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Chapter 140: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree (VII)

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    器鬼族一直没有停止捕杀混血精灵，以至于大陆上但凡有混血精灵出生便被联盟保护起来。混血精灵长大后，无一例外，全部加入联盟，成为一大战力。尽管如此，每年仍然有不少混血精灵被杀害。

The specters continued to hunt down half-elves without pause until every half- elf that was born on the continent was immediately protected by the alliance the moment they were born. After the half-elves grew to adulthood, they would all become a member of the alliance without exception to help in the war efforts. Despite their attempts, there were still many half-elves being murdered every year.

    不久前，一座联盟城市遭到器鬼族的突袭，数百名普通民众惨死在屠刀之下。更让人发指的是，35名精灵孩子被他们关在铁笼里活活烧死。孩子们的悲鸣声，彻底激起了联盟各族的愤怒。他们在第一时间夺取了器鬼族占领的一座傀儡城市，正式向器鬼族宣战。

Not too long ago, one of the alliance’s cities suffered from a sudden attack by the specters and hundreds of ordinary citizens were slaughtered. What shocked them even more was that thirty-five elf children were caged and burned alive. The tragic cries of those children thoroughly aroused the fury of every race within the alliance. They immediately counterattacked and seized one of the puppet cities of the specters and formally declared war.

    各族势力纷纷响应，整装待发，奔赴战场。

Every race responded to the war call and readied themselves as they rushed to the battlefield.

    尚可听完伊维的叙述，心情有些沉重，想到那些被杀死的精灵孩子，又看看正在不远处玩耍的小精灵，暗暗发誓，绝对不能让他们遭受那样的伤害。

After hearing the background events that led up to this point of time, Shang Ke’s mood was greatly dampened. He thought of those dead elves and looked toward the ones currently playing within his line of sight and promised to himself that he would not let them suffer as the others have.

    伊维看到尚可的表情，便知道他在担心什么，开口道：“联盟势力强大，未必没有与器鬼族一战之力。”

Shang Ke’s worry was shown plain as day over his face and Ivan tried to comfort him, “The alliance is strong, they have their ways against specters.”

    “器鬼族几乎可以免疫大部分魔法攻击和物理攻击，擅长火系和金系魔法，某种程度上而言，他们是杀不死的。”更受制的是，与器鬼族作战，联盟不能使用任何金属器物，只能使用非金属质的魔法物品。

“The specters are immune to most magic attacks and physical attacks while being good at fire and gold magic. To some degree, they can’t be killed.” What limited the alliance even more was that while combating the specters, they could not use anything with any metal. Only nonmetal magic items could be used.

    “我们可以选择封印，用自然元素封印器鬼族的力量。”伊维从怀里取出一块暗金色木牌递给尚可，“这是我最近研制的氧灵刻印，在氧灵珠的基础上，增加了封印法阵。”

“We can choose to seal them and use nature elements to seal the specter’s power.” Ivan took out a dark golden wooden tile to Shang Ke. “This is an oxygen spirit seal I’ve developed recently, with the oxygen spirit bead as the foundation, it would increase a seal array’s power.”

    尚可接过木牌好奇打量，又听伊维补充道：“只是封印法阵需要非常浓郁的氧元素，在森林中收集一两个月的氧元素，也只能炼制一块威力普通的氧灵刻印。如果能够找到鬼玉，解除生命之泉的封印，炼制氧灵刻印就简单多了。”

Shang Ke took the offered tile and curiously checked it out. Ivan continued to explain, “But the seal array would need a very dense amount of oxygen. By gathering oxygen in the forest for one to two months, it would be enough to create one normal oxygen spirit seal. If we could find the phantom jade and remove the seal on the Spring of Life, then creating seals would be much more simpler.”

    鬼玉……尚可抬头朝伊维的左眼看去，若他之前的感应没错，众人急欲寻找的鬼玉，恐怕就在伊维的左眼中。神木的元素之力触动了鬼玉的封印，所以伊维才会出现那样强烈的反应。

The phantom jade… Shang Ke turned his attention away from the seal and moved to Ivan’s left eye. If his previous reaction were to be proven true, then the phantom jade everyone was desperately trying to find was unfortunately in Ivan’s left eye. The intense reaction from before was due to the phantom jade coming in contact with Teldrassil’s power.

