NOVPUBAfter traveling continuously throughout the day, Yuan and his wives decided to take a break for the night near a river. They planned to set up camp and sleep inside their carriage.
Jones, who was driving the carriage, immediately began watering the horses before setting up a small tent for himself. He also erected a magical barrier around the campsite to ward off any monsters.
Once he finished setting up the barrier, he headed to the river to fetch fresh water so the women could begin preparing dinner for everyone.
Meanwhile, Miss Zara chopped vegetables and meat for grilling, also setting aside some for soup. Aside from that, Yuan planned to cook something special for his wives tonight.
It was a dish he had loved back when he lived on Earth in his previous life. He remembered the process clearly, having cooked it often in his small rented apartment. He had no family and little money then, so he had to cook his own meals.
This not only helped him survive but also taught him how to make many delicious dishes, saving quite a lot in the process.
Yuan quickly retrieved a large piece of rare meat from his system storage and chopped it into bite-sized chunks—enough for everyone, given their hearty appetites.
Then, he chopped some onions, garlic, and ginger—the most expensive of the ingredients. He added potatoes and a few carrots as well, for both nutrition and flavor.
Next, he prepared the spices while heating oil in a copper pot. Soon after, he began cooking. Anna, Grace, and the others watched him curiously, having no idea what he was making.
"Mom, do you have any idea what he's cooking? It smells amazing," Lily whispered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I have no idea, dear. Why don't you ask him yourself?" Anna replied with a soft chuckle. She too could tell that Yuan was making something truly delicious.
Hearing this, a mysterious smile formed on Lily's face as she looked at her younger brother—Yuan.
'Not again…' Emma and the others sighed as they saw that look on Lily's face.
They already knew what she was about to do—take advantage of the situation to flirt with Yuan.
Lily slowly approached Yuan and hugged him from behind, pressing her cheek against his and her chest against his back. He could immediately feel the soft sensation.
"What are you making, Dear?" she asked. Her voice was soft and sweet, soothing to the ears, making Yuan smile gently as he heard it.
"I'm making a type of curry I used to cook in my past life. I just felt like making it today since I haven't had the opportunity to eat it in this world," Yuan replied right away, stirring the chopped meat with a soft smile on his face.
He then stopped stirring, looked at her with warmth in his eyes, and pulled her face close, kissing her on the lips.
"And I'm sure you'll like the curry I'm making," he said after the kiss ended, still smiling at her. "Go help Miss Zara with the bread—this way, we'll save some time."
A few minutes later, they all had dinner. Everything turned out absolutely delicious, and everyone filled their bellies until they could eat no more. 𝖓𝔬𝖛𝔭𝔲𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
Since the surroundings were peaceful and the atmosphere serene, they all decided to sit by the campfire, enjoying the moment as they chatted and shared a drink.
As cultivators, a little alcohol wouldn't hurt them, so they agreed to indulge in a drink while enjoying the beautiful night.
Yuan retrieved a few bottles of fine red wine—the best available in the Imperial Capital City of the Lionheart Empire.
"This wine tastes delightful…" Vanessa murmured with a soft smile as she took a sip from her wine glass.
"Indeed. It doesn't have that strange smell most wines have, and it's not bitter either," Valeria added with a smile, downing her glass in one go.
"This is my first time trying alcohol, so I don't have much to say about the texture or taste, but it's considerably sweeter than I expected. It actually feels quite good," Yuan said as he took his first sip. He didn't find the taste strange—in fact, he rather liked it.
"I can't believe I'm sharing a drink with my son. This is actually quite exciting," Anna said with a bright smile, glancing at Yuan from the corner of her eyes.
"Don't fuss over something like that—it's only natural for us to share a drink with Darling. After all, we've shared far more than just a simple drink," Grace said with a cold tone, finishing her wine in one go, surprising Yuan. He had never seen his mother drink before.
She then looked at Yuan with a seductive gaze and asked, "Isn't that right, Darling?"
"Absolutely, Mom," Yuan nodded with a smile and turned his gaze to the sky. The moon was bright—and breathtakingly beautiful.
—
A Wyvern soared swiftly through the clouds under the beautiful moonlight, tearing the skies apart. Its metallic scales shimmered brilliantly in the moon's glow.
Roar! The Wyvern let out a thunderous roar as it flew, its sharp fangs glinting menacingly—easily capable of crushing bones to powder. Its massive claws, razor-sharp, could tear through magical armor like paper.
