Black Angel, Episodes 16-20 (Total 20 Episodes) Author: Cheng Jia

This post was last edited by s175366 on 2015-11-24 21:08.

*Black Angel*

Author: Cheng Jia
Publisher: Novel Channel

- New Characters -

Barbarossa: One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the North Pole. A mysterious and beautiful young man exuding an aura of death, nicknamed "Fly King," skilled in manipulating insect-type monsters.

Alexander the Holy Grail: One of the four cardinals of the Holy Kingdom's Papacy, a master of mechanics, creator of many famous armors, an incredibly long-lived and incredibly lecherous old man. His true identity is "Demon Wing" White Heron Douglas, one of Loki's six-winged generals, and the author of *The Secret Magic Scroll*.

Old Man of the Mountain: The head of the assassin group "Old Man of the Mountain," whose title has been passed down through generations. The current Old Man of the Mountain is Mikami Takashiro Sohei, one of the four great masters of Central Continent, possessing the six-winged mechanical armor "Phantom Knight Machine" Hattori Hanzo.

Myoko Banshouin: The wife of the Old Man of the Mountain, the mother of the gentle sisters, and the second-in-command of the Old Man's group. She possesses the mechanical armor "Yomi Gozen" and commands the Old Man's elite "Termite Legion."

Amanrada Arthur: Roland's father, one of the four cardinals of the Holy Kingdom's Papacy, known as "Amanrada the Sword." He was once the commander-in-chief of the Holy Kingdom's three armies and made great contributions in the vampire throne succession war. Even after taking up a religious post, he remained a warrior. He met Su Xinran in Elman and formed a close friendship despite their age difference.

Yujian Wen: Twelve years old. The eldest daughter of the Old Man of the Mountain, an innocent and lovely girl who came to Tianyou City to assassinate Su Xinran. She possesses the armor beast "Star Stone" and the treasured sword "Muramasa."

Yujian Wan: Twelve years old. The second daughter of the Old Man of the Mountain, Yujian Wen's twin sister, who harbors resentment because she was born one minute later than her sister. She possesses the armor beast "Kira" and the wind magic gun "Siluf."

Swiftwind Bat: Swiftwind Wolf and Bat Lady, a legendary assassin duo known as the "Nine Heavenly Dogs of the Mountain." Swiftwind Wolf is a werewolf who feeds on living people, while Bat Lady is a vampire with a cruel and lewd nature.

-New Login Mechanical Armor-

Armored Beast "Star Stone": White cat, a servant of the gentle swordswoman, a water-attribute armored beast.

Armor Transformation Special Skills - Pegasus Meteor Sword (supersonic sword aura continuous attack), Indestructible Body (water-attribute magic field, liquid body, automatically transforms to dodge attacks).

Armored Beast "Kira": Black cat, a servant of the gentle swordswoman, a wind-attribute armored beast.

Armor Transformation Special Abilities - Floating Ki Blast Cannon x2 (Energy Convergence Device pops out from the chest armor), Mad Cat's Brutal Kill (Wind Attribute Magic Field, Clone Technique + Ki Blast Cannon x24 + Summon Sylph)

Cube Set: Perhaps the smallest mechanical armor in the world, it can be combined to transform into various items, such as a computer, sleeping bag, lifeboat, shelter... and even the "Rooster Crows at Five Drums Resurrecting Pig".

- New Login Monster (Combined Monster) -

Bewitching Gu: A tiny creature manipulated by "Fly King" Barbarossa, parasitizing the host's hair and turning them into Barbarossa's puppet.

Rooster Crows at Five Drums Resurrecting Pig: A bronze puppet, a brave and energetic sports enthusiast, with a hidden bewitching fragrance inside. One of the combined products of the Cube Set.

White Dragon "Qingchuan": The pet and mount of the Old Man of the Mountain and Lady Myoko.

- New Login Magic Device (Treasure) -

Asgard Bamboo Dragonfly: A versatile single-person flying machine that can soar across the sea, similar products have made outstanding appearances in the classic cartoon "Doraemon".

Magic Gloves "Poison Fire": A super magical artifact obtained by Xinran after using the Main Demon Fusion Technique on Axia. These soft, two-tone gloves feature a skull (Poison Sign) on the left (black) palm and a flame (Fire Sign) on the right (red) palm, allowing Axia to cast poison and fire magic respectively (maximum ten uses per day). The gloves also possess digging abilities and can command low-intelligence insects.

Flame Magic Gun "Salamander": One of the six great magic guns, wielded by Alexander the Holy Grail, later given to Su Xinran. Standard ammunition: Explosive Bullets. Summoning magic: Meteor Spell. The "Salamander" is a fire spirit, a legendary creature resembling a lizard living in the flames of volcanic lava.

Wind Magic Gun "Siluf": One of the six great magic guns, wielded by Yu Jianwan. Standard ammunition: Vacuum Bullets. Summoning magic: Destructive Storm. "Siluf" is a pure white atmospheric spirit that appears as a beautiful woman, with a gentle exterior concealing a volatile temper.

Episode 16, Chapter 1: The Return

The weather was fine, the sea as smooth as a mirror, and the passengers of the "Groom" went up to the deck to sunbathe. Most of the passengers were young women, and the fatigue from the days of sailing was not a reason for them to complain about the long journey. As the servant whale approached the Rama Inner Sea, some impatient girls put on their dresses in advance, like beautiful coral flowers blooming on the azure sea.

To be precise, the name of this servant whale should be "New Groom". Its predecessor, the poor servant whale that set off from the port of Tianyou City, has now turned into skeletons and is displayed in the exhibition hall of the Amazonian Senluo Trading Company. And the Crimson Lotus Kai, which left Central Continent with it, still soars gracefully above the clouds like an eagle, attracting the admiring gazes of the Amazonian women.

Gon sat in the pilot's seat, concentrating on operating the mechanical armor. The true master of the Crimson Lotus, Su Xinran, once a renowned and handsome young paladin in Central Continent and now the overlord of the Women's Kingdom, sat leisurely on a recliner in the rear cabin, his right hand supporting his chin, his left hand casually holding a fishing rod.

His eyes held a playful languor, and the gentle smile that never faded from his lips was as captivating as the spring sunshine. His white robes were like moonlight on the first snow, his handsome features and elegant demeanor making him seem like a pristine cloud, soaring upwards with the wind, accompanied by the clear breeze and bright moon.

If you were fooled by his appearance and thought him an honest and steady young man, you would be sorely mistaken. For example, right now, instead of fishing properly, Xinran had an unconventional idea: instead of a hook, he had tied a white cormorant to the long fishing line.

With a casual flick of the rod, he tossed the unfortunate cormorant into the sea, and the Crimson Lotus slowly moved forward with the extremely slow flight of the Crimson Lotus. A few minutes later, when the fishing rod was lifted again, the cormorant's throat was full of fresh fish and shrimp. Tonight, these fish, shrimp, and cormorant would be stewed together in the same pot by the beautiful Amazonian chef, turning into a delicious soup.

Suddenly, the fishing rod sank, and the cormorant, which had surfaced, let out a mournful cry before sinking back into the sea. Xinran's spirits lifted, and she turned around and shouted, "Xiao Jie, slow down—we've caught something big!"

"Whoa~ Is it a dolphin?" the little boy asked excitedly.

Xinran looked down along the fishing line and laughed, "It's a sea turtle."

On the surface of the sea, a sea turtle had bitten the cormorant's foot, trying to drag the delicious fish into the water; the cormorant struggled fiercely, flapping its wings to try and lift the sea turtle into the sky, splashing white waves on the sea surface. The snipe and the clam fought, and the fisherman profited. Xinran calmly reeled in the fishing line, thinking happily, "Not bad, not bad, I'll have turtle soup tonight..."

"Brother—something's up!"

"Saw another mirage?" Xinran asked without turning her head.

"It's a passerby. He asked how to get to Tianyou City."

"That's on our way, let him come with us."

(Come with us... wait, it should be "fly together"!?)

Xinran suddenly snapped back to reality and angrily said, "Idiot Xiao Jie! We're in the sky, how could an idiot come here... asking for directions..." When he saw the blue-skinned monster floating outside the Red Lotus Modified Cabin, following Xiao Jie's finger, his voice involuntarily softened.

The man wore a thick blue cotton robe, was obese and bloated, with a small round head and a large round body. A buzzing propeller was stuck in his head, and he clumsily flew nearly a thousand feet above the sea.

"Xiao Jie... that guy has a bamboo copter stuck in his head..."

"A bamboo copter?"

"That famous bamboo copter that can make people fly~" Xinran prompted, "And look at his appearance, the blue coat, the chubby body, the enormous round head, hmm, doesn't it remind you of anything?"

"Doraemon!" Xiao Jie blurted out.

"No, no, no, I'm not Doraemon..." The strange man, who resembled Doraemon, shook his head in denial through the hatch.

"You, you, you—not Doraemon, but Peter Pan?"

"Jack, he's an old man, how could he be Peter Pan…at most, he's Old Man Peter Pan."

The old monster shook his head and laughed, "Little friend, don't be in such a hurry to pry into my background. May I ask which of you two is Su Xinran?"

Jack pointed to his brother.

The old monster said with satisfaction, "Very good, finally found the right person. You've modified this Unit-2 so badly that I can hardly recognize it. Su boy, we've made contact now, things will be easier from here on out—"

"Stop—old man, what are you talking about? I don't know you, why should I make contact with you?" Xinran was getting more and more confused.

"Haha, it's not good for young people to be so hot-tempered. There are still many things you don't understand, so learn slowly."

"Stop talking nonsense and answer my question!"

"I came to find you because a friend asked me to."

"Who is it?"

"Old beast Hua Wuji and his precious daughter Little Beast, you should be familiar with them, right?"

"What does Senior Hua want from me?" Xinran asked. Since he's her father-in-law's friend, he can't be a bad person.

"Of course, I'm here to help you."

"It seems unnecessary."

"Haha, not now, but soon you will." The old monster revealed an expression that Xinran was very familiar with and very good at. That's right, it was a "lewd smile." "You brat, you've been having a good time in the Women's Kingdom, and you probably don't even know about the current situation in Rama, do you?"

"Outrageous! But... what you said is true." Xinran admitted helplessly.

"This is not the place to talk, let's go down and talk."

Xinran piloted the Red Lotus and landed on the deck. Full of doubts, she walked out of the cabin. Looking up, she saw that the old monster had already landed first. A sense of surprise washed over him; he hadn't expected the seemingly simple bamboo dragonfly to be just as fast as the mechanical armor.

The old monster removed his cumbersome flight suit, put his hands behind his back, and walked around the mechanical armor once, a subtle hint of warmth in his expression, as if he were looking at a relative. He was so old that it was impossible to guess his age; his hair and beard were completely white, and his face was covered with deep, dense wrinkles, yet his eyes shone brightly with wisdom.

Xinran grew increasingly suspicious and went up to ask, "Old man, it's windy on deck, why don't you come inside and sit down?"

"No rush," the old monster said, pointing to the entangled cormorant and sea turtle, "What's going on with these two idiots?"

Xinran, too lazy to explain, casually said, "Oh, this sea turtle longs for the sky and wants to experience the feeling of flying, so it asked the cormorant to borrow its wings. The cormorant said it would lend them its wings, but only in exchange for its shell. They couldn't agree and started fighting, just like what you're seeing now."

"...Is that it?" The old monster glanced at Xinran with a half-smile.

"Absolutely." Xinran shrugged and smiled mischievously.

"One wants wings, the other wants a turtle shell. These requests aren't unreasonable. Alright, this old man will take pity on them and help them each get what they deserve." The old monster stepped forward, lifting the cormorant with his left hand and pressing down on the turtle shell with his right. Using some kind of magic, a burst of dazzling golden light suddenly shot from his hands, forcing Xinran to close her eyes and dodge. Opening her eyes again, she saw a pair of bird wings on the turtle's back, while the turtle shell enveloped the wingless cormorant.

The old monster clapped his hands and laughed, "Haha, everyone's happy now, isn't that right?"

Xinran stared strangely at the two incongruous monsters on the deck. The modified turtle and bird were clearly unaccustomed to their new bodies, shrinking into a ball in fear.

“Old man…you should turn them back,” Xinran said with a wry smile. “I believe they’ve already regretted their previous delusions.”

The old monster shook his head. “I can’t restore them to their original state, but since they’re all dissatisfied with their new bodies, let’s just merge them into one.” With that, he used his magic again, fusing the turtle and the bird into one, transforming it into a monster with a bird’s head, a turtle’s body, and wings on its back.

“…Damn, that works!” Xinran’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “What…what kind of animal is this?”

“Flying turtle, or turtle-bird, call it whatever you like,” the old monster said casually. With a clap of his hands, the startled flying turtle flapped its wings and took off, struggling to climb into the air. After a brief hover, it regained its cormorant-like, skillful, and graceful flying posture and slowly flew away.

Xinran watched the old monster's performance in silence. After hesitating for a while, he finally managed to squeeze out six words: "Alchemy-based synthetic beast!"

The old monster's body trembled slightly, and he turned back to wink at him: "Little kid, you have a good eye."

"Old...uh, master, aren't you afraid of divine retribution for doing this?" Xinran asked tentatively. Although they had only known each other for a short time, he sensed an evil aura emanating from the old man's very bones. It was pure evil, not wickedness. The old monster had rashly created a new creature with an uncertain future, not for profit or out of any ulterior motive, but simply because he thought it might be fun. In this respect, he was very similar to Xinran.

"Divine retribution?" The old monster's eyes widened, and he questioned Xinran with a wronged expression. "I only created an alchemical beast, why should God punish me?"

"But the book says that alchemical beast experiments are against the natural order and are not tolerated by the gods, so..."

"Bullshit! Which book says that? That author is definitely misleading people!"

"Master Douglas's masterpiece, 'The Secret Magic Scroll'."

