Sir, Please Hear Me Explain

Was it a dream?

Hardly.

Last night, Xu Xi witnessed the entire incident and put a stop to the farce. However, as it was already dark, he decided to wait until dawn to question them.

Yanshan City.

Courtyard living room.

After waking up, Xu Xi looked at the five supremely powerful beings before him—docile, obedient, and well-behaved—as they offered their explanations.

"Krisha, Ying Xue, Ailei, Servia."

"So, you're saying you thought I was being held hostage and acted to rescue me?"

"Yes, sir," Wu Yingxue blinked, wearing an expression that seemed to say, "Whether you believe it or not, I certainly do."

In summary, last night's events boiled down to: the four supremes bravely saving Xu Xi, while his younger sister shielded him with her life. In short, no one was at fault.

"Sir, please let me explain—ahem, I mean, let me clarify."

"Last night was truly just a misunderstanding. You know me—I'm such a gentle person. I would never act without reason~~"

Wu Yingxue sat on the living room sofa, her index fingers poking at each other as she chuckled awkwardly at Xu Xi.

"So, that’s really what happened last night?" Xu Xi turned his gaze to the other four.

"Mhm!" They all nodded in unison.

Xu Xi reluctantly accepted their excuse, but as a disciplinary measure, he flicked each of them on the forehead with a loud snap.

"Don’t do this again, understand?"

"I understand, elder brother..."

"Yes, Mentor."

...

The girls were exceedingly obedient, not a single objection among them.

And so, the farce of the previous night was put to rest.

The courtyard was no longer empty. After two months of absence, the supremes had descended once more from beyond the chaos.

To be thorough, Xu Xi made one final confirmation:

"Krisha, are all of you appearing in your true forms now?"

"Yes, Mentor."

Krisha absentmindedly rubbed the spot where Xu Xi had flicked her forehead. Her silver-gray hair shimmered, nearly translucent in the sunlight.

She explained to Xu Xi that, over the past two months, they had been working tirelessly to refine Earth's laws, elevating it to its ultimate state so it could withstand the presence of the supremes.

But Earth’s transformation was far from over.

For a long time to come, the planet would continue to expand, giving rise to new supernatural lifeforms—until, like the immortal realms of old, it became the "Upper World" of the myriad realms.

"Is that so..."

"By then, it will surely be a magnificent sight."

Imagining such a future, Xu Xi couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

...

The questioning had concluded.

Apart from the forehead flicks, Xu Xi imposed no further punishment—nor did he intend to.

The courtyard, silent for two months, regained its former liveliness.

And yet, there was a newfound sense of reality to it.

It was a peculiar sensation. Before, Xu Xi had never felt that the projected avatars were illusory. But now, with the girls’ true forms present, everything felt more tangible.

"Perhaps this is what they call a psychological effect."

The golden autumn sun bathed them in warmth as Xu Xi led Servia toward his bedroom for a private conversation.

After such a long separation, there was much he wished to ask her.

About the aftermath of the Tower of Salvation, the destruction of the Endless Netherworld, and how Servia herself had been faring.

"Come in, Servia."

"Yes, Great Sorcerer."

Her delicate features, platinum-blonde hair, and graceful posture were accentuated by a pristine white dress adorned with pale green floral buds and golden irises embroidered at the collar.

With a curious expression, she followed Xu Xi into the bedroom.

"So this is the Great Sorcerer’s room?"

Upon entering, the first thing that caught her eye was a tall, peculiar wooden display cabinet.

Inside it lay five items:

A sugar jar.

A wand.

A paper flower.

A numbered tag.

A grimoire.

Each item represented one of the five supremes.

Recognizing the unique aura emanating from them, the Hero easily identified their respective owners.

"How nostalgic..."

Standing before the fifth compartment of the cabinet, Servia gazed through the glass at the grimoire, her face briefly clouded with reminiscence.

Her emerald-green eyes, clear as a tranquil lake, reflected the book’s form.

"Servia, would you like to take it back?"

"No, Great Sorcerer. Let it remain here with you."

The Hero smiled.

Once, she had been a lonely, fearful girl, shrinking from the dark, clinging to the grimoire Xu Xi had given her.

But now, Xu Xi stood before her.

There was... nothing left to fear.

Click—

Click—

The brass gears turned, driving the clock’s hands forward.

As sunlight slanted across the dial, dust motes danced in the golden beams, and the threads of time converged.

The minute hand caught up to the hour hand, gleaming brilliantly in the light.

"Great Sorcerer... I’m so glad to see you again."

She had rehearsed countless words, yet none could be spoken.

All her emotions, all the turbulence in her heart, dissolved into scattered rays of light.

Softly.

Almost soundlessly.

She voiced her longing and joy.

Her eyes curved into crescents, a faint smile playing on her lips—yet beneath it lay a trace of sorrow.

As if infinite grievances and infinite hopes had converged in those gem-like eyes.

"Servia, you’ve become a splendid Hero."

That bittersweet expression was deeply moving.

Xu Xi reached out, gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

They were not a sign of weakness, but the crystallization of countless years of suffering—condensed into a single, fleeting moment of shimmering light.

A helplessness no one else could understand...

Except Xu Xi.

"Thank you for your praise, Great Sorcerer."

His acknowledgment of her growth made the tears in her eyes glisten even more.

Because at last—

She had become a true Hero.

A Hero worthy of Xu Xi’s recognition, one he could be proud of.

No other praise, no other validation, could compare.

The tears were warm and bitter, streaming freely as they conveyed the mingled joy and sorrow in her heart. But she quickly composed herself, not wanting to trouble Xu Xi.

"Forgive me, Great Sorcerer. I didn’t mean to burden you so soon."

"It’s alright, Servia."

Xu Xi took her hand and guided her to sit on the chair in his bedroom.

"You are no burden. You are the Hero I acknowledge."

"Mhm!"

Servia took a deep breath, steadying herself.

Quiet, well-behaved, she presented her best self—striving to embody the ideal image of a Hero.

In the bedroom, the warm light slanted gently.

Xu Xi sat across from Servia and began inquiring about the events that followed the conclusion of the fifth simulation.

"Servia, can you tell me how everyone fared after entering the Heruka World?"

"Of course, Great Sorcerer."

Servia nodded lightly.

In a voice both tender and serene, she recounted the untold aftermath of the fifth simulation—stories Xu Xi had yet to hear.

Venturing into the Heruka World.

Battling its native inhabitants.

Finding refuge and peace for the people of the Tower of Salvation.

With meticulous care, Servia shared every step of her journey, recounting all she had experienced since their parting.