The morning sun flared over the academy's combat courtyard like molten gold spilling across the polished stone. Students from every department gathered in clusters, eyes burning with curiosity and gossip.
"Did you hear? Mu Yuxin's challenging Li Cheng!"
"No way. That's suicide—unless she's lost her mind or he's hiding something big."
The name Li Cheng had once been synonymous with failure. A background character in everyone's story — the guy who fetched tea, who smiled when insulted, who kept his head low while others mocked.
But lately… something had changed.
He walked differently now. His gaze had weight. His presence was magnetic — as though gravity itself had decided to orbit him.
And today, that quiet fire was about to ignite before the entire university.
Mu Yuxin stood at the opposite end of the combat ring, her long silver ponytail gleaming under the sunlight. Her uniform hugged her athletic frame with regal precision, the insignia of her elite bloodline stitched in shimmering gold.
Her eyes — clear, sharp, teasing — met his.
"Ready to lose, campus hero?" she asked, voice dripping with playful challenge.
Li Cheng gave a half-smile. "I didn't come here to lose. I came to test how fragile your confidence really is."
The crowd exploded.
"He's crazy!""That's Mu Yuxin! Her spiritual power's in the top ten!""Did he just flirt and insult her at the same time?"
Li Cheng didn't respond. He rolled his shoulders, breathing calmly as the holographic blue window of his System shimmered before his eyes.
[New Task Generated!]
Mission Type: Public Duel
Opponent: Mu Yuxin (Energy Level: Unknown)
Objective: Defeat the opponent convincingly.
Reward: 10,000 Yuan, +50 Charisma, +1 Hidden Attribute (Random).
Penalty: Public humiliation and loss of dignity.
"Great," Li Cheng muttered dryly. "So it's not just a fight, it's my ego on the line."
[Host may activate "Face-Slapping Protocol." Success rate: 89%.]
He smirked. "Let's keep that as dessert."
The referee raised his hand. "Combatants ready?"
Both nodded.
"Begin!"
The air cracked.
Mu Yuxin's figure vanished in a blur. She reappeared above him, blade gleaming like a streak of sunlight. The first strike came hard—a lightning-fast downward cut.
Clang!
Metal shrieked as Li Cheng raised his arm. His forearm glowed crimson, intercepting the strike barehanded. Sparks cascaded like rain.
Gasps rippled through the audience.
"He caught her blade? With his hand?"
"What the hell is that glow?"
"Since when did Li Cheng learn that kind of technique?"
[Passive Skill Activated: "Crimson Veins" – Energy Density +200%.]
Li Cheng's lips twitched. "You blinked."
A flick of his wrist shattered her sword into shimmering dust.
Mu Yuxin landed lightly, eyes narrowing, surprise flickering beneath her calm smile. "Interesting… So you've been hiding tricks."
"Just saving energy," he replied casually. "Wouldn't want to embarrass you too soon."
"Oooh!"
"Damn, that's a real face slap!"
"He's flirting while fighting! Is this guy human or a drama protagonist?"
Mu Yuxin laughed softly, lowering into a stance. "You've changed, Li Cheng. Before, you wouldn't even look me in the eye."
He looked right at her now, his gaze steady, burning faintly red. "Before, I didn't have a reason to."
Their auras collided like storm fronts. Crimson against gold.
Then, with a sound like thunder tearing through glass, they clashed again.
Fists met energy, step met step, every movement a dance of violence and precision. The ground cracked under the pressure. Students shielded their faces from the energy waves.
[System Update:] Combat Mode – Enhanced Perception Activated.
Analyzing Opponent... Energy Pattern Detected: Divine Sequence Fragment (Unregistered).
Li Cheng's brow furrowed. "Divine Sequence Fragment? What the hell are you—"
A golden halo flared behind Mu Yuxin's back, lines of ancient runes rotating around her.
The ground trembled.
"Didn't think you'd see this so soon," she said softly, eyes glowing gold. "Sorry, Li Cheng, but I can't afford to lose today."
Li Cheng smirked. "Neither can I."
They collided once more.
A wave of energy surged outward, splitting the arena tiles. The referee stumbled back, shielding his face.
Dust swirled. Then a scream—
"Li Cheng's down!"
When the smoke cleared, Li Cheng stood at the center, a trail of blood on his lip — but still standing.
Mu Yuxin was several meters away, breathing hard, her sword's aura flickering.
He exhaled slowly. "You fight well."
