"Didn't I already say it? From now on, you'll be my exclusive little loli bodyguard, on call whenever I need you." Lin Yuan smiled and patted the Ice Empress on the shoulder, his purple eyes full of mischief. "Oh, and don't forget our wager. You have to listen to me now."
The Ice Empress's golden eyes narrowed instantly as a surge of cold radiated from her body, frosting the surrounding air with white mist. "Loli? Say that again?" Though she looked like a young girl in human form, she had lived for four hundred thousand years. How could she tolerate such teasing? Jade-green Soul Power gathered in her palm as fine ice crystals fell with soft rustles.
"Does Ice Empress not keep her word?" Lin Yuan asked with a faint smile.
Seeing Lin Yuan's confident expression, the ice crystals at the Ice Empress's fingertips gradually dissipated, and most of the cold around her receded. After living for four hundred thousand years, when had she ever endured such teasing? But the wager had been made, and she had already given her word. With her pride, there was no way she would go back on it.
"Hmph, you win." She turned her face away, a trace of awkwardness flashing through her golden eyes. "But could you stop calling me a loli?"
Seeing her like this, the amusement in Lin Yuan's eyes deepened. He deliberately drew out his words. "Oh? Is Ice Empress embarrassed?" He raised a hand, gathering a wisp of fine ice crystals at his fingertips, then gently poked the back of the Ice Empress's hand at her side. "But little loli bodyguard suits you so well. Look at those twin ponytails, that green dress. Aren't you just the cutest little thing?"
The Ice Empress's hand stiffened before she abruptly pulled it back, though the tips of her ears quietly flushed faint red. She glared at Lin Yuan, putting on a fierce tone. "Keep talking nonsense, and I'll freeze your mouth shut!" Yet her words lacked conviction, and even the cold around her weakened considerably.
Beside them, Biji covered her mouth, her emerald eyes curving into crescents as her shoulders trembled slightly. She quietly tugged Zi Ji's sleeve and teased in a voice only they could hear, "Look at the Ice Empress. Where's the aloofness of a four-hundred-thousand-year soul beast? She looks just like a little girl who's been teased into a rage."
Zi Ji held back her laughter, unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes between her fingers, her eyes full of sly amusement. "Exactly. Only Xiao Yuan has the ability to provoke the famous ice beauty of the Far North like this. Back then, he teased me the same way. Didn't I get so angry I nearly wanted to beat him up?"
Lin Yuan, with his sharp ears, happened to hear that. He turned toward them, mischief glinting in his purple eyes. "Sister Biji, Sister Zi Ji, what secret are you two whispering about? Do you want to be my cute little bodyguards too?"
Biji's ears instantly reddened, and she hurriedly waved her hands. "Don't talk nonsense. We never made a bet with you."
Zi Ji merely snorted and flicked Lin Yuan's forehead. "That sweet mouth of yours will get you cornered and beaten one day." Though she said so, she could not hide the smile in her eyes.
Watching the three of them interact so intimately, the Ice Empress felt inexplicably uncomfortable. She gave a light cough and stiffly changed the subject. "Since the wager is in effect, what am I supposed to do next? I can't just keep following you around, can I?"
"That won't be necessary." Lin Yuan raised his hand, and the tip of the Nine-Colored Dragon God Spear lightly cut across his fingertip. No blood seeped out. Instead, a pale golden droplet containing pure dragon power slowly emerged. The droplet floated in midair, nine-colored glimmers flowing across its surface. The moment it appeared, it released a pressure that made even the world's elemental energy tremble. "This is Dragon God Blood Essence, a welcome gift for my beautiful loli bodyguard."
The moment her gaze fell upon that drop of Dragon God Blood Essence, a fiery gleam flashed through the Ice Empress's golden eyes. Having lived for four hundred thousand years, she naturally understood its value. It was a Supreme Treasure capable of cleansing one's bloodline and breaking through cultivation bottlenecks. Even a single drop could save her many detours on the path of soul beast cultivation.
