4.Pests

The next morning, all the noise and excitement finally died down. Shopkeepers returned to their work, farmers went to their fields. But our heavenly couple still slept in their bedroom.

Aria was a complete mess—her nightgown in shambles, some parts exposed. She clung to Daren like a koala, resting on his chest and snoring without a care in the world. Her raven-black hair sprawled across Daren's chest.

Daren had woken up earlier and was gazing at the woman of his life. Her soft snoring was music to his ears; her serene expression made her look like a cute animal waiting to be petted.

He struggled to resist playing with her silky hair. He also couldn't get up to open the inn—Aria clung to him too tightly and he didn't want to wake the sleeping beauty.

Not that he was complaining. He enjoyed the view immensely. And the two soft squishy mounds resting on his chest wasn't something he would complain about. Any man would die to be in his position.

"Huh."

Daren sighed, wondering how he'd gotten such a cute, caring wife. He must have accumulated immense karma in his past life.

*rustle*rustle*

Movement on his chest snapped Daren from his reverie. Aria had woken up, staring at him intensely—though to Daren, she just looked like an adorable creature. Unable to resist, he—

*Pat. Pat.*

—started petting her

"Mmm." Aria moaned in delight, savoring her morning dose.

"Good morning cutie." Daren whispered.

"Hmm." She hummed, too content to speak.

"Did I wake you?"

"No."

Daren pulled her closer and kissed her head.

"Now wake up sleepy head, we need to open the inn." He said with a smile.

A cute pout appeared on her face as she clung more tighter wishing to merge with him.

Daren laughed seeing her wife acting like a spoiled child. If any of their old friends or rivals saw this seen of aria pouting they wouldn't believe their eyes.

This 'Death Maiden' who brought many empires to ashes with her deadly spell's, a sycopath who wiped out an entire nations army just because their general made fun of her husband, could actually 'pout'. Are they even talking about the same person or has someone possessed her.

Reluctantly, Aria left her sweet spot not before savoring his lips and got ready for work. She'll just beat up another drunkard today to ease her mind.

Daren too got ready and went to open the inn, it was time to finally start their day.

---

The inn buzzed with regulars—morning drinkers, breakfast-goers, and a few daring admirers of Aria who still thought they had a chance.

Though Daren's presence was enough to scare the shit out of them. No one tried to do anything funny in his presence or else they might not even know what killed them.

*Ting*

Just then the door bell chimed and a man in tatterrd robe entered the inn. Daren who noticed the man quickly went to greet him.

"Welcome to the the 'Whispering Hearth', how may I help you." Daren said with a welcoming smile on his face.

"A room for a week. Bread and stew for breakfast."

'A platinum rank huh.' Daren had noticed the man's presence since yesterday,he had been keeping an eye on them acting like any other civilian in the festival.

A person with a platinum rank was a rarity in this town. Such person could easily buy a big place in the town and live a life of luxury.

But anyone with such rank never stayed in such a small place because they couldn't progress their cultivation in such a backward area as the mana density was really very low here. They would stay here for a night at most for rest while passing by on their journey.

And for person of such a rank to come here and stay for a week was quiet suspicious. And the man was even using a concealing artifact which made others think that he was just a silver rank.

But for Daren such a artifact meant nothing he could see through it clearly, nothing could be hidden from him.

"Sure, I'll arrange for it right away. That would be 7 silver for room and 20 copper for bread and stew. Do you need anything else." Daren said with the same smile not giving away anything.

"No." The man replied taking out money from his spatial storage ring and giving it to daren.

"Aria, we have a customer. Prepare a bread and stew." Daren called aria and went to prepare the room.

The man took a table and sat there waiting - 'observing'.

Soon aria arrived with plate and pot containing bread and stew. She too noticed that the man was hiding his real cultivation but she didn't care about it as such weak person wasn't worth her attention.

"Here's your food mister." Aria said plainly not showing any intrest.

The man took a bite of the bread and instantly his face brightened, he hurriedly took a spoonful of stew and the moment it entered his mouth his eye's started to twinkle.

Even in the capital city he haven't tasted such a good food. Now he understood why so many people were gathered here.

Aria's cooking can not be compared to the norm even the royal chef's of the empires couldn't compare to her in this aspect.

Aria left the man after giving the food and went to the kitchen where daren was cleaning a plate.

"What do you think." Aria questioned to daren about the man.

"Maybe another small organization or cult who think their tricks work on us." He replied keeping the cleaned plate on the kitchen stand.

"They are like pests, 'irritating'." Aria huffed in a irritated voice.

"Well their head must be at least a grandmaster to send a platinum rank spy. Disappointing" He said.

"They really think that such a low rank trinket could fool a sage's perception." She laughed.

"They are just fools who think that they are the greatest in this world. They might be a big organization for some small cities but in any other big city or the royal capital they are nothing but bugs to be squashed."

"It isn't like it's our first time dealing with such a people, many have tried and none has lived to this day." Daren said.

It wasn't anything new for daren and aria, many organizations and cults have tried to spy and capture them and not only this two even other sage's have gone through the same thing.

But none has ever succeeded, a sage was no joke even saint's and King's and Queen's of the empire's with their pride as huge as a mountain have to bow to them. They were not to be triffled with, a single sage could raze an entire continent to ground if they unleashed their power's.

But these small organizations and evil cults think that they could make the impossible - possible.

Some evil cults even thought that if they could capture and sacrifice them to the evil god they worship, they'll get unimaginable power's and their God's protection.

"Should I capture this man and reach their headquarters to give them a greeting." Aria said like it was as easy as taking a stroll in the park.

"Nahh.. Let them do whatever they want to atleast we will get some entertainment."

Daren didn't care what this people wanted, it wasn't like they could do anything. A single gaze of his could shatter the soul's of their strongest fighter's. Atleast by letting them live they could get rid of their boredom.

"Okay." Aria purred and pounced on daren to capture his lips. It was time for another dose.