    然而，尚可并不觉得有多高兴，因为他不确定强行开启鬼玉封印，是否会危及到伊维的生命。如果必须牺牲他才能完成任务，尚可不知道自己该如何选择。

This information did not make Shang Ke feel any happier though. He did not know if forcefully undoing the seal on the phantom jade would endanger Ivan’s life. If he had to sacrifice him to complete his mission, Shang Ke did not know what choice he would make.

    尚可将刻印还给伊维，然后转身朝花园走去。

Shang Ke gave the seal back to Ivan and headed for his garden.

    伊维亦步亦趋地跟在他身后。

Ivan immediately blindly followed behind him.

    尚可提起花篮开始采花，伊维也帮着采花。

Shang Ke picked up his basket and started to pick flowers, Ivan immediately did the same to help.

    花篮装满后，尚可又走进果园。

After the basket was filled, Shang Ke headed for the orchard.

    伊维继续尾随。

Ivan continued to follow.

    尚可摘什么，他就摘什么。

Whatever Shang Ke picked, Ivan picked.

    采摘完毕，尚可提着篮子走进厨房，用魔法将花瓣洗净磨成粉。

After they finished picking everything, Shang Ke carried the basket to the kitchen and used magic to wash the petals and grind them into powder.

    伊维很自觉地帮他生火，烧水，清洗厨具。

Ivan very seriously helped him make a fire, heat up the water and wash the kitchen equipment.

    尚可坐在石桌边捏面团，伊维就像雕塑一样杵在旁边，目不转睛地盯着他。

While Shang Ke kneaded dough by the stone table, Ivan stood and stared at him intensely like a statue.

    尚可感觉自己被一片阴影笼罩，忍不住抬头看向他：“你站在这里干什么？”

A shadow suddenly dropped over Shang Ke, diverting his attention away from the dough and up at Ivan, “What are you doing standing here?”

    伊维沉默不语，眼中透着一种“欲语还休”的意味。

Ivan did not speak, but his eyes gave off a shy impression.

    尚可：……这是什么鬼样子？

Shang Ke: …What kind of weird look is this?

    “尚可。”伊维开口唤了一声。

“Shang Ke.” Ivan finally spoke.

    “嗯？”尚可一脸“有话就说不要墨迹”的表情。

“Hm?” Shang Ke stared at him, telling him with his eyes to speak up if he had something to say.

    “可可……”伊维试探般地换了一种亲昵的叫法。

“Keke…” Ivan tried out a more intimate way of calling him.

    “嗯。”尚可好像看到这个男人身后出现了一条正在左右摇晃的尾巴。

“Hn.” Shang Ke felt as if he could see a tail behind Ivan waving around.

    伊维见尚可对昵称没有抵触，心中狂喜，脸上却没有丝毫显露，故作沉稳地说：“你忙吧，我就外面，有事叫我。”

Ivan saw that Shang Ke did not deny the nickname and was filled with ecstasy despite none of it showing on his face. He continued to be calm as he spoke, “You can continue with whatever you’re doing. I’ll be outside, if you need me call for me.”:

    说完，昂首阔步地走出厨房，周身仿佛笼罩了一层灿烂的光芒。

He immediately left after those words, his body suddenly appearing to be radiating rays of light.

    尚可：……这到底是几个意思？

Shang Ke: …Just what is the meaning of this?

    中午，尚可做了小精灵们最喜欢的花糕和素汤，将他们喂饱后，便起身去林中散步，顺便思考鬼玉的问题。

By noon, Shang Ke had made the elves’ favorite flower cakes and vegetarian soup and fed them. He then went on a walk in the forest and thought about the problem with the phantom jade.

    正在这时，身后传来悉悉索索的脚步声，随即，一具温热的身体贴过来，沉沉的呼吸拂过耳尖，引得它颤动了几下。

A set of rhythmic footsteps suddenly broke his train of thought followed by a warm body clinging to him. A breath blew by his ear causing it to tremble slightly.

    伊维看得心头痒痒的，想象着之前舔舐它的感觉，忍不住伸手环住尚可的腰，让自己与他更加亲近。

Ivan stared at him, his heart pounding furiously as he thought back to how it felt back when he had licked his ear. He couldn’t help himself and wrapped his arms around Shang Ke’s waist, trying to be more intimate with him.