She instinctively reached out, but just as her fingers were about to touch the blood essence, she suddenly stopped and awkwardly turned her gaze aside. "Who wants your... welcome gift?" Her words remained stubborn, but her body honestly did not withdraw her hand. Even the cold around her softened somewhat. She also stopped mentioning the word "loli," clearly acknowledging the title in her own way.
Lin Yuan could not help chuckling at the sight. With a gentle push of his fingertip, the drop of Dragon God Blood Essence slowly floated into the Ice Empress's palm. "Take it. My loli bodyguard can't be too weak. Once you absorb it, maybe you'll be able to help me deal with more trouble."
The instant the blood essence landed in her palm, warm dragon power spread from her fingertips. The Ice Empress's tense shoulders relaxed unconsciously, and the hard line of her pressed lips softened slightly. She clenched the blood essence in her palm, turned her face away, and muttered, "Got it. You're so annoying."
Gu Yue Na stepped forward and gently rubbed Lin Yuan's silver hair, her eyes full of affection. "Stop bullying the Ice Empress all the time. The Heavenly Tribulation has passed. We should return to the Lake of Life."
"Alright!" Lin Yuan's eyes lit up, and he instantly lost interest in teasing the Ice Empress. He turned and headed toward the Lake of Life, his silver-white hair ribbon tracing a cheerful arc behind him.
The Ice Empress followed behind the group. Looking at Lin Yuan's excited back, then down at the Dragon God Blood Essence in her palm, the corners of her lips quietly lifted into a faint curve she did not even notice. She gently clenched her fist and thought, It's just being a bodyguard, isn't it? For the sake of this blood essence, putting up with that loli title for now is no big deal.
The ripples of the Lake of Life reflected the evening glow. Lin Yuan sat on a bluestone by the shore, lightly tapping the water with his fingers and sending circles of nine-colored light spreading across the surface. The Ice Empress sat cross-legged on the grass some distance away, holding the drop of Dragon God Blood Essence in her palm as jade-green Soul Power carefully wrapped around and refined it. The cold surrounding her softened further, her twin ponytails hanging over her shoulders. She really did look somewhat like a loli bodyguard.
Gu Yue Na slowly walked over and sat beside Lin Yuan. Her soft hair brushed against his arm, carrying a familiar crisp fragrance. "The break lasts a month. What does Xiao Yuan plan to do?"
Lin Yuan turned toward Gu Yue Na, reached out to take her hand, and gently stroked her smooth skin. "Spend a month with Sister Nana."
Gu Yue Na's fingers trembled faintly before she clasped Lin Yuan's hand in return. The warmth of her palm passed through their clothes, carrying a reassuring heat. She lowered her eyes to look at their intertwined hands, the hem of her silver-white dress gently stirred by the evening breeze. Her voice held a softness that was hard to detect. "Xiao Yuan wants to stay with me that much?"
"Of course." Lin Yuan leaned closer, his silver hair brushing Gu Yue Na's shoulder, his purple eyes reflecting the fading glow of the sunset. "When I was at the academy, I thought every day about returning early to see Sister Nana. Now that I'm back, I naturally have to make up for all the time we missed." He paused, tracing Gu Yue Na's palm with his fingertip, a touch of mischief in his movements. "Besides, with Sister Nana by my side, I feel even more motivated to cultivate."
"You little rascal, are you sure you want to keep me company and not just covet Sister Nana's body?" Gu Yue Na spoke as her finger lightly scratched Lin Yuan's palm. Her tone carried a hint of teasing, but her eyes brimmed with unmelting tenderness.
Lin Yuan had been seen through, yet he did not dodge the matter. Instead, he leaned in, his nose nearly brushing Gu Yue Na's cheek. His voice lowered, carrying the distinctive fervor of youth. "Isn't Sister Nana's body worth coveting?" He raised a hand and gently brushed her earlobe, watching the faint blush spread from the tip of her ear to her cheeks. The smile on his lips deepened. "But more than that, I want to wake up every day and see Sister Nana."
