Chapter 517 - 515: He’s Too Bold

Chapter 517: Chapter 515: He’s Too Bold

But a chill seeped into his palm.

A flash of pain crossed Aeron’s eyes as he lowered his head, but he quickly concealed it. When he looked up again, his expression was once more cheerful.

He looked at Nerida and asked, "Wife... are you planning to leave Silvanis?" He couldn’t help but add in a whisper, "Can’t you stay?"

Hearing this, Nerida turned to look at him.

Nerida took his hand and said softly, "Aeron, I’m not from Silvanis. I was always going to leave, sooner or later. The Mistress and the others are waiting for me—they’re my family."

Aeron looked at her, then wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "This is your home too."

"I know." Nerida nodded. She took his arm and turned to face him squarely. Seeing the look on his face, she couldn’t help but ask, "What’s on your mind? Are you worried I’ll leave? Relax. I told you I’d be with you, which means you’re my Taoist Companion now. I’ll take you with me wherever I go. And didn’t I say I’d take you to meet the Mistress and the others?"

When he didn’t answer, Nerida watched him.

"Or... do you not want to come with me?"

’He’s a man from Amarantha; he’s probably used to life here. It’s understandable if he doesn’t want to venture into the outside world. If he truly doesn’t want to leave, I’ll respect his wishes. At worst, I can just travel back and forth between here and there. It’s not that big of a deal. The priority is to go back and see the Mistress and the others first.’ And of course, now that I have a Taoist Companion, I want to be the first to tell them.

Aeron quickly shook his head. "Of course not! You’re my wife and my Taoist Companion. Wherever you go, I’ll go! Wife, I want to follow you."

’Yes! Of course, I’m willing.’ I’m so happy that she wants to take me to meet her family.

’But leaving here with her... it’s not as simple as just wanting to.’

No one saw his hand tremble, but his face was all smiles as he said, "Nerida, don’t even think about leaving me behind. Wherever you go, I go."

"I know." She smiled and said, "Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you. It’s not like we can’t come back after we leave. Once I’ve seen the Mistress and the others, I’ll come back to Silvanis to formally propose to your parents."

’This matter needed to be properly concluded.’ He’s a man from Silvanis, so a formal proposal from me is a must. My Taoist Companion deserves no less than anyone else. There will be a grand wedding, with all the proper traditions.

She hooked a strand of his hair with her finger and whispered, "Aeron, after we see the Mistress and the others, we’ll get married. I’ll come to Silvanis to propose to your parents, and we’ll officially become Taoist Companions."

He said nothing, only nodded again and again.

"Aeron... I’m sorry for making you wait so long."

Before, finding a Taoist Companion had never been part of her plans. But now, after meeting him, it was.

Aeron smiled.

He saw how serious she was.

He felt a surge of joy.

Aeron shook his head slightly, pulling her into a tight embrace.

He lowered his head, resting it on her shoulder.

"I never blamed you."

"Wife, I like you so much."

Nerida blushed at his straightforward confession.

"Ahem... I know."

In the room, the two held each other, smiling.

Nerida rested a hand lightly on his back, a smile warming her eyes.

’I think I finally understand,’ she thought, ’why The Exalted One and the Mistress were always so inseparable.’ This feeling... it’s really quite nice.

After they had shared their feelings, Nerida couldn’t help but ask Aeron a question.

"By the way, Aeron, you said you can open the Array here in Silvanis to let us out? I surveyed the terrain and ley lines before and discovered that Silvanis is built upon a massive, ancient Array. It can’t be broken by force, otherwise the entire nation of Silvanis would be destroyed along with it."

That was the conclusion Nerida had reached after studying the Array. If it were forcibly broken, the entire region would be instantly annihilated. Not just the mountains and ley lines, but every person would be turned to ash in an instant.

This was why she was still here, despite having already found a way out.

Because that method was untenable, she had to find another way. She might be a Demon Cultivator, and hardly a saint, but she wasn’t depraved enough to commit such an atrocity.

Now, hearing her ask about this, Aeron hugged her and smiled.

"I know. Of course, I know."

"I’m sure you’ve discovered it by now—this place is a realm unto itself, an independent world cut off from the outside. This matter is tied to a secret of the Royal Clan, the Silvanis Clan. I don’t know the exact details, but according to the fragments recorded by our ancestors, the story goes something like this."

Nerida looked curious.

’Gossip,’ she thought. ’My favorite.’

Aeron glanced at her and told her what he knew.

"In the very beginning, the Silvanis Clan lived in seclusion among the mountains and rivers for generations, always a matriarchal tribe. Our people have lived here for eons. It’s said that the High Priest at the time, who was my ancestor from The Royal Clan, Iris Ashworth, went out into the world. There, she met a male cultivator, fell in love, and they became Taoist Companions. A year later, she returned. Her Spirit Root was depleted, her Cultivation was destroyed, her full head of black hair had turned white, and she had a child with her."

Aeron sighed as he spoke of it.

Hearing this, Nerida frowned. "Did she meet a heartless man? Or was she deceived?"

Aeron shook his head. "No. Ancestor Iris Ashworth and her partner encountered a powerful Evil Cultivator. Her Taoist Companion was killed tragically. She fought to the death to kill that Evil Cultivator and returned to her clan with their child. However, the Evil Cultivator had accomplices with immense Cultivation. To prevent her clan from suffering because of her, and for the sake of her newborn child, Ancestor Iris Ashworth, consumed by grief, used her own body as the eye of an Array. Aided by the Silvanis Clan’s Divine Artifact, she sealed this world off from the outside to protect her people. After this realm was formed, the nation of Silvanis was established. A thousand years have passed since that day."

"So that’s how it was." Nerida nodded. After listening to Aeron’s story, she murmured, "I never expected Silvanis to possess a Divine Artifact. That’s surprising. No wonder I felt this place was enveloped by such a powerful energy. That ancient, mysterious aura... it must be the Divine Artifact."

However... she looked at Aeron and couldn’t help but say, "And you just told me something so important, just like that?"

This man was completely unguarded with her. Nerida was pleased, but also worried. ’Aeron is far too trusting,’ she thought. ’He has no guard up at all. Someone could easily swindle him out of everything he owns. I’ll have to watch over him from now on. I can’t let anyone deceive him.’

Aeron simply looked at her and smiled gently.

"I wouldn’t have told anyone else. But you’re different, Nerida. I trust you."