Watching Xiao Bai escort Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong away until their figures disappeared into the boundless snow, a faint sense of loss flickered across the Snow Empress's face. Staring at the vast, empty ice plains, she felt as though something was missing.
"Snow Empress, you can't bear to part with them, can you?" the Titan Snow Demon King suddenly said.
"Ah Tai, why would you say such a thing?" The Snow Empress was momentarily stunned. She turned to him, murmuring as if to refute, "I am the sovereign of the Extreme North… how could I possibly…"
The Titan Snow Demon King looked at her steadily. "I can see it. Your feelings toward that human are not simple. And I suspect the reason you summoned me here was precisely because you wanted me to speak these words aloud, wasn't it?"
After all, if it were merely to send the humans away, Xiao Bai could have done so alone. Why bother notifying him as well? His bond with humans was tenuous at best. Even toward Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong, he felt no more than a lack of dislike.
When his words fell, the Snow Empress fell silent. Only after a long while did she let out a quiet laugh. Turning her gaze once more toward the direction Jiang Shengyu had gone, she nodded lightly. "You're right… I really am reluctant."
"Then why not go with them?" the Titan Snow Demon King suddenly asked.
"With them? I thought you'd be telling me to keep them here instead." She looked at him in surprise. But the Titan Snow Demon King shook his great head. "No. I can tell—those two humans don't belong to the Extreme North. They cannot stay here."
"But I cannot leave the Extreme North either…" the Snow Empress sighed softly.
The Titan Snow Demon King continued: "Though the Extreme North cannot do without you, I would rather see you happy."
"Happy…"
The Snow Empress murmured the word. Indeed, though her time with Jiang Shengyu had been short, her spirits had been far lighter than during her long solitude in the Extreme North—especially when he gave her a human name. It had brought her a joy she could not put into words.
"The Extreme North has me… and that bear," the Titan Snow Demon King added.
Hearing this, the Snow Empress let out a soft acknowledgment. "Let me think about it."
Meanwhile, Xiao Bai had escorted Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong back to the very edge of the Extreme North—the spot where they had first entered. For him, finding this place posed no difficulty.
Crouching down to let them off his back, he said, "Humans, this is as far as I can take you. Beyond this point is no longer the Snow Region. It isn't suitable for me to go further."
"You've already brought us far enough! Thank you, Xiao Bai!" Jiang Shengyu patted his nose gratefully.
Xiao Bai shook his head. "You are the Snow Empress's friends—and thus, my friends as well! Friends don't need thanks. I'll head back now. But if you ever come to the Extreme North again, I'll take you to the frozen seas to catch fish."
"Deal!" Jiang Shengyu chuckled helplessly, nodding at the invitation.
Once Xiao Bai had departed, the two surveyed their surroundings. "I wonder how Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are doing. It's been several days already… could they have gone back?"
Just as they spoke, Jiang Qingtong spotted a metal plate half-buried in snow—an unmistakably man-made trace. The two rushed over, dug it out, and brushed the snow away.
On it were etched only a few words:
"We're waiting for you in Snow City."
Signed below were Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's names.
So it was a plate condensed by Xiao Hongchen using the Tri-legged Golden Toad's metal-element ability. Snow City—yes, that was a small border city in the northern reaches of the Heavenly Soul Empire. Were they waiting there?
Wasting no time, the pair activated their flying soul tools and soared in the direction of Snow City.
About a quarter of an hour later, they arrived outside its gates. The northern architecture was vastly different from that of the south. Though Snow City was small compared to major metropolises like Heaven Dou City or Star Luo City, it had its own distinctive charm.
Entering the city, they inquired after inns or guesthouses.
Following the directions of a kind townsman, they soon arrived at the city's only inn. Yet the instant they stepped through the door, a black shadow shot toward them from the side, shouting:
"Take my kick!"
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong simultaneously sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow. Looking at the figure who landed heavily before them, they sighed in unison.
"Xiao Hongchen… must you be so childish?"
"You little brat, you still have the face to talk? Do you have any idea how worried we've been these past days—!" Xiao Hongchen stormed forward, grabbing Jiang Shengyu by the collar.
"Brother, that's enough!" A voice rang out from the side—Meng Hongchen, walking over. She quickly called her brother to order.
Reluctantly, Xiao Hongchen released his grip. Meng Hongchen then moved to Jiang Qingtong's side, holding her hand gently as she asked, "Qingtong, where on earth did you two go these past days? My brother and I searched the Extreme North several times, but couldn't find you. Then suddenly, that terrifying blizzard struck the snowfields…"
Jiang Shengyu scratched his head awkwardly, struggling for a way to explain. Seeing his guilty look, the siblings more or less guessed what had happened. Meng Hongchen said, "Answer us after you've come up with a convincing story."
"Hey, what's with that? Don't just assume the worst! Who said anything about making up stories—" Jiang Shengyu sputtered, but the topic was let slide.
Meng and Xiao Hongchen exchanged a helpless glance.
"You've been gone so long—you must be starving. Come on, let's eat. We haven't had breakfast yet either." Xiao Hongchen decided to drop the matter and ushered them to the table.
Having eaten nothing but seafood for days, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong were more than glad for a change of taste.
During the meal, Xiao Hongchen said, "We've been delayed in the Extreme North for nearly a month now. If we don't return to the Sun Moon Empire soon, my grandfather and His Lordship Silvermoon will tan our hides."
Jiang Shengyu shook his head. "Correction—not our hides. Just yours. They wouldn't dare touch Sister Hongchen, Qingtong, or me. The beating will be yours alone."
"…"
Xiao Hongchen was speechless. Clearly, this conversation could go no further.
Once all their affairs were settled, the four set out for the Sun Moon Empire. Departing from Snow City at the edge of the Extreme North, they could bypass both the Heavenly Soul Empire's border passes and the Mingdou Mountain Range, heading straight into Sun Moon territory.
Relying on their flying soul tools, they soared through the skies. In the distance, they could see the vast expanse of the Northern Sea.
"How beautiful… Someday, building a little house here by the sea and retiring would be so wonderful," Meng Hongchen sighed, gazing out at the endless blue.
Retirement already? At her age?
Jiang Shengyu could only smile wryly. He was just about to respond when, all of a sudden, a thick, inky-black mist erupted ahead. From within it, a massive blood-red puppet appeared—like a marionette on strings—blocking their path.
"Careful!"
Jiang Shengyu shouted, instantly leaping in front of Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, shielding them behind him.
Atop the puppet's head and shoulders stood three figures, each radiating the overwhelming might of Super Douluo-level spirit power!
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