Chapter 48: Diliya's Arrival

The news that Linlei had broken through to the Saint Domain sent the five Bake brothers into such excitement they nearly tore the roof off.

"The Saint Domain!" Gaici waved his great axe with glee, that war axe half a person's height seeming weightless in his hands, the force of his swing sweeping the tea cups from the table to the floor. "Lord Linlei has finally broken through!"

"Keep your voice down!" Bake clamped a hand on Gaici's shoulder, though his own voice had unconsciously risen an octave. "You'll wake the entire Yunfeng Town!"

"Big Brother, you're talking about me, yet your own hands are shaking from excitement too?" Gaici grinned, showing two rows of white teeth.

Only then did Bake realize his own hands were indeed trembling slightly.

"Enough, enough." Linlei waved his hand to stop the commotion, though a helpless smile played on his lips. "Go back and rest; we have a journey to make tomorrow."

"A journey?" Bake froze, his excitement instantly replaced by confusion. "Where is Lord going?"

"The Didu." Linlei looked up toward the north, a trace of longing flashing in his eyes as his voice softened. "Wodun hasn't seen him in a long time; I want to go there first."

Mentioning Wodun, Bake immediately understood. As Linlei's only younger brother, Wodun had been struggling on his own in the Didu these past years.

"I'll go with you." Aikesi stepped out from the shadows.

Linlei did not refuse, simply nodding.

Night had fallen. Everyone had returned to their rooms to rest, except Linlei, who still stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky. The night in Yunfeng Town was exceptionally quiet; even the wind had lightened its steps, afraid to disturb this tranquility.

"What are you thinking about?" Aikesi emerged from the house, carrying two bottles of wine.

Linlei took one bottle, pulled the cork, and took a sip. The wine slid down his throat, carrying a spicy warmth that spread all the way to his stomach. He did not answer, continuing to gaze at the starry sky.

Aikesi did not press further, simply standing beside him and occasionally taking a sip of wine. The two stood silently side by side, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

The night was like water, moonlight draping the earth like a thin veil. A few chirps of insects drifted from the grass in the distance, intermittent and sporadic. The air carried the scent of earth and fresh grass, mingled with the aroma of wine, causing one to unconsciously relax.

A burst of hurried footsteps approached from afar, breaking the night's silence.

"Lord Linlei!" The night guard rushed in, his face wearing a strange expression. "There is, there is someone outside who wishes to see you."

"So late, who is it?" Linlei frowned.

"It's a young lady." The guard's expression grew even stranger. "She says her name is Diliya and she has come from the Yunluo Empire."

"Diliya?" Linlei froze, the wine bottle in his hand nearly slipping.

Aikesi was also startled, the wine bottle steadying itself at his lips. Of course he knew who Diliya was; in the original story, she should have only appeared in the O'Brien Empire. He hadn't done anything to disrupt the plot, had he? Could it be that the butterfly effect had already begun to influence this world?

"How did she come here?" Linlei found it hard to believe, a tremor he didn't even notice himself creeping into his voice.

"Hurry and invite her in!" Aikesi pushed Linlei, laughing. "What are you standing there like a fool for? Letting that young lady wait outside?"

Only then did Linlei snap out of it, walking briskly toward the courtyard gate, his steps much faster than usual, almost a run. Aikesi watched his hasty retreating back, shook his head with a smile, and turned back to the house with the wine bottle.

Under the moonlight outside the courtyard gate, a slender figure stood quietly. She wore a moon-white long dress, its hem stained with a bit of dust, clearly having traveled a great distance. Her golden hair fluttered gently in the night breeze, a few stray strands playfully brushing her cheeks. Her beautiful face bore a trace of fatigue, with faint dark circles under her eyes, yet those eyes were startlingly bright, as if filled with starlight.

"Diliya?" Linlei's voice trembled slightly, unable to believe what stood before him.

Diliya looked up, gazing at the young man before her who seemed more mature and steady than in her memory. Ten years had passed; he had grown taller, his shoulders broader, his facial features sharper, yet those eyes remained as deep as before. Her eyes instantly reddened, tears shimmering in the moonlight.

