At the Ximen Mountain.
Everyone had just finished eating dinner with everyone. The survivors after getting registered were given a place to live. They were told to get used to the place for three days.
After that short vacation, their task would be sent to their home. Everyone was given a residence to stay within the territory of Ximen. Cao Junye carried their asleep son within his embrace while holding his wife's hand on the other. They were taking their time as they walked back to their home.
At the peak of the Ximen mountain, a traditional contemporary mansion stood. The scenery nearing the peak of the landscape is limited but the place was renovated to create a hidden paradise. The mansion at the top creates a modern touch surrounded by trees. There's a courtyard and a garden just outside the house. It's a luxury that could only be seen before the apocalypse.
They've entered the house and made preparations to sleep. It was already close to midnight when the family had reached home. They've placed the sleeping bun, Chino, in his room. Zhi Yue in his system form stayed in the young master's room to look after the boy while the general and his wife stayed in the master's bedroom.
Master's bedroom.
The couple was lying on a king-sized bed, Cao Junye and Ximen Xueya cuddling together as they had always done. They've spent most of their time like this. Serene and tranquil.
It was Xueya who broke the silence, "My love. After this world, I would send our Xiao Jing to the Mo Family home. My uncle and family wanted to see him."
"...I see. I don't mind. I wanted to be the one to bring over Xiao Jing to my in-laws but my state isn't perfect yet." said Cao Junye while hugging his wife tightly within his embrace.
"There is no need to worry. We could go home together after we finished your business," said Xueya, who also spoke about his worries with his other half. "I only worry about Xiao Jing's safety. Thankfully uncle noticed and would send someone to pick up our baby."
Cao Junye stayed silent every time Ximen Xueya mentioned his uncle.
"..."
"You don't have to feel pressured. Even though we haven't married officially, we already have Xiao Jing. My family isn't scary like those rumors. I wouldn't say it's a lie either but... since I have chosen you, my family would accept you unconditionally." said Xueya while smiling at Junye.
The general didn't reply with words and only nodded his head in agreement. He buried his face at the creaks of his wife's neck and smelled the familiar aroma of sweetness and peppermint. It was this scent that always accompanies him in his solace. Ximen Xueya indulges his husband's stickiness as always. Always pampering and forever affectionate.
"Baby~ there is something I wanted to say," whispered Cao Junye to his wife's ears.
The ticklish feeling left by his husband's breathing and captivating voice made Xueya tremble for a moment. But he didn't forget to reply to his lover, "W-What is it?" he asked.
"In the next two worlds, I won't wake up," answered Cao Junye.
Ximen Xueya was stunned by what he heard. The meaning of his husband's words is clear. It means that in the next two worlds, Ye Xiajie won't wake up.
Bewildered for a second, Ximen Xueya couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"I need to solidify my soul. To do that I need to concentrate on meditation for two worlds, after which I would be able to accompany the following worlds as Ye Xiajie," explained Cao Junye.
Ximen Xueya, "..."
As the general expected, Xueya didn't talk afterward but Junye persists with this idea. The words their son had spoken this afternoon struck his heart directly. Only when his soul solidifies that he would be able to accompany his wife as Ye Xiajie right at the very beginning.
Cao Junye, "I know that in those two worlds where I won't wake up that my soul fragments might say words that you wouldn't like to hear or take actions that will make you angry but... I can promise you one thing. No matter what happens in that world I will never harm you and will love only you in the end."
"..." Xueya still didn't speak.
"Baby? Just two worlds, okay? I promise after those two worlds it would be me who would find you and do all the work for you. You won't need to do anything. I will do everything for you instead. You can also beat me up if my soul fragments angered you. Baby, please speak. Don't ignore me please~" said Cao Junye.
Suddenly, Ximen Xueya turned around and looked at the general. He held his face within his hands and stared at those pleading eyes expressionlessly. The argent and obsidian orbs looked at each other. The difference is that the argent one remained cold as ice while the obsidian one showed clear emotions of begging. Those puppy eyes staring at him directly melted the coldness those argent eyes possess.
A small sound of someone clicking his tongue was heard. "Tsk! Only two worlds. But if your soul fragments pissed me off then I would never apologize for beating them up." acquiescence Xueya half-heartedly.
Once the answer of Xueya was heard, those puppy eyes suddenly glowed and the general's lips were hooked up joyously. He hugged his loveable and kind wife within his embrace.
"Yes. You can beat them up as you wish. It would definitely be their mistake if my wife punishes them by beating them!" said Cao Junye.
"Stop squeezing me! I can't breathe. You're so heavy~" complained Xueya while being hugged as Junye pressed on him.
After their conversation as a couple finished, the roguish hands of Cao Junye started to become naught. It started moving all over the body of the man under him.
Cao Junye kissed that soft unpigmented hair of his wife, which seemed to be dyed with the color and scent of the snow, "Baby~ since we won't meet for two worlds, can I?" he asked.
How could Ximen Xueya not understand his husband's words especially when those big hands longed to remove his clothes one by one. He truly wanted to bite this shameless man for still asking.
