Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, the air was thick as congealed honey, every breath heavy with the rich scent of decaying vegetation and damp earth.
The towering trees all around were each over ten thousand years old. Their gnarled roots plunged deep underground, while their massive trunks rose like black spears holding up the heavens, stubbornly growing upward until they pierced the clouds.
The Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, strode forward on mountain-sized steps. Each time a foot came down, the earth for miles around let out a dull groan, as though the ancient ley lines were trembling in agony beneath its pressure.
Han Yuchen sat atop its broad right shoulder, as leisurely as if he were strolling through his own backyard.
He leaned against the giant ape's coarse black fur, stiff as steel needles, his legs dangling casually in the air and swaying gently with each of the ape's steps.
In his arms was the snow-white little fox with lively eyes. His slender fingers idly stroked its smooth fur, making the little creature squint in comfort and let out soft purring sounds.
Leng Yuebai sat quietly on its left shoulder.
Her posture was upright, her back ramrod straight. Her long Silver White hair hung quietly behind her like a waterfall condensed from moonlight.
Her eyes gazed levelly at the giant trees and shadows retreating before them, as though she were an exquisite divine statue carved from Ten-thousand-year Profound Ice, untouched by dust or mortal concerns.
Half a meter separated them.
Neither too far nor too close.
The atmosphere was somewhat delicate.
Han Yuchen could clearly sense that, ever since the brief yet perilous battle had ended, the walking "ten-thousand-year iceberg" beside him seemed to have shown faint signs of... melting.
The absolute-zero aura that had always lingered