Jingliu's kisses gradually moved lower.
When they reached his neck, Jingliu distinctly felt Xianyu's body go rigid.
She stopped at once.
Xianyu raised his hand and once again pressed it against the back of her head as he held her.
He lowered his eyes, gazing at the crown of Jingliu's head.
For a moment, he truly wavered.
He had come so close.
In the end, humans and gods really were different.
An Aeon was an Aeon, after all.
If he could truly abandon his feelings and become a god who knew neither sorrow nor joy, he would not be so...
So tormented.
If not for him, Jingliu would not have had to march onto the battlefield like the other Cloud Knights.
She would not have had to kill companions who had become mara-struck.
She should have lived an easy, happy life.
Like most Xianzhou natives, Jingliu should have had a perfect life by worldly standards.
If everything began anew... they would never meet.
He might not live long enough to meet Jingliu.
Xianyu asked softly:
"If you could turn back time, what would you do?"
Jingliu carefully controlled her strength as she slowly left teeth marks on the side of his neck.
She said:
"I would... meet you sooner."
Xianyu murmured to himself, "...Would you?"
Her eyes burning, Jingliu stared for a while at the red mark she had left on Xianyu's neck, then tapped it a few times with her fingertip.
She pressed her lips together.
"Your clothes... won't cover it."
Xianyu smiled at Jingliu.
"That's all right."
Jingliu met his gaze, almost drowning in those gentle eyes that seemed to embrace everything.
The most intimate thing Xianyu and Jingliu had ever done in public was hold hands.
They never displayed affection in front of others.
Jingliu respected Xianyu's