Chapter 1631: Spicy Barbecue Brisket

Zhao Li Xin returned on a military plane sent to pick her up after completing his mission. Lucia sat alone in the corner of the cabin, her wrists bound with magical manacles that suppressed her magic, preventing her from using even a trace of her powers. Although it wasn’t necessary, as her arms were still crippled by Zhao Li Xin.

The aircraft was filled with the King’s Men, who were busy documenting the rescued victims of the human sacrifices. Most of them trembled uncontrollably, their bodies gaunt from starvation, their faces hollow, and their eyes haunted by unspeakable terror.

The soldiers moved among them with quiet efficiency, draping blankets over shaking shoulders and offering cups of hot tea and soup. Gentle words of reassurance accompanied every gesture, yet the pity in their eyes was impossible to hide. Every testimony they recorded only deepened the hatred burning inside them.

Their resentment toward Lucia nearly overflowed.

Lucia feigned ignorance. She had expected this reaction long before she surrendered. Their hatred meant nothing to her.

Instead, her attention lingered on Zhao Li Xin.

He occupied the seat farthest from everyone else, sitting perfectly upright. His back remained straight, never touching the seat behind him. Both hands rested neatly on his knees, while his eyes remained peacefully closed.

She wondered what he was doing. ℴ𝗆

Meditating?

Sleeping?

Or perhaps something else entirely?

Whatever it was, he seemed utterly detached from everyone inside the aircraft, as though an invisible wall of glass separated him from the rest of the world. A nearby teenage girl sobbed uncontrollably, her cries filling the cabin, yet he never stirred.

Not even a flicker.

Nothing seemed capable of reaching him. He looked like a statue—an unbelievably beautiful one, nonetheless. Yet beneath that flawless appearance lay an unsettling emptiness: cold, silent, and hollow, as though the warmth that had once made him human had long since vanished.

Suddenly, Zhao Li Xin’s brows knitted together. A moment later, he slipped a hand into his trench coat and retrieved his cellphone.

The instant his gaze fell upon the screen, the icy indifference that had cloaked him dissolved like frost beneath the morning sun. Warmth bloomed across his handsome features, softening the sharp lines of his face.

Lucia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Only for a heartbeat.

Then she let out a knowing scoff.

"Wife," Zhao Li Xin greeted gently, his voice so tender it hardly seemed to belong to the same man who had sat like a lifeless statue moments before.

A bright, cheerful voice rang from the speaker like the chiming of silver bells. "Husband! Where are you?"

"I’m on my way home." He lowered his head slightly, his smile deepening with unconscious affection. "What are you doing? Have you been eating well?"

Thankfully, Lory had not lost her appetite. Her morning sickness had been mild, perhaps because the pregnancy was still in its early stages. Even so, Zhao Li Xin, who had never believed in gods, much less prayed to one, found himself offering silent prayers every day.

He prayed that his wife would have a smooth pregnancy.

That she would never know pain.

And if suffering was unavoidable...

He wished it would fall upon him instead.

"I’ve been eating well, honey... it’s just..." Her voice trailed off.

Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes, instantly sensing trouble.

"Honey..." Lory began cautiously. "Before you come back to Cestine Palace, could you stop by a restaurant called Holy Smokes and buy me their Spicy Barbecue Brisket?"

She almost whispered the last sentence, as though afraid someone might overhear.

Zhao Li Xin fell silent for a moment.

"...Are you allowed to eat spicy food?"

"Yes!" Lory answered without hesitation. "Fred is exaggerating. The doctor said it’s perfectly fine as long as I don’t overeat."

"...I see."

Yet hesitation still lingered in his voice.

"Honey, pleeease..." she whined pitifully. "Your babies are craving it. Do it for the three of us. Pleaseeee..."

Without seeing her, Zhao Li Xin could already picture her violet eyes glistening with tears, her lips forming an adorable pout. His resolve immediately began to crumble. Pregnancy was already difficult enough. Not to mention she was carrying twins. Surely... a little spicy food wouldn’t hurt.

He contemplated the matter with astonishing seriousness—far more seriously than when he had been planning his assault on the ceremonial site.

"Li Xin..." Lory called again, her voice soft and pleading.

He released a helpless sigh.

"...Fine. I’ll buy it for you."

"Yay! You’re the best! I love you, husband! I love you! I love you!" She showered him with one sweet declaration after another until Zhao Li Xin couldn’t help but chuckle.

"All right, all right." His laughter carried unmistakable affection. "Just wait for me at home, okay, Wife?"

"Oh! One more thing." Lory suddenly lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Hide it inside your storage ring. Don’t let Fred see it. His nose is terrifying when it comes to things like this."

Zhao Li Xin raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? His senses are as sharp as mine?"

"Nah." Lory snorted. "Only when I’m about to scheme something."

Zhao Li Xin chuckled softly. He had heard many stories about the naughty things Lory did with Lucas and the other two young Archknights, Jay and Clift. His cold face would always brim with a gentle smile whenever he heard those stories from Jay... or Fargo.

Why Fargo?

Because sometimes he was their secret accomplice, and other times he was the poor soul left behind to clean up the mess they made.

Fargo had always been rough on the outside but gooey on the inside.

"Gooey," as Lory liked to describe him.

As for Fredhardt, he was the complete opposite. He was the one who would discipline them, strict and uncompromising, never letting them get away with their antics. Yet he was also the one who guided them, protected them, and quietly watched over them whenever they needed him most.

Zhao Li Xin loved listening to stories about Lory’s childhood. Every little tale she shared brought another piece of the woman he loved into his heart. Knowing that her childhood had not been filled with only hardship and pain, but also laughter, friendship, and joyful memories, brought him immeasurable comfort.

