Two hours later, night had fully fallen.
Tie Shan Xian slowly arched her fair body and rolled across Axel's chest, reaching toward the nearby candle.
The moment she moved, Axel opened his eyes.
Without warning, he leaned forward and bit lightly against her chest.
Tie Shan Xian trembled immediately, a muffled sound escaping her lips.
"Great Sage…"
"Mmm."
Axel ignored her soft voice and continued teasing her leisurely, making her body shiver again and again.
Tie Shan Xian forced herself to suppress the sounds rising from her throat before finally sitting upright beside him, her legs pressed tightly together.
She gently pulled Axel's head against her lap and leaned back slightly, allowing him to do as he pleased.
Her body, neglected for far too many years, had already been completely overwhelmed in just a single day.
Even now, fear and unease still lingered in her heart.
Yet she could not deny the strange warmth spreading through her lower abdomen as Axel rested against her.
Looking down at him, Tie Shan Xian sighed softly.
What else could she do now?
She only hoped Axel would show mercy to both her and her child in the future.
Perhaps sensing the change in her emotions, Axel lightly bit down once more before finally lifting himself from her lap.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back onto the bed.
Holding her from behind, Axel leaned close to her ear and inhaled the faint fragrance of her messy silver hair.
"Princess."
"Ah?"
Tie Shan Xian stiffened immediately and instinctively tried to turn around properly.
Axel simply patted her shoulder.
"There's no need to be so nervous. I may act recklessly, but I'm sincere. You'll understand eventually."
"Great Sage…"
Tie Shan Xian lowered her eyes, her voice carrying a faint tremble.
Axel gently stroked her hair while smiling faintly.
"Princess, since I've taken you as mine, even if the Grand Supreme Elder personally appeared, I still wouldn't let you go.
If you don't believe me, I can head to Tushita Palace right now and prove it."
"Great Sage!"
Tie Shan Xian suddenly grabbed his wrist tightly.
"Please stop saying such reckless things.
This humble woman already has no one left to rely on. If not for your protection, I wouldn't even know how to survive from now on.
I admire your boldness, truly, but storming Tushita Palace is madness."
After speaking, she realized her tone had become too harsh.
Tie Shan Xian immediately softened her expression before turning around to face him directly.
She gently cupped Axel's face and spoke quietly.
"It isn't that this humble woman looks down on you. It's because I understand how terrifying those people truly are.
If it's causing chaos in Heaven, then perhaps you really can accomplish it. With Erlang Shen and the others helping you, there may even come a day when Heaven grants you a title.
But the Three Pure Ones are different.
The Buddha is different.
And the Jade Emperor is even more terrifying."
As she spoke, genuine worry filled her eyes.
Tie Shan Xian was not foolish enough to believe herself deeply in love after a single day.
But she had lived long enough to understand reality.
She and the Bull Demon King were already divorced.
Red Boy was no longer favored by Guanyin.
At this point, she truly had no support left.
Titles and status could only protect someone temporarily.
In the end, a woman still needed a capable man willing to stand in front of her.
Unfortunately, the man who now held her in his arms was arrogant enough to challenge Heaven itself.
Tie Shan Xian could only sigh helplessly before resting quietly against Axel's chest.
Axel suddenly smiled.
"Wife."
Tie Shan Xian's body instantly tensed.
The single word made her heart beat faster.
She nervously raised her eyes toward him.
Axel rubbed her cheek gently before tracing a thumb across her lips.
"Since my wife thinks the Three Pure Ones and the Jade Emperor are so extraordinary, why not explain it properly to your husband?
If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to understand?"
"Husband…"
Tie Shan Xian repeated the word softly, her heart trembling again.
After a moment, she slowly placed a hand against Axel's chest and nodded.
"Then listen carefully.
As for the origins of Heaven and Earth, or how immortals first appeared, those things are too ancient for someone like me to truly know.
But there is one thing everyone understands.
The Buddhas, immortals, and countless heavenly officials have changed generation after generation throughout history.
Only the Three Pure Ones, the Buddhas of the Three Ages, and the Jade Emperor have remained unchanged.
No one knows how long they have existed.
Especially the Jade Emperor.
Rumor says he has endured countless kalpas, each lasting 129,600 years.
Just imagining that amount of time is terrifying."
As she spoke, Tie Shan Xian suddenly worried she might be provoking Axel's pride instead.
Her tone softened further.
She rested her cheek against his chest while her silver hair scattered across his shoulder.
"Great Sage, I'm not trying to discourage you.
But those beings have simply existed for too long.
Even an ordinary creature would become terrifying after living through that many ages.
And the Jade Emperor has survived countless calamities one after another.
No one truly knows how powerful he is.
That's why I don't want you throwing yourself into danger."
Tie Shan Xian slowly looked up at him, concern written clearly across her face.
Under the moonlight, her pale silver hair framed her beautiful expression perfectly.
Axel stared at her for a moment before suddenly laughing.
"Of course you should worry about me. If you didn't, then I'd have a real problem."
He sat up slightly and pulled her closer.
"As for the future, we'll handle it one step at a time.
Right now, no matter what I say, you'll only think I'm arrogant.
Even defeating Erlang Shen wouldn't silence everyone's doubts.
But later, once you truly see what I can do, maybe you'll be the one eager to slap the Jade Emperor yourself."
Tie Shan Xian looked at him helplessly.
Axel leaned closer to her ear and whispered something quietly.
In an instant, her face turned completely red, even the tips of her ears flushing with heat.
Axel burst into laughter afterward.
Tie Shan Xian could only raise her delicate hand and lightly hit his chest.
"Great Sage… honestly…"