The world doesn't need succubi to save it.

Page 357

Compared to the tears shed in despair before, the tears now were filled with joy and excitement.

Moreover, compared to the despair she felt then, Shirin now feels a sense of grievance and bitterness, as well as the emotion of regaining what she had lost.

Thankfully you're alright.

Thankfully, I didn't lose you.

Xilin knew that Ning Feng had a secret, but unlike Ning Feng, she didn't know that he was likely to be alright; her information was limited.

For Xilin, the reality she saw was that Ning Feng was seriously injured and on the verge of death, with no hope of recovery.

That scene was the desperate reality she faced at the time.

Like a nightmare.

Now, finally, the dream has ended. Shirin sighs, realizing it was all a somewhat sad dream, and that she has lost nothing in reality.

Unable to hold on any longer, she gave up her strength and laid down her burdens completely in her lover's arms.

Warm liquid spilled from the corner of his eye, soaking Ning Feng's shirt, but he did not flinch.

He gently adjusted his posture, placing his arm lightly behind Shirin and pulling her into his embrace, stroking her back with his palm.

Again and again, his palm slid down the smooth indentation of her back, as gently as if soothing a wounded and crying child.

Even as the gentle touch on his palm and the fragrant aroma stimulating his instincts entered his nostrils, his actions were completely devoid of any wicked intent.

Ning Feng is a rational person.

In most cases, he was able to fight his instincts with reason and not become a slave to his desires.

Even with the troublesome bloodline of the succubus, Ning Feng was still able to demonstrate amazing self-control.

But often, this self-control is something that is deliberately cultivated.

To avoid falling into depravity, to avoid disappointing those who love him, and for the sake of his dignity... he has been constantly fighting against his desires.

But not at this moment.

He truly couldn't harbor any evil thoughts; not even the slightest one.

Faced with this scene and seeing his lover so worried about him, he felt only gratitude, heartache, and self-reproach at that moment.

Touched by her vulnerability, I realized how much I held in her heart and how important I was to her.

He blamed himself, because the person who made the woman who loved him so sad was none other than himself.

If she hadn't insisted on being stubborn, Shirin wouldn't have fallen into that almost berserk state, and wouldn't have fought the false god to the death.

All the misfortunes in this world are caused by the inadequacy of the individuals involved.

Ning Feng once thought this statement was a bit childish, but when he actually experienced that moment, he realized that there was some truth to it.

If Ning Feng had been powerful enough to eliminate the crazed Ascendant before Xilin arrived, then there wouldn't have been so many problems later.

Holding Xilin in his arms, Ning Feng's gaze as he looked up at the ceiling gradually turned serious, until his dark eyes became even more profound, flowing with a darkness as calamity as its depths.

Ning Feng is not the kind of person who constantly complains about the mistakes he has made and wallows in self-pity every day.

He will learn from his mistakes and solve the problem in a better way in the future, rather than dwelling on the failures of the past.

People should look forward. It's not wrong to reflect on mistakes, but it's wrong to dwell too much on past failures.

"We still need to continue to strengthen our own capabilities; we can't rely on others to survive our whole lives."

Having survived this life-or-death crisis, Ning Feng has undergone changes. His will has become more resolute, and his desire for power has become even stronger.

But when he looked down and saw the woman nestled against his chest, the darkness in his eyes vanished, and he returned to his gentle demeanor.

His sharpness and ambition are directed at outsiders, not at those close to him.

Ningfeng pressed his lips to Shirin's ear and whispered:

"I promise you, I won't put myself in that dangerous situation if possible."

"If I could, I would not put my life on the scales as a bargaining chip for victory."

"I assure you."

I will live on so as not to make you sad.

If I had the ability to do it...

They are the guardians; they chose to embark on this dangerous path themselves.

Often, they are not truly free and unconsciously disregard their own safety.

All Ning Feng could guarantee was that if possible, he wouldn't do that, and would think more about them.

But if one day it really comes to the point where he has no choice but to do it, Ning Feng himself cannot guarantee what choice he will make at that time.

Xilin understood Ning Feng's implied meaning, and although she wanted to say something, she simply hugged him tightly, finally turning all her words into a soft "hmm".

Perhaps, this is enough.

Xilin understood his concerns and knew that Ning Feng had already made his choice in order to make such a statement.

"Ah."

Ning Feng paused, his hand that was gently stroking Xilin's back, and then gently patted her back.

Accompanied by a soothing rhythm, he hummed an old ballad he had once heard from Shirin.

The music of the elves.

The poem uses subtle language to express the love, longing, and promises made to the lover.

The elf in the story swore to the ancient tree, to nature, and to the gods that he would fulfill his promise.

Ning Feng, however, made a promise only to Xilin.

As she listened to the music, Xilin's body, which had been trembling from sobbing, gradually calmed down and stopped trembling.

As the lullaby-like song calmed her down, Shirin felt her consciousness become hazy again.

……

After an unknown amount of time, Shirin's consciousness cleared up again, and this time she was fully awake.

"……Um?"

The feeling of dryness and depletion in my body disappeared, and there was no more discomfort. I felt completely restored to my peak condition.

This is?

I felt like I was in a warm embrace, lying on a soft, large bed.

What about Ning Feng?

Without much searching, just by turning her head, Shirin spotted her lover.

Lying side by side with Xilin, Ning Feng held her hand gently even as he fell asleep, never letting go.

Her expression softened, and Xilin had no urge to get up. She shifted her body slightly, moving closer to Ning Feng.

She gazed quietly at the man who had stolen her heart, a man shrouded in mystery.

Actually, he was very tired.

When they used to sleep together in each other's arms, Shirin would sometimes wake up before him, and what she liked most at those times was watching him as he slept soundly.

Ning Feng, fast asleep, no longer bothered to hide himself, revealing the self he had concealed during the day.

After falling asleep, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he was bearing some kind of pain and pressure in his dreams, which he was unable to let go of.

At times like these, what Shirin would do was pull him into her arms and gently smooth the wrinkles between his brows.

This time, it is no exception.

She gently embraced Ning Feng, then lowered her head and kissed his forehead.

Seeing his brows unconsciously relax, Shirley's mood improved, and she suddenly murmured with emotion:

"I am not a very smart woman, and I am also very insecure."

It sounded like talking to oneself, or perhaps speaking to someone in their sleep.

“From the very beginning, from when I was a child, I have been clear about this in my own mind.”

"After I discovered that I was different from others, I became afraid of other people's gaze and didn't like them looking at my ears."

Because she was afraid of being watched by others, Shirin chose to shrink away and hide herself.

It was during this process that she gradually came to like this sense of security, and went from passively hiding to actively staying at home.

“I have always been afraid of contact with others, I don’t like to have in-depth conversations with them, I’m afraid of separation, and I worry about facing a lonely future.”

"But for you... I don't care about those things."

I don't mind if my safe space is invaded; I want to fall in love with you and never be separated from you.

and so……

Taking a deep breath, Shirin mustered her resolve and courage, and whispered:

"Ning Feng..."

The gentle yet firm voice made Ning Feng, who was already awake, unable to continue pretending to be asleep, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Looking into Ning Feng's eyes, Xilin's last worry vanished, and she smiled as she spoke:

"I'm going to put another shackle on you."

A rope that can pull you back in a crisis, an anchor point that prevents you from choosing to sacrifice your path.

"And this shackle is myself."

She lifted Ning Feng's cheeks with both hands and gently pressed her lips to his forehead once more, whispering in an almost inaudible voice:

"I give you everything I have."