With blushing on his cheeks coming from his heated body, Ximen Xueya wrapped his hands around the neck of his playful lover and pasted himself on the man. He teasingly nibbles on that exposed jaw near him.
With a seductive voice, he said, "There's still 299 days before this world dies and you enter seclusion. My love~ work hard. I want you too."
A mischievous smirk appeared on Ximen Xueya's face as he boldly spoke those words like a temptress. There's no shyness portraited on his exquisite face but Cao Junye could feel the undeniable love those silver irises convey. Cao Junye couldn't bear it and covered those playful lips which hooked up even his heart. He kissed him heavily while the movement of his hands could no longer be calm.
The couple enjoyed their night as always.
What they didn't notice is that a few meters above the transparent ice barrier Ximen Xueya, a hovering bee, observed the whole protected area. This huge bee is not a beastly creature but a system avatar.
[Target for the mission, found! Recording the whole place for investigation. Bee had completed his host's order. Exploration complete! Bee can now return to his host side.]
The bee left right away after gathering information about the base and the target mission. No one noticed its arrival and departure.
The daily life in the Ximen Mountain continues. Mercenary teams going down the mountain to gather resources or crystals were common tasks in the mission board of the guild. There are rare missions that fall under taming or rearing animals. They were given tasks to bathe mutated animals which guard the whole mountain against the outsiders. Most of the mutated animals in the mountain were under the control of Ximen Xueya. The king of the beast also resides in the mountain.
King of beasts. It's a mutated beast that grows stronger when the apocalypse begins. No one had seen the appearance of the beast king, but everyone in the Ximen Mountain knew that the beast king would never attack people who live in the mountain and this beast only listened to the orders of the master. The master of Ximen Mountain is Xueya.
The town looks peaceful as always. Days passed and Ximen Mountain remained calm and stable. After Ximen Xueya and the rest had started living in the mountains, everyone had once again enjoyed the calmness and ordinary lives they've been missing. The small-town building within the mountain is especially noisy these days. After all, the young master of the mountain is about to have his fourth birthday this year.
The people in the town began decorating the whole town with balloons and festive decorations. Countless restaurants were planning a feast to be served on the special day of their young master Chino. They were so busy with all the preparations that they've forgotten about the hell that is just outside this mountain.
They could continue this tranquility because of the protection of the Master of the land. No one in this town doesn't worship Master Ximen as their God. But they do it secretly as the Master of the Mountain was rumored to hate noise except for special occasions like the birthday of the young master.
At the town.
"Hey! You've forgotten to put balloons here!"
"Ah right. Wait a minute I'll get some from the warehouse."
"Put some more flowers here~"
"More decorations. We need to finish everything today. Tomorrow is the young master's birthday."
"Tell the chef that they must make any mistake. The Lord would be coming down from the peak to celebrate the birthday of his son."
"They've said that the partner of the Lord had come home as well."
"I've seen him. It's the great general from television."
"I heard the general is extremely handsome."
"But the Lord is the most beautiful we have ever seen."
"They are both good-looking!"
"Stop talking and do your work!"
"Yes~"
Tomorrow is Ximen Chino's fourth birthday in this world. Everyone is doing their preparations for such a special day.
---
Meanwhile in the District of Q.
The zombies had once again gathered in this land hearing that their King and Queen had finally come over. At the center of the zombies, the zombie king, Ye Yan, and the zombie queen, Hei Suya, sat on a prepared couch. In front of the four people kneel to show their respect. These four people were called generals. Their strength was not bad, reaching levels within the range of 8 to 10.
Only the sounds of groans from the low leveled zombies could be heard. While the center is completely silent as it could. A hovering bee finally flies over towards the zombie king.
[Master, I have returned. Bee will pass the detailed reports later. I need to report first about my findings.]
Ye Yan finally reacted and said, "Report to me, Bee."
[Yes. District Z had been destroyed. The base called Hope is now empty and no living humans are remaining in that place. Instead, I've found the location of the secret paradise the mortals are talking about.]
"Really~ you've found the location of Ximen Mountain!? Bee that's amazing~" said Hei Suya as she hugged the huge bee in her embrace.
[Please let go. Bee is not done with the report yet!]
"Suya. Let him go." said Ye Yan.
The zombie queen pouted but still followed her lover's command and let the huge bee fly away from her.
[Master. The location of Ximen Mountain is complicated. Countless hidden traps are surrounding the whole mountain. Moreover, the whole mountain is a breeding ground for the mutated animals. their levels were within 6 to 8 with the highest having the level of 10 and 11.
There's a small-town within the mountain as well. Walls are surrounding the place. A huge barrier of ice protected it from all angles. The one who created the barrier is your target mission, Ximen Xueya.]
Ye Yan's eyes narrow after hearing the name of the target once again. The uneasiness within his heart spreads once again giving him an endless feeling of restlessness.
"Just to be expected. The target isn't a simple person," murmured Ye Yan as he looked at the vermillion shade sky and at the huge sun setting at the horizon.