Dinner concluded peacefully amidst harmonious chatter.
Subsequently, each Heroic Spirit bid their farewells and departed one by one.
Zeke watched as Fu Hua stood up to clear the table. Checking the time, he also prepared to leave but felt the Book of Fuxi's tiny hand tug at his sleeve.
"What is it?"
"We'll take care of the dishes; you should go for a walk on the mountain with your stubborn blockhead." The Book of Fuxi continued, "Every time, you both rush off so quickly. Even if you're not in a hurry, watching you leaves me anxious."
The book released Zeke's sleeve, leisurely floated over, and perched on his shoulder, casting its deadpan gaze towards Fu Hua, who had turned red-faced across from them.
Speechless, Zeke looked expectantly at Fu Hua.
Fu Hua clutched her clothing, then composed herself sternly, pretending her blush was merely due to eating too much. With utmost seriousness, she said:
"Little Fuxi, don't trouble my husband."
"Woah! And here I thought the one always wearing a disgruntled expression after he returns to spend time with Kiana and the others wasn't you!"
"Little Fuxi!"
"Yes, yes, yes, save those protests for later. Once I find some comfy earplugs, feel free to talk as long as you want. But right now... Lixue, Sushang, see our guests out and close up!"
The Book of Fuxi casually cleaned its tiny ears with a finger, dismissing Zeke's remark nonchalantly before casting a stern gaze at Cheng Lixue and Li Sushang.
"Yes!" they responded simultaneously, standing upright without hesitation.
Although amazed by the Book of Fuxi's abilities, they knew she was right. After Zeke left, Fu Hua's dejected demeanor had not gone unnoticed. Giving them a gentle push could only be beneficial.
Besides, when Taixuan Mountain's chief housekeeper speaks, how dare two humble juniors like themselves refuse, right?
Moments later—
"Bang!"
The ancient wooden door slammed shut, leaving Zeke and Fu Hua momentarily stunned as Cheng Lixue and Li Sushang swiftly pushed them outside.
"..."
They exchanged glances, both silent.
Undeniably, either one of them could effortlessly reopen the door—even if everyone inside were to resist with all their might.
However, after briefly looking at each other, Zeke extended his hand.
"Wanna stargaze?"
"It would be my pleasure, dear husband."
Fu Hua smiled warmly, showing no hesitation as she gently took Zeke's hand.
As for the excited onlookers from Taixuan Mountain peeping through the door crack, witnessing the couple walk away under the moonlight, hand in hand—well, their palpable anticipation hardly needs further description.
The cool mountain breeze held no discomfort for superhuman beings like Zeke and Fu Hua; even bothersome insects dared not approach them, giving way as they traversed.
As they walked along the mountain path, both maintained a serene silence, creating an atmosphere of peaceful tranquility that felt remarkably soothing.
Reaching a clearing with expansive views, they instinctively stopped together. Gazing at the harmonious sight of clouds blending with mountains, under a particularly clear and vibrant starry sky, smiles naturally graced their faces.
"Truly breathtaking..." Fu Hua murmured, involuntarily tightening her grip on Zeke's strong, slender hand. Zeke nodded in agreement.
After immersing herself in the majestic beauty of the night sky, Fu Hua turned to Zeke with a smile.
"The weather is exceptionally fine tonight. Such a splendid starry scene isn't common even here on Taixuan Mountain, my husband."
"Yes, I've always considered myself quite lucky."
"Haha! Who boasts about their luck so casually?"
"Well, if not for good fortune, how could I ever have the chance to hold your hand like this?"
Zeke turned and softly replied, his blue eyes reflecting Fu Hua's surprised yet adorable expression, filled with tenderness.
He genuinely believed his luck was exceptional.
After a moment of bewilderment, Fu Hua blushed deeply, lowered her head, tightened her grip on Zeke's hand, and murmured shyly:
"Beloved... teasing me again..."
"I'm just stating the truth. Let's find a place to sit down - how about that peak over there?"
Zeke scanned the expansive mountaintop and pointed towards a towering solitary peak nearby. It stood above the main range of Taixuan Mountain, its summit enveloped by drifting clouds, unobstructed by neighboring peaks. Sitting there would offer an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking night sky.
Following Zeke's gaze, Fu Hua chuckled softly, covering her lips.
"You have quite the eye! Little Fuxi and I also noticed that spot earlier and built a small tea room at the summit. It's perfect for enjoying moonlit evenings while sipping tea, and if it gets late, we can rest there without any trouble."
"Oh? We definitely shouldn't miss out then." Zeke raised an eyebrow, surprising Fu Hua as he effortlessly lifted her into his arms amidst her gasp. With Fu Hua held close, they stepped into the air, soaring towards the peak rumored to house their private tea room.
Fu Hua leaned against Zeke's chest, her face so flushed it seemed like blood might drip from her cheeks. Surrounded by his warmth, she couldn't suppress her racing heartbeat.
In the end, with her head bowed, she muttered almost resentfully,
"Such a bully... Couldn't you at least... ask me first?"
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"...Stop teasing me. With our proximity and your hearing, how could you not hear that clearly?"
