The next day.
Early morning.
Inside the Gu family compound.
Gu Yan stood in front of a big tree, staring at his own fist.
"Should I… test it here?"
He glanced between the tree and his hand, eyes full of anticipation. This was the most straightforward way to verify whether the Universe Pure Love Technique actually worked.
After days of grinding points, he had finally redeemed it last night.
And honestly—something had changed.
When he woke up this morning, his reflection looked… better. Clearer skin, sharper features. Not dramatically handsome, but undeniably upgraded.
Still.
It can't just be a body-strengthening skill, right? That'd be ridiculous.
With that thought, Gu Yan walked into the yard, placed his palm against the tree, and closed his eyes.
According to the system, the technique ran automatically, twenty-four hours a day. As long as he performed acts of pure love and generated pure love energy, his body would continuously strengthen.
Even better—those past acts counted too.
Which meant…
Breaking a small tree shouldn't be a problem.
A breeze brushed past him, his clothes fluttering lightly.
Gu Yan felt a warm, lively force surge through his body, wrapping around him.
This is it! This must be the Pure Love Technique!
His heartbeat quickened.
Now!
He opened his eyes and slammed his palm forward.
"Ha!"
And then—
Nothing.
The tree stood there peacefully, leaves rustling.
"…?"
Gu Yan stared.
He frowned, then slapped the trunk again.
Snap.
Still nothing.
"…What?"
"Didn't I practice the Universe Pure Love Technique?!"
Was the universe not powerful? Was pure love not powerful?
Why did combining the two feel like absolutely nothing?!
Gu Yan froze, expression stiffening.
At that moment, the system chimed in.
[Hello, Host. As the name suggests, the Universe Pure Love Technique is activated through pure love.]
[Hitting a tree does not qualify as pure love behavior.]
"…?"
This question mark wasn't confusion—it was accusation.
"What kind of scam skill is this?! My dream of flying through the skies is dead!"
Gu Yan cursed inwardly. He had really thought this was his entry into the cultivation world. Techniques, immortality, transcendence.
Instead, reality slapped him harder than the tree.
"…Forget it."
"At least I can use it to protect Qingqiu."
His disappointment faded quickly.
Then—
He paused.
Wait.
According to the original story, Leng Qingqiu would eventually stand at the peak of the world. A woman strong enough to suppress all enemies.
Why would she need his protection?
If anything, he needed to protect himself until she fully grew into that strength.
Gu Yan sighed deeply.
"…Don't tell me I'm going to be the weakest transmigrator in history."
If this technique only worked around pure love targets, then it probably had no other combat effects.
Right?
He shook his head.
What he didn't notice—what no one in this world could notice—was a faint pink halo wrapping his entire body, seamless and complete.
Inside the house, Gu Tianming and Su Murong stared out the window like they'd seen a ghost.
"…Did our son lose his mind?"
"Punching a tree first thing in the morning?"
"…Some kind of fitness trend?"
---
Leng residence.
Leng Ling'er stood sleepily in front of the sink, brushing her teeth in pink bunny pajamas. Her hair was a mess, eyes half-closed.
Last night's math cram session with her sister had nearly killed her.
"Good morning, Ling'er. Stayed up late again? You're in your final year—don't stay up reading romance novels."
Gu Yan walked past her with a bag of vegetables.
"Mmm… good morning, brother-in—"
She froze.
Her eyes snapped open.
"…Huh?!"
She spun around just in time to catch Gu Yan's back disappearing.
"Gu! You bastard! Why are you here so early?!"
She didn't even rinse her mouth, bolting straight to the kitchen.
Gu Yan was already at the sink, calmly washing preserved eggs.
"What are you doing?!" she shouted.
Gu Yan glanced at her—pink pajamas, messy hair, toothpaste foam still at the corner of her lips.
"…Making breakfast. Preserved egg and lean meat porridge."
"…Wow."
Her eyes sparkled.
"I want extra pork!"
She nodded eagerly—then snapped back to reality.
Wait! I was supposed to chase him away!
"Got it. Little ghost, hurry up and wash your face. You've still got foam on your mouth."
He handed her a tissue.
Leng Ling'er froze, then snatched it away, flustered.
"I'm not a little ghost! I'm eighteen! I'm an adult!"
She turned and ran.
"I'm telling my sister!"
Gu Yan chuckled helplessly.
Then—
A sudden image flashed in his mind.
A thin figure collapsing in blood.
A blind woman stumbling forward in terror.
"Sister… I'll use my blood…"
"This will restore your sight…"
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have provoked them…"
"Ling'er!!"
Gu Yan's hands stopped.
…That scene.
It was Leng Ling'er's ending in the original story.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
So that's why Leng Qingqiu became the final villain.
If that future was real—
Then no matter what, he had to stop it.
Not by sacrificing family.
Never that.
Gu Yan glanced at his remaining points.
13 points.
"System, exchange all remaining points for combat skills and experience."
[Preventing tragedy and protecting pure love objects qualifies as pure love behavior.]
[13 points consumed. God-level combat skills acquired.]
Gu Yan exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
---
Upstairs. Study.
Leng Qingqiu flipped through a book.
She heard footsteps.
Her lips curved faintly before flattening again.
"I don't recall inviting you."
Gu Yan smiled, walking over and gently combing her hair.
"You didn't—but you didn't refuse either."
"And if I didn't come, who'd make breakfast?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Blind people have sharper senses. Your weight, footsteps, breathing—I recognized you."
Gu Yan's eyes lit up.
"As expected of Qingqiu. Two words."
"…Which?"
"Oh shit."
"…Vulgar."
She turned away.
But she was smiling.
A moment later, she stood and extended her hand.
"Let's go. You made porridge, didn't you?"
Gu Yan blinked.
"You knew?"
"Ling'er told me."
"…?!"
Before he could react, he scooped her up.
"Gu Yan! Put me down!"
"Nope. I'm carrying you to breakfast."
"You're petty!"
"And proud of it."
She punched his chest lightly, then—
"…Two to one."
Gu Yan burst out laughing.
"…You win."
And for once, the morning felt warm.