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This presented a perfect opportunity.
With March 7th and Stardust not around, and Bailu peacefully asleep nearby,
Despite being at the outskirts of the Seat of Divine Foresight,
where numerous Cloud Knights kept watch to prevent any sneaky escapes,
they couldn't hinder Bochang's choice-making process.
"Which option should I pick?"
"The third reward seems great, but the first and second might have hidden bonuses..."
As the countdown ticked away, Bochang felt deeply conflicted.
"First... or third?"
After a moment's hesitation, considering the overwhelming pressure from the Stellaron Hunters, Bochang gritted his teeth and decided, "It's irrational to forego a 100% physique boost for a Schrödinger's kiss... Just after surviving that blade attack, it's likely such incidents could happen again. I must be prepared."
As the system began its countdown,
rationality prevailed within Bochang's mind.
While Bailu was indeed a formidable ally, he still believed relying on his own strength was most dependable. However, the reward for Option Three seemed overly generous, causing slight unease.
Nevertheless... Bochang made his decision.
"Option Three!"
Smiling, Bochang said, "We're friends after all; there's no need for thanks."
With those words...
A sense of relief washed over Bochang, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
[Reward distribution in progress—Congratulations! Your physique has increased by 100%.]
A warm surge coursed wildly through his body.
Bochang's physique jumped from twenty-four times to forty-eight times its original level, marking another significant leap in power. Although his physical appearance remained unchanged, he could distinctly feel an enhanced vitality and energy.
"Is that so? Hmm... But I feel a bit guilty; how about this?" Undeterred by his refusal, Serval quickly leaned forward with a drawn-out, sultry tone and gently kissed Bochang's cheek with her crimson lips.
It was fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming water—just a brief touch before she pulled away. The slightly blushing blonde woman then quietly looked at him.
"How does that sound?"
Serval felt somewhat nervous, unsure of Bochang's thoughts. She realized her action was quite bold, which also stirred a hint of unease within her.
To be fair, if Bochang had wanted to avoid it, he could have easily done so, but he didn't.
The black-haired youth, having been kissed unexpectedly, found himself momentarily bewildered.
He initially thought only options one or two would offer mysterious rewards.
Yet surprisingly, option three did as well.
"What kind of bonus is this... Wait... Could there be some hidden danger involved?"
After a momentary daze, Bochang regained his composure and gently touched his cheek.
The spot where she kissed felt slightly warm now.
This was Bochang's first time being kissed by a girl, leaving him with mixed emotions.
Feeling his face flush, his heart raced as he looked at Serval.
Bathed in a golden glow, the blonde woman appeared exceptionally radiant. With her bright eyes and charming smile, her gaze was gentle, and a lingering blush adorned her cheeks.
Bochang began, "This..."
Unfortunately...
He was interrupted before he could finish.
"Shh..." Serval placed a finger to her lips, signaling for Bochang to remain quiet. She then continued, "You don't need to say anything; this is just my gratitude for your generous gift."
With Serval's interruption,
Bochang's words caught in his throat, unable to continue.
An awkward silence fell over the scene.
Noticing Bochang's embarrassed expression, Serval found it quite amusing. She firmly patted his shoulder and said, "Don't be so shy; I just gave you a peck on the cheek, no big deal."
As she spoke, perhaps to mask her own feelings, the blonde woman displayed an uncharacteristically bold demeanor.
"Come on... let's take a photo together," she suggested. Without hesitation, Serval wrapped her arm around Bochang's shoulders, their cheeks touching side by side. He could distinctly feel the smoothness of her fair skin against his own.
Inevitably...
other parts of their bodies also made close contact.
Unfazed, Serval picked up her phone to snap pictures.
Caught off guard by this sudden intimacy, Bochang had no prior experience dealing with such situations. With a stiff smile, he managed to flash a peace sign as requested by Serval.
After taking several photos, without any further ado, Serval promptly sent them to the family group chat on Astral Express...
Dan Heng: Looks like you're having a great time! The one lying on Bochang's thigh - that must be Bailu he mentioned earlier, right?
Regarding Bailu's dragon transformation and how she saved Bochang and Serval from Blade's attack, Dan Heng was already aware.
Not only him, but Star, March 7th, and others knew as well.
As soon as the sound of dragon's roar echoed, they had discussed it in the group chat.
After Bochang found the chance to reply, they learned the full details of the incident.
Welt Yang even commented, "It's alright if you didn't capture Blade, ensuring your own safety is enough. Moreover, being able to stall Blade actually helped everyone."
Uncle Yang spoke in such vague terms, leaving Bochang puzzled.
What capturing Blade...?
And what does he mean by stalling him?
Clearly, Bochang was the one under attack, wasn't he?
Realizing there might be some misunderstanding, Bochang had no intention of explaining further. Letting this beautiful misconception persist seemed preferable.
In any case, revealing the truth wouldn't benefit Bochang much, so it was better to let things stand as they were.
Just after Serval posted a photo with their faces close together in the group chat...
The "Astral Express Family" group instantly erupted.
Stars: ???
March 7th: ???
March 7th: What are you two doing?
As the pink-haired girl stared at the image on her phone screen, her hands trembled slightly.
Stelle found herself at a loss for words, seeing Serval and Bochang so intimately close.
It irked her, suddenly recalling what the blonde woman had said earlier - "I'll take good care of Bochang, so feel free to go ahead."
The gray-haired girl noticed this reaction.
Her current feelings mirrored those from when Serval made that statement, even more intensely so.
When the blonde woman shared her selfie...
She hadn't hesitated or avoided including Bochang, ensuring he saw everything.
Unfortunately, with his thoughts in disarray, he couldn't stop her in time.
Serval swiftly posted the intimate selfie of them both.
"Wah! This option is indeed causing major trouble! Now what should I do?"
Getting a 100% physique boost was one thing, but coupled with an unexpected kiss... Bochang sensed trouble brewing right from the start, though he didn't anticipate it escalating so quickly.
To make matters worse, it included a kiss from Serval.
At that moment, Bochang sensed trouble brewing, but he didn't expect it to escalate so swiftly.
Serval: "I'm visiting the Seat of Divine Foresight with Bochang; the scenery here is quite lovely. So naturally, I wanted to take some photos with him. March, you should understand, right?"
March 7th: "I do understand, but you two are standing way too close!"
Stars: "Indeed, it seems inappropriate."