Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

"Pfft!"

The dull thud of the sword piercing flesh rang out, and Sui Xiang let out a painful roar as his massive body began to disintegrate, turning into countless bluish-black wisps of mist that dissipated into the air.

The mountains and forests returned to silence, with only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves remaining.

Xi sheathed her sword and turned to look at Su Rui behind the screen. Her eyes remained cold, but the tension between her brows had eased.

"...Well done," she said softly.

Suri's tail wagged happily immediately, her eyes sparkling: "Really? I really helped?"

Xi didn't answer, but simply reached out and rubbed his head, her fingertips gently brushing against the scales behind his ear.

Nian grinned and came over, "Oh my, our little Suri has grown up so much!"

Ling put away his staff and lazily yawned: "Alright, the farce is over. Get some rest."

Suri nodded, her tail unconsciously wrapping around Xi's wrist: "Yes! Let's do it together!"

Xi glanced at him, but didn't pull away; she simply hummed softly.

Volume 9, Chapter 566: Don't Speak

Xi's fingertips gripped Su Rui's wrist, the force almost leaving a bruise. Her steps were swift, her dark robes fluttering, as she pulled the staggering Su Rui through the long corridor, heading straight for an empty room at the far end.

"Xi... Sister Xi?" Su Rui's ears burned, her tail swayed restlessly from side to side, and tiny golden specks of light seeped from between the scales. "Where are we going—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xi suddenly pushed open the door and pulled him inside. The door slammed shut, and before Su Rui could react, his back was already against the cold wall.

Xi rested her hand on his ear, her dark eyes gleaming dangerously in the dim light, like a beast eyeing its prey.

"Don't speak."

Her voice was low, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure. Suri's Adam's apple bobbed, and her tail unconsciously wrapped around her waist, the scales gently rubbing against her fabric, making a soft rustling sound.

Xi's fingertips touched his cheek, gently stroking the dragon pattern at the corner of his eye.

Suri's breathing quickened, and a faint golden glow emanated from the skin beneath his scales—a reaction of a dragon when aroused. His canines unconsciously bit his lower lip, and his tongue tasted a hint of blood.

"You were very brave today..." Xi's lips almost touched his earlobe, her warm breath making Su Rui tremble.

Su Rui's heart pounded. Just as he was about to speak, Xi suddenly lowered her head and kissed his lips fiercely.

Afterwards, Xi led Su Rui back to the world in the painting.

Under a sky painted with ink washes, Su Rui was pressed down onto the soft grass by Xi. His black hair was disheveled, his dragon tail limply wrapped around Xi's leg, his eyes were red, and his breathing was disordered. Xi's fingertips traced his collarbone, leaving a faint ink wash mark.

"Sister Xi..." Su Rui's voice was tinged with a soft sob, "Gently... gently..."

Xi didn't answer, but instead lowered her head and bit his Adam's apple. Su Rui trembled, her tail snapped straight, and the golden spots between her scales suddenly brightened, like stars being ignited.

Xi's lips slid down his neck, her fingertips gently parting his collar to reveal a patch of delicate dragon scales on his shoulder blade. Her fingertips traced the scales lightly, and Su Rui's breathing quickened, his tail thrashing uncontrollably against the grass.

"Sister Xi..." he said, "If you keep drawing like this, I'm going to pin you down..."

Xi finally raised her head, her dark eyes fixed on him, a turbulent mix of emotions welling up within them. She gently tapped his brow with her fingertip: "I'm very satisfied with your performance today."

Suri's face instantly turned bright red, and she curled her tail even tighter: "I... I just wanted to help..."

Xi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a rare, almost gentle smile: "So... this is a reward."

Before she could finish speaking, she lowered her head again and kissed him.

Nian and Ling stood in the corridor, peering at each other as they investigated the faint sounds coming from inside.

"Tsk tsk," Nian chuckled, shaking the wine jug in his hand, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "Xi-mei is really... impatient."

Ling leaned against the window, tilted his head back, took a sip of wine, and narrowed his blue eyes slightly: "Youth is truly wonderful."

Nian's smile suddenly turned sly: "Sister Ling, you wouldn't happen to...?"

Ling didn't answer, but gently shook the wine pot, his gaze fixed on the closed door, and murmured, "I... I also have some feelings for Su Rui."

Nian raised his eyebrows high: "Wow, a battleground is booked?"

Ling chuckled lightly, tilted his head back, and downed the wine in the pot: "Who knows?"

(Inside the room, Su Rui suddenly shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine...)

