The night air outside Velvet Horizon was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain. Luo Tian leaned against the wall, still catching his breath from the earlier scuffle. His knuckles ached, but the weight of $1,220 in his account made the pain feel like a small price to pay.
Mei Ruo crushed her cigarette under her heel and turned to him with that same dangerous smile.
"I wasn't joking earlier. I can take you somewhere bigger than this city, bigger than this little game of yours."
Before he could reply, the System's familiar chime cut in.
> [Level Up: Host has reached Level 3]
[Hidden Feature Unlocked: Dual Cultivation]
[Description: A method of mutual energy exchange between two compatible partners, increasing strength, qi, and skills. Both participants gain benefits. Caution: Overuse may cause side effects.]
Luo Tian blinked. "Uh… System? You wanna maybe explain why you just turned into a dating app with superpowers?"
The System's monotone voice filled his mind:
> [Partner Mei Ruo detected. Compatibility: 97%. This is an optimal time to test the new feature.]
"Test the—" Luo Tian's words caught in his throat as he read the rest of the prompt. His ears went hot.
Mei Ruo noticed his expression. "What is it? Another mission?"
"Sort of," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "It's… complicated. My System just unlocked something called… Dual Cultivation."
She tilted her head. "Cultivation? As in… martial arts and qi training?"
"Yeah. Except this version sounds… very… uh… close-contact."
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Close-contact?"
He coughed into his hand. "Like… ridiculously close-contact. The kind that usually happens in… private."
A slow, amused smile spread across her lips. "And it thinks I'm compatible with you?"
Luo Tian nodded, his face feeling hotter by the second.
She didn't laugh. She didn't mock him. Instead, she stepped closer, her perfume wrapping around him like silk. "If this is real… it might be more than money we're talking about. Energy… qi… strength… it's not something normal people can get so easily."
The System chimed again:
> [Session Possible. Recommended: Initiate within 2 hours for optimal first-time gains.]
Mei Ruo's eyes flicked to the hovering text, then back to him. "Two hours, hmm? Guess the System doesn't like to waste time."
Luo Tian hesitated. "You've done something like this before?"
"No." She shook her head. "And if what you're saying is true, neither of us knows exactly what will happen. But… you took a punch for me back there. That's worth testing a little trust."
---
Later – Mei Ruo's Apartment
The place was everything Luo Tian expected from a woman like her — clean lines, muted colors, expensive furniture. But his attention wasn't on the décor.
It was on the faint golden circle of light slowly forming on the floor, projected by the System.
> [Dual Cultivation Mode: Activated]
[Step 1: Physical contact established. Step 2: Match breathing rhythm.]
Mei Ruo stood across from him, her usual confident smirk replaced by something softer, more curious. "Breathing rhythm?"
Luo Tian exhaled, feeling awkward. "In through the nose, out through the mouth. Let's… try to sync."
As their breaths aligned, the golden circle flared brighter. Warmth spread from the soles of his feet upward, meeting a similar warmth coming from her side.
> [Step 3: Begin gentle energy circulation.]
It was like a spark caught between them — at first subtle, then stronger. Luo Tian could feel her qi brushing against his own, an invisible current weaving through his body. The contact deepened as their hands met, fingers locking together.
For a moment, there was only heat, breath, and the hum of energy.
> [Qi Link established. Benefits will be shared.]
Mei Ruo's eyes widened. "I… I can feel your heartbeat. And… something else. It's like my body's lighter."
Luo Tian felt it too — his muscles felt charged, his senses sharper. The System's voice cut in:
> [+1 Strength]
[+1 Charm]
[Qi Recovery: +50%]
Neither of them wanted to break the link, but the golden circle slowly dimmed, signaling the end of the first session.
---
Aftermath
They sat on the couch, both breathing heavier than normal, a faint flush coloring their faces.
Mei Ruo was the first to speak. "If this is what your System can do… then you've been sitting on a goldmine."
Luo Tian rubbed his temples. "Yeah… a goldmine that comes with the most awkward tutorial ever."
She smirked. "Awkward now. But imagine what we could do with practice."
The System chimed one last time:
> [Synergy Level with Mei Ruo: 1 → 2]
[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Energy Sense – Detect nearby sources of compatible qi.]
Luo Tian stared at the notification, then at Mei Ruo.
For the first time, he realized that whatever "bigger world" she was offering… it wasn't just about money or danger.
It was about power — the kind of power people would kill for.
And now, he had the first taste of it.