For a long moment, Li Cheng didn't breathe.
The world around him was static — a frozen painting of shattered tiles, stunned faces, and burning energy lines.
The battle was over, but his mind wasn't ready to accept what had just happened.
He could still feel her.
Not beside him — but inside his head.
A pulse. A whisper. A presence that wasn't his own.
[System Synchronization: 100% Completed.]
Dual Host Mode Active. Emotional Link Established.
Then—
[System Notice: Shared Thought Transmission Enabled.]
A familiar, teasing voice echoed in his mind.
—Can you hear me?
Li Cheng's body stiffened. "Mu Yuxin?"
Yep. So this… isn't a dream.
He turned sharply. She stood a few steps away, her golden aura flickering faintly like a dying candle. Her eyes — once fierce and confident — now held a trace of nervous curiosity.
Oh gods, her thought drifted across the link, half whisper, half groan.
He can literally hear me thinking… This is awkward.
Li Cheng blinked. "You know I can hear that, right?"
Her face turned red. "Stop listening!"
"I don't have an off switch!" he shot back.
[System Remark: Host argument detected. Emotional resonance increasing by 7%.]
Both froze.
"What the hell does that mean?" they said at the same time.
The crowd erupted around them.
"Whoa—what was that light?"
"Did they just… combine powers?"
"They're literally glowing together! Are they dating now?"
The academy livestream chat exploded. Drones hovered overhead, replaying the final moment from every angle.
#LiChengFaceSlap trending
#MuYuxinFusion confirmed
#PowerCoupleDebut breaking the feed
Li Cheng groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. First public humiliation turned triumph, now the whole world thinks I'm dating a combat goddess."
Mu Yuxin folded her arms, still glowing faintly. "You make it sound like that's a bad thing."
[Internal thought detected: Host's heart rate increased by 12%. Attraction level rising.]
Li Cheng glared at the holographic text. "System! Delete that!"
[Denied. Data recorded for future synchronization analysis.]
Mu Yuxin smirked. "Oh? Attraction level?"
"Don't you start—"
"—You blushed first," she teased through the link.
"Stop talking in my head!"
"You stop reacting!"
[Emotional synchronization reaching 18%. Caution: Extended proximity may lead to bonded resonance.]
Both of them froze again.
"Bonded resonance?" Li Cheng asked suspiciously.
"Sounds like… permanent connection," Mu Yuxin murmured.
Their eyes met.
"Not happening," they said together — far too quickly.
The academy dean arrived then, his robes billowing, his presence calm yet filled with unspoken power.
"Li Cheng, Mu Yuxin." His tone was measured, but his eyes were sharp as blades. "Explain what just occurred."
Li Cheng exchanged a glance with Mu Yuxin. Neither wanted to admit they'd just merged their systems.
"Do we tell him?" Li Cheng asked telepathically.
"He's not ready for this insanity," she replied.
"Agreed."
They spoke aloud in unison: "A training accident."
The dean's eyebrow twitched. "A… training accident? One that produced divine fusion energy visible from the northern campus?"
"Uh… it was a really intense spar," Li Cheng said weakly.
"Right," Mu Yuxin added. "Lots of, um, emotional synchronization."
The dean stared for a long, painful moment — then sighed. "Young people these days." He turned and walked away, muttering, "At least they didn't blow up a dormitory."
The crowd began to disperse, buzzing with excitement and rumors.
Li Cheng and Mu Yuxin stood in the middle of the cracked arena, surrounded by fading golden-crimson runes.
For the first time since the duel ended, silence settled between them.
Then—
You really were holding back, her voice echoed softly in his mind.
Li Cheng didn't answer immediately. His gaze dropped to his hand — still faintly glowing red. "You too."
I had to. My system reacts to divine fragments. If I'd unleashed everything… I could've killed you.
He gave a crooked smile. "And now you've merged with me. That's one hell of a safety measure."
She smirked faintly. "You're welcome."
[Emotional resonance increasing by 9%.]
"System, stop narrating my emotions!" Li Cheng snapped.
[Host tension detected. Suggestion: Take a deep breath.]
She's cute when she's annoyed, Li Cheng thought absentmindedly.
Her eyes widened. "Did you just call me cute?"
He froze. "Wait—I didn't say that out loud!"
No, but you thought it! she exclaimed telepathically.
"System, disable thought sharing!"
[Unable to comply. Feature locked until bond stabilizes.]
Mu Yuxin grinned wickedly. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Later that evening…
Li Cheng sat in his dorm room, staring blankly at his laptop.