It meant that despite everything she had endured, she had still experienced the happiness every child deserved.

Unlike him.

That realization always managed to ease the lingering ache in his heart for her. He was grateful that Lory had not lived through the same painful childhood he once had. Even if fate had been cruel to her, it had at least given her precious memories worth cherishing.

"Okay then," Zhao Li Xin said with a faint laugh. "I will fulfill my mission."

"My luck be with you, my lord. Please come sooner..." Lory said dramatically before lowering her voice into a pitiful whine. "I’m hungry."

She unconsciously gulped, already imagining the juicy brisket drenched in rich, spicy barbecue sauce.

Zhao Li Xin chuckled softly before ending the call.

The warmth lingering on his face gradually faded as he slipped the phone back into his trench coat. When he raised his head again, the gentle husband was gone, replaced once more by his cold, stoic expression.

He turned to one of the nearby soldiers. "Have we entered Heriond City’s airspace yet?"

The soldier looked momentarily confused by the sudden question. He quickly checked the digital map displayed on the tablet in his hands before giving a firm nod.

"Yes, sir. We’ve already entered Heriond City."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"General Leon ordered us to land in Sciron first. They want to conduct medical examinations on all the victims, and especially that Paladin." His eyes instinctively drifted toward Lucia before returning to Zhao Li Xin. "We’ve never had a living Paladin in our custody before, so she’ll be transferred to N.I.M.S. for a thorough examination."

Zhao Li Xin gave Lucia a fleeting glance. It lasted no more than a second. Yet Lucia felt as though he had looked at her the same way one would look at a pair of worn-out shoes, worthless, discarded, and beneath notice.

Ever since he had handed her over to the King’s Men, he no longer seemed interested in her.

The realization stung like a slap across her face, trampling on her dignity—not only as a woman but also as one of the elite Paladins of the Constellation. She was, no less, a very valuable asset to the kingdom.

Even so, Zhao Li Xin paid her no further attention. He believed Fargo and the others would take over from here. Unless fate somehow gave him another chance to cut off Lucia’s hands, he had no intention of involving himself with her again.

Instead, he took out his phone and opened the digital map application. His eyes swept over the map before stopping at the location of Holy Smokes Restaurant. Fortunately, it wasn’t far from where the aircraft was currently flying.

"Open the door," he said flatly.

"...What?" The soldier blinked in confusion.

"I need to get out," he answered shortly.

"W-Why?" the soldier asked, visibly flustered.

Zhao Li Xin frowned slightly. He was not someone accustomed to having his decisions questioned. Had it been one of his own men, the conversation would have ended with his first order. However, these soldiers belonged to Lory. Thus, for her sake, he gave them a patience he rarely extended even to his own subordinates.

"My wife wants to eat the spicy barbecue brisket from Holy Smokes Restaurant," Zhao Li Xin answered matter-of-factly. "So I’ll get off here," he said as if it were a perfectly reasonable explanation.

The soldier froze. For a long while, he remained motionless, his mind seemingly struggling to comprehend the explanation.

Seeing the man make no move, Zhao Li Xin let out a quiet sigh. He was too lazy to ask any further questions, so he walked toward the rear cargo door. He had learned that many aircraft were equipped with a manual release switch beside it for emergencies.

Hence, without hesitation, he pressed the button.

A mechanical hum echoed through the cabin as the massive cargo door slowly began to lower. Zhao Li Xin stood calmly before it, both hands clasped behind his back, waiting in complete silence. The moment the door opened, a fierce gale burst into the aircraft, sending clothes fluttering and hair whipping wildly.

The rescued victims cried out in alarm. Several soldiers instinctively grabbed onto nearby handles, thinking something had gone terribly wrong. They all screamed in panic.

Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin paid no attention to their worries. His focus was on only one thing now:

To get spicy barbecue brisket for his pregnant wife.

Without the slightest hesitation...

He stepped forward and leaped out of the aircraft.

"...!"

The soldier nearest the door stood petrified for a heartbeat before hurriedly slamming the emergency close button. The cargo door slowly sealed shut once again.

Several soldiers rushed toward him.

"What happened? Why did the cargo door open?"

"...Um..." The soldier stared blankly ahead, still unable to process what he had just witnessed.

"Wait, where’s Mr. Zhao?" another soldier asked anxiously, looking around the cabin. "General Leon specifically reminded us to treat him with the utmost respect, just like the Archknights. Where is he?"

"...Um..."

"Why do you keep saying ’um’?" the other soldier snapped impatiently. "What’s wrong with you?"

The soldier swallowed, and finally, he answered. "He...uh, jumped out of the plane."

"...Huh?" The other soldier frowned in confusion. "Why?"

He wasn’t worried about Zhao Li Xin’s safety. After all, everyone had heard about the incident on the island where he wiped out dozens of Wyverns as though it were nothing.

What puzzled him was...What could possibly be so urgent that it caused him to jump out of the plane?

"He said..." The soldier took a deep breath, trying his best to make the sentence sound reasonable. "...He said he wanted to buy spicy barbecue brisket from Holy Smokes Restaurant... for his wife."

He failed; the explanation somehow sounded even more ridiculous after being spoken aloud.

"...WHAT?!" the other soldier cried out in disbelief.

"What kind of barbecue brisket does that restaurant even sell?!" The soldier scratched his cheek.

"I don’t know..." He thought about it for a moment, then said, "Maybe... It’s really that good." He shrugged.

"..." The other soldier opened his mouth, but no words came out. The explanation sounded ridiculous, but strangely, it made sense.

"...Want to try it after we’re off duty?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The other soldier was rendered speechless. But, he had to admit it, he had become truly curious.