As dawn broke, the thin mist over Shangshu lingered, and tiny dewdrops clung to the bluestone path. Su Rui rubbed her aching back and walked slowly down the street, her dragon tail trailing listlessly behind her, occasionally brushing against the moss on the roadside.

(Sister Xi was too fierce last night...)

His ears burned, and he unconsciously touched the bite mark on his neck that had not yet faded. When his fingertips touched the slightly raised scales, he withdrew them as if he had been burned.

"Hey, little Suri~"

A light, cheerful voice came from behind him. Before Su Rui could turn around, a warm arm was already on his shoulder. The scent of the New Year wafted over him, carrying a faint smell of gunpowder and the fragrance of rouge.

"Nian, Sister Nian?" Su Rui stammered, instinctively trying to dodge to the side, but Nian grabbed her neck.

"Why are you hiding?" Nian chuckled and leaned closer, her red lips almost touching his earlobe. "How did you sleep last night?"

Suri's tail suddenly bristled, and tiny golden rays seeped from between the scales: "Not bad..."

Suddenly, Nian's fingertips traced his neck, gently rubbing the prominent bite mark: "Xi-mei really... doesn't know how to cherish a woman~"

Su Rui froze, unsure how to respond, when a refreshing aroma of wine suddenly wafted over.

"morning."

Ling appeared at the street corner at some unknown time, carrying a jade wine pot in her hand. The morning light cast a soft outline on her silvery-white hair. She leaned lazily against the wall, her gaze lingering for a moment on Su Rui's reddened earlobes.

"Good morning, Sister Ling..." Su Rui felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and took the opportunity to break free from Nian's embrace, her tail unconsciously wagging in Ling's direction.

Ling's lips curled up almost imperceptibly as he raised the wine jug and swirled it around: "Would you like to try some? It's the newly brewed 'Drunken Dragon's Roar'."

Nian raised her eyebrows high: "Wow, Sister Ling, this wine's name has a profound meaning!"

Ling ignored Nian's teasing and walked straight to Su Rui, holding the wine pot to his lips. The amber-colored wine rippled in the pot, emitting an enticing sweet aroma.

Su Rui hesitated for a moment, then cautiously took a sip. The moment the liquor entered her throat, a warm current spread from her stomach to her limbs, even relaxing the scales on her skin.

"Delicious..." He couldn't resist taking another big gulp, his dragon tail swaying happily from side to side. "Sweet..."

Ling gently wiped the wine stains from his lips with her fingertips: "Drink slowly, this wine has a strong aftereffect."

Her calloused fingertips brushed against Suri's soft lips, and both of them froze. Ling's eyes darkened, while Suri's scales had all turned pinkish-gold.

"Cough cough!" Nian suddenly coughed loudly, pulling Suri to his side. "Little Suri, my new movie needs a male lead. Do you want to give it a try?"

"Movies?" Suri's attention was indeed diverted, and her eyes lit up. "Can I?"

"Of course~" Nian affectionately pinched his cheek. "I've already come up with the script—a pure-hearted little dragon being fought over by two stunning beauties, what a classic love story!"

Before Suri could react, Ling coldly said, "He doesn't need to film that kind of thing."

"Oh dear, is your sister jealous?" Nian exaggeratedly clutched her chest. "Or is it..." She suddenly leaned close to Ling's ear and whispered, "You also want to be one of the female leads?"

Ling's fingers tightened slightly, and the wine flask made a "crackling" sound as it struggled to bear the weight. Su Rui's dragon ears perked up alertly, instinctively sensing danger.

Volume 9, Chapter 567: The Time of Division

"Um..." he cautiously interjected, "I... I'm hungry. How about we go get some breakfast first?"

Nian's smile instantly brightened: "Great! I know a shop that makes really delicious tofu pudding!"

Ling gave a soft hum, but did not object. The three of them walked towards the breakfast shop, each with their own thoughts. Su Rui was sandwiched in the middle, her tail curled up nervously.

(I feel like... the atmosphere is really weird...)

The breakfast shop was steaming hot, and the freshly steamed dumplings emitted an enticing aroma. Su Rui stared longingly at the steamer, her dragon tail unconsciously tapping against the stool.

"Here you go." Ling pushed a dish of vinegar in front of him. "Dip this in."

"Thank you, Sister Ling!" Su Rui happily picked up a small steamed bun and was about to put it in her mouth when Nian suddenly reached out her chopsticks to stop her.

"Wait a minute~" Nian produced a small bottle of chili oil from nowhere. "Adding this will make it more flavorful!"

Two pairs of chopsticks were locked in a stalemate above the xiaolongbao, Su Rui's gaze shifting back and forth between the two, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

"I...I can do either..." he suggested weakly.