"Douglas?" The old monster's disdainful expression vanished, replaced by a serious tone. "Young man, you should understand the author's good intentions when you read a book. When an author creates, even if they know they're writing a wicked book, they still fantasize about giving readers some positive lessons. After vividly describing evil magic, they inevitably add a few lines of 'good advice,' which are mostly just empty words. Since you've learned about alchemical beasts from the *Secret Magic Scroll*, you can certainly try creating them, as long as you don't let those mediocre people who like to make a fuss see it. As for divine retribution, haha, my young man, the gods aren't that petty, otherwise I wouldn't be alive today."
"Indeed, it's unreasonable," Xinran joked.

The old monster didn't mind his lack of manners, stroking his beard and saying, "My mouth is dry. Let's go in and get some fine wine, we can chat while we drink." With that, he swayed into the cabin.

Xinran was about to follow when he suddenly heard the Soul-Sucking Demon Sword humming.

"Juno, what's wrong?"

"It's not me..." the Scarlet Witch stammered, "Lord Loki wants to speak with you directly and asked if you could go to a quiet room."

Xinran was both surprised and delighted, laughing, "Amazing! Even a silent person can speak!" She hurriedly found Dio and told him that the Beastmaster's friend had boarded the ship and that she had urgent business to attend to, asking him to entertain the old monster on her behalf.

Xinran returned to her bedroom, locked the door, and sat on the bed, asking Juno, "It's quiet enough here, let that boss out quickly."

Juno laughed, "Silly master, Marshal Loki is inside your body. You just need to close your eyes and try to communicate with him; there's no need for external help."

Xinran did as she was told and indeed felt a faint heat in her head, as if a vibrant presence was greeting her.

"Um, boss, are you the soul of Loki living in my body?" Xinran began with an awkward monologue.

“It’s me.”

“Uh, hehe…you really are a man of few words. Um, Mr. Loki, how should I address you? Marshal, sir, brother, or elder brother?”

“Whatever.” It was still that calm and serene voice, without displeasure or annoyance—as if devoid of emotion.

"Then I'll call you Boss, hehe, it sounds more intimate. Boss, you live in my body, so we're practically family. We should keep in touch more often to strengthen our bond."

"That makes sense."

"Hmm, I want to know, why did you choose me as your host?"

"..."

"I think I asked a question that's too complicated."

"It's not complicated, it was just drawing lots."

"...Drawing lots?"

"God Kuso gave me a list of one hundred fetuses suitable for reincarnation, and I just picked one."

"...And then you?"

"One hundred slips of paper with numbers on them, and I just randomly picked one." "

...That's me?"

"Yes."

"Sigh, to be honest, I'm quite shocked."

"You're right."

"Alright, let's move on to the next question. Aunt Saiyan said you could have ascended to godhood, but you willingly chose to reincarnate as a human. What was the purpose of all this?"

"Bella." "

It's indeed related to the Arctic Demon Mother. One hundred and twenty years ago, you sealed her away—"

“She was the last one. My power was nearing collapse at the time, so the seal wasn’t complete.”

Xinran racked her brains before understanding that Loki meant that Bella was the last of the three evil gods he sealed. The seals on the Undead King and the Dragon King were perfect, but Bella’s was different.

“Actually, I’m telling you, brother, you don’t need to be so persistent. If Bella is resurrected, your descendants will fight her. There’s no need for you to personally intervene in everything and sacrifice your happiness in the next life. You’re really not smart enough,” Xinran sighed.

Even the most wonderful life is enough once experienced.

Loki remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, “I find your question difficult to answer. No one has ever asked me this before, and I haven’t thought about it this way either…”

Xinran smiled and said, “The question isn’t complicated. You can’t let go of Bella because she holds a very heavy place in your heart. To be honest, you actually love her.”

Loki asked in confusion, “I love Bella?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Xinran felt the reason was self-evident.

“We'd better not talk about feelings; I’m particularly bad at that.”

“What a pity… I’m exceptionally good at it.”

“Choosing you as my host might have been a foolish decision. I won’t lose my way because of your words, but I can’t stop you from doing stupid things like chasing women.” Loki’s anger was slightly evident.

“If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to be possessed by a ghost either. Our personalities are completely opposite; since there’s no possibility of reconciliation, there’s no need to argue. Anyway, I’ll help you kill the Arctic Demon Mother. What will you give me in return?” Xinran shamelessly bargained.

Loki remained silent for a long time before replying, “I’m sorry.”

“Are you kidding me! I’m risking my life for you, not to hear an apology!”

“I can’t satisfy your desires because I can’t find any desires in your heart that I can understand.”

“What are you saying? You can’t renege on a debt like that…” Xinran was quite displeased.

“If you were a martial arts fanatic, I could teach you unparalleled martial arts; if you were a scholar, I could tell you the secrets of the universe; if you wanted to become an emperor, I could help you conquer the world—but you don’t want any of these. How can I repay you?” Loki rarely spoke such long sentences, and his tone sounded somewhat impatient.

Loki’s words made Xinran fall into deep thought, muttering to herself, “What do I really want to pursue in my life… Loki, the reward I want is the answer to this question. Please examine me deep within my soul. What kind of life do I really want to live? What are my dreams? You must find the answer on the day we successfully destroy Bella.”

“…I promise you.”

“Thank you.”

At this point, both of them felt a little sad. One was the Hurricane Marshal, with a heart of steel and a firm will; the other was a carefree youth. Both of them found unbearable flaws in each other, yet they had no choice but to depend on each other.

“Let’s change the subject. Why did you suddenly choose this event to talk to me about?” Xinran asked.

“Because that person appeared.”

“A strange old man?”

“He’s my old subordinate, White Heron Douglas.”

Xinran was stunned. He had guessed the old monster’s identity before, but he hadn’t expected the answer to be so shocking.

“Wait! If he’s Douglas, then he’s an old monster over five hundred years old… How could my father-in-law be friends with him?”

“Ask him!” Loki said irritably.

Xinran scratched his head and chuckled dryly. Indeed, this question was too silly.

“Douglas is different from Solomon; he is the wisest of the six wings. His meeting with you means the descendants of the six wings are returning.”

“Returning?”

“Gathering around you, pledging allegiance to you, and ushering in a true hurricane age!”

“…To invade Middle-earth again? You really haven’t given up.”

“The destiny of the hurricane giants…you haven’t fully grasped it yet. Never mind, you’ll understand when the time comes.” Loki said calmly, “That’s enough for today.”

“If I still want to chat with you—”

“I won’t answer.”

“Hey, don’t be so heartless.”

“Don’t bother me unless absolutely necessary.” Loki finally relented, and then his soul fluctuations disappeared.

As if waking from a deep dream, I opened my eyes with a slight throbbing in my temples. It seems that communicating with Loki like this is quite mentally taxing.

Lost in thought, they suddenly heard a horn. Looking up from the deck, they saw a yacht, nicknamed "Turtle," approaching from the shore. Less than two hundred nautical miles from the Rama coast, this ship was not flying any flags to identify its nationality, making its actions suspicious. No wonder the lookout had sounded the alarm.

The Turtle continued to approach. The Groom slowed down, and the sailors hurriedly ran, aiming their cannons at the uninvited guests.

Suddenly, a Rama flag was raised on the Turtle. This action deepened the suspicion of the Groom's crew—why reveal their identity at this particular moment? What did it mean?

The boatswain suggested firing a shot to intimidate them and stop them from approaching, but Xin shook his head and stopped him, telling him to quickly find Dio and Russell. At sea, these two brothers were more experienced.

Just then, someone from the opposite ship called out loudly, "Excuse me, is that the Groom?" The voice was that of a woman, clear and melodious. Despite the great distance and the sound of the waves, the voice carried clearly to everyone on deck, indicating the speaker was a master of internal martial arts.

Xinran, hearing this, beamed with joy and replied, "Sister Angela—we're back!"

The woman on the yacht turtle was none other than Butterfly Princess Angela.

The yacht turtle, perched on the tail of a whale, saw Angela gracefully leap onto the deck. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Xinran, then she suddenly cried out and threw herself into his arms. Xinran excitedly embraced his beautiful lover. Even as a mother, Angela's figure remained as graceful and beautiful as ever. If there hadn't been so many people on the ship, he would have kissed her long ago.

"That's wonderful… Su Ning, you're finally back…" Angela's eyes blurred with tears, overjoyed.

Xinran led her by the hand into the cabin, where Dio happened to be walking towards them. Upon seeing Angela, he cheered and pounced on her, scooping her up and spinning her around. Xinran tactfully hid to the side, took the little prince from the nanny's arms, and played with him. The child had delicate features and fair skin, and Xinran's features were clearly visible in his eyes.

Russell nudged Xinran's arm and asked curiously, "Brother, how did Queen Angela know we were coming today?"

The old monster chuckled coldly, "This little girl isn't here to pick you up. She was driven out of the palace by a traitor and ended up at sea. It was only thanks to my guidance that she escaped the jaws of death."

Xinran laughed, "Don't give me that nonsense. You were just lost yourself, how could you possibly be a guide?"

The old monster said sullenly, "You're blind, kid. I was just taking a short drive, how could I really get lost?"

Seeing how casually the two were talking, Russell asked in surprise, "Brother, so you know Mr. Alexander."

"Alexander? Isn't that guy called Douglas? How did he become—"

"Brother Xinran, it seems you haven't figured things out yet," Russell said with a wry smile, "This old gentleman is Alexander the Holy Grail, the most outstanding mechanic in Middle-earth—your Crimson Lotus Mod was created by him!"

"No...no way? This shameless, lewd alchemist...is actually Alexander the Holy Grail?!" Xinran stared straight at the old monster, her mind instantly frozen.

The old monster's smug face gleamed, and he chuckled, "Youngster, now you know how high the sky is and how thick the earth is? Hmph, you'll get your comeuppance for mistaking my golden cup for a chamber pot!"

Xinran, enraged, grinned maliciously, "You old geezer, I admit your reputation is great, but what if I exposed your less-than-honorable side... For example, what if the Holy Queen found out that her beloved Alexander was actually the evil hurricane—"

"Shut up!" The old monster leaped up, pointing at Xinran's nose, his voice fierce but weak, "Don't hit someone in the face, don't expose their weaknesses, you brat, don't go too far—"

Xinran laughed, "Ouch, my shoulders are so sore. If someone massaged them for me now, I'd be in a better mood and keep my mouth shut."

The old monster's face flushed red, and he clenched his fist to massage Xinran's shoulders, muttering a curse, "You little bastard! If it weren't for Marshal Loki inside you, hmph, I'd turn you into a rat..."

"You old geezer, what did you say I'd be turned into?"

"Uh, hehe~ hehe, I mean, I'll use my intelligence to turn you, young master, into a great man—a great man indeed!"

Xinran rolled his eyes, his stomach almost bursting with laughter. He was sincerely grateful to Loki; if Loki hadn't revealed Alexander's true nature, how could he have tamed this old monster into obedience?

Alexander had stayed at the Rama Palace many years ago, and Dio treated him like a disciple. Now, after a long separation, they were still extremely respectful. He was deeply surprised to see that Xinran could command this old god. However, he knew that Xinran was always incredibly powerful; he had become the queen of the Women's Kingdom, so it wasn't surprising that he was on friendly terms with Alexander.

The refugees on the yacht turtle boarded the servant whale one after another. Apart from Queen Angela, other important members of the royal family were also present. Xinran and Dio were disappointed to find that the people they cared about most—the Hua family father and daughter and Emperor Hoffman—were absent.

With a sense of foreboding, Dio asked Angela, "What exactly happened in the capital? Is Father alright?"

Angela couldn't help but burst into tears, sobbing, "It was that traitor, Carrot! Not long after you left Tianyou City, he suddenly led troops to attack the palace, claiming in front of His Majesty that the Crown Prince and Prince Su had perished in the storm, forcing His Majesty to abdicate… His Majesty resolutely refused, so he sent mercenaries to kidnap him and imprison him in the Mithril Palace. I wasn't spared either, but thankfully His Majesty had made preparations beforehand, and Carrot…" "The palace had secretly sent trusted men to escort my son and me out of the city. We were pursued by the Overwatch Council along the way, but fortunately, Mr. Alexander intervened and drove them away, leading us to the sea. I thought to myself, though the world is vast, there is no place for us, a widow and her child, to stand..." Angela choked back tears, saying, "I thought and thought, the only way is to go to the Amazon to find the Crown Prince and Prince Su, but I'm worried about whether what Carlot said is true... Just when I was at my wit's end, heaven took pity on me and we met you here..."

"You bastards!" Dio slammed his hand on the ship's side, gritting his teeth in anger. "What are the ministers in the court doing? Are they just letting Carlot rebel?" He immediately shook his head and sighed, "The Overwatch Council wields immense power, and given my uncertain fate that day, those cowards naturally changed sides. It's no wonder they..." Just then, they heard a baby crying.

It turned out the little prince was frightened by his father's furious appearance.

Dio quickly took the child from Xinran's arms, affectionately coaxing him, "Good son, don't be afraid. Daddy will send troops to attack that traitor Carot and rescue Grandpa."

The little prince stopped crying, reaching out his pink little hand to stroke his father's beard as he giggled, slightly easing the gloom in everyone's hearts.

"Look how clever my son is! He recognized his father the first time we met!" Dio said proudly. When he went abroad, the little prince had not yet been born.

Dio and his wife thanked Alexander for his rescue. Xinran, however, was impolite to the old monster, asking irritably, "You old geezer, since my father-in-law suspected Karot's treacherous schemes, why didn't he personally return to Rama to uphold justice? Could it be that he met a beautiful woman in

the Holy Kingdom and is unable to leave because of love?" Alexander rolled his eyes and said, "Don't think that old beast is as lecherous as you. He can't return home because there are more important matters to deal with than the survival of the Rama Kingdom, and these matters are deeply related to you."

Xinran was taken aback and was about to ask further when another voice from deep within her spoke first: "Is this Hua fellow a descendant of Hua Xichun?"

Alexander hurriedly dropped his joking smile and respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Marshal, Hua Wuji is indeed Hua Xichun's grandson."

