Die Wu said "Then kill me." before crossing her legs and arms, while Lu Mingxuan and Luo Ning looked at Luna with frowns. Cross didn't respond at all, Luna added "I'm gonna tell you the truth. Basically, I make the decisions around here. Jasmine, Feng Xue'er, and Jie Yuan came after me, with my permission."
Luna said coldly "I'm not going to take in every girl that walks by and create liabilities for this moron to jump headfirst into danger for." she pointed at Cross and continued "Whether I like it or not, he will protect us to his death. If even one of us dies, he'll lose control. If you thought you've seen the worst, believe me you don't want to see what happens when he's really angry."
She tapped on the table and said "If you're not fully committed to loving him with everything you have, even to the point of dying then you might as well leave, because I don't need to lose my husband because you're too weak and afraid of death. Do you understand?"
The three girls nodded and Luna rubbed her eyes, glancing at Cross before saying "Well?" Cross opened his eyes and said "You handle it, you're doing fine right now. What do you want me to say? I think I've done enough."
Luna understood the double meaning in his words and looked at him before sighing. Jasmine rolled her eyes and said "So dramatic... I'll tell you one thing, though I don't have a problem with more girls, there's a limit." Feng Xue'er added "I'd rather not share with too many sisters..." Jie Yuan hummed "Just let him do what he wants. As long as he loves us, I'll be fine with it."
Die Wu said firmly "He saved my life. I'm staying, even if you beat me to death." Lu Mingxuan giggled and said "Where am I going to find another idiot like this? I'll stay~" Luo Ning waved her fist and said "Who'll come after him? I'll beat them to death!"
Cross turned his head and spat out black blood, Ying'er cleaned his mouth with a towel as Luna said "Are you sure? I can kill you all right now." the three replied "Then do it." Luna smiled and pointed 3 fingers, 3 ethereal whales shot off her fingers and stopped right at the 3's foreheads.
They didn't even flinch and Luna pursed her lips before saying softly "Jasmine, take them to another room. They'll be there for a while~" as the whales submerged into their foreheads. Jasmine smiled and took them, hinting at Feng Xue'er and Jie Yuan to come with her.
Luna looked at Ying'er, who left the room with light steps, leaving just Cross and Luna in the room.
As soon as the door closed, Cross spat out a bucket of blood and visibly paled. Luna held her head in her palm, propped her elbow on the table as she sighed "Who are you trying to appear strong for? Don't you know we don't care whether you're strong or weak?"
Cross spat a bit of blood as he said "How much do you all sacrifice each day? I'm your pillar of support. Don't lie to me, I know it's true. If I'm here, even if the sky collapses I will hold it up." he shook his head and added "Do you think I'm blind? That I don't see all your efforts?"
Luna evaded his eyes and he said sadly "It hurts me to see that you all have to work hard and suffer because I'm not strong enough. All I want is for all of you to live happily and peacefully. Even if you were a normal person, I would still love you and protect you."
Luna teared up and shouted "But we don't want that! Look at yourself! I know you the best, do you think I don't know what you did?" she shed tears and pointed at his heart as she said "You think I don't know that you're suffering much worse than us? You can't just make a Dao-Heart out of thin air!"
He poked at herself and shouted tearfully "I see you like this and it hurts, Cross! I don't want you to fight in all 4 directions! I don't like to see you suffer! Do you know how scared I am everyday!? I don't even have the guts to look into the future anymore! I'm constantly worried that you'll just disappear from my life forever!"
She pointed at the door and continued "They might feel the same as me, but they don't even have the slightest clue as to who you used to be. To them everything is safe as long as you're here. I remember the boy who hid behind a mask! I remember the boy who lived on the streets! I know that you're hurting all the time! You think that makes me feel good?"
She slammed her fist on the table and said "Maybe to them you're invincible. But I know that you're not. This world.. It's not the same as Earth! It's not the same as the God Realm! There are real monsters here! You dive head first and keep the invincible appearance for us! You think I don't know that you're really afraid?!"
Cross was silent and didn't even dare to look at her, Luna cried "What nonsense 'For the Tree'. I couldn't care less about the Tree! I only want you! If I had known of everything beforehand I would've forced you to stay on Earth! Yeah, maybe we don't live forever! Maybe the Tree dies, maybe we get attacked and die much later, but at least you don't have to suffer like this!"
Luna shouted "Look at me!" Cross looked at her red eyes and tear stained face and felt his heart twist in pain. Luna said "I'd rather have lived a quiet life in a small house with our kids than come here. I can endure my own fears and stresses, but can you?"
Luna reached over the tabled and grabbed his lower jaw, looking right into his eyes as she said "Do you think I don't know you're on the edge? Do you truly think I don't know that you insult people much stronger than you and make them angry so that you are forced to fight without retreating?" Cross' eyes widened and his pupils shrank, Luna said "Cross. I love you. I really, really, do. With my entire being. Everything I have is only for you. In this life, the next, and every single one after that, I will always love you."
