The battle ended, and Shun withdrew his Susanoo, landing steadily on the ground with Sāra in his arms.
As he looked down at Sāra in his arms, a tender emotion welled up in his heart.
Sāra's face was as pale as paper, and her hands tightly clutched Shun's sleeve, as if it were the last straw of her life.
"My people are hiding in the underground palace. I wonder, how are they doing now?" Sāra's voice trembled, filled with fear and worry.
Shun gently pulled her into his embrace, offering her comfort with his warm arms.
He smiled and said, "They're just buried underground, they're all still alive. I'll take you back now."
He had left a Flying Thunder God mark in the center of the Rōran earlier, so he embraced Sāra and used the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly returning to the front of the palace.
The once magnificent Royal palace was now unrecognizable. Earlier, Mukade's giant puppet transformation had reduced the palace to ruins.
Susanoo!
Shun's eyes shed bloody tears, but the orange Susanoo, like a mountain, once again rose from the ground. The Susanoo was like a gentle guardian deity, it's huge hand slowly extended, gently pushing aside the collapsed palace.
As the rubble, and other debris were gradually moved away, a hidden underground shelter slowly appeared before the people's eyes.
"Your Highness!"
"It's Princess Sāra!"
When the people of Rōran struggled out from under the ruins and saw Sāra standing on Susanoo's forehead, a glimmer of hope instantly flashed in their eyes, and they excitedly called out.
Sāra stood on Susanoo's forehead, looking down at the once tall palace, now reduced to ruins. Her eyes gradually turned red, and tears welled up.
She turned to look at Shun, seeing the continuous bloody tears flowing from his eyes, and a deep sense of emotion surged in her heart again.
She took a deep breath, wrapped her arms around Shun's neck, and gently kissed him.
"Thank you for saving me and my people."
Shun did not reply, but simply controlled Susanoo to continue clearing the ruins, rescuing the trapped citizens one by one from beneath the rubble.
Several young children timidly crawled out, and one girl stumbled, about to trip over the rubble.
"Be careful."
Sāra quickly stepped forward and steadily supported her.
The little girl looked up, saw the princess's gentle smile, and tears instantly welled up. "Your Highness... I'm so scared."
Sāra gently ruffled her hair and softly comforted her, "It's okay, you're safe now."
Shun stood by, quietly watching this scene.
....
Time quickly came to noon, and the people of Rōran gathered together, some distributing food, some tending to the injured, and others softly praying.
When they saw Shun approaching, they all stopped what they were doing, their gazes filled with awe and gratitude.
"That's the Konoha ninja-sama..."
"I heard he defeated Anrokuzan all by himself."
"He also saved all of us."
Shun paid no attention to these discussions, walking directly to a bonfire at the edge of the camp. Sāra was sitting there, holding a bowl of hot soup.
Seeing him approach, she quickly stood up and asked, "Shun-sama, are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat."
"No need." Shun said indifferently, sitting down beside her.
Sāra blinked, then suddenly handed him the soup bowl in her hand. "Then, this is for you."
Shun glanced at her but did not take it.
Sāra quickly explained, "I've already had some. This is a fresh serving."
Shun was silent for a moment, then finally took the bowl and took a sip.
Sāra secretly observed his expression, and seeing his brow slightly furrowed, she couldn't help but ask, "Does it not taste good?"
"Too salty."
Sāra then remembered that in Rōran, more salt is customarily added to replenish the vitality lost in the desert.
"Ah! I'm sorry. I forgot you're not used to it."
"Rōran is currently short on supplies, so we can only prepare these." She said apologetically.
Shun took the tray and said indifferently, "It's enough."
Sāra sat beside him, and the two ate lunch in silence.
Sunlight streamed through the broken palace dome, casting a soft glow on her hair.
She suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, yet very firm. "Shun-sama, I have something to say to you."
Shun looked at her sideways, waiting for her to continue.
Sāra took a deep breath, raised her head, and her glass-like eyes looked directly at him.
"I like you."
"..."
"I know, to you, I'm just a weak princess, even needing your protection to survive."
"..."
Sāra looked at his profile and suddenly smiled. "Shun-sama, actually, when you smile, you look very gentle."
"..."
As the sun set, the ruins of Rōran were bathed in gold.
Sāra stood on a high place, looking at the busy crowd below, and softly asked, "Shun-sama, will you stay in Rōran?"
Shun did not answer immediately, but instead asked, "Do you want me to stay?"
"Mm."
"Why?"
Sāra lowered her head, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. "Because I want to be with you."
...
At night, Sāra, like a nimble cat, carefully walked through the corridor and quietly snuck into Shun's room.
In her hand, she held a bottle of precious Rōran royal wine, which she had specially retrieved from the royal cellar. The label on the bottle showed that this wine was over a hundred years old, a treasure treasured by the royal family.
Sāra gently pushed open the door, and a faint fragrance filled the room.
Shun was sitting on a chair by the window, his figure outlined by the moonlight in a slender silhouette.
Sāra called softly, with a hint of coquetry in her voice, "Shun-sama, will you have a drink with me?"
She blinked her big eyes, which sparkled with anticipation.
As someone experienced, Shun naturally guessed what Sāra, with her slightly red face, wanted to do.
"Are you sure you can drink?" His voice was low and magnetic, with a hint of teasing.
Sara nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
She placed the wine on the table, picked up two wine glasses, and filled them with wine.
Shun looked at Sara's confident appearance, and couldn't help but feel a little curious. He raised his wine glass, took a small sip, and felt the rich aroma of the wine spread in his mouth.
Seeing this, Sara also quickly picked up her wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. However, she had clearly underestimated the strength of this bottle of wine. After half a glass, her face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, and she began to feel dizzy. She swayed to Shun's side, her body softened, and she leaned on his shoulder.
"Shun-sama... I like you so much..."
Sāra's voice was slurred, but the emotion within it was exceptionally sincere, and her shy face also carried a hint of charm.