Chapter 249. Reward*

After settling the remaining matters, Aion glanced at the members of the Pagoda of Hope. His expression was as calm as ever, and his voice carried a casual indifference that contrasted sharply with the chaos still unfolding across the battlefield.

"Deal with the remaining flies."

Having delivered those words, he disappeared from his original position and appeared beside Jin and Nox. He said nothing more, simply standing there as though the outcome of the battle had never been in doubt.

Jin looked toward the battlefield, while Nox remained quietly beside him. The three watched as the members of the Pagoda of Hope brought the remaining enemies under control.

Most importantly, the losses suffered by the Pagoda of Hope were almost negligible.

It did not even take an hour to deal with the remaining enemies and begin handling the aftermath of the battle.

Once everything had been brought under control, Jin gave the elders the necessary instructions. They would oversee the remaining arrangements, secure the reclaimed territories, and ensure that no unresolved threats remained behind.

With those responsibilities entrusted to capable hands, Jin finally turned away from the battlefield.

He left with Aion and Nox.

However, the consequences of the battle were only beginning to spread.

When news of the Pagoda of Hope’s latest victory reached the major forces, many were left deeply shocked. They had already been wary of the Pagoda, but the speed and efficiency with which it had dealt with its opponents forced them to reconsider their previous assumptions.

The Ancient Forest Realm was going to change.

That much had become increasingly obvious.

Some of the major forces considered applying pressure to the Pagoda of Hope before its influence grew any further. Yet, after examining the situation, they realized that such a plan would accomplish little.

Unlike the other organizations that had established a presence in the Ancient Forest Realm from outside, the Pagoda of Hope was a force that had grown within the realm itself.

Nevertheless, Jin paid little attention to what those forces might be thinking.

He had other concerns occupying his mind.

More specifically, he was thinking about the reward Aion had mentioned.

The moment his thoughts wandered in that direction, warmth crept up his cheeks.

That shameless snake...

Jin tried to push the thought aside, only for his imagination to betray him again.

His face grew warmer.

Beside him, Nox noticed the change in his expression but chose not to comment. Aion, however, glanced at Jin with a faint smile that suggested he had already guessed what was occupying his lover’s mind.

Jin immediately looked away.

He was not going to give that shameless man the satisfaction of seeing him become even more embarrassed.

Soon, the three arrived on the sixth floor.

Aion finally turned toward him. He flashed an affectionate smile he reserved for Jin.

"Honey, what about my reward?"

Jin froze.

After a brief hesitation, he nodded.

Aion’s lips curved upward.

However, his smile soon turned mischievous.

"Why are you nodding? My reward wasn’t a nod from you."

Jin’s embarrassment immediately transformed into resentment.

I knew it. I knew he wouldn’t let me off so easily.

He glared at Aion, who appeared thoroughly pleased with himself. The silver-haired man showed not the slightest intention of easing Jin’s predicament. If anything, he seemed to be enjoying every second of it.

Jin decided that if Aion wanted to play games, he could hardly complain about the consequences.

Without warning, Jin turned toward Nox, reached up, and kissed him.

For an instant, the entire room seemed to fall silent.

Aion’s smile disappeared.

Nox was equally caught off guard. His eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, he seemed unable to believe that Jin had taken the initiative so unexpectedly.

Then Jin drew back just enough to look at him.

A faint, crafty glimmer appeared in Jin’s eyes.

It was a small act of retaliation, but the result was immediate.

Aion’s expression darkened.

He stared at Nox, then at Jin, as though he had just witnessed a particularly outrageous betrayal. His earlier satisfaction had vanished, replaced by unmistakable jealousy.

Jin nearly laughed at the sight.

So you can be embarrassed, too.

Unfortunately, his moment of triumph did not last long.

Aion recovered quickly. With a movement of his hand, he used his spiritual energy to draw Nox away, placing him at a distance before turning his full attention toward Jin.

Before Jin could prepare another clever response, Aion caught him and kissed him.

The suddenness of the gesture stole Jin’s breath.

Aion’s kiss was nothing like the gentle teasing that had preceded it. It carried the intensity of someone who had endured far too long without being able to express everything he felt. His arms held Jin close, and the possessiveness in his movements made his feelings unmistakable.