She pause for a moment before adding "But, if I lose you... Maybe the others can continue living, but I can't. You're my husband, love of my life, other half, and the light of my life. I gave up everything just for you. If I lose you after that, I can only chase after you into the next life."
Cross' eyes turned red and Luna continued "Promise me after this... After everything. We'll just live peacefully, whether there's more girls or not. Promise me." Cross' lips quivered and he said softly "I promise." Luna wiped his tears and said "Come here, baby." as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Cross pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly as he kissed her soft lips. Luna rested her head against his chest and said softly "I love you." Cross hugged her tightly as he said "I love you too, Luna." Luna smiled softly and said "3 more, eh?" Cross sighed and said "I don't chase at all." Luna giggled and said "Yeah, I know. My husband is just too powerful!"
Cross poked her nose and teased "You forgot handsome." Luna giggled and kissed him again saying "Mmm show me how handsome you are, I forgot~" Cross slipped his hands into her clothes and bit on her ear, making her moan as he said "Let me refresh your memory."
The next day
Big Boss Luna was defeated. The mini-bosses showed up halfway through but they were taken down as well. Cross fell asleep with 4 last night and there was 7 in the morning. He sat up and the girls groaned as they shifted around. He cracked his neck and got out of bed, Ying'er handed him a cup of coffee as she said "Ara Ara~ I'm jealous, Master."
Cross took the coffee and said "Do you dare sleep in that bed?" Ying'er smiled mischievously "Do I have Master's permission?" Cross laughed and said "What kind of pit are you digging for me? Do it if you want, there's 7 what's one more? Plus, since when did you need my permission to do anything? You still don't fucking listen and I made you a slave."
He sat at a table in the residence, outside his room, and drank his coffee as he ate breakfast saying with a sigh "What kind of maid did I get..." Ying'er giggled and happily skipped away, Cross shook his head, it seemed her favorite pastime was making his life difficult.
A while later
Cross and Long Chen along with everybody else came to the awards ceremony. The rewards were handed out and Cross got a little pearl, he had no idea what it was. He looked at the Huayan Company old man, but the old man just shrugged. Cross shook his head and and kept the pearl before walking away, Long Chen came up with a dark expression.
It turned out someone replaced the Dragon Scale. The Huayan Company was furious, this was basically giving the face of the entire Huayan Company a tight slap! Long Chen exploded after hearing it was the Zhao Clan that was in charge of handling the treasure.
Long Chen flew to the middle of the Silver Moon City and made a giant fire Lotus. The Zhao clan tried to say that the Golden Dragon Scale was with the Blood Killing Hall, too bad Long Chen couldn't care less.
He destroyed all the Zhan Clan's shops and properties. They were enraged and shouted at Long Chen for bullying the weak until a golden treasure chest surfaced from the ground in the middle of the Zhao Clan manor.
That's not good.
Long Chen took the chest and smiled at the Golden Dragon scale. Everything was right in the world, they went back to the residence and the major forces in Silver Moon City started moving, overnight the Zhan Clan was finished and there was now competition for the new city head.
Cross was sitting on the tree as the girls talked amongst themselves nearby. Apparently Luna had put the three under an illusion if they didn't pass they would die. The illusion was different for each of them and they didn't talk about it at all, but when they looked at Cross there was an inexplicable emotion in their eyes.
He spent most of the time with them as they waited for Bai Xiaole to wake up.
During the days that passed, Cross got a visitor. It was the man from the Wine God's Palace! He gave Cross gourd after gourd of wine and thanked him profusely for enlightening him. Cross was overwhelmed, he didn't remember enlightening anyone except the girls during this time.
The man said that after Cross spoke to him, he had a sudden enlightenment in his Wine Dao and that the wine he made was from that enlightenment. He self proclaimed that his wine was leaps and bounds better than before, though Cross didn't have a reference point he still accepted and the man said that he wanted to come to Lingxiao Academy to make wine there instead because he felt that Silver Moon City was a shit hole.
Cross had no problems and even talked to Long Chen about getting the Huayan Trading Company to make a Branch at or near the school. The man went to pack his things and said that he would build a Wine God's Palace in the school and make even take some disciples.
Long Chen thought it was a great Idea and talked to the Huayan company to see their thoughts. The old man was more than happy to expand and Long Chen got the okay from the Principal to continue and they started making plans.
Cross threw blueprints for a city at them, the old man loved them and felt that this would be a profitable business deal for them. Cross and Long Chen were hands off and the old man took care of everything, dragging the man from the Wine God's Palace with him and making him pick a building for himself.
3 days after the Convention ended
Bai Xiaole woke up and everyone left the City, going back to the school. The man and the old man stayed behind to continue their work, only saying goodbye briefly before going back to work.
Cross put all the wine into one gourd and poured some for Long Chen as they sat in the Chariot back to the school. Cross drank a few mouthfuls and a blush danced across his face. Long Chen cleared his throat and his face was a bit red as well.