Chapter 172

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Warm curtains hang low; the bedchamber is suffused with the lingering warmth of intimacy, morning light filtering through the window gauze to spill across the bed, blooming into a gentle halo of light.

Yao Guang leans down, pressing a light kiss to Xuan Ge's cheek, her voice soft and glutinous with reluctance:

"Husband~ I have to go~"

She just wants to rise and leave the bed, but the brocade quilt wrapped around her slides slowly down along her bare, delicate body.

Fine skin stained with the morning glow, yet her wrist is suddenly seized tight in Xuan Ge's grip.

Xuan Ge lies on his side, a lazy smile in his eyes, his tone indulgent and coaxing:

"What's the rush? Little Yao Er is sleeping soundly with Luo Rui Ya; he won't fuss for a good while."

He had long since decided in his heart: rather than let Xuan Yao be trapped under Shen Wu's halo and pressure, better to let go and let him grow freely.

Whether it is Yao Guang's maternal clan's Yuque Xianzhou, or the Luo Fu Xianzhou where Jing Yuan holds court, both are far more suitable for a child's growth than the everywhere-restricted Shen Wu.

Yao Guang's cheeks flush under his direct gaze; she bites her lip charmingly and naturally burrows into the quilt, pressing close to Xuan Ge's side.

Xuan Ge just wants to say something when he feels a sharp bite of pain, and can't help but suck in a cold breath.

"Hmph~ less nonsense, serve you, no objections allowed."

Yao Guang pokes her head out from the quilt, raises a hand to coil up her scattered hair, gives a charming huff and burrows back down, her movements carrying a few parts spoiled complaint and compliance.

Xuan Ge gently strokes her hair strands, sighs softly:

"Actually, whether Xuan Yao inherits Shen Wu or not doesn't matter; right now Shen Wu is still expanding, but in the short term it ultimately cannot compare to the foundation of the old Xianzhou."

Yao Guang inside the quilt is instantly speechless at those words; right now she simply cannot speak back, yet Xuan Ge always loves to pick this kind of moment to ramble on and on.

Recalling the past when Kafka was at his side, Xuan Ge was always this improper, insisting on teasing.

She bites down a little harder with her teeth, and hearing Xuan Ge let out a muffled groan, finally lets her heart settle completely.

Then hearts flash in her eyes, and she throws herself wholeheartedly into the opening and closing of her mouth.

Amid the intimate entanglement time flies; Yao Guang suddenly releases her grip, wriggles out of the quilt, cheeks flushed as she complains coquettishly:

"You insist I get up? Do you know you used too much force last night~"

Her mouth is full of complaints, yet her body honestly nestles along Xuan Ge's pull, the wife-like charm between her brows growing ever more intense.

Three years pass in a flash; the warmth between husband and wife cannot withstand Shen Wu's rapid expansion, nor shake off the invisible shackles the world presses onto Xuan Yao.

At the Shen Wu Xianzhou's farewell dock, a gentle breeze carries wisps of cloud.

Three-year-old Xuan Yao has a head of soft white hair fragments, gilt-gold pupils identical to Xuan Ge's.

Even the faint patterns in his irises are exactly the same as Xuan Ge's; his appearance is exquisite and adorably soft.

Right now he is being held indulgently in Ling Sha's arms, little paws lightly patting Ling Sha's shoulder, asking in a milky voice:

"Big Mama~ why aren't Father and Mother here yet~"

Ling Sha gently pats his back, soothing softly: "Your mother and father are handling matters for the trip to Yuque Xianzhou; they'll be here soon."

These words are spoken for Xuan Yao to hear, yet her heart is full of helplessness.

Over these three years, the several women have taken turns staying by Xuan Ge's side, but he ultimately favors Yao Guang and Xing Xiao more;

ever since Xing Xiao became pregnant and the Aeon of Destruction's gaze descended on Shen Wu, the General has completely let go of all reservations.

An Aeon's will cannot be stopped to begin with, and he has no need to clash head-on with the Hunt and Destruction right now.

Only Huan Long's whereabouts are unknown; that sentence before she left — "All this is for Xuan Ge."

Leaves Ling Sha forever unable to fathom her stance, her state of mind growing ever more blurred and uncertain.

"But I don't want to go to Yuque~"

Xuan Yao pouts his little mouth, grievance rising in his eyes, clings tight around Ling Sha's neck, his heart full of attachment to his father, unwilling to leave Shen Wu.

