"How can you be so tough?!"
"What? Can't you handle it?"
"Of course I can! I'm ready!"
By the Lake of Life on Elf Planet, Dong Qianqiu massaged Gu Xun's shoulders, her fair little hands kneading his muscles relentlessly.
Whenever Dong Qianqiu tried to be mischievous and pinch Gu Xun, his protective spirit skill would automatically activate.
Dong Qianqiu was genuinely stunned by Gu Xun's resilience—even her spirit power couldn't break through his defenses.
Thus, Dong Qianqiu could only obediently continue massaging his shoulders. Seeing her restraint, Gu Xun relaxed.
Time passed slowly. After massaging Gu Xun's shoulders, Dong Qianqiu moved to kneel before him, preparing to pound his legs.
"Don't hurt yourself kneeling like that."
Gu Xun spoke, laying a woolen rug before Dong Qianqiu. Seeing this, Dong Qianqiu rolled her eyes.
"Well, I suppose I should thank you then?"
"Good to know."
"You! ...Give you an inch, and you take a mile."
Dong Qianqiu puffed out her cheeks and knelt down on the wool rug beside Gu Xun. She then clenched her small hand into a pink fist and began pounding his legs.
Gu Xun continued to enjoy the treatment. After about ten minutes, Dong Qianqiu's hands started to feel sore.
She kept massaging while shooting him resentful glances.
Gu Xun noticed her sulky stare and decided to call it a quits.
"Alright, that's enough."
"Hmph!"
Dong Qianqiu immediately stood up, showing zero reluctance to leave, and plopped back into her seat.
"You always pick on me, you big jerk! You'll never get a wife!"
Dong Qianqiu muttered under her breath, venting her frustration. Gu Xun glanced at her briefly before looking away.
"No worries. If I don't get a wife, I can always kidnap you home to warm my bed."
At this, Dong Qianqiu's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she clenched her teeth in fury.
"Pervert!"
Gu Xun paid no mind, continuing to fish. Seeing Gu Xun ignore her, Dong Qianqiu could only sulkily start her own fishing session.
Dong Qianqiu began fishing. Then she saw Gu Xun reel in his line. Turning her head, a pair of leather shoes came into view.
Her brain froze for a second. Huh? Leather boots? Dong Qianqiu stood up and scanned the crystal-clear Lake of Life.
There was no trash like leather boots on the lake bottom. How did Gu Xun catch leather boots?
Something was off. Very, very off. Suspicious, she sat back down and fixed her gaze on Gu Xun's fishing hook.
About ten seconds later, Dong Qianqiu saw something approaching Gu Xun's hook, creating ripples in the water.
Dong Qianqiu immediately narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the ripples. It resembled a small fish-like creature. Then, with a slight curve, it approached Gu Xun's hook.
Gu Xun's float dipped. Seeing this, Gu Xun yanked the line upward.
With a splash, the object surfaced. Dong Qianqiu looked over to see a book radiating a mysterious power, glowing with a purple light.
Dong Qianqiu felt her brain shrink again. She stared blankly at the enchanted book Gu Xun had caught.
Gu Xun's face darkened at the sight. He grabbed the enchanted book and tossed it into the molten lava pool to destroy it, then cast his line once more.
Plop!
The hook plunged back into the water. The splash of the sinker snapped Dong Qianqiu's mind back from its shrunken, frozen state.
Dong Qianqiu abruptly stood up, turning to glare at Gu Xun with clenched teeth. Clearly, he was furious.
"Did you cheat?!"
Dong Qianqiu's accusation rang out. Gu Xun glanced at him, then looked puzzled.
"How did I cheat? This is the fishing rod my martial spirit pulled out."
Dong Qianqiu's gaze shifted to Gu Xun's swim bladder, then fixed on it intently. Soon, a familiar little fish materialized out of thin air, its body rippling as it took the bait.
As Gu Xun reeled in the rod, a water lily appeared. Dong Qianqiu's expression darkened further.
"And you claim you didn't cheat! Fishing something out of thin air! You're still trying to wriggle out of it!"
Dong Qianqiu stormed at Gu Xun with accusations. Hearing this, Gu Xun tossed the water lily into the lava pool to destroy it, then looked at Dong Qianqiu and said.
"This is the rod's effect. You never said fishing rods couldn't have special effects, did you?"
"You! Bastard! I'll fight you to the death!"
Dong Qianqiu lost her composure entirely, lunging violently at Gu Xun. Startled, Gu Xun immediately seized her wrists.
A faint, sweet fragrance wafted up, but Gu Xun had no mind to notice it now—Dong Qianqiu was practically on top of him.
She straddled his legs, cheeks flushed crimson, clearly flustered.
She raised her delicate fist to strike Gu Xun's face, but he seized her wrists.
"Hey, hey, hey! Is this really necessary?"
Gu Xun glanced at the creaking lounge chair. Dong Qianqiu's sudden pounce had left it groaning under the strain.
The wooden recliner, chosen purely for its aesthetic appeal, seemed rather flimsy in quality.
"I massaged your shoulders for twenty whole minutes and pounded your legs for ten! Is this really necessary?! I'll fight you right now!"
As Dong Qianqiu spoke, her soul power surged violently. Gu Xun could only counter by suppressing her with his own soul power.