As Vahn resumed his climb, he kept a tight grip on the terrified monkey leader. He wasn't leaving anything to chance.

"Answer me," Vahn commanded, his voice cold and devoid of patience. He began to describe Seraphina. "Did you see a woman—radiant, with long golden hair, wearing robes of pure white and emitting an aura like soft moonlight?"

The monkey leader nodded frantically, confirming the description. "Yes, yes! A human fairy like that is here!"

Vahn's inner tension eased. Seraphina was safe, at least for the moment.

"She... she became a guest of the Stone Monkey King after she helped us," the leader chattered nervously. "She saved our tribe from a Sky Predator that had been torturing us for years, stealing our food and children!"

Vahn nodded in appreciation. Seraphina's kindness and powerful healing arts would naturally earn her allies. Her priority, even while separated, was to help others—a trait he both admired and found inconvenient.

The remainder of the climb was swift and uneventful. Very soon, Vahn reached the stable ground of the massive, floating island. The air here was fresher, the light clearer, and the landmass was covered in strange, glowing flora.

Following the humbled monkey leader, Vahn made his way through thick, mossy jungle growth toward the center of the island where the primate court was housed.

The path opened up into a wide, cavernous area surrounded by natural stone thrones. At the center sat the Stone Monkey King, a creature noticeably larger than the others, its fur the color of polished jade, wielding a heavy, crystal-tipped staff.

Standing respectfully beside the throne, clearly accepted as a powerful ally, was Seraphina (His Wife). She wore an expression of calm authority as she tended to a small, injured monkey using her gentle Light Arts.

She looked up at the sound of the approaching group. Her blue eyes widened in relief and a flash of surprise as she saw the familiar face of Vahn escorted by her own new subjects.

The tension in the Stone Monkey King's court vanished the moment Seraphina saw Vahn. Her surprise melted into profound relief.

"Vahn, I was just waiting for you," she said, her voice gentle as the dawn she was named for.

Vahn nodded, but offered no verbal greeting. Ignoring the Stone Monkey King's visibly surprised and questioning face, he strode forward, lifted Seraphina off her feet with sudden speed, and hugged her tightly.

"What's wrong, Vahn? Why are you suddenly—" Seraphina started, surprised by the forceful embrace.

"Shh. I'm just letting that king know that you already have a husband," Vahn whispered beside her ear, his breath warm against her skin. "He had bad intentions toward you. I can sense it." He inhaled her intoxicating, familiar scent, which he had missed in the chaos.

Seraphina smiled, her heart warming despite the serious situation. "Seriously, Vahn. You act like a kid sometimes."

Nevertheless, she didn't resist his embrace, allowing the tender moment to stretch out in front of the giant creature.

This unexpected display of affection only served to make the Stone Monkey King more furious. Since it was clearly the weaker party, however, it couldn't be forceful. It tried a gentler, more diplomatic approach.

"Fairy," the Monkey King asked, standing up from its throne, its jade-colored fur bristling. "Who is this human boy to you? Why is he clinging like that? Is he taking advantage of your kindness?"

Vahn broke the hug, his lips curled into a cold, mocking smirk. He licked his lips, savoring the lingering sweet taste of Seraphina before he replied, his voice ringing with absolute proprietorship.

"She is my wife. And I have come here to take her away. What's it to you, you big-ass monkey?"

The Monkey King's already furious face twitched uncontrollably. The air in the court immediately dropped several degrees as the powerful creature struggled to contain its outrage at the blatant insult and the aggressive claim on its honored guest.

Seraphina gently pulled Vahn's ear, a gesture of familiar intimacy. "Leave them be, Vahn. They are already so pitiful. Their entire tribe has been suffering as food for a massive Dragon until now."

Vahn rubbed his ear, his initial malice dissolving under her touch. "Oh, a dragon? How big is it?"

"Very big and tough," Seraphina confirmed. "I was only able to scare him off. I felt pity for these poor creatures when I learned their story."

"I see. But what does it have to do with us? Tell them to leave and hide somewhere." Vahn said, reverting to rational self-preservation.

"This is our home, Human! We shall not leave!" the Stone Monkey King abruptly declared, its face set in a look of suicidal defiance.

"Then, die," Vahn said without remorse. He was no longer the righteous hero; he didn't feel the need to save random creatures while putting his life on the line for nothing.

Seraphina knew the reason for his mentality. The scars of his past had made him selfish and untrusting. Still, she believed he was good and kind at heart. Her judgment, she affirmed, could never be wrong.

"Husband, please calm down and hear me first..."

Vahn's heart instantly felt struck by lightning. The word husband coming from Seraphina's mouth brought him immense joy and satisfaction he could never put into words.

"Wifey, can you call me husband once more?" he asked, his demeanor turning gentle and pleading in an instant.

Seraphina's face turned a delightful shade of red. She repeated softly, "H-husband, you should calm down."

Vahn was on cloud nine. For a moment, he felt he didn't deserve such a cute and beautiful wife. She was so innocent and lovely.

Seraphina seized the opportunity to appeal to his ambition. "I think that elder dragon is one of the seven Guardians of the Divine Treasury. If we can defeat it—or perhaps talk it out with it—we can receive the first portion of the treasury before anyone else."

Hearing this, Vahn became serious at once. His face turned thoughtful, his greed instantly piqued. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I felt the connection between us," she replied with absolute confidence, referring to the spiritual threads of their bond.

"Then, I guess we can take a look," Vahn conceded. "But before that, I need to form my Golden Core. Only then I can protect us well.

However, I have a feeling that it will attract a Heavenly Tribulation from the heavens if I attempt to breakthrough."

For others, the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation only arrived after the Void Shattering Realm, but for him, it would come early.

All because Vahn was an anomaly.

Seraphina understood this well. Still, the worry didn't ease in her heart.

Would her husband survive the Heavenly Tribulation?

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