Surprises Inside the Bronze Gate: Take It or Leave It

The sky within the bronze gate was a flowing amber hue, with countless diamond-shaped crystals suspended in the clouds, refracting a myriad of stars.

Su Muwan stepped onto the soft grass, her skirt brushing past as ice-blue crystalline flowers instantly bloomed in its wake.

Hiss! This place...

Why so many special effects...

"Qin Luo..."

She suddenly turned and grabbed Qin Luo's collar, her nose nearly brushing against his chin as she glared at him. "You had such a fun place and only brought me here now?"

"And! Even if it's the first time, you actually brought me here for work!"

"Seriously..."

Su Muwan pouted, grumbling, "You could've said you had a big surprise for me and asked me out on a date."

What’s with this guy having zero sense of romance?

"Wrongfully accused!"

Qin Luo lightly tapped his finger, conjuring a frost flower out of thin air and tucking it behind her ear. "Your Highness, please be fair—this amusement park was built just for you. The real surprise is yet to come."

"Surprise?"

Su Muwan touched the frost flower by her ear, a faint smirk curling her lips. "Then I’ll see what you’ve got."

The next second.

"Your Highness, watch closely."

Qin Luo snapped his fingers—hum!

The grass beneath their feet suddenly churned into a transparent water surface, countless starlight rising from its depths.

"For example—the lost 'Stellar Marrow' of the Profound Heaven Realm."

As his words fell, translucent silver fish leaped from the water, their tails scattering trails of sparks.

Su Muwan gasped and stepped back, only for Qin Luo to wrap an arm around her waist. "Want to try?"

He guided her hand to grasp at the air, shadows coalescing into a fishing rod in her palm.

"If you don’t catch anything, I’ll freeze you into shaved ice."

Su Muwan feigned a fierce glare, but the moment she cast the hook, she burst into laughter.

The fishing rod arced through the air as silver fish leaped from the water, transforming into shooting stars. Her eyes sparkled with delight, her lips curving uncontrollably. "What the heck, Qin Luo? How did you even do this?"

"Don’t rush. There’s more."

Qin Luo flicked his fingers, and the calm river beneath them surged into an ocean.

Boom!!

Waves lifted a seashell bed to the surface, while sugar-glazed spirit fish darted among coral reefs.

Soft, colorful clouds drifted above them.

Qin Luo took Su Muwan’s wrist and pulled her toward a cloud-padded cushion, both sinking into its fluffiness.

Su Muwan held the fishing rod, casting her line into the sea, her gaze flickering toward Qin Luo. "Seriously, Qin Luo! How can you do anything?"

"You’re like you’ve activated creative mode in Minecraft!"

Qin Luo shrugged. "In this place, I basically am in creative mode."

With a grin, he asked, "Your Highness, want to see snow?"

"Yes~"

The next instant.

Qin Luo raised his arm and snapped his fingers—the sound shattered the boundary between sea and sky.

In a blink, towering emerald mountains shed their greenery, snowflakes cascading to cloak the pine forests.

Snow-capped peaks materialized in an instant under Qin Luo’s will.

Yet, even more wondrous—

Though winter had fallen, peach blossoms blazed brilliantly at the mountainside, while a hot spring steamed pink strawberry-milk mist at the base.

The clouds carried them to the mountainside.

As they landed, Su Muwan reached out, rubbing snowflakes between her fingers—cold.

Then she touched the peach blossoms—real.

She stood frozen at the border of winter and spring, snowflakes dusting her hair, petals caught in her skirt. Turning to Qin Luo, her eyes gleamed brighter. "Qin Luo, can you really change anything here?"

"Of course. Care to swing through the sky, Your Highness?"

Qin Luo stepped beside her, shadows swirling at his fingertips.

The next moment—

Whoosh!

Su Muwan felt herself soaring skyward.

Then, the light veil dissolved—

And—

Whoosh!

The entire sky unfurled into aurora borealis, like velvet draped with starlight.

From the clouds, a swing frame woven from countless stars descended, spanning the heavens.

Su Muwan landed perfectly on the nearest starry swing, which began swaying on its own, pushing her gently back and forth.

"Woo-hoo!"

Seated on the swing, her skirt traced graceful arcs in the air with every motion.

Her laughter rang like silver bells, echoing through the dreamlike realm.

Qin Luo hovered nearby, watching her with tender, quiet warmth.

"Qin Luo!"

"Come here!"

Su Muwan called excitedly, her cheeks flushed, her eyes outshining the surrounding galaxy.

She reached out, fingertips brushing the starlight Qin Luo had conjured.

With a soft smile, Qin Luo moved behind her, giving the swing a gentle push to send her higher.

Her laughter soared with the swing, her joy lifting her to the clouds.

"As long as Your Highness is happy."

Qin Luo’s voice was a whisper, gentle as a spring breeze.

Watching her radiant smile, his lips curved slightly.

Mm. This version of Her Highness was just... unbearably adorable.

Whoosh!

At the peak of her swing, Su Muwan suddenly let go, landing lightly midair.

With a nimble twist, she lunged at Qin Luo, looping her arms around his neck, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Luo Luo~ What other surprises do you have hidden?"

Oh? Switching nicknames now?

Seems Her Highness is in a splendid mood...

Qin Luo chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. Leaning close, he murmured, "Plenty more surprises... but shouldn’t Your Highness give me a little reward first?"

Su Muwan blinked, pretending to ponder. "A reward? Hmm... fine."

Mwah!

She pecked his cheek, then quickly pulled back, a triumphant grin on her face. "Well? Good enough?"

Qin Luo touched the kissed spot, his eyes deepening with amusement. "Not even close."

"Tch. Such demands from a mere Qin Luo!"

Su Muwan huffed, but her gaze drifted toward the strawberry-scented hot spring at the mountain’s base.

A flicker of something unspoken shone in her eyes, her cheeks pinkening as she mumbled, almost too softly to hear, "So... wanna go soak in the springs?"

Truthfully, ages ago during their trip to Sakura City, Su Muwan had bought a new swimsuit—just for hot springs with Qin Luo.

But somehow, one thing after another had always gotten in the way...

The moment she spoke, her ears burned crimson. Her fingers fidgeted with her skirt, her eyes darting away—yet still stealing glances at him.

Qin Luo arched a brow, his smirk widening as he drawled, "Oh? Is Your Highness inviting me to bathe together?"

His low, teasing tone only made her flush harder.

"W-Who’s inviting you?!"

Su Muwan glared, her face now scarlet. "Suit yourself!"

She turned to leave, but Qin Luo caught her wrist.

"Of course I’ll join."

"Or rather..."

Qin Luo took a deep breath, his expression as serious as could be: "You absolutely must let me see the young mistress in a swimsuit!!!!!"

Su Muwan: "?"

Hey!

What the hell is up with you being even more eager than me?