Chapter 140: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree (VII)

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Chapter 140: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree (VII)

The Forge Wraiths had never stopped hunting mixed-blood elves, forcing the Alliance to place every mixed-blood elf born on the continent under protection from the moment of birth. Once grown, without exception, they all joined the Alliance and became a major fighting force. Even so, many mixed-blood elves were still killed every year.

Not long ago, an Alliance city had been raided by the Forge Wraiths, leaving hundreds of ordinary civilians slaughtered. Even more horrifying, thirty-five elven children had been locked inside iron cages and burned alive. Their anguished cries completely ignited the fury of every race within the Alliance. The Alliance immediately seized a puppet city occupied by the Forge Wraiths and formally declared war.

Forces from every race answered the call, prepared for battle, and rushed toward the front lines.

After listening to Ivan’s account, Shang Ke’s heart felt heavy. He thought of the murdered elven children, then looked at the little elves playing nearby and silently swore that he would never allow them to suffer the same fate.

Seeing Shang Ke’s expression, Ivan immediately understood what he was worried about. “The Alliance is powerful. It may not necessarily lose against the Forge Wraiths.”

“The Forge Wraiths are nearly immune to most magical and physical attacks, and they excel at fire- and metal-element magic. In a sense, they’re almost impossible to kill.” Even more restrictive was the fact that when fighting the Forge Wraiths, the Alliance could not use any metal equipment whatsoever and had to rely entirely on nonmetallic magical items.

“We can seal them instead—use nature elements to seal the Forge Wraiths’ power.” Ivan took a dark-gold wooden tablet from his clothes and handed it to Shang Ke. “This is an Oxygen Sigil I recently developed. It builds on the Oxygen Orb by adding a sealing formation.”

Shang Ke accepted the wooden tablet and examined it curiously as Ivan continued, “The problem is that the sealing formation requires an extremely high concentration of oxygen elements. Even after gathering oxygen elements in the forest for one or two months, I can only refine a single ordinary Oxygen Sigil. If we could find the Wraith Jade and release the Fountain of Life from its seal, making these sigils would become much easier.”

The Wraith Jade… Shang Ke raised his eyes toward Ivan’s left eye. If his earlier perception had been correct, then the Wraith Jade everyone was so desperately searching for was probably inside Ivan’s left eye. The Sacred Tree’s elemental power had disturbed the Wraith Jade’s seal, which was why Ivan had reacted so violently.

Yet Shang Ke felt no joy at the discovery. He had no idea whether forcibly breaking the Wraith Jade’s seal would endanger Ivan’s life. If completing his mission required sacrificing Ivan, Shang Ke did not know what choice he would make.

Shang Ke returned the sigil to Ivan, then turned toward the garden.

Ivan followed closely behind him.

Shang Ke picked up a flower basket and began gathering blossoms. Ivan immediately started helping.

Once the flower basket was full, Shang Ke headed into the orchard.

Ivan continued following him.

Whatever Shang Ke picked, Ivan picked too.

After they finished harvesting, Shang Ke carried the basket into the kitchen and used magic to wash the petals clean and grind them into powder.

Ivan very consciously helped light the fire, boil water, and wash the kitchen utensils.

Shang Ke sat at the stone table kneading dough while Ivan stood beside him like a statue, staring without blinking.

Feeling himself completely enveloped by Ivan’s shadow, Shang Ke finally looked up. “Why are you standing here?”

Ivan remained silent, his expression plainly saying that he had something he wanted to say but could not quite bring himself to say it.

Shang Ke: …What kind of weird expression is that?

“Shang Ke,” Ivan called.

“Hmm?” Shang Ke gave him a look that clearly said, If you have something to say, spit it out already.

“Keke…” Ivan tentatively tried a more intimate form of address.

“Mm.” Shang Ke could almost see an invisible tail wagging furiously behind the man.

