Chapter 887: True Feelings, Blind Spots

Hearing Niya's voice filled with concern for him, the restlessness in Xia Duo's heart eased slightly. He then took a cup from his Personal Space, poured a cup of tea for Niya, and handed it to her. Watching Niya take it, he finally spoke:

"It's not Meditation, it has nothing to do with Meditation, I'm just a bit confused in my heart."

Since it ultimately concerned his Soul, Xia Duo had not yet figured out how to bring it up, so he gave a few evasive remarks and quickly changed the subject: "Let's not talk about this. You just contacted the Princess, how is the situation?"

Niya could tell that Xia Duo was holding back, but since he was unwilling to say more, she did not continue to press him and instead spoke of her own affairs:

"I just contacted my teacher and told her about our return to Nan Jing. She asked me to go collect some materials regarding Magic Web Background Fluctuation so that our research won't be delayed when we go back. Additionally, she reminded us not to miss next month's New Year Festival."

"Hmm."

Xia Duo nodded absentmindedly. If it were any other time, he would certainly have asked Niya if those materials needed to be kept confidential, but now, he focused his attention on the New Year Festival.

A reminder specifically from a Great Arcanist could not help but make one's imagination run wild; next month's New Year Festival was definitely not as simple as a mere Award Ceremony!

Linking this to the Seven Towers specifically spreading his reputation, perhaps there was some unknown connection between the two?

For a moment, thoughts flew through Xia Duo's mind. This kind of wild speculation without seeing the full picture made his head feel as if it had swollen a size larger.

Xia Duo shared his guesses about the New Year Festival with Niya, but Niya could not quite understand, "Of course we can't be absent from the Award Ceremony. Teacher only reminded us specifically because she knew we were returning to Nan Jing. Could it be that you are overthinking it?"

"Overthinking?"

Xia Duo shook his head and revealed a bitter smile, "Do you know? Right now, your husband's name has already spread to Danzo, Yierlan, and Keman, and it will spread even further within these next two days!"

"Ah!?"

Niya was first surprised, then delighted, but then she realized, "You mean someone did this on purpose?"

"Yes, and it has to do with the Seven Towers. Archmage Greta should know a bit of the inside story, but she told me not to dig deeper and just pretend it never happened." Speaking of this, Xia Duo fell somewhat silent.

Yet Niya looked at him with a strange expression and said with a sudden realization: "So that's what you were worried about before!"

"Yes, this kind of reputation is too hollow and makes one feel uneasy. It is not what I wanted." Xia Duo did not deny it; everything would eventually lead back to this.

It was just that regarding the situation with his Soul, he still had not decided whether to speak of it.

Xia Duo's words made Niya fall silent as well. Things decided by those in power were indeed difficult for them to refuse. Of course, they could refuse, but what would be the cost, or rather, the consequences of such a refusal?

Niya could feel her teacher's concern for her, but it was hard not to harbor doubts about this kind of concern coming from a superior.

By comparison, she cared more about Xia Duo, this husband witnessed by the Lord of Radiance. The longer they spent together, the more she could feel the true and genuine closeness and care from Xia Duo.

Thinking that Xia Duo was currently facing some unknown risk, Niya felt a mess inside, but soon, she made her decision.

"Then, then when we return to Nan Jing, we won't come back to Seventon! No matter what plans the teacher and the others have, we just won't go, won't that work?"

Niya's voice trembled slightly, yet she said with determination, "After the New Year Festival, I will go ask my teacher to forgive us!"

Hearing Niya's words, Xia Duo was somewhat moved, but he knew that once something had been decided at that level, how could it be so easy for him to pull himself out?

Although everything outside still seemed calm, he already felt as if he were standing on the crest of a storm. At this moment, other than charging head-on, there was simply no other choice.

Xia Duo was actually willing to try and take a gamble; after all, at his level, he could never be mere cannon fodder.

It was just that damned Cloud Qi that made his Soul feel overwhelmed. How was he supposed to talk about this!

The problem seemed to have returned to the starting point. Looking at Niya's soft yet firm eyes, Xia Duo did not know how to speak, so he simply stepped forward and gently pulled Niya into his arms.

At this moment, even the Element Balance Field attached to their Mage Robes could not block the blending of their body heat, at least psychologically speaking.

……

After a moment of intimacy, Xia Duo's mood eased significantly, and his mind became much clearer. He gently stroked Niya's back, feeling exceptionally real.

"We still have to go to the New Year Festival. Perhaps things are not as we think."

In truth, this matter was not something Xia Duo could decide unilaterally, not to mention that Niya had misunderstood his concerns. What he was truly worried about was not his reputation or the New Year Festival, but that added Cloud Qi.

Even if they returned to Nan Jing, as long as the Seven Towers continued their "propaganda," the dead knot of this problem would not be untied.

However, after his state of mind calmed down, Xia Duo suddenly realized a point he had overlooked—if he had encountered such a situation in the past, what would he have done? Or rather, what would have happened?

The answer might have existed all along, but excessive focus had caused him to overlook it, and that was—

A new round of Bloodline Awakening!

Perhaps because he could now directly perceive his Soul and observe the Cloud Qi, he had focused his attention on the Cloud Qi and its impact on his Soul, while ignoring that the Cloud Qi itself could also trigger Bloodline Awakening.

Perhaps this was the first time he had actively realized the progress of his Bloodline Awakening!

Thinking of this, Xia Duo let go of Niya, looked into her eyes, and said: "Go collect the materials the Princess gave you, we are returning to Nan Jing right now!"

"Oh! Okay!"

Niya's face flushed slightly. She straightened her clothes and hurried out the door, while Xia Duo also tidied up the residence, taking all his personal items with him.

Before long, he received a Sending from Niya; she had already obtained the materials, and the two agreed to meet in the Teleportation Room.

……

After several twists and turns, Xia Duo finally returned to the Tower of Time on the very first day he returned to the Main Plane. After stepping out of the Teleportation Room and soothing Niya, he immediately and impatiently teleported back to his original residence on the sixth floor.

The Mage Tower was well-ventilated; although the old residence had not been lived in for a long time, there was not a trace of odor. Xia Duo simply made the bed and lay down, closing his eyes.

If it weren't for the fact that he almost always left a large puddle of water whenever his Bloodline Awakening occurred, Xia Duo would have preferred to hold Niya and awaken while sleeping. Now, they could only sleep in separate rooms.

Counting one, two, three, under the strong suggestion of his Subconscious, Xia Duo naturally entered a state of deep sleep without the need for any sleep Magic.