    “可可……”伊维的声音，带着几分紧张和确定。

“Keke…” Ivan’s voice carried a hint of nervousness and determination.

    他强行占有了这个精灵，明知配不上他，还是无法抑制心中的渴望。若亵渎精灵必须受到惩罚，他愿意付出一切。

He had forcefully taken this elf and was fully aware he was not a match for him, but he still could not help the desire within his heart for him. If he had to be punished for dirtying the elf, then he was willing to pay with everything.

    如此不自信的他，尚可还是第一次见到。

This was the first time Shang Ke met a version of him that was so lacking in self-confidence.

    他转身面向伊维，笑眯眯地说：“我喜欢你，伊维。”

He turned around to face Ivan, beaming widely as he confessed, “I like you, Ivan.”

    伊维怔怔地望着他，像是没听清他说的是什么。

Ivan stared back at him in a daze, as if he hadn’t heard him.

    尚可轻拽着他的衣带，仰头凑到近前：“你呢？你喜欢我吗？”

Shang Ke tugged at his belt, pushing his head close to his as he asked, “And you? Do you like me?”

    喜欢，喜欢到无法自拔的地步！

He likes him, he likes him so much he would never be able to free himself from this feeling!

    伊维望着那双清澈的眼眸，心跳不受控制地加快，呼吸因为激动而变得急促起来。

Ivan stared at Shang Ke’s clear eyes and his heartbeat sped up along with his breath.

    精灵不介意他丑陋的面容，不介意他无礼的冒犯。

The elf did not mind his ugly appearance nor his rude offense.

    精灵说他喜欢他！

The elf said he liked him!

    伊维一把抱住尚可，低头吻住他的唇，热切地shun吸着。

Ivan immediately embraced Shang Ke and kissed him frantically.

    尚可闭上眼睛，感受着伊维的喜悦。

Shang Ke closed his eyes and let Ivan’s happiness wash over him.

    他们一个是自然神木，一个是封印了生命之泉的鬼玉之身，如果注定要牺牲，那么尚可希望能够和这个男人肆意地享受幸福的时光，直到生命终结。

One of them was Teldrassil while the other was the phantom jade that sealed the Spring of Life. If he was foreordained to sacrifice his life, then he wished that he could willfully enjoy his happiness with this man until his life comes to an end.

    伊维正式进驻尚可的小窝，在那张柔软的床上，将梦中曾经做过的一切细致地演练了一遍。树藤编织的小屋震动了一个晚上，树叶沙沙地掉了一地。

Ivan formally entered Shang Ke’s treehouse that day and on Shang Ke’s soft bed, did everything he had done in his wet dreams one more time. The entire place shook the whole night, causing countless leaves to fall from the tree.

    幸好伊维提前设置了结界，避免了被围观的下场，不然单纯的小精灵都要被带坏了。

Fortunately Ivan had the foresight to set up a boundary ahead of time to avoid any spectators. If he had not done so, the innocent elves would have all been led astray that night.

    第二天，伊维神清气爽地从树屋里下来，立刻遭到小精灵气势汹汹的包围。

The next day, Ivan left the tree house, completely refreshed and was immediately surrounded by the elves who all had tyrannical auras billowing from them.

    这个男人居然霸占了可可一个晚上！整整一个晚上！他们的睡前故事没有了，亲子游戏没有了，安眠曲也没有了！

This man actually kept Keke all night! One whole night! Their bedtime story was gone, their games were gone, and their lullaby was also gone!

    不仅如此，他还在树屋周围设置了结界，不让他们靠近，简直不可饶！

Not only that, he had even set up a boundary around the tree house, preventing them from getting close. This was simply unforgivable!

    小精灵们杀气腾腾地瞪着眼前这个万恶的人类……

The elves all glared at this human with killing intent in their eyes.

    当尚可醒来时，伊维正被一群小精灵“追杀”着。见尚可出来，他立刻蹿过去，亲昵地抱住他，任由小精灵一个接一个地扑到他身上，眼中带着掩饰不住的笑意。

When Shang Ke woke up, the sight he was immediately treated to was of Ivan being chased around by a group of elves. The elves, noticing that Shang Ke was awake immediately headed for him and hugged him. Shang Ke let the elves all jump on him, his eyes full of cheer that couldn’t be hidden.

