"It seems I've lost."
Aether, restrained by Fei Xiao, smiled and said.
At this moment, Aether's wrists were firmly gripped by Fei Xiao, and he was completely suppressed by her, almost unable to retaliate.
Fei Xiao said nothing, her azure eyes fixed on Aether.
After their recent spar, both of them had a light sweat and slightly flushed cheeks.
And because Aether had removed his outer jacket, only a short-sleeved shirt remained, his fair neck exposed before Fei Xiao, down to his collarbone, with a few beads of sweat from their exertion, making Fei Xiao involuntarily swallow.
So tempting, I really want to take a bite.
Ever since that... thing with Aether, whenever Fei Xiao saw Aether's neck, she inexplicably felt an urge to bite it.
She initially thought it was a sequela of a Moon Frenzy episode, but Fei Xiao realized she only felt this way about Aether; she felt nothing when seeing other people's necks.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Being stared at by Fei Xiao made Aether feel quite embarrassed, and he couldn't help but turn his head away.
But this turn of his head looked exactly like he was deliberately inviting Fei Xiao to bite. Fei Xiao was already feeling a bit flushed, and Aether's turn made it even harder for her to resist.
I can't hold back anymore.
Fei Xiao simply stopped resisting. She directly turned her back to Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan, and with the fastest speed, bit Aether hard on the neck, quickly licked away the flowing blood, and then returned to her original position.
"Hmm, I thought you could last a bit longer, but you're still very strong."
Fei Xiao, acting as if nothing had happened, released Aether and casually patted his shoulder, saying.
"Ah? Haha, Great General, you flatter me..."
Aether was stunned for a moment, then, hearing Fei Xiao's words, he laughed it off in response.
"Hiss... strange? Why do I feel like something just bit me?"
Aether rubbed his neck in confusion, feeling very puzzled.
At this moment, Jing Yuan walked forward, laughing, and greeted the two: "Great General, how have you been? Why didn't you come to my Divination Commission for a gathering today when you came to Luofu?"
"Isn't this me sparring with him? I'm sure you just saw, this kid isn't as simple as he looks on the surface." Fei Xiao patted Aether's back and said with a smile.
"Uh, I'm just an ordinary person, General, please don't overpraise me." Aether scratched his head awkwardly and said.
Fu Xuan, standing nearby, glanced at Aether and said, "There's a bite mark on the left side of your neck."
At these words, everyone fell silent. Aether was first stunned, then subconsciously looked at Fei Xiao.
Fei Xiao cleared her throat and said to Aether, "Ahem, why are you so careless?"
"Ah? I..."
Aether was momentarily speechless. He wanted to explain but didn't know how.
Jing Yuan, however, still watched the two with a smile, saying nothing. It was unclear whether this Divination Commission General knew or not.
Fu Xuan looked at the two with suspicion, feeling like they had some unspeakable secret.
"Ahem! Let's not talk about that for now," Fei Xiao proactively broke the silent atmosphere, looked at Aether, and said, "This young man is Aether. I met him these past two days. He's quite capable, and I have high hopes for him."
Hearing this, Aether felt confused. Why was Fei Xiao saying this? But when he looked at Fei Xiao with bewilderment, he saw her wink at him.
At this, Aether immediately understood Fei Xiao's intention, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
With Jing Yuan, the General of Luofu, and the Grand Diviner of Divination Commission present, Fei Xiao had only one reason for doing this: to build connections for him.
"Oh? Someone even the Great General thinks highly of must surely have great capabilities." Jing Yuan looked at Aether with a cheerful smile and said.
"Uh..."
Aether gave an awkward smile. He couldn't say much, after all, Fei Xiao was doing this for him, and he couldn't let her lose face.
But if he were to talk about his capabilities, possessing the strength of an Emanator of Abundance was Aether's greatest ability, but could he really bring that up? He feared that as soon as he did, he'd be chopped into pieces.
No, not that big.
Seeming to sense the awkward silence, Fu Xuan, helpless, took the initiative to change the subject: "Generals, let's first discuss this matter. Those Abominations of Abundance seem to be stirring again recently."
"Is that so? Do they have any big moves? My hands are itching, I'll use them to warm up." Hearing that there was something to do, Fei Xiao immediately became interested.
"Not so."
Fu Xuan shook her head and explained, "Although the Abominations of Abundance have started to move more, they haven't caused any trouble, surprisingly quiet, as if they are brewing some grand conspiracy."
Hiss, the Abominations of Abundance are active again?
Aether, hearing Fu Xuan's words, fell into thought. He was a new Emanator of Abundance, considered the youngest among all Emissaries, and ever since he became an Emanator, many Abominations of Abundance had approached him, hoping he would participate and revive the benevolence of The Merciful One.
But Aether was completely against causing trouble. His views and principles were completely different from these abominations. At first, quite a few abominations approached him, but after understanding his principles and ideas, they all gave up the idea of recruiting him.
He had originally thought he could live a peaceful, retirement-like life on the Xianzhou, but recently, his subordinates had started to stir, especially lately, they had all begun to ask him, intentionally or unintentionally, if he planned to revive the benevolence of The Merciful One.
He had initially thought it was simply these guys' persistent malicious intent, but now it seemed not so simple; someone must be orchestrating things behind the scenes. He needed to investigate thoroughly when he returned.
For his peaceful life.
"Little friend, do you have any thoughts?" Seeing Aether silent, Jing Yuan suddenly asked him.
"Ah? Me? Uh..."
Aether was caught off guard by Jing Yuan's sudden question, but he quickly composed himself and replied, "I'm a merchant, so I'm quite well-informed about various news and such. If I find any clues, I will report them immediately."
"Good, then I'll trouble you." Jing Yuan smiled slightly, then looked at Fei Xiao and said, "I still have official duties to attend to at the Divination Commission, Great General, I shall take my leave first."
With that, Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan left the training ground together, leaving only Aether and Fei Xiao looking at each other.
"Ahem, the mark on my neck... you bit me, didn't you?" Aether coughed and asked Fei Xiao.
"Yes, I couldn't resist."
Fei Xiao didn't evade, admitting it honestly.
"I don't know why, but every time I see your neck, my heart just tingles, and I really want to bite it..."
As Fei Xiao spoke, her eyes unconsciously drifted towards Aether's neck.
"I want to bite again."
"No! You don't!"
Aether pulled up his collar to cover his neck, refusing Fei Xiao without hesitation.
"You just lost to me." Fei Xiao directly brought up their recent spar.
"You didn't say what winning or losing would entail." Aether took a step back and said.
"Now there is. You lost to me, so let me bite you." Fei Xiao, acting a bit like a rogue, took a step forward and said.
"Haven't you already bitten me?" Aether touched the bitten spot on his neck and questioned.
"That doesn't count. Don't even think about refusing me."
"Don't come any closer!"