Aina lay naked among the tangled sheets, her silky hair spread across her smooth back. Her small face was buried in the pillow, making her look as though she had already died.
Xia Lun slowly rose and stretched.
The last rays of dusk were blocked by the curtains, leaving the room dim.
“Want to go out for a stroll? I hear Kala City is famous for bringing together delicious snacks from all over the world.” Xia Lun fastened his belt, his eyes resting on his wife’s faintly trembling eyelashes.
“Mm… Liyana and the others should be happy.” Aina’s body twitched lightly, as though Xia Lun’s voice had brought her back to life. Her muffled reply came from within the pillow.
“Xia Yi probably will be too.” Xia Lun sat down beside Aina and chuckled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “That kid sure can eat.”
“He’s still growing.”
Aina trembled as she braced her hands against the bed, trying to push herself upright. But her palm suddenly slipped, and she collapsed helplessly back into the pillow, as though all the bones had been drawn from her body.
“Xia Lun… help me.” Aina’s pitiful voice drifted over. Mist seemed to gather in her crimson eyes, making her especially alluring. “I don’t have any strength left.”
Xia Lun sighed helplessly and stepped forward. Like someone straightening a doll, he helped Aina sit up on the bed. She took the opportunity to lean into his arms, the crown of her head brushing against his chin.
“Was it really that exhausting?” Xia Lun muttered softly.
Given Aina’s strength, she shouldn’t truly have been reduced to this state by him.
Aina heard his private remark and gave a soft snort. “Isn’t this just to make you look strong, Lord Hero? …I know you must be feeling awfully proud of yourself.”
“Am I?” The corners of Xia Lun’s mouth lifted against his will, completely exposing his mood.
“Hmph. Men.”
Aina drew up her legs, and the sheet slid down, revealing the backs of her knees, marked with pale pink traces.
Then she stretched out her toes and poked Xia Lun’s arm. “Help me put on my boots. Let’s go out for a walk.”
A dark blood-red robe soon appeared directly on Aina’s body. She didn’t need Xia Lun’s help with her clothes; the man would definitely use the opportunity to take liberties… and then things would once again head in an indescribable direction.
Xia Lun, however, didn’t mind. He took hold of Aina’s rounded calf.
“Aina, you don’t have to put on an act just to please me.” Xia Lun slipped her small foot into the tall boot, pulled it up, and then skillfully tightened the strap around the side of her thigh.
This wasn’t the first time he had helped the little sluggard put on her boots. He had long since become familiar with the process.
“Who said I’m trying to please you? Don’t flatter yourself, Xia Lun.” Aina snorted softly. “I really don’t have even a shred of strength left… Not without using magic to restore my stamina.”
“Why not use it?” Xia Lun’s hands paused as he looked up at her.
Was Aina relying solely on her physical strength to endure what they had done? That was truly impressive.
“I just wanted to exercise once in a while.” Aina pouted, offering an excuse that was utterly unconvincing.
These were unusual times. No one knew when a battle might break out beyond the world itself… She had to conserve her magic in case of an emergency. Wasting it on something like this would be far too extravagant.
Aina was perfectly capable of distinguishing between what was important and what was urgent.
Besides, that man never knew when to go easy on her. He was still as rough as ever… Aina felt as though her entire body had been dismantled.
Stare—
Aina fixed her crimson eyes on her husband, her gaze filled with accusation, as though she were venting all her dissatisfaction.
Xia Lun began to feel a little uneasy beneath her stare.
“All right, your boots are on. Let’s get going.” Xia Lun gave Aina’s thigh a light pat, producing a crisp slap.
“Hmph.” Aina turned her head away and sulked quietly.
Xia Lun had no idea what she was angry about, but when it came to Aina, he clearly knew exactly what to do.
He slowly crouched beside the bed, clasped his hands behind his back, and beckoned to her. “Come on, Lord Demon King. If you’re tired, I’ll carry you.”
