Five Years Later

The Age of Order, Year 1144.

Five years later.

A camp protected by magic rested quietly in the embrace of a mountain valley.

Night had fallen. The campfire at the center had already turned into a patch of ash resembling scattered stardust. Only a few wisps of smoke stubbornly spiraled upward, as though unwilling to admit that the warmth had come to an end. A few burned-out logs still gave off a faint red glow, though even that little warmth would soon vanish without a trace.

Inside a tent near the campfire.

“Aunt Liyana, what do Father and Mother do every night?”

Four-year-old Xia Yi tilted his head up and gently tugged at the elf’s sleeve. In a soft voice, he asked, “Why can’t I sleep with them?”

“Ahem, ahem, ahem… That’s not something you need to ask about.” Liyana pursed her lips, pretending to be stern as she lightly combed her fingers through the child’s dark hair.

For an elf with a long lifespan, five years were not enough to leave any mark. Liyana’s appearance had not changed in the slightest. If anything, there was simply a touch more composure between her brows.

Although Liyana was usually rather irreverent, she would never discuss a topic like this with a child.

“Aunt Liyana, tell me…” Xia Yi drew out the last word, shaking Liyana’s arm as he pleaded.

He had inherited Xia Lun’s black hair and Aina’s crimson eyes, along with the striking looks of both his parents. The little fellow was simply unbearably adorable…

As an elder who had watched him grow up, Liyana had absolutely no resistance to his pleas.

“Hmm… Fine, I’ll tell you.” Liyana began to make things up on the spot. “At night, your father and mother are busy saving the world.”

She certainly couldn’t tell him that they were busy making him a little brother or sister.

“Wow! Are Father and Mother really that amazing?” Xia Yi’s eyes immediately lit up.

At his age, Xia Yi had no idea how terrifyingly powerful his parents truly were. He only knew that they were both very strong, and that no monster could stand against them.

In his childish understanding, being able to defeat the ferocious monsters in the forest was already enough to make someone a great hero.

“Of course… Xia Lun and Aina are heroes who save the world. Xia Lun used to be a hero, you know! Would you like me to tell you his story?” Liyana deftly changed the subject as she tucked the child more securely beneath the blanket.

“Yes, yes!” Xia Yi nodded vigorously.

“You have to go to sleep after the story, all right?”

“All right! I promise I’ll fall asleep before you do, Aunt Liyana!” Xia Yi declared confidently. “After all, your snoring is so loud.”

“You little brat…” Liyana grumbled as she rubbed Xia Yi’s head, though her eyes were filled with affection.

…

Inside a tent nearby.

The air suddenly rippled like the surface of water. A rift silently opened, and Aina stepped through it. Her silver hair shimmered in the dim tent like moonlight. She did not even have time to straighten her slightly disheveled clothes before eagerly throwing herself into Xia Lun’s arms.

“How are things outside?” Xia Lun caught his wife securely, his palm naturally settling against her back.

Aina rubbed her cheek against Xia Lun’s chest and took a deep breath, replenishing herself with some of his energy before slowly answering, “The Mechanical Prophet, the Arcane Sage, the Fallen Years… Several gods who had remained neutral until now have joined our side.”

“Sounds like things are progressing well.” Xia Lun relaxed slightly.

“We still can’t afford to let our guard down.” Aina shook her head. “Another chaotic evil god was devoured and absorbed by the Chaos Demon God. That monster has grown even stronger.”

Her gaze drifted involuntarily toward the tent next door, where Xia Yi was sleeping.

Having the child had also been meant to put Xia Lun at ease.

A great deal had happened beyond the world over the past five years.

Led by Aina, the Crimson Goddess, a group of ancient beings from other worlds had formed a united front against the Chaos Demon God.

In truth, every evil god was the strongest being in their own planet and civilization.

Yet that monster had destroyed and devoured several civilizations with sheer, unreasonable force, naturally provoking the wrath of everyone else.

They had launched several campaigns against the Chaos Demon God, but the results had been far from ideal. Although its raw power could not withstand the combined assault of so many gods, its vitality was even more absurd than that of the Nature Hymn. Every time it was defeated, it would eventually return.

The good news was that after being beaten back, the Chaos Demon God’s strength would also decline. A campaign against it was organized once every year, and this was how a strange balance had been maintained beyond the world.

Meanwhile, the changes within this world were obvious as well. Xia Lun and Aina’s child had been born, yet everyone’s journey had not come to an end.

Xia Yi’s arrival had brought a great deal of joy to their travels.

Other than that, if one had to name another change…

Aina grabbed the front of Xia Lun’s shirt. With practiced ease, her slender hand swept downward, and a series of sharp pops rang out as the buttons on his shirt sprang open, revealing his sturdy chest.

The dim, yellow lamplight inside the tent cast varying shadows across Xia Lun’s well-defined physique.

“It’s already pretty late, Aina…” Xia Lun gave a helpless smile, though he made no real attempt to stop her.

“What? With your energy, do you really think you’ll be tired tomorrow?” Aina tilted her head. Biting down on a hair tie, she gathered her waterfall of silver hair into a neat, high ponytail while keeping her eyes fixed on her husband.

Aina had become bolder and more uninhibited than before.

“Uh… No, I suppose I won’t.” Xia Lun sighed, resigned to his fate.

“Don’t pretend, Xia Lun. You may look reluctant, but I know you’re secretly delighted.”

Aina intertwined her fingers with Xia Lun’s. Her brows drew together slightly, but her expression then relaxed all at once, as if she had instantly transformed from a businesslike career woman into a sweet, affectionate wife.

“I’m becoming more and more grateful to Liyana… She really did come up with a wonderful idea back then.”

Aina leaned forward and whispered softly. Her little face brushed against Xia Lun’s cheek before their lips met.

“This seems a little unfair to Xia Yi…” Xia Lun returned her kiss, speaking in a low voice during a pause to catch his breath. “He’s still young. I think he should sleep with us.”

“Don’t you like things the way they are now?” Aina leaned back slightly. A sly glimmer rippled through her crimson eyes, and a seductive smile curved her lips as she met Xia Lun’s gaze.

“Ahem… He should sleep with us occasionally,” Xia Lun replied with a light cough.

Aina gave a soft laugh and traced a finger along her husband’s collarbone. “Then tomorrow… Tonight, you’re all mine.”