Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 659: Meeting the Envoy
“Your Majesty, an envoy from the Andor Empire has arrived.”
A knight saluted Xi Wei with a fist clenched by his side before handing him a badge representing the Andor Empire’s envoy.
“The Andor Empire’s envoy is here to see me? Are they here to settle accounts?”
Xi Wei raised an eyebrow.
Four days had passed since Lori became the Goddess of Life. Over these past few days, he had made several attempts and discovered that goddesses were indeed different. Firstly, their resilience was incredibly strong, on par with his Red Dragon Bloodline. Secondly, Lori’s faith in the Sea God had deepened, becoming unmanageable.
As the Goddess of Life.
Lori could now conceive offspring at any time. If she desired, even with the influence of dragon blood, she could ensure a successful pregnancy.
However, after much consideration, Xi Wei refused. It wasn’t that he disliked children, but the current times were tumultuous, not suitable for raising offspring.
Lori was also obedient and, after a single mention, did not press the matter further.
It was evident that she longed to bear a bloodline unique to her and Xi Wei, but she valued Xi Wei more than this bloodline and supported his endeavors.
Xi Wei had also considered it carefully.
Lori was akin to the Goddess of Child Bestowal. Under the influence of the rules of life, there was no fear of not being able to give birth. She could also help other maids conceive successfully, leading to a future where Winter Fort would be filled with princes and princesses.
“I am unaware of their origins, but they have adopted a very humble demeanor. They seem to have arrived with the conscripted construction team, consisting of two princesses and a guard,” the knight reported respectfully.
“Understood. Have them wait in the castle hall.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The knight withdrew.
Xi Wei turned and headed upstairs.
Since morning, Lori had been using her divine power to help cleanse Empress Elven Empress’s body. He wondered if she had succeeded.
Pushing open the room door, he saw Alice Frost sitting by the window with a calm expression, while Adenasi looked dejected. Lori, just about to leave the room, bumped into Xi Wei head-on, her small head burrowing into his embrace.
“It seems the situation is not going well?”
Xi Wei held Lori, his large hand gently stroking her squirrel ears.
“The divinity of the God of Death is too overbearing and cannot be removed. If I had the divine power of a high-level god, perhaps I could help Alice recover. For now, I can only temporarily restore her body to that of a normal person, but collapse is inevitable.”
Lori looked up, a hint of apology in her voice.
She had a good impression of Alice Frost and greatly wished to resolve the Elven Empress’s issues.
The Dead Sea was, after all, no place of peace, and it was best to avoid it if possible.
However, seeing this, it seemed going to the Dead Sea was unavoidable.
“You need not blame yourself for this. I have long accepted my fate,” Alice Frost said calmly. “Besides, your ability to temporarily relieve me from torment is already a great kindness to me.”
“The angels are still searching for a way to enter the Dead Sea. I will notify you immediately once they have news. I will also be going there, as there is something I need to retrieve.”
Xi Wei was a person who loved those he cared about.
If Lori liked someone, he would also like them, so he added a few words to comfort Alice.
But more importantly, he was comforting Adenasi, who was more worried about the Elven Empress than the Empress herself.
Alice Frost nodded gently and continued to gaze out the window at the clouds drifting by.
Xi Wei did not disturb them further and led Lori to the main hall of the castle to meet the envoy from the Andor Empire.
***
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The castle’s main hall.
Xena and Winnie were feeling uneasy.
They had already seen the construction of the Goddess of Life shrine and statue in Winter City. Moreover, along their journey, they had discovered that the matter of the Goddess of Life seemed to be true, not just a gimmick.
Many people had witnessed the ascent of the stairway to godhood four days prior. Coupled with the lush green surroundings of Winter Fort and the hundred-meter-tall ancient trees exuding an aura of life divinity, their senses were invigorated just by breathing the air within the hall of Winter Fort, as if all their cells had been instantly activated.
The legendary deeds of the King of Winter had been heard countless times along the way. Now, with a goddess overseeing him, how could they not feel apprehensive?
“Thump, thump, thump—”
A sound of footsteps approached.
The King of Winter entered the hall, leading a doll-like little maid, and sat on his throne without reservation, pulling the little maid into his arms.
Xena only dared to raise her head for a glance.
The little maid shimmered with divine brilliance, unlike an ordinary mortal. She must be the Goddess of Life, about whom the outside world was abuzz.
“What business do you have with me? If it concerns Tantinger City, then you may return. Also, convey to King Andor that you’re welcome; it was merely a trivial matter.”
Xi Wei tapped the armrest of his throne, his tone casual.
“Your Majesty Winter, we have come to seek aid…”
Marcon intended to speak, but Princess Xena spoke first. Marcon admired the princess’s courage and remained silently by her side.
“Seeking aid? To help you fight the Naga? That is unlikely. I have no grudge with the Naga and no reason to provoke a powerful enemy,” Xi Wei said nonchalantly.
In reality, he was thinking:
After the Naga plundered Andor, he would, under the guise of purging foreign races, lead his army to plunder the Naga.
This would allow him to legitimately occupy the territory of the Andor Empire, gain a good reputation by defeating the Naga, and simultaneously weaken the fighting strength of the Orcs. It was a win-win situation with no better outcome.
“Your Majesty Winter, I understand your reluctance to engage in conflict with the Naga, but you must realize that the Andor Empire is the barrier that holds back the Naga army. The reason you can develop peacefully is also because of this barrier…”
“No!” Xi Wei interrupted Princess Xena with a cold laugh, his fingers tapping the armrest stopping abruptly. He leaned forward and said in a displeased tone:
“As you can see, the woman in my arms is the Goddess of Life, my wife. And you tell me that my development is inseparable from the barrier of the Andor Empire? Even if the Naga were to attack me, what then? Do they dare?”
Princess Xena lowered her head, biting her red lips, and fell silent.
To have a goddess as a wife.
Even if she were merely a demigod.
On this point alone, the Naga could only scurry away with their tails tucked between their legs.
Before this, the Andor Empire could claim to be a barrier.
After this, the Andor Empire was nothing.
Princess Xena clearly understood this.
“Since you are here to request support, then show some sincerity. We can conduct an equivalent exchange. I will dispatch troops, and you will provide me with everything I need, rather than expecting to get something for nothing and waving some damned moral principles around. If you still harbor such thoughts, I don’t mind having three more corpses hanging outside Winter City.”
The King of Winter’s words were chilling, filled with killing intent that seemed to freeze the air. Princess Xena and the others felt a chill run through their bodies.