“That’s more like it,” Aina muttered as she climbed onto Xia Lun’s broad back.
Her weight was no different from nothing at all to Xia Lun.
Aina, meanwhile, seemed to have grown used to clinging to Xia Lun… in all sorts of situations.
At that moment, pressed against his back, she felt an incomparable sense of satisfaction and… fulfillment.
Perhaps she had thought of something, because a faint blush spread across Aina’s face.
Unfortunately, Xia Lun couldn’t see his shy wife behind him. He only felt that Aina’s body temperature seemed to have risen slightly, though perhaps it was only his imagination.
As night approached, Kala City’s night market grew lively and boisterous.
On both sides of the street, countless vendors had raised colorful awnings, stretching into a flowing feast. Fish sizzled on iron griddles, while ice berries were skewered into glistening candied fruit. Spices from the western deserts mingled in the air, creating an exotic atmosphere. The cries of vendors, laughter and conversation, and the clatter of pots and pans blended into a unique symphony, filling the entire street with vibrant life.
Countless stalls and peddlers had gathered along the roadside, forming a dazzling sight.
The vendors came from all over the world, and every kind of distinctive food could be found here.
The lord of Kala City was a genuine food lover. For that reason, he had specially issued a decree stating that any chef willing to settle in Kala City would be exempted from a substantial portion of their taxes. Thanks to this policy, many chefs from other regions and cities had been drawn here.
At first, no one had thought highly of the lord’s new policy. At a glance, it seemed like a ridiculous decision he had made on a whim for his own selfish enjoyment.
But later, no one had expected the food and beverage industry to become Kala City’s pillar of commerce. More and more adventurers and travelers came here after hearing of its reputation, driving the development of every other industry in the city as well. Before long, Kala City had become an exceptionally prosperous metropolis.
From the livestock raised to provide ordinary people with their daily meat, to monster meat worth its weight in gold, this industry held far more potential than anyone could have imagined.
After all, no one could live without food.
The power of good food was truly immense.
Besides the stalls, the streets were lined with taverns, restaurants, and entertainment venues of every style.
Xia Lun noticed that the proportion of adventurers here was also far higher than in ordinary cities.
After all, adventurers were people who hung their heads on their belts. As long as they weren’t doing too poorly, they were rarely short of money.
Even adventurers who had fallen into difficult circumstances and become destitute could sell the equipment on their backs for a considerable sum. Once they had set aside the coins needed to replace their gear, they could still afford to enjoy themselves properly.
After risking their lives time and again, choosing to come to a gentle haven like this and spend lavishly seemed like the most reasonable decision in the world.
Xia Lun slowly wandered through the streets with Aina on his back.
The evening breeze was gentle, the lights shone brightly, and his entire world rested upon his back.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
y came from. The chests contained supplies, currency, class-change scrolls, skills, talents… and even godhood! The laws of the world were completely rewritten. This became a world where everyone gambled with their fate! Some people, despite having nothing, opened a divine artifact and rose to the top, eventually ruling the world. Others went bankrupt, opened nothing but worthless junk, and leaped from skyscrapers in despair. Lin Ye arrived in this world from another reality, utterly bewildered. “What is going on? Why is everyone a gambling addict?!” “Opening chests? No way. I refuse to gamble. I’ll start with myself!” Until— On his first chest, he obtained a Mythic Talent: Void Incarnation! He could become completely intangible, pass through all things, and reduce everything to nothingness! … On his fiftieth chest, he obtained a Mythic Weapon: Blade of Karma! With a single slash, karma shattered, twisting the universe and overturning the myriad phenomena of creation! … On his ninety-ninth chest, he obtained a Mythic Divine Treasure: Primordial Purple Energy! It could split open the heavens and earth, create all things, and evolve countless worlds with a single thought! Lin Ye: “Now that I think about it… shouldn’t someone have told me that every chest is guaranteed to contain something Mythic?!”
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
