At this moment.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on that slender yet imposingly beautiful figure bathed in holy light.
Chu Tian stood behind her, the familiar fragrance from her hair wafting into his nose.
He looked at her delicate shoulders, so close yet now shielding him from the world.
The playful smile on his lips grew deeper.
‘This little wildcat… she keeps surprising me more and more.’
Earlier this morning, she had been sobbing from his teasing.
Now she was like a mother lion guarding its food, every hair on end.
The way she protected him now was even more enchanting than her helpless look in bed.
A girl willing to protect him—how wonderful!
Chu Tian’s smile deepened.
Lanuer Hongfeng’s face darkened.
As the king’s adopted son and commander of the Imperial Guard, he held a lofty status.
When had he ever been publicly scolded like this?
What’s more, the king had previously tasked him with “winning over” the Saintess.
And now she stood before the Lord of Shadowmoon Manor…
“Holy Lady, what is the meaning of this?”
Lanuer’s voice was icy, barely suppressing his anger.
“This Mo Yuan is of unknown origin and uses sinister methods. As the revered Saintess of the people, how can you associate with someone like him? Have you been deceived by him?”
He tried to frame Su Nian’s actions as being “tricked”—both to give her an out and to drive a wedge between them.
Su Nian merely gave him a cold glance, as if looking at a clown.
“I don’t need you to meddle in my affairs.”
“If you dare to make a move, then… let’s fight!”
As Su Nian spoke, she instantly summoned Little Green and Little Violet.
The next second, the wind-type giant dragon Little Green and the space-and-thunder-controlling ling cat Little Violet appeared simultaneously.
“Roar——!”
The wing-colored giant dragon spread its wings, spanning thirty meters, blotting out the sky.
Little Green circled above Su Nian’s head, releasing dragon might.
The griffons let out terrified shrieks, flying uncontrollably in chaos.
Gale winds howled, blowing nearby soldiers off balance.
“Meow——”
The Purple Domain Spirit Cat Little Violet flickered and appeared on Su Nian’s shoulder.
Though small in size, it crackled with lightning, and spatial ripples were visible to the naked eye.
Those purple vertical pupils scanned the Imperial Guard.
Every soldier it looked at felt a chill shoot up their spine.
The Star-Moon Saintess’s giant dragon!
And her ling cat!
Clearly, Su Nian, who had already demonstrated her strength, was seen by many as a legendary-level combatant even just through her contract beasts.
Lanuer’s pupils contracted sharply.
Clearly, the deterrent power of the two contract beasts was overwhelming.
Such combat strength could already rival an entire legion!
The surrounding soldiers grew restless.
“Is that… the Holy Lady’s mount, the wind-type Saint Dragon?”
“And that cat… such a terrifying aura…”
The soldiers’ morale completely collapsed at that moment.
“Are we really going to fight the Holy Lady?”
Lanuer gritted his teeth, ‘Damn it!’
The Holy Lady, renowned throughout Academy City, could not be easily opposed by ordinary soldiers.
The men he brought, though elite, had no chance against such a presence…
And there were two contract beasts on top of that.
Even if a conflict broke out, the outcome was unpredictable.
“What?” Su Nian’s voice came through, laced with mockery, “Weren’t you going to make a move?”
“Come on.” She raised her hand, holy light gathering in her palm, ready to strike at any moment.
Little Green circled in the air, dragon breath already primed.
Little Violet’s lightning grew brighter, spatial fluctuations intensifying.
Lanuer stared hard at the girl before him.
He knew that today, this fight couldn’t happen.
Even setting aside the issue of whether they could win.
Once they made a move, the entire Red Maple Kingdom would bear the wrath of the Star-Moon Saintess!
This woman was the hero who saved Academy City!
She was the hope of all humanity!
If he actually laid a hand on her today, even his adoptive father, the king, might abandon him to appease the people.
“Retreat!” Lanuer gritted his teeth and gave the order, “All troops, retreat!”
The soldiers felt as if pardoned, retreating hastily.
The griffon knights quickly ascended, distancing themselves from the terrifying wind-type Saint Dragon.
Lanuer rode his white griffon, gave Su Nian a cold glare, then looked at the ever-smiling man behind her.
“Holy Lady, I will report today’s matter truthfully to His Majesty the King.”
“I hope you… won’t regret this.”
With that, he pulled the reins, his griffon flapping its wings and soaring away, vanishing into the wind and snow.
The other soldiers quickly withdrew as well.
Soon, only Su Nian and Chu Tian remained in the valley.
Regret?
No way!
‘Hmph!’
Su Nian watched the direction the Imperial Guard had gone, her taut nerves finally relaxing.
“Phew…” She let out a long breath, feeling her legs go weak.
She hugged Little Violet and patted Little Green’s nose, praising her two contract beasts.
In that moment just now, she had truly prepared to fight the entire Imperial Guard.
Even though she had two Saint-level contract beasts, the enemy outnumbered her.
If a fight broke out, reinforcements might arrive, and she might not escape unscathed.
But even so, she wasn’t afraid.
If she could fight alongside that man, there seemed to be nothing in this world worth fearing.
Her voice carried a hint of nervousness and concern, “You… are you alright?”
Chu Tian raised an eyebrow, looking at her with interest.
“What, worried about me?”
“Who… who’s worried about you!” Su Nian’s cheeks flushed instantly, “I just… I just don’t want you to die at someone else’s hands!”
“Your life is mine to take!” She said fiercely, but it looked more like a pout.
Chu Tian chuckled softly, stepped forward, and pulled her into his arms.
His voice was low, tinged with affection, “Is that so? Then I’ll live well and wait for you to come take my life.”
Su Nian’s body stiffened for a moment before softening.
She buried her face in his chest, muttering: “If you really died, I… I…”
She couldn’t finish.
“Bastard…”
Because she herself didn’t know what she would do if this man really died.
Would she be happy?
Would she celebrate?
Or… would she be sad?
Su Nian dared not think too deeply.
She only knew that when she saw that rain of arrows flying toward him, her heart clenched violently.
That feeling was stronger than anything before.
“Don’t worry.” Chu Tian’s voice sounded above her head. “I won’t die. At least… not until you kill me.”
His tone was playful, yet carried a hint of sincerity.
Su Nian looked up, gazing at his handsome face.
Moonlight spilled across his features, softening his usual roguishness, adding a touch of tenderness.
Her heart raced again.
“Ding! Host Affection +1, current Affection: 70.”
Su Nian’s face instantly changed.
‘It’s over.’
“Ding-dong! Affection reaches 70 points, reproduction function unlocked!”
The system notification sounded in her mind.
“Current Status Update: Recognition State IV, Healthy, Free…”
It was completely over.