She smiled faintly. "And you talk too much."
"Occupational hazard," he replied, wiping his lip. "You hit me, so I get to return the favor."
[Face-Slapping Protocol Activated.]
Target: Mu Yuxin.
Effect:Verbal humiliation + tactical reversal + system bonus multiplier (x2).
He pointed at her with calm arrogance. "You said you'd try not to hit my face, right?"
"Yeah?" she said cautiously.
He grinned. "Good, because it's your pride that's getting slapped instead."
A crack echoed—not physical, but spiritual. Her energy flared and collapsed like a wave pulled back by gravity.
The crowd erupted.
"Ohhhh damn!"
"He reversed her aura—how!?"
"Face slap of the century!"
Mu Yuxin bit her lip, chest rising and falling. "You're enjoying this too much."
"Just another day at the office," he quipped, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.
[Ding! Mission Complete.]
Reward Granted: 10,000 Yuan +50 Charisma + Hidden
Attribute: "Charm Resonance."
[Charm Resonance Unlocked: Opposite gender favorability +15%. Chance to trigger curiosity state in intelligent beings.]
Li Cheng blinked. "Wait… curiosity state?"
Mu Yuxin tilted her head, watching him oddly now — her eyes softer, the corner of her lips lifting.
"Strange…" she murmured. "Why do I suddenly want to know everything about you?"
The crowd roared with laughter.
"He's literally charming her!"
"This guy's broken! He wins the fight and the girl?"
"Main character energy!"
But then—
[Warning: Anomaly Detected.]
Foreign code interference entering host system.
Li Cheng's grin faltered. "What the hell?"
Mu Yuxin's expression shifted — a flicker of guilt, almost fear. Her golden aura pulsed wildly.
[Foreign Source Identified: Sub-System Signature: 'Heaven's Contract'].[Compatibility Conflict: 67%. Warning – Host Synchronization Triggered.]
Golden lines snaked from her wrist, connecting to his chest like veins of light.
Li Cheng stumbled back. "Yuxin—what are you doing?"
"I—" Her voice trembled. "I didn't mean to! It's automatic when my Divine Sequence activates!"
[System Alert!]
Synchronization Progress: 10%... 35%... 68%...
The air warped. Students froze mid-cheer. Sound collapsed into static.
Then the world stopped.
Everything hung suspended — the dust, the leaves, the whispers — all trapped in a bubble of golden-red light.
A massive holographic interface appeared between them, half his crimson system, half her radiant gold.
Their systems overlapped.
[Fusion Detected: Dual Host Protocol Activated.]
[Mission Generated: Survive the System Fusion.]
[Optional Reward: Unlock Forbidden Function – ???]
Mu Yuxin's eyes widened. "Fusion? That's impossible!"
Li Cheng's voice was tight. "Then explain why my screen looks like it's glitching with your face on it!"
Her cheeks flushed. "Y-you're seeing my data logs?! Stop looking!"
[Warning: Emotional fluctuation detected. Fusion stability dropping.]
[Recommend: Host maintain composure.]
Li Cheng growled. "Easy for you to say, you're not the one being hacked by a golden princess!"
[Correction: She is now approximately 43% integrated into your System.]
"WHAT?!" both shouted simultaneously.
[Fusion Progress: 92%...]
The ground began to shake violently. Runes spiraled around them, merging red and gold into one blinding pattern.
[System Update: Accessing Forbidden Function…]
Li Cheng's eyes widened as data flashed before him — impossible symbols, half-system code, half-divine script.
Mu Yuxin reached out, gripping his wrist tightly. Her eyes glowed, but her voice trembled. "Li Cheng, listen to me! If it reaches 100%, both of us might—"
[Fusion Complete.]
Light exploded.
When it faded, silence reigned. The arena was scorched, tiles cracked. The students stared in shock.
Li Cheng and Mu Yuxin stood back-to-back in the center of a glowing sigil, their auras now intertwined — half crimson, half gold.
His voice was hoarse. "What… just happened?"
Her reply came soft, shaken. "I think… our systems just merged."
[New Mode Activated: Dual Host Synchronization.]
Abilities: Shared Conscious Link / Shared Power Growth / Emotional Resonance (Level 1).
Li Cheng blinked. "Shared what now?"
Mu Yuxin met his gaze, cheeks flushed crimson. "I can hear your thoughts…"
"WHAT?!"
[Quest Updated: System Fusion Event – Survive or be erased.]