Xianzhou Luofu

"Brother Li, with the Cloud Knights fighting on the front lines, is it wrong for us to come to Aurum Alley just to fill our bellies?"

"Oh, come on, old Chen. You've already slaughtered dozens of people who became mara-struck. Our superiors are worried about your mind and body, so they told me to take you out for a break. Just think of it as letting me rest, all right?"

At the entrance to Aurum Alley, beneath the blazing midday sun, two men, one red-haired and one white-haired, stood chatting in Cloud Knight gear.

"I'm telling you, there's a noodle shop in here whose braised noodles are second to none. You'll never want to leave."

"Mm. Let us leave promptly once we finish eating. Since we joined the Xianzhou a few days ago, some of our brethren have still felt unsettled. We must help ease their concerns."

The two walked on until they reached a noodle shop with old, worn furnishings. Just as the red-haired man was about to order, he suddenly caught sight of two familiar figures.

"I think I need to say something." Zhang Xiu looked at the two shop assistants before him, sounding rather displeased. "I've only bought a few things here, and I've already found three problems."

"First, I only just took this ice cream out, and it's already about to melt. That means there's something wrong with your freezer."

"Second, why are you looking at me like that? My wife is an adult." As he spoke, Zhang Xiu hoisted Yaoshi, who had taken on the form of a little girl, a little higher in his arms.

Just as he was about to say more, he suddenly heard a noise behind him.

Zhang Xiu turned around and saw two figures, one white-haired and one red-haired, approaching them with solemn strides.

The instant he saw them, memories of the pair surfaced automatically in Zhang Xiu's mind.

The white-haired man was named Chen Chang'an, and the red-haired man was Li Ge. Both belonged to Zhang Xiu's clan. Moreover, Li Ge was the very man whose curses had turned into cutesy whining after his Synesthesia Beacon was altered when Zhang Xiu left aboard the spaceship.

"Oh, if it isn't Chang'an and Li Ge! What are you two doing here?" Zhang Xiu chuckled, but neither man paid him any attention. Instead, they bowed deeply to Yaoshi.

Then they straightened together and exhaled heavily.

"Zhang Xiu! Thou art no human! How darest thou show thy face before us again!"

"You little darling! You've got to be kitten me! Meow-!"

"It has been some time, everyone. Have you been well?" Yaoshi laughed softly. "Do not trouble my husband. Being with him brings joy to both my body and my heart~"

"Aaaaaah-!" Li Ge covered his eyes in agony, not daring to open them again.

"Ugh... How could this be? How could it happen? How could such wickedness exist...?"

"Hehe, come on, let's go. This isn't the place to talk." Seeing their reactions, Zhang Xiu could not help feeling a little pleased. He handed the ice cream to Yaoshi in his arms and walked off to one side.

"Hah... Have you eaten? Brother Li knows a noodle shop. It is over there." Having composed himself, Chen Chang'an pointed toward where they had come from.

"Sounds great. Let's go. This one's on me." Zhang Xiu brushed his left hand across the corner of Yaoshi's mouth, then put the lingering ice cream into his own.

And so the four sat at a table. Since Yaoshi remained in Zhang Xiu's arms the entire time, they ended up arranged like the three rival kingdoms.

"After our clan joined the Xianzhou, the Marshal ordered us to be dispersed among the various ships. Our clan chief went to the Yaoqing."

"Oh, I see. As for us, we saved a world after joining the Astral Express. Now we've come to the Xianzhou because we heard there was danger here."

"But you know how the Xianzhou feels about my wife, so we can only wander around. The companions I met aboard the Astral Express have already gone to help." Feeling the petite figure in his arms, Zhang Xiu hurriedly added:

"My wife didn't turn into this because of my fetish, okay? It's to avoid trouble..."

The two were indifferent to Zhang Xiu's repeated explanations. In their minds, their opinion of him could not possibly sink any lower. After all, he was someone who had lusted after their own deity.

Just then, four bowls of braised noodles arrived and were set before them.

"What is done is done. Let us eat first." Chen Chang'an sighed. "We must return to the battlefield shortly. We cannot stay long."

"By the way, our clan now has an official name: Skydeep."

"Skydeep? Damn, that's so cool!" Zhang Xiu blinked. That name sounded way more badass than Borisin or The Borisin.

"But our clanspeople were already somewhat unhappy about leaving the Ambrosial Arbor, and the Xianzhou is wary of our clan as well. We must help smooth things over. Speaking of which, why did you ask our clanspeople to join the Xianzhou?"

Indeed, the Skydeep had joined the Xianzhou at Zhang Xiu's urging. For something as momentous as surrendering their people's autonomy, the Skydeep would never have agreed if not for his status as Yaoshi's husband.

After all, in a one-on-one fight, the Antimatter Legion and other Abominations of Abundance were no different from speed bumps to their people. They had no need of protection whatsoever.

"Everyone needs somewhere to stay. Besides, following my wife's ideals, hunting across the sea of stars with the Xianzhou and helping others sounds pretty good, doesn't it?"

Of course, that was a lie. The main reason was that Zhang Xiu wanted to use the Xianzhou to keep his clanspeople in check.

After all, their reproductive abilities were no different from ordinary people's, and were even stronger. Previously, their lifespans had held them back. Now, not only was that limitation gone, but their bodies were stronger too. All in all, they were the Pro Max version of the Borisin.

"Is that so? I thought you did it because you were afraid we'd bring disaster upon the world." Li Ge shrugged.

"You must not do bad things." Yaoshi lifted her little face, her expression solemn.

"Rest assured, Lord of Longevity. Our clan learned of those Abominations' evil deeds long ago. We will never become villains like them."

"They dare twist your path and claim the weak are unworthy of receiving your blessings? Hmph, how utterly narrow-minded. If I see them, I'll slaughter every last one."

"Then all is well." Yaoshi nodded, then picked up her chopsticks and began enjoying the braised noodles before her.

After the meal, Chen Chang'an and Li Ge bowed to Yaoshi again in farewell. Before leaving, they also threatened Zhang Xiu with vicious throat-slitting gestures.

Zhang Xiu paid them no mind. Never mind holding and kissing Yaoshi now-he even planned to make a recruitment animation with her!

"Come on, honey. Let's look around some more. By the way... could you tell me about you and the Xianzhou?"

"The Xianzhou and I? Very well. That is a long tale of days gone by..."

"Oh, hold on a moment. I'll buy us something to eat. Honey, would you like anything to drink?"

"Anything but coffee."

Seeing that she was about to tell her story, Zhang Xiu hurried into a nearby shop and bought drinks, fries, and other snacks.

After he carried Yaoshi beneath a tree, the Aeon of [Abundance] began recounting her past.

"With finite bodies, they sought to cross an infinite sea. Thus, I listened to their voices and scattered blessings upon countless children of humanity."