Chapter 560: Nuya's Worries P1

Chapter 560: Nuya’s Worries P1

A few days later.

Emerald Cove — Nuya’s Palace.

The afternoon sun filtered through the crystal leaves of the Spirit garden, scattering soft light across the white marble floor of the gazebo.

A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of blooming Moonlotus and Spirit grass, making the air feel alive yet peaceful.

Aksai sat across from Nuya at a round table carved from living redwood. In front of them, plates of Spirit cuisine and glowing fruits were laid out—Skyfish roasted with Stardew sauce, crystal rice steamed with Green Spirit mushrooms, and slices of Luminous Purple Melon that shone faintly like captured moonlight.

Nuya, dressed in a light violet robe embroidered with tiny silver blossoms, leaned back slightly as she placed her chopsticks down. Her long black hair shimmered faintly under the sunlight, its strands swaying with the wind.

“I must say, Aksai,” she said with a soft laugh, “you always eat as if you’re studying the flavor instead of enjoying it.”

Aksai looked up from his plate, smiling faintly. “Well… eating in haste isn’t something a gentleman should do when he’s accompanied by a beautiful lady.”

Nuya smiled lightly, showing that she had grown used to Aksai’s compliments. Still, there was a hint of tension in her eyes—a sign that she wanted to bring up a certain topic but hadn’t found the right moment yet.

Aksai guessed that Nuya must be swamped with island administration work. He could also tell that she was worried about the growing tensions in the Dadangar Archipelago. But he didn’t want to bring up anything heavy just yet, so he kept the conversation light, pretending they had no worries at all.

They shared a quiet laugh, and for a moment, only the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of Spirit birds could be heard.

After the meal, Nuya clapped her hands once. The clear sound echoed lightly through the garden. Within moments, a group of her maids appeared—graceful and silent, their robes flowing like mist. They bowed and began clearing the table swiftly and neatly. The plates disappeared, the crumbs vanished, and soon the fragrance of food was replaced by the faint aroma of Spirit wine—a special variant of Bacchus’ Blessing meant for elite Spirit cultivators loaded with both fame and fortune.

When the table was spotless again, one of the maids placed a silver jug on it, etched with tiny runes that kept the wine perfectly chilled. Two crystal glasses followed.

Aksai picked up the jug, the light catching on its polished surface, and poured the clear golden liquid into both glasses. A faint mist rose from them, carrying the scent of aged peaches and ethereal lotus.

“To Emerald Cove’s progress,” Aksai said simply, raising his glass.

“To progress,” Nuya echoed with a smile, touching her glass to his before taking a small sip. The Spirit wine glowed softly as it went down, leaving behind a trail of warmth that spread through their cores.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while before Nuya spoke again.

“I visited your side of Emerald Cove Island last time in your absence. The construction of the Green Blessings Spirit Array foundations is almost complete. Your people from the farmland did well—better than expected.”

Aksai nodded, setting his glass down. “That’s good to hear. That array was developed solely for Emerald Cove. It specializes in stabilizing land rich in second-order spiritual veins. Once the southern harbor is ready, we can start integrating the new energy channels into the island’s ecosystem. That way, the flora won’t clash with the incoming Spirit essence waves from the formation.”

Nuya rested her chin on her hand, watching him. “You really think of everything, don’t you? Even the smallest Spirit weeds and energy flows. How can a regular Expert know so much about Spirit herbs and farming?”

Aksai narrowed his eyes slightly, recognizing that Nuya was hinting at something. Her remark suggested she was vaguely aware of the druidic powers he had been using. Even if she didn’t know the full truth—that Aksai had turned into a druid—she wasn’t foolish enough to think his success came purely from technique and good labor.

Something was clearly unusual about how only Aksai’s produce outshone everyone else’s on Emerald Cove and even across the Dadangar Archipelago.

Aksai smiled faintly. He didn’t need to explain anything to Nuya, and he didn’t want to lie either. It was better to divert the topic—and that’s what he did.

