Ophelia noticed the concerned look on Luo Wei's face and smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry," she said.
"My father mentioned in his letter that after our ancestor has eaten its fill, it will go back to sleep. This has happened before in history. As long as we offer a sufficient sacrifice, everything will be fine."
"A sufficient sacrifice..." Luo Wei frowned as he looked at her. "It's not you, is it?"
"No," Ophelia shook her head. "Perhaps because of my bloodline, the ancestor didn't attack me. And..."
She glanced at Luo Wei. "My father has prepared a thousand prisoners as the sacrifice. They're currently stationed in the military camp outside the dragon's tomb."
"A thousand prisoners..." Luo Wei muttered to himself. The old emperor truly spared no expense.
At the same time, he couldn't help but think that this must be the greatest secret and trump card of the Wigner royal family.
An immortal ancestor, a monstrous guardian of the family...
Even if Antius wasn't a god, he was undoubtedly a quasi-deity, perhaps even the leader of the "Nightmares," something like the "Nightmare King"...
No wonder the old emperor had always been so confident...
With a quasi-deity like this protecting the family, the Wigner royal family could be considered the most powerful supernatural family within the empire. As long as no true deity interfered, the old emperor truly had nothing to fear.
But he probably never expected that there would be powerful beings with too much time on their hands who enjoyed stirring up trouble in Saint Callen City...
Luo Wei silently recalled the mischievous grin of a dark-skinned little girl.
...
As they continued talking, the night grew darker, and a cold crescent moon peeked out from the clouds.
Ophelia looked at Luo Wei. "It's getting late. I still have a lot to deal with here. You should go back and rest."
Luo Wei nodded, thinking about her still being in the tomb, and said, "Take care of yourself. Don't worry about me."
"How could I not worry..."
Ophelia suddenly gave him a resentful look. "Just thinking about that witch being by your side makes it hard for me to sleep..."
Luo Wei immediately caught a whiff of jealousy wafting across the seas...
Ophelia snorted coldly. Her translucent figure stepped closer and poked Luo Wei's chest.
"Behave yourself over there, you hear me?"
"Don't go getting all cozy with that witch! Understand?"
Luo Wei put on an innocent expression. "You're jumping to conclusions again. I haven't done anything! I'm completely innocent!"
Ophelia narrowed her eyes suspiciously, scrutinizing Luo Wei's micro-expressions.
"Rea—lly?"
Luo Wei nodded. "Really."
Seeing his serious expression, Ophelia's face broke into a half-smile.
"But..."
"Just because you're innocent now doesn't mean you'll stay that way in the future!"
In an instant, her shadowy figure appeared beside Luo Wei. Ophelia leaned close to his ear and whispered with a playful smile:
"Not to worry, though. I have this ring."
"Remember this~"
"I'm watching you!"
Luo Wei looked at her, her pale eyes staring unblinkingly at him. Ophelia added with emphasis:
"Every moment!"
"Hmph!"
After saying this, she gazed at Luo Wei, her smile faint as her shadowy figure grew increasingly transparent.
Finally, she vanished completely from Luo Wei's sight.
Only Luo Wei remained on the hillside. He stared out at the endless dark sea, shivering as the cold sea breeze brushed against his face.
The nights in the coastal town were particularly chilly. Luo Wei hugged his arms and was about to head back toward the building when...
A strange sound came from the darkness ahead.
Luo Wei looked in that direction and saw Evelyn gradually emerging from the shadows.
"Huh? Teacher Evelyn? What are you doing here?"
"Of course, I'm here," Evelyn said with a hint of annoyance. "I've been searching for you all day outside. Helena was almost frantic with worry. And here you are, back on your own."
"Sorry, Teacher..." Luo Wei offered an apologetic smile.
Evelyn sighed helplessly.
"No need to apologize. It's not your fault."
Seeing Luo Wei shivering from the cold, her expression softened. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's get you back inside where it's warm. There's still plenty of dinner left. I'll heat it up for you."
"Teacher, you're the best~" Luo Wei said with a touched smile.
He truly felt moved, especially after such an exhausting and bizarre day. His nerves had been stretched to the limit, and he was utterly drained... Yet, upon returning, he was greeted by the gentle and caring Teacher Evelyn...
Luo Wei was almost moved to tears...
"You brat, why are you looking at me like that? It's so off-putting..."
Evelyn feigned annoyance, though the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
The two of them walked back to the mansion's courtyard together. Evelyn looked at Luo Wei's silly grin and suddenly asked:
"Since you say I'm so great, I have to ask—what exactly is so great about me?"
Luo Wei stopped and looked at her intently.
"Teacher, you're great in every way. You're the best~"
Evelyn also stopped, her smile growing softer.
She playfully ruffled Luo Wei's hair. "You're such a smooth talker. You really know how to sweet-talk, don't you? Aren't you afraid that control freak who said she's watching you might hear?"
Luo Wei looked at her. "Teacher, did you hear everything just now?"
"I heard a bit..." Evelyn mumbled. "I went out to look for you but couldn't find you after circling the town several times. I thought you might have gone off to spend the night with your old flame. Imagine my surprise when I came back and saw you chatting with the Fifth Princess on the hillside..."
"Oh..." Luo Wei nodded, then chuckled. "Teacher, it's not as serious as you make it out to be."
In truth, Ophelia's warning was more of a scare tactic... After all, the ring's magic had its limits.
Besides, even if she saw something, so what? After all, "Luo Wei Fears No Love Triangle!"
Once Ophelia logged off, Luo Wei's confidence soared.
Evelyn glanced at Luo Wei, clearly skeptical.
"You don't believe me?" Seeing Evelyn's expression, Luo Wei decided to test it out.
He quietly looked around the dark surroundings of the mansion and whispered:
"Ophelia, were you... watching me just now?"
A moment passed.
The surroundings were silent, save for the distant sound of the waves.
"See, Teacher..."
Just as Luo Wei turned back to Evelyn with a smile—
A soft, cool kiss landed on his lips, light and fleeting.
Luo Wei stared at Evelyn, who maintained a serious expression despite having just sneakily kissed him, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Teacher, what are you..."
Evelyn smiled playfully. "Don't misunderstand. This was just an experiment to see if she could detect it. The results are in now."
"Huh?"
Luo Wei was momentarily stunned, looking at her in confusion.
Then, noticing the mischievous glint in her eyes, he shook his head and laughed helplessly.
"Teacher, you're really..."
Evelyn giggled, not giving him a chance to finish, and stepped forward to open the mansion's door.
The fire in the hearth crackled softly, filling the room with warmth and comfort. Helena was curled up on the couch in front of the fireplace, already fast asleep.
Perhaps stirred by their voices, Helena shifted uneasily, murmuring in her sleep.
"Brother..."
Luo Wei tiptoed over and gently carried her petite frame to her room, carefully tucking her in.
The chaotic day came to an end in the quiet, home-like tranquility.