Xianxia Online

"… And that's about the gist of it."

As Xuan finished his recap of everything that had happened to him, including the existence of Earth, players, and the System, Huo Fei was left in a surprisingly stable state. She was surprised, sure, but at least she didn't burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, so that was good. Rather, she seemed quite calm about it, and wholeheartedly believed every word her husband had to say.

As an aside, the meal, which Xuan savored while telling the story, tasted just as great as one would expect from an Immortal Fairy. Every bite felt like a burst of flavor, and caused warm Qi to course through Xuan's veins… but that was it. Unfortunately, all the dishes served in this feast were only really beneficial to cultivators in the Transcendent Realm or higher, which meant Xuan was about twenty stages too low to actually absorb anything.

"So… let me get this straight," Huo Fei interrupted. "You're actually from another world where time flows way faster, and since that world was dying, the people of that world decided to migrate everyone here? And to keep things fair for everyone, they had to reset your 'game progression'—resulting in your cultivation being reset as well?"

Xuan nodded. "Sounds about accurate."

"Hm… you know, if it was anyone else telling me this, I'd think they're in need of psychological therapy," Huo Fei said with a sigh. "But if it's you, for some reason, I feel like I can believe all this, as ridiculous as it sounds."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"As you should. But to think this was the source of those 'announcements' I heard—and saw—in the sky… that must've been difficult to endure, for someone who tries to remain as anonymous as possible."

Huo Fei let out a soft giggle, to which Xuan could only sigh.

"Not to mention they added a whole bounty system too… once word of the System reaches everyone's ears and not just past players, anyone I meet will come for my head."

"Well, at least you're no stranger to having enemies."

"Sure, but this is the first time I'm taking on the entire goddamn world…" Xuan muttered, looking away as Huo Fei circled around behind him to massage his shoulders.

"It'll be fine, it'll be fine. I am curious about one thing, though."

"Hm?"

"You said those 'announcements' appear whenever a player becomes the first to accomplish something, right?"

Xuan nodded. "Mhm. What about it?"

"Then… why hasn't one appeared yet, now? After all, you just obtained the Divine-Grade Sealed World Pearl, did you not?"

'That's a good point… I've been thinking about it too, but…'

"Beats me," Xuan said, shrugging. "With any luck, it won't appear at all and add even more to the bounty on my head—which is already quite large enough."

"Mm, whatever~" Huo Fei paused her massaging briefly, before continuing a second later. "Let the past stay in the past. What matters is that you're here now, and I can have you all to myself, heheh."

"Actually… about that."

Huo Fei paused. "… Hm?"

"I won't be staying here for that long," Xuan replied, somewhat hesitantly. "In a few days, the Flaming Sands Field is opening in the southern regions of Lower Asphodel. I have to participate."

At this, Huo Fei's eyes began tearing up.

"E-Eh? Why? Were the artifacts I gave you not good enough? Wait, I have more- just let me go get th-"

She attempted to hurriedly run away to retrieve the items from the Tower of Flames' treasury, but Xuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her close into a tight embrace.

"Listen… it's not about the artifacts, or the rewards. I mean, yes, those are quite nice bonuses, but the main reason I'm going there… is to sever a tie I have with someone, once and for all."

The meaning of his words was clear. But if even Xuan was unable to cleanly sever this connection in the past, then there was only one possibility.

"Is it… a player?"

Xuan nodded grimly. "Yes. Do you remember the Crimson Wrath Fruits I gave you when you were trying to comprehend the final level of the Law of Fire? How I told you they were 'borrowed' from someone?"

Huo Fei's eyes widened. "That 'someone' was this player?"

"Right. When we came across the fruits in Hellmouth, one of the deepest parts of Tartarus, I took half, since neither of the other two present could beat me. They then had a duel for the other half, and as you can probably imagine, this 'player' was not the one who won."

"… Ah. So, he is now trying to enact revenge, because it was 100% your fault that he lost."

Xuan sighed. "The most fearsome people in the world are not the strong. It's the delusional."

"Well, never mind that. I'm sure you can handle him," Huo Fei said with a confident smirk. "That aside, how's my cooking?"

Xuan smiled. "Just as delicious as I remembered it to be. Too bad I can't absorb any of its benefits, since my current cultivation is too low."

"That can't be helped. Who would've thought you'd show up with a real cultivation of Core Formation stage?" Huo Fei said with a teasing grin, before putting a spoonful of her own cherry cheesecake in her mouth and chewing. "Hrm… but you call this delicious? Really? Your standards are quite low."

At this, Xuan couldn't help but laugh. "Are you kidding, Huo Fei? If my standards are low, then so is everyone else's. Why do you think so many people come to the Tower of Flames?" He sighed. "You are too harsh on yourself, Huo Fei. I don't think I've ever seen you say something tastes 'good'."

But Huo Fei's immediate reply took him by surprise.

"Oho… that's a lie."

He blinked. "Is that so?"

"Yep. There is one 'thing' that I've said tastes delicious… and quite a lot at that."

Seductively, she moved closer to Xuan, gently tracing her fingers down his chest and leaning close to his ear.

"… You know what I'm referring to, don't you?"

She was so close that Xuan could feel her body's faint aroma—it smelled just like all the delicious dishes she made, and it was as familiar as ever. Her loose yakuta robe revealed her generous cleavage, and when paired with the feeling of hot breath by his ear, Xuan found a certain part of his body stiffening as a natural response to stimulation.

"Huo Fei… you've grown quite naughty in the time I was away, it seems."

Huo Fei licked her lips in response, cheeks flushed and eyes filled with a gleam of lust.

"Well… you did say you wanted all three, didn't you? Husband~"