Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 828 - 456: Boating on the Lake and Dancing with Butterflies

Chapter 828: Chapter 456: Boating on the Lake and Dancing with Butterflies

The highland sky has just cleared after the clouds and rain, the fields in the valley are filled with the fragrance of grain. September heralds a bountiful harvest, and the farmers are busy in the fields, their faces brimming with hopeful joy. The Mexican Valley enjoys a warm climate and fertile soil, and the Lake Texcoco irrigation channels are well-maintained and tamed over the years. The fields by the lake have highly stable yields, with no fear of droughts or floods, nor worries about saline and alkaline soils.

"Along the shores of the Great Lake, the fields are lush and green, the villages densely populated and prosperous, it’s truly delightful!"

Xiulote is boating on the lake, looking at the endless fields along the shore, and the countless busy farmers, he can’t help but exclaim. The pumpkins in the fields have been harvested, the beans are being gathered, and the corn has just ripened too, it looks like another abundant year!

Alisa is smiling brightly, softly snuggling in Xiulote’s arms. She looks at the large flocks of birds by the lake, attracted by the aroma of the grains in the fields, circling back and forth in the sky, changing their flying forms, unwilling to leave for a long time. Her heart wanders with the birds, dancing in the free sky, then it falls back into her lover’s embrace.

"Xiulo, the birds are attracted by the aroma of corn, flying here from distant skies... um... if I became a stalk of corn, would you become a bird, flying around me?"

Alisa blinks, looking at the young man’s solemn face.

Xiulote is momentarily stunned, looking at the soft beauty in his arms, he nods in response.

"Lisa, if you became a stalk of corn, then I would also become a stalk of corn. From birth to withering, we would always stand side by side."

"Ah..."

Hearing this answer, Alisa’s eyes widen, filled with longing. A few breaths later, she suddenly extends her arms and tightly hugs the young man. Her face pressed against his firm chest, she lets out a low murmur.

"...then I want to be a bean plant... intertwining with you, from life to death..."

"Lisa..."

Xiulote feels the softness in his arms, and his hardened heart also softens. He tightly hugs his wife, as if holding a part of his own life. He recalls an old poem and softly recites it.

"I wish to be with you, sharing all of life’s joys and sorrows!... We will stand together like trees, ruling over the land beneath our feet, standing in front of countless citizens... Our roots will grasp firmly underground, our leaves will touch in the clouds... sharing the cold, the wind, and the thunder together, sharing the mist, the fog, and the rainbow together..."

The two embrace tightly, whispering many words of love, then soon fall silent. The small boat is quiet, only the sound of two hearts beating closely together in affection.

Nashu, dressed in leather armor, leads a dozen small boats and a hundred Imperial Guard Warriors, patrolling the periphery from afar. She occasionally turns her head to glance at the couple on the small boat kissing, then quickly moves her gaze away.

After a while, Alisa, her face flushed red, escapes from her lover’s lips. She looks at the familiar Texcoco Lake District, and the magnificent Lake Capital City. This is her hometown, where she has grown up.

"Xiulo, what is the Kingdom of the Lake like?"

"The Kingdom of the Lake... is quite similar to the Alliance, only not as prosperous. Lake Patzcuaro is also very beautiful, with the flat lake reflecting the mountains, and many small islands in the lake. I’ve already picked out two islands, to be our garden and botanical garden... The Kingdom will be our home, and you will be the mistress of the house. We will manage the Patzcuaro Lake region together, making it as rich and beautiful as the heart of the Alliance!"

Xiulote said with a smile. Then, after pondering a bit, he added a few more words.

"Of course, my grandfather, father, and father-in-law are all here. We will come back and visit them often!"

"Yes! Xiulo, I will listen to you. Wherever you go, I will go with you..."

Alisa’s eyes and brows curved, showing a pure and beautiful smile. Her pink lips opened slightly, exhaling a breath like orchids, with shyness hidden within her charm.

Xiulote blushed as he looked, licking his lips, feeling a bit warm. Several breaths later, he suddenly bent down, extending his strong hand, gently searching within the softness of the clouds, seeking the dew hidden within.

"Caw! Caw caw!"

A group of black crows flew by in the sky, curiously looking at the swaying boat in the lake, unable to tell if it was one person or two. The crows circled the boat once, then flew westward, leaving behind an unnoticed cawing, like a hidden omen of destiny.

The lake, as smooth as a mirror, gently swayed the boat. After a while, the young couple, breathless from their embrace, lay on the boat, looking up at the sky.

"Lisa, life is short, yet full of wonders. Our existence is but a fleeting moment in the vastness of the universe. If life is a dream, I wish to be a butterfly in that dream, flying with you, day and night in the clouds!..."

Xiulote gazed at the clouds, lost in thought. Holding his lover, he felt a happiness he had never known, his heart filled with love. For some reason, he thought of Zhuang Zhou dreaming of butterflies, then of Liang Zhu transforming into butterflies, and felt a bit dazed.

"Xiulo, why would people be butterflies in dreams?... The Goddess of Spring gave us the spring of life, which turned into the blood in our bodies. Our blood mingles, truly feeling each other’s heartbeat, feeling our lover’s life... To me, you exist, truly, by my side, in my heart, and within my body..."

Alisa blinked, leaning on Xiulote’s shoulder, biting her lover’s ear.

"Naughty brother, if you are a butterfly, then I will be a lantern flower, drawing you in... then wrapping around you..."