"It's not about being a bully," Zeke replied matter-of-factly. "Mainly, if I asked, there's a high chance you'd reject me, but I really wanted to hold you this way."
'Just because I might've said no, you went ahead without asking? What kind of logic is that?' Fu Hua mentally raged, yet she had to admit it was quintessentially Zeke. Then, his words "wanted to hold you" pierced her heart, causing its thunderous beats to echo in her ears. Unable to think straight, she couldn't contain the sweetness and secret joy welling up inside her.
Regardless, Zeke carried Fu Hua to the summit as planned, finding unmistakable signs of palm force flattening the area. On the roughly hundred-square-meter platform atop the peak stood a simple wooden cabin.
Zeke gently set Fu Hua down and released her hand. Overwhelmed by Zeke's straightforward confession, Fu Hua felt too embarrassed to react. She stood frozen, clutching her clothing hem, her face crimson, utterly afraid to meet Zeke's gaze.
Zeke opened the door of the small wooden cabin and retrieved a tea table, teaware with leaves, a charcoal stove, and some bottled water. He set them up outside.
With practiced ease, he ignited the charcoal, placed a kettle on top, and prepared everything for brewing tea.
Finally, Fu Hua approached Zeke step by hesitant step, her face flushed with embarrassment. She sat across from him, puffing her cheeks as she exclaimed,
"Stop teasing me, Zeke!"
"You're angry?"
"Not...not really angry, but...but please don't keep doing this to me!"
"I don't consider it teasing, but alright, I'll reflect on my actions." Zeke rubbed his chin and nodded seriously.
Then, Fu Hua hastily waved her hands, sounding somewhat flustered, "No, that's not what I meant either; I'm not saying you did anything wrong... Aiya! What am I even trying to say?!"
She covered her face with both hands, emitting a small whimper like a defeated little animal—looking utterly pitiful yet incredibly adorable at the same time.
After a moment, Fu Hua peeked through her fingers at Zeke's expression, noticing confusion and hesitation—the clear signs that Zeke was struggling to grasp her intentions, seemingly encountering quite a challenge.
"Pfft!"
Fu Hua burst out laughing, lowering her hands from her face and wiping away tears of mirth at the corners of her eyes.
In matters of love, both seemed equally clumsy and slow, yet overly earnest. Despite understanding each other's feelings for some time, they often stumbled over these small issues in their relationship.
Indeed, they were truly meant for each other!
The night sky was serene. With their powers dampening the gusting mountain winds, they transformed into a gentle, cooling breeze, perfectly dispersing the warmth brought by the charcoal brazier.
Everything felt just right.
Even Zeke, rarely known to smile, found himself grinning softly.
Boom—
Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of unease erupted within both their hearts, akin to a supercharged missile detonating in their mental domains.
"You felt it too?!" they exclaimed simultaneously, recognizing the change in each other's expressions. As soon as the words left their lips, they understood the answer mirrored their own concern.
At that moment, Zeke received a flurry of notifications from Otto, Kevin, Welt, Mobius, and others.
With a wave, he dismissed the message windows, his expression grave.
"Fu Hua, I..."
"Go ahead; you need to be at the Imperial City now, sitting on that throne, guiding everyone on what we must do."
Before Zeke could finish his farewell, Fu Hua responded by gently adjusting his collar with both hands, reminiscent of a wife tidying her husband's appearance before he leaves home. She smiled warmly.
"Alright."
Zeke nodded and stood up as a swirling, pitch-black spatial vortex opened nearby, leading towards the Imperial City.
Just as Zeke was about to step through the space tunnel, Fu Hua suddenly said:
"Zeke, I'd like to visit the World of Elysium first, is that okay?"
"...No more pretending now?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you or Little Fuxi and the others. But when I regained my senses, I realized I had been calling you 'husband' for days... How could I just admit that my memories returned? As a girl, I'm too embarrassed!" Fu Hua lamented softly.
Who could understand her feelings upon waking up and regaining her memories? How should she face Zeke, Kiana, and their friends? And what about her disciple Cheng Lixue, grand-disciple Li Sushang, and other acquaintances? The sheer embarrassment made her want to vanish underground, never to reappear again!
Shaking his head with a smile, Zeke pondered what Fu Hua might do in the World of Elysium. Finally, he replied calmly:
"Do what you must, but don't linger too long. I'll be waiting for you at the Imperial City."
"Understood. Stay strong, don't fear; no matter what lies ahead, Kiana, Bronya, Sin, and I will always stand by your side." Fu Hua embraced Zeke from behind, her words offering both comfort and encouragement as she pressed against his back.
"I know," Zeke nodded, finally stepping into the spatial vortex.
On the silent peak, Fu Hua watched as the water finally boiled, its white steam dispersing in the wind under the glow of moonlight and starshine. Yet, there was no one left to enjoy the tea.
"The winds have picked up... Ah—" With mixed emotions and a sense of melancholy, Fu Hua sighed softly. Feeling disheartened, her figure swiftly vanished amidst the breeze without bothering to clean up.