not break free from.

Lin Xi could even feel the faint tremor from Luo Bingning’s body, not fear but the aftershock of regaining what was lost and an extreme craving for this hug.

The violent aura brought by the breakthrough had completely subsided.

In its place was the ocean-deep pressure of a late Core Formation cultivator’s spiritual power.

Yet the moment that pressure touched Lin Xi it became gentle and harmless.

“Alright, Bingning-jie, you just broke through, you need to stabilize your realm.”

Lin Xi spoke softly and tried to slip out of the overly tight embrace.

The body in her arms went rigid.

Instead of loosening, Luo Bingning held her even tighter as if letting go would make the person before her pop like a bubble and vanish.

She buried her head in the crook of Lin Xi’s neck, her voice nasal, stubborn and clear.

“Not letting go.”

Lin Xi’s movement stopped.

She could clearly feel that Luo Bingning was not acting cute but stating a fact.

A declaration that allowed no refutation.

‘Fine.’

Lin Xi sighed inwardly, lifted her hand and patted her back with a trace of indulgence.

“If you won’t let go then don’t, but at least let me breathe.”

Only then did Luo Bingning loosen a little, though she did not move away. She only adjusted her posture, turned her face, nose still against Lin Xi’s skin like a small beast that had found its exclusive territory.

They stayed in that intimate pose until the aura within Luo Bingning’s body was completely stabilized.

* * *

From then on Lin Xi found her life subtly yet drastically changed.

The cave dwelling was not large but she used to be able to move freely inside it.

Now wherever she went a silent shadow followed.

She wanted to go to the entrance to check the sky outside.

The moment she stood, Luo Bingning, who had been sitting cross-legged nearby, would open her eyes at once, lock those ice-blue pupils on her and silently follow.

She wanted to inventory the spirit herbs in her system space.

The moment she sat cross-legged, Luo Bingning would naturally sit beside her, so close she could feel the faint body warmth and cool fragrance coming from her.

Never leaving her side.

These four words were perfectly demonstrated by the Frost Empress through action.

That day Lin Xi looked at several almost ripe Cold Moon Herbs in her system bag and felt it was time to pick some accompanying spirit medicines in the valley.

“Bingning-jie, let’s head out for a bit.”

Luo Bingning’s eyes lit up at once and even her chill aura melted a little.

“Alright.”

However, when Lin Xi stepped out of the cave dwelling planning to head alone to the herb plot she knew well, Luo Bingning, as a matter of course, followed right behind in lockstep.

Lin Xi stopped and looked back at her.

“Bingning-jie, I’ll just be nearby, I’ll be right back.”

At that, the spark of joy on Luo Bingning’s face faded at once and a trace of hurt and stubbornness surfaced in her ice-blue eyes.

She said nothing, only stepped forward and reached out to gently yet firmly take Lin Xi’s hand.

Her hand was cool yet soft.

“I’ll go with you.”

There was no room for negotiation in those words.

Looking at those eyes that read don’t you dare leave me, the iron straight-man soul deep inside Lin Xi roared silently.

‘Big sis, I’m going to pick herbs, not to war! How is this protecting me, this is treating me like an accessory, a human pendant? I only want a little personal space, is that so much to ask?’

Her inner commentary flew by like a barrage while her face already bloomed with the most helpless yet doting smile.

She turned her hand to clasp Luo Bingning’s and her voice was gentle enough to drip water.

“Alright, then Bingning-jie must protect me well.”

“Mmm.”

Luo Bingning nodded hard, the frost on her face fully melted and her grip on Lin Xi’s hand tightened a bit more.

The valley’s spirit medicines were quickly harvested.

* * *

Back in the cave dwelling, Lin Xi sorted them by type.

When she was busy, Luo Bingning sat quietly to the side without a word, only following her with those beautiful eyes.

That gaze was focused and burning, as if the whole world contained only this one person before her.

When Lin Xi finished and sat to rest, a lock of hair damp with sweat stuck to her cheek and tickled a little.

She was about to brush it aside.

A cool hand moved first, with the gentlest motion tucking that strand carefully behind her ear.

It was Luo Bingning.

She had slipped over at some point, half kneeling before Lin Xi and the instant her fingertips touched Lin Xi’s skin she quickly drew them back as if afraid her temperature would chill her.

“Your hair got messy.”

Her voice was low with a hint of nervousness.

After doing that she did not move away but gazed at Lin Xi in a daze, eyes brimming with unhidden fondness and cherishing.

She even took a warm spirit fruit from her storage ring, peeled it with spiritual power and held it to Lin Xi’s lips.

“Eat.”

Looking at the crystal-clear fruit exuding enticing fragrance, then at the expectant eyes, Lin Xi felt her straight-man worldview take a billion tiny hits.

‘We’re at hand-feeding now? Is the next step going to be stroking my hair?’

