Inside the Yanhuo Imperial Palace, the atmosphere was completely different from Wulong City, which was buried under a raging snowstorm.
Outside the palace, the royal gardens were covered in a thick layer of white snow. Red lanterns swayed gently in the cold winter wind, while palace servants busily prepared decorations for the grand celebration that would soon take place.
Inside her private pavilion, Princess Hu Lian was reading a letter from the Mayor of Wulong City.
The moment she finished reading—
a wide smile spread across her face.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Really?"
"That old tiger princess is actually dead?"
She chuckled softly, snapping her silk fan closed with a light tap.
And the killer…
Xue Yunxue.
To Hu Lian, this news felt like a gift from the heavens.
Without wasting a moment, she immediately went to see her father.
With tears carefully summoned to her eyes, she told him that a dangerous girl had murdered the daughter of the Wulong mayor.
And that girl needed to be arrested immediately.
Of course—
the old Emperor, who adored his daughter dearly, approved the request without hesitation.
To him, this was merely a trivial matter.
After all—
Xue Yunxue was just a girl with no powerful family background.
Sacrificing someone like her would not shake the empire in the slightest.
Hu Lian returned to her pavilion with a heart full of satisfaction.
It felt as if the heavens themselves were helping her.
That very day, she had already sent a formal invitation to the head of the Luo family—
Luo Jin.
She requested that the entire Luo family attend a royal dinner banquet.
Including—
General Luo Shixin.
Tomorrow would be her nineteenth birthday.
A grand celebration would be held at the palace.
But to Hu Lian—
that celebration was merely an excuse.
Her real objective was much bigger.
If Luo Shixin remained in the capital—
then he wouldn't be able to return to Wulong City to protect that country girl.
Furthermore, Hu Lian had already asked the Emperor to issue an imperial decree to Luo Jin.
The contents of the decree were clear.
It would sever the relationship between Luo Shixin and Xue Yunxue.
If the Luo family themselves withdrew their support—
then that girl would have no one left to protect her.
But that wasn't all.
Hu Lian stood before the large window of her pavilion.
Snow drifted slowly across the palace courtyard.
She smiled with satisfaction.
Because tomorrow—
someone very important would also return.
Hei Xuan.
Her fiancé.
A young general currently stationed on the northern frontier.
He came from one of the most powerful military families in the Yanhuo Empire.
The strength of his forces was nearly equal to that of the Luo family.
Hu Lian gazed at the falling snow outside.
If she could bind the two strongest military powers in the empire together—
then the road toward the future throne would become incredibly easy.
She could already imagine that future.
Hu Lian's smile deepened.
But her thoughts did not stop there.
She also thought about the other husbands of Hu Shui.
Those extraordinary men.
One by one, their faces appeared in her mind.
Xiang Shuai.
Lu Xiao.
Yun Wu.
Lin Yuan.
Every one of them was a top-tier man with terrifying strength.
If Xue Yunxue disappeared—
then nothing would stand in her way anymore.
With her authority and status as an imperial princess—
she could easily make those men hers.
Hu Lian slowly closed her eyes.
A satisfied smile rested on her lips.
She didn't need to struggle.
Because everything that was supposed to belong to her—
would eventually return to her hands.
--------------------------------
The snowstorm was still raging in Wulong City when Yun Wu and Lu Xiao finally returned to their residence.
The winter wind blew snowflakes across the courtyard. The footprints left by the soldiers who had come earlier were still clearly visible on the snow that continued to pile up.
But the moment they stepped inside the house—
they immediately felt something was wrong.
The house was too quiet.
Lu Xiao narrowed his eyes.
"Lin Yuan wouldn't just let them take Xue'er away."
Yun Wu thought the same.
The merman might be lazy, but when it came to Yunxue, he would never remain passive.
"Something must have happened to him," Yun Wu muttered.
Without waiting any longer, the two of them rushed upstairs.
Lu Xiao pushed open Lin Yuan's door violently.
BANG!
The door flew open.
Warm steam mixed with a sweet scent poured out from the bathroom.
Inside—
Lin Yuan was still inside the bathtub.
