I am the Archmage

Chapter 145 Choice

Two Years Later - The “Demon King’s Palace” in the Demon Realm

The once lifeless and desolate Demon King’s Palace had suddenly come alive today, filled with bursts of cheerful and melodious laughter echoing through its grand halls. Even the faces of the servants moving in and out of the palace bore rare smiles that hadn’t been seen in years.

Inside the most luxurious and magnificent chamber of the palace, the sleeping quarters of the Demon King Wu Lai, a sweet fragrance lingered in the air as graceful figures flitted about. Over a dozen stunning beauties, each with a unique and unmatched charm, were gathered around an enormous bed, their melodious voices chiming like silver bells.

On the bed lay a tall man with an imposing frame. His face, not particularly handsome, was marred by a long scar, and he remained in a deep sleep. Surrounded by so many breathtaking beauties, it seemed he truly was the luckiest man alive.

A woman clad in a sky-blue gown, her ethereal beauty as pure as a celestial being, turned to the silver-haired woman beside her, whose entire presence exuded an aura of sacredness and inviolability. “Didn’t they say Wu Lai would wake up soon? Why has it taken so long?” she asked, her worry evident.

The silver-haired woman gently patted her shoulder with affection and said, “Don’t worry. Since the God King said he would wake, there won’t be any mistake. He’s probably still recovering. He’ll wake up soon.”

In front of the bed stood a woman dressed in black, her hair and eyes as dark as night. She reached out with her alabaster hand, tenderly brushing through Wu Lai’s short hair as she murmured to herself, “Master, please wake up soon. Do you know how we’ve lived these past two years without you? If it weren’t for the faint hope of your return, we would have long given up. Please, wake up…”

As if responding to her heartfelt plea, Wu Lai’s eyelashes quivered. Amidst the ecstatic cries of the women around him, his eyes slowly opened.

He had awakened.

“Hmm? Didn’t I die? How can I see you all again?”

As I struggled to open my eyes, the first thing I saw was the tear-streaked yet joyful faces of the beauties surrounding me. My mind, still foggy, couldn’t help but murmur in confusion.

As I tried to sit up, a figure in blue immediately threw herself into my arms. Through her sobs, a tender, joyous voice emerged: “Lai, you’re finally awake. I’ve missed you so much…”

“It’s… It’s Xue’er…”

The moment her voice reached my ears, I recognized it as that of my beloved Bing Xue’er. Glancing down, I confirmed it was indeed her delicate, beautiful face nestled against my chest.

Wrapping my arms tightly around her soft, fragrant body, an odd sense of unease began to creep into my heart. Something felt off. Glancing around at the women, I noticed their slender frames had grown noticeably thinner, their radiant faces, while filled with relief and joy, bore traces of exhaustion and weariness.

Finally, my gaze landed on Yu Yi. Stroking Bing Xue’er’s silky hair, I asked, “Have the realms of Heaven and the Demon Realm finally achieved peace? How did you find me? Haha, I thought I was done for. I didn’t expect to see you all again. Looks like Linsa was right—this disaster really is hard to get rid of!”

At my words, Linsa let out a soft cry and threw herself into my arms, joining Bing Xue’er. Embarrassed and flustered, her lips trembled as if trying to speak, but no words came out. Finally, overcome with emotion, she buried her face in my chest and refused to look up.

Yu Yi stepped forward and placed her delicate hand in mine. Her tear-filled eyes glistened with joy and deep affection as she said, “Master, you don’t know. The final battle between the Demon King and the God King happened two years ago. You’ve been drifting in the interdimensional void for two whole years. It was only a few days ago that the two lords managed to find you and bring you back.”

Her words sent a jolt through my heart. My mind was a chaotic mess, unable to piece together the countless thoughts swirling within. Hurriedly, I asked, “What happened? Tell me everything!”

Yu Yi let out a faint sigh and said, "Two years ago, when the Demon King and the God King were on the brink of mutual destruction, you, Master, disregarded your own safety and carried the destructive energy into an interdimensional space, putting an end to all the fighting. We always believed you were still alive. Your selflessness reconciled the Demon King and the God King. The two worked together to search through every interdimensional space for two long years before they finally found you. By that time, Master, your physical body had been completely destroyed. It was the *Dark Dragon Armor* that preserved the last fragment of your soul. When they brought you back, the two lords expended all of their remaining strength to... to..."

At this point, her voice broke, and she could no longer continue. Tears of relief streamed down her cheeks, soaking the front of her clothing.

Still holding Bing Xue'er and Linsa in my arms, I leaped off the bed and chuckled, "Since that's the case, why are you all crying? Aren't you happy that I'm back? How about we throw a big celebration? All of you can join me!"

With that, I lowered my head and claimed Linsa's cherry-red lips in a passionate kiss. Linsa froze at first but soon responded with complete abandon, her lithe body pressing tightly against mine with fervent enthusiasm.

The other women all scolded me playfully for my outrageous behavior, but in their hearts, they secretly wished it was themselves in my arms, basking in my affection.

I didn't release Linsa's sweet lips until her tiny nose flared with rapid breaths, and she was nearly out of air. She collapsed into my arms, her body soft and boneless, unable to stand on her own.

I licked my lips with satisfaction, savoring the lingering sweetness, and then cast a greedy gaze over the rest of the women. With a mischievous grin, I said, "Who's next? Hmm, let me think about it."

At my words, the women all burst into playful protests and shy reprimands. But just then, Yu Yi's face suddenly displayed a resolute determination. Without any warning, she spoke up, "Master, there's one very important thing I haven't told you yet. I had intended to keep it a secret forever..."

Before she could finish, Livia interrupted with a sudden, urgent cry, "You can't say it! Yu Yi, you mustn't say it! Otherwise..."