He tried to type a message to his class group chat — something normal. But every time he focused, her thoughts slid into his mind like radio interference.
Ugh, I can't find my towel.
Wait—why am I thinking this where he can hear?
Stop thinking, Yuxin! STOP THINKING!
Li Cheng's hand froze mid-typing, eyes going wide.
"System," he whispered, "is she… taking a shower?"
[Affirmative.]
"Disable auditory synchronization!"
[Denied. Current emotional link stability requires constant feedback.]
"Oh no. You heard that, didn't you?"
"Every word."
"I'm going to kill you."
"Not my fault!"
"Then stop imagining it!"
"I'M TRYING!"
[Emotional resonance reaching 36%. Warning: proximity tether expanding.]
Meanwhile, at her side of the link, Mu Yuxin wrapped herself in a towel, fuming.
This idiot is going to drive me insane.
"You started it!" Li Cheng shot back mentally.
How did I start this?!
"You challenged me!"
You accepted!
"You glowed first!"
You flirted first!
*[New Achievement Unlocked: Lovers' Quarrel (Hidden). Reward: +10 Compatibility.]
Both froze.
"What the hell kind of achievement is that?" Li Cheng demanded.
Our systems are mocking us… she muttered.
"Great. We're the universe's favorite comedy act."
But then something shifted.
The link pulsed. The room dimmed.
[System Warning: Energy fluctuation detected in dual hosts.]
Source: External. Unknown interference.
Li Cheng shot upright. "Yuxin, are you feeling that?"
She appeared in his mind's eye — her mental projection flickering beside him like a golden hologram. "Yeah… someone's scanning us."
The air shimmered. For a second, reality itself rippled — like a reflection disturbed by invisible fingers.
[External System Detected: "Administrator Signature — Celestial Server."]
[Query: Who authorized your fusion?]
Li Cheng's blood ran cold. "Oh, hell no."
That's… impossible. The Celestial Server hasn't interfered with mortal systems in decades.
[Violation Recorded. Unauthorized Dual Host Configuration Detected.]
[Preparing Termination Protocol.]
"Terminate this!" Li Cheng snapped. "System, counter-hack!"
[Error: Insufficient authority.]
Mu Yuxin's projection gritted her teeth. "Let me handle this."
She extended her hand — data runes of gold spiraled outward.
[Divine Override: Heaven's Contract – Sequence Protection Activated.]
[Counter-Protocol Successful. External interference repelled.]
Both panted as the system stabilized.
Li Cheng ran a hand through his hair. "We just got attacked by the source code of reality."
Mu Yuxin's eyes narrowed. "And it recognized you."
He froze. "What do you mean?"
During the scan, it labeled you as… anomaly.
"Anomaly?"
Yeah. Like you weren't supposed to exist in this system at all.
[Host Origin: Unknown. Data access restricted.]
A chill went through Li Cheng's veins. "System… what am I?"
Silence.
[Access denied.]
Mu Yuxin stepped closer, her voice gentler now. "We'll find out. Together."
He looked at her — the golden light in her eyes reflecting his crimson. "You sure you can handle this link?"
She smirked. "You kidding? I plan to make your life miserable until we do."
He groaned. "Perfect."
[Emotional resonance stabilized at 42%. Bond integrity solid.]
[New Quest Generated!]
Title: "Threads of Fate: Trace the Origin of the Anomaly.
"Objective: Uncover why Li Cheng's existence conflicts with the Celestial Server.
Reward: ???
Failure: System collapse.
Li Cheng stared at the glowing quest window, jaw tightening. "Looks like things just got real."
Mu Yuxin smiled faintly, brushing imaginary dust off her hand. "Guess we're partners now."
He sighed. "More like cellmates."
She leaned closer, whispering, "Then get used to me in your head."
"Already too late," he muttered before he could stop himself.
Her cheeks flushed — and through the bond, he felt her pulse quicken.
[Resonance rising to 55%. Emotional synchronization deepening.]
Li Cheng's system flashed again.
[Warning: Dual Host Link reaching unstable threshold. Recommend physical proximity to prevent backlash.]
Mu Yuxin blinked. "Wait—does that mean we have to—"
Before she could finish, a violent shockwave burst through both systems.
The lights flickered. Space bent.
[Emergency Notice: Host separation unstable. Initiating automatic relocation.]
"Relocation?!" Li Cheng shouted.
A surge of golden and crimson light enveloped them both — pulling their forms into digital static.
The last thing he saw was Mu Yuxin's startled face —and the words blinking across his interface:
[Transferring Dual Hosts to Origin Node…]
[Destination: The Lost City of Codes.]