"Let's go outside the main gate to build? I heard the servants say not many people will come. We can build the snowman outside the gate, and it can help us guard the house, okay?"
Upon hearing Namuzhong's words, Shen Xiaoyan and the others were speechless.
Yizhixie pondered for a moment, then persuaded, "Muzhong, look, our clothes are all wet. If we don't change them, we might get sick. Let's go back and change first, okay?"
Namuzhong pouted, but fortunately, she knew that if Yizhixie was telling the truth, she could only nod, "Alright then."
Yizhixie smiled gently, reached out, and ruffled Namuzhong's hair, saying, "Such a good girl."
"Don't mess up my hair, you're making it all messy," Namuzhong grumbled, dissatisfied.
Yizhixie held Namuzhong's hand and walked towards the front courtyard. Shen Xiaoyan and the others could still hear him talking behind them.
"I'll comb it for you again later, won't that be fine? After all, I'm the one who always combs your hair."
"Who asked you to comb it for me? I can do it myself."
Although Shen Xiaoyan couldn't see Namuzhong's expression, she could hear a hint of playful annoyance and shyness in her voice.
The group exchanged glances and chuckled among themselves.
When everyone had changed their clothes and reappeared in the main hall, they saw Namuzhong running towards them like the wind.
"Muzhong, slow down. The ground is very slippery. Be careful not to fall."
However, as soon as Yizhixie finished speaking, Namuzhong had already reached the steps outside the hall. Just as she was about to step up, she heard Yizhixie's words.
She wanted to retort, but without paying attention, she fell directly to the ground.
"What's wrong? Muzhong, are you okay? Where does it hurt?"
As soon as Yizhixie saw Namuzhong sitting on the ground, he rushed to her side and asked with concern.
Inside the house, Shen Xiaoyan and the others also stood up and looked carefully towards the door, to see if Namuzhong was alright.
"There's a doctor here. Why don't we ask him to take a look at you?" Shen Xiaoyan suggested, looking at Namuzhong's pale face.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I was just... startled. It doesn't really hurt."
Namuzhong, supported by Yizhixie, stood up and waved her hand, saying, "I'm fine."
Seeing Namuzhong's face gradually recover, Shen Xiaoyan was relieved.
"Let's go quickly."
Before long, Namuzhong had recovered and was as lively as ever, pulling people to go build snowmen.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others couldn't refuse her, so they followed her out the main gate.
As soon as they stepped out of the gate, they saw that the outside was a vast expanse of white.
Apart from the bluestone path in the middle that had been cleared, the sides of the road were covered in thick snow.
Namuzhong was delighted when she saw this. She ran a few steps forward, went down the steps, and ran straight into the snow.
"You guys hurry up and come here! Let's see who can build the best snowman."
Namuzhong threw a handful of snow at Shen Xiaoyan and the others, calling for them to come quickly.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at this scene and felt like she wanted to cover her forehead. Judging by Namuzhong's demeanor, it didn't look like she wanted to build snowmen; it seemed more like she wanted to continue a snowball fight.
"Heh... Namuzhong, you seem to be doing quite well, still in the mood... to build snowmen."
A sudden voice made Shen Xiaoyan and the others very suspicious.
Shen Xiaoyan looked around but saw no one. However, the voice clearly sounded as if it was spoken by someone nearby. What was going on?
Moreover, this person knew Namuzhong, which meant they must also know Yizhixie.
Thinking this, Shen Xiaoyan looked towards Yizhixie.
To her surprise, Yizhixie's face turned unusually grim. Without a word, he flashed to Namuzhong's side, grabbed her arm, and in another flash, returned to Shen Xiaoyan's side.
The speed was incredible.
Shen Xiaoyan's eyes widened in shock, and she looked at Yizhixie in disbelief.
Could this be why Yizhixie was appointed Grand Tutor at such a young age?
"Heh heh... It's been a long time, I didn't expect that Yizhixie, you are still as spirited as ever. Truly robust for your age."
The voice spoke again, full of amusement, but Shen Xiaoyan didn't feel happy at all listening to it.
What did this mean?
Long time no see, robust for your age.
These two phrases didn't seem to fit Yizhixie's young face.
However, now was not the time to inquire. Shen Xiaoyan could only suppress the thought deep in her heart and remain vigilant of her surroundings.
But the air became heavy, and for a long time, no one spoke.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Yizhixie and Namuzhong and saw that their expressions were solemn and their gazes were complicated, yet they remained silent.
"Is this how you treat an old friend? You don't even greet me when we meet. No matter what, we've known each other for a hundred years. If you act like this, won't it hurt our friendship?"
The speaker could no longer smile and spoke with a somewhat sinister tone.
Shen Xiaoyan was so shocked that she didn't know what to say.
Knowing each other for hundreds of years, that meant they had lived for hundreds of years? Were Yizhixie and Namuzhong people who had lived for centuries?
"If you have something to say, say it. Stop with the nonsense."
Yizhixie finally spoke, but his voice was no longer the gentle one Shen Xiaoyan had grown accustomed to. His voice sent a chill to the bone, and a hint of hatred was faintly discernible.
"Oh my, I never thought I'd see our graceful gentleman like this one day. If I were to tell others back home, I wonder how many would come to worship me."
The person was unfazed by Yizhixie's rudeness and seemed even pleased and proud.
Shen Xiaoyan always thought that people like this truly deserved a beating.
"You are truly still the same as before..." Yizhixie said.
"Thank you for the compliment. You haven't changed either," the speaker laughed heartily, clearly delighted by Yizhixie's words.
"Truly still the same as before, deserving a beating," Yizhixie continued, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
"Yizhixie, don't think I'm still afraid of you," the speaker also became angry and said, "Do you think you're still the Yizhixie of the past?"
"Of course, I'm not the me of the past. However, even if I'm not, in front of me, you are nothing."
"Arrogant and conceited."
"Then why don't you dare to show yourself?" Yizhixie retorted indifferently.
Because of Yizhixie's question, the surroundings suddenly fell silent, and there was no answer for a long time.
The silence was so profound that Shen Xiaoyan almost thought that everything that had just happened was just her illusion, and they had only just arrived here.
"Seeking death..."
Following this furious roar, Shen Xiaoyan felt a killing intent surge towards her.
Instinctively, Shen Xiaoyan pulled Zheng Wei and turned to evade, not forgetting to pull Lu Taobao, who was behind her.