Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, lifting a few snowflakes that landed on her face, bringing a chill. The air was filled with a faint, familiar fragrance.
There was no one else who dared to be so bold, save for Murong Chong, the great hero. The scent of the Hemerocallis fulva lingered in her nostrils.
Yun Xiao smiled, saying nothing, and gazed into the distance. As the wind subsided, a flash of white light cut through the branches. A tall, elegant figure stood suspended in mid-air, his back against a branch, his feet resting on willow leaves. He looked over with a calm demeanor, a cool smile playing on his lips.
"Looks like you're quite idle. Not sleeping in the middle of the night, but out causing trouble."
His tone was as if speaking to a family member, completely natural. The words were bland, yet his deep, hazy voice imbued them with a certain alluring charm.
Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow, displeased. "What business is it of yours? You should mind your own. Or are you planning to cause trouble too?"
The two faced each other, their familiarity evident at a glance.
Wanwan stood by Yun Xiao's side, her face pale. This person, wearing a butterfly mask and white robes, was as cold as ice. Could he be… could he be the Master's Murong Chong? The one she saw that night?
The Palace Master of the Divine Dragon Palace?
The thought struck her, and she fearfully pulled on her Master, "Who is he? Could he be the one the Master spoke of?"
"Yes, it's him. The one who is bloodthirsty and kills like mowing grass."
Yun Xiao smiled faintly, her eyes fixed on Murong Chong, genuinely curious to see his reaction to these words.
Murong Chong's expression remained unchanged. His lips twitched into a cold smile, but his deep eyes grew even more profound, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.
With a flash, he moved like a great white bird, spreading its vast wings, and instantly appeared beside Yun Xiao. He extended a large hand, pulling her up, and with a leap, they vanished into the distance.
Wanwan's face changed. She wanted to shout but feared alarming others and causing more trouble, so she could only call out softly, "Hey, Empress?"
Yun Xiao looked back abruptly and instructed, "You go back first. I'll be fine."
The two figures merged into the night, leaving only a small dark speck.
Yun Xiao didn't know where this fellow was taking her and felt a slight resistance, trying to break free from his grasp.
In the winter night, his hand was warm, holding hers tightly. No matter how she struggled, he remained unmoving.
The white fox fur cloak he wore spread out like a cloud, enveloping her and shielding her from the cold. Instead, she felt a pleasant warmth.
"Murong Chong, what's gotten into you? I want to go back to sleep."
But the great hero Murong was too cool to even acknowledge her. With a few light steps, they landed on a large tree not far from the Cold Jade Pond.
At that moment, mournful cries could be heard around the Cold Jade Pond. Those in the pond were almost frozen into ice sculptures, unable to speak. White snow fell from above, and the ground beneath them was frozen.
Yun Xiao found a thick branch and sat down, swinging her legs as she watched the spectacle. So, Murong Chong had brought her to watch a good show.
"Hmm, how pitiful."
Yun Xiao feigned sympathy with a serious expression, pretending to be distressed, but her bright eyes betrayed her inner joy.
Murong Chong raised his hand, his fox fur cloak swirling as he elegantly landed beside her. To her surprise, he sat down with her to watch the show.
The lifted white cloak draped down, completely concealing the two of them. They sat calmly, gazing coolly below, showing no hint of compassion.
Yun Xiao, too overjoyed, didn't realize the man was sitting with her on the branch, his white cloak wrapped around them, until a deep, wine-like magnetic voice reached her ears.
"Isn't this all your doing?"
The words were clearly a reprimand, yet they carried no trace of scolding. Instead, a suppressed delight lightly entered Yun Xiao's ears.
Yun Xiao turned her head, meeting his eyes, which were as calm as a deep pool. His eyes were dark and vast, like an unfathomable lake, profound and mysterious. Below his straight nose, his thin lips curved slightly, forming a beautiful arc.
A shallow smile bloomed, so vibrant in the night, as clear as mountain spring water, bringing an indescribable coolness.
Yun Xiao blinked, unable to react for a long time. His smile almost drowned her. As she drifted in a daze, she suddenly snapped back to reality. Good heavens, this demon! A simple smile could captivate the heart. What an utterly stunning face he must have!
Her thoughts raced, and her hand swiftly reached for the butterfly mask, eager to see his true appearance.
Murong Chong turned his head, his large hand quickly grasping hers. His eyes were focused and sharp, staring intently at her.
"Are you sure you want to see me? Everyone who has seen my face has only met one of two fates: death, or becoming mine. Which do you choose?"
His tone was arrogant and supreme, his dominance saturating the night.
Yun Xiao was taken aback. She quickly rolled her clear black and white eyes, her expression resembling an adorable little sprite.
Suddenly, she curved her lips into a smile, forcefully pulled her hand away, and spoke with mock seriousness.
"As for death, I have no interest. And becoming your person, Great Hero Murong, save it. Do you know how many people want to deal with you now? I certainly don't want to die without a burial place."
And then, with belated realization, she noticed something: she and this Great Hero Murong were sitting intimately on a single branch, both covered by the same fox fur cloak. Their posture couldn't have been more intimate.
Good heavens, when did this happen? Yun Xiao shifted, about to step out of the white fox fur cloak. No wonder she hadn't felt cold earlier, but rather warm. It turned out she was sitting so close to him.
However, Murong Chong's possessive grip stopped her: "Don't move."
He didn't allow her to retreat. A surge of energy firmly controlled her, making her struggle futile. Her face flushed slightly, and she glared at him in annoyance. Just as she was about to erupt, she heard Great Hero Murong's cool voice: "Look below."
Yun Xiao turned her head, immediately captivated by the scene below. Thus, she sat obediently beneath the Great Hero Murong's white fox cloak, as well-behaved as a little pet.
Murong Chong's eyes were as deep as a vast ocean, shimmering with alluring radiance, his gaze locked onto the woman beside him.
She wasn't a beauty who could topple nations. Her face, no bigger than a palm, held large eyes, clear black and white, bright and spirited, as if imbued with magical power, radiating a dazzling brilliance.
Below her small, delicate nose was a mouth as vibrant as a cherry blossom, its redness drawing the eye. She particularly loved to smile; when she did, two dimples appeared on her cheeks, exuding a mellow fragrance, hinting at a touch of slyness, like a thousand-year-old little fox.
One couldn't help but want to hold her close, to keep her by their side.