Out on the main street, Ryou could feel plenty of eyes turning their way.
Keqing had her face buried against his back, too embarrassed to look up. He could even feel how hot her cheeks were—the warmth pressed clearly through his clothes.
Keqing was tall and pretty, sure, but she still had weight. Ryou had honestly overestimated his own stamina.
"How about you put me down," Keqing said, "and just help me walk instead?"
She'd noticed his breathing getting heavier. It was normal—she'd basically never seen him train, so his endurance being weak wasn't surprising.
A small part of her was weirdly pleased she was stronger than him… until she remembered how, at night, this guy's stamina was basically endless.
So she wisely stopped talking there. He never went easy on her.
Ryou: Kidney, can't you help me out? Keqing is laughing at me.
Kidney: Master, I can't help!
Heart: Kidney, been a few days and you're already this useless?
Spleen: Kidney, you really can't do it, huh.
Face: Quit the snide comments. Not one of you is helping. If you've got the ability, then help the master already!
Hand: Master, I'm taking tonight off. I'm going to Bubu Pharmacy to study medicine!
Ryou: Wait—Hand, if you take time off, what am I supposed to do?
Hand: I'll slip out for an hour or two while you're asleep. Mm, best if Head comes with me too—then I'll learn faster.
Ryou: If you take my head out, am I still alive?
Head: Exactly! No brain at all!
Hand: I'm just a hand. Having no brain is pretty normal, isn't it?
For a moment, every organ fell silent.
[Ding! Liver entering Darkened Mode!]
[Ding! Liver Darkened Mode active. Your stamina increased by 25%. Current stamina increase: 75%!]
[Ding! Liver Darkened Mode active. Your stamina increased by 25% again. Current stamina increase: 100%!]
[Ding! Liver Darkened Mode going wild. You gained the talent "The More You Fight, the Braver You Get." When the number of enemies you face is greater than 1, you will gain +50% to all attributes. Enemy cap: 7!]
Ryou stopped in his tracks the moment he heard that.
What the hell?
Isn't Darkened Mode supposed to trigger once and that's it?
This liver went into Darkened Mode three times in a row—and it even spat out a talent. Absolutely ridiculous.
[Ding! Talent "The More You Fight, the Braver You Get" triggered successfully!]
[Ding! Congratulations. All attributes increased by 50% for a short time!]
That one made Ryou freeze again.
This can trigger right now too?
It was a short-duration effect, which was a shame. If it lasted long-term, it'd be insane.
He'd already gotten a 30% boost before, and he'd basically talked his way into those rewards. The difference had been obvious.
Now it was 50% to all attributes. His stamina alone was basically 1.5 times what it used to be—carrying Keqing was nothing.
Ryou's eyes flicked, and he spoke softly. "Keqing… I know you're worried about me. For you, none of this matters. But if you really can't bear it… how about you give me a bath tonight?"
"Sure," Keqing said, not noticing anything strange.
She was his wife. Helping him bathe sounded perfectly normal.
Ryou couldn't help grinning.
Because the "bath" he meant… really wasn't that simple.
He straightened his back and strode toward his father's home, moving so fast his pace was easily three times a normal person's—each step practically covering the distance of three.
The gap shrank in a blink.
On his back, Keqing stared, stunned.
Wasn't he panting just a moment ago?
How was it only a few breaths later, and he looked refreshed—and even stronger than before?
Something about this felt off.
She thought about what he'd just said—about bathing him. That was normal, right?
…Was she overthinking it?
In the end, Keqing shook her head and dropped it. The residence was already right in front of them, and whatever "bath" meant could wait until they got home.
"Ryou-sama is back!"
Xu froze when he saw them.
He knew Ryou's body was weak—carrying someone should've been exhausting. Yet Ryou had Keqing on his back like it was nothing.
It didn't make sense.
Keqing caught Xu's stare immediately. Her face flushed, and she leaned close to Ryou's ear and whispered, "Put me down already. We're home. If Father and Mother see this, they'll definitely scold me."
"Don't be scared," Ryou said, swaggering. "In my house? Let's see who dares say a word about my wife."
[End of chapter]
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