“How is that possible? Aina, what are you saying?” Xia Lun was somewhat incredulous. “We didn’t leave behind any descendants back then.”
Aina’s race was the Blood Clan, which people commonly referred to as vampires. As the highest-ranking existence among them, Aina had even surpassed the Blood Clan’s progenitor, possessing a lifespan so long it was almost eternal.
Genetically, there was a certain degree of reproductive isolation between Aina and Xia Lun, making the probability of conception very, very low, though not zero… In other words, it could be compensated for by sheer number of attempts; there would always be a time when they hit the mark.
“Have you forgotten, Xia Lun? We once had a child…” Aina slowly said.
Warren De stood rooted to the spot, not daring to interject a single word.
Xia Lun’s expression then changed, and some unpleasant memories surged into his mind: “Aise?”
“Yes, it’s Aise, your biological son.” Aina nodded slowly.
Aise was Xia Lun and Aina’s first child, and currently their only one.
Xia Lun had personally executed him, piercing his heart with a longsword.
Distant memories surfaced in Xia Lun’s mind.
“Father… I love you.” After spitting out blood, Aise’s face cracked into a grotesque smile. “I will become the shadow in your heart that you can never forget…”
Aise was a monster.
Although he wore human skin and was the son of a Hero, he was a born evil seed, the embodiment of wickedness. No matter how Xia Lun and Aina tried to discipline him, they couldn’t change his inherent nature… Ultimately, after he committed a grave error, Xia Lun personally ended his life.
“Don’t overthink it, Xia Lun, don’t dwell on that scoundrel. This isn’t your fault.” Aina hugged Xia Lun’s arm. “I could have done it for you back then, but you wouldn’t allow it…”
“You are his mother, Aina.”
“I don’t have much affection for him. He was merely an accidental product of our pleasure. I only gave birth to him because you hoped we could have a crystallization of our love… To me, you are the most important.”
“Don’t say that, Aise is our child.” Xia Lun said softly.
“You’re just too kind, that’s why he hurt you like this…”
Warren De stood motionless, his expression unchanged. He had no right to interject now.
Mida finished the ice crystal and looked full, then lay down on the soft animal skin rug.
“Then he is…”
Xia Lun looked at Warren De again.
“The maid who was violated by Aise back then became pregnant with Aise’s offspring.” Aina explained in a rather nonchalant tone. “That maid secretly gave birth to Aise’s child.”
“Why would she do that?” Xia Lun couldn’t help but ask.
“According to the diary she left behind, by the time she discovered she was pregnant, she had already missed the window for an abortion. If she forced the abortion, her life might also be in danger.”
Medical standards back then weren’t that advanced, and the maid certainly didn’t have the means to find a high-level healing mage.
“Then… why didn’t she come to us?” Xia Lun asked again.
“You are a great Hero.” Aina leaned on Xia Lun’s shoulder. “After being violated by Aise… she felt that she and her child would disgrace your reputation…”
“How could that be!” Xia Lun’s voice suddenly grew louder. “Was it me… did I not do enough in my daily life? Is that why she didn’t trust me?”
“No, you’ve done very well, you are the most outstanding Hero…” Aina gently patted Xia Lun’s back. “She was originally going to be sold by her family to become a prostitute, but you bought her back… And she had already earned a considerable amount of money working for our family, enough for her to live without worries. Later, because of Aise’s matter, she received a large sum in compensation… She was very grateful to you, and she admired you greatly, so she didn’t want her situation to become a blemish on your name, and she kept the matter hidden.”
Xia Lun took a deep breath, a hint of unbearable pity in his eyes: “What a… foolish child. If it could bring her happiness, my reputation is completely irrelevant.”
“Don’t worry, Aise’s child was very filial to her.” Aina held Xia Lun’s hand again. “She lived her life peacefully… She recorded all these things in her diary and instructed her descendants to strictly guard this secret… It wasn’t until a crisis befell their family in the fifth generation that they were forced to come to me for help. After I verified their family’s bloodline, I began to have some communication with them.
Although your descendants didn’t inherit much of my Blood Clan bloodline, it’s still enough for them to live for hundreds of years.”
Xia Lun nodded. Fifth generation… he would have already been dead by then.
So, Warren De was his eleventh-generation descendant?
“But, why does he call you by your name directly?”
“Why else?” Aina retorted. “I told him to call me that. Would you rather he call me great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother? To let everyone know how old I am?”
“How could that be, Aina… In my heart, you are always just coming of age.”
“Hmph, my appearance has always remained this way.” Aina let out a delicate snort.
Warren De was somewhat bewildered at this moment. He had never imagined that an existence like Aina would also show such a sweet and innocent side.
Xia Lun looked at Warren De again, his gaze much softer: “My apologies… child, I misunderstood earlier.”
Warren De snapped back to attention and smiled shyly at Xia Lun: “Then I should address you as… Ancestor.”
“Forget it, just like Aina, you can call me by my name.” Xia Lun waved his hand.
After his body became younger, his mentality also became younger. Having Warren De, who looked older than him, call him Ancestor… Xia Lun actually felt a bit strange about it.
“Then… alright, Xia Lun.” Warren De didn’t stand on ceremony.
After all, Aina called him that, so Xia Lun wouldn’t be any different.
“This kid’s adaptability is quite strong.” Xia Lun whispered to Aina.
“Of course. I looked after him for a while when he was little.” Aina transmitted her reply. “None of your other descendants were very promising; I couldn’t be bothered with them… Only Warren De’s magical talent is quite good.”
To be seen favorably by Aina… then Warren De’s talent truly was impressive, Xia Lun thought to himself.
“So then… Warren De, what brings you here to see me?” Aina pointed to a chair nearby. “Also, please sit.”
“Yes, Aina.”
Xia Lun was somewhat surprised. Although Warren De addressed Aina by her name, he actually seemed quite afraid of her, standing there until Aina spoke.
Warren De began: “Recently… a group of cultists has appeared within the Alan Empire. They have secretly blood-sacrificed several villages, attempting to revive the evil god they worship.”
Aina narrowed her eyes: “Oh? Are they very strong? You can’t handle them?”
“No… I’ve already annihilated all the troublemakers… There are still some who are too deeply hidden to be caught for now.” Warren De replied, then glanced at Xia Lun. “It’s just that… they refer to the evil god they worship as… ‘Hero’.”