Sights on the Road

Times have truly changed, Xia Lun couldn't help but think as he looked at the airship before him.

It wasn't as if Xia Lun had never ridden an airship before; back in Olifendor, he had taken Wolund's Ollie.

But that one was clearly a private model, completely incomparable to the behemoth currently before his eyes.

This airship, named the Cloud Whale, was a full ten times the size of the Ollie, with a hull spanning three hundred meters in length.

The Cloud Whale's hull was not made of cold metal, but forged from an interwoven mix of a magical material called moonwood and mithril alloy. The moonwood displayed a warm silver-gray hue, shimmering with a pearl-like luster beneath the sunlight, while the mithril outlined a sleek skeletal frame and other critical structures.

At the bottom of the airship, an arcane core was exposed—the central power source driving the vessel's flight. Countless complex magic circuits were engraved upon it, emitting a deep, resonant hum of energy that sounded like the heartbeat of the earth.

The sides of the Cloud Whale were also lined with dense arrays of exhaust vents, and its tail still featured traditional propellers. Even if the arcane core were to malfunction, these would ensure a safe landing.

"Alright, stop staring, Xia Lun, let's get on," Aina's soft chuckle interrupted his gaze. "You're acting just like a country bumpkin arriving in the big city for the first time."

"I'm even worse than them," Xia Lun shook his head. "I'm an antique from over a thousand years ago... I really haven't seen much of the world."

The smile on Aina's face instantly froze, a trace of panic flashing across her crimson eyes.

She subconsciously reached out, gently grasping Xia Lun's wrist. "Sorry, Xia Lun, I didn't mean it like that..."

"It's fine, let's board the ship." Xia Lun smiled, tightening his grip on Aina's hand, and led her onto the deck.

Aina gently bit her lip.

She naturally knew she had spoken out of turn.

As the Demon King, she was an aloof and arrogant existence; this was beyond reproach. To her, most people were no different from ants.

But Xia Lun was different. He was a Hero, and he would never stand idly by when the weak were bullied and persecuted.

Her unintentionally belittling words might have pierced Xia Lun's heart like a thorn.

"Xia Lun, I really..." Aina tried to make up for her mistake, her voice carrying a barely perceptible trace of vulnerability.

Xia Lun raised a finger, pressing it against Aina's lips to silence her.

"It's okay, I don't mind, Aina." Xia Lun pulled Aina into his embrace. "Rest assured, I won't hold you to my standards. You just need to be yourself...

Even if you occasionally make mistakes, it's impossible for me to be disappointed in you, because my love for you is already inescapable.

Moreover, the person I love is the truest version of you. I don't need you to put on any disguises, nor do I need you to accommodate me.

Even if you, as the Demon King, want to destroy the world, I will still love you... though I will do everything in my power to stop you."

Aina stood blankly in Xia Lun's embrace before revealing a relieved smile. "You've got quite the silver tongue, Hero. Do you really think you have the ability to stop me from doing what I want?"

"Oh? What is it you want to do?" Xia Lun raised an eyebrow, his gaze instantly turning sharp.

"I'll tell you tonight," Aina said coquettishly, breaking free from Xia Lun's embrace, though her hand remained tightly intertwined with his, reluctant to let go.

Since Aina said so, the two didn't rush back to their room. Hand in hand, they began to explore the airship.

The entire airship was divided into a cargo hold and passenger cabins. Currently, Xia Lun and Aina were in the VIP cabin on the top level.

The cabin was spacious and luxuriously decorated, with round tables scattered around, laden with various delicacies. Anyone who didn't know better might think this was a banquet in some noble's mansion.

Through the portholes on the side, they could see the scenery outside... Beyond the massive windows lay a flowing sea of white clouds, so pure it seemed almost unreal. Looking downward, due to the airship's elliptical structure, only the hull was visible, while the distant ground had long since vanished from sight.

Aina had paid for this; their tickets cost over a hundred gold coins... Xia Lun didn't hold back, grabbing a plate and beginning to sweep through the food.

Aina only took a few bites of cake and pastries and drank a glass of juice. Afterward, she followed behind Xia Lun like a little sidekick, picking out his favorite foods and occasionally feeding him by hand.

Xia Lun's flavor preferences... Aina remembered them all with perfect clarity.

For some reason, watching Xia Lun heartily enjoy the food brought a sense of happiness welling up in Aina's heart.

Not far away, two middle-aged men dressed impeccably like merchants were talking in hushed tones. One was short and stout, wearing a top hat; the other was tall and thin, leaning on a slender cane and sporting a bow tie.

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"About the Crimson Rose."

"Hiss... you mean that madwoman from the Norman family?" The tall, thin man grimaced. "I believe her name is... Elesha?"

"Yes."

The tall man asked, "What happened now?"

The stout merchant leaned in closer, dropping his voice even lower. "Latest news. That mining area... of the four great families, only the Norman family remains standing tall."

"Heh, they moved fast." The tall merchant shook his head repeatedly, his cane unconsciously tapping the carpet. "It won't be easy doing business there anymore, will it? It's basically monopolized by the Norman family now... I'm afraid they'll drive the ore prices sky-high, won't they?"

The stout man also shook his head and sighed. "Isn't that the truth? Before, the four families would keep each other in check... From now on, when we go there to restock, we probably won't even get the scraps."

"Business is tough."

"Sigh."

The two exchanged a glance, both smiling bitterly and shaking their heads.

"But how exactly did that girl do it?" the tall merchant couldn't help but ask, his face full of confusion. "I remember the Norman family was nearly chewed to the bone by the others. They existed in name only..."

"Who knows? The other families were clearly on the verge of swallowing them whole..." The stout merchant shrugged. "I heard someone even hired assassins to kill the Norman family's only daughter... And the result? It was completely foiled by a passing adventurer. Ever since then, that girl has been like a completely different person, ruthless and absolute in her methods..."

"The world is unpredictable."

"You can say that again." ...

Xia Lun withdrew his attention and opened his mouth. Aina, holding a silver fork, fed a piece of juicy, succulent steak into his mouth.

"Are you that interested?" Aina asked with a beaming smile.

"Interested in what?" Xia Lun asked, feigning surprise.

"What do you think?"

Xia Lun looked at Aina's slightly narrowed eyes and gulped.

"Yes, quite interested." Xia Lun wrapped an arm around Aina's shoulders. "Interested in what we're going to do tonight..."

"Pervert!"