    “行了，你们别闹了。”尚可嫌弃地推开伊维那张幸福得发骚的脸。

“Alright now, get off of me.” Shang Ke disdainfully pushed away Ivan’s lecherous and happy face.

    “可可，你昨晚和这个人类躲在屋子里干什么？”泡泡愤愤不平地质问。

“Keke, what were you doing hiding in the house with this human last night?” Bubbles indignantly asked.

    “……小孩子家家，不要问这么有深度的问题。”尚可摆出家长的威严。

“…Be good children, don’t ask something so deep.” Shang Ke assumed the aura of a parent.

    嗯，确实很有“深度”。伊维肩忍不住低头闷笑。

Mhm, there was a lot of “depth” to it. Ivan ducked down to muffle his laughter.

    小精灵却是一脸呆萌，不明白这个问题到底哪里有深度了？

Confusion covered all of the elves’ faces. They did not understand, just which part of the question was deep?

    “可可，你不能再和这个人类睡在一起了！”泡泡义正严词地为小精灵们争取权益，“你是我们大家的！”

“Keke, you can’t sleep with this human anymore!” Bubbles worked hard to fight for all of their rights. “You belong to us!”

    伊维闻言，止住笑意，对小精灵们说：“只有胜利者才有决定权，你们想将可可从我身边抢走，必须先打败我再说。”

Ivan hid his smile and spoke grandly, “Only the victor has the right to decide. If you guys want to snatch Keke from me, you need to defeat me first.”

    小精灵们先是面面相觑，随后挥起拳头，同仇敌忾地大吼一声：“打！”

The little elves first looked toward each other, then raised their fists as one and roared together against their common enemy: “Beat him up!”

    说着，小精灵再次向伊维扑去。

With their battlecry, they all pounced toward Ivan.

    伊维身形一闪，动作灵活地蹿进树林，小精灵们立刻蹦跳着追了上去。

Ivan immediately dodged and agilely ran into the forest, the little elves following close behind.

    吵闹的声音逐渐远去，周围一下子安静下来。尚可好笑地摇摇头，然后转身朝厨房走去。

The chaotic battle gradually went farther and silence returned. Shang Ke shook his head at the humorous situation and headed for the kitchen.

    等尚可将饭菜做好，伊维也带着一群垂头丧气的小家伙回来了。他走到尚可身边，揽住他的腰，一副趾高气昂的胜利者姿态。

By the time Shang Ke was done making food, Ivan returned with a group of dispirited children. He walked over to Shang Ke and placed his hand on his waist, his attitude full of arrogance of being the victor.

    小精灵鼓着腮帮子，一个个苦大仇深地瞪着他。

The little elves all pouted as they glared at him with great bitterness.

    尚可蹲在一个装满清水的木盆边，笑着招呼道：“过来洗手吧。”

Shang Ke crouched next to a wooden basin and waved his hand at them, “Come wash your hands.”

    小精灵围着木盆蹲了一圈，磨磨蹭蹭地开始洗手。

The children obeyed and surrounded the basin, slowly washing their hands.

    趁伊维去端菜的空档，尚可小声对小精灵们说：“别难过，晚上我帮你们教训他，保证让他吃不了兜着走。”

Taking the chance while Ivan was gone to get the food set up, Shang Ke whispered to them, “Don’t be sad, I’ll teach him a lesson for you tonight. I guarantee he will take his punishments.”

    小精灵们眼睛一亮，贼兮兮地凑过来：“真的？”

The elves all immediately had bright eyes as they whispered back, “Really?”

    尚可重重点头，自信地竖起一根大拇指。

Shang Ke nodded confidently, giving them a thumbs up.

    然后回应他的是十六根小拇指。

What responded was a sixteen additional small thumbs.

    当晚，小精灵们都没有睡，挤在一个树屋中，紧紧盯着那个半透明的结界。

That night, the little elves all did not sleep. Instead, they were all surrounding the tree house, staring closely at the translucent boundary.

    “泡泡，你说可可能够打赢那个人类吗？”莱蕾担心地问。

“Bubbles, do you think Keke can defeat that human?” Lorinda asked worriedly.

    “绝对没问题的！”泡泡回得斩钉截铁。

“There is absolutely no problem!” Bubbles replied unhesitatingly.

    其他精灵也纷纷点头，可可在他们心中是无敌的！

The other elves also nodded in agreement. In their hearts, Keke was unrivaled!