They exchanged a glance and simultaneously put down their chopsticks.

"You eat first," Ling said calmly.

"Yes, yes, you eat first~" Nian agreed with a smile.

Su Rui felt like he'd been granted a pardon and quickly stuffed the steamed bun into his mouth, only to be burned and stick out his tongue. Ling immediately handed him some cool tea, while Nian frantically fanned him.

"Little silly dragon." Ling's voice was tinged with helplessness.

"Cute~" Nian took the opportunity to ruffle his hair.

Surrounded by the two, Su Rui felt both happy and troubled. Just then, the shop door was suddenly pushed open, and a familiar figure stood against the light.

"you......"

Xi's icy voice made the temperature in the store drop sharply. She stood at the door, her dark eyes sweeping over the three people's intimate posture, finally settling on the vinegar stains that Su Rui hadn't wiped off her lips.

Suri's tail stiffened abruptly, and the steamed bun got stuck in his throat, choking him until his eyes rolled back.

(It's all over...)

Su Rui's eyes were brimming with tears from the scalding heat. He was frantically chugging down some cool tea when he suddenly felt a tightness around his waist—Xi's arms had wrapped around him, and she was about to lift him up from his seat without saying a word.

"Come back with me." Her voice was as cold as ice.

Suri's tail twitched, but before she could respond, she suddenly felt two distinct forces pulling from under the table—

The crimson dragon tail of the previous year silently wrapped around his ankle, its scales scraping against his skin with a scorching heat; while the blue-scaled dragon tail of the previous year slowly coiled around his calf, the icy touch sending a shiver down his spine.

(Huh?!)

Su Rui's eyes widened as he looked down at the table, but his view was blocked by the steam rising from the steamer. He looked up blankly and found that Xi's expression had grown even colder—she had clearly also noticed the other two's subtle movements.

The three dragon tails wrestled silently beneath the table, Nian's tail tightening its grip, while Ling's tail tip dangerously brushed against Su Rui's knee. Xi's dark dragon tail suddenly lashed out, slapping Nian's tail away, only to see Ling suddenly flick it lightly with the tip of its tail—

"Splash!"

The entire table shook violently, and the vinegar dish and chili oil bottle overturned at the same time, the reddish-brown liquid mixing together on the table.

"Oops!" Nian exclaimed dramatically, covering her mouth. "My hand slipped!"

Ling slowly sipped his wine: "I'm getting old, my hands and feet aren't as nimble as they used to be."

Xi's nails had turned a sharp, dark black, and she was about to lash out when Ling suddenly reached out and pressed down on her shoulder.

The seemingly casual movement instantly froze Xi—Su Rui was horrified to discover that Ling's fingertips were pressed against Xi's neck.

"Su Rui." Ling's voice was still slurred with alcohol, but it brooked no argument. "Eat something first, then go out and have some fun."

Her blue eyes swept over the bite mark on Suri's neck: "The three of us... need to talk about something."

Su Rui's dragon ears were pressed tightly against his head, his instincts telling him that he had better behave. He nervously finished eating the last few xiaolongbao, his tail tucked tightly between his legs, and practically fled in panic.

The moment the shop door closed, three terrifying dragon powers erupted simultaneously.

"I said—" Nian stomped one foot on the stool, his bright red tail slapping the ground with a "thud," "Isn't Xi-mei being a bit too greedy?"

A flame ignited between her fingertips, drawing a heart in the air: "Little Suri is so adorable, of course everyone should love her!"

The scroll of the evening painting unfolded before him with a "whoosh": "Do you want to die?"

Ling tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of wine, then suddenly slammed the wine pot heavily on the table. The bluish-green liquid splashed out, condensing into countless ice crystals in the air, forcefully separating the two men who were on the verge of exchanging blows.

"Quiet." She rested her chin lazily on her hand. "I have a suggestion."

She dipped her fingertip in the wine and drew three equal parts on the table: "Monday, Wednesday, and Friday belong to the evening party; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday belong to me..."

The flames of that year suddenly surged: "What about me?!"

Ling glanced at her: "Sunday."

"On what grounds!" Nian overturned the chair. "I'm appealing!"

Suddenly, ink flowed from the scroll, transforming into countless chains that bound Nian tightly. Xi stood up coldly, her ink-black hair moving without wind: "He is mine."

Ling suddenly laughed.

She slowly took out a dragon scale from her sleeve—the very same scale that Du Yaoye had stolen from Su Rui earlier. The scale was now gleaming with an eerie blue light.

"Are you sure?" Ling gently shook the scale. "This dragon scale... has my mark on it."