Chapter 1970: I Missed You So So Much
At this very moment, on Blue Star, in the land of Hua Xia, it was deep into the night!
High in the sky, the blue moon hung bright. To the west, the emerald-green ten-thousand-meter vine stretched its branches. The towering ten-thousand-meter giant tree in Dao One City stood lush and verdant, the tree kingdom brimming with vitality!
Under the lively moonlight, no more beastly roars echoed. Instead, the croaking of frogs and chirping of cicadas filled the air!
Beneath the night sky, specks of spiritual light drifted, as beautiful as fireflies!
In truth, they weren't fireflies at all—they were spiritual radiance produced by an extreme concentration of spiritual energy!
Throughout every province of Hua Xia, towering inscribed pillars stood tall, known as the Endless Towers!
Each Endless Tower had its own name. Around them, new cities were being built, bustling even under the cover of night!
Children could be seen playing under the streetlights in parks along the roads.
The ancient Great Wall, a barrier spanning the sky, still emitted a faint cyan glow—magnificent and grand!
The former capital, once ravaged as a battlefield, had undergone earth-shaking changes!
A brand-new capital city had risen from the ground, even tearing down the high walls that once defended against beast tides!
Above the capital city, a Beacon Star Palace hovered!
And a massive warp-speed starship, brightly lit under the moonlight!
Now, the Beacon Star Palace served as the conference center for high-ranking officials of all nations!
Inside the warp-speed starship, in Xia Yao's room, the lights were dim, and soft music played.
The huge bathtub was filled with bubbles and flower petals!
Xia Yao soaked in the tub, hugging Senbon Nan from behind, rubbing against her hair with a sly grin!
(˵ಡںಡ) "Been tired all day, just relax in the water for a bit, alright? It's been a while since we soaked—has anything grown? Come on? Let me check?"
With that, she started to make a move. Senbon Nan's face turned red enough to bleed, and she desperately held Xia Yao's hands back!
(⑉≥﹏≤⑉) "No no no—can't do that! No checking allowed!"
Xia Yao blew a soft breath by Senbon Nan's ear and giggled.
(◦❛ั₃❛ั) *whoosh* "You're in my room now, think you can run? No way~ Since we're bathing, why are you still wearing the Source Armor? Soaking like that won't work. You need to be like me!"
Senbon Nan couldn't handle this at all, covering her face and said:
(ﾉ)﹏(ヾ) "I can't! I'm a fake. You should just bathe with Boss Nan instead!"
Xia Yao shrugged:
╮(•́.̫•̀)╭ "Clearly, Xiao Nan doesn't have that kind of luck! Shh~ Even if it's fake, we have to make it real!"
Under Xia Yao's forceful offensive, Senbon Sakura gradually let down her defenses, her voice as faint as a mosquito:
(๑◔﹏◔ิ๑) "We can't do this, right? I'm a girl, I..."
Xia Yao grinned mischievously:
ԅ(ᵒ̴̶̷﹃ᵒ̴̶̷ԅ) "If love lasts long, what does it matter if we're male or female?"
Senbon Sakura: ???
(๑◔～◔ิ) "B-but... you already have Sister Snow!"
Xia Yao put her hands on her hips, utterly self-righteous:
(︶～︶⑉) "I just want a little more happiness. What's wrong with that?"
Senbon Sakura's face steamed red:
(//≥//﹏//≤//) "Th-then fine—just this once, okay!"
As she spoke, she slowly deactivated the Source Armor's mimicry.
Xia Yao excitedly rubbed her hands together. Xiao Nan's appearance, Sakura-chan's real body? Two pleasures in one?
Was there anything better than that?
(ʃƪ˘³˘) *muah muah muah*
Just as Xia Yao was brimming with anticipation, the room door suddenly swung open!
A humanoid flame rushed in, carrying Sentinel Ai-chan on its shoulder like the wind!
(‧̣̥̇⁰̷̴口⁰̷̴) "Yao Yao? Xiao..."
