This monkey is truly beautiful, a fleeting moment of eternity

Since that ice block had returned to a simple life, Sword City invited Elder Qian and Elder Xue to attend as elders, and even senior brothers like Shen Yunfei received invitations.

It was clear that the higher-ups of Sword City intended to establish friendly relations and exchange resources with the Qingyuan Sect.

Thus, the tavern was unusually quiet.

Ouyang and Senior Brother Xiaobao huddled together, peering at a spot not far away.

There sat Little Li, staring blankly at a painting, lost in thought.

"What's up with Junior Brother Li?"

Tang Xiaobao hadn’t joined the banquet because he could only sit at the kids' table, and Sword City likely had no place for him.

"He’s been sitting there staring at that painting the whole time."

"Could it be something good?"

Ouyang couldn’t help but feel curious.

Just yesterday, Junior Brother Li had criticized his aesthetic sense, leaving him tossing and turning all night, unable to figure it out.

Which direction was his aesthetic sense even supposed to improve in?

"Still a bit short."

"Gotta try to imprint the divine intent into the soul tonight..."

Li Mo snapped out of his daze, rubbing his sore temples.

Then he noticed a pair of eyes—one human, one pill—staring at him intently.

"What’s up?"

"So, Junior Brother Li, is this what you meant by improving your aesthetic sense?"

Ouyang leaned back slightly as he looked at the monkey in the painting.

"..."

Li Mo wanted to say he was contemplating divine essence.

But considering no one else could perceive the divine fluctuations from this painting, he simply nodded.

"Isn’t this good-looking?"

"It’s a monkey, Junior Brother Li!"

Ouyang looked utterly disillusioned, clutching his chest in despair as he pulled out his own "good-looking" art collection from yesterday.

"Junior Brother Li, take a good look—which one’s actually good-looking?"

The art collection was shoved right in front of Little Li’s face, blocking his vision.

Yet, he pushed it aside, completely ignoring the realistically drawn, scantily clad beauties, and declared with unwavering conviction:

"The monkey’s better."

"Huh?!"

Ouyang’s worldview shattered further.

Junior Brother Li’s gaze was as resolute as when he was a child, insisting he wanted to learn painting.

Even after his parents beat him half to death, he never wavered.

"Junior Brother Li, your aesthetic sense is seriously messed up."

"No, it’s not."

Li Mo said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ouyang frowned, his expression grave. "Then let’s ask everyone else in the tavern—which one’s actually good-looking."

He thought his own tastes were already unconventional.

But Junior Brother Li was on another level—so far beyond "unconventional" that it was downright bizarre.

Except Ouyang forgot—all the other senior brothers and sisters had gone to Hengyun Sword City. The only one left was Tang Xiaobao.

"I think the monkey’s better too. It looks really smart."

"Unlike me..."

Tang Xiaobao gave Ouyang a strange look.

The innocent confusion in his eyes seemed to say:

‘Seriously? You think those ladies are better than a monkey? What’s wrong with your eyes?’

Ouyang felt like he’d been struck by lightning.

His pupils trembled.

"People shouldn’t... at the very least, they shouldn’t..."

Little Li didn’t know how to explain it to Senior Brother Ouyang either.

Since he’d rested enough, he went back to contemplating the divine essence.

His consciousness sank into his dantian, where he saw a translucent little figure.

Using his spirit as a blade, he began carving the stone monkey beside the Moon Shadow Divine Rune.

Slowly. Painstakingly.

This was nothing like contemplating Mona Bingsha.

Little Li found it strange himself.

One was a Great Dao Divine Form, the other an Extreme Form—so why was the latter so much harder to cultivate?

Was it because the Monkey King was too difficult to imprint?

Or was it because Mona Bingsha, despite being a Great Dao Divine Form, had traits that made her easier for him to comprehend?

Or maybe... both?

......

Time flowed quietly.

The mission subtitles remained suspended in place.

Ying Bing wanted to brew some tea.

But remembering the tea leaves were stored inside the big-headed doll, she withdrew her hand.

Let things take their natural course?

But this didn’t feel natural at all.

Should she just go downstairs, walk straight up to Li Mo, and say: Let me kiss you?

In the past, for the sake of system rewards, she wouldn’t have cared about such trivialities—she might’ve actually done it.

It was just lips touching his, after all. They’d even shared a bed before—why be shy now?

But now, she found it strange herself—what was she hesitating for?

"Can’t I just... give up this reward?"

[Ding—]

[This punishment can indeed be abandoned.]

"Why didn’t you say so before?"

Ying Bing remembered refusing in the past too.

[Because the system never detected the host uttering the words ‘give up.’]

Ying Bing: "..."

Meaning if she hadn’t accidentally said those words, she’d never have known?

[Reminder: Abandoning anything comes at a cost—rewards included.]

[If you abandon a rating reward, the system will randomly revoke one of your ranking rewards.]

Randomly revoke a ranking reward?

Ying Bing’s heart stirred.

The system might not be the brightest, but its rewards were top-tier.

Of last night’s three rewards:

The Moon Essence Crystals she’d accumulated would let her break through to the third aperture today.

The Demon-Slaying Gourd was a marvel—it could execute evil spirits, refining them into pure energy to replenish her Mystic Crystals or even Moon Essence.

And then there were the Azure Phoenix Wings.

If she lost even one of these, her chances of turning things around next time would be even slimmer.

"...I’ll just go see him first."

Ying Bing pressed her lips together and took light, graceful steps.

Just as she reached the first floor, she ran into the two still arguing.

Tang Xiaobao and Ouyang.

"Senior Brother Xiaobao, the ladies are clearly better-looking."

"But I really think the monkey’s better. That monkey looks super smart."

Hearing footsteps, they both turned and saw Ying Bing.

Ouyang decided to ask Junior Sister Ying to settle the debate.

"?"

Hearing their question, Ying Bing frowned slightly.

"What monkey?"

"The one Junior Brother Li drew."

"And this one—"

"Is my masterpiece."

Ouyang said with full confidence.

Ying Bing thought for a moment.

"The monkey’s better."

"!"

Ouyang turned to stone on the spot.

Oh no. Was he actually the most normal person in the Qingyuan Sect?

"Told you so." Tang Xiaobao put his hands on his hips.

Ying Bing walked into the courtyard.

Her gaze lifted, landing on Li Mo, who lay on a recliner with his eyes closed, breathing steadily.

...Was he asleep?

Ying Bing subconsciously relaxed.

Delays bred complications.

Seeing that Li Mo didn’t stir even as she approached, she bit her lip, leaned down, and quickly pecked his forehead.

Then she straightened up just as fast, pretending nothing had happened, her jade-like hands rubbing the big-headed doll to calm herself.

A flurry of thoughts raced through her mind—what if Li Mo woke up? What would she say?

Maybe...

"The moonlight’s nice tonight?"

But Li Mo didn’t wake.

The system didn’t react either.

A forehead kiss didn’t count?

[Keyword reminder: Kiss.]

Ying Bing: "..."

Her gaze drifted downward, settling on the young man’s seemingly deep-slumbering face—and those lips that always knew just what to say.

...She had to kiss there?

Her expression remained cool, but suddenly, her own heartbeat sounded deafening.

The night wind rustled the leaves.

Bathed in moonlight, the young girl swiftly bent down.

She moved swiftly, yet for some reason, time seemed to crawl—an instant stretched into an eternity.

Li Mo remained utterly unaware that his first kiss had been stolen.

He could never have imagined in his wildest dreams who had taken it...

Finally, that fleeting eternity passed.

Their lips met for the briefest moment.

"Hmm?"

Li Mo's eyelids fluttered slightly.