His face was pale.
His eyes were half open, his breathing heavy.
His massive merman tail filled almost the entire bathtub, the tip even hanging over the edge.
Yun Wu froze in shock.
His wolf senses immediately caught the scent filling the room.
Sweet.
Intoxicating.
He instantly realized what was happening.
"He's… in a mating cycle," Yun Wu said grimly.
And judging from his condition—
the cycle had struck violently.
Lu Xiao didn't waste a second.
"You really chose the worst time for this…"
He quickly pulled out a vial of powerful sedative from his storage ring.
Without hesitation—
he injected it into Lin Yuan.
A few seconds passed.
Lin Yuan's previously ragged breathing gradually stabilized.
The pupils of his eyes, which had changed color earlier, slowly returned to their deep blue shade.
Lu Xiao let out a quiet breath.
"At least he won't lose control now."
Slowly—
Lin Yuan's merman tail began to shrink.
The scales faded.
His body transformed back into human legs.
Lin Yuan stood up from the bathtub.
He was completely naked, water dripping from his hair and shoulders.
Yun Wu immediately threw a bathrobe toward him.
"At least put something on."
Lin Yuan lazily caught the robe and wrapped it around himself.
He still looked exhausted.
But his consciousness had returned.
Lu Xiao immediately spoke in a cold voice.
"Tell me."
"What happened?"
"Why did they arrest Xue'er?"
Lin Yuan leaned against the bathroom wall.
"I heard them say it was an imperial order."
"I think someone requested a decree from the Emperor to arrest her."
Lu Xiao's eyes immediately turned icy.
The situation was far more complicated than they had expected.
Then Lu Xiao said,
"We've already found the most likely suspect behind Bai Ling's murder."
"It's Xuxu."
"One of the surviving members of the Chameleon Clan."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Then he looked at Yun Wu with a faint, irritating smile.
"So your little sweetheart is quite troublesome."
"I'm annoyed thinking we almost died trying to save her."
Yun Wu immediately gritted his teeth.
"I have never had any romantic relationship with anyone!"
His wolf ears even popped out in irritation.
Lin Yuan always had a sharp tongue.
Lu Xiao cut the argument short.
"We need to find Xuxu."
"Expose her identity."
"And hand her over to the mayor."
If the real killer was revealed—
the charges against Yunxue would collapse.
But Yun Wu didn't respond immediately.
He turned his face away.
Inside his heart, there was conflict.
After all—
he had once considered Xuxu his little sister.
Lu Xiao looked at him coldly.
"If you're still hesitating…"
"Then you don't need to come."
"We'll rescue Xue'er with or without you."
Those words left Yun Wu silent for several seconds.
Finally—
he took a deep breath.
"…Fine."
"Whoever did it…"
"…must take responsibility."
Lin Yuan, still leaning against the wall, spoke lazily.
"I think it would be easier if we just break into the prison and rescue Yunxue."
"It wouldn't be much trouble."
Lu Xiao immediately shook his head.
"If we do that…"
"Xue'er will be hunted by the entire empire."
"She's already being hunted by Shelua and Noctar."
"Adding another enemy will only make her life even more difficult."
The room fell silent again.
Outside the window—
snow continued falling heavily.
And their time—
was running out.
------------------------
The prison cells of Wulong City felt like a cold stone grave.
The walls were rough, covered with creeping frost that spread like pale white fungus between the cracks of the stones. From the outer corridor, the winter wind howled through the iron bars, carrying tiny flakes of snow that swirled briefly before settling on the frozen floor.
The air inside the cell was nearly freezing.
In the corner—
Xue Yunxue sat with her knees pulled close to her chest.
She had no bedding.
The icy stone floor seeped into her bones, making the tips of her toes numb.
The chains around her wrists had already been removed.
But heavy iron shackles still bound her ankles, locking her to a metal ring embedded in the floor.
Yet Yunxue's face remained calm.
Her eyes were cold and clear.
She wore the Fire Rat Robe. Aside from protecting against flames, the robe also provided warmth, allowing her to endure the biting cold of the prison.
A few moments later—
CREEEAK.
