Eating Too Much Causes Stomachache, A Street Full of Monsters

If there's one thing that makes Illusory Star City unique,

it's how quickly night falls here.

According to the locals, every day after 2 p.m., the ancient trees in the forest absorb sunlight, turning day into night.

But this is also the city's most famous feature—

because the night sky becomes a canvas for countless shimmering stars.

At an open-air dessert shop...

"Qin Luo."

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

Su Muwan leaned back in her chair, exhaling a frosty breath with visible satisfaction. "I must've gone overboard with my cultivation again."

"That's why I'm exhaling cold air."

Qin Luo blinked, only half-understanding. "So...?"

"Sooo..." Su Muwan rubbed her stomach with a troubled expression. "The only way to ease the symptoms is by eating ice cream."

"That's what the books say—er, medical books, I mean."

"It's called... fighting poison with poison."

...?

Hearing this, Qin Luo, sitting beside her, slowly turned his head. His gaze landed on the mountain of empty ice cream sundae cups piled in front of Su Muwan, and his eye twitched.

After taking a deep breath, he suddenly reached out, planted his hand on Su Muwan's head, and began spinning it 360 degrees with a deceptively gentle smile.

"Stop blaming your cultivation for your ice cream cravings, you lazy young miss!!"

"Waaahhh—!!"

Su Muwan flailed wildly, nearly sending her spoon flying as her hair turned into a tangled mess.

Still, she kept struggling and shouting, "I'm not lying! It really is the cultivation's fault!"

"Wait! You said it, didn't you?!"

"You called me lazy!"

"How dare you!"

Grabbing Qin Luo's wrist, she glared at him, cheeks flushed with indignation. "Now this young lady is officially angry!"

"And I won't be easily appeased!"

Just then—

"Here you go, you two. Your order: [Love Comes Too Fast So Devour This Sundae Hard]."

"Wow! Thanks!"

Qin Luo: ???

What kind of ridiculous name is that?

Speaking of which...

He turned to the server and asked, "How many more are left?"

"Let me check."

The server smiled. "Twenty more, and you'll hit a hundred."

Enough. Seriously, enough.

Rubbing his temples, Qin Luo looked back at Su Muwan. "Young Miss, have you forgotten about your last canker sore?"

"If you eat too much ice cream, you'll upset your stomach. Let's call it a day."

"I did the math."

"You shouldn't eat the one that just arrived or the ones after—"

Before he could finish—

Slurp!

Clatter.

Su Muwan had already polished it off. She dropped the spoon and tilted her head. "What were you saying?"

Qin Luo: ?

Are you some kind of superhero? How did you eat that so fast?

With a resigned sigh, he looked at her with pity. "Young Miss."

"What?? What? Are you impressed by how fast I can eat ice cream?"

"Hmph!"

Su Muwan puffed up proudly. "A mere Qin Luo thinks he can lecture me? You've got a long way to go!"

"No, I just wanted to warn you."

Qin Luo shook his head, then raised a finger with a smirk. "In three seconds, your stomach is going to hurt."

Three seconds?

Su Muwan scoffed, clearly not buying it. "If I'm not in pain in three seconds, you're lending me your hand tonight!"

One second passed.

She poked Qin Luo's cheek, eyes gleaming mischievously. "Well, Luo Luo? One second's gone~"

Two seconds passed.

Seeing Qin Luo's unwavering confidence, she started to panic. She grabbed his wrist. "Hey, Luo Luo, don't scare me. Am I really going to be in agony?"

"Well, not agony agony."

"Oh, then—"

"Just enough to make you wail."

Su Muwan: ?

She took a deep breath, forcing composure. "Hah! You're definitely lying!"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

The moment those words left his mouth—

Su Muwan froze.

And then—

Third second!

"Guh—!"

Her face instantly paled, her feigned calm twisting into pain.

Clutching her stomach, she curled into a ball, writhing beside Qin Luo like a miserable little creature. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead as she whimpered, "L-Luo Luo... it huuurts!"

"Waaahh! Save me, I'm dying!!"

Her voice trembled with tears.

Her mind reeled.

Wait, three seconds exactly?!

Qin Luo watched her pitiful state. Though he'd expected this outcome, his heart still ached for her.

He quickly reached out, gently massaging her stomach. Warmth seeped from his palm into her abdomen as he chided softly, "This is what happens when you eat too much ice cream."

Feeling some relief, Su Muwan regained a bit of her usual bravado.

Between sniffles, she still managed to grumble, "I-It's your fault... f-for not stopping me sooner!"

Her pouty, teary-eyed look—

—made Qin Luo nod solemnly. "Oh?"

He withdrew his hand, smiling sweetly. "Then I won't treat you."

"???"

Su Muwan panicked. "Luo Luo, keep going! Please!"

"Nope."

"Waaahh..."

"Crying won't work."

"Ehehe..."

"Neither will acting cute."

"You—!"

Clutching her stomach, biting her lip, and glaring up at him with teary, reddened eyes, she whined, "You're bullying me!"

The sight was utterly pitiful—enough to melt anyone's heart.

At the very least, Qin Luo fell for it.

Clearing his throat, he placed his palm back on her stomach, resuming the gentle massage. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you, Young Miss."

"But next time, remember to pace yourself."

Su Muwan felt Qin Luo's concern, the warmth of his hand against her belly—

—and suddenly, a deep blush spread across her face, from her ears down to her neck.

She squirmed closer to him, then tightly wrapped her arms around his, resting her head against his shoulder as if trying to hide.

Her breathing grew uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly. The usual air of confidence was gone, replaced by sheer embarrassment.

Just as Qin Luo finished and was about to pull away—

Su Muwan, still clinging to him, finally spoke in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"...Sorry, Luo Luo."

Hearing this, Qin Luo smiled gently. "An apologetic Young Miss is quite adorable too."

"Hmph... s-smooth talker..."

Her face burned even redder, as if about to combust.

She tightened her grip on his arm, as though afraid he'd leave, and whispered, "My stomach still hurts... don't let go, Luo Luo."

Truthfully, the pain had mostly subsided.

But...

Beneath her flushed cheeks, Su Muwan's gaze lingered with longing.

Qin Luo's palm... so warm...

She wished she could stay pressed against him forever...

Or maybe... get even closer...

But no.

At least not now, because their main purpose here was to consolidate the city's factions.

Truth be told, Su Muwan couldn't care less about setting the world back on track.

But...

If this was the only way she and Qin Luo could truly live in peace together,

then she was willing to take action.

So.

Su Muwan released Qin Luo, the blush on her face fading away.

In its place was the focused demeanor she wore when working.

Qin Luo stared at her, momentarily stunned.

Su Muwan stood up, casting a haughty glance at him. "What are you standing around for?"

"Did a mere Qin Luo forget why we're here?"

With that,

she swept her gaze across the streets now shrouded in night, observing the bustling tourists and shopkeepers.

Her eyes sharpened. "This place... it's crawling with monsters."

Hearing this,

Qin Luo paused briefly before smiling and rising to his feet. "As expected of the world's strongest, Young Miss."

"Then... let's get to work."

"Hmph!"