Lanqi and Sigrid's Date (Part 2)

On this Saturday morning, Lanqi and Sigrid's date began with a visit to the sky garden in South Herrom. At lunchtime, they leisurely made their way to Helseren Restaurant on Fourth Avenue, its exterior striking a perfect balance between opulence and mystery. Gothic architectural style intertwined with magitech curtain walls. Stepping inside, one was instantly enveloped in an atmosphere of luxury and art. Beneath ceilings tens of meters high floated numerous immortal crystal chandeliers; dark red tones and gold ornaments decorated the interior, and the long tables were draped in smooth satin, set with invisible tableware that changed color according to the user's mana only when lightly touched. Helseren Restaurant was famous for its unique dishes, which blended culinary traditions of the Northern Continent with Herrom's distinctive flavors. Guests hailed from every corner of the Protos Empire, including high-ranking government officials, renowned explorers, and members of mysterious mixed-blood races. It was an ideal venue for discussing important affairs, savoring gourmet cuisine, or simply socializing. Even Boss Cat would linger here, loath to leave; one of the restaurant's signature features was that certain dishes were infused with special alchemical magic, temporarily boosting attributes or offering illusory experiences—though unfortunately, Boss Cat couldn't learn how to make them. In the afternoon, their journey began in the art district of downtown Herrom. Besides commercial areas, it was steeped in the artistic aura of ancient Protos, filled with colorful street graffiti and various independent art galleries. They enjoyed afternoon tea and pastries while watching magic performances in the broad pedestrian plazas. Time flew by. Before they knew it, they had watched the Herrom Evening Show, stepped out of the recording venue at the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation building, enjoyed dinner, and then strolled back toward the vicinity of the Starry Sky Theater. The night sky here seemed magnified by magic, the stars appearing within arm's reach. "Time flies so fast. It's dark already," Sigrid murmured, looking up at the deep-blue night sky as if wondering whether something was wrong with the sky. Yet she knew very well. Today was drawing to a close. Every wonderful day moved forward. Yet looking back on that month or so spent traveling back and forth across the north, it seemed they had spent every single day together; it was just that she hadn't realized back then how extraordinarily wonderful each of those days had been. "Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?" Lanqi asked with a calm smile. He was always unhurried, utterly relaxed, and ever since the bishop election concluded, he carried himself with an effortless, leisurely ease at all times. "I heard there's an old district in Herrom, but it can teleport people to random places. If someone's unlucky, they might even get dumped into a mana river," Sigrid said after some thought, looking earnestly at Lanqi. "Doesn't that sound quite dangerous?" Lanqi remembered this old district. When he first arrived in Herrom, his student Zestira had warned him that the twisted-looking old quarter was very dangerous and not to enter it casually. Its spatial structure was distinct from the outside world, like a multidimensional intersection; taking a single step inside could deposit someone anywhere in Herrom at any moment. "Actually, it's fine, not that dangerous. The teleportation distance isn't too far, and some people walk all the way through without triggering it at all," Sigrid explained to Lanqi. "Though I heard that if two people hold hands, they'll be teleported to the same place." As she finished, she added in a quiet murmur. "..." Lanqi walked forward, lost in thought. "Well? What do you think?" Sigrid nudged Lanqi gently with her shoulder, stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye. Lanqi stopped in his tracks. "Then you must hold on tight. Don't let go, no matter what." Lanqi held out his hand to Sigrid. "...Ah?" Sigrid blinked in surprise for a moment, clearly caught off guard by how direct the Holy Son was being. Holding the hem of his clothes would have worked too, really. Just like before dawn amidst the murky tempest on the northern snowfields, when the Holy Son of Extinction had intercepted them—she could have just kept a firm grip on his sleeve. "Aren't lines like that supposed to come from girls? Holy Son, you're playing so coy!" Grinning, Sigrid clasped Lanqi's hand tightly and led him forward in cheerful, brisk strides. Although they were still some distance from the old district, once Sigrid took his hand, she refused to let go, walking hand in hand with him all the way to the entrance. The street was narrow and rugged, resembling a mountain path from afar. Ancient stone buildings flanked either side, and the faint light from the streetlamps flickered in the night. Hand in hand, they explored this obscure spot where few dared tread. Free from the bustling crowds, the cluster of buildings seemed draped in solitude. In the dim light, the shadows of the roadside benches stretched long, and the silhouettes of the two danced across the walls. "Are you scared? If you're afraid, you can squeeze Big Sis's hand a little tighter, you know." Sigrid looked back at Lanqi, a playful, testing glint in her smiling eyes. That vivid violet hue shone with striking clarity under the moonlight. "I'm not." Lanqi's voice was placid. Unlike the bustle outside, only their conversation rippled softly through the quiet air of this district. "Tch." Sigrid gave him a disappointed tug, pulling him a little closer as she continued forward. As she turned back around, her hair dancing in the breeze, Lanqi let himself be led along, trailing behind her. Sigrid hummed a little tune, seemingly in exceptionally high spirits—or perhaps today's date had finally reached utter satisfaction at this very moment. After quite a while, she led Lanqi to an ancient tower structure surrounded by a steep, broken spiral staircase—a perilous perch where a single misstep could send one plummeting. "Let's head up and see." Sigrid's voice bubbled with excitement. Then she glanced at Lanqi again, hoping to catch a glimpse of fear on his face. To her disappointment, Lanqi still showed no emotional wavering whatsoever. Yet right at that