In her mind the system prompt chimed right on cue with a tone like a final verdict.

[System prompt: Luo Bingning possessiveness +10, protectiveness +10!]

Looking at the two new entries and their glaring numbers on her system panel, Lin Xi did not know whether to laugh or cry.

She opened her mouth and obediently took the fruit.

Sweet juice burst across her tongue and turned into pure spiritual energy.

Seeing her eat, Luo Bingning’s face showed a satisfied smile, happier than she had been at her own breakthrough.

‘No, this can’t go on.’

Sirens blared in Lin Xi’s heart.

If she kept spoiling her, this Frost Empress would truly be ruined, devolving from a decisive overlord into her exclusive nanny.

She needed to do something, to find this over-energetic empress some work.

Something that would sharpen her battle skills and distract her from being too clingy.

Lin Xi’s mind sank into the system shop.

[Current points: 3000.]

Her eyes swept rapidly over the dazzling goods.

Soon she locked onto two targets.

[Profound Ice War Puppet Talisman: Profound-rank mid-grade talisman. Upon activation summons a war puppet of profound ice equal to the user’s realm, versed in many ice techniques, fearless of death, an excellent sparring partner. Price: 800 points.]

[Flowing Cloud Hundred Changes Movement Art (Fragment): Profound-rank high-grade movement art. This fragment records the first three changes. Brought to mastery, one moves like a ghost, greatly improving evasion and maneuvering in battle. Price: 1500 points.]

These are good.

‘System, exchange for the Profound Ice War Puppet Talisman and the Flowing Cloud Hundred Changes Movement Art (Fragment).’

[Ding! Exchange successful. 2300 points spent, remaining points: 700.]

A blue-glimmering talisman and a jade slip appeared out of thin air in Lin Xi’s hands.

She handed them to Luo Bingning who was still staring at her in a daze.

“Bingning-jie, though your power has recovered, you still need to reacquaint yourself with combat skill and movement. This war puppet talisman can spar with you and this movement art will help a lot.”

Lin Xi’s tone was very serious.

“The stronger you become the better you can protect me, right?”

That last line hit Luo Bingning’s weak spot dead on.

Her eyes changed at once.

The clingy little-girl demeanor vanished, replaced by the gravity and resolve of an empress.

“I understand.”

She took the talisman and jade slip and nodded firmly.

To protect Xi’er she had to return to her peak and even surpass it.

Holding the items, Luo Bingning walked to the open space on the other side of the cave dwelling where there was room.

Obediently, she activated the talisman.

Light flashed and a war puppet her size formed of profound ice appeared, radiating the power of late Core Formation.

The instant it appeared it swung an ice-crystal blade and attacked mercilessly.

Luo Bingning’s gaze sharpened and she threw herself into battle.

Lin Xi let out a breath. Finally some peace.

She sat cross-legged and prepared to comb through her cultivation.

The peace did not last.

Amid fierce clashes she could feel a gaze drifting toward her from time to time.

Lin Xi opened her eyes.

At the center of the field, Luo Bingning’s movement was fluid, her Cold Laws at her fingertips as she pushed the vicious war puppet back again and again.

Her combat talent was beyond question.

Her focus was not.

She would dodge a chop and subconsciously glance at Lin Xi to confirm she was safe.

She would form an ice spear and the corner of her mouth would rise because she saw Lin Xi looking at her.

Cultivate, get distracted, look at Xi’er.

Fight, get distracted, look at Xi’er.

It was as if confirming Lin Xi’s presence had become a bone-deep instinct.

Lin Xi covered her face.

She found Luo Bingning’s cold and gentle sides formed an extreme contrast that she both enjoyed and dreaded.

To outsiders she was the Frost Empress who could freeze ten thousand li with a thought.

To insiders she was a woman who could act cute and get jealous with a heart and eyes full of only her.

This unique special treatment greatly satisfied that tiny thread of masculine possessiveness and vanity deep within Lin Xi.

Reason, however, told her it was a warning sign.

‘One like this is already like this… if later there are two, three… will this cave dwelling become a constant battlefield?’

A thought that made her scalp prickle surfaced.

‘Competing for favor?’

She could already imagine several peerlessly stunning empresses fighting over who got to be closer to her.

When that time came, would the Affinity ability of her Supreme Queen Body still keep the peace?

Lin Xi felt a twinge in her teeth.

For now those were distant worries.

She drew back her thoughts, glanced at the multitasking Luo Bingning, then at her own system panel.

Luo Bingning’s strength was steadily returning and under Nurturing Rewards her own cultivation was rising.

That was what mattered right now.

As for the future harem—cough, the future team harmony problem—she would cross that bridge when she came to it.

Things work out in the end.

She comforted herself and closed her eyes again though the helpless smile at her lips would not go down.