''Heh... do you know what herb this is?''

''This one is for headache, I remember.''

''How about that one?''

''That's a special breed. It can kill all cavities in one go. Kierra made that one when she overate sweets.''

A few days had passed since Kang Shuren was made out to be the inheritor of the Heavenly Shura. Just like before, the group had been in and out of Kierra's pocket dimension, going sightseeing here and there in Hanam.

If there was one difference compared to the first day...

[More chaotic. Stop thinking.]

''Hah... hah... how can I swing my sword if I stop using my brain...?''

[It is to make your sword as unpredictable as possible.]

''...''

Not far away from the garden where August and Bai Qing stood, Kang Shuren herself could be seen practicing her sword. Beside her was an unfamiliar woman with hair and eyes as black as the abyss.

'Cosmos.'

August narrowed her eyes a bit.

She thought Cosmos was simply Kierra's good friend, but who would have thought that it—no, she could transform into a human like this?

The more women there were, the more Kierra could seduce them with her vixen-like charm, and that would mean less time for August herself. She merely made a compromise to stay beside Kierra, and she didn't at all enjoy seeing these pests getting with her!

Though, this small and harmless-looking Bai Qing was somewhat tolerable.

Shaking off those thoughts for a moment, August inspected the movements that Cosmos was making to teach Kang Shuren. The Heavenly Shura's sword relied on unpredictability to catch the opponent off guard, subsequently making the user get closer and closer to the transcendence stage, where the body and sword became one.

It sounded sketchy at best, and it indeed was.

This sword could be used to best the majority if learned right, yet it was insufficient for overcoming the laws of the universe itself... like how August's reality-bending sword could.

''Heh.''

Immersed in her self-awarded glory, it took her a while to register that Kierra had poked out of her room, now hugging her from behind.

''What's wrong?''

''Recharging...''

August's voice was soft, and Kierra's voice was even softer.

Meanwhile, Bai Qing:

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)

Noticing Little Qing's baffled expression, Kierra hugged her as well. Nothing could go wrong with wholesome skinship!

...Or so she thought.

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''A-Ah...''

In reality, Bai Qing's legs were so weak that even Kierra could feel them going out, and the poor girl's body was heating up so much that the archwizard thought summer had invaded her pocket dimension for a moment.

''Stay still.''

Kierra went all out.

Now that she had every reason and right to make a harem, she would. Her slightly trembling, coquettish voice reached Bai Qing's reddened ear in close proximity, blowing a hot breath on her skin.

Simultaneously, she stroked the girl's back so as not to let her lose it completely. This was what they called punching the opponent while also healing them!

As she enjoyed this warm and soft pack of Bai Qing, August's eyes behind her didn't seem too warm. It had just been a few days, and this sassy woman dared to be this blatant!

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that this squirrel-like girl was the most dangerous!

That night.

While the group was having their usual conversation in the living room, Kierra suddenly recalled something.

''Right, Cosmos. Do you know dual cultivation?''

Kierra, who was forced to sit on August's lap, darted her eyes to the woman on her left. Looking closely, Cosmos had indeed chosen a nice appearance. Although her overall complexion was a bit alien, she was a beauty.

Moreover, Kierra especially loved the faint stars floating in the black of her hair.

[I am aware of it.]

Her voice was also altered to sound more like a woman. This was actually an upgrade since Cosmos's original voice was quite jarring.

''Can you teach us the best method, then? It has to be between women.''

[No problem.]

After devouring countless books of this realm and of the realm above, Cosmos now possessed an immeasurable amount of knowledge. Recalling a few cultivation methods wasn't something hard.

For someone as competent as Kierra, a simple demonstration was enough.

Thinking that, Cosmos reached directly for the archwizard's face. With a seamless, swift, and ever-so-casual movement, she pressed her lips onto Kierra's.

'''' ... ''''

A pair of widened red eyes.

Cosmos's face held no emotion, and her lips were cold, but it felt strangely comforting. Almost... pleasurable. Under the beast of the universe's command, a stable flow of energy entered Kierra's body, and another flow escaped from her flesh.

A simple, unadulterated loop.

Through this constant process, Kierra found her dantian solidifying at a rapid pace, upping her cultivation game massively by the second.

[You learned it. There is not much to it other than maintaining a 'pure' and 'balanced' flow of qi.]

Even after the kiss, Cosmos's voice held no significance. Anyone could see that she had no affection for Kierra, so the jealousy game was promptly canceled.

It took a minute for the archwizard to recover.

''Ahem... so? Do any of you want to try it with me?''

When Kierra turned to Kang Shuren and Bai Qing, she unexpectedly found August's arms around her waist, not moving.

''What about me...?''

The Sword Empress asked with droopy eyes, sounding like a puppy in the rain. Kierra quickly resolved this by offering her a kiss. For now, it was these two young cultivators' turn.

Surprisingly, they nodded at each other briefly, and both agreed to this proposal.

They knew they were practically trapped in Kierra's web already, so why refuse the opportunity to grow stronger?

However, there was just one problem...

''Please let me go first this once, Little Qing. Haven't I been nice to you all this while?''

''No, no, one should be considerate of their junior, and that is only natural, right?''

Somehow, they were fighting.

A bit amused, Kierra quietly took out her handkerchief and wiped off her lipstick. It was ruined by Cosmos anyway. After making them clean, she gently licked her lips once.

Unknowingly, this action caught the attention of both Kang Shuren and Bai Qing.

Kierra's bare lips were perfectly sized, soft-looking like puddings, and velvety pink like peaches. They seemed so delicious that the two stopped fighting entirely.

Noticing this, the archwizard lifted the corners of her mouth.

''Au, can you sleep separately for tonight?''

This one question confirmed it all. In a way, it was an indicator of what would come that night, and it was also an invitation for the young cultivators.

''Hah... fine. Remember to wash in the morning... and come to me.''

''Of course, fufu.''

Getting the pass like that, Kierra slowly rose to her feet and came closer to Kang Shuren and Bai Qing. She gently gave them each a peck on the cheek before patting their shoulder.

''Dual cultivation... sounds rather boring, isn't it?'' She whispered. ''How about triple cultivation instead?''

gulp—!

An audible gulp sounded.

Before long, they were dragged to Kierra's bedroom—willingly.

Left behind, August could only sigh while looking at Cosmos. Was this beast doing that intentionally?

Either way, it would be a lonely night for the Sword Empress.