"Linlei..." she called softly, her voice slightly hoarse with the fatigue of a long journey, yet unable to hide the joy within. "I have finally found you."

Linlei hurried forward, wanting to say something, only to find his throat tight, unable to utter a single word. He stood before her, watching her wind-tousled hair, watching the tears in her eyes, feeling as though something had struck his heart hard.

Their last meeting had been on that night in Wushan Town. After that kiss, she had returned to the Yunluo Empire, while he had embarked on a long path of revenge. For ten years, they had not seen each other. Ten years were enough for a boy to grow into a man, and enough for a feeling to ferment in longing, becoming ever richer.

"Why have you come?" Linlei finally found his voice, though it was much lower than usual.

Diliya bit her lip, offering no answer, simply staring fixedly at him, tears glistening in her eyes.

Linlei's heart tightened. He stepped forward, wanting to comfort her, yet not knowing what to say. He reached out his hand, only to stop midway, hesitated, and finally withdrew it.

Diliya suddenly spoke, her voice very soft. "I heard you were in Yunfeng Town, so I rushed here."

"From the Yunluo Empire to here, the journey is long; you alone..." Linlei grew concerned, his brows unconsciously knitting together. From the Yunluo Empire to Yunfeng Town, it was at least several hundred li, passing through mountain forests infested with magical beasts and wildlands plagued by bandits. A young girl traveling such a long distance alone; he dared not imagine how much hardship she had endured.

"I am fine." Diliya shook her head, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly into a reassuring smile. "I am already a Level 7 Mage; I encountered no danger on the way."

A Level 7 Mage. A complex emotion surged within Linlei.

"Let's go inside and talk." He stepped aside. "It is cold out here."

Diliya nodded, following him into the courtyard. As she passed him, a faint, subtle fragrance drifted into his nose, causing Linlei's heartbeat to unconsciously quicken.

Aikesi tactfully did not appear; even Beibei lay quietly in the corner pretending to sleep, only occasionally opening one eye to curiously inspect this suddenly appeared beautiful young lady.

In the living room, Linlei poured Diliya a cup of hot tea and sat opposite her. The candlelight flickered, casting their shadows onto the wall, where they overlapped.

"You..." Both spoke at once, then stopped simultaneously.

"You speak first," Linlei said.

Diliya held the teacup, head bowed, silent for a long while. The cup turned slightly in her hand, steam rising in wisps, blurring her features. After a long time, she slowly spoke, her voice unnaturally calm. "Linlei, do you know why I came?"

Linlei shook his head, though he already had a vague guess.

"My father wants me to marry Emperor Landuo." Diliya's voice was calm, but her hand gripping the teacup tightened slightly.

Linlei's hand tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"The Emperor of the Yunluo Empire?" he asked, his voice betraying no emotion.

"Yes." Diliya nodded. "He believes this will consolidate the family's status. After all, although the Laine Family is a great family of the empire, it has been gradually declining in recent years. If we can marry into the royal family..."

She did not finish, but Linlei already understood.

Political marriage, a common tactic of great families. Trading a daughter's happiness for the family's benefit was all too common in this world. He simply hadn't expected such a thing to happen to Diliya.

"You do not wish to?" Linlei asked, his gaze fixed tightly on her.

Diliya looked up, staring straight at him, with a determination in her eyes he had never seen before. "What do you think?"

That gaze was too direct, too intense; Linlei found himself unable to meet it. He lowered his eyes, watching the flickering candle flame on the table, while his heart was in chaos.

"I..." He opened his mouth, yet did not know how to answer.

Diliya smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness yet also relief. "Ten years ago, I said goodbye to you in Wushan Town, thinking we would meet again soon. But who could have thought that parting would last ten years."

Linlei fell silent. Ten years, not particularly long, not particularly short, yet enough to change many things.

"In those ten years, I thought of you every day." Diliya's voice was very soft.

"So you came alone?" Linlei's voice was somewhat hoarse, as if something were blocking his throat.

"Hmm." Diliya nodded, the corners of her mouth curling into a stubborn arc. "I told Father I was coming to find you. He disagreed, so I left on my own."

