"By the way, we haven't taken our group photo yet."
As she spoke, Rover lifted Lucian with both hands and held him up in front of her. Then, everyone gathered together, holding Lucian horizontally in front of them. With the sound of the terminal's camera shutter, a group photo was captured.
Rover took Lucian's terminal, logged into the forum, and posted the photo.
[Title: Lucian is dead. Burn paper if you need him.]
[Content: photo.jpg]
[Edited by: Master Jinhsi's Dog]
Rover stared silently at Lucian's username for a moment before changing "Master Jinhsi's Dog" to "Rover's Dog."
[Cloudpeak Dragon Beard Candy: My condolences... but why do you all look so happy?]
[Rover's Dog replied: Because we're about to feast.]
[Cloudpeak Dragon Beard Candy replied: I want to feast too!]
...
[Autumn Water Without Ripples: Being dead is fine, but can you pay me back first?]
[Rover's Dog replied: No money, only life.]
...
[Jade Coral Appraisal: Lucian might die, but Lucian dying seems unlikely.]
[Rover's Dog replied: Then let me ask you, are you a man or a woman?]
...
Back at City Hall, Lucian slowly woke up to find Rover sitting by the bed, tenderly feeding him medicine.
"Lucian, time to take your medicine."
Lucian: "???"
With a bewildered expression, Lucian looked around. Sanhua was assisting Jinhsi in reviewing documents, Abby and Jué were playfully roughhousing nearby, and Changli was nowhere to be seen.
"Who am I? Where am I?"
Rover narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Lucian's exaggerated expression. "Did you really just wake up now?"
Lucian continued playing dumb. "Yeah, what happened earlier?"
"All I remember is getting punched by Jué, then everything went black, and I lost consciousness."
Rover studied Lucian's face for a moment—his acting was painfully obvious.
Rover flew into a rage. "I knew you were awake the whole time!"
With that, she immediately pulled out the Emerald of Genesis. Sensing danger, Lucian leaped out of bed in the blink of an eye, and the two began running circles around City Hall.
He ran, she chased—there was no escape...
In the end, Rover caught up to him.
Pinning him down, she pressed the Emerald of Genesis against his neck with deadly intent. "Did it feel good getting kissed by so many girls in a row, huh?"
Lucian raised his hands in surrender. "Rover, shouldn't there be some trust between people? I have no idea what you're talking about!"
But Rover wasn't buying it. "Tell me, who's your true love?"
She pressed the blade harder against his throat.
Lucian immediately caved. "Of course it's you, Rover. Our bond is so deep words can't even describe it."
Rover nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it..."
But before she could scold him for faking his death to sneak kisses, Changli suddenly emerged from a room. "Lucian, Rover, come take a look at this."
The two exchanged puzzled glances before heading over. Changli stood there, her delicate brows furrowed as she stared at the book Chronicles of the Ages.
Rover asked, "What's wrong?"
Changli pointed to a passage. "When I entered this room, this book was lying on the floor, open to this page—as if guiding me to read it."
"I'm very familiar with the Chronicles of the Ages. I remember every word in it... except for this part. It's different now."
Lucian looked at the passage she indicated, suspecting it was the "erased secret" the system had mentioned.
"...The Seeker once met a noble figure, journeying with them for seventeen years."
"Rumors say this person possessed extraordinary abilities, wielding supreme authority..."
"Later, for reasons unknown, they left behind only fragments of words before departing alone. At the same time, all records and memories of them vanished from the world, as if they had never existed..."
After a moment of silence, Lucian spoke slowly. "The 'Seeker' refers to Rover, right?"
Before the two women could answer, the speaker in Rover's arms suddenly activated—but instead of playing music as usual, it spoke:
"Hey! Did you know? Deep within the Tethys System lies a virtual shore, recording and representing the distant future—the endpoint of the Black Shores..."
Rover frowned slightly and took out the speaker, but it fell silent again, saying nothing more.
Lucian wondered, "Is there any connection between these two things?"
He asked the system in his mind: "Is this passage in the Chronicles of the Ages the erased secret?"
[Correct.]
Lucian found it strange. But what did this have to do with the Black Shores mentioned by the speaker?
Jué, now transformed back into her little girl form, walked in and also saw the passage in the Chronicles of the Ages. "The noble figure... I'm sorry, Lady Arbiter, I don't remember anything."