"...I understand," Loki said calmly.

"Hey... I still don't understand!" Xinran finally managed to regain the right to speak, pulling Alexander aside to ask, "Old monster, who is Hua Xichun? Why are you asking about him so casually?"

Alexander hadn't quite gotten used to Xinran's strange dual nature yet, and he hesitated before saying, "Hua Xichun... he's the old beast's grandfather, the very old beast. He has a majestic nickname: the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Beasts. Have you heard of him?"

"The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Beasts was a legendary master from a hundred years ago. How could I not know him?"

"Back then, Marshal Loki had six generals under his command, known as the Hurricane Six Wings: Poison, Fire, Illusion, Demon, Sea, and Mountain. I was the Demon Wing, while Reinas, the Fire Wing, was the only woman among them. After the war, Reinas and I stayed in Middle-earth following the Marshal's orders. My mission was to assist the Holy Queen and promote mechanical civilization, while Reinas married Hua Xichun, the top expert in the North, and assisted the Siegfried family in establishing the Northern Orc regime, which is today's Kingdom of Rama. Their purpose was to monitor the movements of the Sea Giants and prevent the Demon Mother Bella from making a comeback."

"So, the Fire Wing was my father-in-law's grandmother. Where is she now?"

"She has long since passed away. It's true that Hurricane Giants have long lifespans, provided they don't intermarry with other races or have children. Otherwise, they will die before reaching a hundred years old, just like ordinary people in Middle-earth... Although Reinas has passed away, the bloodline of the Hurricane Giants continues. Her descendants still carry out Marshal Loki's orders and guard the northern border to this day."

"Could the current Firewing be my father-in-law?" Xinran asked in surprise.

Alexander shook his head and said, "Not every generation can produce an heir with the Hurricane bloodline. The old beast didn't have that luck. The one who truly succeeds Firewing is the little beast."

"I see... No wonder Zuo Jing's wife can activate the magic field." Xinran suddenly understood.

"The little beast knows nothing about his own background. Although the old beast knows, he hasn't told you. I think he plans to test you for a while longer. After all, the gap between you and Marshal Loki is just too big, like a crow and a phoenix, a lion and a bug—ah, Marshal, you've been wise all your life but made a mistake for a moment. How could you choose such a trash heir as you? I just can't understand it."

"...Hey, if you keep talking nonsense, do you believe I'll transform into Boss Loki and smash your dog head?"

"Uh, uh, never mind." Alexander shrank into a ball, looking rather sleazy. It seems that Loki's lingering power still has a considerable deterrent effect.

"Perhaps you are not yet capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility, but with the Demon Mother Bella on the verge of resurrection, we have no better choice. While you were in the Amazon, Hua Wuji found me and discussed gathering the descendants of the Six Wings who are living in seclusion in Central Continent to help you reclaim the true power of the Hurricane Commander—for us Six Wings, this matter is as important as an emperor's ascension to the throne, far more important than a coup in the small Kingdom of Rama."

"The true power?"

"Yes, it's time to hand over the Hurricane Treasure kept by the Illusionary Wings. Without it, you simply cannot contend with the Demon Mother..."

"What exactly is this treasure, and who is the successor of the Illusionary Wings?"

"What is the treasure? Haha, you'll find out when you see it. As for the descendants of the Illusionary Wings who are so powerful..." The old man took a big gulp of wine, scratched the back of his head, and said with lingering fear, "I am old, that

's true, but I'm not so tired of living that I don't have the guts to speak ill of a murder expert behind his back!" "Sigh, you old codger, your stammering is really unpleasant!"

"Hehe, I can give you a hint. Mikami Takamori loves cats; his nickname is 'Cat King.' So, be careful when you encounter a cat."

"I am Loki's heir. Do you think the descendants of the Phantom Wings dare to oppose me?"

"You're wrong. The Phantom Wings haven't acknowledged your identity yet. I suspect they'll use the most extreme methods to test whether you can inherit the glory of the Hurricane Commander. This test has only two possible outcomes: either you kill any Phantom Assassin who dares challenge your position, or you die."

"...That's so cruel. I don't want such despicable subordinates."

"If you have the strength to conquer the Phantom Clan, they will become your most loyal allies. Even if you order them to commit seppuku, they will have no regrets," Alexander said coldly.

Xinran rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. He began to regret making that deal with Loki too hastily. He should have offered more if he had known it would be this troublesome.

Alexander finished his rum and threw the bottle into the sea. "Alright, little guy, what's meant to happen will happen. Instead of living in fear, let's enjoy ourselves. By the way, are there any beautiful, bold, and kind-hearted girls on board?"

"Save your breath. No matter how kind-hearted a girl is, she won't pity a living mummy like you." Xinran, supporting Alexander's shoulder, stood up, smiled slightly at the sea, and decisively freed her thoughts from the foggy road ahead. "Come back to the cabin with me right now. Rescuing Brother Wolf's father is the most important thing."

"Hey, just spare me! You young people are enough for fighting and killing—" "

Stop arguing. After we finish our business, I'll introduce you to a nice girl."

"Ah, youth, passion, fighting spirit—I'm full of life again!"

"You scoundrel…"

Episode 16, Chapter 2: The Restoration

Rescuing Emperor Hoffmann was of utmost urgency. Xinran, Russell, Alexander, and the Dio couple gathered in the cabin to discuss their strategy. Currently, Tianyou City was filled with the Inspectorate's henchmen; a direct assault was definitely not the best option. Just as they were getting anxious, the female warriors on the ship arrived and volunteered to help Dio and his wife recapture the royal city.

Dio resolutely refused the ladies' offer, after all, he had invited them to be brides, not to fight.

Russell also believed that the Amazons should not be involved in the Rama civil war, so he asked Dio if there was a secret passage into the city. If an open attack wouldn't work, then a covert approach was the only option.

Dio laughed upon hearing this, "That rascal and I are on the same page. The sewer exit of Mithril Palace is near the dock. If you're not afraid of getting dirty, come with me."

Angela, unwilling for her husband to take the risk, shook her head and advised, "Your Highness is thinking too simply. Mithril Palace is Carrot's lair; there's no reason not to be vigilant. Besides, this man is always cunning; he might use the sewers to set traps."

Dio knew his wife was right, but he stubbornly argued, "To rescue Father, taking a risk is only right. It's decided then; I'll go alone!"

Angela knew her husband was stubborn, so she could only give Xinran a wry smile and a wink. Besides Xinran, no one could persuade the enraged "White Wolf."

Xinran coughed, grinned, and put her hand on Dio's shoulder, saying, "Everyone, I agree to Brother Wolf's plan."

Everyone was surprised, unable to understand why the usually cautious Xinran would agree to Dio's adventurous idea.

Alexander snorted coldly and sarcastically remarked, "Brave but reckless, serves him right for dying."

Xinran, knowing the old fox had planned this all along, deliberately asked, "Old monster, do you have any way to distract the city's defenders? That would greatly reduce the risk of being discovered."

Alexander replied unhappily, "You underestimate me. Give me five minutes, and all of Tianyou City's defenses will immediately go into hibernation!"

"Don't tell me you're spreading a plague?" He knew this old monster was skilled in sorcery and magic; creating a disease that would wipe out the entire city's population wouldn't be difficult for him.

Alexander sneered, "If that's the case, would you still dare to enter the city? Enough nonsense, I'll demonstrate for you." Alexander ordered someone to bring his bulky blue coat, which he twisted haphazardly a few times, transforming into a portable computer. It turned out this coat was also a small mechanical suit called "Rubik's Cube," which could be twisted and combined in different ways to become machines with different functions.

Alexander skillfully typed on the keyboard, instantly bringing up a diagram. Pointing to the screen, he showed everyone where the anti-aircraft turrets were, where the radar center was, where the military command headquarters was… down to the smallest detail.

Xinran watched with amazement, exclaiming, "I never thought the old monster could also double as a spy."

Alexander curled his lip disdainfully, saying, "What spies? Eighty percent of Tianyou City's defenses were designed by me personally." His hands weren't idle either; he successfully cut off artillery fire control and created a series of contradictory signals, throwing Tianyou City's bio-radar into chaos.

The Groom docked in the harbor without being inspected by the navy, and Dio and Xinran went up to the deck. Russell followed Dio out and said, "Old Wolf, you don't need the mechanical armor to crawl through the sewers. How about I borrow the Vanlir for a bit?"

Dio understood that he was going to risk attracting the enemy's attention to create an opportunity for infiltration, and gratefully said, "Fox, be careful!"

Russell laughed and skillfully piloted the Vanlir onto the dock, startling the loading and unloading workers who scattered in panic.

No advertisement could be more sensational.

Prince Dio landed at the port—the news reached Mithril Palace with lightning speed. The Oversight Council reacted immediately, dispatching troops to the dock to meet the enemy. However, disaster struck at this moment. Magic radar, bio-radar, magical beast chariots, and mechanical armor units all malfunctioned at the same time. Orders could not be transmitted, troops could not be mobilized, and elevators and automatic doors silently stopped working. All facilities and weapons related to mechanics failed, and the city was in chaos. At

the

same time, Dio and Xinran, now in civilian clothes, arrived at the waterway exit, preparing to sneak into the city. Dio forcefully pulled down the iron fence, and a pile of garbage was washed out by the sewage, emitting a stench.

"Brother, are you feeling unwell?" Dio noticed that Xinran looked terrible.

"Brother Wolf, this path is probably impassable." Xinran's obsession with cleanliness had reached a morbid level, and naturally, he couldn't bear the torture of crawling into the sewers.

"Do you have a better way?"

"Let's try, maybe we can dig a shortcut."

"Dig? Now? Don't joke around!" Dio was getting impatient.

Xinran smiled slightly, took out the Demon-Sealing Card that sealed the "Crimson Queen Ant," and held it in his palm while chanting an incantation. The Demon-Sealing Card transformed into a stream of scarlet light and dissipated in Xinran's palm, turning into a pair of red and black leather gloves.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Dio looked at him, confused.

Xinran silently put on the gloves. The leather was soft and smooth, like a young girl's skin. A black skull was painted on the left palm, and a lifelike flame on the right. These gloves were a magical artifact called "Poison Fire," obtained by Xinran after she used the Main Demon Fusion Technique on Axia. Wearing the Poison Fire gloves, Xinran could use the poison and fire magic that Axia was proficient in. In addition, Axia's most skilled digging technique was also transferred to the gloves.

Xinran squatted down, pressed his hands flat on the ground, and silently chanted: Axia, take me to the Mithril Palace. Before setting off, he had memorized the map of Tianyou City. After the fusion, Axia and his master were of one mind, and naturally knew to choose the shortest route. As soon as he had the thought, Xinran's hands sank down, and his body immediately sank into the ground.

Dio watched as Xinran disappeared from his sight, and a deep hole appeared out of thin air in front of him. He was so frightened that his face turned pale. But then, a cheerful voice called from inside the burrow: "Brother Wolf, hurry up and follow!"

"Oh...you brat, were you a mole in your past life? You're so fast at burrowing, no wonder people say you're a heartbreaker."

"This burrow isn't that burrow, don't make wild connections."

Guided by A-Xia, Xinran made rapid progress, digging straight into the basement of the Mithril Palace.

*Poof*—A

small mound of earth rose from the ground, and then a person emerged.

Two mercenaries from the Inspectorate, carrying muskets, stared intently at Xinran, who had "risen from the ground," their mouths agape, wide enough to fit their fists. Their facial expressions perfectly illustrated what it meant to "see a ghost."

"Hey, you two, how's life?" Xinran asked calmly with a smile.

The mercenaries frantically raised their muskets and aimed at the uninvited guest. This action cost them their lives; before they could even pull the trigger, their throats were pierced by blood-red thorns.

Xinran and Dio changed into mercenary uniforms and casually entered the dungeon. Most of those imprisoned were loyal ministers and generals, their faces haggard and their expressions forlorn, clearly having suffered greatly.

Xinran silently eliminated the other guards, and Dio unlocked the cells, releasing the prisoners. The crowd was overjoyed to see the Crown Prince, tears welling in their eyes. Dio ordered everyone to remain silent and immediately escape through the tunnels out of the city to meet Queen Angela at the port. It was understandable

that Emperor Hoffman wasn't in the dungeon; what was puzzling was that not a single cabinet minister was present. A general told Dio, "His Majesty is under house arrest on the top floor of Mithril Palace. The cabinet ministers were taken to the upstairs hall this morning; I heard they're having a meeting."

Russell's creation of chaos effectively diverted the attention of the oversight council, and many of the guards in Mithril Palace were reassigned to investigate the malfunctioning machinery. Xinran and Dio swaggered up the stairs, brushing past the hurried officials of the Oversight Council, and entered the main conference hall of Mithril Palace. Cabinet ministers, including Right Chancellor Gustave, were gathered around a round conference table, sitting upright and seemingly awaiting instructions from someone.

A fat, bald, high-ranking official of the Oversight Council sat arrogantly in the chairman's seat. His most distinctive feature as a boar-man—his fierce little eyes—impatiently scanned the assembled crowd. He gruffly shouted, "You bunch of idiots! You've been slaves to the Siegfried family your whole lives. Even if you're blockheads, it's time you woke up! Fools, do you really understand what I'm saying? Do you understand the Republic? No royalty, no emperor, no privileges or injustices! The evil imperial era is about to perish under the feet of the great Emperor Kolot Sephiroth! Now, you, the dutiful sons and grandsons of the old empire, must exercise the rights of citizens of the new Republic and sign your worthless names on this proclamation announcing the establishment of the Republic—that's your job today. Think it through: sign it, or be beheaded. You have no third option."

The boar-man official waved his hand, and his secretary stepped forward to place the documents in front of each cabinet minister.

"Sign now! No questions, no abstentions! Anyone who displeases me, heh heh!" The boar-headed bureaucrat slammed his hand on the table, making a beheading gesture.

