Defending Her Former Lover

Yun Zide's scalp went numb with terror, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He struggled desperately where he stood, his face turning red from the strain, but his feet simply would not move.

At last, the figure stepped out of the darkness and into the corridor's faint light.

The moment Yun Zide saw who it was, his eyes went wide.

Though he was stunned by her beauty, he was even more terrified.

She was a woman dressed in the same white, form-fitting Butler Uniform.

Her ice-blue hair cascaded like a waterfall, casually draped over her shoulders.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, her skin fairer than snow and her waist slender.

Especially those eyes of hers. The corners tilted slightly upward, carrying an innate cold allure and seductive charm.

If Steward Xue from earlier had been an eternal snow mountain—

Then the woman before Yun Zide was an iceberg covered in thorns.

Her slender waist swayed slightly as she toyed with a Long whip that emitted a faint blue glow.

She looked down at the immobile Yun Zide, her Red Lips curling into a disdainful smile.

"Since you're here, play with me properly."

With that, she sharply flicked her Wrist.

"Crack—!"

The Long whip became a streak of Blue lightning and viciously struck the ground before Yun Zide.

The terrifying shockwave made Yun Zide's ears ring again, stars flashing before his eyes.

Warmth spread between his legs, and he nearly pissed himself on the spot.

"M-My lady, I was just lost..."

His Teeth chattered, his body freezing as he trembled all over.

"Is that so?"

The Blue-haired woman tilted her head slightly, and there was no killing intent in her ice-blue eyes.

Only the indifferent amusement of a Cat playing with mouse.

That look made Yun Zide's heart go cold, but his expression changed at once as he revealed a fawning smile.

"Yes! Hehe... My lady, I've had no sense of direction since I was young."

However, the Blue-haired woman parted her Red Lips and let out a mocking snort.

"Heh."

Then she did not even spare him another glance.

With elegant, noble steps, she walked straight past him and headed forward.

"Whew..."

Hearing her footsteps gradually fade behind him, Yun Zide felt as though all his strength had drained away and let out a long breath.

"Good thing I'm clever. I really know how to act like a spineless dog!"

"That bitch is so pretty, so why is her aura even more terrifying than a Titled Douluo's?"

The joy of surviving the ordeal made Yun Zide's lips curl upward. Without further hesitation, he immediately mobilized the Soul Power within him.

He prepared to use the Escape skill he was so proud of and burrow underground to flee.

This move had never failed him. It had even allowed him to escape alive from beneath the hands of a Titled Douluo.

However.

The vicious grin on Yun Zide's face froze the next second.

"C-Can't... move?"

To his horror, when he tried to raise his hand, it would not move. When he tried to step forward, his legs had lost all feeling.

Yun Zide stiffly lowered his head and saw a layer of crystalline blue frost covering his entire body at some point.

"W-When did this..."

He wanted to turn around and beg for mercy, only to discover that his throat could produce nothing but faint cracking sounds.

Then, his consciousness sank into darkness.

In the dim corridor, there was now a lifelike Ice sculpture.

The person inside still wore a twisted expression of utter terror, every Details perfectly preserved.

In the distance, the Blue-haired woman, strolling leisurely away, swung her dark-blue Long whip again and struck the ground.

"Crack—!"

A crisp boom echoed through the silent corridor.

"Bang!"

That Ice sculpture instantly exploded.

It turned directly into glittering blue powder and dispersed into the air, leaving behind not even a trace of dust.

Duel Arena · Top-Floor Luxury Room.

Just as Doudou was still clinging to Qin Chen.

Qin Chen seemed to sense something, his brow lifting slightly.

He reached out and rubbed Hua Xi's soft little head in his arms, then gently placed the clingy Catwoman on the sofa.

Then he rose to his feet.

Seeing this, Doudou, who had been about to snuggle up to him, blinked curiously.

"Monarch, where are you going?"

"Did someone come here to cause trouble?"

