Chapter 873: An emergency

Lirien moved closer to him as her body glided forward until the warm lake fully embraced her.

The water caressed her glowing skin, tracing every curve and every soft swell of her body.

She floated toward him while her full breasts rose just above the water with each slow breath.

Zhao Tian watched her approach, and his gaze softened slightly.

When she reached his side, she matched his lazy drift, their shoulders barely brushing beneath the surface.

The lake cradled them both slowly.

Lirien turned her face toward him, and her eyes reflected the relief after centuries of waiting finally eased.

A radiant smile curved her lips as she murmured, "Seeing you like this reminded me of the first Honoured One."

Hm? Glancing at her, he asked "Have you met her?"

With a nod, Lirien replied "Yes, I met her… No, more than that. I am alive because of her."

"She saved my star from the Eldritchfiends from a swarm so vast that it eclipsed our sun... but alas, I am the only surviving member from my species."

"She is the one who brought me here and gave me this place."

"I... was also her mount for a while. She would ride upon my true form… and I would carry her through the skies."

She closed her eyes for a moment and she could barely remember those old memories anymore "It's been so long..."

"I still vividly remember her slaying Eldritchfiends and even Paragons."

She opened her eyes again, staring at Zhao Tian's face, the white hair and blue eyes that carried the faintest trace of the woman she once served.

"I never thought I would see that aura again," she said softly.

Her voice dropped to a nearly soundless whisper "…thank you for appearing in this age, Honoured One."

Hearing this, he smiled faintly and without a word, he folded forward and slipped beneath the surface, diving back into the water.

Lirien followed instantly and dove into the water as she descended after him.

They swam side by side through the glowing depths as the evening sun glowed in orange shafts that danced across bare skin.

Tiny starfish scattered before them, leaving faint trails of light inside the lake.

Zhao Tian glanced sideways, and his eyes inevitably drifted to Lirien.

Her full breasts moved with each powerful stroke, swaying and jiggling softly in the gentle current as her nipples peaked from the water's caress.

She noticed his gaze and slowed, turning toward him in the water with effortless grace.

A smile curved her lips as she arched her back just enough to let her breasts rise and drift in the current, teasingly accentuating the gentle bounce.

Zhao Tian's smile widened, and he reached out, brushing his fingers along the underside of one breast in a feather-light touch.

Lirien's golden eyes half-closed in pleasure, and she rolled languidly, letting him watch the slow, hypnotic sway of her body underwater.

Then she surged upward in a burst of silver bubbles, and Zhao Tian followed as they broke the surface together.

Reaching the surface, Zhao Tian swept his hand back, pushing away strands of wet hair that clung to his cheeks.

Droplets traced down his jaw, catching the shimmering lake light as he blinked toward Lirien.

She floated beside him, her luminous body gently rising and falling with the rhythm of the water.

At this time, he felt a familiar presence rushing towards the lake and turned his head to the meadow.

There he saw Eira hurriedly walking towards him "H-Honoured One, emergency... Mother wants you to come back to the Citadel."

Hm? He frowned slightly and asked, "What happened, EIra?"

With a shake of her head, she spoke "She didn't give me any details... she just asked me to bring you back immediately."

He glanced at Lirien and spoke "Lirien, I will come and see you later..."

Lirian bowed her head and replied in a calm tone "I will wait by this lake for your arrival, Revered One."

...

Dashing through the air, the wind whipped their faces as Eira spoke "Mother seemed to be really anxious."

Zhao Tian frowned slightly upon hearing this 'What could have even happened?'

They soon reached the citadel, and Eira brought him to another secluded room.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, illuminated almost entirely by holographic screens that floated in midair, forming a half-circle around the central console.

As both of them entered, Sylmeria, who was sitting on her seat, turned her head and stood up "Honoured One..."

Walking to her, Zhao Tian asked "What happened."

With a hesitant breath, Sylmeria swiped her hand, and a message popped up on the holographic screen.

'WE KNOW THAT THE HONOURED ONE IS WITHIN THE ELVEN STAR, SURRENDER HIM TO US, OR YOUR STAR WILL FACE OUR WRATH.'

'YOU HAVE TWO DAYS TO CHOOSE.'

Hm? Zhao Tian's gaze narrowed slightly, and he asked "Any idea who they are?"

With a shake of her head, Sylmeria spoke "No definitive identification. Their signature was masked, and all tracing algorithms failed to lock onto their origin."

"But I do have solid guesses... it might be Space Pirates, or maybe another Apex High Star like us... or maybe the Fallen Mandate organization."

Eira was taken aback to see this "But how come they know that the Honoured One is in our star? It is confidential information."

Sylmeria frowned slightly "Only my maids and the Elder Council know that the Honoured One is here."

"But... they are very trustworthy to us and will never betray the Elven Star. They have served the star for centuries."

Sylmeria slowly closed her eyes "There are only two possibilities."

"Either they are far more powerful than we realize, and maybe even the Astral Realm is involved in this… or something had infiltrated our star long before we noticed."

Opening her eyes, she looked at Zhao Tian "Whoever it is, they are directly targeting you."

Zhao Tian's gaze condensed, and he glanced at the message on the screen "Two days..."

"You said something about that Fallen Mandate Organization... do you know any more details about it?"

"I remember confronting one of the members from that organization in the past."

(A.n: It was chapter 544 and 550)

Nodding her head, Sylmeria replied "They are the most dangerous organization in High Stars."

"They are like the people who control the High Stars from the underworld, and their influence reaches till the Astral Realm."

"They have a hand in almost everything that is happening in the High Stars and shape the criminal network."

"Also, their main branch is in Astral Realm too. Their influence is just that powerful."

With a sigh, she spoke "I don't know how they found out that the Honored One is in our star."

Her fingers moved through the air, enlarging a projection of the Elven Star.

A shimmering barrier glowed gently around the entire planet.

"Because we have this barrier around our star created by the First Honoured One making it impossible to send any messages to other stars."

"And... we have left only one channel for anyone to contact us. We got the message through that line."

Zhao Tian frowned slightly and spoke "Call the elders from the Elder Council, I want to meet them."

Sylmeria blinked in confusion, but then she nodded her head "As you wish, Honoured One."