The gentle voice seemed to possess a calming magic. Upon hearing it, Kyoko Nogawa's taut nerves relaxed once more.
Not only that, but at this moment, she simply wanted to lie quietly in this warm embrace. All the troubles outside seemed to have vanished from her mind.
Unbeknownst to them, this space, isolated from the outside world, began to emit a mysterious white radiance, gradually enveloping the two of them until the entire space was filled.
At this moment, time ceased to flow, and everything fell silent.
If one listened closely, the sound of each other's breathing could still be heard.
To temporarily make Kyoko Nogawa forget all her worries, Ye Ming had drawn her into this dustless world.
He recalled that the last time he used such a method was to comfort Aine in the Temple of Destiny and control the Chaos Source within her.
After so long, Ye Ming was using it once again.
"Are you feeling calmer?"
Ye Ming asked softly, lowering his head.
At this moment, Kyoko Nogawa felt an unusual peace within her heart. Even while in this man's embrace, she felt no discomfort whatsoever.
"Mmm!"
She nodded and even found a comfortable angle, lying down quietly like a docile kitten.
Under the influence of this world, although she still remembered everything that had happened before, she could face it all with utter composure.
She assumed this was why Ye Ming had brought her here.
"Ye Ming! Do you think I was... very..."
"No!"
Ye Ming interrupted her before she could finish, placing his hand on her lips and saying earnestly, "I told you, those things were not your fault!"
Kyoko Nogawa's gaze lowered to the index finger on her lips. For some reason, his gesture gave her even more reassurance.
Her heart also felt warm.
An indescribable comfort.
"Why isn't it my fault? I was the one who initiated..."
She only got halfway through her sentence when the index finger at her lips suddenly pressed with a little more force, silencing the rest of her words.
"Kyoko! I will tell you everything! But before that..." Ye Ming's voice deepened, "you need to be mentally prepared!"
It was worth noting that his address to Kyoko Nogawa had changed.
In this situation, he truly couldn't bring himself to say "Aunt."
Of course!
Perhaps it was the influence of this world that gave Ye Ming the courage to be so bold.
However, Kyoko Nogawa herself, upon hearing the address "Kyoko," felt no resistance at all. Instead, her lips curved upward, as if she rather liked these terms of address.
Since they were in this world, everyone should let go of their inhibitions and be themselves.
"Go ahead!"
She parted her lips slightly and, as if teasing or perhaps just playing a prank, placed his finger between her lips and said,
"I'm listening!"
Feeling her action, Ye Ming's heart fluttered. Especially the tender and smooth sensation on his fingertip, which made him feel an urge to go deeper.
However, he managed to restrain himself.
But, in a certain moment just now, the thirty percent possibility he had deliberately ignored had almost outweighed the seventy percent.
Fortunately, with the emotional balancing effect of this world, he quickly regained his composure.
Afterward, Ye Ming slowly recounted everything.
From the cause of the uncontrolled轮回之力 (Cycle Power) to the selection of the灵印 (Spirit Seal), from the establishment of the灵契 (Spirit Pact) to her becoming his灵侍 (Spirit Attendant).
Ye Ming omitted no details, telling Kyoko Nogawa everything.
The only thing he blurred was the special emotion that led to the selection of the Spirit Seal.
When he reached this point, Ye Ming glossed over it, merely stating it was out of gratitude.
But he didn't intentionally explain anything further.
However, what he didn't notice was that when he spoke of this part, Kyoko Nogawa listened with exceptional seriousness.
She seemed to be contemplating something.
After hearing everything, Kyoko Nogawa's doubts were finally resolved.
"So... so the power that controlled my body was what you called... the Spirit Seal!" Kyoko Nogawa exclaimed in surprise.
At this moment, for some reason, Kyoko Nogawa spoke a little indistinctly, which felt strange.
It seemed as though something was amiss in her mouth.
"It should be it!"
Ye Ming didn't notice these details and explained, "After you became my Spirit Attendant, the special emotion that induced the selection of the Spirit Seal became the core of the灵獒 (Spirit Hound). Out of gratitude, you were eager to respond to me. Therefore, some of my unintentional actions could easily cause you some... misunderstandings! That's why those things happened before!"
This explanation was Ye Ming's concluding statement. As for its credibility, perhaps even he himself wasn't sure.
"Gratitude?"
Kyoko Nogawa murmured the word indistinctly, lost in thought.
"This matter came too suddenly, completely beyond my expectations."
Ye Ming looked at the person in his arms and seemed to be consulting her, saying with some difficulty, "Once the Spirit Pact is established, even I cannot change it. Tell me, from now on..."
He only spoke half the sentence, but the meaning he wanted to convey was already clear.
Now, Kyoko Nogawa was his Spirit Attendant, but simultaneously she was also Sakon Nogawa's mother.
These two identities superimposed made Ye Ming unsure of how to proceed.
And this was not the most critical part.
The most critical part was how he would maintain his relationship with Kyoko Nogawa in the future.
After all, when the two of them were together, it was easy for things to develop in unpredictable directions due to the influence of the Spirit Pact.
Once or twice could be prevented!
But what about after many more times?
The burden on one's nerves was also limited.
This was what Ye Ming worried about the most.
"How about telling Sakon the truth!"
To everyone's surprise, Kyoko Nogawa quickly offered a suggestion.
But Ye Ming had already considered this.
If there were no unpredictable developments, telling the truth would be fine, even a good thing.
However, what if the worst happened?
How would he then face Sakon Nogawa?
How would Kyoko Nogawa face her own daughter?
How would the two of them handle it?
This was the crux of the matter.
Just like now, Ye Ming's subconscious action of using his index finger to stop Kyoko Nogawa from speaking had become a spark for things to develop uncontrollably.
At this moment, Ye Ming suddenly lowered his head and looked at the passionate gaze that had unknowingly welled up in the eyes of the beauty in his arms, which spread from his moist fingertip to her heart.
Sensing that the situation was not good, Ye Ming quickly withdrew his hand.
However, what was pulled back along his arm was a pair of lips burning like fire.
"Mmph!"
Ye Ming's eyes widened, and he tried to speak, but his mouth was once again sealed.