Before she could finish, Zhong Yingxue's mouth twitched, and she scolded:
(◦`~´◦) "Yao Yao! You're up to your tricks again. Don't bully Sakura-chan!"
Senbon Sakura quickly scrambled behind Zhong Yingxue to hide, the blush still lingering on her face!
(｡･ˇ～ˇ･)◔﹏◔ิ⑉)
Xia Yao chuckled, opening her arms wide:
(୧୨ὅ◡ὅ) "Snow? Perfect timing! Want to join me for a bath? I'll scrub your back!"
Zhong Yingxue rolled her eyes: "Dream on—hurry and get dressed. Xiao Nan sent a message!"
At that, Xia Yao's wolf ears perked up instantly. She pounced out of the tub like a wolf, changing clothes mid-air!
Her pretty face flushed with excitement:
ᕕ(•̀ヮ•́)୨ "I'll call everyone over right now!"
In no time, Wu Liang, Mila, Lan, and the others came running. Jiang Ning and Jiang Jing also emerged from the void!
The room instantly became lively. Mila clenched her little fists in excitement:
(งᵒ̌◡ᵒ̌)ง "Ai-chan, Ai-chan! Play the video quickly. Mila wants to see Brother Jiangnan!"
Everyone looked at Sentinel Ai-chan expectantly!
Ai-chan smiled: "Coming right up!"
The mechanical eye projected, transmitting Jiangnan's silhouette and the background of his room!
Lan tilted her head: (•︠～•︡) "Ai-chan! Are you sure it's playing? Why is it so dark? Where's Brother Jiangnan?"
Wu Liang's mouth twitched:
(⌒㉨⌒;) "That floating set of white teeth looks really familiar..."
Jiangnan's forehead dripped with sweat:
(●'﹏'●) "Is... is there a possibility that I'm just this dark?"
The white teeth suddenly spoke, scaring everyone into a shiver. Zhong Yingxue couldn't help laughing. Had Xiao Nan eaten black garlic again?
Xia Yao didn't care about the darkness at all. Just seeing him was enough to satisfy her!
(งᵒ̴̶̷ヮᵒ̴̶̷)ง "Xiao Nan, Xiao Nan? Did you mis—"
Before Xia Yao could finish, Jiangnan's expression turned serious:
(•̀◡•́◕) "I did! So much!"
Xia Yao was momentarily stunned, then her pretty face rarely flushed. She turned away proudly:
(◔ε◔ิ⑉) "Mi-missed me, huh? Then hurry up and come back! I—I don't miss you at all, I'm telling you!"
"Anyway, there's still a substitute Xiao Nan at home to use!"
With that, she pulled Senbon Nan into a tight hug, rubbing her face against her cheek, and secretly gave Jiangnan an OK sign, winking repeatedly!
She meant she had it handled. Senbon Sakura looked shyly embarrassed!
Jiangnan's mouth twitched. Giao! Had Big Wolfie already managed to win over La Tuo Sakura or something while he was away?
It made Jiangnan's heart itch—he wanted to rush home right that instant!
Mila hopped out, looking expectant:
(งᵒ̌ꇴᵒ̌)ง "And did you miss Mila too?"
Jiangnan's expression softened as he looked at the projections of everyone. His once-empty heart suddenly felt full!
"I did! Every single one of you!"
He instinctively reached out to pat Mila on the head, but his hand passed through empty air. Jiangnan's hand froze mid-motion, a shadow passing over his eyes!
Zhong Yingxue's heart ached. She smiled gently:
(∗❛ั◡❛ั) "When you come back—pat her then. Xiao Nan, you owe Mila a head-pat now, okay?"
Jiangnan grinned: "Yeah! Wait till I come home!"
Snow was still Snow—she always knew what he was thinking.
And of course, Zhong Yingxue understood. Going so far away all alone, to a place unfamiliar, with no one to rely on, having to handle everything himself!