Seeing that Shang Ke had not objected to the nickname, Ivan was ecstatic inside, though none of it showed on his face. Maintaining a deliberately composed expression, he said, “Carry on with what you’re doing. I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

With that, he strode proudly out of the kitchen, looking as though his entire body were surrounded by a brilliant halo.

Shang Ke: …What exactly was that supposed to mean?

At noon, Shang Ke made the little elves’ favorite flower cakes and vegetable soup. After feeding them, he went for a walk through the forest while thinking about the Wraith Jade.

Just then, rustling footsteps approached from behind. A warm body pressed against him, and heavy breaths brushed over the tip of his pointed ear, making it twitch several times.

The sight made Ivan’s heart itch. Remembering what it had felt like to lick that ear before, he could not resist wrapping his arms around Shang Ke’s waist and pulling him closer.

“Keke…” Ivan’s voice carried both nervousness and determination.

He had forcibly taken this elf. Even knowing he was unworthy of him, he still could not suppress the longing in his heart. If defiling the elf meant he deserved punishment, then Ivan was willing to pay any price.

This was the first time Shang Ke had ever seen this man so lacking in confidence.

He turned around to face Ivan and smiled brightly. “I like you, Ivan.”

Ivan stared at him blankly, as though he had not understood what Shang Ke had just said.

Shang Ke lightly tugged at his sash and leaned closer. “What about you? Do you like me?”

Yes. So much that I can’t free myself from it!

Ivan stared into those clear eyes, his heartbeat accelerating beyond his control and his breathing quickening with excitement.

The elf did not mind his ugly face. He did not mind Ivan’s unforgivable offense.

The elf had said he liked him!

Ivan abruptly pulled Shang Ke into his arms, lowered his head, and kissed him, sucking eagerly at his lips.

Shang Ke closed his eyes and felt Ivan’s happiness.

One of them was the Sacred Tree; the other was the corporeal vessel of the Wraith Jade that sealed the Fountain of Life. If sacrifice was truly inevitable, then Shang Ke wanted to spend whatever time remained freely enjoying happiness with this man, right up until the end of their lives.

Ivan officially moved into Shang Ke’s little nest. On that soft bed, he carefully reenacted everything he had once done to Shang Ke in his dreams. The vine-woven tree house shook all night, leaves rustling down until they covered the ground.

Fortunately, Ivan had set up a barrier beforehand to keep anyone from watching. Otherwise, all those innocent little elves would have been thoroughly corrupted.

The next morning, Ivan climbed down from the tree house looking thoroughly refreshed, only to find himself immediately surrounded by a group of furious little elves.

This man had actually monopolized Keke for an entire night! A whole night! Their bedtime story was gone, their games with Keke were gone, and even their lullaby was gone!

Not only that, he had even erected a barrier around the tree house and refused to let them anywhere near it. Completely unforgivable!

The little elves glared murderously at the wicked human before them…

By the time Shang Ke woke up, Ivan was already being “hunted down” by a swarm of little elves. The moment Ivan saw Shang Ke emerge, he immediately darted over and affectionately wrapped his arms around him, letting the little elves pounce onto his body one after another while undisguised amusement shone in his eyes.

“All right, enough fooling around.” Shang Ke disdainfully pushed away Ivan’s face, which was positively glowing with shameless happiness.

“Keke, what were you doing hiding in the house with this human last night?” Bubbles demanded indignantly.

“…Children shouldn’t ask such deep questions.” Shang Ke assumed his most authoritative parental expression.

Mm. There certainly was plenty of “depth” involved. Ivan lowered his head and muffled a laugh.

The little elves simply stared blankly, unable to understand what was supposedly so “deep” about their question.

“Keke, you can’t sleep with this human anymore!” Bubbles declared righteously on behalf of the other little elves. “You belong to all of us!”

Ivan stopped laughing and told them solemnly, “Only the victor gets the right to decide. If you want to steal Keke away from me, you’ll have to defeat me first.”