On the Wyvern's back sat three figures—First Commander Conrad of the Holy Knights, and the two summoned Heroes: Kael and Zane.
"Sir Conrad, how far are we from that bastard and his group? I can't wait to beat him to a pulp and take his women for myself," Kael asked with a cold, sinister grin. His lust for the women was written plainly on his face.
"Leave some for me, will ya? I've got a score to settle with that bastard too. I'm itching to smash his pretty face," Zane said with a smug expression, his thirst for revenge clear since returning to the Holy Empire.
Whenever he tried to sleep, the image of Yuan beating him brutally haunted his mind. He had never been humiliated like that—neither in this world nor the one he came from.
"Keep your cool, you two. Don't get ahead of yourselves. Remember—you've already been beaten once. Even Archbishop Gregor, a powerful mage, wasn't a match for just one of that bastard's women," Conrad said, shaking his head at their words, visibly irritated by their boundless arrogance.
Hearing that, both Kael and Zane's faces twisted in fury. It felt like they had swallowed live flies.
'I'll skin that bastard for humiliating me like that! He must pay—for disgracing me, the Hero of Holy Light!' Kael screamed internally, consumed by rage.
'I have to reclaim my dignity as a Hero by taking that bastard's life!' Zane echoed in his thoughts, his fury deepening as he recalled Yuan's smug face.
The two heroes fumed in silence as the Wyvern sped through the night. The long ride was making them restless—they were impatient for revenge. But Conrad didn't utter a word in response to their frustrations. He knew their obsession stemmed from petty revenge, which, in his eyes, was pathetic.
A true warrior with strong will shouldn't be consumed by vengeance. That didn't mean revenge had no place—but one should never let it become their only purpose.
Their top priority should be becoming strong—so strong that no one would dare challenge them. Strong enough to defeat anyone in this world without question.
After all, their ultimate goal was to defeat the Demon Emperor of the Dark Continent—a land infested with monstrous beasts, powerful demons, and terrifying demonic races.
Aside from the looming threat of demonic invasion against the Holy Church, a great war was brewing. There wasn't much time before an all-out war would erupt between the Lionheart Empire and the Holy Church.
"Both of you, prepare yourselves. I think I've found their campsite," Conrad said, his tone serious as his sharp gaze locked onto a distant flicker. "I'm not entirely certain it's them, though. There's only one carriage… and it's quite large. Probably a merchant caravan."
From their vantage point in the sky, they could easily spot objects miles away. Conrad, who had trained hard in enhancing his magical sense, could now detect things up to one or two kilometers away.
"What if they're not Yuan and his group?" Kael asked, curious, his eyes fixed on the distant glow of the campfire.
Conrad turned to them with a chilling grin, his bright blue eyes suddenly glowing with magical energy.
He chuckled coldly. "It doesn't matter if it's them or not. We'll eliminate anyone we find camping there. It's the best strategy we've got."
Upon hearing this, Kael and Zane shuddered, shocked at first. They looked at Conrad, wide-eyed, wanting to say something—but no words came out.
'That's… cruel. But I like this plan. It's fast and efficient,' Kael thought.
'We'll wipe them out in one swoop. This is perfect,' Zane mused with a vicious grin.
Both of them couldn't help but smile wickedly. Conrad's plan was ruthless, but it was the most effective way to eliminate Yuan and his group without giving them a chance to prepare.
"Let's move. We don't have time to waste," Conrad ordered, commanding the Wyvern to close the distance to the camp.
"We understand," Kael and Zane replied in unison with serious expressions, their excitement growing at the thought of seeing Yuan's face filled with despair.
Meanwhile, Yuan and his wives were still enjoying the peaceful comfort of the campfire. They continued chatting happily, exchanging stories and laughter.
Several bottles of wine were already empty, yet none of them were drunk—except for Princess Livia and Aisha. Everyone else felt perfectly fine. A gentle breeze passed through, but they noticed nothing unusual.
Suddenly, Yuan paused mid-sip and gazed at the sky, specifically toward the moon. His expression shifted as he instantly released his Divine Sense, stretching it out across a ten-kilometer radius.
Within moments, he detected a Wyvern approaching—and immediately recognized two familiar faces riding it. His gaze turned sharp and serious.
"I figured we'd encounter someone from the Holy Church, given we're in their territory," Valeria said, a wide grin forming on her face as she stared in the same direction. "But I never thought it would be 'him'—Conrad, the strongest man in the world."