Every cabinet minister present was at least three ranks higher than the crude head of the overseer, yet astonishingly, there was no resistance at the meeting. People listlessly picked up their pens and sleepwalked as they signed their names on the documents.

Dio, watching from the sidelines, couldn't contain his anger and rushed forward, shouting, "Lord Gustav, gentlemen, are you all insane? Signing such monstrous proclamations will bring shame upon your names!"

"You—you are—you bastard, how did you get in? Guards—damn it, someone come quick!" The boar-headed bureaucrat jumped up in terror. The others present didn't react at all, staring blankly at Dio, as if they didn't recognize this prince.

Dio leaped forward, grabbed the pig-headed bureaucrat by the collar, lifted him up, and punched him hard in the face. The man didn't even utter a sound before collapsing limply.

Seeing her identity exposed, Xinran turned and closed the door, blocking the pursuers outside. She then called out to the others, "My lords, leave here quickly."

The ministers remained seated, like clay idols.

"Su, it's no use. They're controlled by the Bewitching Gu and can't hear you," A-Xia informed her telepathically.

"Bewitching Gu?"

"A tiny poisonous insect that lives in cold regions. Once entangled by the Bewitching Gu, it turns into a puppet..."

"A-Xia, you're the King of Insects, you must have a way to help them regain their senses, right?" Xinran asked urgently.

"Su's friend is A-Xia's friend, I'll definitely help! Put your hands on their heads; hair is where the Bewitching Gu most often resides. I'll use my strength to drive the Gu away."

Xinran did as instructed, touching the minister's hair with her poisonous fire gloves. It was unclear what magic Asha had used, but he felt his hands tremble and heard a faint buzzing in his ears, like a mosquito flying by, yet he couldn't discern anything unusual.

In an instant, the minister regained his senses, asking blankly, "Where is this... how did I get here?"

"I'm sorry, sir, there's no time to answer your questions now. Please leave immediately." Xinran's hands were also busy; she quickly released the restraints on the others and guided them through the tunnel to escape the Mithril Palace.

After seeing off the cabinet ministers, Xinran realized Dio was missing and hurriedly chased after him. Corpses littered the ground, frost remained on the walls, and fragments of ice and snow mixed with blood and limbs lay scattered everywhere—a gruesome sight. Clearly, Dio had used the guards he encountered along the way as a punching bag.

Xinran quickened her pace, cursing Alexander's despicable behavior as she climbed the stairs. Destroying military targets was one thing, but why even "hack" the elevator? Twenty-four floors! Climbing to the top would be exhausting.

Suddenly, the sounds of fighting erupted upstairs, the noise astonishing. Rushing up, they found the once peaceful office transformed into a "crystal palace." Thick frost covered the floor and ceiling, the biting wind cutting like knives. Two figures danced and leaped within the snow-shrouded room, their movements swift and powerful, displaying the essence of icy magic. Upon closer inspection, they realized Dio was fighting Emperor Hoffman.

This was Dio's first time witnessing Hoffman in action, and he hadn't expected the heavily alcohol-addicted emperor to be so formidable. Dio's skills were already inferior to his father's, and being forced to fight, he naturally found himself at a disadvantage.

Emperor Hoffman, under the influence of a mind-controlling poison, showed no mercy to his son. Dio repeatedly called out for his father, but Emperor Hoffman ignored him, relentlessly attacking, each move aimed at vital points, forcing Dio to parry and constantly putting him in grave danger.

"A-Xia, quickly wake the old emperor!"

"Su... this time the power of the Bewitching Gu is particularly strong. The owner of the Gu must be nearby. I can't help it if it doesn't get close to its host."

Xinran raised her hand and unleashed a Void Heaven Finger Sword, which stuck to Emperor Hoffman's inner energy. "Uncle Emperor, it's halftime."

Hoffman roared, trying to shake off Xinran, but the Void Heaven Finger Sword contained the highest secret technique of the Giant Scorpion Royal Family, "Distraction Technique," and he couldn't break free even with all his strength. Xinran

whistled and disengaged from her bond with A-Xia. The Crimson Ant Queen lightly pounced on Hoffman's back, pecked him on the head, and then leaped away.

Hoffman's body trembled violently, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

Dio cried out in alarm and rushed towards A-Xia without regard for anything else, unleashing a white cloud of Xuanbing True Qi with his palm.

Xinran quickly shouted, "Brother Wolf, stop! The little demoness is one of us, your dad's alright."

Dio, half-believing, stopped, hurriedly picked up his father, and looked down to check on him. Seeing that the old man was breathing normally, just exhausted from overexertion, he was slightly relieved.

Xinran left Asa to protect Hoffman and his son, and chased after them to the rooftop alone. She kicked open the iron door leading to the rooftop and shouted, "Carlot, get out here and die—"

Waiting for Xinran on the rooftop was not Carlot Sephiroth. He stood with his back to the door, elegantly holding a jade goblet filled with wine in his right hand, his left hand on the railing, casually looking down at the street. When he turned around, Xinran couldn't help but gasp.

It was a black-clad youth exuding an aura of death, with snow-white hair and bewitching red eyes. His handsome face seemed to be covered in frost, radiating a chilling killing intent, as if even the surrounding air had been frozen.

A black cloak shrouded the young man like smoke, making him appear to float in the air. Xinran noticed a deep blue teardrop-shaped mark between his brows, unsure whether it was a brand or a birthmark.

"Be careful, this man is a confidant of the Demon Mother," Xinran heard Loki's warning echo from the depths of her soul.

A smug sneer appeared on the handsome young man's face. He stepped forward and extended his right hand to Xinran with a flourish: "You've finally appeared. It wasn't for nothing that I waited half an hour."

Xinran shrugged and smiled, subtly declining the unpleasant handshake. "You know me, but I don't know who you are. That's not fair."

A flash of anger crossed the young man's eyes. He turned and stood with his hands behind his back, arrogantly saying, "I have no interest in befriending you, and you are not worthy to know my name. The reason I'm waiting here for such an insignificant figure is to say a few words on behalf of Brother Saladin."

"So, Carrot is too ashamed to see his old friend and has to send a lackey to offer empty words," Xinran retorted without hesitation.

The black-clad youth's handsome face contorted with rage, his eyes practically spitting fire. However, Saladin's instructions forced him to temporarily abandon his plan to kill Xinran.

"Brother Saladin told me to tell you that the fruits of human civilization have rotted. The alarm bells are ringing; winter is coming. The great, immortal, supreme, and beautiful Mother Bella will begin her judgment on all living beings. Among this insignificant race on the verge of extinction, my brother admires only you. He hopes you can abandon your lowly human identity and join our ocean race. Only in this way can you escape the winter of doom and become the master of the beautiful silver world! You don't need to tell me your answer immediately. You have ample time to consider. Before winter arrives, please come to the Arctic Demon Palace. Mother and Brother Saladin await your surrender."

"Your words sound familiar. Did you copy them from some fantasy novel?" Xinran retorted sarcastically, feigning nonchalance.

"Hmph, a fool, beyond redemption." The black-clad youth finally gave up on persuading Xinran. He raised his arms to the sky, and two jet-black wings suddenly unfurled from under his armpits. He then soared into the air, transforming into a streak of black smoke that shot northward.

"Remember, my name is Barbarossa, the Lord of the Flies… If you remain obstinate, I will be the one to send you to hell."

The wine glass, losing its support, shattered on the ground, the wine seeping into the carpet and spreading outwards, crimson like blood…

Xinran gazed at the floating clouds in the sky, recalling Barbarossa's warning, "The fruits of human civilization have rotted; winter is coming…"

(What a terrifying prophecy! Are the sea giants really going to invade Middle-earth? What on earth is Carrot planning, abandoning the Overseer's Council that he has painstakingly built up over the years? And that boy named Barbarossa, he looks like a replica of Loki…)

Xinran hoped to know Loki's impression of Barbarossa, but the other remained silent.

※※※※

After Barbarossa left, the Overseer's Council fell into a state of leaderlessness and collapsed within a single day.

The heroes, returning from their voyage, entered Tianyou City amidst a welcoming crowd of citizens, finally able to enjoy a precious period of peace.

All good things must come to an end, and everyone has different plans for the future.

The Calrot Rebellion severely weakened the Kingdom of Rama, and Emperor Hoffman was deeply exhausted. Sensing his days were numbered, he abdicated in favor of his son, Crown Prince Dio, and spent his later years peacefully in the palace, playing with his beloved grandson in his spare time—three generations enjoying the bliss of family life.

Dio, upon ascending the throne, was naturally extremely busy. Fortunately, the shrewd and capable Chancellor Gustav shared his burdens, and the intelligent and resourceful Queen Angela offered strategic advice. State affairs were handled with great efficiency

, but he no longer had the time or energy to go out and have fun with Xinran. Russell envied Wolf Brother's happy life, and the day after the unrest in Tianyou City subsided, he took his leave. Dio and his wife, of course, tried their best to persuade him to stay, but Russell's reasons were irrefutable.

“Our little fox is about to be born, and as a father, I have to go home and see him.” After all, he was no longer the lone treasure hunter wandering the world; family and loved ones were his most cherished “treasure.”

Russell received a grand welcome upon returning to Sun City. During his time away from Xinran, he had become the undisputed leader in the hearts of the desert inhabitants through his prestige and talent.

Russell launched a series of reforms in this emerging city, striving to push Sun City towards “freedom,” “equality,” “civilization,” and “openness”—the very future he and Xinran had dreamed of when they were holed up in a simple desert post office. Only a year had passed, yet a brand-new and beautiful new world was already beginning to take shape in the vast desert. With the support of

all the citizens, Russell became the first mayor of Sun City. The prosperity of Sun City was Russell’s glory and dream; his life had finally taken off. For many years afterward, Russell dedicated himself to contributing his wisdom and talent to that emerging desert metropolis, winning the love and respect of the entire city’s residents.

Russell had found his place in life, but Xinran's trials were just beginning. Shortly after Russell left, Roland called from Elman, asking Xinran to take Xiao Jie home—in fact, Roland was more eager to see her brother than he was to.

Xiao Jie sensed impending doom and refused to return to Elman. But he couldn't disobey his sister's orders. With the feeling of going to his execution, Xiao Jie temporarily bid farewell to his adventurous life and returned home to reunite with his sister. The twelve or thirteen-year-old boy hadn't yet grasped the power of destiny; his future was predictable. His father re-registered him at the Holy Capital, and dressed him in a high-collared school uniform, haphazardly stuffing a few books into his bag. Xiao Jie began his studies at the Holy Dragon Academy.

After experiencing numerous adventures with Xinran, Xiao Jie's abilities and perspective far surpassed those of his peers. Moreover, with the radiant little sand spirit by his side, he caused quite a stir upon entering school. The sky of youth is always so rich and colorful, so full of captivating emotions; to describe it in detail would probably require another book.

Episode 16, Chapter 3: Sister Flowers

Just as Xinran and her group returned to Tianyou City, the secluded mountain paradise of Shangri-La, thousands of miles away, also welcomed extraordinary visitors.

Shangri-La, Wushao Palace, Bamboo Forest Retreat.

The lingering effects of winter had not yet completely dissipated, but the meticulously tended lawns were already lush and green. Morning glories, wild roses, and gentians adorned the courtyard, creating a vibrant spring scene with its rich Zen-inspired garden style.

A long-haired woman in white, her hair as white as snow, held a pipa and played an elegant ancient melody. The pond, its thin ice just beginning to melt, rippled gently in response to the melodious pipa music. The verdant bamboo grove swayed in the wind, and occasionally a few bamboo leaves silently drifted onto the gravel path.

At the end of the path stood two antique stone lanterns, with a handsome white dragon lying quietly between them, its tail swaying gently to the rhythm of the music.

Two middle-aged men were drinking together under the eaves. The amiable-looking, plump middle-aged man on the left was the owner of the garden. His meticulously trimmed mustache added a touch of childlike innocence to his Buddha-like appearance, and his freshly shaved head looked excessively energetic in the chilly spring season. He frequently rubbed his stubble with his fat, short hands, accompanied by a hearty chuckle, resembling a macaque leisurely spending its days in a zoo.

If meeting him for the first time, few would believe that this smiling, kind-hearted man was the dictator of the world's number one assassin group—"The Old Man of the Mountain," Mitsurugi Takashiro Sohei.

Hua Wuji, sitting and drinking with his old friend, was no exception. Despite having known Zong Ping for over twenty years and becoming close confidants, he still found the extremely competitive nature hidden beneath Zong Ping's honest exterior quite strange. Fortunately, his previous encounter with the even more two-faced Su Xinran had somewhat helped him adapt to his old friend's image.

The Old Man of the Mountain and the Lord of a Hundred Beasts, two of the greatest martial arts masters of their time, were indeed renowned, but they were not the main focus of the garden at this moment.

Not far from the eaves, two beautiful young women locked in a fierce battle were the true protagonists of the day.

The girl on the left was athletic and beautiful, her black outfit highlighting her alluring curves. Her weapon, a long, rusty, and seemingly worthless scrap metal blade, was in fact a renowned and fearsome weapon.

Hua Zuojing, the only daughter of the Hundred Beasts Celestial, and the renowned female warrior of the Northern Kingdom, known as the "Overlord Flower," was currently watching her opponent with a solemn expression—a girl much younger than herself.

The girl wore a white kimono, her jet-black hair tied in a ponytail. Her youthful face was fair with a rosy glow, and her clear, bright eyes were like water, making her seem like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs. She held her sword with both hands, attempting to appear calm and composed, yet beads of sweat involuntarily streamed down her fair forehead. The rare sword from the ancient land of Fusang in her hands was also covered in clear dew, which dripped onto the grass like spring rain.

A resolute smile appeared on Hua Zuojing's lips. Suddenly, she stepped forward, raised her sword, and unleashed the most ferocious move of her family's "Iron-Blooded Seven Kills" sword technique, "Blood-Illuminated Pagoda," slashing horizontally at her opponent's shoulder.

