The words "Do you like me?" echoed across the arena. After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in a unified chant:
"Say yes!"
"Say yes!"
"Say yes!"
Just then, Sakata Gintoki suddenly bellowed, "Gin-san objects to this marriage!"
However, before he could finish, a fist slammed onto his head. Feng Shayan glared at him. "Shut up, or I'll cut off your 'tools' right now."
Gintoki's interruption drew everyone's attention back to Su Xiaoqi, all eagerly awaiting his response.
Su Xiaoqi looked at Lu Linglong in the center of the arena and suddenly laughed. He flew down to her and grinned. "Didn't expect you to pull this move. Weren't we supposed to be 'comrades in arms'? Now you're after me?"
Lu Linglong giggled. "I always follow your script. This time, it's my turn to write it."
Su Xiaoqi smirked. "And what if I don't follow it?"
Lu Linglong pouted dramatically. "Then I'll be the laughingstock of the entire supernatural world and the chat group. Would you really let such a cute girl like me be mocked?"
"You're such a clever little devil." Su Xiaoqi gently pinched her nose, then wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her into the sky. Addressing the crowd, he declared:
"From now on, your 'Goddess Linglong' belongs to me. Anyone got a problem with that?"
Then, with a smirk, he added:
"Actually, even if you do, it doesn't matter. She's still mine."
"HAHAHA!"
The crowd burst into laughter, followed by thunderous applause and cheers.
"Kiss her!"
"Kiss her!"
"Kiss her!"
Su Xiaoqi glanced at Lu Linglong. "So, Linglong, where should I kiss you?"
Blushing, she whispered, "Wherever you want..."
Su Xiaoqi pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Linglong, let's get along from now on."
With that, the Luo Tian Da Jiao officially concluded, and the tale of Su Xiaoqi and Lu Linglong became the most talked-about romance in the supernatural world.
Lu Jing watched them with amusement. "You youngsters really know how to have fun. This old man can't keep up." Then, teasingly, he added, "Linglong, now that you're his girlfriend, try not to scare him off."
Lu Linglong placed her hands on her hips. "Great-grandpa, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll have Su Xiaoqi blow up the Earth! Before, I might've been joking, but now? I'm his publicly announced girlfriend!"
Both Lu Jing and Su Xiaoqi laughed.
Su Xiaoqi grinned. "Old man Lu, looks like we can't be bros anymore."
Lu Jing blinked, then roared with laughter. "Hahaha! You brat. Well, come visit this old man when you can."
"Definitely."
After bidding farewell to Lu Jing and the Heavenly Master, Su Xiaoqi returned to the group, hand in hand with Lu Linglong.
Zhu Zhuqing smirked. "You really dropped a bomb on us. Now I think Feng Baobao's words yesterday fit you perfectly."
Zhi Jinhua chuckled. "People say Lu Linglong is dumb, but she's actually not. Sometimes, she's scarily sharp."
Tokisaki Kurumi muttered sourly, "Just wait until it's my turn. I'll make an even bigger scene."
"WAIT A MINUTE!"
Suddenly, Gintoki stormed up to Lu Linglong. "Linglong, how could you betray Gin-san?! Sure, I might've slacked off this mission, but my heart has always been true!"
Feng Shayan grabbed him by the collar. "Silver Perm, you've got too much energy. Let's go 'spar' again."
Gintoki shivered. "Shayan, I was just joking! Can we skip it? I'm all out of juice..."
Feng Shayan smirked. "Didn't you always say you can 'squeeze out' more? Come on."
As she dragged him away, the group burst into laughter at Gintoki's despairing expression.
Zhang Chulan sidled up to Su Xiaoqi. "Boss, teach me your flirting skills. I wanna get a girl too."
Su Xiaoqi patted his shoulder solemnly. "Chulan, you don't need to look far. The perfect one's already by your side. I believe in you."
Zhang Chulan instinctively glanced at Feng Baobao—then shuddered violently. "Nope. Absolutely not."
Back at their lodgings, Lu Linglong eagerly opened the chat group.
[Notice: Lu Linglong has sent a red packet to everyone!]
[Lu Linglong: A little something for you all! Hehe.]
[Kuroba Kaito: Congrats, Linglong! That was so cool!]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: I was so moved just watching!]
[Namikaze Minato: Wishing you happiness.]