If that was the case, she definitely wanted to go watch the show.

Qin Chen shook his head and adjusted his sleeves. "No, I have some personal matters to handle."

"I'm going to Green Garden. Wait here for me."

Zhu Zhuqing, who had been tidying the tea set nearby, immediately put down what she was holding upon hearing this.

Her long legs carried her to Qin Chen's side in just a few steps, and she pressed herself slightly against him.

A trace of longing filled her cool eyes.

"Monarch, Zhu Qing will accompany you."

After all, as his personal butler, it was her duty to serve the Monarch without leaving his side.

However, Qin Chen reached out and gently pinched her smooth, tender cheek. It felt excellent to the touch.

"Be good. I'm going alone this time."

Although Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat unwilling, the Monarch's orders were absolute.

She lowered her head and obediently replied, "Yes, Monarch."

After soothing the girls in the room, Qin Chen turned and walked toward a patch of shadow in the corner.

With a ripple of spatial fluctuations, his figure instantly vanished into the darkness.

Dark Night Arena · Green Garden

This was a secret realm unknown to outsiders.

The entire garden was surrounded by rich life energy, even a hundred times denser than that of the outside Star Dou Forest.

Mist lingered everywhere, and the spiritual energy was so dense it had almost become tangible.

All kinds of rare flowers and exotic herbs, nearly impossible to find outside, were planted around the area. They competed in beauty and released a refreshing fragrance.

Deep within this emerald garden scenery stood an exquisite, elegant wooden house.

Its furnishings were simple and warm, carrying the charm of nature.

At this moment, a woman in a Plain Blue Long Skirt stood before a dressing table inside the house.

She was tall and full-figured, her azure-blue hair cascading down to her feet like a waterfall.

Just her back alone exuded the unique charm of a mature woman.

Noble and elegant, yet carrying a gentleness that seemed capable of embracing all things.

She looked into the mirror before her, her expression revealing an unshakable sorrow.

At that moment, spatial fluctuations appeared in the shadows at the corner of the room, and Qin Chen slowly stepped out.

"What's wrong, Ah Yin?"

Hearing that familiar voice, the woman in blue trembled slightly.

She hurriedly turned around, folded her hands before her lower abdomen, and gave Qin Chen a slight bow with utmost elegance.

"Monarch."

Then she straightened up, a few traces of sorrow on that peerlessly gorgeous face as she spoke softly.

"Just now... I sensed it."

"Ah Hao... he finally went to that cave to look for me."

"Oh?"

Qin Chen revealed a faint smile and walked directly to the dressing table before sitting down.

He looked at the dressing mirror on the table. It was the Viewing Mirror the system had given him back then.

It could observe an image from a location within Douluo Continent, similar to the scenes revealed upon the Heavenly Curtain.

At this moment, the mirror's surface was like a pool of clear water, reflecting a distinct image.

In the image, a bearded, raggedly dressed Man landed before the entrance of a hidden cave.

It was Tang Hao, the man Ah Yin had once longed for with all her heart, yet who had disappointed her beyond measure.

Leaning back in his chair, Qin Chen watched the scene and could not help smiling.

"I brought you here and helped you rebuild your body. More than ten years have passed since then."

"He left you in that pitch-black cave and did not visit you once for over a decade. That was cruel enough."

"So why did he only remember to look for you after the Heavenly Curtain exposed everything?"

Qin Chen turned to Ah Yin, curiosity in his tone.

"This belated affection is cheaper than grass by the roadside."

"What do you think?"

Ah Yin's face paled at those words.

She bit her Red Lips, wanting to defend her former husband, yet she found that she could not come up with any reason at all.

In the end, she could only walk rather obediently to Qin Chen's side and skillfully kneel on the floor.

Her Plain Blue Long Skirt spread across the ground like a blooming Blue Silver Flower.

She lowered her head, her voice slightly choked. "Ah Hao... he may have been too busy."

"After all, he still had to protect Xiao San..."