Su Wan blinked, startled by the sudden praise. "O-of course, Senior Brother Lin."

As Su Wan carefully picked the mushrooms, a bizarre realization washed over her. She was used to manipulating men to do things for her.

She had never wanted to do manual labor. But the way Lin Ji’an asked, so confidently, so flatteringly, made her actually want to be helpful.

’He is... very charismatic,’ Su Wan thought, a genuine blush rising to her cheeks as she handed the mushrooms over. ’He’s strong, he protects people, he’s organized... if he wasn’t a chef, he would be the perfect Dao Companion.’

Without realizing it, the White Lotus was slowly being brainwashed by Ji’an’s overwhelming "Capable Older Brother" energy.

.

.

.

Night fell over the Myriad Illusions Realm.

Under Ji’an’s strict command, the squad found a highly defensible cave near a freshwater spring. While the useless Class 6 guards were tasked with gathering firewood, Ji’an set to work.

Within thirty minutes, the campsite looked like a luxury glamping retreat.

Ji’an had set up perimeter warning talismans, laid out sleeping mats in an organized circle, and erected a massive iron pot over a roaring fire.

She was cooking the Shadow-Weave Serpent.

She chopped the Thunder-Root Ginger and threw it into the boiling broth along with the Cloud-Silk Truffles.

The aroma that wafted out of the cave was so intensely delicious it practically glowed in the dark.

Everyone in the cave was sitting in a circle, staring at the pot with hungry, glazed eyes. Even the grumpy Princess was leaning forward, her stomach growling audibly.

"Alright," Ji’an clapped her hands, using a wooden ladle to serve the stew into wooden bowls. "Dinner is served. Eat slowly. The snake meat has high Yin energy; it’ll replenish your Qi, but it’s hot."

She handed out the bowls. When it came to Princess Ling’er, Ji’an didn’t just hand her the bowl.

Because Ling’er was propped up against the cave wall, her hands trembling slightly from the exhaustion of the day’s pain, Ji’an simply sat down cross-legged beside her.

Ji’an scooped up a piece of tender snake meat and rich, golden broth with a spoon.

She blew on it gently, her dark eyes focused on the spoon, before holding it up to Ling’er’s mouth.

"Open," Ji’an said simply.

Ling’er stared at the spoon. Then she stared at Ji’an’s face, illuminated by the warm, flickering firelight.

Ji’an’s expression was completely natural, lacking any hint of mockery or ulterior motive. She was just feeding someone who was hurt.

To Ji’an, it was like feeding a grumpy toddler.

But to Ling’er, it was the most romantic, heart-stopping moment of her sixteen years of life.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. Her face turned a brilliant shade of crimson that rivaled her dress. She opened her mouth hesitantly, allowing Ji’an to feed her.

The stew was incredible. It melted on her tongue, sending a rush of warm, healing energy straight to her injured ankle.

"Is it too hot?" Ji’an asked, tilting her head.

"N-no," Ling’er squeaked, looking down at her lap. "It’s... It’s very good. Thank you... Senior Brother Lin."

"You’re welcome, Your Highness," Ji’an smiled, scooping another spoonful.

Across the fire, Liu Liu and Su Wan were watching the interaction.

"He is perfect," Liu Liu whispered to Su Wan, clutching her bowl. "He fights monsters and is good at taking care of people when they are injured. He cooks like a god, and he spoon-feeds you when you’re hurt. Senior Brother Lin is the ultimate husband material."

Su Wan, completely forgetting her usual scheming nature, found herself nodding in fervent agreement, her eyes tracking Ji’an’s elegant hands. "He truly is. A hidden gem in the Outer Sect."

Outside the realm, in the Assembly Plaza, the massive floating screens were broadcasting the feeds.

The largest screen, originally intended to follow the action of the top-ranked disciples, was currently dominated by the feed from Candidate #459.

The plaza was eerily quiet.

The female disciples of both the Inner and Outer Sects were staring up at the screen. They watched Lin Ji’an gently blow on a spoon of soup.

They watched her carry a Princess without a single complaint and organize a chaotic camp into a cozy haven.

A collective, synchronized sigh rippled through the female population of the Celestial Sword Sect.

"Who cares about the Young Sect Lord’s techniques?" a senior sister muttered, fanning her flushed face. "I want a man who can debone a snake and make it taste like heaven!"

"Did you see how he carried her?" another swooned. "So strong! So gentle!"

"Ahhh! I really want to bear Brother Lin’s child!"

"Forget the Princess and marry me, Brother Lin!"

On the upper jade terrace, the atmosphere was drastically different.

Gu Zhiwei was beaming proudly. "I knew it! Brother Lin is bringing people together! He is a beacon of unity!"

Lu Jianheng was grinding his teeth, his hand gripping his sword hilt so hard it squeaked. "He is pandering! He is using domestic tricks to bewitch them! It’s... It’s unfair!"

But the most terrifying reaction came from the edge of the terrace.

Xie Wangchen stood perfectly still.

He was staring at the screen blankly.

He saw Ji’an sitting close to the Princess and feeding her. He saw the blush on the Princess’s face, and he recognized the look in Su Wan’s eyes.

He knew that look. It was the look of someone falling into Lin Ji’an’s orbit.

The air around Wangchen didn’t just turn cold; it crystallized. The moisture in the air turned into literal snowflakes that drifted down onto the jade floor.

’He is mine to feed,’ the dark, possessive voice in Wangchen’s head roared, clawing against the inside of his skull. ’He carried her, touched her ankle, and now he is smiling at her.’

The Blackening Value, which Ji’an had worked so hard to lower, began a slow, terrifying upward tick.

Wangchen closed his eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath, trying to force the Heartless Dao to suppress the raging inferno of jealousy consuming his chest.