Jin’s eyes widened briefly before they gradually closed.

He could feel Aion’s jealousy, but beneath it lay something deeper.

Passion. Affection. And a fear of losing the happiness he had finally found.

Aion had lived through more than five eons. For someone who had endured such an immeasurable span of time, happiness was not something he could take for granted. Whatever he had experienced before meeting Jin, the life he shared with him had become something precious.

Aion wanted to hold on to it.

He wanted to believe that the happiness he had found would not disappear the moment he loosened his grip.

Jin gradually understood the feelings hidden beneath that possessive kiss.

And instead of pushing Aion away, he responded.

He did not want to remain on the receiving end of Aion’s affection forever. If Aion wanted reassurance, Jin could give it to him in his own way.

He wrapped his arms around Aion and returned the kiss.

This time, his response was gentler.

There was no teasing in it, no intention of winning an argument. It was simply Jin expressing what he sometimes struggled to put into words: he had chosen Aion, and he was not planning to abandon him.

The tension in Aion’s expression gradually eased.

For a little while, neither of them paid attention to anything beyond the other.

Nox watched them quietly.

He concealed his expression well, but that did not mean he felt nothing. A part of him wanted to step forward and join them. Yet, he understood Aion’s temperament well enough to know that interrupting the silver snake at a moment like this would be unwise.

Aion’s jealousy was hardly a new discovery.

Nox had long since accepted that certain things would always be difficult when it came to sharing Jin with him.

Still, acceptance did not mean surrender.

Nox had no intention of giving up his own opportunity to express his affection.

He quietly approached from behind and rested his face against Jin’s neck.

Jin felt the familiar warmth and glanced toward him in surprise. For a moment, he hesitated, but he did not reject Nox’s closeness.

Instead, he allowed Nox to remain beside him.

Nox’s presence was different from Aion’s. Where Aion’s affection was intense and possessive, Nox’s was gentle and reassuring. He seemed content simply to stay close, as though the opportunity to share this moment with Jin was already something worth cherishing.

He pressed a soft kiss against Jin’s neck.

Jin’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

He understood Nox better than he sometimes admitted. Nox had known loneliness from the beginning of his life. Apart from Aion and Jin, he had possessed very few people he could truly call his own.

For Nox, their relationship was more than affection or companionship. It was the assurance that he would no longer have to face everything alone.

His quiet gestures carried a promise he rarely needed to speak aloud.

I’m here. I’m not leaving you.

Jin understood.

And he had already made his decision.

He loved both of them. He had accepted them into his life, and he had no intention of stepping away from the responsibilities that came with that choice.

He would not allow Aion’s possessiveness or Nox’s quiet longing to become reasons for either of them to doubt their place beside him.

The three remained close for a while, their earlier teasing gradually giving way to a more peaceful moment.

Eventually, Jin drew back enough to catch his breath.

He lowered his head, intending to gather himself, only to notice the faint marks Aion had left on his skin.

His eyes widened.

He stared at Aion in disbelief.

Aion, who had been watching him with an expression of quiet satisfaction, raised an eyebrow.

"Honey," he said, his voice carrying unmistakable amusement, "you were so lost in enjoying yourself that you didn’t even notice what was happening around you."

Jin’s face turned red all over again.

"Aion!"

The silver snake merely smiled.

Jin had barely managed to recover his composure when Aion leaned closer, his attention shifting toward him once more. The mischievous glint in his eyes warned Jin that he was about to say something equally shameless.

Jin immediately grew wary.

"Aion, stop."

His voice came out more panicked than he intended.

Nox gently caught Jin’s hands, preventing him from abruptly retreating. He shook his head slightly, then gave Jin a soft, reassuring kiss before looking toward Aion.

Aion’s eyes brightened.

Jin stared at the two of them, suddenly realizing that they appeared to have reached an understanding without consulting him.

When did the two of you become allies?

But his hands were grabbed by Nox who shook his head and gently kissed Jin while looking at Aion with his eyes. Aion’s eyes lit up slightly and then he used his spiritual energy to remove the lower garments and then the scene in front of appeared.

A little laugh escaped from him and he spoke,

"Honey, you are saying no but your body is saying something else. See it is leaking."

Jin wanted to say something but because of Nox, he can’t say anything.