She spoke lightly, but Linlei could imagine what she had endured. A Level 7 Mage, crossing hundreds of miles of wilderness alone, evading Magical Beasts and bandits, sleeping under the stars and eating in the wind, just to see him once. He suddenly remembered the dust on her skirt hem, the exhaustion in her eyes, and that feigned carefree smile.

"You..." Linlei wanted to say something, but found his throat choked tight. A thousand words were stuck in his throat; he couldn't utter a single syllable.

Diliya stood up, walked to him, and looked down at him. Candlelight behind her cast a golden halo around her. She took a deep breath, as if mustering all her courage: "Linlei, I like you. I've liked you since the Academy. These feelings have never changed."

Linlei looked up, meeting her clear eyes, and a certain corner of his heart was suddenly touched. Those eyes held expectation, anxiety, ten years of longing, and reckless courage.

"I know you have many things to do now." Diliya's voice trembled slightly, yet remained firm. "I don't ask for any promise from you right now. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I will stand by your side. No matter where you go or what you do, I will accompany you."

"Diliya..." Linlei stood up, wanting to speak, but found himself at a loss for words. He looked at her flushed cheeks illuminated by candlelight, at the tears glistening in her eyes, and felt something surging within his heart.

He remembered his youth, the girl who always sat quietly in the back row of the classroom. He remembered the shyness and tenderness hidden in her eyes when she occasionally glanced at him. He remembered that night in Wushan Town, the unexpected kiss under the moonlight, and her hurried figure as she left.

Over the past ten years, he had experienced so much. His father's death, the Radiant Church's pursuit, the arduous cultivation in the Magical Beast Mountain Range... Hatred, flight, cultivation, battle—these filled his entire life. He thought he no longer cared about matters of the heart, believing his heart had long hardened like iron amidst blood and fire.

Yet at this moment, looking at the girl who had traveled a thousand li for him, listening to her softly recount ten years of longing, a certain string in his heart was struck hard. That string had been silent for so long, so long that he thought it would never sound again.

"I don't need you to respond immediately." Diliya stepped back, a blush rising on her face as if suddenly realizing what she had said. "I just want you to know..."

"Diliya." Linlei interrupted her, reaching out to take her hand.

Her hand was cool, trembling slightly, with thin calluses on her fingertips from the journey. He tightened his grip, wanting to pass his warmth to her.

"That night ten years ago, when you kissed me, I was actually startled." Linlei's voice was soft, carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Later, when you left, I stood in the courtyard for a long time, watching the direction you departed, feeling empty inside."

Diliya froze, staring at him blankly, tears swirling in her eyes.

"Back then, I was thinking, 'How bold this girl is.'" Linlei's lips curled slightly upward, tenderness and a smile appearing in his eyes. "Later, so many things happened: my father's death, the Radiant Church's pursuit, the arduous cultivation in the Magical Beast Mountain Range... I hardly had time to think about anything else."

"I know you waited for me for ten years." Linlei looked at her, his gaze gentle yet firm. "In these ten years, you suffered many grievances. From now on, I will not make you wait again, nor will I let you suffer any more grievances."

"Linlei..." Diliya's tears finally fell, rolling down in large drops, tracing the corners of her smiling mouth.

Linlei reached out, gently wiping the tear tracks from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek for an instant. "After I resolve the matters in Wodun, will you be willing to be my bride?"

Diliya nodded vigorously, throwing herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her hands clutched his clothes tightly, as if afraid he would vanish the next second.

Linlei held her, feeling the real warmth in his embrace, and a certain corner of his heart was finally filled. He lowered his head, resting his chin gently on the top of her head, smelling the fragrance in her hair, and closed his eyes.

In the corner, Beibei quietly poked its head out, its small eyes full of curiosity and confusion. It tilted its head and watched for a long while, then finally yawned and tucked its head back under its tail.

Aikesi appeared at the door at some unknown time, looking at the embracing pair with a gratified smile on his lips. He quietly slipped out, closing the door behind him with a movement so light it made no sound.

Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a silver glow over the two of them. The chirping of insects in the distance had stopped at some point, and the entire world fell silent, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats, clear and audible in the stillness.

After an unknown duration, Diliya finally lifted her head from Linlei's embrace. Her eyes were red, yet a smile graced her face. She looked at Linlei, reached out to touch his face, as if confirming he was real.

