"New Calendar 660, the supermassive storm reached the northern border of North Continent..."
"And then?"
The three- or four-year-old girl with a ponytail stared wide-eyed, blinking at the woman before her.
"And then... it's time for you to sleep."
The young woman, draped in a pitch-black cloak, stood by the bed and smiled. "It's late. I'll tell you the rest of the story tomorrow."
The little girl wailed, "Sister Xiao Man..."
"Call me Auntie."
Though Gu Xiao Man corrected her, she could not hide the smile on her face.
"Don't be like that."
The little girl tugged at Gu Xiao Man's hem and pleaded in a babyish voice. Her manner of speaking was completely unlike that of a child her age. "My dad and mom are coming back tomorrow. Once they're back, there'll be all sorts of messy things to deal with... Will you still tell me the rest of the story then?"
"Of course. How could I forget?"
Gu Xiao Man smiled and reached out to stroke the little girl's smooth, fair forehead.
There was a glistening flame mark there.
When she touched it, the flame swayed, radiating warmth.
After much effort, Gu Xiao Man finally coaxed the little girl into bed, tucked her in, and quietly left the room.
The moment she closed the door, a gentle voice sounded in her Mental Sea.
"Xiao Man, today is the day the Initial returned."
"I see that everyone at the Highest Seat has already arrived. It seems only you are missing."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiao Man brushed back the hair at her temples. These past few days, she had been keeping Gu Chaoxi company and had not paid much attention to news from the Outside World.
But she knew that today was an especially important day.
Gu Xiao Man