Before long, laughter and chatter echoed from the mountaintop—three voices mingling in harmony. All three were Spirit Masters, and work wasn't much of a burden for them.
Hu Liena had already advanced to the Spirit Ancestor some time ago, and Mu Xi had just obtained her third soul ring. Both were considered elites among their peers.
With Li Chang'an in this life, It wasn't entirely impossible for Hu Liena to reach the Spirit Emperor rank before the next tournament. As for Mu Xi, though she was only about twelve years old, her potential was boundless.
Once the tent was set up, Li Chang'an began prepping for the barbecue. Unlike before, he didn't need charcoal to light the fire. A simple tap of his finger summoned a tiny flame of Ultimate Fire, which danced gently in the furnace.
Wrapped in his spiritual energy, the Ultimate Fire didn't damage the grill and burned with a steady intensity—making it the perfect partner for grilling meat.
Li Chang'an took charge of the grill, while the Mu Xi carefully skewered meat onto bamboo sticks and passed them to him. Of course, during this process, Li Chang'an couldn't help but steal a few touches of her soft hands.
Hu Liena, meanwhile, laid out the picnic cloth and arranged the marinated meats, snacks, fruit juice, and red wine. She moved with the grace of a homely wife—well, if only she didn't look so seductive every time she smiled.
Soon, the grill began to sizzle, and the rich aroma of meat wafted through the air. Hu Liena couldn't resist sniffing the scent—her stomach was practically rebelling.
"Is it ready yet? Is it? I'm starving over here!" Hu Liena ran over to them, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the grilled fish and steaks cooking over the fire.
Mu Xi timidly replied, " Sister Nana, the fish is ready, but the steak still needs some time. Do you want any sauce on the fish? Chili, maybe?"
As she spoke, she carefully lifted the grilled fish and placed it onto a nearby tray, waiting for Hu Liena's response.
"Silly girl, you're way too soft. It's a good thing you're with us—if it were someone more aggressive, you'd have been eaten clean down to the bones."
Hu Liena gave Mu Xi a look of mock disappointment.
That sweet, naive personality was just too soft. Even Hu Liena found herself unable to resist her, let alone someone like Li Chang'an. That was exactly why, the moment Valentine's Day was mentioned, Hu Liena had decided without hesitation to bring Mu Xi along.
How could anyone bear to hurt a girl like her?
Mu Xi lowered her head, cheeks flushed with embarrassment from Hu Liena's scolding. Still, her hands didn't stop moving. After all, she had eaten with Hu Liena often enough to remember her tastes well.
Hu Liena didn't keep the grilled fish all to herself either. She split it in half and gave one portion to Mu Xi. But then, Mu Xi—being the sweet fool she was—brought her piece straight to Li Chang'an's mouth, offering him the first bite.
——
In addition to the grilled meat, Li Chang'an had also prepared braised dishes and snacks in advance. The fruit juice was refreshing, and the red wine was particularly flavorful. Strangely enough, even though it wasn't strong, both girls started feeling a bit tipsy.
As Spirit Masters, they had decent resistance to alcohol. The wine shouldn't have had any effect on them, but Li Chang'an's brew tasted unusually good—and hit unusually hard.
Still, it wasn't the kind of drunkenness that led to wild, slurred speech. Just a pleasant, hazy buzz that left their thoughts a little muddled. They could still talk and walk fine, more or less.
"Alright, let's get some rest," Li Chang'an said after tidying up, holding both girls by the hand and guiding them toward the tent.
"W-Wait... Can I get a separate tent to sleep in?" Mu Xi asked, struggling to stay clear-headed.
"There's only one tent. What, are you afraid I'll eat you up?" Li Chang'an whispered teasingly into Mu Xi's ear.
Her face instantly turned crimson. She stared at the tips of her shoes, too flustered to respond.
Hu Liena, standing off to the side, did feel that something about this was a little improper. But at the same time, a voice in her mind kept whispering—'Go for it, go for it... this is exciting...'
She didn't know why she was thinking this way, but the thought of the three of them "sleeping" together made her feel even more light-headed. She clung tightly to Li Chang'an's other arm, her expression dripping with flirtation, her soft curves occasionally brushing against him.
Mu Xi said nothing more, letting Li Chang'an lead her into the tent. Hu Liena followed closely behind, even humming a little tune under her breath.
That night, it was Mu Xi's first time, so Li Chang'an was especially gentle with her. Her's reactions made him feel she was unbearably cute—the soft, vulnerable sounds she made were enough to make anyone lose control.
Although it was just the two of them at first, Li Chang'an was a seasoned veteran. With one spear in hand, he kept both girls on their toes, advancing again and again until they had no choice but to surrender and beg for mercy.
——
At dawn, Li Chang'an was already up preparing breakfast. He brought it directly into the tent for the girls, feeding them little bites since they were still worn out from the night before.
He even made a special effort to brew snow pear syrup with rock sugar to soothe their sore throats, knowing full well how hoarse they'd become after last night.
Once breakfast was done and the girls had washed up, he led them on a flight toward Spirit City. On the way, he handed each of them a delicate gift box—his carefully prepared Valentine's presents.
"Nana, Mu Xi… You two are still recovering, and I need to deal with some fallout from the Heaven Dou City situation today. I'll take you home to rest first, then I'll handle my business," Li Chang'an said, holding them close in midair.
The girls hadn't said anything, but the moment he brought it up, they realized their bodies were still aching. Their strength hadn't returned yet. After all, last night had been a wild ride—they'd barely slept an hour, so it was no surprise they still felt weak.
So Li Chang'an's proposal was exactly what they needed. In their current state, they could barely walk straight, let alone go sightseeing—especially poor Mu Xi.
Seeing both girls nod in agreement, Li Chang'an silently gave himself a thumbs-up. He had exhausted himself all night, but it was worth it to ensure he could spend the day with his Teacher. It might've been a bit excessive, but it was the most reliable strategy he could come up with.
After all, in their current condition, there was no way they'd want to go shopping or hang out—right?
Once he dropped them off at their respective homes, Li Chang'an returned to his own room, changed clothes, took a shower, and adjusted his condition. Then he took out the Valentine's Day gift he had prepared for Bibi Dong.
____
Translator's Note:
Hey everyone! I've just wrapped up translating my latest fanfic, and now I'm on the hunt for a new one to bring to you all. I'd love to hear your suggestions — maybe there's a great story out there that hasn't been translated yet and deserves some attention!
Before you recommend anything, though, here are a few conditions I'd like to set:
The main character shouldn't be an idiot — smart, decisive protagonists only!
No unnecessary power hiding. If the MC can solve a problem easily, they should do it.
Absolutely no "good boy" or pushover types.
The MC must be strong, confident, and respected — someone who stands tall in every scene.
Basically, I'm looking for stories where the main character owns their strength and doesn't waste time pretending otherwise.
So, if you know any hidden gems that fit this style, drop your suggestions below! I'll check them out and maybe one of them will become my next translation project.