"Come come~ Grandpa hug~"

Jing Tian steps up quickly, takes his disciple from Ling Sha's arms, rubs his face full of indulgence against Xuan Yao's soft hair, and coaxes gently:

"Little Yao Er, you're going to Yuque to learn skills with your mother; if you don't want to learn it's fine, Grandpa will teach you personally."

"Mm~ Grandpa~ then when can I go back to Shen Wu~"

Xuan Yao blinks his bewildered gold eyes, looking at Jing Tian in a soft glutinous way.

One "Grandpa" makes Jing Tian grin until he can't close his mouth; he immediately leans on his father-in-law status, pats his chest and guarantees:

"Hehe~ with Grandpa here, you can come back whenever you want! If that stinky brat Xuan Ge dares block you, Grandpa will beat him until he admits he's wrong!"

"Grandpa is the best~" Xuan Yao affectionately rubs his cheek against Jing Tian, making the old man's laughter grow even more hearty.

"Old and shameless." Ling Sha mutters a helpless complaint.

Then she takes out a jade talisman, preparing to send Xuan Ge a message urging him not to linger in intimacy and delay things, not to let Yao Guang get so tired she can't get out of bed.

But just as she finishes editing the text, familiar footsteps sound from far away; she simply deletes the content and lifts her gaze.

"Father~ Mother~"

Xuan Yao spots the two figures walking side by side at a glance, immediately waves his little arms and calls out excitedly.

Xuan Ge stands tall and upright; Yao Guang leans beside him, only her walk is slightly unsteady, the charming beauty between her brows even more pronounced than before.

Seeing Yao Guang's wife-like aura practically overflowing, Ling Sha helplessly rolls her eyes at Xuan Ge, full of spoiled complaint.

"Yao Er~"

Yao Guang steps up quickly, takes Xuan Yao from Jing Tian's arms, indulgently tweaks his little nose, eyes full of reluctance.

"Xuan Yao." Xuan Ge waits for mother and son to share a moment of intimacy, then speaks faintly.

Xuan Yao instantly reined in his smile, his small frame tensing slightly, and answered obediently:

"Father... Father~"

Ordinarily Xuan Ge treated him gently, yet always carried a hint of awe-inspiring dignity that made him subconsciously feel reverence.

Seeing this, Xuan Ge revealed a shallow smile, his tone softening a few degrees: "Once you reach Yu Que, take good care of your mother, and in all matters listen to your mother's words."

"Okay! Father~"

Xuan Yao immediately straightened his small posture, nodding seriously, his little face full of solemnity.

His bearing was exactly like Xuan Ge's demeanor when issuing military orders.

Yao Guang, seeing this, lightly patted Xuan Ge's lower back, glared at her husband with a spoiled complaint, and said gently to Xuan Yao:

"Don't always imitate your father's serious appearance; be more lively."

Her tone was filled with helplessness and doting indulgence toward the father and son.

"We're leaving~"

Yao Guang held Xuan Yao, looked back and gave Xuan Ge a deep look, her eyes intertwining coquettish and pure-hearted smiles, full of reluctance.

"Go." Xuan Ge gave a slight nod, watching Yao Guang board the Hang Jian, then turned to Qin Qiong beside him and ordered in a low voice.

"Yes!"

Qin Qiong accepted the command, immediately coordinating the entire Second Army of Shen Wu to board the ships, escorting the Consort Yao and the Heir to Yuque Xianzhou with security strict to the utmost.

Watching the Hang Jian and the escort warships slowly sail away and vanish at the horizon, Xuan Ge only then took a deep breath, pressing down the reluctance in his heart.

He turned his head to look at Chang Ye Yue beside him, and asked in a low voice:

"That place named Weng Fa Luo Si you investigated before — is it true?"

Chang Ye Yue's crimson eyes held affection, gazing at Xuan Ge with tender depth, and replied softly: "Yes, General~ the intelligence is confirmed without error."

Xuan Ge fell silent for a moment, waved his hand: "Forget it, still give Ai Li Ou some face, set this matter aside for now."

He had originally wanted to personally lead troops to level the Iron Tomb of the Extinction Lord, fulfilling his former promise to Fei Cui.

But Ai Li Ou blocked him nearly madly, plus the difficulty revealed in Kafka's eyes, ultimately made him halt his steps.

"General~"

Chang Ye Yue stepped forward, lightly took Xuan Ge's hand, lowered her head slightly, her eyes full of expectation.

Xuan Ge turned his hand back and gripped hers tight, warmth transmitting from his palm, his tone even:

"Yue Fei, let's go."

With that, the two walked side by side toward the General's Mansion, their figures gradually merging into Shen Wu's morning light.