Anomaly Beyond the World

The earth dragon pulled the carriage away from Dawn City.

Dawn City was clearly not the end of Xia Lun and the others’ journey.

Their journey had no end.

While they had ostensibly been spending a leisurely vacation at Aina’s villa in Dawn City, powerful undercurrents had been surging beneath the surface.

Under Aina’s reorganization, a large number of irresponsible administrators in the Wings of Dawn had been replaced. Some of the more serious offenders had been sent straight to prison—or even lost their heads.

At night, anyone looking down from above would likely have seen countless blood bats flitting through the skies over Dawn City, relaying important messages.

Even Niya had postponed her return to the vampire lands, staying behind to lend Dorian a hand.

Given the Wings of Dawn’s current scale…it had long since become far more than a mere adventurer’s guild. Even the lord of Dawn City was a member of the Wings of Dawn. The guild’s influence had spread into every aspect of the city.

Dealing with the affairs here had truly cost Aina a great deal of time and energy.

Still, at least everything had been settled.

The earth dragon strode along with steady steps, its heavy feet treading over the leaf-strewn ancient road and producing a soft rustling sound. The carriage swayed gently with each step, like a soothing lullaby.

“Xia Lun, where are we going next?” Liyana poked her head out of the carriage.

They had set off without deciding on a destination.

The Wings of Dawn had often traveled this way in the past. Like seeds drifting wherever the wind carried them, they would begin a new chapter wherever they happened to land.

“No destination, no certainty, enjoying every step of the journey, and calmly accepting whatever beautiful or terrible results may come of it—that’s what makes an adventure,” Xia Lun replied without turning around, holding Aina in his arms as he handled the reins. “Otherwise, it’s nothing more than a trip or a game of house.”

“I never thought you’d say something like that,” Liyana said, blinking.

“You were the one who said it yourself back then. Have you forgotten?” Xia Lun chuckled, a ripple of remembrance surfacing in his eyes.

“Did I?” Liyana blinked again. She tilted her head and searched through the river of her memories, but after finding nothing, she waved a hand dismissively. “It was too long ago. I forgot.”

“Moke even said you were just putting on airs.”

“Ah! Now that you mention it, I think I remember!” Liyana grinned, revealing a row of pearly white teeth, as if she had recalled Moke’s furious, bristling expression. “In any case, let’s just keep going like this forever.”

The earth dragon let out a neigh, as though it understood its master’s wishes, and began to quicken its pace.

The surroundings were peaceful. Only the wind, the rumble of the wheels, and the adventurers’ laughter intertwined into the most ordinary accompaniment to their journey.

As usual, Aina lay lazily in Xia Lun’s arms, her eyes half-closed. Like a small beast nestled in its den, she basked in the sunlight and the warmth of Xia Lun’s embrace.

But then she suddenly opened her eyes.

“What?” Aina murmured under her breath, her face briefly showing an expression of disbelief and distraction.

Her voice was as soft as a feather touching the ground, but Xia Lun could still hear the immense shock concealed within it.

Aina had seemingly never lost her composure like that in front of him.

“What’s wrong?” Xia Lun’s expression turned solemn, and he immediately asked with concern.

“…It’s nothing.” Aina’s long eyelashes trembled once. Soon, her exquisite little face returned to its usual calm, as though that brief disturbance had merely been a trick of Xia Lun’s imagination.

But Xia Lun had no intention of letting the matter go so easily. He continued staring intently at his wife.

Under his gaze, Aina sighed softly, helplessly. She knew there was no way she could brush this matter aside.

“Something happened beyond the world,” Aina explained, accepting that she could not hide it from Xia Lun. “Apparently, a new evil god appeared out of nowhere. Many powerful evil gods have been hunted down as prey…”

“Is it serious?” Xia Lun could not help asking.

Whatever could make Aina show that expression certainly wasn’t “something minor.”

“Nature’s Hymn is dead.” Aina paused, seemingly still digesting the shock of the news. A trace of apprehension entered her voice. “Although Nature’s Hymn was considered rather weak in direct combat among the evil gods, its vitality was undeniably among the most tenacious. The poison within it was terrifying as well. It was practically an exceptionally troublesome porcupine…Even the most destructive evil gods wouldn’t dare claim they were certain of killing it…”

And yet, it was dead now.

“This has caused a huge stir beyond the world,” Aina continued with another sigh. Her fingers unconsciously twined around a strand of Xia Lun’s clothing. “My agents scattered throughout the outside world only just learned of it.”

“I see.” Xia Lun fell silent for a moment.

“Don’t worry, Xia Lun…” Aina’s confidence soon returned. She lifted her head and gently rubbed her smooth forehead against Xia Lun’s chin. “Even if that thing comes looking for our world, it definitely won’t be a match for me.”

“It’s probably simply that its abilities countered Nature’s Hymn particularly well,” she continued. “It poses no threat to us.”

Although Aina spoke with absolute certainty, an indescribable gloom still quietly crept into Xia Lun’s heart, keeping him from feeling completely at ease.

“Besides, perhaps it’ll soon be surrounded and killed by the other evil gods,” Aina said nonchalantly, a hint of disdain in her voice. “In the world beyond, anything too conspicuous won’t meet a good end…Of course, I’m an exception. As long as I’m here, nothing will dare set its sights on our world.”

“That’s certainly reassuring.” Xia Lun stroked Aina’s head, gently smoothing her silky silver hair.

“Mhm. You don’t need to worry about anything. With me here, there won’t be any problems.” Aina yawned lazily, then settled back into Xia Lun’s arms as though she had completely relaxed again. “Instead of worrying about things so far beyond our reach, you should think about what we’re having for dinner tonight.”

“How about honey-glazed grilled fish?” Xia Lun suggested casually. “There seems to be a river up ahead. I can hear running water.”

“Sounds good.” Aina narrowed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile.

Her nostrils fluttered faintly, as though she could already smell the enticing blend of honey’s sweetness and the charred fragrance of grilled fish.

After Aina first came to the human lands, the first proper food she ate was grilled fish prepared by Xia Lun himself.

Aina did not have much need for food. She would occasionally sample a little, though she never turned down delicious desserts.

Of course, as time passed, Xia Lun gradually became Aina’s primary source of nourishment.