The next day;

As the dawn broke in the sky, Vanessa stepped into Qin Wei's room to wake him up. However, when she reached the bedroom, she paused.

Luna was seen curling around Qin Wei, her leg draped over his thigh, her breathing soft and undisturbed.

Qin Wei lay beside her, eyes closed, and his head embraced by her bosom.

Both of them were naked and in an intimate position, cuddling each other. Their faces looked quite peaceful. Vanessa didn't need to understand what happened. They had sex.

Vanessa raised her hand in a bit of irritation at first, but then slowly let it fall with a sigh, remembering the importance of the day. She couldn't let the Master Icarus be distracted by her scoldings.

Hence, she walked over and gently nudged his shoulder. "Wake up, Master Icarus. It's time."

Qin Wei flinched and opened his eyes, blinking rapidly at her voice. "Vanessa?"

His eyes darted to the side, and Luna still clung to him like a vine. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I can explain…"

Vanessa crossed her arms. "No need. We'll talk about this later."

She turned toward the window, where golden rays were just starting to pour in. "You have a duel to win, Master Icarus. Get ready."

An hour later, steam still clung to his skin as Qin Wei stepped out of the bath.

A breeze from the window cooled his body, causing a light shiver. Luna was already waiting there, with the clothes.

He didn't speak. He calmly approached her. And she started dressing him.

Luna was gentle. Her fingers moved with practiced care, sliding the inner layer over his shoulders and tying the sash at his waist. She didn't make any inappropriate moves as she usually does. Because she was aware that it was not the time to fool around.

Luna tugged the final fold into place, stepping back to admire her work. "Master Icarus looks like a noble from the legends," she whispered, staring at him.

Qin Wei chuckled faintly, caressing her cheek. "I told you that you don't have to call me when we are alone, Luna."

"But, I'm still not officially instated…" Luna blushed, staring down at her feet.

Qin Wei could only smile, grabbing her chin and raising it to his eye level. "That's why you don't have to call me that publicly. When we are private… You are Concubine Luna."

Luna clutched her clothes, suddenly becoming sadder and staring down again. "Mas… Hus… Husband should be careful. Luna cannot come with you due to House Griffin rules, but she will be waiting for your arrival. Mast… Husband should come back safely."

Qin Wei felt like butterflies running through his stomach, listening to those words. His smile only widened further as he raised her chin to stare into her eyes again. "Then, wait for me. I'll come back with victory, for sure."

*

A short while later, the carriage rolled toward the heart of the House Griffin estate.

Qin Wei and Vanessa entered the estate, going straight to the House Griffin's inner sanctum, its towering marble gate opening into a wide path lined with crimson banners.

A narrow stairway, carved from jade stone, led up the cliffside to the Skybound Dueling Terrace, a sacred platform perched at the peak of Cranecloud Hill.

This was where formal duels were held, sanctioned by House Griffin, and watched by elders.

Qin Wei and Vanessa approached the last bend before the staircase.

That's when a voice called out behind him, stopping his tracks for a moment. "Icarus"

He paused mid-step and turned around only to see Zion Fireheart striding toward him, dressed in dark robes embroidered with the insignia of the House Fireheart.

Behind him followed the eunuch attendant, a rank-9 sorcerer, his expression unreadable and his hands folded into opposite sleeves. Duke Mikhael Fireheart was notably absent.

Qin Wei's eyes sharpened. He didn't greet him. Didn't even offer a nod. He simply stared.

Zion, however, didn't seem to care despite the fact that he was the one who called him.

Instead, he stopped a few paces away and looked directly at Vanessa.

"I didn't get to look at you properly the other day," he said, voice smooth with arrogance. "Now that I see you… Such poise. A real beauty. And those hips…perfect for bearing strong heirs."

Vanessa's posture went stiff. She didn't speak, but her gaze turned as cold as a frost blade. Even Qin Wei's face turned ugly, hearing that comment.

Zion continued by letting out a soft chuckle. "A rank-8 warrior at your age. Quite the feat. But such a shame… wasting yourself as a maid to a cripple who depends on weaponized talismans and pretends to be a warrior."

