His Response Was Blunt and Scorching

The two faced each other in silence, their gazes locked.

Time seemed to quietly freeze amid that strange stillness.

Lin Hai blinked his stinging eyes. Hu Liena smiled through her tears, a sly gleam rippling through her eyes.

"You lost! I finally get to shave an inch off your hair!"

She stretched out both hands, her fingertips still faintly warm and damp, and gently brushed away the lingering tears at the corners of Lin Hai's eyes.

Lin Hai raised a hand as well, his palm covering her smooth forehead as he gently rubbed the slightly reddened bump.

His other arm remained firmly around her waist, never moving an inch.

Thus, at the cost of Lin Hai "sacrificing" an inch of silver hair, the two reached a "century-long reconciliation" after their passionate clash.

Little Fox transformed into a highly skilled barber, attentively trimming the ends of his hair.

Every lock she cut off was carefully placed into a small box.

Her brows curved with delight, and her smile nearly spilled from those bright, sparkling eyes.

Lin Hai watched quietly, a difficult-to-describe feeling rising in his heart.

So winning against him had become an obsession not only for Little Fox, but for those other two as well?

Those two could keep sulking for all he cared. He could not be bothered with them.

But... had he truly never noticed that this lively, cunning Little Fox before him also longed so deeply for a victory?

Perhaps all heaven's favored children were like this.

As he had continued onward all these years, had he missed too much of the warmth of life and the subtle feelings of those behind him...

Hu Liena was still immersed in the satisfaction of collecting her "spoils."

Lin Hai quietly picked up the scissors. With a turn of his wrist, a lock of orange-gold hair, warm with sunlight, fell into his palm.

"Ah!"

Hu Liena cried out, embarrassed and annoyed. "You're cheating! Can't stand losing, can you?"

The corners of Lin Hai's lips rose, but his eyes were utterly serious.

"Just this one lock. In my dreams, there is a homeland with an ancient custom."

Hu Liena waited for a while, but when he said no more, she huffed in irritation.

"Hmph! What custom? Hurry up and tell me!"

Lin Hai said nothing. With the same gentleness, he cut off a lock of his own silver hair, flowing like moonlight.

The two locks hung in the air. Silver radiance and warm orange silently entwined, blending together until they could no longer be distinguished from one another.

Lin Hai's fingers moved slightly, and an invisible force drew a long, thin red cord from Hu Liena's jewelry box.

His hands flew, and the red cord bound the entwined hair like a nimble serpent. In an instant, an intricate and ancient Concentric Knot took shape.

Strangely enough, Lin Hai had known nothing at all about such a complicated knot.

Yet with the power of heaven and earth flowing through his heart, wherever his intent went, a great force naturally carried out the task.

He summoned something again from afar. A delicate sachet flew from the depths of Little Fox's dressing table.

Sometimes, Lin Hai had to admit that he was probably more familiar with this room than with his own residence.

He held the sachet out to Hu Liena.

At that moment, she was no longer stunned by the flowing, effortless scene from before, one that seemed to contain the profound principles of heaven and earth.

In her mind, only the Concentric Knot made from those two entwined locks remained.

Dazed, she reached out and caught the sachet, which still carried the warmth of his fingertips.

She lowered her head and stared at it for a long while. When she finally looked up, her eyes had misted over with crystalline tears, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum.

"What... does this custom mean?"

Lin Hai's expression turned solemn. Each word was clear and earnest.

"This is the Hair Tying Ceremony. In the homeland of my dreams, when a man and woman marry and pledge themselves to one another, they must perform this rite. Their hair is tied as a token, and the bride keeps it."

He gazed into her shimmering eyes. "Take it as... my claiming you in advance. From now on, you may only marry me."

Hu Liena lowered her head, the ends of her hair brushing her shoulders as her voice trembled softly.

"Then... do not make me wait too long."

Lin Hai cupped Hu Liena's cheeks in both hands. Her lashes still held tears that had not yet dried.

The feelings hidden in his heart all these years had finally received an answer—so blunt, so scorching.

He did not wipe away her tears. He merely lowered his head and sealed her lips, which still wished to speak, with a silent kiss.

His fingertips traced the curve of her slightly raised chin, turning the last sliver of air between them into wordless, intimate murmurs.

The air was thick with sweetness and restless heat. Lin Hai lowered his head and caught the barely perceptible longing in her eyes, making his heart itch faintly.

Unfortunately...

He lifted Hu Liena into his arms, steadily carried her to the bed, and gently placed her atop the brocade quilt. His fingertip brushed over the tip of her smooth nose.

"Nana, I'll be leaving Spirit City for a while."

"When I return, if your rank hasn't been left behind by mine, I'll give you a huge surprise!"

The words "leaving" were like a bucket of freezing water thrown over her, instantly waking Hu Liena from her hazy daze.

At that moment, she did not give a damn what kind of surprise it was.

Her pupils suddenly contracted, and her whole body tensed. The lazy charm from moments ago vanished, leaving only urgency and unease.

"You're leaving?! Where are you going?"

Lin Hai reassuringly squeezed the fingers clutching the corner of his clothes. A longing smile curved his lips.

"I'm going to travel the continent and broaden my horizons."

"I'll explore man-made caves, encounter unknown soul beasts across the continent, search for rare heavenly treasures... and bring you back a one-of-a-kind gift."

Hu Liena's heart tightened. The one she had only just set her heart on was about to slip away again.

She raised her face. Moonlight outlined her exquisite jawline, and her voice was low, soft, and lingering.

"Do you have to go?"

Lin Hai answered with a silent but firm nod. His deep eyes were filled with unwavering resolve.

The girl's spirits sank. She lightly bit her lower lip before timidly asking after a long pause, "Then... when will you return?"

"I don't know." Lin Hai softened his voice further.

"But... if you miss me so much that you cannot eat or sleep, send word to me. No matter when, no matter where, I'll come back at once."

He paused, then added,

"Don't worry. Whenever I reach a new place, I'll report that I'm safe through the local Spirit Hall."

Burdened by the weight of memories from his past life and the bond with his childhood sweetheart in this one, Lin Hai sighed helplessly inwardly.

He could only patiently soothe the anxious, unsettled Little Fox beneath him with soft, gentle words.

The moon's shadow shifted, scattering fine silver light across the rumpled brocade quilt.

He whispered and caressed above her; she murmured tenderly below him...

This continued for a long time.

Only when Hu Liena's lashes folded like butterfly wings, her breathing becoming long and steady as she slipped into deep sleep, did Lin Hai finally withdraw with the utmost care, as though afraid of waking the most fragile moonlight.

His fingers silently formed a hand seal, and a nearly imperceptible green light flowed around him. Soundless and traceless, he was like a thin mist blending into the night.

In an instant, he had returned to his own chambers. Only the gauze curtains in the room swayed gently before settling back into stillness, as though nothing had happened.