Naughty

Stepping out through the spatial rift, Xia Lun finally returned to their world.

It was the same camp, looking almost exactly as it had when they left.

It was noon, and the sun hung high overhead, bathing everything in warm light. Freshly washed clothes hung from the line, swaying gently in the breeze and casting crisp shadows upon the ground.

The campfire in the center of the camp was still burning. Liyana sat beside it, bent over as she prepared lunch, her face expressionless.

Everything seemed peaceful and ordinary, as if they had only been gone for a brief while.

The moment Liyana saw Xia Lun, the brightness returned to her face.

“Father! You’re finally back!” Xia Yi was the first to run over when he saw Xia Lun. He said excitedly, “We were just about to have lunch!”

Xia Lun narrowed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to let the child see what had happened to them, and forced a somewhat strained smile. “Yes. We’re back.”

“What’s wrong with Mother?”

Xia Yi did not notice anything unusual about Xia Lun’s eyes. Instead, his attention was drawn to Aina in Xia Lun’s arms. He looked curiously at his mother’s peaceful face.

“Is she asleep?”

“Yes. Your mother is very tired and needs to get some proper rest.” Xia Lun gently stroked Xia Yi’s head. “You all go ahead and eat. We’re going to rest in the tent…”

“Xia Lun, Aina…”

The moment Liyana saw Xia Lun return, she abandoned her work and hurried over.

Aina was carefully wrapped in a dark cloak, leaving only her pale face exposed. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was so faint that it was almost impossible to detect.

“She’s fine.” Xia Lun gently shook his head. “She’ll wake up tomorrow…”

“I-is that so?”

Liyana seemed to realize something, but her throat felt as though it had been blocked. She swallowed dryly, unable to say anything at all.

Her gaze lingered on Xia Lun’s face for a moment, and she noticed the exhaustion and pain he was struggling desperately to conceal in his eyes.

Mo Lini and Luo Lun cast worried looks in their direction.

Xia Lun smiled at everyone, said nothing more, and carried Aina back to the tent.

Everything was just as it had been the night they left…

Of course, it was no longer the following night. Xia Yi and the others had already been waiting at the camp for two days. It was now noon on the third day, though Xia Lun knew nothing of that.

The blankets were still in disarray. They had left in such a hurry that there had been no time to tidy them.

Liyana had not dared to touch anything, so she had left the tent exactly as it was.

“We’re back, Aina.” Xia Lun gently caressed Aina’s cheek.

Aina remained perfectly still, without the slightest response.

As though she were dead.

Xia Lun carefully laid Aina down on the bed, moving as gently as if he were setting down a fragile glass ornament. Then he slowly lay down beside her.

“I believe you’ll wake up, so you have to wake up.” Xia Lun spoke softly into Aina’s ear, his voice so quiet that it was almost nothing more than breath.

Aina’s eyelids remained closed, her long lashes resting lightly against her cheeks. She looked just like an exquisite sleeping doll, as if she might open her eyes the next moment.

“If you’re tired and want to sleep a little longer, that’s fine too…” Xia Lun smiled gently and continued talking to Aina. “I’ll take care of everything outside. The bloodkin, the Wings of Dawn, the Academy of True Magic… I’ll find a way to manage them all for you. Ah… but if the mages from the Academy of True Magic ask me any of their academic questions, I won’t be able to answer them. So you’d better come back soon. Don’t leave me to embarrass myself there.”

Aina seemed not to hear him. Aside from her heart, which continued to beat and proved that she was still alive, she showed no other movement.

“You looked after me for a thousand years back then… So from now on, I can look after you for another thousand years.” Xia Lun unconsciously pinched the bridge of his aching nose. “Did you hear me? I’m stubborn too. You have to wake up within a thousand years, or I’ll never forgive you.”

Xia Lun raised his hands and stared at them blankly.

These hands had once gripped a sword with unwavering resolve, cutting down countless manifestations of darkness. They had once gently embraced the woman he loved, conveying endless warmth. They had once awkwardly lifted the young Xia Yi into their arms as he learned how to become a father.

But now, they trembled slightly despite his efforts to control them, revealing the fear and helplessness hidden deep within his heart.

A thousand years…

That was such a long time.

Could he really hold on for that long?

Aina had actually managed to do it. She truly was incredible…

“You’re a member of the bloodkin, so your body shouldn’t have any problems…” Xia Lun had already begun imagining what their life would be like in the future. “I’ll wipe you down every day, too. Ah, but I definitely won’t do anything strange to you while you’re unconscious.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sit around either. I won’t hide away in some remote snowy mountain like you did, living there for several centuries at a time.

“So we’ll keep adventuring. Don’t worry. I’ll carry you from now on. With Liyana and the others around, and Xia Yi being such a sensible child, nothing will go wrong.

“We can visit the Emerald Archipelago in the south. I’ve heard that the night sky there is filled with seven-colored auroras. Or we could explore the ancient ruins beneath the eastern desert. You might be interested in those lost civilizations and ancient magics…

“Perhaps after several centuries, we’ll settle down somewhere, too. Heh… Maybe we could return to the little house in the Elven Forest?

“Ah, we’d even planned to go adventuring in other worlds, but with you like this, we won’t be able to go anymore. This is all your fault, Aina…”

His words suddenly broke off as an uncontrollable wave of emotion surged through him. Xia Lun raised a hand to cover his face, his shoulders trembling faintly.

Tears seeped between his fingers, hot and bitter.

For the first time, Xia Lun felt his own weakness with such clarity. In the face of fate’s fickleness, all his strength seemed pale and powerless.

Silence filled the tent. Only his stifled sobs and Aina’s faint breathing intertwined in the darkness. Time itself seemed to freeze in that moment, stretching his grief into infinity.

“Xia Lun…”

A familiar voice, light as a feather brushing past his ear.

Xia Lun raised his head in disbelief.

Aina’s eyes were still tightly closed, but Xia Lun clearly caught a hint of sly amusement at the corners of her mouth.

“Didn’t I teach you before?” Aina’s voice sounded again. Her eyes remained closed, but the smile at the corners of her lips grew more pronounced. “To awaken Sleeping Beauty, tears aren’t what you need.”

Xia Lun’s hands trembled as he reached out and cupped Aina’s soft cheeks. Then he kissed her deeply.

Aina slowly opened her eyes. Her blood-red pupils were lively, as if they were trying to say a thousand things.

“Aina…”

Overcome with emotion, Xia Lun pulled his wife tightly into his arms, as though he had found the most precious treasure in the world all over again.

“What is it, Xia Lun?” Aina gently patted his back, soothing him like a frightened child.

“You really are… far too mischievous.”

“Is that so?” Aina tilted her head, giving Xia Lun an innocent look.

Flames ignited around them both as Aina nibbled Xia Lun’s ear.

“Then tell me—what should be done with a naughty little bad boy?”