"Ah? Biting me again?!"

Xiulote felt a sharp pain in his ear and immediately snapped out of his reverie. Pretending to be angry, he turned to capture his mischievous wife, wanting to punish the cat that loved to bite, but could not muster the strength. In the end, he could only kiss her rosy cheeks and cute ears, declaring in a deep voice.

"Brother is not a butterfly... but a hummingbird..."

"Um... is that so? I don’t believe it. Hummingbirds are very greedy, hehe..."

The small boat rocked continuously as the newlyweds began to frolic again. Their sweet moments seemed endless, until the sun rose high in the sky, and Xiulote remembered their plan for the day.

"Lisa, are you hungry?"

"Yeah... a little..."

Alisa’s neck turned red, tilting her head, she licked her lips. Her bright eyes seemed to be filled with spring water.

"Bro... can we eat?..."

"Uh... the guards have brought lunch and desserts, we will have them at the botanical garden later. We’ll spend the afternoon there admiring the flowers and butterflies. In the evening, we’ll go to the bird sanctuary on the floating island to see flamingos and snowy herons. And then in the evening, we’ll head to the aquatic lake to see the tropical colorful fish. Finally, we’ll go to the pyramid to watch the stars, just like our last date..."

Looking at the person he desired, Xiulote tried to suppress the fire within him, saving some strength for the evening.

After their wedding, he had handed over the High Priesthood’s duties, settling down to enjoy the honeymoon with his beloved wife. They were inseparable, exploring mountains and waters each day, temporarily forgetting the troubles of the Alliance and the world, seeing only each other, and feeling only tenderness in their hearts.

Xiulote knew that the eastward expedition of the Alliance was imminent, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Army, he could only rest for at most a month. Once the expedition began, it was uncertain how long it would last. The future would be a time of brief reunions and long separations, making the newlywed days all the more precious.

"Shall we go to the garden?"

Alisa nodded joyfully. At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the weather on the lake remained warm. Boating around the lake, their bodies were drenched in sweat, making the botanical garden a perfect place to cool down. The garden was in full bloom, with flowers and butterflies, making it an ideal time for a visit.

"Xiulo, when we go to the garden, I want... to dance for you."

"Ah? Dance..."

The small boat sailed smoothly, swiftly approaching the floating island ahead. Xiulote rowed the oars, pausing slightly at her words. His thoughts flew, his eyes lowered, gleaming like water.

"Lisa, what kind of dance... do you want to perform?"

"Hehe."

Alisa tilted her head, a sly smile on her face. She was like a cute little fox, leaning close to her lover’s ear.

"Naughty brother, what’s your favorite dance? I can do all of them."

"Well... I don’t really watch dancers, I don’t know much about dances."

"Really don’t know?"

"Really."

"Hmm, let me think..."

Alisa’s bright eyes sparkled. She puffed out her chest, looking at Xiulote’s expression, speaking earnestly.

"I’ll perform the Mistec’s Dance of the Deer and the Vastec’s Dance of the Cat. Xiulo, you’ll definitely like it!"

"Ah! I... okay..."

Upon hearing this, Xiulote’s gaze wavered, feeling a bit guilty.

"Xiulo, do you want to see it?"

"Uh... I want to watch it."

"Is it beautiful?"

"It’s beautiful..."

"Hmph!"

Alisa suddenly got a little angry. She lifted her fair long leg, bent her glistening toe, lightly tapping Xiulote’s heart.

"Hmph! Xiulo, in your heart, is there another beautiful woman who can dance?"

"Ah? No... no! The Chief Divine bears witness! Alisa, I only love you!"

Xiulote put down the oars, quickly making a fist and swearing. He looked around, unknowingly, the small boat had reached the floating island of the botanical garden, resting on a shallow beach. Ahead in the garden, large flowers were in bloom. They blushed with coquettish faces, swaying their slim waists, silently inviting visitors.

"Look, we’ve arrived, the beautiful lake garden!"

"Hmph!"

The girl tilted her head and pouted, still a bit unhappy. She had eyes only for her lover, and hoped that her lover’s heart also had room only for her.

"Lisa... I..."

Xiulote was left speechless. After a moment’s thought, he swiftly reached out, grabbing the girl’s ankle.

"Um! Naughty brother... what are you going to do?"

Alisa batted her eyes, pretending to be a frightened little fox, she shrank back a little in fear. However, her strength was too weak to escape from the Hunter’s grasp, only exposing more enticing vulnerabilities.

"Haha!"

Xiulote laughed heartily, showing the strength and agility of a warrior, easily pinning down the little fox, lifting her up in his arms. Then, barefoot, he jumped off the boat, stepping on the shallow waves, striding towards the garden.

"What am I going to do?"

The young man held the light girl, like holding a butterfly. The butterfly shyly folded its long wings, appearing delicate and crystalline.

"Of course, I’m dancing the Dance of the Butterfly with you!..."

The young man chuckled, his steps unwavering, heading straight into the beargrass bed with white flowers. The beargrass had soft lines, with curled and dense leaves, forming a naturally comfortable grass carpet. Soon, the wind carried away only his cheerful laughter, and the girl’s soft calls.

A butterfly fluttered its wings, following the sound of the wind. It opened and closed its wings in the breeze, changing into different postures, its graceful dance captivating. After a long time, it blinked its eyes and landed on a lantern flower, watching as a hummingbird nestled into the flower, the petals wrapped around it, and it disappeared~