"It's thanks to Master Keqing's good teaching," Lu Lin said modestly.
Keqing, dressed as usual in her purple skirt and black stockings, stood upright with her sword sheathed, looking spirited and heroic. She laughed openly.
"My swordsmanship comes from my family, refined and improved by me. It's among the best of its kind. Since you've already mastered it, I have nothing more to teach you."
"In that case," Lu Lin said with a mischievous smile, "I have one more question."
The moment she saw that smile, Keqing felt alarm bells ringing.
This guy is definitely about to cause trouble.
Originally, their sparring sessions were held at the Millelith training grounds.
But because Keqing often had official duties and constant travel wasted time, Lu Lin had convinced her to move training into the Serenitea Pot and persuaded her to register there.
His reasoning was simple: once registered, she could enter the teapot realm anytime. Sparring there would save significant time and increase efficiency.
Keqing had hesitated.
After all, it was his private space.
They'd had multiple ambiguous encounters already, and at Mt. Tianheng he had openly teased her. She wasn't comfortable being alone with him in such a secluded environment.
However, she valued efficiency above all else.
Knowing this method would genuinely save time, refusing it would contradict her own principles.
In the end, she half-reluctantly agreed — on one condition:
He wasn't allowed to tease or take advantage of her during training.
To be honest, after what happened at Mt. Tianheng, she should have confronted him, maybe even complained to Xiangling or Ningguang and exposed him as a shameless flirt.
But what would that accomplish?
He openly embraced Ganyu and Hu Tao in front of Ningguang. He wasn't hiding anything.
And beyond his flirtatious nature, he was genuinely capable — especially now, helping Liyue through crisis.
Falling out with him would bring no benefit to Liyue.
There was also one truth she refused to admit:
She didn't actually dislike him.
That was the most important part.
Thus, she had become his sword instructor — sparring with him in his private realm.
To his credit, he had behaved for the past two days. He focused on training, no teasing, no wandering hands — aside from his heated gaze.
But that smile again…
Sure enough, he asked:
"Since I've learned your family's sword art, does that mean I'm part of your family now?"
"No!" she answered instantly.
"Not part of your family? Then how could I learn it? Isn't there some ancestral rule against teaching outsiders?"
Technically… there was.
Keqing simply didn't care much for rigid traditions.
"There is such a rule. But it's not important."
"Oh no, we must respect tradition. If that's the case, then I should just become part of your family."
He stepped closer.
She retreated.
Until her back pressed against a tree.
"You promised you wouldn't bully me during sword lessons!" she protested, voice tinged with real anxiety.
"But sword lessons are over. You said so yourself."
He leaned closer. His warm breath sent heat rising within her.
Aside from that one incident at Mt. Tianheng, they hadn't shared many intimate moments — but the tension between them had always been high.
Especially after that night at Cuijue Slope, when she had been caught eavesdropping…
When his face drew closer and closer, she didn't even think to dodge.
Their lips met.
Her first kiss.
Lu Lin was as gentle as possible, offering her the best experience he could. Breath intertwined, lips softly moving together.
Her initial instinct to resist melted quickly beneath the warmth of the kiss.
Her feelings toward him were complicated.
Yet she had to admit — aside from being flirtatious — every aspect of him impressed her.
Far-sighted. Learned. Brilliant. Attentive. Handsome. Refined.
There were simply too many strengths to list.
How could someone not be drawn to a person like that?
She liked him.
But his playboy tendencies made her hesitate, leaving her confused about her own heart.
Until this kiss tore away the final veil clouding her feelings.
She was a straightforward girl.
Once she understood her heart, she acted boldly.
She began responding actively, even guiding his hand onto her thigh wrapped in black silk.
This time, she didn't need to be pressured.
Her actions spoke clearly.
"I like this feeling."
Encouraged by her response, Lu Lin grew bolder, tracing along the curve of her silk-clad legs beneath her skirt while his other hand slipped upward.
"Does that make me part of your family now?" he asked softly.
But he didn't hear her answer.
"Apologies for interrupting. Important intelligence."
Ningguang stood several meters away, having appeared silently.
Lu Lin, thick-skinned as ever, calmly withdrew his hand and straightened Keqing's clothes.
Keqing, though usually bold, felt deeply embarrassed being caught like this — especially by her close friend. She turned her face away, unable to meet Ningguang's gaze.
She still didn't realize that Ningguang's relationship with Lu Lin was not what she assumed.
Ningguang felt helpless.
She had tried to shield her friend from Lu Lin's influence — even going so far as to claim certain embarrassing things about herself.
Yet in just a few days, Keqing had still fallen.
Then again… hadn't she?
"What's the urgent matter?" Lu Lin asked calmly.
"The golden-haired traveler went to Jueyun Karst and invited the Three-Eyed Five-Manifestations Adepti down the mountain. They're gathering and heading this way to demand answers."
"And Ying?"
"She's with them. They've reached the outskirts of Mt. Tianheng."
"Perfect. Let's go meet them. Don't worry — the Adepti won't cause chaos. I'm here."
His confidence was unwavering.
And somehow, both Ningguang and Keqing felt reassured.
At some point, without realizing it, these two powerful women of Liyue had begun to rely on him.
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