Night had fallen deep, yet the Dragon Mountain Imperial Capital remained ablaze with lights, laughter and cheerful voices soaring straight into the stars.
This hotel was surrounded by layer upon layer of powerful divine barriers; no movement from outside could reach it. It was the Dragon Mountain Empire's state guesthouse, the most heavily guarded place in the entire empire apart from the imperial palace. Ever since Asi had taken up residence here, its divine barriers had remained activated year-round. Not even the faintest rustle of wind outside could disturb Asi as he indulged himself within the hotel.
With a soft sigh, Asi looked at the young girl beside him. What was her name? Ah, the name was not important, was it? Her father was an earl, or perhaps a marquis? That was not important either! What mattered was that she was beautiful, her skin smooth, and she carried an innate, elegant fragrance as wondrous as enchanted violets. That was enough to leave Asi thoroughly pleased and satisfied.
Leaning comfortably against a nest of soft velvet and brocade bedding, smoking a slender custom-made cigar rolled from the finest tobacco leaves native to the Elf Continent, Asi felt every joint in his body groaning softly with pleasure. Such marvelous days, such splendid and bewitching enjoyment—his hundreds of thousands of years of life before this had simply been lived like a dog's.
"Lin Qi is a good man. He must be promoted vigorously!" Asi lightly blew out several smoke rings. This difficult technique had been painstakingly taught to him by his good brother Alda. Asi was, after all, a god of noble birth. Techniques requiring control over breath and muscle movements were not difficult for him to learn. After a springtime encounter with a beautiful noble girl, blowing a few graceful, lovely smoke