The little elves exchanged glances, then raised their fists and shouted in perfect solidarity, “Fight!”

With that, the little elves threw themselves at Ivan again.

Ivan flashed aside and agilely dashed into the forest, the little elves immediately bounding after him.

Their noisy commotion gradually faded into the distance, leaving the surroundings suddenly quiet. Shang Ke shook his head in amusement and turned toward the kitchen.

By the time Shang Ke finished preparing the food, Ivan returned with a group of dejected little fellows trailing behind him. He walked over, wrapped an arm around Shang Ke’s waist, and assumed the smug posture of a triumphant victor.

The little elves puffed out their cheeks and glared at him as though he were their mortal enemy.

Shang Ke crouched beside a wooden basin filled with clean water and smiled at them. “Come wash your hands.”

The little elves crouched in a circle around the basin and reluctantly began washing their hands.

While Ivan went to bring out the food, Shang Ke whispered to the little elves, “Don’t be upset. Tonight I’ll teach him a lesson for you. I guarantee he’ll regret messing with us.”

The little elves’ eyes lit up, and they crowded around conspiratorially. “Really?”

Shang Ke nodded firmly and confidently raised a thumb.

Sixteen tiny thumbs immediately rose in response.

That night, none of the little elves slept. They squeezed together inside one tree house, staring intently at the translucent barrier surrounding Shang Ke’s.

“Bubbles, do you think Keke can beat that human?” Leilei asked worriedly.

“Absolutely!” Bubbles replied without hesitation.

The other little elves nodded one after another. In their hearts, Keke was invincible!

Inside the barrier, Ivan was rhythmically thrusting in and out of Shang Ke as he asked hoarsely, “So how exactly are you planning to ‘make me regret it’?”

Shang Ke flipped them over and straddled Ivan’s waist. While the man was sighing in pleasure, Shang Ke bent down and bit his neck.

Ivan’s eyes darkened. Gripping Shang Ke’s waist, he thrust his hips forcefully upward.

Shang Ke gasped softly, mist gathering in his eyes, then bent down and left another bite mark on Ivan’s collarbone.

Ivan sat up, pressed Shang Ke against the head of the bed, and thrust repeatedly into him.

Every time Shang Ke bit him, Ivan changed positions.

By the end, Ivan’s neck and upper body were covered in bite marks, while Shang Ke had been thoroughly worn out until all four limbs were weak and aching.

But the one truly suffering was neither of them. It was the poor tree that would not stop shedding leaves: Fuck! Could you two show a little public decency?! Keep this up and I’m going bald!

The little elves did not fall asleep until very late. The moment they woke, they excitedly ran over to inspect the “results” of Keke’s battle from the previous night.

They found that the skin visible outside a certain man’s clothes was covered in bluish-purple marks, with even the corner of his mouth chafed raw, as though countless insects had attacked him. The little elves stared in shock.

They had all wanted him to be taught a lesson, but faced with his current “miserable condition,” they could not help feeling sorry for him.

“Keke, we forgive him now. You can let him sleep with you from now on,” the little elves announced considerately. After enduring such inhumane abuse and still insisting on sleeping together, this human clearly did possess “true love” for Keke.

Shang Ke: “…” What happened to your principles?

Behind the little elves, Ivan flashed Shang Ke a victory sign.

Shang Ke: “…”

Happy days always seemed to pass quickly. Ivan’s communication stone suddenly flashed red, signaling the beginning of the war.

Ivan said to Shang Ke, “I have to go. Wait for me.”

Shang Ke wrapped his arms around Ivan’s neck and gently kissed his lips. “Be careful.”

Tenderness filled Ivan’s eyes. After lingering intimately with Shang Ke for a while, he picked up his belongings and reluctantly said goodbye to his elf.

Watching Ivan’s departing figure, Shang Ke murmured softly, “Ivan, I’ll see you on the battlefield.”

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