Rover mused, "It says all information and memories about this person have vanished. It makes sense you wouldn't remember."
"But why would this passage suddenly appear in the Chronicles of the Ages?"
Lucian fell silent. Possessed extraordinary abilities...
Come to think of it, he had a system—did that count as "extraordinary abilities"?
He wondered how future generations would record him. Heh...
Changli closed the book. "For now, let's just take note of it."
Rover nodded slightly, then turned to Lucian. "As for earlier, the matter of you faking your death—"
She looked closely—Lucian was already gone.
Rover: "?"
Knell Square
Jiyan had been waiting here for some time.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Lucian said as he hurried over.
Jiyan smiled faintly. "I just arrived."
From here, they could see the entirety of Jinzhou City, with a sea of flowers beneath their feet.
"There's something I'd like you to help me with."
Lucian's expression turned strange. "General, Jinzhou doesn't exactly encourage 'certain preferences,' does it?"
Jiyan fell silent for a moment. Even after knowing Lucian for so long, he still couldn't quite adapt to his unpredictable personality.
"Mr. Lucian, you misunderstand..."
He took out a few seeds from his pocket.
"What's this?"
Lucian accepted them, puzzled.
"These are flower seeds I asked the Academy to cultivate many years ago. They told me they're incredibly resilient."
Lucian thought for a moment, then glanced at the sea of flowers around them. "Did you plant all these?"
Jiyan: "This place was built here so we could see all of Jinzhou City."
"Those who've left... might also want to see the vibrant home they gave their lives to protect."
"These Flowers are called 'Emortia.'"
"Their meaning is, 'To fade, then to bloom anew.'"
Lucian asked curiously, "So it's like 'the departed return home'?"
Jiyan nodded slightly. "I know it's just a form of comfort, but sometimes people need that kind of spiritual solace."
"Thanks to you, the souls of the Midnight Rangers who sacrificed themselves have found peace."
"So, I think it's only right for you to plant these seeds."
Lucian felt the weight of the seeds in his hand. Together, they planted them.
Lucian asked, "Is everything resolved now?"
Jiyan knew what he meant. "For now, the risk of the Tacet Discord surge has been dealt with."
"But the enemy lurking deep within Huanglong... is still stirring. We still don't know enough about it."
"We must avoid further sacrifices..."
"Mr. Lucian, I have one more request."
"If one day, I too cannot return home... please plant an 'Emortia' here for me as well."
Lucian smiled. "How could that ever happen?"
"After all, we still have to race gugu puffers together, bro."
Jiyan was taken aback, then chuckled. "Mm."
On the way home, Lucian took out the Mirror of Inquiry.
He was still curious about that "noble figure."
"Mirror, mirror, can you tell me who the secret noble figure who once helped Rover was?"
The mirror remained silent. No words appeared on its surface as usual—it only grew clearer, reflecting Lucian's face.
Lucian: "..."
Chixia and Yangyang approached from behind, their reflections appearing in the mirror.
Lucian gasped. "So it was Ma Xiaofang!"
Chixia's voice rang in his ears.
"Lucian, what are you muttering about?"
Lucian turned to see Chixia and Yangyang strolling down the street.
Chixia glanced around, then her eyes lit up. "Rover's not here?"
The next moment, she grabbed Lucian's hand and dragged him away.
Yangyang: "..."
At Chixia's place, she said excitedly, "Lucian, remember our promise?"
Lucian looked around her room in confusion. "What promise?"
Chixia pouted. "You forgot? We said once Rover wasn't around, I'd invite you over!"
Lucian smirked. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Chixia's face flushed as she pulled him inside.
Unlike Yinlin's tidy home, Chixia's place was slightly messy, with a faint scent of chili in the air.
Lucian noticed a display cabinet filled with "Good Deeds" medals, the Jinzhou Blazing Dawn memorabilia he'd given her, and a Flame Hero badge placed side by side.
Chixia removed the bow from her hair and let down her bangs, giving her a softer, more delicate appearance.
She held up a piece of star-shaped pastry. "Look, a star crisp that's way spicier than usual!"
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Way spicier? How spicy are we talking?"
Just as he reached for it, Chixia pulled it back and took a bite herself.
Lucian: "?"
Before he could react, Chixia grinned mischievously, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him.
Lucian: "???"
A burst of spiciness flooded his mouth. Chixia held his head firmly, refusing to let him pull away.
Lucian responded by pressing her onto the bed. Their eyes met.
