CLANG—
A crimson scythe swung out and clashed heavily with his sacrificial knife. An unimaginable force surged through him, and crimson flames intertwined with scarlet fire. The next moment, Lu Li was sent flying.
He twisted in mid-air and had just landed and stabilized himself when he saw that Arlecchino, after knocking him back, didn't pursue. She simply raised her hand and flicked a finger.
An icy killing intent from behind made him whip his head around. A giant scythe claw was tearing its way out of the ground! Is this another way to control Pyro?
He turned and swung his blade at the claw, but the next moment, he felt a chilling cold on his neck. A scythe had appeared behind him, resting on his shoulder.
"And just like that, you'd be dead, Lu Li," Arlecchino whispered. The scythe and claw instantly dissolved into sparks.
Looking at the cold sweat on his brow, she said, "When your strength has risen a few more levels, and your mastery of the elements becomes more profound, you will understand that combat is not limited to one form. At that time, your heart will move as you will, and only by following your instincts can you truly see yourself."
"But to reach that state, you still have a long way to go. For now, you must focus on strengthening your elemental control and honing your martial arts. A good foundation is necessary to go further in the future."
Lu Li, slowly regulating his breathing, could only nod with a complex expression.
Arlecchino didn't say more. She trusted that despite this crushing defeat, he would not be discouraged, but would instead strive to catch up. Only after awakening the heart of a true warrior could one be said to have truly embarked on the path of the strong.
She waited for him to recover. After a while, he gave her a soft signal, and she looked away from the ruins. She saw the beads of sweat on the handsome young man's face, glistening in the sunlight. Just as men are drawn to beautiful women on the street, women are drawn to handsome and stylish men. And Lu Li, with his outstanding foreign features and well-built, masculine body, was even more alluring now, covered in sweat.
Arlecchino's eyes flickered. She suppressed the restlessness in her heart, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Let's go. It's getting late. It's time to rest and have lunch. Did you bring any picnic supplies?"
"Uh, Lord 'Father,' I didn't bring any..." he said awkwardly.
"It's fine. In that case, we'll make do with what we have here," she said calmly. "Lu Li, there are salt crystals nearby. Go gather some, along with some mint and bubblepuls. We'll have grilled fish for lunch."
"Yes. Are you going to catch the fish, Lord 'Father'?" he asked, his eyes lighting up as he looked towards the nearby stream.
"Mm, yes." She bent down to roll up her trousers, slipped her feet out of her sharp heels, and walked towards the river.
Lu Li guiltily tore his eyes away from her feet, took a deep breath, and hurried off. He had seen some exposed salt mines on the way here; distilling pure table salt from them would be no problem.
————
About ten minutes later, Lu Li, laden with fruit, branches, and a small jar, finally arrived at the riverbank. He immediately noticed something unusual about Arlecchino. She had pulled her trousers up to her calves and was soaking her tender jade feet in the cool stream. The sun's reflection shimmered on the water's surface. With this as a backdrop, Arlecchino, feeling a bit warm, had unbuttoned her usually tightly-wrapped grey and white suit jacket.
Her figure was actually quite good, though it was usually hidden. While not as voluptuous as Clorinde or as stunningly curvy as Navia, her figure, combined with her icy, beautiful face, exuded a dangerous charm.
He shyly looked away to avoid her displeasure. "Lord 'Father,' I'm back! I brought salt, bubblepuls, sunsettias, and some mint. I also found a wild beehive and got some honey!"
"Oh? Well done, you exceeded my expectations. With these seasonings, the grilled fish shouldn't be too bad," she said, turning her head. She noticed his shyness and smiled. "I already prepared the freshwater bass before you came. They're not very plump, but they'll do for lunch. Come, let's start cooking."
"Yes!"
Under her direction, they started a fire and grilled the fish on wooden skewers, seasoning them to their liking. When the fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they began to eat. Arlecchino's table manners were impeccable, a habit ingrained from her elite upbringing as a diplomat. Eating beside her, Lu Li's mood grew peaceful.
He had always been puzzled by her different punishments for him and had always held her in awe. But now, after this outing, this trial, this spar, and now this lunch... his perception of her had quietly changed. She wasn't so untouchable. The distance between them wasn't impossible to bridge.
..."Lu Li, after we finish eating, let's go for a swim." Arlecchino, leaving the fish head and tail untouched, turned to him and asked softly.
"Huh?" Lu Li, lost in thought, almost choked on his fish. He looked at her in disbelief. "Lord 'Father,' here?"
The stream... wasn't deep, but it wasn't shallow either. It was indeed suitable for swimming. But for Arlecchino to be the one to suggest it was astonishing.
"Mm. What, you don't want to?" she asked calmly.
"No," he quickly shook his head. "I just didn't expect it... In any case, if you ask, I will accompany you!"
"...Mm, then hurry up and eat!" she said with a small smile after a moment of silence.
"...Yes..." With a strange feeling in his heart, Lu Li began to eat much faster.
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