As soon as Shun returned to the Land of Water Royal Palace, he heard a reprimand from the side hall.
Kaguya held several draft papers in her hand and softly reprimanded the man kneeling before her.
Her fingertip tapped on the draft paper, her tone clearly displeased. "What's going on with the plot in this chapter? The male and female protagonists were clearly about to confess under the moonlight, but you suddenly inserted a flashback to the second male lead's childhood. It's drawn out and breaks the atmosphere. Did you write it too hastily yesterday and not properly think through the plot?"
The man being scolded wore a cyan long gown, his collar wrinkled like crumpled paper, and his cuffs stained with mottled ink.
He nervously clutched the hem of his clothes with both hands, his knuckles white, his body trembling slightly, his eyes red, and even his voice carried a choked sob of grievance.
"Your Excellency, I... I wrote from dawn till late at night yesterday, not even having lunch or dinner. I just gnawed on two meat buns with hot water to finish five chapters. I really didn't have enough energy, and this chapter wasn't polished well. Please give me half a day more, and I promise to revise it splendidly, ensuring it won't delay your reading of the follow-up."
"How to revise... You said the same thing last time, and the revised plot still had countless loopholes. I think you're just humoring me. If you can't write well again, don't even think about leaving the Royal Palace. I'll have the guards lock you in the study, and you won't be released until I'm satisfied with what you've written."
Kaguya raised her eyebrows slightly, deliberately lifting her chin, and lightly tapped the draft paper with her fingertip.
However, a hint of undetectable childishness was hidden in her eyes, as if she was "seeking justice" for her favorite female protagonist.
The author trembled even more violently when he heard "locked in the study," tears welling up in his eyes, but he held them back.
He just kowtowed heavily. "Your Excellency, please spare my life. I really will revise it well, please give me another chance."
Kaguya was about to say something more when the corner of her eye caught Shun standing at the door, peeking. Her expression instantly changed, and her stern look vanished.
Her slightly furrowed brows relaxed, and even her tone softened. She even subconsciously hid the draft paper behind her back, as if afraid he would see her "fierce" appearance.
"Shun, you're back. Why didn't you have someone announce your arrival?"
The author looked in Kaguya's direction and, the moment he saw Shun, his eyes instantly lit up, as if he had seen light in the darkness.
He fell to his knees with a thud, his knees hitting the floor with a dull sound, and tears streamed down his face like broken pearls.
"Shun-sama. Please save me. Kaguya-sama makes me write five chapters every day, and I really can't write anymore. Yesterday, I was half an hour late, and the guards withheld my dinner. I was hungry all night and only had a bowl of thin porridge this morning. If this continues, I'm afraid I won't be able to bear it."
Shun was slightly taken aback by his embrace, then reached out to help him up. Feeling the distinct boniness of the man's thin arms, he felt a surge of sympathy.
He turned his gaze to Kaguya, his eyes containing a hint of teasing and amusement. "It seems that while I was away, Your Excellency took on the job of a foreman?"
Kaguya's usually aloof cheeks instantly flushed a faint red.
She quickly walked to Shun's side, lightly tugged at his sleeve with her fingertips, and argued softly like a spoiled child, "Lately, you've been busy with the Land of Snow and Kara, and there's been no one to talk to me, so I found a novel to read."
"His 'Lover of the Moon Goddess' is good. The male lead's personality is a bit like yours, calm and gentle, and he's especially protective of the female lead. I just wanted to see the male and female leads together quickly, so I rushed him a bit."
Shun couldn't help but smile at her charmingly naive appearance, reaching out to gently rub her palm. The warmth from his palm passed through his fingertips, making Kaguya's cheeks flush even more.
"Since Kaguya likes to read it, then it must be satisfied. How about this: tomorrow, I'll take you to Immortal Village. That's a place I previously opened for people who want to train, where time flows five times faster than the outside world. One day outside is five days inside. You can write two chapters a day there, which will allow you to properly refine the plot and have enough time to rest, and Kaguya will also be able to see new chapters every day. This way, neither side is delayed, how does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, the author's troubled expression instantly vanished without a trace.
He quickly bowed deeply to Shun, his waist bent almost to the ground, his voice full of gratitude. "Thank you, Shun-sama. You truly are considerate of your subordinates. I will definitely revise the plot well and make 'Lover of the Moon Goddess' even more exciting, ensuring Your Excellency is satisfied."
Kaguya's lips curved into a faint smile, and she reached out and pulled Shun's hand. "Your method is still the best. This way, I can see the equivalent of ten days' worth of content from the outside world every day, which means ten chapters. I won't have to wait anxiously anymore."
