Former Spouses

That pillar really wasn't anything special — even Aina said so.

Yet Xia Lun's gaze still found itself drawn to it, almost against his will.

He wasn't being narcissistic, but anything that could make him involuntarily take a second look was unlikely to be truly ordinary.

Xia Lun had no idea why, but some vague instinct told him this so-called Beast God Pillar seemed familiar somehow… yet he simply couldn't recall where from.

"Xia Lun, Moke and the others have gone inside." Aina's cool, crisp voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Xia Lun turned to meet his wife's blood-crimson eyes. She stood at the boundary where firelight met shadow, her silver-white hair flowing like moonlight, a few strands brushed across her cheek by the evening breeze. Despite that face — delicate as carved ice — betraying no emotion as usual.

"Yeah." Xia Lun let out a wry chuckle. On their wedding night, he naturally knew what a newlywed couple was supposed to do — every moment was precious… but why would Aina suddenly bring that up?

"Should we head back to the room too?" Aina's slender fingers gently tugged at the hem of Xia Lun's shirt. For her, this was already the height of initiative. Firelight danced in her eyes, reflecting a warm amber glow that formed a subtle contrast with her usual icy demeanor.

Of course, hearing such words from Aina's frost-and-snow face was already a delight in itself for Xia Lun.

"Whatever you say." Xia Lun perked up instantly, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. He reached over and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Aina's ear, his fingertips accidentally brushing against her slightly cool earlobe.

Though they'd been married for a few years now, Aina didn't come to him of her own accord often.

At first, Aina had given him nothing but cold stares — probably because she hadn't adjusted yet. She would even unceremoniously kick him off the bed from time to time… Those days had truly been miserable.

The first time had been a genuine accident, with more than a little sulking stubbornness on Aina's part.

For a long while afterward, Xia Lun felt like he was taming a wary snow fox — approaching cautiously, patiently waiting for her to lower her defenses.

Things only eased up after a year, thanks to the careful effort Xia Lun had put in, gradually helping Aina discover the pleasure in it.

Xia Lun found that whether in magic or any other regard, Aina had remarkable talent — both in pleasing him and in pleasing herself.

Still, Aina remained quite reserved, and that perpetually frosty face of hers hardly suited discussions of such matters.

"Take a bath first. Get yourself properly clean." Aina tilted her chin up slightly and gave Xia Lun a glance. "Especially your neck."

The words didn't sound wrong on the surface, but to Xia Lun, they felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head.

He knew this routine all too well.

"It's the seventh day today — did you forget?" Aina seemed to notice Xia Lun's body stiffen.

"Fine." Xia Lun's shoulders drooped, his voice carrying obvious disappointment.

Today was the day for Aina to feed on his blood. He'd simply misunderstood.

Aina seemed well aware that Xia Lun's mind had wandered in a certain direction, and her phrasing had admittedly been rather misleading.

"If you behave well today, we can do what you want afterward," Aina said flatly.

Xia Lun's eyes lit up, and Aina gave a faint dismissive snort: "You're so easy to read, Xia Lun."

The current hero — like a young pup wagging its tail after being fed by its owner, Aina thought to herself.

Xia Lun coughed lightly, offering no rebuttal.

…

Nightfall.

Xia Lun gently set Aina down, brushing the fine beads of sweat from her brow, and pressed a kiss to her slightly warm forehead.

In the old days, Aina would still turn her head away slightly to dodge — but at some point, she'd stopped doing that entirely.

"Was today satisfactory, Lord Demon King?" Xia Lun gently nibbled Aina's ear.

"Hmph. Passable." Aina gave a soft snort and turned away, leaving Xia Lun with only the smooth curve of her back, as if she had no desire to continue this topic. But the faint flush on her skin had yet to fade, and her body temperature was still higher than usual.

Xia Lun's fingers traced the contours of Aina's back, starting from the slight protruding vertebra beneath her neck and slowly moving downward — like crossing a winding mountain range, further and further down…

"Do you want to die?" Aina's icy warning rang out. But there was a barely perceptible tremor in the final syllable.

Xia Lun withdrew his hand with an embarrassed chuckle.

"Mm… we're not continuing? It's still not too late." Xia Lun wrapped his arms around Aina from behind, his lips brushing against her neck.

"Tsk. Haven't I already taken care of you once?" Aina remained with her back to him, her attitude frozen solid. "Don't push your luck."

"Oh… fine." Xia Lun nodded obediently.

"Behave. Sleep properly." Aina squirmed slightly in Xia Lun's arms before finally turning over to face her husband, pressing her cheek against his chest. "No sneaky little moves!"

Xia Lun smiled softly and held his wife tighter.

"Let go! Are you trying to strangle me?" Aina protested in annoyance.

"Ah, sorry." Xia Lun carefully loosened his hold, easing off the pressure, then shifted positions to lie flat on the bed, letting her cling to him instead.

"Never any sense of moderation." Feeling the lingering aches across her body, Aina muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?" Xia Lun couldn't quite catch it.

"Shut up! Go to sleep!" Aina's voice carried a note of impatience.

"At once, Lord Demon King!" Xia Lun promptly closed his eyes and lay perfectly still.

A moment later, the even rhythm of Xia Lun's breathing filled the room.

Aina slowly opened her eyes, gazing at her husband's handsome profile in the darkness. Moonlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, tracing the lines of his straight nose and sharp jawline.

He really is good-looking… and his build is fantastic — enough to make her want to lick him all over, though that was just a passing thought. She would never actually do such a thing.

And he was so obedient. Whatever she said, he'd do it without question.

He was also romantic, constantly surprising her with small gifts and occasionally taking her out on trips.

She'd really had good taste.

A faint smile no wider than two pixels crept onto Aina's lips, her whole face softening slightly.

All these years of marriage, Aina had been quite satisfied with her husband — in every way.

But those thoughts could only stay in her heart. Never — absolutely never — let him find out.

Aina nuzzled gently into Xia Lun's chest, breathing in the familiar sun-like warmth of his scent, and closed her eyes in peace.

Otherwise, who knows how insufferably smug he'd become.

And he'd definitely push even further on those other matters too…