Níng is lying on the lounge in the living room, reading a book about Water Spiritual Arts.
Outside, the evening is peaceful.
The last traces of sunlight slip through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room.
The door opens.
Aomi steps inside.
Níng glances up from her book.
The moment she sees him, she jumps off the lounge.
“Aomi!”
She rushes over and stops right in front of him, looking up at his face.
“Where have you been? I was soooo bored!”
Aomi barely glances at her before walking past her and dropping into a nearby chair.
He lets out a tired sigh and leans back.
“I went out for a walk.”
Níng immediately follows him, drags a stool over, and sits beside him.
“A walk? That’s it? What did you do while you were out?”
Aomi slowly turns his head toward her.
“Actually, about that…”
He reaches into his clothes and takes out a folded map.
After unfolding it, he holds it out to her.
“I was thinking… since you’re so bored, why don’t we go on a journey for three months?”
Níng stares at the map for a moment.
Then she looks at him.
Then back at the map.
“REALLY?!”
Her eyes light up as she snatches it from his hand.
“I’m going! Of course I’m going! Where are we going?!”
Aomi watches her excitement with a tired expression.
“Around the borders of Azadia. It’ll take us about three months to reach the places I want to visit. We’ll return in another month, so the entire journey should take around four months.”
Níng nods vigorously, barely paying attention to the details as she scoots her stool closer to him.
“Okay! Okay! I’m definitely going!”
She leans toward him, resting her chin on his arm with a bright smile.
“So, you travel around a lot, right? That means I’ll have a veteran guiding me! I’ll definitely have fun!”
“Of course.” Aomi casually flicks his hair away from his wrist.
“Just follow my lead, and you’ll be fine.”
He closes his eyes and sinks deeper into the chair.
“Now, let me rest for a while.”
Níng’s smile fades into a pout.
“But you haven’t even had dinner yet.”
He replies with no enthusiasm,. This story is hosted at g.com.
“I’m tired. I’ll skip it.”
She stubbornly insists pressing her cheek to his hand.
“No.”
Aomi opens one eye.
“No?”
Níng wraps both hands around his arm, holding it as though she’s preventing him from escaping.
“You’re going to eat first, and then you can go to sleep. I won’t let you sleep with an empty stomach!”
Aomi stares at her silently.
For a moment, he considers arguing.
Then he looks at her determined expression and realizes it would be a waste of energy.
His eyes narrow wearily.
“…Fine.”
Níng immediately brightens.
“Hehe! Good! I’ll get something ready!”
She jumps off the stool and hurries toward the kitchen, leaving Aomi alone in the living room.
He watches her disappear around the corner before letting out another sigh.
He closes his eyes.
From the kitchen, Níng’s cheerful voice suddenly rings out.
“AOMI! WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EAT?!”
He doesn’t even open his eyes.
“Anything.”
She shouts peeking out of the kitchen,
“THAT’S NOT AN ANSWER!”
Aomi’s expression remains blank.
“…Then whatever takes the least effort.”
“GOT IT!”
The sound of hurried footsteps follows.
Aomi slowly opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling.
This journey can be troublesome
His eyes drifts towards the kitchen where Níng is humming he while cooking.
But, she can be a help.
…
The next morning Aomi and Níng venture out of the Xue sect for a 3 months journey.
In the road there will be 5 regions they will travel in total.
Jīn region, famed for its glittery golds and prosperous trades.
Gang region, renowned for it’s large rivers that flow from it’s terrain.
Kuma region, honoured by is given by their black and white banners they carry.
Gin region, famous for it’s vast and lucrative silver buried in under their soil.
And Azadia. Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
A place where freedom, justice and people are kept first.
Many ruined sects have entered in this region to rest peacefully.
…
In Azadia, Ishiki sits alone in his palace chamber, quietly eating his meal.
His gaze rests on the sinking sun beyond the window.
As the last rays of sunlight fade from the sky, a thought crosses his mind.
Where is Seo?
…
The next morning, birds begin to chirp as Aomi sets out on his journey to find a Look-Transforming Spirit.
But in his dreams…
He returns to the days when he was known as the Snow Demon.
His white robe is stained with blood as he walks toward a nearby mountain, having just slaughtered an entire village.
“Aomi!”
A voice calls out behind him.
He turns his head slightly, catching sight of Seo from the corner of his eye.
She is crying, both hands reaching desperately toward him.
“Don’t go down this path! This isn’t right, Aomi!”
Aomi stares at her blankly before letting out a quiet sigh.
“No.”
Seo rushes toward him and grabs his robe.
“What are you even trying to achieve?! If you’re going to slaughter so many people, there must be some purpose behind it!”
He turns to face her fully, his expression unchanged.
“I have no interest in revealing anything.”
Seo tightens her grip and pulls him closer.
“You’re lying! There must be a reason! Why do you keep killing people?!”
Her hands tremble, yet her grip remains firm, almost unyielding, as she clutches his robe.
“Aomi… I can’t accept that you’d do all this for nothing.”
He simply looks down at her, his face devoid of emotion.
Seo raises her tear-stained face toward him.
Her eyes are red, and tears slowly trickle down her cheeks.
“After all… you’re my little Ao.”
…
Aomi jolts awake.
His breathing is unsteady, and sweat trickles down his face.
He reaches up to touch his neck, feeling the dampness against his fingers.
A gentle breeze drifts through the open window, cooling his skin.
He lets out a long sigh, leans back, and wipes his face with his sleeve.
For a moment, he remains still, staring blankly ahead.
Wher is Seo?