The kimono-clad girl's beautiful eyes flashed with a fierce determination, and with a sharp cry, she swung her sword diagonally. Cold dewdrops detached from the blade and shot towards Hanazakyo; catalyzed by the sword's energy, each droplet was like an arrow, capable of piercing metal and stone. Hanazakyo was fearless, unleashing his Iron Blood Aura to its limit in one breath. His clothes billowed, hard as steel, and the water droplets struck his garments with crackling sounds.

Clang—

the two swords clashed, sending sparks flying. The figures brushed past each other in an instant, standing back to back where their opponent had just stood. Hanazakyo turned and smiled slightly, flicking his wrist, and the Tai Sui sword swished back into its sheath.

"I concede."

"I lost..." The kimono-clad girl, dejected, clutched her katana and bowed deeply to Hanazakyo. A half-foot section of her left sleeve was cut off, revealing her beautifully rounded forearm.

Hanazakyo returned the bow, mimicking the kimono-clad girl's gesture.

The two girls returned hand in hand to the veranda and sat down behind their respective fathers.

The girl in the kimono knelt on the tatami with her knees together, her eyes lowered, looking every bit the demure young lady. Hua Zuojing sat cross-legged, his hands clasped behind his head, yawning rather inelegantly.

"The Murasame Blade is no match for the Tai Sui Blade, Fatty. Now you have to admit that our Hua family's martial arts are superior, right?" Hua Wuji was very proud of his daughter's victory.

Zongping chuckled dryly and retorted, "Your daughter is eight years older than mine, yet she only barely won on the 192nd move. Brother Wuji, Zongping doesn't think this is something you should be proud of." "

Well... that's true." Hua Wuji's interest vanished instantly.

"Besides, you only have one daughter. Compared to my gentle and graceful sisters, even if she's slightly better in quality, she's utterly outnumbered."

"How dare you! This is outrageous!" Hua Wuji exclaimed angrily, "You fatso, you're getting more and more absurd!"

Zong Ping laughed smugly, "I haven't finished yet, Brother Wuji. I've heard that your wife has passed away, and I am deeply saddened."

"Alas, speaking of my wife, it truly makes one grieve... Hey, fatso, your wife has passed away, what are you grieving for? Do you have

any feelings for my wife...?" Zong Ping laughed, "Brother Wuji, you're overthinking it. I have always held my sister-in-law in the highest esteem and have never harbored any lustful thoughts."

"Hmph! I bet you wouldn't dare."

"It's truly a pity that my sister-in-law passed away so young, but fortunately, my wife is in the prime of her life, as beautiful as a flower. Besides Wen'er and Wan'er, she can still give me a few more chubby sons. In just a few years, I, Zongping, will have a house full of children. At that time, hehe, no matter how promising my niece Zuojing is, she'll still be the only heir. What can the Hua family use to compete with me

, Zongping? You and I have fought our whole lives and still haven't won, but when it comes to the next generation of young heroes, our Shangri-La will definitely be the best! Hehehe, come on, Brother Wuji, let's drink to the bright future of the Yujian family!" "You fatso, how can you say such things? You're shameless!" Hua Wuji was so angry that his teeth itched, and he wanted to stomp on Zongping's fat face.

The two martial arts grandmasters bickered like children, which seemed to be beneath their dignity, but it wasn't. Both Hua Wuji and Zongping had long regarded mutual teasing and joking as an inseparable part of their friendship, and at the same time, it was the only way to express their care for each other. Zongping had been disdainful of Hua Wuji's celibacy for more than a year or two, and since he couldn't openly advise his old friend to

remarry, he could only hint at it subtly. Hua Zuojing, however, didn't understand Zongping's good intentions. This simple-minded girl couldn't help but speak up for her father when she saw him being ridiculed by his master.

"Mr. Zongping is really funny. I thought only village women would be so proud of having many children. I didn't expect you to have the same quirk.

" "Oh, little girl, you have quite a sharp tongue. This isn't like Brother Wuji." Zongping squinted, looking at Hua Zuojing with great interest.

Hua Wuji immediately perked up, patting his daughter's hand and laughing, "Well said, girl! How can a real man compete in having children? It's too shameful!" Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he remembered someone, asking with a touch of pride, "Hey, Zongping, are your two daughters betrothed yet?"

Zongping shook his head and said, "The world is vast, but it's hard to find a man worthy of my gentle and refined family." "

Hua Wuji laughed smugly, "In that case, you, son-in-law, can't catch up with me, Hua Wuji, even if you try."

Zong Ping asked in surprise, "Your daughter is already married? That's strange. Which young hero is so tired of living that he's courting death?"

"Nonsense! Zong Ping! What are you saying?"

"A fierce wife plus an even fiercer father-in-law, isn't anyone who dares to marry your daughter asking for trouble?"

Seeing that the topic had turned to her, Hua Wuji was both ashamed and happy. She proudly told Zong Ping, "Sir, you don't know, but our Hua family's son-in-law is no ordinary person! Among the heroes of the world today, if the Smiling Knight Su Xinran claims to be second, no one dares to claim to be first. Mr. Zong Ping and my father are certainly first-rate heroes, but compared to my little one, they are probably inferior." “

Hey, girl… I can’t control you praising your fiancé, but is it necessary to trample your father underfoot as a stepping stone for that brat Su?” Hua Wuji complained, somewhat jealously.

Hua Zuojing stuck out his tongue, scratched the back of his head, and chuckled sheepishly, “Sorry, Dad, please bear with it for a little while.”

“Sigh, you really have forgotten your parents now that you have a husband. You heartless girl, I’ve raised you for nothing…”

Zong Ping became more and more surprised as he listened, leaning forward and patting Hua Wuji’s knee. “Hey! Brother Wuji, is that Su Xinran you’re talking about perhaps the successor to Marshal Loki?”

Hua Wuji laughed heartily and said proudly, “That’s right, that’s her! In other words, that brat Su is the common lord of all of us Six Wings descendants. Zong Ping, now that I’m the lord’s father-in-law, shouldn’t you be a little more polite to me?”

“That’s not fair!” " You cheated—"

"Brother Zongping, the Hua family and the Yujian family have been competing for a hundred years without a clear winner. Today, we finally have a resolution. From now on, you'll be my obedient little brother. I won't treat you badly, hahaha. Let go of your unhappiness and drink to your heart's content. Come on, cheers!"

The two old friends toasted each other, getting into a good time.

The girl in the kimono quietly stood up, waved to Hua Zuojing, and then opened the rice paper sliding door behind her. The two walked hand in hand into the room and sat down on the floor.

There was another girl in the room who looked similar to the girl in the kimono. She was lying on the table

, poking ants with a chopstick. When she saw the two girls enter the room, she ran over with a big smile and said, "You're back." "Wan, are you lonely all by yourself?" Hua Zuojing lovingly hugged the girl and touched her little face.

"Yeah, so boring! How did the competition go?"

"Wan, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask." "Yu Jianwen scolded her younger sister, embarrassed and annoyed.

"Hehe~ I knew Wen would lose."

"You wouldn't stand a chance either."

"That's true, we're no match for Sister Zuojing, we're far inferior."

The two sisters sighed in unison, looking at Hua Zuojing with admiration.

Hua Zuojing felt quite ashamed and took the sisters' hands, asking, "Wen'er, Wan'er, are you twelve years old?"

"Twelve in the traditional Chinese way of counting age." Wen said.

"Your birthday is three months and nine days away." Wan added.

"Eight days away, I'm one day older than Wan." Wen said.

"Nonsense! It's clearly only one minute!" Wan glared at her sister in shock and anger.

Wen retorted without changing her expression, "I was born at 12:01, one minute earlier is one day earlier."

"Alright, Wen'er, Wan'er, stop arguing. My martial arts skills were far inferior to yours when I was twelve."

Wen shook her head and said, "Sister Zuo Jing is too modest."

Wan also said, "Sister Zuo Jing is the best!"

"Actually, Wan and I have always admired you."

"Admire me? What do you two have to admire about me?" Hua Zuo Jing was deeply surprised. Actually, she was a little jealous of the Wen and Wan sisters, after all, they had both parents.

"Because Sister Zuo Jing is very strong. She ventured into the martial world alone at such a young age and has seen a lot of things." Wan said.

"And Sister Zuo Jing already has a fiancé, which is something we should learn from." Wen said with longing.

Hua Zuo Jing blushed and said shyly, "What! What's there to learn about this? You really don't understand anything..."

"That's why we hope to travel like Sister Zuo Jing and broaden our horizons." Wen said.

"Let's talk about the fiancé first," Wan opened her eyes wide and excitedly grabbed Hua Zuo Jing's hand, obviously very interested in this newly circulated gossip.

"It's nothing much, just a pretty nice guy." Hua Zuojing avoided Wan's eyes and said shyly.

"Oh~ what kind of guy is he? Is he handsome?"

"So handsome!" Hua Zuojing couldn't help but beam with excitement when talking about Xinran.

"Oh~ what does your family do? Are they rich?"

"I heard they're in the real estate business, they must be rich."

"Oh, oh, oh~ How's your temper? Did you go to school?"

"Your temper is incredibly good, so gentle! You've had tutors since you were little, you know everything about astronomy and geography, you're very knowledgeable."

"Oh, oh, oh~ What about your martial arts? A merchant's son shouldn't be learning martial arts."

"You can't say that, little one's martial arts are top-notch too. You think my martial arts are pretty good, but actually I'm far inferior to him—far inferior!" Hua Zuojing became more and more proud as he spoke, and these words were a bit of a fabrication.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh~~" The little sisters hugged each other enviously, their eyes sparkling with big red hearts.

Hua Zuojing wanted to say something more about her fiancé, but then she heard her father calling from outside the door: "Girl, it's time to go home."

※※※※

After seeing off the Hua family father and daughter, Zong Ping was sullen, what bothered him was the name "Su Xinran". Shangri-La's intelligence network provided him with comprehensive information about Su Xinran; almost every major event that had occurred in Central Continent over the past year was linked to this name.

The thought of Hua Wuji's words filled Zong Ping with resentment. As a descendant of the Six Wings, Zong Ping had always adhered to his ancestor's will, never approaching Loki's successor without the right opportunity. But now his thinking had changed. Since the Hua family had broken the rules first, he shouldn't fall behind. As for how to approach Su Xinran, he couldn't think of a perfect solution. Fortunately, Zong Ping had a resourceful strategist, his wife—Wanxiangyuan Miaozi. "

When in doubt about external affairs, consult Buddha; when in doubt about internal affairs, consult your wife"—this was Zong Ping's life motto. Over the years, his wife Miaozi had never disappointed him, always resolving problems with just a few words.

“Su Xinran is the heir chosen by the lord, so his character and qualifications must be excellent. I’ve also heard that his family background is very illustrious, with extensive connections in the Holy Kingdom’s court and considerable influence.”

“What do you mean?”

Madam Miaozi held her husband’s hand and said earnestly, “Ying Si, our daughters are getting older, and I think it’s time to consider their marriage prospects.”

“Are these two things related?”

“Of course they are. Mr. Hua claims that Su Xinran is his fiancé, but I don’t think that’s reliable. The moon has its phases, and people’s hearts can change.”

“I see… I understand.” Zong Ping smiled with relief and muttered to himself, “Since Madam has this intention, let’s move the plan forward. Putting the Hua family aside, Su Xinran has indeed accomplished many unexpected feats this year. There’s reason to believe that he’s mature enough to unleash the power of that treasure.”

Zong Ping and his wife smiled at each other. They then summoned the Wen Wan sisters and told them about their plan.

“We’re getting married?”

“Isn’t this too early…”

The sisters were somewhat at a loss.

"I'm sorry, this is indeed a very sudden decision for you, but we have to hurry. If we delay, that boy will become someone else's son-in-law." Zongping sighed, scratching the back of his head.

"Mother, who is that person?"

Miaozi smiled mysteriously and whispered a name in her daughters' ears.

"How can this be!"

"He's Sister Zuojing's fiancé—"

"Silly girl, what does fiancé mean?"

"Your future husband..."

"Since he's in the future, he's not real. You still have a chance."

"I don't understand, why do we have to steal someone else's fiancé?" Wen frowned, full of confusion.

"And he's Sister Zuojing's fiancé... If we do this, she'll be very sad..." Wan lowered her head sadly.

"Of course there are reasons. I don't want to make things difficult for you. Anyway, go back and think it over carefully." Zongping waved his hand and chased his daughters away without further ado.

"Is this alright?" Madam Miaozi looked worriedly at her daughters' frightened backs.

"It's alright, they're adults now, they should decide their own future. If they don't want to get married, would I really force them? Haha, I hope this is a good start." Zongping slapped the back of his head, deciding to have a drink before his daughters took any action.

"Miaozi, please continue playing the piano, I'm all ears."

"Sigh, you frivolous old man..."

※※※※

The winding mountain road leads out of the valley, its secrets and complexities exceeding the tolerance limits of any land animal. Perhaps only the legendary labyrinth cow would build a road in such an annoyingly tedious way. Yet, it was necessary. As the headquarters of the Mountain Old Group, Shangri-La absolutely did not want lost tourists, woodcutters, or eloping lovers to inexplicably stumble in. For secrecy, all external communication was conducted by air, and the only road to the outside world was freely accessible only to those in the know.

The Hua family father and daughter were among the few in the know. Declining Zong Ping's offer of a servant, Hua Wuji decided to use the time he spent walking down the mountain to talk to his daughter about their family history. On the way, he first recounted the devastation of a hurricane five hundred years ago, speaking of Loki, the evil god who inspired both admiration and fear in later generations, and his six-winged angels.

"So, my great-grandmother was one of the six wings, and little one is Loki's successor..." Hua Zuojing was both shocked and gratified. (Five hundred years ago we were master and servant, now we're husband and wife, little one and I are truly destined for each other...)

"Uncle Hua—"

"Sister Zuojing—"

A girl's voice called from behind. The father and daughter turned around and saw the Wen and Wan sisters hurrying up.

