Meeting the Parents

Marie was truly grateful to Liyana.

If she hadn't had that sudden whim to lick the ice prison, Marie might still be locked inside.

After the prison dissipated, Aina didn't seem to intend to lock her up again.

After all, they were almost at their destination.

Several elf guards, clad in soft leather armor and carrying long war bows on their backs, silently halted the carriage like vigilant branches extending from the forest itself.

They conversed in low tones, their throats rolling with the ancient Elvish language, its cadence like the babbling of a forest stream.

Aina frowned; she did not speak Elvish.

In this era, relations between the elf race and humanity were not yet so close. Many elves still clung to their ancient tongue, knowing little of the human common tongue.

Xia Lun, however, offered a gentle smile and began conversing with them first.

"Humans? What brings you to the Elven Woods? The Elven Woods is not a realm for you to wander freely. State your purpose!"

"We are adventurers. We accepted a quest to escort an elf lady back here."

Several elves showed looks of surprise. Xia Lun's Elvish was flawless, without a trace of accent, indistinguishable from a native speaker.

"Ah... it's you!" One of the guards narrowed his eyes, studying Xia Lun carefully before exclaiming in realization, "Xia Lun? The human child adopted by the Sevi couple... I saw you once when you left the forest not long ago."

Xia Lun chuckled. It had been several years since he departed from here.

"Yes, I wanted to come home for a visit."

Moke kicked Liyana on the backside. Liyana shot upright like a startled cat, instantly going into Ridgeback Dragon form.

"Bastard, what are you doing?"

Moke pointed at the elf guards blocking the path ahead. "Go on, use your face to get us through."

"Kick my ass again, and I'll shoot that target below you to pieces, leaving Little Bunny to solve things with her own hands from now on!" Liyana cursed and threatened. Moke, however, was unfazed.

Liyana leaped down from the carriage, landing nimbly on the ground.

"Are they our kin?"

"It seems they are indeed not suspicious individuals."

"Let them pass... Master Xia Lun, please come and make a record first."

The guards exchanged glances, and the tense atmosphere eased.

Aina's gaze swept past the guards, settling on the legendary Elven Woods. Ancient trees here soared to the sky, their trunks so thick it would take several people to encircle them, forming a deep, boundless green canopy.

Looking into the distance, several awe-inspiring giant trees, hundreds of meters tall, rose from the earth, their crowns vanishing into the low-hanging clouds, standing like silent Titans.

The carriage wheels began to roll slowly, moving into the forest.

Passing through that lush, verdant forest wall, the scenery before them suddenly opened up.

Under the shelter of those sky-piercing giant trees, the interior of the forest appeared surprisingly open and tranquil. Because they blocked much sunlight, there were no towering trees beneath the giants, mostly low shrubs and some neatly cultivated fields. It seemed not much different from a human countryside village, yet everywhere revealed the elven wisdom of harmonious coexistence with nature.

"Haha, we're back!"

Liyana looked very excited. She dashed ahead first, scampering off like a rabbit and quickly disappearing from sight.

"Under the shade of which Mother Tree do you hail from?" Xia Lun turned to look at Marie on the carriage, his voice low and steady.

"The Koliu Giantwood." Marie sighed, pointing towards a specific direction deep within the forest.

After all those twists and turns, she had ended up back here.

She had grown tired of life among the elves and wanted to see the outside world... Yet before a few years had passed, before she could fully savor the taste of adventure, she was being sent back in such an ignoble manner.

It felt somewhat shameful.

Now, the elves here would not permit her to leave freely.

"Shall we take you further?" Xia Lun's voice came from the front, interrupting her thoughts.

"No need, I can make my own way back."

Marie understood the implication in Xia Lun's words and quite tactfully jumped off the carriage, leaving on her own.

The wheels once again crunched over the leaf-strewn path, emitting a dull rumbling sound. Before long, the carriage came to a stop before a dwelling gently shrouded in the shadow of a massive tree crown.

Liyana was already chatting animatedly with her parents, her face lively and full of excitement, her hands constantly gesturing about something, occasionally letting out a peal of silvery laughter.

"Xia Lun, you're back too."

"Xia Lun! How have you been outside? Taking care of Liyana must have been quite a handful, right?"

Upon seeing Xia Lun, Reya and Clea couldn't help but break into warm smiles.

"Father, Mother, I'm home." Xia Lun nodded to the elder couple with a smile... though the two didn't look old at all, appearing at most in their thirties in terms of appearance.

"Liyana says you've met many interesting companions out there... Xia Lun, you already have a partner?" Liyana's mother, Clea, asked with a light laugh, her gaze carrying a hint of playful inquiry as it settled on Xia Lun.

Xia Lun took Aina's hand. Aina stood somewhat stiffly before the two.

"This is Aina, my significant other," Xia Lun introduced her to them.

"My, what a lovely girl," Clea exclaimed, covering her lips lightly, her eyes showing unconcealed admiration and fondness. "Such good fortune, Xia Lun."

Aina seemed a bit uncomfortable. She gave a slight nod, offered a greeting, and then quietly retreated behind Xia Lun.

"Xia Lun, you've grown up... This child seems to rely on you quite a bit," Reya said with a laugh, reaching out to give Xia Lun's shoulder a steady, reassuring pat.

Xia Lun glanced behind him. Aina offered no explanation and remained silent.

"And me! And me!" Liyana actually raised her hand and announced loudly, "Father, Mother, let me introduce you to... my adorable little girlfriend, Moke!"

"You... what nonsense are you spouting! Liyana!"

Moke seemed to think cursing at Liyana in front of her parents wasn't appropriate. Feeling the gentle gazes of the two elder elves, he changed his address just in time.

"Isn't she adorable? Who would have thought someone this cute could be a boy!" Liyana declared quite proudly, completely ignoring Moke's embarrassment, seemingly getting back at him for laughing at her earlier.

Sparks of rivalry seemed to fly between their gazes.

Reya beckoned them. "Come on inside, everyone, don't just stand out here... And you too, Sir Cleric, you look like a very reliable companion."

"Not at all, not at all. Captain Xia Lun has always been the one looking after us."

Having his identity recognized once more, Musen grinned, revealing a simple, honest smile.