[Lu Linglong: Thanks, everyone!]
[Aizen Sōsuke: @Lu Linglong, seeing your growth brings me joy.]
[Kuroba Kaito: @Aizen, can you not say that? It's creepy every time.]
[Sakuragi Hanamichi: Third Sister-in-law!]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: @Sakuragi, that title suits me better.]
[Himejima Shizune: Heh.]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: What's that 'heh' for? Who said you could talk?]
[Himejima Shizune: Oh? Am I not allowed to speak in the group now? @Su Xiaoqi.]
[Su Xiaoqi: @Tokisaki Kurumi, behave.]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: Just you wait. Once I trigger my mission, we'll settle this.]
[Himejima Shizune: Maybe I'll trigger mine first~]
[Notice: Story Mission Triggered!]
[Member Nami is about to enter the "Skypiea" arc. Nami may alter the storyline as she sees fit—greater changes yield higher rewards. This mission allows five group members to participate.]
[Lu Linglong: SIGN ME UP!]
[Sakata Gintoki: ME TOO! Cute Conis, Gin-san's coming!]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: @Nami, let's team up.]
[Aizen Sōsuke: Enel, is it? I'd like to join as well.]
[Namikaze Minato: I've got Sakuragi's mission, so I'll pass.]
[Kuroba Kaito: Same here.]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: I wanna go too, but I'm just a normal person…]
[Nami: Alright, I've decided!]
[Nami: Zhuqing, Linglong, Kurumi, Su Xiaoqi, and Himejima Shizune.]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: @Nami, WHY HER?! Should've picked Aizen!]
[Himejima Shizune: Oh my, what a surprise~]
[Nami: @Tokisaki Kurumi, If you don't like it, stay home. I'll invite Aizen instead.]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: For Darling's sake… I'll endure.]
[Nami: @Himejima Shizune, Well? Coming or not?]
[Himejima Shizune: Of course~ I'd love to meet everyone.]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: @Himejima Shizune, Let's settle this in the One Piece world.]
[Himejima Shizune: Sure~ I've been curious about your "Zafkiel."]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: And don't you dare flirt shamelessly there. Don't embarrass the group.]
[Himejima Shizune: Oh? I recall you being the one clinging to our admin every day~]
[Tokisaki Kurumi: I'LL KILL YOU.]
[Himejima Shizune: Try it~]
[Notice: Tokisaki Kurumi has been muted for 1 hour.]
[Notice: Himejima Shizune has been muted for 1 hour.]
[Su Xiaoqi: @Nami, Where are you guys now?]
[Nami: Just landed on Jaya.]
[Su Xiaoqi: How's Vivi?]
[Nami: Hmph. She said 'congrats' on you 'claiming' Linglong.]
[Lu Linglong: Hehe.]
[Nami: @Lu Linglong, What's so funny? I wasn't praising you!]
[Su Xiaoqi: @Lu Linglong, Baby, ignore her. She's probably on her period.]
[Nami: DIE.]
[Su Xiaoqi: @Sakuragi Hanamichi, How long till the Inter-High?]
[Sakuragi Hanamichi: Three days!]
[Su Xiaoqi: Looks like I'll be juggling two missions.]
[Sakata Gintoki: WAIT! Gin-san wants to go to Skypiea too!]
[Nami: Piss off. Go play basketball.]
[Nami: @Kashiwazaki Sena, Next time, I'll invite you.]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: Yay! But I don't get it—I started the "Neighbor's Club," so why no mission?]
[Su Xiaoqi: Who's in your club?]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: Just me.]
[Su Xiaoqi: Where's everyone else?]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: That bitch Mikazuki Yozora started a "Friendship Club" and stole them all!]
[Su Xiaoqi: …Then what's the point of your club?]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: (╥﹏╥)]
[Zhu Zhuqing: Heartless.]
[Lu Linglong: Cruel.]
[Nami: Scum.]
[Notice: Nami has been muted for 1 hour.]
[Su Xiaoqi: @Nami, What's it to you? Come on, keep insulting me.]
[Su Xiaoqi: Can't talk now, huh? How's it feel?]
[Kuroba Kaito: Damn, ruthless.]
[Namikaze Minato: In a way, your feud is worse than Kurumi and Shizune's.]
(To be continued...)