But just as Borikance was about to sneak away with his tribesmen, a voice colder than death echoed in his heart, “Come here. Try running, and see what happens.”
Borikance froze immediately. He then stiffly turned his head to look into the distant darkness. The woman who could shame the most beautiful flowers into closing had vanished, but he was certain the voice had come from her.
At this moment, Borikance dared not flee. Hanging his head like a defeated rooster, he led his terrified tribesmen towards her. With every step, their hearts skipped a beat. They weren't going to meet a goddess, but rather the god of death.
Yes, that woman was Madame Avril. She had finally awakened from her slumber.
The moment she awoke, she knew about Li Xi’s situation. In fact, even while she was asleep, her mind had remained active, maintaining awareness of the outside world. She was just like a person in a vegetative state, unable to move or express herself.
Therefore, she was fully aware of everything Li Xi had done to her.
Now, looking at Li Xi, who had recovered his original appearance, Madame Avril’s lips curved into a meaningful smile. Despite countless unspoken words, only one remained: “Little liar.”
Sun Er Dai, standing beside them, gazed at the awakened Avril with pleading eyes. Though he didn't know how this woman could save his master, he was sure she had a way.
Avril looked into the distance and then said to Sun Er Dai, who looked as if he had lost his wife, “I will save your master. Some dwarves will be coming over soon. Keep an eye on them and don’t disturb us.”
“Roar!”
Sun Er Dai roared excitedly. His master wouldn't die! Being alive was better than anything. In his heart, his master’s life was more important than hunting dragons.
Avril picked up Li Xi and waved her sleeve. A small house rose from the ground, complete with doors and windows.
After the two entered the house, Avril waved her hand again. A barrier appeared outside the house, isolating it from the outside. No one could peep inside.
Leaving aside how Sun Er Dai would entertain the incoming dwarves, let’s focus on how Avril was treating Li Xi.
Madame Avril took a redwood bed from her spatial ring, along with silk bedding. After making the bed, she placed Li Xi onto it, where he sank in.
Avril, whose face had already returned to its normal appearance, was now as red as wine and as radiant as the sunset. Feeling Li Xi’s toes growing cold and his life ebbing away with less than an hour left, Avril chuckled, “You’ve got it easy.”
She reached out and untied Li Xi’s clothes, placing them together with her own. Although Li Xi was now as thin as a stick due to his depleted body, the contours of his once dragon-like physique were still present.
Madame Avril’s heart pounded faster than ten thousand horses galloping. But seeing Li Xi, who would die if not saved soon, and recalling that he hadn't abandoned her to escape alone even in the most dangerous moments, and had given her his most precious divine power crystal, she decided to repay him. Gritting her teeth, she sat down herself. Sultan Novel Network.
Li Xi knew nothing, of course. What could a dying person know? However, as he hovered between life and death, he felt a life force merging into his body, rapidly repairing the leaks, preventing any energy from disappearing into a bottomless pit.
The leaks in his body were quickly repaired, and this powerful life energy continued to restore his strength. His withered hair began to regain its dark luster, and his emaciated muscles re-inflated, regaining their strength. His body, which weighed less than seventy pounds, recovered to a hundred and fifty pounds. However, in the later stages of recovery, Li Xi seemed to faintly hear a woman's voice.
Li Xi, in a daze, thought he was hallucinating and paid it no mind. He just felt his body regaining strength, knowing he was saved.
Death was no longer Li Xi’s greatest worry. His consciousness began to awaken, and that warm, sun-like power continued to bake his body. This was the power of life, the power that the Creator God used to create the world.
With the thinking speed of an old ox pulling a broken cart, Li Xi pondered for a long time about what this feeling was. Finally, his human instincts made him understand. Listening to the panting sounds by his ear and feeling the physical sensations, Li Xi understood everything…
So this was Madame Avril’s special way of saving people. He wondered if he had gained from this or gained even more.
Li Xi instinctively wanted to open his eyes but immediately stopped himself. In such a situation, opening his eyes would be awkward for both of them. It was better to pretend to be asleep and not awake. What if Madame Avril only saved him and didn't care about his subsequent recovery?
Unfortunately, Li Xi’s wish was not granted. As Li Xi’s eyelids twitched, Madame Avril’s movements stopped. Although she tried to maintain a calm tone, a slight tremor could be heard,
“Your heartbeat has betrayed you. Do you think I’m deaf?”
Since the deed was done, and Li Xi hadn't suffered any loss, he opened his eyes with slight embarrassment, his gaze full of gratitude. “I won’t say any superfluous words. You’ll see my actions in the future.”
Madame Avril’s cheeks were so red they could make anyone dizzy, but she still tried her best to maintain her composure. “No need. I just saved you. You didn’t abandon me when I was in the most danger, so this is what you deserve. Besides, you gave me the divine crystal, which also helped me recover some memories.”