Gu Yue Na's heart skipped a beat at Lin Yuan's blunt words, and the redness at her ears grew more obvious. She gently pushed away his overly close head, but her fingers lingered, brushing through the tips of his silver-white hair. Her tone held helpless indulgence. "I knew you were good at talking. But if Xiao Yuan wants it, then this whole month is fine."
The evening breeze swept shimmering fragments from the lake, scattering them over their clasped hands. Even the air seemed touched by sweetness.
Lin Yuan took the opportunity to lean closer to Gu Yue Na, gently resting his head against her shoulder. Her crisp fragrance filled his nose, and his nerves, tense for so long, finally relaxed completely. "Then it's settled. Sister Nana can't go back on her word."
"I won't." Gu Yue Na answered softly, raising a hand to gently pat his back with the tenderness of soothing a child. She looked down at the obedient youth nestled against her, her eyes full of affection, and brushed the ribbon in his hair. "By the way, after the Ice Empress finishes refining the blood essence, do you plan to take her back to Shrek with you?"
"Of course I'm taking her." Lin Yuan lifted his head, mischief flickering in his purple eyes. "With such a powerful loli bodyguard following me, who in the academy will dare cause me trouble? Come on, Sister Nana. It's getting dark."
Dusk deepened, and the waters of the Lake of Life still shimmered with the last traces of sunset, stretching their shadows long. When Lin Yuan rose, he casually took Gu Yue Na's hand. The soft warmth in his palm made his steps lighter. Not far away, the Ice Empress remained focused on refining the blood essence. Jade-green Soul Power merged with pale golden Dragon Blood, forming a layer of flowing light around her. Even her dangling twin ponytails were dusted with tiny points of light.
"Aren't we calling her?" Gu Yue Na followed Lin Yuan's gaze and asked softly.
"Let her refine it slowly. The dragon power in that blood essence will take her several days to digest." Lin Yuan glanced back, a teasing smile curling at his lips. "Besides, my loli bodyguard has to improve her strength first. Otherwise, how will she help me deal with trouble?"
Gu Yue Na helplessly shook her head but did not argue, allowing Lin Yuan to lead her toward the small wooden cottage by the Lake of Life. The evening breeze carried the fragrance of spiritual herbs, and their footsteps sounded especially clear through the quiet forest. Reaching the cottage door, Lin Yuan suddenly stopped. He turned and gently pressed Gu Yue Na against the wooden door by the lake, his silver-white hair falling just enough to conceal them from view.
"Sister Nana," Lin Yuan's voice was softer than the evening breeze, his purple eyes reflecting Gu Yue Na's, "you said just now that you wouldn't go back on your word."
Gu Yue Na's heart suddenly raced. Her fingers curled slightly, but she did not push him away. She only gave a soft "Mm."
The next second, Lin Yuan lowered his head, and his soft lips gently touched the corner of hers, carrying the fervor unique to a young man. Gu Yue Na's body stiffened, then gradually relaxed. She raised her arms around his waist and deepened the kiss.
Lin Yuan's fingers lightly hooked the silver-white sash at Gu Yue Na's waist. As their lips and teeth met, even the evening breeze seemed to slow. Gu Yue Na's fair hand sank into his silver-white hair, her breathing gradually warming. Her once-cool eyes were now veiled with moisture, reflecting the heat in his gaze.
Only when several soft cries of soul beasts sounded from the forest did the two slowly part. Gu Yue Na's cheeks were crimson as she turned her face aside and leaned against the wooden door. Her fingers unconsciously toyed with Lin Yuan's hair, her voice as light as a feather. "Little rascal, you're getting bolder and bolder."
Lin Yuan chuckled, lifting a hand to tuck the loose strands by her temple behind her ear. His thumb brushed her burning earlobe. "I learned it from Sister Nana." He pulled her into his arms and felt the softness of her body against his. "From now on, every day should be like this, alright?"
Gu Yue Na nodded gently in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her voice came out muffled. "Alright. I'll listen to Xiao Yuan in everything."
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