“Well…” Aksai said after a moment of quiet thought, “if the small things aren’t in harmony, the grand plans will collapse sooner or later. Besides,” he added with a light shrug, “everything’s fine as long as we get to enjoy a bountiful harvest every season. Why worry about something so minor?”

Nuya swirled her glass lightly, the wine catching the light like liquid sunlight. She understood what Aksai meant. He was subtly telling her not to worry about his druidic powers. Even if such techniques might seem close to demonic arts to ordinary cultivators, they weren’t harmful—to him or to the island.

Nuya already trusted Aksai. She knew he wouldn’t do anything to draw the attention of the Big Five sects and risk their growing profits. Her question had been a formality, and his calm response was enough. She didn’t press further.

They exchanged a quiet look of satisfaction—two strugglers in the Dadangar Subcontinent who had built something extraordinary from scratch.

For a long moment, they didn’t speak. The garden around them shimmered softly as Spirit petals drifted down from the trees, landing on the gazebo roof and dissolving into faint motes of light.

Nuya leaned back, smiling faintly. “I think Emerald Cove is shaping up quite nicely. Perhaps in a few decades, it’ll be known as one of the wonders of the Dadangar Archipelago.”

Aksai raised his glass again, his tone light. “A few decades? I’d say less than ten.”

Nuya laughed softly, a sound both melodic and weary—a mix of worry and faith. “You say that even though you know Kalingoot is closing in on us. Always the optimist, aren’t you?”

Aksai took another sip of wine, his gaze wandering toward the Spirit blossoms beyond the gazebo. “Not optimism,” he said quietly. “Just faith in good work and preparation.”

Finally, Nuya set her glass down. Her smile faded, and her expression slowly turned solemn. She looked at Aksai for a long moment, her gaze calm but firm.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said softly.

Aksai glanced up, meeting her eyes. The faint glint in them told him that this wasn’t just about trade or construction anymore. He straightened slightly, his tone even. “Go on.”

Nuya took a slow breath, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “A few months ago, when you weren’t here… four more islands under the Dadangar Islands Alliance fell to Kalingoot.”

Aksai’s hand froze mid-air as he was about to reach for the jug. He lowered it slowly, eyes narrowing.

“That brings the total count of Alliance-held islands down to thirty-four,” she continued. “We started with eighty-six, Aksai. More than half the Archipelago is now under Kalingoot’s control.”

For a few seconds, the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves above them. The breeze that had felt warm before now seemed colder somehow.

Aksai leaned back slightly, his gaze distant. “I knew things were getting worse,” he said quietly. “But not this fast.”

Nuya nodded, her tone tired but steady. “It all began after Hayaat Blackblood’s death. With him gone, the Blackblood Sect practically pulled back from the seas. That should’ve weakened Kalingoot for longer, but the void didn’t last.” She paused, her eyes hardening. “The Mroot Yaksha Sect moved in faster than anyone expected. They’re making it clear they want to become the strongest among the demonic sects.”

Aksai’s brow furrowed slightly. “And the Big Five?”

“Reduced their presence,” Nuya said flatly. “They’ve cut back on naval patrols, supply lines, even trade escorts. They’ve got their eyes on the demonic territories that are not up for grabs after the beginning of the power struggle among the major three demonic sects. As such, the Big Five couldn’t care less about what happens to a few distant islands.”

Her voice dropped lower as she added, “That weakening of the righteous faction is what’s hurting us the most. The Alliance is barely holding together now. Everyone’s scrambling to protect what little they still own.”

Aksai didn’t answer right away. He looked out toward the Spirit garden, watching as a few glowing insects hovered over the Moonlotus pond. His eyes reflected the dim blue light of the water.

“Then it’s worse than I thought,” he said at last. “The Dadangar Archipelago isn’t just losing ground—it’s losing its balance. If this keeps up, the smaller islands will start switching sides just to survive.”

Nuya nodded again, slowly. “That’s already happening in the outer rings. Kalingoot’s people are offering better trade terms, safer routes, and protection—at least for now. It’s only a matter of time before some of our neutral allies start drifting toward them.”