Li Xi felt uncomfortable with the insincere tone of Avril, her words full of a sense of condescension. Did someone like him, with a cheat like this, need her repayment? It sounded like charity.
“Hmph, I’ve saved you so many times. Do you think I’d care about this one repayment? From now on, you’ll listen to me. No matter who you are, as long as you’re behind me, I guarantee that you will always be the safest woman in the world before I fall.”
Avril looked into Li Xi’s sincere eyes, her face turning even redder. Slowly, she seemed to melt under Li Xi’s forceful, suffocating attitude, accepting Li Xi as the head of the family.
…
Li Xi was almost drained. He lay on the newly made bed next to Avril. The previous one had already been torn apart by the intense movements.
Holding a silk handkerchief stained with small red plum blossoms, Li Xi was still in a daze. He had always called Avril "Madame," a title for married women. What was going on now?
“For some reason, all my memories were sealed. Even the memories I thought were my own are false. Do you care about this very much?”
Li Xi shook his head, feeling that the world was absurd. What you see isn't necessarily true, nor is it necessarily false. Truth and falsehood seemed unclear to anyone. But wasn't it better this way now?
Putting away the silk handkerchief, Li Xi hugged Avril’s delicate body. “So, you’re a deity?”
Avril shook her head, her face showing a hint of sadness. “I’m probably not a deity. At best, I’m a second-generation descendant of a god, or maybe a third or fourth generation. In short, I’m a descendant of a deity. I have too few unsealed memories to determine my identity.”
“It’s okay. No matter who you are, you’ll be my wife from now on.” Li Xi said this with great magnanimity.
However, Avril’s next words made him panic. “If I’m your wife, then what about Sister Aisi? How will you handle the relationship between us? Is she the boss, or am I?”
Li Xi: “…”
“Speak! Were your words just now lies?”
“No.”
“Then what do you mean?”
Li Xi: “…”
Seeing Avril smiling like a fox, Li Xi jumped out of bed within two seconds and put on his clothes. “I feel like we should handle things outside. Er Dai and those dwarves have been waiting for us for several days.”
Watching Li Xi’s hasty retreat, Avril, wrapped in a sheet on the bed, said, “You’ll have to give me an explanation for this sooner or later.”
Li Xi pretended not to hear. Some promises, he would move heaven and earth to fulfill, but some promises, he truly couldn't bring himself to say, even if it meant death.
After more than three days, under Sun Er Dai’s anxious gaze, the door finally opened. His master emerged, looking refreshed, though slightly weak in the legs.
Sun Er Dai excitedly rushed forward and beat his chest with his fists, creating a resounding thud to express his joy at his master’s resurrection.
“Alright, you’ve worked hard these past few days. I’ll help you take off your armor so you can go back and get some rest.”
Having a loyal combat partner who stayed by your side until the last moment of your life was always a cause for great excitement, even more so than gaining another wife.
Just as Li Xi was about to remove Sun Er Dai’s armor, a group of stout dwarves, not even reaching 1.3 meters in height, approached with smiles. “Esteemed sir, the equipment on your combat partner is all rather shoddy. If you trust us, we can help you reforge this equipment. We guarantee its quality will be several times better than it is now.”
Li Xi had only heard Avril mention a group of dwarves outside with unknown intentions. At the time, he was too busy conquering Avril to care about any dwarves. Even if the God of Dwarves had appeared, Li Xi wouldn't have moved.
Seeing these dwarves now, Li Xi observed them with curiosity. This was his first time seeing this magical race.
They were a race that claimed to be born with hammers and to be blacksmiths. Each of them was a master craftsman. Ninety percent of the top-tier equipment on the continent was mainly crafted by dwarves, and every warrior was proud to own weapons forged by dwarves.
They were not tall, but their sturdy bodies made them quite strong. They didn’t interact much with other races, had straightforward personalities, loved drinking and mining. In the past, there had been dwarf kingdoms, but due to their preference for mining, blacksmithing, and drinking, no one pursued other professions. Combined with interference from other powers, it eventually led to the disappearance of the dwarf kingdoms.
Now, dwarves could be seen in every corner of the continent. Even in Cardo City, there were a few who were treated like ancestors. After all, in a small place like Cardo City, a dwarf of moderate skill could be considered the patriarch of all blacksmiths.
The previous soul, Miduo, once had a wish to apprentice with the dwarves. If he could catch their eye, his value would skyrocket, and he wouldn't have to remain a mediocre blacksmith his entire life. Unfortunately…
“You’ve been here for a few days. Is there something you need?” Due to Miduo’s past dream, Li Xi treated these dwarves with some kindness. If he had followed Avril’s cold tone from before, the dwarves would have ended up as dog food.
“Sir, we are here to beg for your help.”
It’s hard to imagine how unbelievable it is to see a group of stern-faced, stout dwarves crying before you. It would be as shocking as finding out that a group of soldiers who had been causing trouble in other countries were exposed for collective prostitution.