The Goal Is the Sea of Stars

The lingering warmth of their pleasure drifted through the air like honey. Aina curled up in Xia Lun’s arms like a satisfied cat, smiling as she gently prodded his cheek with one fingertip.

“Xia Lun, you were crying just now.” Her voice held a hint of triumphant amusement, and her eyes glittered mischievously.

“I was not.”

Xia Lun slowly turned his head aside and cleared his throat.

The tent was filled with the scent of grass and earth, mingled with the warmth left behind by their intimate union. A hide blanket lay in disarray beneath them, still bearing the traces of their passion. Xia Lun reached out and pulled it higher over Aina’s smooth shoulders. His fingertips lingered there for a moment, as if confirming that this warmth was real and not a dream.

Xia Lun suddenly asked with concern, “What’s your condition like right now? Are you all right?”

“Of course I’m still alive. You should have confirmed that for yourself already.” Aina spoke as though it were self-evident.

Yes, Aina was still warm and very much alive—not a ghost.

“Then, back in the Spirit Realm, the Chaos Demon God didn’t…?” Xia Lun couldn’t help pulling her closer.

He recalled what had happened before: the light pillar that had seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth, the crimson radiance that devoured everything, and Aina’s figure gradually blurring within that light…

“Ah, that attack really was terrifying, but I dodged it.” Aina still looked a little shaken. Then she stuck out her tongue. The childish gesture formed a strangely charming contrast with the alluring flush that still lingered across her face. “That attack nearly dragged you in too. I barely managed to push you away before escaping the Spirit Realm and avoiding it.”

Xia Lun’s expression suddenly turned somewhat odd. “That’s it?”

“What else? Do you want something to have happened to me?” Aina pretended to be angry, baring her teeth and clawing lightly at his chest with her fingertips. Like a cat scratching at a post, her touch was so gentle that it amounted to nothing more than a teasing tickle. Her long hair spilled between them, with a few strands clinging to Xia Lun’s skin.

“No… It’s really wonderful that you’re all right, Aina.” Xia Lun held her tightly against his chest, savoring the marvelous warmth and softness of her body.

“But afterward, when I tried to reenter the Spirit Realm, I found that I couldn’t get in anymore.” Aina gazed at Xia Lun with a faintly reproachful look, tracing meaningless patterns across his chest with one finger.

Xia Lun suddenly understood. By then, he had apparently begun merging with the Spirit Realm.

In other words, the Spirit Realm had become his private domain, leaving Aina shut outside its gates.

“I was so worried at the time. I was afraid you’d really been taken by the Chaos Evil God…” Aina rubbed her cheek against Xia Lun’s chest, her voice slightly muffled. “You really are incredible, Xia Lun.”

“Of course I am. I’m your husband, after all.” Xia Lun couldn’t help feeling a little smug. After all, he had faced an opponent who had even left Aina helpless.

“Xia Lun, you really did your best.” Aina reached up and gently stroked his dull, lifeless eyes.

Even now, Xia Lun remained unable to see anything.

“This might hurt a little. Bear with it.”

Xia Lun suddenly felt an astonishingly intense heat surge through his eyes, as though a drop of magma had fallen into them. At first, there were only blurred shapes, patches of color drifting aimlessly across his vision. Then, like mist scattered by the morning breeze, his sight gradually cleared.

Xia Lun blinked. At last, he could clearly see his wife’s face before him.

“Vampire’s Eyes may not offer as many convenient abilities as the Eyes of Insight… but they’re certainly better than leaving you blind.”

Aina somehow produced a small mirror and held it up in front of Xia Lun. In it, Xia Lun saw that his pupils had turned blood-red.

“If you had this ability…” Xia Lun drew a deep breath and stared at Aina with his newly acquired red eyes. “Why didn’t you fix my eyes earlier?”

After all, he hadn’t even been able to see the expression on his wife’s face during their lovemaking.

“Ahem… If you couldn’t see, perhaps you’d be able to focus more on the physical pleasure and have an even better experience…” Aina’s eyes began to wander. She absently twirled a lock of hair around her finger as she replied.

“Did you forget?”

“N-No… Xia Lun, do you think I’m as foolish as you?” Aina turned her head away guiltily.

“I think you did forget.” Xia Lun sighed. “Your husband was living in darkness, and the first thing you did after waking up was satisfy your own desires…”

“Xia Lun, you definitely cried just now.” Aina forcibly steered the conversation back.

“I did not.”

“Then I didn’t forget either. That makes us even.” Aina offered the compromise.

Xia Lun pinched her cheek, then couldn’t resist giving her a kiss.

“Deal,” Xia Lun said with a soft laugh.

…

The two of them walked out of the tent together.

It was already afternoon. Slanting sunlight bathed the campsite in a layer of warm gold. The air carried the mingled fragrance of grass and the distant pine forest, while a breeze brought a touch of coolness that perfectly tempered the afternoon heat.

“Father! Mother!”

The moment Xia Lun and Aina appeared, Xia Yi charged toward them like a little cannonball, kicking up a trail of dust before skidding to a stop in front of them.

Liyana followed close behind.

“Mother, you’re alive again!” Xia Yi began circling Aina excitedly like an overjoyed puppy.

“Oh? What did you say?” Aina narrowed her eyes slightly. Only then did Xia Yi realize that his little bottom might be in danger again.

“I mean, you’ve finally woken up.” Xia Yi shrank his head back and put on the most ingratiating, obedient smile he could manage.

Aina reached out a hand. Xia Yi squeezed his eyes shut in fright, his little face scrunching up. But Aina merely placed her hand on his head and vigorously ruffled his hair.

Luo Lun and Mo Lini also emerged from behind the tent. The blood bat perched on Luo Lun’s shoulder let out a cheerful “caw,” while Little Lan kept making “pop-pop” sounds atop Mo Lini’s head.

Seeing Xia Lun and Aina standing side by side, the two of them let out a simultaneous sigh of relief, faint smiles appearing at the corners of their mouths.

“Xia Lun, what happened to your eyes?” Liyana was the first to notice the change. She leaned closer, staring curiously at Xia Lun’s blood-red pupils. “Don’t tell me… you have pinkeye?”

“Do you think that’s possible?” Xia Lun shot Liyana an exasperated look.

Liyana chuckled and rubbed the back of her head.

“Father’s eyes are just like mine now!” Xia Yi was overjoyed. He dashed around the campsite in excitement.

“I’m fine now. More importantly, I have something else to announce.”

Xia Lun’s gaze slowly swept across everyone in the campsite.

The camp fell silent. The wind rustled through the treetops, and the faint sound of running water drifted from somewhere in the distance. Xia Yi stopped running as well and obediently stood beside Liyana, looking up at his father.

“Thank you all for waiting. The Wings of Dawn are setting out again.”

“Yay!” Liyana cheered enthusiastically. “So which city are we heading to next?”

But Xia Lun shook his head and pointed toward the azure sky.

“Our next destination is the sea of stars.”