The sound of iron keys scraping echoed through the corridor.
The cell door slowly opened.
Two figures stepped inside.
Yunxue lifted her head.
Her eyes immediately narrowed.
The first to enter was Eyen.
The man stood casually, as if he were strolling through a garden.
And beside him—
a veiled girl.
But Yunxue didn't even need to see the girl's face.
She already knew.
Xuxu.
Yunxue stared at them for several seconds.
Then spoke flatly.
"Now I understand."
"So this was all your doing."
Eyen smiled crookedly.
"Of course."
He folded his arms across his chest.
"This time, no one will save you."
Beside him, Xuxu smiled with satisfaction.
She deliberately lifted her veil.
Her face was filled with mockery.
But Yunxue immediately turned her head away in disgust.
"Please put your veil back on."
"Your face makes me nauseous."
Xuxu's expression instantly darkened.
But she quickly composed herself and leaned sweetly against Eyen's arm.
"The Emperor has already issued the decree," she said smugly.
"You'll be executed tomorrow."
She clung to Eyen's arm affectionately.
Yunxue nearly gagged at the sight.
The two of them looked like a pair of low-class traitors.
Yet Yunxue remained calm.
She simply looked at Xuxu coldly.
"How did you imitate me?" she asked.
Eyen didn't answer.
He merely winked at Xuxu.
Xuxu immediately grinned.
Her body began to change.
The skin of her face rippled like liquid.
Her cheekbones shifted.
Her jawline reshaped.
Even her height slowly adjusted.
Within seconds—
Xuxu became Xue Yunxue.
Perfectly.
Exactly the same.
Even the expression on her face was nearly identical.
It was like Yunxue was staring into a mirror.
Except that reflection—
was clinging to a man like Eyen.
Yunxue truly felt sick.
"Disgusting."
But while Yunxue was staring at her imitation—
she didn't notice something.
Eyen suddenly moved.
His hand flashed behind Xuxu's neck.
CLICK!
A thin needle pierced the vein at the back of her neck.
Black liquid was injected straight into her bloodstream.
"What are you—"
Xuxu didn't even finish her sentence.
Her eyes rolled back.
Her body went limp.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Still wearing—
Xue Yunxue's face.
Yunxue immediately stood up.
The chains on her ankles clanged loudly.
CLANG!
Her gaze sharpened.
"You killed her?"
Eyen chuckled.
"I didn't kill her."
He pointed at Xuxu's unconscious body.
"I simply blocked her power with a potion."
"The effect will force her to maintain that form for two days."
"She's only unconscious."
He smiled cunningly.
"You should be happy."
"I'm actually going to free you."
Yunxue narrowed her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Eyen walked closer.
His steps were casual, as if he were explaining a trivial matter.
"Oh, it's very simple."
"I only used Xuxu to kill Bai Ling."
"The purpose was to capture you."
He pointed again at Xuxu's body.
"Tomorrow, that girl will take your place at the execution."
"Everyone will believe you are dead."
His eyes gleamed strangely.
"And then…"
"You will belong to me."
Yunxue looked at him blankly.
"So…"
"You did all this just to kidnap me?"
Eyen's smile widened.
"You are the perfect research specimen."
Yunxue immediately understood one thing.
A mad scientist.
This man was completely insane.
Yunxue opened her mouth to speak—
but Eyen had already moved.
He tossed a small metal sphere onto the ground.
PSSSHHH!
Thick black gas exploded outward.
The prison cell instantly filled with poisonous smoke.
Yunxue held her breath.
But the gas spread too quickly.
Her head began to spin.
Her vision blurred.
Through the haze, she could still see Eyen standing calmly within the poison cloud—
as if the toxin had no effect on him at all.
Yunxue struggled to remain standing.
But her knees weakened.
The chains on her ankles rattled as her body swayed.
CLANG…
Darkness crept across her vision.
Her body collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
And her consciousness—
faded away.
-------------------------------------
Meanwhile—
the old house of Yun Wu, where Xuxu had been staying, was silent and empty.
The winter wind pushed the half-open wooden door, causing it to creak softly.