    结界中，伊维有节奏地在尚可体内运动着，声音沙哑地问：“你打算怎么‘让我吃不了兜着走’？”

Within the boundary, Ivan rhythmically moved in and out of Shang Ke’s body as he huskily asked, “So, how do you plan to “punish” me?”

    尚可一个翻身坐在他腰上，趁男人舒服地喟叹时，低头在他脖子上咬了一口。

Shang Ke flipped them over which left him sitting on top, taking the chance while the man was moaning from pleasant, he bowed down and bit down on his neck.

    伊维眼神微暗，扶住他的腰，腰身用力向上顶起。

Ivan’s eyes darken. He held Shang Ke’s waist and quickly moved his own waist upwards.

    尚可低喘一声，眼中泛起雾气，又俯身在他锁骨处留下一个牙印。

Shang Ke gasped, his eyes momentarily blurring from the sudden pleasure before once again leaving another bite mark on Ivan’s collarbone.

    伊维坐起身，将尚可压在床头，来回顶撞。

Ivan sat up and pressed Shang Ke against the bedhead and thrusted in and out of him again.

    尚可每咬一口，伊维就换一个姿势。

With every bite Shang Ke left on him, Ivan would change positions.

    最后，伊维脖子以上牙印弥补，而尚可也被折腾得四肢酸软。

In the end, Ivan’s neck was filled with bite marks while Shang Ke was also thoroughly done in, leaving all of his limbs sore.

    但真正受伤的不是他们，而是那棵正在不停掉叶子的大树：MD，敢不敢有点公德心！再这样下去，老子就要秃顶了！

But the one that was truly injured wasn’t them, but that tree that was constantly shedding leaves: Goddamnit, can’t you guys be more civil! If this continues on, this tree is going to be a bald tree!

    小精灵们很晚才睡着，等他们醒来，立刻兴冲冲地跑去查看可可昨晚的“战果”。

The little elves didn’t go to bed until it was very late. When they woke up, they immediately runned over to see the results of yesterday night’s ‘battle’.

    只见某人露在衣服外面的皮肤，布满了青青紫紫的痕迹，连嘴角都破了皮，好像被无数只虫子咬过一般，看得小精灵们目瞪口呆。

They saw that Ivan was covered in purple bruises from the skin that was showing, while the skin near his lips were also all scratched up as if countless bugs decided to take a bite at him. The elves were dumbstruck at the sight.

    原本都希望他受到教训，现在见到他的“惨状”，小精灵们又不由得同情起来。

They all wished for him to have a lesson, but now that they see his ‘devastated’ appearance, they all couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him.

    “可可，我们原谅他了，以后就让他陪你睡吧。”小精灵们善解人意地表示。遭受如此惨无人道的虐待，仍然坚持要睡在一起，这个人类对可可确实是“真爱”。

“Keke, we forgive him now. Let him sleep with you from now on.” The elves all showed their compassion. To suffer such inhumane mistreatment but still wanted to sleep with Keke, this human was really ‘true love’ with Keke.

    尚可：“……”你们的立场呢？

Shang Ke: “……” What happened to you guys?

    伊维在小精灵身后比了一个胜利的手势。

Ivan gave Shang Ke a victory sign behind the children.

    尚可：“……”

Shang Ke: “……”

    幸福的日子总是过得很快，伊维的通讯石闪烁出红色光芒，预示着战事的开始。

Happy days always pass by quickly. Ivan’s communicator flickered with a red light, indicating that the war was beginning.

    伊维对尚可说：“我要走了，等我回来。”

Ivan spoke to Shang Ke, “I need to go, wait for me.”

    尚可圈住他的脖子，轻轻在他唇上印下一吻：“一路小心。”

Shang Ke wrapped his arms around his neck and gave a gentle kiss, “Be careful.”

    伊维眼中温柔似水，与他厮磨片刻，然后拿起行李，依依不舍地告别了他的精灵。

Ivan’s eyes were full of gentleness and after cuddling for a moment with him, picked up his luggage and reluctantly left.

    尚可望着他的背影，低喃道：“伊维，我们战场见。”

As Shang Ke watched his leaving figure, he muttered to himself, “Ivan, let us meet again on the battlefield.”

SnowTime: Slowly I die, but yay extended spring break? Trying to finish this arc in one spurt

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