"You ran out like this... what about your father?" Linlei was somewhat worried, his brows furrowing slightly.

"He will understand." Diliya shook her head, her voice still hoarse from crying. She blinked, revealing a rare mischievous side. "Besides, I am an adult now; I can't listen to Father's orders for the rest of my life."

Linlei chuckled at her words and reached out to ruffle her hair.

Diliya nodded and leaned against his shoulder, beginning to recount her experiences over the years. From her cultivation after returning to the Yunluo Empire, meditating before dawn every day and practicing magic until night, to the open and hidden struggles within the family, those cousins who smiled at her face-to-face but secretly wished she would never marry; to how she persuaded Master Longersi to help her inquire about Linlei's whereabouts, and how she secretly reviewed intelligence reports sent from various regions late at night...

Linlei listened quietly, occasionally asking a few questions, but mostly just watching her silently. When she spoke, her eyes would unconsciously brighten, and her fingers would move slightly with her emotions. When speaking of happy things, she would smile with curved eyebrows and eyes; when speaking of grievances, she would unconsciously pout.

Outside the window, the moon slowly climbed to its highest point, enveloping the entire Yunfeng Town in a soft silver light. At some unknown time, Diliya's voice grew quieter, her eyelids heavier, until she finally leaned against his shoulder and fell into a deep sleep.

Linlei did not move; he simply gently covered her with a blanket, sat quietly, and listened to her even breathing.

This night was both long and short.

The next morning, when Linlei walked out of the room, Aikesi was already waiting in the courtyard, holding two brushes and grooming the horses.

"Congratulations," Aikesi said with a smile, his eyes full of mischief. "It seems last night went well."

Linlei, unusually embarrassed, glared at him. "Stop talking nonsense. Prepare to depart."

"Not waiting for Diliya?" Aikesi asked deliberately.

"Let her sleep a bit longer." Linlei paused, his voice unconsciously softening. "She traveled such a long distance; she must be exhausted."

Aikesi shook his head with a smile and tactfully stopped teasing him. He handed the brush to Linlei and went to check the horses' horseshoes.

By the time the sun reached its zenith, Diliya finally emerged from the room. She had changed into a pale blue long dress, her golden hair cascading loosely. She looked radiant, a completely different person from the dusty girl of the night before.

"Did you sleep well?" Linlei stepped forward and naturally took the bundle from her hands.

"Hmm." Diliya nodded, a blush rising on her face as she dared not look at him. "When do we depart?"

"No rush." Linlei pulled her to sit down. "Let's have breakfast first, then leave later."

Breakfast was already laid out on the table: steaming porridge, a few small dishes, and freshly baked bread. Looking at these, Diliya's eyes reddened again, but she held it back and obediently sat beside him to eat.

After breakfast, the group prepared to depart. The five Bake brothers remained in Yunfeng Town, while Linlei, Aikesi, Beibei, and Diliya headed north to the Didu.

Before leaving, Saisile pulled Linlei aside and lowered his voice. "Linlei, the Radiant Church took a loss this time and certainly won't let it go. Be careful on your journey."

"I know." Linlei nodded, his expression turning serious. "I leave this place in your hands."

"Rest assured." Saisile smiled and patted Linlei's shoulder. "Although I haven't broken through to the Saint Domain yet, self-defense is no problem for me. As for you, don't be too impulsive when you reach the Didu."

Linlei patted his shoulder, turned, and mounted his horse.

Diliya rode a white horse, following beside Linlei. The morning breeze lifted her long hair, revealing her fair face. Sunlight danced in her hair, as if scattered with fragments of gold.

"Let's go." Linlei urged his horse's flank and charged forward first.

Diliya followed closely behind, horse hooves kicking up a trail of dust. She glanced back at Yunfeng Town, then turned her head to look at Linlei's figure ahead, her corners of the mouth unconsciously rising.

Aikesi and Beibei followed at the rear, watching the two walking side by side ahead, their lips curling slightly upward. Beibei perched on Aikesi's shoulder, muttering something quietly. After hearing it, Aikesi couldn't help but laugh.

Sunlight bathed the four of them, stretching their shadows very long.