"And," Quinlan added with a knowing smirk, cutting off her flustered question spree, "she’ll be able to watch over you... as you journey with me." He paused, letting the words land. "And with the rest of my wives."
Serika’s mouth fell open, eyes wide. "W-Wives?!"
"Serika Vael."
His voice shifted, no longer teasing but stern, manding. Instantly, the proud Fire Sovereign felt smaller, as if standing before a towering figure of absolute authority. She couldn’t help it; her eyes darted away with a faint shiver running down her spine and cheeks burning crimson.
"Y-yes?" she stammered, voice soft as a girl about to be scolded by her strict father.
"I’ve told you about them many times during our many months of training," he reminded her. "You even said you couldn’t wait to meet Ayame, my first teacher."
"No, I remember! It’s just-"
"You thought I was speaking utter nonsense," Quinlan finished smoothly. "That I didn’t truly have eight heavenly beauties waiting for me at home."
Serika looked utterly guilty, eyes darting left and right, anywhere as long as she didn’t have to gaze into his overly confident elemental eyes.
At that, Quinlan chuckled, releasing a rich, deep sound that rumbled in his chest. Then, with deliberate slowness, he reached up... and pinched both of her flushed cheeks between his fingers, tugging them gently apart.
"You’re ing with me," he said, voice warm and certain. "Got it?"
"Say it."
Serika flailed, cheeks squished, eyes wide and sparkling. ""Mnffghhh!!!" she tried to protest, but it came out as little more than a muffled squeak.
He grinned wider. "Good girl."
When he finally let her go, Serika snapped her head away in a huff, face bright red and heart pounding far too fast for her liking.
But even as she crossed her arms in front of their chests with a flustered glare, her trembling lips betrayed her.
She wanted to say no. She really did.
But his offer sounded far, far too wonderful to refuse.
"Mnnnn! Fine!" she finally squeaked, cheeks puffed. "I’m ing with you!"
Quinlan’s smile turned downright victorious.
"Good girl," he murmured.
And with no further warning, his palms shot out and clapped firmly against her lush, proud mounds, one mighty smack landing on each side through the thin, stretched fabric of her battle-worn attire. ȓ𝘼NỔBЕṥ
*SLAP!*
A shuddering ripple danced across her curves, clearly visible through the clingy fabric. It was an audacious, claiming motion that left no room for argument.
"!!" Serika yelped, the shock jolting through her system as her whole body arched in reflex. Her eyes flew wide open, cheeks exploding into molten red. "W-What are you doing?! You’re no longer a weakling, watch your strength-!"
But before she could even fully form her many reprimanding sentences regarding his rude actions, before her true indignation could escape her throat, his hands drew upward, one sliding behind her back to anchor her close.
Then, softly, tenderly, in stark contrast to his bold slap on her ass, his lips pressed to her forehead in a gentle, featherlight kiss. A silent apology. A soothing balm poured over the flames he’d just stoked.
She froze.
Her heart, which had been ready to burst into a full-blown tirade, instead melted in her chest. The heat that had gathered in her throat transformed into a breathless little gasp.
Eyes fluttering shut, lips parting ever so slightly, she could do nothing but tremble softly against him, momentarily silenced, her burning heart now helplessly warm and pliant.
Before she could regain her momentum to resume educating him further about the errors of his ways, Quinlan turned to the side, his voice rising, turning manding.
"Rongtai."
The Earth Sovereign had been standing a respectful distance away, head bowed, silently observing the exchange.
At the sound of his name—spoken with such weight—the monk opened his eyes at once and moved without hesitation. He dropped to one knee before Quinlan, fist pressed to the ground.
"Yes, my lord?"
Quinlan’s gaze burned with authority as he declared,
"You will rule Zhenwu in my absence."
The words struck the air like a royal decree, immutable.
"The four nations will unify under one banner: mine. You will guide them through the transition. You will prepare them for peace..."
"And for whatever es next."
Rongtai lowered his head even further. "As you mand."
But Quinlan wasn’t finished. His next words came cold as iron.
"If they rebel," he said softly—yet his voice seemed to echo across the broken battlefield, a grim whisper carried on the wind—"I will know."
His eyes narrowed.
"And I will e back."
Another pause came.
"Let the ruins of Naryssia," Quinlan continued, sweeping a hand toward the still-smoking wasteland all around them, "and the blackened, shattered lands around it stand as proof of what transpired here today. If any fool questions my authority, my power... if they doubt the rule I leave in your hands... take them here."
His smile curved upwards, sharp as a blade.
"If they still dare to plot, knowing full well it will summon me back..."
A faint shrug of his shoulders came next.
"Then I will return. I will not bargain. I will not parley. I will not utter a single word."
His eyes gleamed like twin stars of cold fire.
"I will erase their entire bloodline from this world."
The words hung in the air, chilling and absolute.
Rongtai didn’t so much as flinch.
"I will not fail you, my lord."
Quinlan nodded once in satisfaction. No further ceremony was needed. The matter was settled.
Still curled against his chest, Serika peeked down at him. "I’m starting to see why Feng keeps calling you an arrogant bastard..." she muttered under her breath. "I honestly don’t know how I missed it until now..."
"Grand Emperor has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it...?" Quinlan asked in response, not even acknowledging her words, perfectly aware of her growing pout.
And with that... a world’s fate was sealed.
And a new, far more dangerous journey was about to begin.
Next: The long-awaited return!
...
Author: This is the end of the Zhenwu Arc. If you’re still here, then there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed the arc, but the sad reality is that I most likely made a mistake by introducing it if the numbers are anything to go by. Well, it is what it is... I had a blast writing it, I learned a lot and improved my skills as an author, so I can’t plain too much.
Thank you for all the support, and hope to see you all in the next arc!
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