Chapter 1161: with translation of chapter title

All right, all right, you guys…… Kaidou waved his hand impatiently. "She didn't show up because she thought she couldn't help. What could a trickster demigod possibly do to help Aglaea? Trick everyone in Aohema with deceit?"

——

Later, somewhere in Aohema.

"A Die, you're here too."

Inside the Garden of Life, Xia Die had just arrived at the flower basket where Ti An was placed, when a familiar voice sounded behind her.

"Lady Ti Bao…?"

"Anything on your mind?" Ti Bao blinked.

"I want to speak with Lady Ti An again before we set out," Xia Die said, lowering her head and quietly gazing at the doll placed in the flower basket. "No matter how beautiful Stikokisia once was, it is now the domain of the dead… it's hard to say what we might encounter there. I don't want… to leave any regrets."

Ti Bao suddenly changed the subject: "Someone said your eyes have become much brighter today?"

"Is this… a metaphor?"

"You used to… although you occasionally smiled, everyone could feel a faint shadow in that smile… besides Aglaea, no one knows what you've been through, and you rarely speak of it. But we know it must be a heavy past, just as every Golden Heir is destined to bear."

Ti Bao beamed, lifting her head: "…I'm so glad the spark belonging to you has finally emerged from the thick clouds."

Xia Die said somewhat embarrassedly: "I haven't done anything yet."

"But you already know where 'tomorrow' is, right? You don't need to rely on anyone; give it your all, don't leave any regrets: I've always believed your embrace is no different from anyone else's." Ti Bao said seriously, "After all, the meaning of an embrace is to convey warmth, and Xia Die… you are the gentlest of the Golden Heirs."

Like a beam of winter sunlight, a tiny gleam of light rippled in the girl's violet eyes. Xia Die's brows relaxed, and she finally smiled brightly: "…Thank you, Lady Ti Bao."

"This feeling… is unbelievable. Before setting out, I suddenly have many Weiyuan… I want to fulfill them."

"Then go do it, Xia Die!" Ti Bao encouraged, "Ti An… secretly prepared a little gift for you, but she couldn't finish it. *I* and *Ti Ning* are working on it; we'll definitely deliver it to you."

"So, wait until you return from Stikokisia, then we'll meet here again. Safe travels—see you tomorrow!"

——

Luo Xiaohei's War Chronicles.

"Xiaohei, I have a bad feeling."

"Senior Sister, me too."

"Hmm, me too…"

Upon hearing Ti Bao's last words, Xiaohei immediately put down his chopsticks and nervously looked at his senior sister and master.

Lu Ye also furrowed her brows; although she was an enforcer of the guild, in her free time she had learned about many human works, and something like "I'll hand it to you personally when I return" is practically a classic flag.

This line has already come true once for Ti An; last time, Xia Die's gift, which she failed to send on time, was never personally handed to Ti An in the end. Could it be that this time it will come true for Xia Die?

"But it probably isn't that much of a coincidence," Wuxian said lightly. "This time, Xia Die and Xing are about to go to the Underworld, a place only the dead of Weng Fuluo can reach; as long as the Fire-Stealer is still 'alive,' he'll find it hard to approach them."

In Wuxian's view, the greatest threat of the Fire Pursuit Journey isn't just the loudmouthed Kaines, but the Fire-Stealer who survived Wandi's full-force blow.

Although the former wields the power of the "Purifier," as long as one lives in the Holy City, they are constantly under Aglaea's control, posing no threat to the Golden Heirs. But the latter truly possesses the ability to kill all Golden Heirs.

In other words, the biggest threat on this trip is still the wheelchair-bound girl who only appears in KefaLe's memories; we don't know what form Recreation of the World has turned her into, or whether she's been infected by Heichi and gone mad. But Xing has become a Demigod; as long as the Fire-Stealer doesn't show up, she should be able to protect Xia Die from the hands of the Death Titan.

——

Xing raised her head to gaze at the distant mountains; the endless clear sky of Aohema left her with no desire to sleep.

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from outside the door.

"Knock knock…"

Xing opened the door to find Xia Die standing outside.

"Sorry, I hope I didn't disturb your rest."

Xing waved her hand: "No problem, at my age I basically can't sleep."

"Your Excellency, you're still so energetic, I feel a bit relieved." Xia Die lowered her head slightly embarrassed. "Actually, I boldly came to visit you out of some… personal Weiyuan. I hope… you'll hear my request. I would like to ask you to accompany me to fetch something."

Xing readily agreed and followed Xia Die all the way to the vicinity of the large bathhouse. But before they even approached the heavy door, a noisy clamor, wrapped in steaming heat, hit them in the face.

A large crowd had already gathered here, noisily split into two groups, with shouts of "vote," "Fire Pursuit," and the like rising and falling, nearly lifting the ceiling of the Yunshi Heavenly Palace.

"It looks like the nationwide referendum on pausing the Fire Pursuit Journey has already begun… a lot of people." Xia Die frowned.

"I want to vote! I want to vote! How do I vote?" An angry male follower of Oluonisi raised both hands, standing at the forefront of one faction, seemingly their opinion leader.

The woman on the opposite side, who worshipped Talandon, coldly said: "Take your clay shard etched with KefaLe's runes, choose the Senate in your heart and silently pray until the shard records your choice, then toss it into the jar."

"Senate? Screw the Senate!" the male believer shouted, pointing at her nose. "My homeland has already been swallowed by Heichi; returning to the Golden Age? I might as well be returning to Aohema's Golden Age."

The woman clasped her hands devoutly: "The Titans are always fair… as long as we don't offend them, we won't suffer divine punishment."

The male believer showed no sign of backing down, going all out: "Just an old relic. The Titans who've gone mad should step aside for the Demigods. We'll see!"

"I'd rather teach Talandon to smash you awake with a weight. Bring it on!"

——

Absolute Zone Zero.

"Ahaha… indeed, even if the Golden Age promised by the Senate looks very tempting, it still can't convince some voters."