Tears rolled down on the corner of her eyes as she fell asleep, a gentle hand wiping her tears with his long finger. Zhao Li Xin watched Lory's sleeping face from the bedside with grim eyes, his heart ached whenever she saw her silently cry like this. It's funny that a few years ago he thought he was incapable to feel a human feeling, but now he was overwhelmed with different feelings every day, and it's all because of her.

"Is she having a nightmare?" Huo Long peak from the opposite side of the bed.

​​

"No, it wasn't, she has a beautiful dream…" Zhao Li Xin said with a mirthless smile "She used to say, what hurt her wasn't a nightmare but a sweet dream instead, because that beautiful moment would disappear when she woke up"

"Poor little girl…" Huo Long sighed.

"She does even though she never thought that way, many people used to say that people who had everything is the one who loses the most…. and she had lost so many things" Zhao Li Xin held her small hand with both hands as he looked at her sleeping face "I know there's a void inside her heart that I cannot fill no matter how hard I try, sometimes I wondered if she ever truly happy with me?"

"She's happy, just because she can't let go of her past doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate the time she spent with you, I don't think you should be so hard on yourself…" Girsha who was nestled on the pillow next to Lory strangely comfort him.

"I hope you were right…." Zhao Li Xin appreciated Girsha's thoughtfulness, he could see that the bird was not used to this.

Girsha cleared his throat awkwardly before he spoke "Lory will be fine, she always does, rather than waiting for her to wake up I have other pressing matter to do …."

"Is there anything I should do?" Zhao Li Xin looked wary.

"Nope, this is on me! you also got a lot of things to do, since you already pushed the demon to the corner, soon or later they would come to retaliated so I advise you to prepare" Girsha gave him a blunt warning.

"Lao Min Na and Lazarus?" Zhao Li Xin confirms it.

"You wouldn't think they would just accept your attack without putting up a fight, would you?" Girsha cynically said.

"Of course not….that would be very disappointing!" he snarls.

"Great! Let me out of here and send a message to your subordinated at the spirit stone mine, tell them that a big bird would visit their place so please don't make a fuss…human always make a fuss whenever I appear" Girsha grumbled in annoyance.

"..."

Zhao Li Xin grinned, he waved his hand slightly and Girsha figure disappeared. Huo Long leaned his back against the window frame while enjoying the breeze blowing his red hair "The great ancestor is right, don't forget there still Sanguan family around once they know who you really are they will use all their power to attacked you"

Zhao Li Xin ignored Huo Long question, his expression was soft and tender as he watched Lory's face, Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly before he kissed her hand gently and place her hand under the blanket after he fixed her blanket and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Zhao Li Xin straightened his back, he took his gaze away from Lory, and instantly the chill in his eyes returned "They can bring their army, weapon, experts, divined power, it still didn't matter for me, because in the end, they'll all end up the same…..they all bleed" the blood lust in his eyes was too apparent if Huo long was human he would have to fall on his knee because of fear right now.

Out of nowhere suddenly a red petal flower came from the window and fall on Lory's cheek, his eyes unconsciously drawn to her face again and the blood lust in his eyes subside tremendously, Zhao Li Xin bends his waist and kissed her forehead then he says to Huo Long "Take care of her…"

The sudden change demeanor on Zhao Li Xin's face made Huo Long speechless, sometimes he wanted to check if there a switch on the back of his head, how could he change his expression quicker than flipping the page.

"I know…" Huo Long rolled his eyes, what the sleeping girl could do anyway, the worst thing that could happen to her is falling from the bed?! But Huo long rather swallowed his complaint than bicker with the petty boy.

Zhao Li Xin looked at his beloved princess one more time before he left. Huo Long watch Zhao Li Xin disappeared then he shook his head, who knows his apathetic and savage boy he used to know become a dotting husband, the future is really unpredictable.

Huo Long took a small wooden stool then he sat up and propped his chin on the side of the bed. He watches her for a while then flicked his finger in front of her face "Waky – waky little princess, how long you wanted to sleep don't you know how lonely that boy looks like?" Huo long didn't get any reaction from the sleeping princess so he let out a long sigh "It's amazing how much he's in love with you, it's even more amazing you loved him back…..honestly, I'm glad, the truth is we all glad…"

Huo Long leaned his head on his fist and he smiled "you know I….I don't want to see you hurt but I'm afraid you will have to, just a little bit more my dear princess...isn't that right….Arthea" Huo long raised his head and woman with gray eyes and long silver hair standing in front of the window as the light hit her back.

"Just a little bit more and everything will end…" she said with a bittersweet expression.

"That demon is getting stronger every day, his root has deeply planted and tainted the land with his darkness, this time no one can't stop him anymore except them, but if they failed, not only this world we also put the other worlds in the universe in danger" Huo Long expression become black as charcoal there's no longer playfulness left on his face only fear.

Arthea didn't answer right away, she looked at the red cloud with a tranquil expression then she turns her gaze back to Huo Long "We all know this is a risky game, we gamble with fate and place our bet on them, we know what the stake still we hope for a miracle, to win this game we have a role to play so I did mine but how about you, Azure Dragon.....there still one more move you have to take?"

"You don't have to remind me, Seeress, I know what I have to do and I've been waiting for this day!" Huo Long said without the slightest hesitation in his words.

Arthea tilted her head and smile "Even though she might hate you because of this" she shifted her gaze to the sleeping woman on the bed.

Huo Long tighten his fist "Everything has it cost"

____________________________

When Zhao Li Xin emerges from the mystique realm he was sitting in the lotus position on his bed. He slowly opened his eyes and the warmth that filled his eyes before wash away, the coldness return to his eyes like a cold blizzard in winter. He raised from his bed and flick his sleeves as he strides toward the door, Mong Yi and Mong Ki hear their Lord's footstep they simultaneously open the door.

"They have arrived milord" Mong Ki reported.

Zhao Li Xin's back straight like a pole and his hand clasped behind his back, he looks domineering and noble just like ancient times in their golden time. He strides of the room with Mong Ki and Mong Yi followed him with a matching pace.

The manor without the madam's presence feels cold and tensed just like walking on thin ice, everyone was wary all the time, they didn't dare speak too loud or breathing too hard. Zhao Li Xin's menacing aura was enough to tense up the whole manor. they arrived at the main building and the servants bowed their waist in ninety-degree no one dare to raised their heads when Zhao Li Xin passed them.

The door open widely as Zhao Li Xin and the Mong brother enter the room, the four king palace immediately stand up from their chairs to saluted Zhao Li Xin's arrival "Greeting milord!" they cupped their fist and bowed their head simultaneously.

Zhao Li Xin takes a seat on his respective chair, he glances a second to the empty chair next to him where Lory supposed to be. His eyes instantly dimmed but his expression remains the same. Only after Zhao Li Xin has a seat the four king palace dare to straighten their back and lift their head, they could feel his bad mood and that's not good for them.

Zhao Li Xin rests his arms on the arms rest then he make a slight movement with his hand and commands them "Speak!"