"Wen'er, Wan'er, what brings you here?"

"Uncle Hua, we want to say a few words to Sister Zuojing..." Wen explained breathlessly.

"It's a private conversation," Wan added shyly.

"Dad, wait a few minutes." Hua Zuojing led the sisters into the woods. The two girls chattered excitedly about their parents' plans, then nervously watched their beloved eldest sister, hoping she would sympathize with their plight and come up with a good solution.

Hua Zuojing was both amused and exasperated. She couldn't believe that Wen'er and Wan'er, whom she had always considered her own sisters, had suddenly become rivals in love; it was truly absurd.

"Who's getting married, the older sister or the younger sister?" Hua Zuojing decided to sound out her "potential rivals."

"Wan'er and I have long ago sworn an oath: either we won't marry, or we'll share a husband; in short, we'll never be separated."

"What are your plans now?"

"Oh, well… we don't know what to do," Wan'er said frankly.

"We must listen to Father and Mother… but we don't want to hurt Sister Zuojing… it's so difficult," Wen'er said, on the verge of tears.

Hua Zuojing felt a pang of bitterness and said sourly, "Am I that fragile to get hurt over something so ridiculous? Don't underestimate me! If you like Su Xinran, just confess to him. I don't care!" Her expression clearly proved that she was anything but indifferent!

"I'm just worried because I don't know whether I like him or not."

"Oh, I see..." Hua Zuojing suddenly realized she had done something very foolish. Fortunately, there was still a chance to make amends, so she cleared her throat and said resentfully, "My two dear sisters, now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to tell you the truth... That Su Xinran, he's really not a good person!"

"Ah?"

"Sister Zuojing..."

"He has so many flaws, they're simply too numerous to list. He's a womanizer, a philanderer, and when he sees a woman, it's like an ant seeing honey. He's cowardly as a mouse and also loves to cause trouble, always making people suffer before he's happy! He's all sweet talk and glib tongue, nine out of ten of his words are untrue. He loves to play the clever trick, is self-righteous, and has a vicious mouth; when he's sarcastic, he's more venomous than a snake..." At first, she was just trying to scare Wen Wan, but later she became more and more excited, more and more involved, gesturing wildly and making expressive gestures, like a young wife complaining to her parents.

Wen Wan was indeed frightened; her face turned pale, her lips trembled, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Sister Zuo Jing, you're so pitiful~"

"I know—Su Xinran is a big bad guy, a big hooligan, a big villain!"

"Yes, yes, yes, that little rascal is so bad, you absolutely can't marry him!"

"Of course not, don't worry, Sister Zuo Jing, I will never marry that bad Su Xinran!"

"Hmm, hmm, I'm the same as Wen."

"That's great, I'm relieved... Wen'er, Wan'er, until we meet again, I'll go find you some good men now, wait for my good news."

Hua Zuo Jing waved goodbye to her sisters with a heavy heart, deciding to go find a man for Wen Wan immediately, no matter if he was disabled or had facial deformities, as long as he could temporarily distract these two infatuated sisters.

(Almighty Buddha, please protect my dear little one from being seduced by Wen Wan~ Amen. Huh? Shouldn't I have said Amen? Okay, okay, I'm about to be heartbroken—how pitiful, Buddha will forgive me~)

However, Hua Zuojing walked too fast and didn't hear the conversation between the Wen sisters afterwards.

"Wan, Sister Zuojing is so pitiful."

"Wen, we should help her." "

Wan, the book says that women's suffering comes from men."

"Wen, the book also says that men are women's hell."

"Wan, Su Xinran is Sister Zuojing's hell."

"Agreed."

"I think Sister Zuojing doesn't like to suffer in hell. If it were me, I wouldn't want to either, Wan, what do you think?"

"Agreed, agreed!"

"What should we do?"

"No need to think, kill Su Xinran and free Sister Zuojing!"

"So-o-o-ga-a-a..." The twins looked at each other and chuckled, like two little foxes.

Episode 16, Chapter 4: The Exercise Report

Xinran escorted Xiaojie back to Elman. Upon entering the city, she noticed a large crowd gathered at the gate. Curious, she squeezed through and saw a conspicuous recruitment notice posted on the city wall. According to the recruitment officer, Elman was holding its quadrennial "Blue-White War," during which new recruits would receive double rations. Today was the deadline for registration.

The "Blue-White War" was an exercise where troops stationed in Elman were divided into two camps, the Blue and White Armies, for new recruits. It was a particularly good opportunity for them to distinguish themselves, hence the large number of young men enlisting during the exercise.

Xinran, always eager to join in the fun, was intrigued by the notice. She asked Yulia and the Sand King to take Xiaojie to the Marshal's Mansion first, while she went to the recruitment point to register

herself. Halfway there, she suddenly remembered she didn't have any armor, so she went to a roadside armor shop and bought a ready-made set (the army also issued armor, but some warriors preferred to wear private armor engraved with their family crests to show their distinguished lineage). While haggling with the shopkeeper, Xinran saw a dashing, burly man stride into the store. His imposing figure and refined bearing, coupled with his commanding presence, suggested he was no ordinary person. Xinran was intrigued and secretly observed his actions.

The burly man tried on the largest size armor, but it was still too small. He forced it on, muttering to himself, "It'll only last once, so it'll do." He then bought a fencing mask. Xinran, quick-witted, also bought a mask to avoid being recognized.

Xinran and the dashing man arrived at the recruitment point one after the other, only to find the recruiting officer already closing the roster and preparing to leave. Xinran quickly caught up, saying, "Sir, wait a minute! I want to register!"

The recruiting officer glanced back at them: "Stand over there; you're the last two spots."

Xinran quickly joined the other recruits, and happened to be next to the dashing man.

"Brother, we meet again! May I ask your name?" Xinran greeted him with a smile.

"Your old man."

"I'm still your father!" Xinran was furious, not expecting such an insult.

The valiant man laughed heartily and explained, "Brother, you misunderstand. My name is Nilauba."

"So it's Brother Ni. I'm Su San, from the commercial city. Nice to meet you."

The valiant man laughed heartily, "Brother Su, you're too kind. How about we find a place for a drink after the exercise?" " That's

exactly what I was thinking. May I ask if Brother Ni is joining the Blue Army or the White Army?" The Blue Army was the Marshal's Army, and the White Army was the Mayor's Army. Xinran had joined the Blue Army, intending to help Roland win the battle as a gift for their long-awaited reunion.

She had hoped to fight alongside the valiant man, but unfortunately, he had decided to join the White Army. Xinran shook her head and said, "The White Army is relatively weak; I think they'll probably lose."

The valiant man disagreed, saying, "A true man roams the world, helping the weak and suppressing the strong is the way of the king; currying favor with the powerful is not a man's nature!"

Xinran blushed and laughed, "I'm not currying favor with the powerful. Actually... I've admired Marshal Roland since I was a child, and serving under her has been my lifelong dream."

The valiant man nodded and said, "I see, brother, I misunderstood you. Haha, it's a pity there's no wine here, otherwise I'd gladly punish myself with three hundred cups!"

"Three... three hundred cups!" (Are you a wine vat?)

"Hey! Take off your mask." The conscription officer demanded of the valiant man, "Why are you hiding like this? Are you afraid to show your face?" The valiant man calmly replied, "I have leprosy; my face is almost completely rotten. I dare not show my face." The conscription officer was

so frightened that he stepped back three meters and angrily shouted: "You bastard! Leprosy patients are not allowed to join the army!"

The valiant man glared angrily and retorted, "Which military regulation says lepers can't join the army?"

The recruiting officer was speechless, waved his hand, and signaled his subordinates to send him away. The soldiers below weren't fools; none dared approach the "leper," and pleaded, "Sir, considering this man's loyalty and dedication to the country, let's grant his wish. If it's not suitable, we can report it to our superiors after the exercise."

The recruiting officer reluctantly agreed, assigning the valiant man to the White Army sentry company, creating a special "reserve platoon" for him—him alone in the entire platoon.

When it was Xinran's turn, the recruiting officer had lost his temper and asked, "Why are you wearing a mask too?"

"Hehe, sir, I'm a leper."

"Damn it! Another leper..."

"Sir, it's not my fault. The guy who just joined the White Army infected me. He can join, why can't I?"

"Alright, alright, you're in the reserve platoon too!"

"Brother Ni, until we meet again."

"Haha, Brother Su, see you on the battlefield!"

And so, Xinran became the only lone wolf in the Blue Army, going to the quartermaster to collect a wooden sword. All the weapons used in the exercise were wooden models, firstly to avoid casualties, and secondly to provide employment opportunities for the city's carpenters.

Xinran donned the wooden sword and, full of pride, followed the new recruit company commander to report to the battalion headquarters. The battlefield was located in the open fields outside the city, where banners fluttered, obscuring the sky, and cavalry and infantry clad in bright armor; the Blue and White sides combined numbered in the tens of thousands.

Before going into battle, there was a procedure involving a painted magical alarm. The army's mages used ink made from magical potion powder to draw a large circle on the chest of each recruit. Each time they were wounded, part of the circle would turn red; if they received a fatal blow or suffered multiple wounds, the circle would turn completely red, meaning the combat unit was rendered useless (dead) and had to withdraw from the battle; violators would be punished by military law.

When Xinran joined the battle, the Blue-White War was at a stalemate. The positional warfare had lasted for two days and two nights, resulting in heavy casualties. Soldiers with large red circles around their necks were constantly retreating, and new recruits were being sent to the battlefield wave after wave. The new recruits who joined with Xinran were assigned to the reserve, leaving him the only one without a mission. Feeling disappointed, Xinran went to the battalion headquarters to volunteer.

The battalion commander, hearing that he was a "disabled but determined" leprosy soldier, was too frightened to let him in. He sent a guard to tell Xinran: "Headquarters has decided to appoint you to the surprise attack unit to launch an assault on the enemy headquarters. Warrior, go!"

Xinran was overjoyed and asked, "Who is in charge of the surprise attack unit?"

"It's you."

"Oh dear, how can I accept this? I just joined the army..."

"Don't be so happy yet. As far as I know, the so-called surprise attack unit only consists of you."

"...Thank you for your guidance, sir! I will certainly not fail in my mission!" Xinran gave a crisp salute and turned to charge into the battlefield.

The guard watched Xinran depart with the look of someone who had just killed him, then returned to the camp to report that the unfortunate fellow had been dealt with.

However, no one expected that shortly after Xinran went into battle, several White Army camps would suddenly descend into chaos. Intelligence reported that a masked Blue Army soldier had single-handedly stormed the White Army headquarters, swiftly killing all officers of company rank and above before disappearing. Similar reports came from other positions, also attributed to mysterious masked assassins. The Blue Army battalion commander finally realized he hadn't recognized Xinran and hurriedly sent guards to search for him, but he had already vanished.

Meanwhile

, Xinran, having successfully completed his assassinations and seeing the Blue Army's victory assured, returned to headquarters to find Roland. The Blue Army headquarters was located on a high ground. Xinran saw the commander's flag fluttering in the wind and, thinking of soon seeing his beloved "little patient," was overwhelmed with excitement. Instead of using the main entrance, he leaped onto the roof, intending to jump down suddenly to impersonate an assassin and give Lanlan a fright and a surprise.

Xinran used her wooden sword to drill a hole in the roof and looked down. She saw the generals working intensely in the command headquarters. A screen was set up in the northeast corner of the room; when the battle was uncertain, people would come to the screen to report the situation and ask for countermeasures. As the commander, Roland was hidden behind the screen, constantly issuing orders, commanding with composure and calmness. Xinran watched for a while, feeling both admiration and pity for Lanlan. She admired her great leadership and felt sorry for her serious illness, which prevented her from appearing in public.

Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a cry of alarm from outside the door: "An assassin! Ah—" With a scream, the guard at the door stumbled into the command headquarters.

Xinran was startled by the sound, first suspecting that someone had discovered her whereabouts, but then she thought, wait a minute, could there be another assassin? Looking down again, they saw the camp gate as if it had been bombarded by heavy artillery, the doors shattered, and a dark figure lunged in.

The guards in the command tent hastily drew their swords and rushed forward to meet the attack, but before they could even get close, they were blasted to the ground by an overwhelming wave of energy.

"Such powerful internal energy!" Xinran exclaimed in surprise. Upon closer inspection, she realized the assassin was none other than Nilauba, the masked man who had joined the army with her.

The sudden attack threw the Blue Army headquarters into chaos. The opponent's martial arts skills were unbelievably strong, yet his identity remained a complete mystery. Officers in the room also joined the fray, some even wielding real swords. They dared not treat this incident as part of a drill—who knew if the mysterious figure was truly an assassin?

Nilauba, surrounded but fearless, thrust and parried with his wooden sword, his movements swift and deadly, the angles of his strikes breathtaking. The attacking guards and officers fell to his sword as if in a race to take cover. Fortunately, Nilauba hadn't channeled his inner energy into his sword; otherwise, the command tent would have been a river of blood by now. The fallen guards refused to withdraw from the fight, rising to continue. Nilauba leaped out of the circle, angrily shouting, "Blue Army soldiers, why don't you follow the exercise rules?"

No one explained to him; everyone now considered him a real assassin, eager to kill him.

Nilauba snorted unhappily, suddenly sheathing his sword and letting out a long howl. The howl, infused with powerful inner energy, was like a thunderclap, causing the surrounding guards to faint on the spot, and even the more skilled officers to become dizzy and unsteady.

Nilauba laughed loudly, shouting, "Marshal, little girl, listen up! The great hero Nilauba has come today to take your head! Come out and face your death!" He then strode towards the screen.

"Brother Nilauba, how dare you be so rude! Su San is here; you cannot be so presumptuous—" In this critical moment, Xinran had no choice but to step forward to protect him.

Nilauba was taken aback when Xinran descended from the sky.

Xinran seized the opportunity to throw her wooden sword, aiming straight for her opponent's throat. Nilauba dodged to the side, but the wooden sword arced around and thrust back from behind.