Hiding his identity, forging a path for humanity, surrounded by the strong, one wrong step and everything would be lost. With such a heavy burden on his shoulders, how could he not miss home?
"Xiao Nan, how is it over there? Are you doing okay? Is Thousand Stars City big? What's it like?"
Jiangnan smiled: "It's fine. Everything's going smoothly here. Small stuff—I can handle it."
"Thousand Stars City... hmm—how do I put it? It's huge. Can't explain it in a few words. You'll know when you come over later!"
Senbon Sakura teased:
(˵ಡ▿ಡ˵) "The flashy world out there must be amazing, right? Are the girls of the Ten Thousand Races pretty? Did you do anything naughty behind everyone's backs?"
At that, Zhong Yingxue and Xia Yao pretended not to care, but their hearts tightened!
Jiangnan instantly thought of that top-tier card from the Enchanting Flower Street. He slapped his thigh in regret!
"Flashy world blinds the eyes, but it's not worth the risk."
"Tsk—you have no idea what temptations I turned down, what I missed out on!"
"I'll need a good compensation when I get home! Oh right, Big Wolfie! You still owe me that farewell kiss, remember to pay it back later!"
Xia Yao beamed even brighter:
(｡￫◡￩｡) "You remember that clearly, huh? I'll pay it back with interest when you return!"
"Do I look like someone who reneges on debts?"
Wu Liang: (´-﹏-`;)
Just get married already, you two! Stop showing off, dammit!
But the mention of debts made Jiangnan grind his teeth in hatred!
(ꐦ°᷄益°᷅) "That damned La Tuo Sakura! Ptooey!"
Senbon Sakura: ???
The topic shifted that fast?
Jiangnan's expression turned serious: "How's home? What happened while I was gone? How's Grandpa Xiao? Are Uncle Zhu and the others doing well?"
Zhong Yingxue smiled: "A lot has changed. You might not even recognize it when you come back. Grandpa Zhu and the others are in good health!"
"Grandpa Xiao... hasn't been in the Milky Way recently. He went with Odin to the Andromeda Galaxy to look for a star. Not sure what he's planning!"
"Earlier, he went to the Sun's core, then came back and set off with Odin. They haven't returned yet!"
Jiangnan nearly choked on his own blood!
What? Grandpa Xiao was now taking walks all the way to the Sun's core?
Had the old man cooked up something new again? And he even dragged Little Brother along?
"By the way, Xiao Nan—what about your level? I remember you broke through to Dao Heaven rank before, right?"
The moment she asked, Wu Liang, Xiong Er, Xia Yao, and the others all tensed up!
Jiangnan cleared his throat:
(‧̣̥̇͡°ก°) "Ah, you know—just broke through to Dao Heaven. I can barely raise my star level at all. By the time I get back, you guys will probably have surpassed me!"
"Sigh—what a worry!"
Ai-chan rolled her eyes. Bullshit! Who just broke through to Dao Heaven Five?
Wasn't he just like that exam-taker who walks out saying he messed up a ton of questions and will definitely rank last, then gets full marks when the results come out? The exact same kind of try-hard!
Xia Yao and the others relaxed a bit when they heard that. At least it wasn't too ridiculous!
(乛◡乛⑉) "Oh, really? That's such a worry. But don't be too concerned—we haven't even broken through to Dao Heaven yet!"
"This Dao heaven bottleneck is way too tough! Probably still need a while, right? Isn't that right, Snow?"
Zhong Yingxue's mouth twitched: "Yeah... more or less!"
Wu Liang scratched his head: ୧(๑•̌㉨•̑)ˀ̣ˀ̣ "You guys..."
Before he could finish, Xiong Er knocked him down and covered his mouth, glaring threateningly!
Shh! Do you want Bro Nan to go all out again?
Senbon Sakura watched Xia Yao and Zhong Yingxue, who were holding back mischief, and her eyelids twitched!
If I actually believed you, I'd be a fool!
Was this how competitive they all were?