Countdown

So hot…

Aina felt that Xia Lun’s body temperature right now was scalding enough to burn her skin.

But that overwhelming presence oddly made her feel safe.

Aina’s hands, which had been pushing against Xia Lun’s chest in resistance, had somehow circled around the back of his neck; her tightly shut teeth had also been pried apart without her realizing it.

As a member of the blood clan, she should have preferred coolness… but this warmth, like a blazing sun, didn’t disgust her.

How strange… She felt like she had become a moth drawn to the flame.

Yet Aina’s mind wasn’t blank; on the contrary, her thoughts were remarkably clear.

Her eyes were perfectly calm as she looked at Xia Lun. She knew she was kissing this guy… the hard, angular edges of her armor pressed into his muscles, but he didn’t seem to feel the pain—instead, he pulled her even closer.

As Aina stared at him unblinkingly with her big eyes, Xia Lun suddenly became a bit shy. A faint trace of embarrassment flickered in his eyes, but he didn’t look away. He stubbornly met her gaze, their lips and teeth locked together, eyes fixed on one another.

Neither knew how much time passed before they slowly parted. Xia Lun gasped for air, the tips of his ears slightly red. Aina, lost in thought, wiped the corner of her mouth.

“I won, Aina,” Xia Lun’s voice was a little hoarse from the passionate kiss, but it carried an undeniable finality.

“Mm…” Aina let out a vague hum.

“According to our agreement, you have to give up your plan to invade the human race.” Xia Lun stared intently at her, not missing the slightest change in her expression.

Aina slowly turned her head away.

She still couldn’t let go—her ambition for conquest and her obsession with taming the hero…

Xia Lun seemed to see through her hesitation. He pinched Aina’s delicate chin and turned her head back: “You’re not going back on your word, are you? Lord Demon King?”

“Tch, do whatever you want.” Aina’s face was cold, her expression defiant, which made Xia Lun irrationally annoyed.

Xia Lun exposed the potential loophole: “Don’t think that after my strength potion wears off, you can just go back on your promise.”

Aina’s eyes lit up. A new gleam appeared in them. The plan Xia Lun had just mentioned was obviously feasible: “Heh, in the eyes of you humans, I’m just a despicable, shameless Demon King anyway…”

Xia Lun’s voice turned grave: “If that’s the case, Aina, I’ll have no choice but to subdue you completely before the potion’s effect runs out.”

“Oh? Xia Lun, what do you plan to do to me?” Aina sneered, her red eyes full of disbelief and provocation. “Do you really think you have any way to make me, the Demon King, submit to you?”

Aina knew perfectly well that even if she surrendered without a fight now, Xia Lun would be utterly helpless against her…

Xia Lun could never bring himself to harm her.

From the very beginning, this duel was one she couldn’t lose.

And all of this was the fruit of her long-term planning…

Years ago, she had already begun to lay her traps step by step, making the hero fall in love with her. Everything was for today—so that even if the hero defeated her in the final battle, she would be in no danger…

Yes, Xia Lun was now out of options… Though her methods were a little underhanded, all she had to do was wait for time to pass, and she would emerge as the final victor.

But then, to Aina’s astonishment, Xia Lun reached behind his back and produced a ring. He knelt down on one knee before her.

The small, platinum-forged circlet shimmered in Xia Lun’s hand with an enchanting luster.

“Aina… will you be my wife?”

What is this?

What is this guy saying?

Why is he doing this now?

“Ha, do you really think this will move me? Xia Lun, you underestimate me.” Aina forced out a scornful laugh, her fists clenching slightly. “I can completely reject your proposal. There are obviously more important matters at hand…”

“I made a vow a long time ago, Aina… In this life, I will propose to only one person I truly love, and only once.” Xia Lun’s gaze was unwavering, locking onto Aina’s evasive eyes. “If you refuse me now, I will give up on you and spend the rest of my life alone.”

“Huh? Are you insane?” Aina’s usually composed face finally showed a trace of panic. “How can you be so stupid… Don’t you leave yourself any way out?”

“That’s what my love means to me.” Xia Lun remained on one knee, his expression calm, carrying a resolute, unyielding certainty. “Look into my eyes… You should be able to tell I’m not lying.”

This stubborn, foolish, infuriating man!

But this truly was something Xia Lun would do. Aina knew him too well—she knew his integrity, his persistence, the stubbornness that, once decided, would never change.

Now what? Should she still refuse him?

Aina gritted her teeth tightly.

Among the demon race, quite a few were discontent with the humans. Why should these weaklings occupy the resource-rich plains… Logically, the strong should rule everything.

“I’ll give you one minute to think, Aina… If you haven’t agreed by then, I’ll take it as a rejection.” Xia Lun’s expression was calm; he didn’t even wait for her reply before beginning his cold countdown. “Sixty, fifty-nine…”

“Shut up!” Aina angrily kicked Xia Lun, but he stood there like an iron tower, unmoved, and continued counting. “Forty-nine, forty-eight…”

“Bastard! Xia Lun, how dare you do this?” Aina said, somewhat hysterically.

“Thirty-seven, thirty-six…”

“You’re using this kind of method to threaten me? What do you take me for?” Aina grabbed at Xia Lun’s hateful cheeks with her slender fingers, then pulled at his hair… It was the first time she had shown such intense emotional instability in front of him.

“Twenty-five, twenty-four…” Xia Lun let her do as she pleased, his gaze still firm.

“I won’t agree! I absolutely won’t agree! Give it up! Do you think you’re that charming? I’ve only seen you as a dispensable toy!” In Xia Lun’s memory, this was also the first time Aina had raised her voice to such a shrill pitch.

“Thirteen, twelve…” Time was running out.

“I see—so in your heart, I’m just a dispensable existence. You don’t really care about me at all, which is why you can do something like this!” Aina glared at Xia Lun fiercely, as if she wanted to devour him alive.

“Five… four… three… two…”

In the final moment, Aina’s head slammed into his. In a fit of pique, she bit down hard on Xia Lun’s lip, drawing blood, and snatched the platinum ring from his hand.

Then, a muffled cry—mingled with endless shame and surrender, mixed with the rusty taste of blood—burst forth:

“You win, you damn hero!!!”