He tilted his head, widening his smile, saying further, "Don't worry. After this farce ends, I'll speak to my father. He and your House Lord can arrange something, perhaps a better future awaits for you as my Concubine."

Vanessa's fingers curled inward at those words.

Qin Wei also said nothing, but his fist clenched so tightly that the sound of creaking knuckles filled the silence.

He turned away, his motivation to beat him to death increased even more.

"Vanessa," he said quietly, "let's go."

The smirk vanished from Zion Fireheart's face.

"You dare ignore..." he hissed, reaching out and placing a hand on Qin Wei's shoulder.

Before the words could finish forming...

"Remove your hand."

Vanessa's voice was low but sharp. Her arm was already raised, as if she was about to hit with a palm strike, angled to shatter his wrist

Zion Fireheart jerked back instinctively with a scowl.

The eunuch beside him stepped forward, robes fluttering as he raised a hand between them. "Be mindful of your actions before Zion," he said smoothly. "Provoking him could be seen as provocation toward Dawnmere."

Vanessa's eyes flashed like cold steel at those words. "This is the domain of the House Griffin, mister," she said, each word laced with seriousness. "Here, I serve the House Lord. Whether it is a Duke's son or an Emperor's son, it makes no difference. So, your Prince should be the one who needs to be mindful of his actions."

The eunuch's smile thinned, but he said no more.

Qin Wei brushed off his shoulder with calm disdain. "They are not worth responding to. Vanessa, let's go," he said without looking back.

And then, he walked away, up the steps to the Skybound Dueling Terrace, where the duel awaited

Vanessa followed close behind, her jaw tight, her hands still twitching with restrained energy.

Behind them, Zion stood frozen for a breath.

Then he chuckled again.

But the laugh didn't quite reach his eyes. Watching them from behind, he muttered. "Once I reduce your dear Master Icarus to a broken shell, I'll force the House Griffin to hand you over to me. The Griffin House Lord needed my Father's cooperation in locating the Divine Temple. To please my father, he will fulfill this small favor of mine."

Meanwhile, Qin Wei and Vanessa walked side by side in silence, ascending the staircase to the Skybound Dueling Terrace.

The path curved gently, flanked by bamboo groves and overlooking the vast House Griffin estate below.

Then, Qin Wei spoke softly, but his voice held steel beneath the calm. "I'll teach him a lesson. I'll force him to apologize to you. That, I promise."

Only then did Vanessa glance at him.

"Master Icarus," she said quietly. "Don't concern yourself with my honor. Worry about protecting your own life."

He slowed.

"You don't believe I have even a sliver of a chance, do you?"

The words hung in the air like a challenge.

Vanessa blinked, clearly caught off guard by the tone.

Her voice was calm, but not unkind. "Zion Fireheart is a genuine rank-7 warrior. You don't know what a seventh rank could do. There is no way you have a chance to defeat him, Master Icarus. That's not an opinion, that's a fact."

She looked away toward the platform, slowly coming into view above the steps.

"It's better to endure five, maybe ten minutes," she added, "give them a good show, and then admit defeat. The matter will be settled peacefully. The Duke will have no more reasons to press. You'll walk away intact with both your pride and bones."

Qin Wei's footsteps came to a halt.

He turned to Vanessa as they approached the dueling terrace, "What if I win?"

Vanessa blinked, caught off guard. "Are you asking for a wager?"

Qin Wei smiled faintly. "Not exactly a wager," he said. "Let's just say… you'll owe me a favor. And whatever I request, you have to fulfill it."

Vanessa narrowed her eyes, immediately crossing her arms under her chest. "I'll not let you do anything to my body."

That made Qin Wei laugh—a soft, amused sound that caught in his throat. "Ah, so you do believe I have a chance, after all."

Vanessa looked away, clearly flustered, a faint pink tinge creeping onto her cheeks. "I said no such thing."

He stepped ahead, hands tucked behind him like a scholar lost in thought. "Don't worry," he said lightly. "I won't ask anything of your body. Or anything that goes against the House Griffin. Alright?"

Vanessa stared at him for a moment, her lips parted, but said nothing. Then, softly, she said. "Alright. But you still shouldn't aim to win. You should aim to walk away alive."

Qin Wei didn't reply this time. Just smiled at her.

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