A Midnight Promise

Since Xiao Ling returned to the Jia Ma Empire, some time had passed without him realizing it.

During this time, he had completely shed the frantic rush of his former travels and immersed himself in this long-lost peace.

There were no longer any calculations for the future, no goals he absolutely had to achieve. There was only the company of the people closest to him: Xiao Yi Xian's tender affection, Qing Lin's gentle thoughtfulness, Zi Yan's lively charm, and the deep intimacy he shared with Medusa.

Together with the cheerful banter of life-and-death friends like Xiao Yan, Yao Chen, and Little Sable, the days he spent in the Jia Ma Empire had truly been leisurely and pleasant.

Xiao Xi'er's arrival was even more like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake, adding a vivid touch of warmth to the grand plans Xiao Ling had once laid out for his life.

The little girl's exquisitely adorable appearance and soft, sweet childish voice had practically made her everyone's treasured darling. She had also brought together these people from all corners of the world, allowing them to spend a rare stretch of relaxed time together.

To Xiao Ling, Xiao Xi'er's arrival was undoubtedly the most precious surprise fate had bestowed upon him.

Just as her name suggested, the little girl was like a ray of warm morning sunlight, dispelling the lingering exhaustion and loneliness in Xiao Ling's heart. For the first time, he truly understood the weight and tenderness behind the word "father."

Watching his daughter act cute in his arms and chase mandala petals through the courtyard, watching his beloved smile softly and his closest friends laugh and chat, Xiao Ling suddenly felt that even all the hardships he had endured and all the lands he had crossed could not compare to