Nilauba's heart tightened, and he decisively thrust his sword back from under his arm, deflecting the wooden sword with a snap.

Xinran pounced, landing a solid hook punch on Nilauba's chin, causing the burly man, a head taller than him, to stagger backward.

"You, Su San, you've got some skills!" Nilauba roared, his eyes gleaming, as he retaliated with a sword strike. Xinran caught the returning wooden sword and exchanged blows. Both used sixty percent of their strength; the clash of their swords produced a faint sound of wind and thunder.

Xinran swayed, as if caught in a hurricane, barely managing to maintain her footing. Nilauba struggled to maintain his footing, but ultimately retreated half a step. The first exchange made it clear to both that, in terms of skill, Xinran had a slight edge.

Silence fell over the command tent as Xinran and Nilauba stared at each other, both utterly shocked. Having honed his skills in the Amazon, Xinran's current power surpassed that of the Beast Master and Roland; there was no reason for him to be evenly matched with the unknown Nilauba. Nilauba, however, was even more terrified. Thirty years ago, he had already been ranked among the four greatest masters in the world, yet today he had been defeated in a single move by a mere youth. He almost doubted if he was dreaming.

Nilauba was by nature combative and never admitted defeat. His inferior skill compared to Xinran only fueled his ferocity. He switched to wielding his sword with both hands and suddenly launched an attack, unleashing eighty-one consecutive thrusts, the sword's momentum continuous and unstoppable, like a raging torrent of water. Xinran's strength wasn't in swordsmanship; his previous "Flying Swallow Sword" move was somewhat of a trick, but now, in a real battle of skill, he paled in comparison. He barely managed to block seventy-seven sword strikes before his wooden sword, unable to withstand Nilauba's relentless onslaught, snapped in two. The remaining four swords struck vital points in his chest and abdomen. The instant he was struck, his Void Heaven Demon Art activated, causing Nilauba's tiger's mouth to split open, bleeding profusely.

Nilauba, having won a round, was overjoyed and shouted arrogantly, "Su San, still not admitting defeat?"

Xinran pointed to his chest and laughed, "The circle isn't completely red yet, I'm not dead!"

Nilauba sneered, "Even with a sword, you were no match for me; now, unarmed, your bravado will only bring you humiliation."

Just then, Roland's sweet shout rang out from behind the screen: "Su San, catch the sword!" She then threw out the Divine Sword.

With the divine sword in hand and his beloved wife's support, Xinran was filled with heroic spirit and charged towards Nilauba, sword and all.

Nilauba only saw a silver star streak through the air, as fast as lightning. Before he could dodge, the cold blade was already pressed against his throat.

Xinran held his sword, gathering his strength, and nodded to himself: "This time, at least there was no blood. The power control was very successful."

Compared to his encounter with Red Eagle in the Amazon, Xinran had now perfectly mastered the mysteries of the Wind-Swept Sword. This astonishing progress wasn't solely due to Xinran's diligent training. Since being possessed by Loki and using a move resembling the Wind-Swept Sword, "Flowing Cloud Sever," to kill the Dark Elf King, Xinran had truly grasped the essence of the Wind-Swept Sword. The feeling of Loki drawing his sword the instant he struck was deeply etched into his mind; even his body remembered the angle and rhythm of the strike. Because of this, Xinran's Wind-Swift Sword technique became less like the Wind-Swift Sword; rather, it was simpler and purer than the swordsmanship taught by Roland.

Nilauba, defeated in a single strike, turned ashen-faced. "Su San! Why do you use the Wind-Swift Sword?"

Xinran feigned ignorance, saying, "What Wind-Swift Sword, Cloud-Swift Sword? My sword technique is called Flowing Cloud Severance."

"Flowing Cloud Severance… How is that possible… You shouldn't know that name!" Nilauba's body trembled violently, frozen in place.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xinran sheathed her sword and retreated into the command tent. She picked up Lanlan from the wheelchair and hugged her affectionately. "Lanlan, I'm back! Are you happy?"

Lanlan, fighting back tears of excitement, said coquettishly, "Who is Su San? I don't know him! Strange little boy, who are you looking for here?" Xinran

pinched her cheek in exasperation and exclaimed, "Oh, you don't even recognize your husband? Let's steal him away! Let's steal him away!"

This made Lanlan giggle, her big eyes blinking, and suddenly two lines of tears of longing rolled down her cheeks. She choked out, "Little boy, I missed you..."

"My little patient, I missed you too! I was going crazy with longing!" Xinran, with tears in her eyes, couldn't contain her excitement and gently kissed Lanlan's forehead. "Darling, shall we find a quiet place to talk?"

Lanlan nodded vigorously.

Xinran tucked Lanlan inside her breastplate, patted the little girl marshal's head, and asked with a smile, "What about the exercise?"

"I don't care!" Lanlan said cheerfully.

Xinran stepped out of the tent, only to find Nilauba surrounded by guards. He was fighting with a sword in one hand, muttering to himself, "Flowing Clouds Break... Flowing Clouds Break..." as if deep in thought.

Xinran knew Nilauba was a highly skilled fighter; if he wanted to leave, the guards couldn't stop him. So, he confidently stole a warhorse and fled. On the way, guards shouted, "Catch the assassin!" and chased after him. Xinran was puzzled and reined in his horse, asking the pursuers, "The assassin is in the commander's camp, why are you chasing me?"

The guards shouted, "The masked man is the assassin! Don't let him get away!"

Xinran was both amused and exasperated. It was dark and windy, visibility was poor, and he was unlucky enough to be wearing the same mask as Nilauba; no wonder he was being mistaken. Just as he was about to fight his way out, he heard someone call out from behind, "Brother Su, wait! I have something to ask you!" It was Nilauba catching up.

"Brother Su, what school or sect do you belong to? Where did you learn that sword technique? Could you please teach me?"

Xinran casually fabricated a story: "I come from a poor family and have never formally studied martial arts. I only learned a few rudimentary moves from my neighbor, a hunter. Years ago, while chopping wood in the mountains, I accidentally found a secret manual that recorded this sword technique. I practiced it haphazardly for a few years, and it's fair to say I'm self-taught."

Nilauba was greatly disappointed. Looking around, he saw the pursuers closing in and asked curiously, "Brother, why are the Blue Army men chasing you?"

Xinran smiled and said, "I casually took a treasure from the commander's tent, intending to exchange it for some wine money to treat you to a good drink, Brother Ni. Unfortunately, the guards discovered me and are chasing me relentlessly, which is quite annoying." Nilauba laughed and

said, "In that case, you go ahead, and I'll chase away the pursuers."

"Thank you for your righteous help, Brother Ni. I will surely repay you handsomely in the future!" Xinran cupped his hands in thanks and spurred his horse away.

Lanlan poked her head out, giggling, "Little boy, when did you become friends with my dad?"

"That hero's name is Nilauba, not Wu Lauba."

"You idiot! Nilauba is my father, Amanrada Arthur. Didn't you already witness his signature move, the Rain of Pear Blossoms Sword, in the army camp?"

"...Huh? What did you say?"

"He's such a rascal. He heard there was a Blue vs. White War here, and he eagerly came to join the fun, claiming he was picking up his brother from school, but actually he just wanted to sneak into the army camp and find someone to fight. Every time my dad hears about a war somewhere, he happily runs off to participate, always wearing a mask and pretending to be a soldier. Sigh, I'm sick of seeing this game, but he still enjoys it. He's such a child."

"Lanlan..."

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You didn't ask me."

"Aaaaah~ You wretched little devil, you're driving me crazy~~" Xinran was about to go crazy. If his future father-in-law found out he helped kidnap his daughter, he'd be furious... Hmm, better get out of here, as far away as possible.

※※※※

Meanwhile, Nilauba, having repelled the pursuers, was on his way to find Xinran when he suddenly saw a banner fluttering on the mountain. The White Army Commander, Feng Lin, had personally arrived at the battlefield.

"Lord Arthur, haven't you had enough fun yet?"

"Hehe, Lord Feng Lin..."

"You don't know yet? The Marshal is missing!"

"What! Lanlan... she... she's missing?" Arthur was shocked, his face drained of color.

"According to reliable intelligence, a masked man calling himself Su San kidnapped the Marshal. I've sent men to conduct a thorough search—these guards are here to apprehend the criminal. Lord Arthur, you're letting the criminal go and making enemies of your own people, what are you really up to?"

"..." "

Lord Arthur, Lord Arthur—"

Thud—

Amanrada Arthur fell backward, fainting on the spot.

"Dad—Dad, Pupeng is ready, why are you still dawdling—wait, Dad, are you asleep?" Xiao Jie squeezed out from behind Feng Lin, looking at his unconscious father with a puzzled expression.

"Lord Feng Lin, my dad doesn't seem to want to go to the Holy Capital, so I—"

"Stop talking! The Marshal ordered that no matter what happens, the young master must be sent to the Holy Capital." Feng Lin impatiently summoned a guard, "Immediately send Lord Arthur and Young Master Jack to board the plane!"

Episode 16, Chapter 5: Vacation Diary

Xinran led Lanlan on horseback at full speed, from noon until sunset, until the warhorse was so exhausted that it foamed at

the mouth before he finally reined in it. Lanlan crawled out of his arms, pouting and complaining of being hungry. Xinran looked around; the mountains and fields were vast and desolate, the forests dense and lush, with no roads. A wisp of smoke rose from the mountains.

Xinran led the horse closer and saw several simple thatched huts in the forest. An elderly couple was chopping wood and cooking in the courtyard. Xinran patted Lanlan's hair and said with a smile, "Please don't be noisy, benefactor. This humble monk will go begging for alms now." Xinran carried Lanlan into the courtyard and said that he and his daughter had gotten lost while hiking in the mountains and hoped to stay for the night.

The elderly couple were local forest rangers, childless and honest country folk. They warmly invited Xinran and Lanlan into their home to rest. Xinran, finding the surrounding scenery beautiful and the air fresh, was delighted. She discussed with Lanlan the possibility of staying a few more days. Lanlan readily agreed. She was deeply in love with Xinran and wouldn't object even if they eloped.

There wasn't much fancy food in the mountains, but the old woman was an excellent cook. She prepared a simple meal of wild vegetables and game that was delicious. Lanlan ate two bowls of millet rice, her stomach bulging.

After the meal, Xinran took out ten silver coins and gave them to the old couple. The country folk had never seen so much money before and were too shocked to accept it.

Xinran had no choice but to make up an excuse, saying, "My daughter is suffering from a strange illness. The doctor said she can only recover if she recuperates in the fresh air of the deep mountains

and forests. This money is for rent, and we also need to ask you two elders to prepare meals. We'll also give you the horse in the yard." The old couple happily agreed this time and prepared a clean room for Xinran and Lanlan to stay in.

That night, Lanlan and Xinran slept in the same bed. Lanlan said coquettishly, "Little boy, you're naughty."

Xinran hugged the little vixen's body and sighed comfortably, "How am I naughty... You can't find a more honest and kind man in the world than me."

"Alright, my honest and kind little boy, did you bring me to the mountains to sell me to old men and women without children, and then take the money to drink with my dad?"

Xinran laughed at her teasing and said affectionately, "Silly girl, I brought you here for our honeymoon."

※※※※

The next morning, Xinran disguised himself and went out of the mountains, buying a large bag of medicinal herbs. Upon returning, she immediately began treating Roland's illness. In Tianyou City, under Alexander's guidance, Xinran further studied the *Secret Magic Scroll* and had found methods to cure Roland's many ailments. The pleasant mountain climate and the absence of distractions made it perfect for Roland's quiet recuperation.

Xinran first used the "Poison-Drawing Method" recorded in the *Secret Magic Scroll* to expel the tuberculosis bacteria from Roland's lungs. This treatment took three days, during which Roland experienced some slight difficulty breathing, but it was successfully completed under Xinran's meticulous care. On the morning of her recovery, Xinran specially placed a bouquet of flowers by her bedside. Upon smelling the fragrance, Roland stopped coughing and cried like a child.

Next, she used the "Blood Exchange Method" to treat Roland's hemophilia. This technique was considered the most dangerous among the unorthodox medical methods recorded in the *Secret Magic Scroll*, but fortunately, Xinran had practiced it once on Song Xi, so she performed it with ease, transforming Roland's constitution in less than half a day. However, he himself lost too much blood and slept for a full day and night.

When he awoke late the next night, he found Lanlan sleeping soundly in his arms, her small body curled up like a snow-white rabbit. Xinran lovingly stroked Lanlan's body, feeling genuinely proud to have the love of this beautiful woman.

Lanlan opened her sleepy eyes blankly, cupped Xinran's face, and murmured, "Little boy, you look so pale..."

"But my little patient is getting more and more energetic," Xinran said with a smile.

"If treating me comes at the cost of damaging your health, I'd rather not be treated," Lanlan said sadly.

Xinran was deeply moved. Holding her small hand, he said softly, "Silly baby, don't say things like that again. My life is yours." He smiled slightly and added, "Lanlan is a healthy little girl now. I can't call you 'little patient' anymore. From now on, I'll call you... 'little rascal,' okay?"

"No! I'm not a little rascal!" Lanlan said coquettishly, "I'm the little boy's big sister~"

"Or, how about I call you 'little elf'?"

"Little elf..." Luo Lan thought seriously for a moment, then nodded and smiled, "I like that. Lanlan is the little boy's little elf, and the little boy is Lanlan's good husband." Her voice was charming and alluring.

Xinran was instantly aroused, a surge of heat rising from his lower body.

Lanlan felt the change in his body, her slender hand reaching down to grasp Xinran's manhood, her face flushed as she giggled shyly. The two had been sleeping in the same bed for days, like husband and wife, and were no longer unfamiliar with each other's bodies.

Eager to release his pent-up desire, Xinran had Lanlan lie on her back on the bed, examining the girl's tender body by candlelight.

