The Promise with Mavuika

After quickly composing himself, Xu Tianming feigned a troubled sigh before stepping forward to forcibly pull the family of three up from the ground.

"Uncle Ye, Aunt Lin, why must you do this? Having Ye Guyi follow me doesn't guarantee her safety, and besides, you haven't even asked for her own opinion on the matter, have you?"

However, at the very moment he spoke those words, Mavuika, who was witnessing the entire scene from within his Mental Sea of Consciousness, suddenly teased him in a playful tone:

"Tsk tsk, you take all the credit and play the hero—I never expected you to stumble into such a sweet deal!"

Upon hearing her, Columbina chimed in quite naturally:

"Perhaps it is because he helped this family of his own volition, and thus his good deed has been rewarded by fate."

Xu Tianming had felt a bit embarrassed after Mavuika's remark, but after hearing Columbina's words, he felt instantly at ease and deeply agreed:

"Heaven, Yaya, if you're capable of speaking, you should do it more often. You're always so silent—how am I supposed to discover your virtues?"

Hearing Xu Tianming affectionately call her "Yaya," Columbina's pretty face flushed red instantly, and she fell into a state of shyness. Yet, she felt no resistance toward the nickname in her heart; instead, she felt a subtle, indescribable sweetness from this sudden endearment.

Is this what it feels like to have family?

She didn't dislike this feeling; in fact, she quite liked it.

However, Mavuika was in a different state of mind.

Upon hearing the intimate nickname "Yaya," Mavuika felt no warmth or sweetness, only a wave of cringe that made her entire body feel uncomfortable.

She wanted to tell the two of them to restrain themselves, but seeing the ambiguous atmosphere blossoming between Columbina and Xu Tianming, she couldn't bring herself to interrupt. She had no choice but to endure the discomfort, turning her head to the other side to avoid seeing what she couldn't bear.

Mavuika had hoped this would grant her a moment of peace, but she hadn't expected that after seeing her reaction, Xu Tianming's train of thought would take a strange turn. He couldn't help but address her in the same tone:

"Weiwei, why did you suddenly turn away? Could it be that you're jealous of the sweetness between Yaya and me?"

The moment such a thoughtless remark left his lips, Xu Tianming felt a pang of regret.

After all, Mavuika's personality was worlds apart from Columbina's. Columbina might accept this kind of ambiguous banter, but as for Mavuika, one didn't need to guess how the Archon of Pyro would react.

Sure enough, it was just as Xu Tianming had anticipated.

Even Mavuika, who could remain unflinching when facing an invading army of Abyssal Monsters, stiffened the moment she heard the name "Weiwei," and then began to tremble uncontrollably.

Clearly, those two syllables were devastatingly effective against her.

However, just as Xu Tianming was bracing himself for Mavuika's fury, her trembling body quickly returned to calm.

When she turned back around, no strange emotions could be seen on her face, save for a lingering flush that proved her heart was not as tranquil as she appeared.

After taking a deep breath, she spoke to Xu Tianming in a tone as calm as she could muster:

"Traveler, that nickname just now... I truly cannot accept it. You may call me by my name, or Haborym, Kiongozi, or even Archon of Pyro, but please, do not let me hear those two syllables again, alright?"

Seeing that Mavuika hadn't lashed out but was instead discussing it with him in all seriousness, Xu Tianming felt both surprised and delighted.

It seemed that deep down, Mavuika didn't actually resent the nickname; it was just that her long-held status as the Archon of Pyro made it difficult for her to let go of her reserve and accept overly intimate endearments like the young Columbina.

Having grasped the crux of the issue, Xu Tianming shook his head decisively:

"First of all, since we have arrived in this world, let's stop calling me 'Traveler.' As the saying goes, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do.' My name is Xu Tianming, and you can call me that from now on. Of course, something more intimate is fine too; I don't mind being addressed affectionately by family."

After finishing this, Xu Tianming paused. Seeing Mavuika and Columbina nod in agreement, he shifted the topic:

"Secondly... Weiwei, I can feel that you don't actually hate the nickname. Can you tell me why you don't want me to call you that?"

Hearing this, Mavuika fell silent for a moment, a flicker of hesitation crossing her brow. But after a short while, she smoothed her furrowed brow and confessed:

"Because that was the nickname my parents used for me when I was a child. Hearing those two syllables just now, I couldn't help but think of my parents, who passed away many years ago..."

Once these words were out, Xu Tianming's attitude shifted from casual to earnest, and his gaze toward Mavuika held a trace of heartfelt apology.

But before he could apologize, Mavuika waved her hand:

"No need to apologize. It is my own issue."

After saying this, Mavuika took another deep breath, as if making a decision in her heart.

A moment later, she gave a hearty laugh:

"However, if you really want to call me that without restraint in the future, you can. As long as you spar with me and win, everything will be as you wish."

Hearing this, Xu Tianming was stunned for a moment. Looking at Mavuika's serious eyes, the thought he had already abandoned suddenly sprang back to life.

Moreover, he seemed to hear a deeper meaning in Mavuika's words.

Everything as he wished...

If his comprehension wasn't mistaken...

He looked into Mavuika's eyes once more, and this time, Xu Tianming understood.

Although the two hadn't communicated explicitly, Mavuika's gaze made it perfectly clear to Xu Tianming that her words meant exactly what he had hoped!

This filled Xu Tianming's heart with fire; he couldn't wait to fight three hundred rounds with Mavuika right then and there to see who was superior.

But unfortunately, now was not the time.

Before his consciousness entered his Mental Sea of Consciousness, he had posed the question of "whether she was willing to follow him" to the young Ye Guyi. Since she hadn't responded yet, his consciousness being immersed in his Mental Sea had been fine.

However, the young Ye Guyi had now thought it through under her parents' guidance and persuasion.

After nodding to her reluctant parents, she looked at Xu Tianming before her with shy eyes.

Under her parents' encouraging gazes, she took a deep breath and gathered her courage:

"I am willing to follow you! You saved my mom and dad, and I believe you are a good person!"