moment, the district's scenery began to shift subtly. The surrounding buildings seemed to lose their solid forms, warping faintly, enveloped by an unseen magical force. Suddenly, the world spun! Accompanied by a rush of weightlessness, their field of view transformed entirely in an instant. High-altitude winds buffeted their faces, revealing a nighttime cityscape of darkness dotted with gold. It was a glittering world illuminating skyscrapers, streets, temples, and plazas—all laid bare in panoramic view. This familiar vantage point from thousands of meters up—they had been cast onto the very edge of the Starry Sky Theater high in the sky! It felt as though they could reach out and touch the moon. Howling gales threatened to blow them off at any second. Before Lanqi could even take in the perilous vista, he seemed to recall something and opened his mouth to speak to Sigrid. But Sigrid had already—as if losing her footing—pulled Lanqi along and leapt straight into the sea of clouds far above. The moment his vision cleared, the wind shrieked past his ears. All sense of gravity seemed to vanish, and the rushing pressure of the air confirmed that Sigrid had dragged him into an impromptu bungee jump. "Are you scared?" Sigrid asked with a smile, gripping his hand tightly. According to Gloria, this would trigger the suspension bridge effect. When someone crosses a rickety bridge in suspense, their heart involuntarily beats faster. If they happen to encounter someone at that moment, they mistake the racing heart caused by the situation for romantic attraction, thereby developing feelings for the other person. "Not really." Yet the problem was... Sigrid was quite certain that this guy's heartbeat hadn't quickened in the slightest! "Why aren't you scared?!" Sigrid demanded, somewhat exasperated. She had wanted to frighten Lanqi a bit ever since earlier, but no matter what she tried, he simply wouldn't startle. "I have the strongest woman in the world by my side," Lanqi answered in all earnestness, completely disregarding the fact that the two of them were in free fall from the sky. The gaze he fixed on Sigrid seemed to say: *What reason do I have to be afraid?* "Besides, this is already the second time you've dragged me into the sky like this," he added. "Aaargh! You impossible man, just when will you ever be scared?!" Sigrid still had no intention of slowing their fall, complaining indignantly. *Askesan couldn't scare you, Duke Morotian couldn't scare you—does it really take a Tier 9 powerhouse to scare you?!* "...Back at the Parliament Hall, perhaps," Lanqi answered after some thought. "Oh? What exact moment?" Sigrid instantly perked up, shifting her posture slightly in midair as she listened intently. "Watching you and Askesan begin your death match, knowing only one of you was destined to walk out alive..." Lanqi replied. "Mm." Sigrid clutched her chest. Beyond the roaring wind, all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart. The violet glow in her eyes traced a vivid arc through the mists of the Imperial Capital, Herrom. Clouds and vapors whistled past them, and in the next second, everything accelerated. Bitterly cold air rushed at them, every breath feeling like drawing from an ice cellar. Holding Lanqi's hand, she shielded his balance with strength akin to force magic, guiding him in a sweeping leap across the skies. Before long, they arrived at the lakeside on the northernmost side of Protos Royal Magic Academy. The frosty air that had rushed against her during their flight seemed to restore her composure. Yet she did not look at Lanqi. Facing away from him, she gazed out at the lake and slowly released his hand. Without needing words, both knew that today's date had to come to an end here. Sigrid stood in quiet silence, saying not a word. It seemed she hoped the Holy Son would remain silent as well. Everything from near to far was serene; softly contoured hills, trees, and the glittering lights of Herrom loomed indistinctly in the night. Beneath a starlit sky dancing with phosphorescence, the vast, dim lake seemed to merge with the horizon. The two simply admired the nightscape in silence. Until, after who knew how long had passed, "Sigrid, I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon," Lanqi finally spoke. "..." Sigrid stayed silent. "...I recall saying that I wouldn't agree to let you leave. You ought to stay by my side and continue serving me; in return, I can protect you." She turned around to face Lanqi, having already reverted to her demeanor as Bishop of Domination Sigrid. At this moment, it seemed to return to how things were when they first met: shed of her disguise, she was an aloof beauty, seemingly indifferent to Lanqi's feelings and caring only about what she wanted. "I have to return to the Southern Continent, for at least a year," Lanqi told her. The Protos Empire needed the Bishop of Domination. The nation had just recovered from upheaval and returned to the right track. Though the deep-seated hostility lurking to the north was contained, it might surge back with a vengeance once fully brewed some day in the future. He, Luoqi McCarthy, would retreat behind the scenes, yet his deterrence remained; however, the Bishop of Domination had to stand in the open. She was now the Protos Empire's new guardian powerhouse, safeguarding the realm's stability alongside Great Sage Isis. For Lanqi, corresponding hidden dangers remained in the Southern Continent that he needed to resolve, lifting the crisis there to ensure mutual support for the Northern Continent whenever required. "I don't accept." These words, spoken in her restored serious manner, were the only willful stubbornness she clung to now. "..." Lanqi looked at her helplessly and smiled. Though her mouth said that, she had clearly given him plenty of opportunities to flee over this past week. Had he chosen to run earlier, she certainly wouldn't have caught up with him. "Next time we meet, I'll be stronger than Tier 5," Lanqi promised. "..." Hearing this, the tips of Sigrid's ears flushed red in an instant. "Sigh, whatever. Go if you want to go. Before you leave tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you at the usual spot. You still owe me a painting." Turning aside, she waved a hand in flustered exasperation, and her silhouette vanished in a hurry. Leaving behind only Lanqi, who stood by the lake, smiling as he watched her depart.