Shun nodded with a smile and said to the author, "You go home and pack some common necessities first. Tomorrow morning, a guard will pick you up from your house. Additionally, you'll receive a monthly salary of 1 million Ryo. There are ready-made residences in Immortal Village, and living expenses are very convenient. You just need to focus on writing."
"As you command. Thank you, Your Excellency. I'll go home and pack now."
The author excitedly bowed again, then turned and quickly left, his steps becoming much lighter.
The side hall finally returned to quiet.
Shun and Kaguya slowly walked back to the sleeping chambers.
The warm golden lamplight streamed through the carved window lattices, reflecting on them like a painting of a scholar and a beauty together, warm and beautiful.
As soon as they entered the sleeping chambers, Shun sat on the soft couch and rubbed his brow.
His tone carried a mix of weariness and excitement. "Kaguya, today in Kara's Alternate Dimension, I encountered Isshiki. That old geezer initially tried to put on airs, but I forced him to unseal Karma Stage One and Karma Stage Two, and finally 100%, transforming into his true form to fight me. But none of his forms were a match for me, and in the end, I made him open a spatial gate and flee."
Kaguya quickly took his hands and sat beside him, her eyes full of concern. "How was your battle with Isshiki? You weren't hurt, were you? I see your cuff is torn, was it scratched by his black rods?"
Shun squeezed Kaguya's hand, his expression very excited, as if he had returned to that fierce battle.
"He activated his Karma Stage One and Karma Stage Two, but I beat him badly, so he could only activate 100% of his Karma and fight me in his true form. I originally wanted to play with him a bit longer, but I didn't expect him to start playing dirty, so I had to use my ocular jutsu, activate 6x acceleration, and then use a Chakra Enhanced Strength punch to knock him down."
Kaguya's eyes held a hint of worry as she pressed, "How exactly did Isshiki escape then? Did he leave any traces?"
Shun's face was beaming with pride as he heavily sat back on the soft couch.
"Isshiki was sent flying by my punch, blood spilling from the corner of his lips, looking utterly disheveled. He pretended to attack me, then tore open a spatial passage and escaped."
"Unfortunately, my spatial attainments aren't enough. I couldn't pinpoint his spatial coordinates. Otherwise, I definitely would have caught up to him and completely eliminated him."
Upon hearing this, Kaguya's brows instantly furrowed. She gently caressed Shun's cheek, her thumb brushing against the stubble that had just sprouted on his jaw.
"You were right not to chase him. Isshiki has a special Alternate Dimension where time is completely stopped. Once you step inside, you'll be trapped by the space, and the consequences would be unimaginable."
Shun asked, "Isshiki has such a space? Good thing I didn't impulsively chase him in. Then how did you defeat him before?"
Kaguya's lips curved into a gentle smile as she said, "At that time, I already possessed Kekkei Mora, giving me a certain immunity, and I also knew Amenominaka, which allowed me to transfer the surrounding space and Isshiki into my dimension, so his abilities were countered by me."
Shun imagined the scene and blurted out, "Then next time we find Isshiki, I'll call you to come with me."
Kaguya looked at his confident expression and said, "Okay, next time we'll go together. But for now, you should rest well. I'll have someone prepare some of your favorite snacks, like the red bean paste cakes you mentioned last time."
Shun smiled and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his nose filled with the faint scent of cherry blossoms in her hair.
"Having you by my side is better than anything. By the way, what was the story of 'Lover of the Moon Goddess'? What made you so captivated that you even became a foreman?"
Kaguya snuggled into his embrace, her voice incredibly soft. "It's about a love story between a goddess and a mortal. The goddess gave up her Divine Power for the mortal, and the mortal, in turn, worked hard to become strong to protect the goddess. In the end, they both protected their homeland together. The mortal male lead in it is a lot like you—gentle yet powerful, and especially protective of the female lead."
Shun couldn't help but laugh at her words. "So you're treating me like the male lead of a novel? Then do I also need to do something for you, like the male lead?"
Kaguya quickly shook her head, covering his mouth with her hand. "I don't want you to do anything. I just want you to be safe and sound. You are already the strongest man, you don't need to do anything to prove it."
Shun held her hand, gently kissing it, his voice tender. "Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll protect you well. It's late, shouldn't we proceed with..."
Kaguya playfully hooked his chin. "My husband, come on. I like it too."
"Since my wife is in such high spirits, tonight we'll try some different moves. The Twelfth Set of Calisthenics."