**Chapter Sixty: Aftermath**
The sorrows and joys of people do not connect.
This father and daughter embraced and wept at a distance not far from the army.
Meanwhile, Ji Ma’s blood-red rifle trembled as she stomped her feet.
Though Ji Ma could not empathize,
She did not know how great the happiness was for Yifei Frostleaf to realize that her father loved her,
That all previous misunderstandings were just that.
But she knew it was best not to disturb others in such situations.
Especially when she couldn’t fight the enemy.
After their embrace, they whispered to each other for a while before finally letting go.
All misunderstandings were resolved, and the barriers between them had been cleared.
Yifei Frostleaf didn’t realize that it was her own uncle who had betrayed her; she knew her uncle’s bond with her father was unbreakable.
Thus, at first, she thought her uncle had handed her over to the vampire as a sacrifice with her parents’ consent.
“Don’t go draw your sword,” Yifei Frostleaf said. “Everything will be okay.”
The Osuan Guardian looked at his daughter, feeling that the whole day had been terrible, or rather, ever since his younger brother had rebelled and followed the so-called “True Phoenix King,” things had gotten worse by the day.
But all of that dissipated upon seeing his daughter, like the sun breaking through clouds, bathing him in light.
After hesitating for a moment, he said:
“It’s difficult, my dear. This time, Duruchi has given up everything. It is said that the Witch King ordered all of Duruchi to destroy cities, salt the land, kill all the old, weak, sick, and disabled, and board the black ark, swearing to invade us.
Because an apocalyptic army from the north has broken through their northern fortress. He claims to be the true Phoenix King, and my despicable brother is following him.”
Yifei Frostleaf replied:
“But once you draw the Cain sword, you are no longer my father.”
“The First Phoenix King was able to return his sword; so can I.”
“Dad,” Yifei Frostleaf said, rare softness in her voice. “I beg you.”
The Osuan Guardian looked at her for a long time before finally smiling and saying, “There’s no helping it; who told you you’re my favorite daughter?”
Yifei Frostleaf hugged him again.
“Talking for so long really drains my magic…” Ji Ma said, looking up at the sky out of boredom.
The clouds of war had dispersed, and the sun was setting.
How annoying sunlight is.
The Osuan Guardian’s expression became serious as he said softly, “You really… married a short-lived one? Are you trying to provoke me?”
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
“Human hero George.”
“I do not recognize this marriage.”
The Osuan Guardian said with a dark expression:
“Finding a short-lived one as a lover is one thing, just for fun, but marrying him? Or being—”
Yifei Frostleaf interrupted:
“A mistress.”
The Osuan Guardian became even angrier: “I absolutely cannot agree to that.”
“But I am an orphan,” Yifei Frostleaf feigned ignorance. “A wedding doesn’t need parental approval.”
The Osuan Guardian said angrily, “Don’t let me see that—human hero.”
He glanced at Ji Ma behind his daughter.
The extraordinary charm emanating from her made the Osuan Guardian feel revulsion. It reminded him of the Witch King’s mother—the Supreme Witch.
Last time, the Supreme Witch kidnapped him and tied him to the Cain altar; fortunately, reinforcements arrived just in time. When she fled, she even kissed him forcefully.
The Osuan Guardian was very worried about what this demon might have done to his daughter, but he didn’t dare question her sternly for fear of making Yifei Frostleaf dislike him.
He said, “I can smell the scent on her. Is she favored by the color sin?”
Before he could finish,
Ji Ma lifted her foot and stepped on that strange metallic pipe. This thing had magic that could kill from a distance; the Osuan Guardian had seen the deceased when he came.
The Osuan Guardian added:
“Or perhaps she is favored by the Blood God?”
Yifei Frostleaf whispered:
“Chosen by the three gods, wearing a crown.”
She thought for a moment and selectively shared the information that the Osuan Guardian was most concerned about: “…is currently competing with the Eternal God for the divine crown, and has a strong army that specializes in the civil war.”
The implication was that, despite looking like a demon, she was actually our ally.
“You have to be careful.”
“Father,” Yifei Frostleaf said, “at this point, is this conversation useful?”
“Why?”
“I am good friends with her.”
Yifei Frostleaf continued: “She is the succubus next to the hero; she is his legitimate wife.”
“Legitimate wife?”
The Osuan Guardian wanted to scold someone, but in front of his daughter, he felt he couldn’t directly curse. He found it hard to accept that his daughter was placed after a succubus.
In his view, his daughter’s willingness to marry hero George already made it George’s greatest honor.
The Osuan Guardian adjusted his mood, concealing his pride to avoid making things difficult for his daughter.
He said, “Good afternoon, you are the demon king Ji Ma, right?”
“You have finished talking?”
Ji Ma kicked the blood-red rifle and lifted her head, saying, “Is there anything else to discuss? Maintaining your daughter’s existence is very taxing on my magic, Osuan’s Guardian.”
“Maintain?” the Osuan Guardian asked. “Isn’t she alive?”
“Of course she’s alive, lively and jumping around, loving to add that damned devil pepper to rice every day.” Ji Ma took the opportunity to pinch her nose; she did not like the Osuan Guardian either.
After all, if you were forced to jump into the sea, crossing a vast ocean, you wouldn’t have much fondness for the Osuan Guardian either, especially as he spoke with a subtle scent of coriander.
“To the four dark gods above, if I were to sacrifice millions of lives to you, could you eradicate peppers and coriander?”
Ji Ma continued, “I’m just using my ability, um… just consider it a summoned object.”
Seeing her unwilling to reveal even a bit of her ability indicated her stance.
“Thank you and your husband for saving my daughter,” the Osuan Guardian said. “Do you have any requests?”
“Let your daughter speak,” Ji Ma said, clapping her hands. “I intend to come to a conclusion to cut off our conversation, lest the four dark gods overhear; that would be quite bad.”
The Osuan Guardian glanced at her special horns and then at the left eye hidden by her black hair but said nothing. A quiet, secret barrier unfolded.
“We are preparing to destroy the Eternal Chosen and his apocalyptic army together…”
Yifei Frostleaf revealed the complete plan.
The Osuan Guardian contemplated and found it credible. The resources required were minimal, but once successful, that would end at least half of the apocalypse.
“Alright, I’ll order the army’s grand mage to take her to the White Tower,” the Osuan Guardian said, looking toward Ji Ma.
“Can you tell me why you keep kicking your weapon?”
Ji Ma paused and said, “Since I’m doing nothing anyway, have you finished your discussion? If you’re done, I will dismiss your daughter.”
The Osuan Guardian looked at his daughter, wanting to say so much, wanting to know if she had suffered any grievances, wanting to know what she still needed.
Yifei Frostleaf looked at him, and on her ice mountain-like face, a smile appeared as she said, “Don’t worry, Dad. We will end the apocalypse.”
The Osuan Guardian smiled too.
Ji Ma snapped her fingers, and Yifei Frostleaf gradually vanished into the air.
The Osuan Guardian watched his daughter’s smile disappear into thin air; the entire experience felt blissful, like an illusion.
The Osuan Guardian turned to the sulking Ji Ma, only then confirming that this was not an illusion.
“I still have many doubts, Demon King,” the Osuan Guardian said:
“If you can hide your demonic characteristics, I will take you to the military camp later and let the Dragon Mage take you to the White Tower.”
“I understand; I need to put on a facade,” Ji Ma replied. “Alright, see you in a bit. I hope the mages at the White Tower will set aside their prejudices.”