Tears streamed down her beautiful eyes as she spoke. My heart sank, sensing something amiss. Looking around, I noticed that the earlier joy and cheer had vanished from the women's faces, replaced by expressions of sorrow and grief.

"What is going on with you all? Are you really hiding something important from me?" I asked, my tone sharp with growing unease.

Yu Yi gently wiped the tears from her delicate face and said, "I never wanted to tell you this, but I cannot hide anything from you, Master. During the search across the interdimensional spaces to find you, the God King and the Demon King discovered... they discovered your original world!"

Two Years Later - The Demon World, “Demon God Palace”

The once somber and lifeless “Demon God Palace” seemed to come alive again today. Waves of cheerful, melodious laughter echoed throughout, and even the servants bustling in and out wore smiles that hadn’t been seen in ages.

Inside the grandest and most luxurious chamber of the palace—the bedchamber of the “Demon God King” Wu Lai—a fragrant air filled the room as beautiful figures flitted about. Over a dozen breathtaking women, each unique in their stunning beauty, surrounded a large bed, their silvery laughter ringing out like bells.

On the bed lay a tall man, his rugged face marred by a long scar. Though not conventionally handsome, he seemed to rest peacefully amidst the gathering of these heavenly beauties—a man truly blessed with extraordinary fortune.

A stunning woman clad in a sky-blue gown, exuding an ethereal and pure elegance, turned to the silver-haired beauty beside her, who radiated an aura of holiness. “Didn’t they say Wu Lai would wake up soon? Why is it taking so long?”

The silver-haired woman gently patted her companion’s shoulder, her gaze full of tender affection. “Don’t worry. If the God King said it, it must be true. Perhaps he’s just not fully recovered yet. He will wake up soon.”

The black-haired beauty standing directly in front of the bed reached out her jade-like hand to stroke the man’s short hair. Speaking softly, she murmured, “Master, please wake up soon. Do you know what kind of life we’ve been living these past two years without you? If not for the hope of your return, we might have long given up. Please, come back to us…”

As if in response to her heartfelt plea, the man’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. The women surrounding the bed gasped in delight, their cries of joy filling the room as he opened his eyes.

He was awake.

“Wait… wasn’t I dead? How am I still seeing all of you?”

As I struggled to open my eyes, the first thing I saw was the tearful, joyful faces of the beautiful women around me. My mind, still clouded and unclear, muttered aloud.

Just as I tried to sit up, a flash of blue leaped into my arms. A soft, tearful voice full of joy echoed from my embrace, “Wu Lai, you’re finally awake… I missed you so much.”

“Is it… Xue’er?”

The moment I heard the voice, I recognized it as my beloved Bing Xue’er’s. Glancing down, I saw her delicate, tired yet stunningly beautiful face buried against my chest.

Wrapping my arms tightly around her soft, warm figure, I couldn’t shake a strange feeling. Something seemed amiss. Scanning the faces of the other women around me, I noticed they all appeared thinner, their faces bearing a touch of weariness despite the radiant joy in their eyes.

Finally, my gaze rested on Yu Yi. Gently twirling Bing Xue’er’s silky hair in my fingers, I asked, “Has peace been established between Heaven and the Demon World? How did you find me? Haha, I really thought I was done for this time. To think I can see you all again… Linsa was right. I truly am a scourge that won’t go away!”

Linsa let out a delighted cry, throwing herself into my arms and snuggling alongside Bing Xue’er. Though blushing with shyness, she nestled into my embrace, unable to form a coherent sentence as she wept tears of joy.

Yu Yi stepped forward, placing her delicate hand in mine. Her tear-filled eyes radiated a love so deep and profound that it left me speechless. “Master, you don’t know… the ultimate battle between the Demon King and the God King ended two years ago, when you sacrificed yourself to carry the destructive force into an alternate dimension. Everything changed after that. We never stopped believing you were alive. Your selfless act brought reconciliation between the two lords. They joined forces to search every dimension, and after two long years, they finally found you. By then, your body was completely destroyed, but the Dark Dragon Armor preserved the last fragment of your soul. Once they brought you back, the two lords poured every ounce of their power into restoring you… and now…”

At this point, her voice broke, and she began to sob uncontrollably, tears staining the front of her gown.

I held Bing Xue’er and Linsa as I leaped from the bed, laughing playfully. “If that’s the case, why are you all crying? Aren’t you happy that I’m back? How about a grand celebration? All of you can join me!”

Lowering my head, I kissed Linsa deeply. Though she froze at first, she quickly responded with fiery passion, her graceful figure clinging tightly to me.

The other women chided me lightly, but their hearts burned with a quiet desire to be the one in my arms, basking in my affection.

Only when Linsa was nearly breathless did I release her lips, leaving her weak and boneless as she collapsed against me. Smirking, I licked my lips, savoring the lingering sweetness before turning my mischievous gaze to the other women. “Who’s next? Hmm, let me think.”

The women all blushed and protested shyly, but their smiles betrayed them. However, Yu Yi suddenly stepped forward, her face resolute. She said in a steady voice, “Master, there’s something important I haven’t told you yet. I had planned to keep it from you forever…”

Before she could finish, Livia interjected with a sharp cry, “Don’t! Yu Yi, you mustn’t say it! If you do…”

Tears streamed down Livia’s face as she spoke. The other women, too, looked stricken, their earlier joy replaced by sorrow and pain.

“What is going on with all of you? Are you really hiding something from me?” I asked, feeling uneasy.

Yu Yi wiped her tears and said, “I never wanted to tell you this, but I cannot keep it from you. During the search across dimensions, the God King and Demon King discovered… they found your original world!”