Lanlan's skin was smooth and white, like a baby's, truly delicate and flawless. Her breasts were still developing, her nipples a lovely rosy pink. Xinran caressed and played with her little feet for a while, then gently parted Lanlan's pink legs. Her

fair and lovely vulva was revealed in the candlelight, the light blue veins faintly visible, smooth to the touch, and not a single pubic hair had grown yet. The tender flesh at the entrance of her vulva was tightly clenched together, white with a hint of pink, the small mouth seemingly slightly open.

Xinran suppressed his excitement and carefully pried open the fragrant, white flesh of her vulva. Lanlan gasped, her lower body exuding the unique fragrance of a virgin, the flesh inside her labia red and smooth as cream, the small, enchanting opening as thin as a pen tip.

"Darling...we really want to do that?" Lanlan was both ashamed and afraid. She covered her burning red face with her small hands, not daring to look at Xinran.

"Little fairy, it will hurt a little the first time, bear with it~"

(Ugh~ just a little pain? This is practically murder!) Lanlan groaned inwardly. However, not wanting to spoil her lover's mood, she reluctantly nodded in agreement, closing her eyes and daring not to look again. She felt a warmth in her lower body, as if being burned by a ball of burning coal, followed by excruciating pain.

Lanlan gritted her teeth, silently enduring it; every minute felt like an eternity. After an unknown amount of time, the pain was gradually replaced by a tingling numbness. Mustering her courage, she looked down and saw that half of Xinran's large penis had entered her honey hole, gently pulsating.

When she saw the enormous thing between Xinran's legs, she couldn't help but scream in fright, "Oh my god! What a scary thing!" She couldn't believe that such a thick thing had actually squeezed into her body.

Xinran's large penis, like a red-hot iron rod, was half-inserted into Lanlan's smooth, hairless vulva, tightly held by her pink, lustful flesh. Her two small labia pressed intimately against the large penis, trembling along with the twisted, bulging veins. The tender, narrow flower path was stretched taut, and the skin around her vulva swelled and shone, as if coated with oil.

When it came to sensual pleasures, Xinran was undoubtedly a master. He knew that deflowering a virgin should not be rushed, especially since Lanlan was exceptionally "young" (physiologically speaking). Therefore, every movement was as gentle and careful as possible, filled with tenderness. Lanlan gradually felt the effects, and her flower chamber produced a trickle of lustful fluid, making intercourse much smoother.

Slowly, waves of pleasure washed over her, Lanlan's face flushed, her starry eyes closed slightly, and she couldn't suppress her inner needs as she moaned.

Xinran also felt that the virgin's honey hole was no longer as tight as before. The friction of her flesh against his penis brought a delicate and tingling sensation, completely different from the feeling with other lovers. So he slightly increased the pace, while caressing Lanlan's pink legs and jade feet, teasing her even more.

Lanlan couldn't bear the onslaught and looked up at his little face, begging for mercy.

Xinran teased, "You have to call me daddy before I'll let you go."

Lanlan was in the throes of pleasure and cried out without restraint, "Little daddy, dear daddy, heartless little boy daddy, fuck your good daughter to death..." Suddenly her body tensed up, and she shivered. Lanlan hugged Xinran tightly, gritted her teeth, and reached her first orgasm. Her precious virgin vaginal fluid gushed out.

Xinran was also aroused and ejaculated, deeply pouring his fiery seed into the body of this thirty-four-year-old girl.

Lanlan, struck by the yang essence, once again soared to the peak of pleasure, hugging Xinran like an octopus, her delicate body trembling. Her body, recovering from a long illness, was nourished by love like rain after a long drought; her little face was rosy and exceptionally alluring.

Lanlan, plagued by illness, had stopped developing physically since childhood. Now, with her yin and yang in balance, her dormant physiological functions slowly began to function normally again, and her body grew stronger day by day. With her beloved by her side, her spirits were high, and she looked as lovely and charming as a little angel.

Once Lanlan's recovery reached a certain point, Xinran began treating her lower limb paralysis. Lanlan wasn't without legs; she simply couldn't walk due to cartilage damage. As her blood and qi returned to normal, her atrophied lower limbs gradually regained their vitality. Half a month later, she could even stand up on her own.

From that day on, Xinran patiently taught her to walk, like raising a newborn baby. Within a few days, Lanlan could walk with her on the grass, and even short runs were no problem.

In her spare time, Xinran would recount her experiences in the Amazon, embellishing the most exciting parts and omitting any mention of her romantic encounters. Although Lanlan was small, she was incredibly jealous, a fact Xinran knew all too well.

Lanlan listened with great interest and even encouraged him to write down his experiences. So, during his two-week vacation, Xinran managed to steal some time to write a novel, *Adventures in the Amazon*, his second work after *Su Datou's Dream Night*. When it was later published, fans of Su Datou from all over the world were delighted; in other words, many more promising young people would be misled.

The landlady made Lanlan a dress as a gift to celebrate her recovery, and scolded Xinran: "You're such a careless father, you didn't even prepare a change of clothes for your daughter!"

Xinran sighed seriously, "Alas, it's all because my wife left too early, I had to be both father and mother, oh, oh, oh—it hurts!"

It turned out Lanlan was laughing in exasperation and unexpectedly pinched him.

※※※※

One sunny day, Xinran took Lanlan, dressed in her new clothes, for a walk. Lanlan ran around on the grass, never stopping. Xinran worried that Lanlan would get tired and fall. Lanlan, however, didn't care at all, as if she wanted to make up for all the time wasted due to her disability. The bright spring sunshine echoed through the small valley with the girl's happy laughter. In the distance, green mountains rose and streams murmured. Xinran crossed his arms behind his head, gazing at the clear blue sky with white clouds, the shimmering sunrise, and magpies fluttering in the morning light. Suddenly, he was moved and murmured to himself, "This must be what happiness feels like..."

Lanlan ran over and plopped down on his stomach, giggling to herself. Her little face was flushed, with a few beads of sweat like dew. Suddenly, she frowned, and with a shy yet reproachful expression, touched Xinran's nose with a delicate pink finger.

"You bad boy, put that hard thing away, it's hurting my butt!"

Xinran laughed heartily, lifting the little girl's skirt and slapping her round, firm bottom.

"Lanlan, what a cute little bottom!"

Her warm hand pressed against the cool flesh, and Lanlan trembled with pleasure. Her fingers parted her panties, quietly advancing into the smooth, plump vulva. Her fingertips were hot and wet, the touch exquisite, and fragrant nectar flowed down her fingertips.

Xinran teased Lanlan deliberately: "My dear little sprite, I only poked you, but you peed on me. Who's the bad one?"

Lanlan squinted her eyes, brimming with desire, and gasped, "You bad boy... I didn't... pee..." She managed to utter the shameful words, her ears turning red with embarrassment.

Xinran continued to caress the girl's secret garden, cleverly tempting her, "Little fairy, I have a good idea, do you want to hear it?"

"Bad boy... ah... just say it quickly, I'm so sad..."

"Put my hard thing into your soft little hole, that way it won't hurt you, and my little brother will feel very comfortable being soaked in your juices."

"Mmm~ ah~ cunning little boy, horny little daddy, come on~ put your hard thing in, baby can't wait..." Lanlan lay softly on Xinran's chest, abandoning her self-respect and modesty, and began to moan seductively.

Xinran didn't bother to take off his clothes, and directly unbuckled his belt, freeing his already erect and ready-to-go big meat stick, while cleverly pushing Lanlan's children's panties to the side, exposing her hot, fragrant and charming little meat stick to the air.

Xinran picked up Lanlan and made her straddle him with her legs spread apart. His big meat stick pressed against her tender little hole, and with a little force, it went in a third of the way with a squelch.

Although it wasn't her first time, the hot, thick penis still made Lanlan feel numb and painful, her face turning pale. Fortunately,

her vagina had been thoroughly thawed, preventing any harm. Lanlan rode the large penis like an acrobat, swaying her hips and twisting her pink buttocks, slowly swallowing the remaining portion of the penis into her vagina. This process took nearly ten minutes. Finally, she sighed with satisfaction, caressing her noticeably bulging belly, and said with tenderness, "Little boy, look, we're together again."

"Do you like being together with me?"

"I love it!" Lanlan raised her flushed face and responded passionately. Xinran

kissed Lanlan's delicate, sweet lips with loving tenderness, his hands cupping her buttocks, tossing her up and down. The large penis moved in and out of the young girl's vagina, making lascivious sounds of intercourse.

Lanlan was driven to ecstasy by the penetration, her body arching back like a fully drawn bow, her waist taut. As Xinran moved, Lanlan cried out sweetly.

At the same time, Xinran quickly reached the peak of pleasure. Lanlan's honey hole was narrow and deep, tight on the outside and loose on the inside, with abundant lustful fluid. Each thrust brought him indescribable pleasure. Looking at Lanlan's slightly parted mouth as she breathed out from the whipping, the charming expression on her innocent face, and her pitiful eyes, he felt a perverse pleasure, like incest with his precious daughter.

Overwhelmed by passion, he couldn't hold back his ejaculation. Xinran charged forward, launching a final assault, sending Lanlan to another climax.

"Ah~ dear husband... um, good husband, I'm going to die... I'm giving you my little fairy..." Lanlan trembled all over, her vaginal fluid gushing out.

Xinran felt his penis being enveloped by a pool of warm water, the supple flower tightly pecking at his glans, an unbearable tingling and itching sensation. He couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, and a large amount of hot semen poured into Lanlan's tender uterus with great pleasure.

"My darling's skills are getting better and better, even your husband is succumbing to your charms..." Xinran, still wanting more, unbuttoned the girl's clothes and kissed her slightly protruding breasts repeatedly.

"Mmm~ Ah, it tickles~ Darling, don't be naughty, my breasts haven't grown up yet..."

"They'll grow if you kiss them often." Xinran said without turning her head.

"Sigh~ My naughty little boy..." Lanlan affectionately hugged Xinran's head, her expression gentle and peaceful, showing a rare display of older sisterly charm befitting her age.

"Woo..."

The sudden sound of a horn startled the two people immersed in happiness. Xinran jumped up and looked around, only to see dust billowing at the foot of the mountain, as if a thousand troops were attacking.

"It's the Holy Kingdom's army!"

"Strange, there are no bandits here, what are the troops doing here?"

Just as the two were wondering what was going on, a troop of cavalry charged up the mountain, the leading knight being none other than Feng Lin in military attire.

Xinran slapped her forehead and cried out, "Oh no, oh no! The army is here to arrest me—"

Lanlan asked in confusion, "You're not a robber, why are they arresting you?"

Xinran smiled bitterly, "Silly wife, I'm not a robber, but a human trafficker who kidnapped the commander-in-chief of the Holy Kingdom's three armies. Do you think they should arrest me?"

Lanlan blushed and stuck out her pink tongue, saying sweetly, "It wasn't kidnapping, it was eloping~ Okay, little boy, don't be afraid, I'll plead for you." With that, she walked towards the cavalry.

The marshal had been missing for over a month, and Mayor Feng Lin of Elman was nearly gray with worry, sending men day and night to search for Roland's whereabouts. Today, he finally breathed a sigh of relief after capturing both the man and the criminal. Just as he was about to lash out at Xinran, he saw Lanlan walking towards him like a healthy person, and was stunned, unsure what to do. After Lanlan explained the whole story, she realized that Xinran had brought her there for treatment, and all her anger turned to gratitude, her gaze towards Xinran softening considerably.

Xinran secretly rejoiced, thinking that this ice beauty had finally seen the light; it seemed another glorious victory was about to be added to her list of conquests… Ouch, ouch, ouch! It hurts, it hurts!

Unfortunately, Lanlan saw through his wolfish ambition and pinched him hard.

On the way down the mountain, Luo Lan asked Feng Lin how he had found them.

It turned out that he had seen Old Man Lin selling horses in the city, only to be recognized as military horses and suspected of smuggling military supplies, leading to his arrest. The old man was terrified and had no choice but to confess to Xinran. Upon learning this, Feng Lin immediately guessed that he was the one who had kidnapped the marshal, and led his troops to arrest him.

Back at the marshal's mansion, the pile of documents waiting to be processed was almost half a person high. Feng Lin complained that Luo Lan had gone on vacation, leaving him exhausted from handling everything alone; now that he was back, it was his turn to take a vacation. Luo Lan, seeing the tedious documents, felt a headache coming on and smiled apologetically, "Feng Lin, it's really unfortunate, I have to go on a business trip to Miranda Port in the East China Sea tomorrow, and the work at home still depends on you."

Feng Lin stomped his feet in frustration, lamenting his naturally hardworking fate and the lack of a good man to share his burdens.

Xinran became nervous upon hearing that Roland was going on a business trip. "Miranda Port is far away in the East China Sea. What are you going there for?"

"I have a friend who lives in Miranda Port. She was once a confidante of the Demon Mother Bella and knows all the secrets of the sea giants. Perhaps she knows the true meaning of Barbarossa's so-called Winter Catastrophe. If we can uncover the Demon Mother's conspiracy, it will be of great help in preventing the sea giants' invasion."

"I'll go with you!"

Roland was also reluctant to part with his lover and smiled, "It would be best if you went with me, but do you have the time?"

Xinran shook her head and said, "I'm very free—" Unexpectedly, she made a mistake. Before she could finish speaking, Tianyou City called.

Dio, in the tone of a dying man, begged Xinran to return to Rama immediately to help. He said that Tianyou City was facing a lot of problems. Men from all over the world were crowding into the palace to apply for marriage, and some even came with kitchen knives to stage a sit-in protest, claiming that they would commit suicide if they were not given a wife.

"Hey, Brother Wolf, I'm really busy too..."

"Bullshit! What else can you be busy with besides chasing girls? I'm going crazy if you don't come back soon!"

(You're such a good brother, you guessed it...)

"But I—"

"Stop talking nonsense, you have to be in Tianyou City within three days, or else... or else I'll go to Elman with a kitchen knife and show off!"

Helpless, Xinran had no choice but to agree. Newlyweds, the couple were naturally reluctant to part and could only comfort each other with the old saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

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