"I... I texted Josephine," William admitted, his voice faltering under the weight of his mother's intense stare.
Seraphina's frown deepened, her earlier words forgotten as she snatched his phone to check the ssages.
"It's over..."
Her face drained of color as she read the texts. William had not only spilled details about Wang Xiao but had also falsely claid she was pregnant.
Buzz...
'Damnit!' Seraphina's thoughts were interrupted by her phone vibrating with a new ssage, her expression darkening further.
William, still in the dark about the full extent of the situation, watched his mother's reaction with growing dread.
It was only later, when Seraphina reluctantly disclosed that Wang Xiao was the Eighth Prince, that truly hit him.
Suddenly, he understood why his mother had been so different around Wang Xiao, but that understanding didn't bring approval.
While he internally disapproved of their relationship, he knew better than to express his concerns openly, especially now that he realized the danger of crossing Wang Xiao.
In the age that blanketed the world, the lines between Guardians and Gods had blurred into indistinguishability.
Yet, beneath this surface of supposed divine equilibrium, a faction of powerful dissenters stirred the waters of discontent.
This faction, consisting of entities like the Holy Church and remnants of the once-mighty Ancient Sun Dynasty, championed alternative powers.
They represented a counter-narrative to the prevailing dominance of the Guardians, positioning themselves as bastions of a different kind of strength.
The news of the Eight Prince, Wang Xiao, committing a mass slaughter, however, set the world's stage with a infamous spotlight.
The Church twisted this narrative effectively, painting him as a devil incarnate.
Rather than deterring his influence, this portrayal backfired.
Archangel Michael, seizing the moral high ground, publicly announced an arrest order for the Eight Prince, branding him a sinner and placing a bounty on his head.
Yet, this dramatic decree was t with skepticism by the populace.
The people, having witnessed the unmatched powers of the Eight Prince, perceived the Church's actions as desperate attempts to remain relevant.
They questioned the reality of the charges, pondering a provocative thought: Have a God ever been tried by mortals?
While Wang Xiao's reputation suffered under these damning accusations, the other Guardians seized the mont to bolster their own standing.
Across the globe, they engaged in heroic battles against outbreaks of mutated beasts, enhancing their reputation as protectors of humanity.
So even stepped into the lilight, revealing their identities to the public and becoming celebrity figures overnight.
______
Chop-chop-chop!
As dawn's dazzling sunlight bathed the landscape, an advanced military-grade helicopter tore through the air.
Unlike any traditional helicopter, its wings resembled those of a butterfly.
Tucked neatly at the rear was a compact module featuring four agile tail rotors, spinning in perfect synchrony.
This marvel of engineering boasted capabilities such as super cruising and immunity to conventional armants like bullets and missiles.
In a world where technology advanced at a breathtaking pace, this aircraft stood as an evidence to the fusion of traditional fuel-driven chanisms and the innovative aether-based technology.
Aether itself, once refined into shimring crystals through a ticulous process, transford into highly coveted 'Aether crystals'.
Despite their steep price, their unmatched efficiency made them a preferred choice among the affluent.
Those with extensive networks clamored for access to this revolutionary technology.
Although production initially lagged due to a labor shortage following the great reset, the rapid establishnt of autonomous manufacturing units soon filled the gap.
This shift minimized the need for human labor in mundane tasks, freeing people to engage in more significant endeavors.
Normally, such technological shifts sparked protests over job losses, but the current economy had rebounded to twice its previous peak.
With soaring per capita inco, the world's priorities had evolved dramatically.
Increasing numbers of individuals yearned to tap into this mystical energy of heaven and heart, drawn by its mysterious nature.
Warriors rose from every corner of the globe, those who had mastered the use of Aether.
As tensions flared between these empowered beings and ordinary mortals, governnts found themselves at a loss.
Amidst this chaos, Wang Xiao chose a life of seclusion, well aware that his previous actions had stirred the turbulent world outside his haven.
As they flew toward the Volcanic Island—the sa one where Ericka, Seraphina, and Wang Xiao had once trekked, the very place where he first t Aurora and was pinched to death by Asmodeus—Wang Xiao couldn't help but sport a wry smile.
Reflecting on those tis, he realized how much had changed; now, beings like Asmodeus didn't even register in his eyes.
"That's strange..."
Inside the cabin, Seraphina, clad in a tiger fur coat, radiated beauty despite the small frown creasing her forehead.
Sitting across from her, Wang Xiao appeared indifferent to the chilly environnt, not bothering with clothing suited for the cold.
Seraphina didn't think the cold would affect him; after all, his resilience was legendary.
Next to Wang Xiao sat Wenxi, slightly apart, imrsed in her headphones, exploring the new technology of modern mobile phones.
She too was dressed lightly, her sleeves rolled back to reveal skin as white and delicate as fresh snow, eliciting a hint of pity in Seraphina.
Yet, she knew that despite Wenxi's fragile appearance, she should be safe.
Her gaze then drifted to the another creature curled up peacefully on Wang Xiao's lap, covered with a soft silk cloth—it was Yue.
Seraphina's expression turned peculiar as she glanced between Wang Xiao and Yue.
"What's strange?" Wang Xiao's eyes blinked open.
Seraphina hesitated. "I thought you two... Had so distance," she remarked, treading lightly around the subject.
'It's a taboo,' she reminded herself quickly. Whenever his daughters were ntioned, Wang Xiao might seem composed, but Seraphina felt a chill run down her spine as if broaching a forbidden topic could lead to dire consequences.
"You an her?" Wang Xiao expressed surprise, glancing down at the serene, purring face of Yue as she slept beautifully in his lap.
In fact, it was the nightmares and anger that had kept her from sleeping, not the first ti they had seen Wang Xiao engage in slaughter, but the first ti they witnessed live reporting.
Millions had blad the 'Eight Prince,' and the news channels had broadcasted the grim aftermath of Sun Dynasty tragedy.
Such profound public condemnation had deeply unsettled the little soul, and since Wang Xiao had spent the previous night with Seraphina, Yue hadn't slept well.
Wenxi, on the other hand, didn't seem to care as much.
Wang Xiao had pieced it all together himself, quite familiar with the workings of each of his daughters' minds.
'Hm? Are they talking about ?' Noticing the sudden silence, Wenxi sneakily slid off her headphones and paused the movie playing on her phone to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Wang Xiao glanced at Seraphina and then at the sleeping Yue in his arms, before reaching out to gently caress her face, as fine as jade and lustrous white.
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