Snow blown by the wind slipped through the window cracks, forming thin white patches on the floor.
Yun Wu stood in the middle of the room, his expression cold.
Lin Yuan checked the kitchen.
There was nothing except dried dirty plates.
Yun Wu walked into the bedroom.
The bed was neatly arranged.
"She's gone."
Yun Wu's voice was calm.
But cold.
Lu Xiao crossed his arms.
"She ran away?"
Yun Wu shook his head.
"I don't know."
Half an hour later—
they were already moving through the snowy streets.
Yun Wu activated his network of informants.
As a hunter of bandits and criminals in the city, he had many eyes and ears throughout Wulong.
Information came quickly.
One informant reported seeing Xuxu and Eyen meeting several times.
Another reported that Xuxu had been living with Eyen in a luxurious apartment.
Lu Xiao immediately concluded,
"She's working with Eyen."
But the next report made the atmosphere even colder.
One informant said quietly,
"They were seen heading toward the city prison earlier."
The three men immediately looked at each other.
No words were needed.
Snow swirled as they rushed toward the prison.
The Wulong City Prison stood like a black stone fortress amid the snowstorm.
Lanterns at the gate swayed violently in the wind.
Several guards recognized Yun Wu and immediately straightened.
"Brother Yun."
Yun Wu spoke immediately.
"Did Eyen come here?"
The guards exchanged glances.
Finally one of them answered softly.
"He just left."
"He came with a girl."
"Did you recognize the girl?" Yun Wu asked.
The guards shook their heads.
"Unfortunately not."
"She wore a veil, and most of her body was covered by a thick cloak."
Lu Xiao immediately felt something was wrong.
His eyes turned cold.
"We want to see the prisoner in that cell."
"Yunxue."
The guards hesitated.
The mayor's orders were clear.
No one was allowed near the girl.
But they also remembered something.
A few months ago—
they had nearly died during an expedition against mutant beasts in the forest.
The people who saved them were Yun Wu and his group.
Finally one guard sighed.
"You can only look from a distance."
The prison corridor was cold and dark.
Their footsteps echoed against the stone walls.
One guard opened a small viewing slot in the cell door.
Lu Xiao immediately looked inside.
On the cold stone floor—
a girl lay unconscious.
Black hair.
Pale face.
Chains around her body.
Xue Yunxue.
A dark aura instantly exploded from Lu Xiao's body.
He almost destroyed the steel door with a single slash.
But Yun Wu grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
Lu Xiao turned sharply.
Yun Wu said calmly,
"Has the cold dulled your nose?"
Lin Yuan tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Yun Wu didn't answer.
He sniffed the air.
Once.
Twice.
His eyes narrowed.
Lu Xiao sniffed as well.
He recognized a very familiar scent.
"Rose perfume."
"That belongs to Yunxue."
Yun Wu slowly shook his head.
"You can't beat a wolf's nose."
He pointed toward the girl inside the cell.
"The perfume is correct."
"But her natural scent is completely different."
"And Xue'er never wears perfume inside the house."
Lu Xiao stared at Yun Wu.
"So you're saying…"
Yun Wu spoke coldly.
"That girl is not Xue'er."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Then who is she?"
Yun Wu answered without hesitation.
"Xuxu."
The prison corridor fell silent.
Lu Xiao immediately understood everything.
The pieces fell together in his mind.
He said quietly,
"She switched them."
Yun Wu nodded.
"Eyen used Xuxu to kill Bai Ling."
"Then he allowed Xue'er to be arrested."
"After that he switched them in this cell."
"Xuxu disguised herself as Yunxue."
"And Eyen took the real Yunxue away."
Lin Yuan whistled softly.
"Clever."
Lu Xiao stared at the unconscious girl in the cell.
His eyes were icy.
"Tomorrow this girl will be executed."
"And everyone will believe the one who died was Yunxue."
Yun Wu turned around.
Snow continued falling heavily outside the prison.
"We have to move fast."
Lu Xiao looked at him.
"Where?"
Yun Wu answered briefly.
"We go see the mayor."
"If we want to clear Xue Yunxue's name—"
"we must expose the truth tonight."