Chixia wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing at him tenderly. "Lucian, I want you to think of me every time you eat something spicy."
Lucian chuckled and pinched her cheek. "I think of you all the time, Chixia."
Chixia rolled over, pinning him down. She wrinkled her nose. "Hmph, you smooth-talker."
Leaning down, she gently undid the buttons on his shirt. "Lucian, promise me... you'll marry me someday, okay?"
"Mm."
Chixia's lips parted as she leaned down, her fingers deftly unbuttoning Lucian's shirt. Her breath was warm against his skin, the faint spice of the star crisp lingering. She straddled him, her thighs pressing against his hips, her eyes glinting with mischief and desire. Her hands roamed his chest, nails grazing lightly, sending shivers through him. Lucian's hands found her waist, pulling her closer, her heat seeping through the thin fabric of her clothes. She rocked against him, slow and teasing, her breath hitching as she felt him harden beneath her. The air was thick with the scent of chili and their shared anticipation.
"Lucian, promise me…" Chixia whispered, her voice low and husky.
"You'll marry me someday, okay?"
"Mmm yeah," Lucian murmured, his voice rough with want.
Her fingers tugged at his belt, freeing him as she slid lower. She knelt between his legs, her hair brushing his thighs, her breath hot against him. Her tongue flicked out, teasing, tasting, drawing a low groan from Lucian's throat. She took him into her mouth, slow at first, then deeper, her lips tight and warm. Lucian's head tipped back, his hands tangling in her hair, guiding her rhythm. Her moans vibrated against him, soft and needy, spurring him on.
"Ohhh… Chixia…" Lucian groaned.
"Mmm~ you like that?" she teased, her voice muffled.
"Fuck… yes…" he gasped.
"Ahhh~" she moaned, the sound wet and eager.
Her pace quickened, her hands gripping his thighs, nails digging in. Lucian's hips bucked, the heat building, his breaths ragged. She pulled back just as he teetered on the edge, her lips glistening, a playful smirk on her face. She climbed back onto him, straddling his waist, her fingers guiding him to her entrance. She sank down slowly, her tightness enveloping him, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. Her hips rolled, finding a rhythm, her hands braced on his chest as she moved.
"Ohhh~ Lucian~ " she moaned, her voice trembling.
"God, you feel so good…" he growled, gripping her hips.
"Mmm~ harder~ " she whimpered.
"Ahhh!" she cried, her head tilting back.
Lucian thrust up to meet her, their bodies colliding with a steady, desperate rhythm. Her moans grew louder, a mix of gasps and cries, her nails raking his shoulders. She leaned forward, her lips crashing against his, the kiss messy and hungry. Their tongues tangled, her breaths hot and uneven against his mouth. She shuddered, her body tightening around him, a wave of pleasure crashing through her. Her cries peaked, a gush of warmth spilling between them, her body trembling as she rode out the high.
"Fuck… Chixia…" Lucian panted, his voice strained.
"Ohhh~ I'm… ahhh~ !" she gasped, her voice breaking.
"Mmm~ so good~ " she whimpered, still shaking.
She slid off him, her body slick with sweat, and turned, pressing her chest to the bed, her hips raised. Lucian moved behind her, his hands gripping her hips, entering her again with a deep thrust. She moaned loudly, her fingers clutching the sheets, her body rocking back to meet him. The sound of their bodies meeting filled the room, her gasps and cries growing frantic. Lucian's pace quickened, his breaths heavy, the heat building again. He reached around, his fingers finding her, drawing more moans from her lips.
"Lucian… ohhh please~ " she begged, her voice high.
"Fuck… you're so tight…" he groaned, thrusting harder.
"Ahhh~ yes~ yes~!" she cried, her body shaking.
"Mmm~" she moaned, a low, needy sound.
Her body tensed, another wave hitting her, her cries sharp and desperate as she squirted again, the sensation pushing Lucian closer. He pulled out, guiding her to turn, her lips parting as she took him into her mouth again. Her tongue swirled, her hands working, drawing deep groans from him. He shuddered, spilling into her mouth, her moans soft as she swallowed, her eyes locked on his. She pulled back, a string of saliva connecting them, her lips curved in a satisfied smile.
"Ohhh~ you taste so good" she purred, licking her lips.
"Chixia fuck…" he panted, still catching his breath.
"Mmm~ more~ " she whispered, her voice teasing.
She lay back, pulling him over her, her legs wrapping around his waist. He entered her again, slow and deep, her warmth pulling him in. Her hands roamed his back, nails digging in as he thrust, their bodies pressed close. Her moans were soft at first, then louder, her hips lifting to meet him. The bed creaked beneath them, their rhythm steady, her breaths hitching with each thrust. She clung to him, her body trembling, another peak building.
"Lucian~ ohhh~ I'm gonna" she gasped, her voice shaky.
"Me too… fuck…" he growled, his pace faltering.
"Ahhh~ yes inside~" she moaned, her eyes pleading.
"Mmm~!" she cried, her body arching.
He thrust deep, spilling inside her, her warmth pulsing around him as she cried out, her body shuddering through another climax. They collapsed together, breaths heavy, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. She shifted, guiding him to sit, her hands cupping herself as she pressed against him. He groaned, releasing across her chest, her soft moans mixing with his as she rubbed against him, her skin glistening.
"Ohhh~ Lucian~ " she sighed, her voice soft.
"Chixia… you're incredible…" he murmured, breathless.
"Mmm~ one more…" she whispered, her eyes glinting.
She knelt again, her lips brushing his tip, teasing until he was hard once more. Her mouth worked him, slow and deliberate, her moans vibrating against him. He gripped her hair, his breaths ragged, the heat building fast. She pulled back, tilting her face up, her eyes locked on his as he came, the warmth splashing across her cheeks. She licked her lips, a soft moan escaping, her smile playful and satisfied.
"Fuck… Chixia…" he panted, his voice hoarse.
"Mmm~ you're mine~ " she purred, wiping her face.
They lay tangled together, her head resting on his chest, the scent of chili and sweat lingering in the air. Her fingers traced his skin, her breath steadying, a soft smile on her lips. The room was quiet now, their bodies spent, the heat of their passion settling into a warm glow.
Nighttime
Jinzhou Residence
Lucian opened the door to find the lights on but no one in sight.
Just as he began to wonder, a pair of soft, pale hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who?"
Lucian paused, then reached up to touch the hands. "No gloves... you must be Changli."
Rover's voice came from behind, laced with threat. "Keep joking, and I'll snap your neck."
Lucian laughed awkwardly. "I was just teasing."
Rover: "Then guess properly."
Ten seconds passed...
Rover grew impatient. "Hey! Did you fall asleep?"
Lucian pretended to snap out of it. "Ah, sorry, must've dozed off. Been tired lately."
Rover nodded. "Then answer now."
Lucian hesitated. "...What was the question again?"
Rover tightened her grip. "What else? Guess who I am!"
Lucian laughed. "Who else could it be but my darling?"
Rover's voice was flat. "Oh, so now you're being slick?"
Feeling the pressure on his eyes, Lucian quickly said, "Darling, let go. Feels like my eyeballs are about to pop out."
Rover narrowed her eyes, her tone dangerous. "Who's 'darling'?"
Lucian: "What do you mean? Darling is obviously—"
Rover cut him off. "Shut up. Say a name."
Lucian fell silent. "Phone a friend...?"
Rover: "Not happening."
Lucian forced a smile. "You don't actually think I don't know who you are, right?"
Rover: "Is saying a name that hard?"
Lucian turned serious. "It's not about the name. It's about trust between us."
Rover scoffed. "Fine. Let's settle this once and for all. I'll bet one of Jué's dragon whiskers that you don't know my name. What's your wager?"
Jué, eavesdropping: "?"
Lucian took a deep breath. "Do you really want to go this far?"
Rover: "Scared?"
Lucian: "You're the one who should be scared. I'm giving you one last chance to let go."
Rover: "The last chance is mine to give."
Their voices grew faster, sharper.
Lucian: "There's no turning back after this. You sure?"
Rover snorted. "Good. Today, it's you or me."
Lucian smirked. "Fine. On three, we'll both say where our first kiss happened. Deal?"
Rover laughed. "That's your big move, Lucian? Stop stalling and start."
Lucian paused. "Three."
Rover: "Two."
Silence.
Rover's voice turned icy. "What's the hold-up?"
Lucian sighed. "Before I go, let me say one last thing."
Rover: "Speak!"
Lucian hesitated. "Your hands have gotten rough... Jinhsi."
The air froze.
"Die!"
Lucian flew out the open window.
Jué sighed. "Looks like today's treatment is canceled."