Reunion in Star Luo City, Release

Meanwhile, Shu Yan frantically searched through every secret realm and ruin that had appeared in the original Douluo II story, only to helplessly discover that among the few memories he still retained of the original work, there seemed to be no such opportunity at all.

After pondering for a moment, Shu Yan said,

"Listen to the Snow Empress. Even if we knew what exactly was here, we are not fully prepared right now. It would be best not to casually meddle with an unknown place when we cannot tell whether it is an opportunity or a trap."

The Ice Empress curled her lips. Like Shu Yan, she had not sensed anything unusual at all. Though the mountain before them looked rather extraordinary, in her eyes, it was merely a little taller and richer in Spiritual Energy. In every other respect, it was practically no different.

The difference in perception between the two realms of Limit Douluo and Super Douluo was displayed vividly through the two of them.

The Snow Empress gave the mountain, which seemed mysterious in every way, one final look before directly leading the other two away.

All its secrets were buried deep underground, never seeing the light of day. The Snow Empress did not believe anyone else would discover and open this mysterious place that had been sealed away for who knew how many years. There were very few experts in the present age capable of discovering it, and even if they truly did, the price they would have to pay to open it would certainly not be small...

All things considered, the Snow Empress's decision was undoubtedly rational and correct. Whether they could obtain an opportunity was a minor matter for now. If they lost their lives over it or caused some great trouble, that would truly be more loss than gain.

Upon returning to familiar land, Shu Yan felt his entire body relax. After ordering three drinks from a familiar little shop, he sat at a seat by the street, his gaze falling upon the towering city wall in the distance, imposing and majestic.

As the sweet-and-sour drink entered his mouth, Shu Yan unexpectedly grew nervous. Thinking of the familiar figure he was about to see, a trace of excitement slowly mixed into his emotions.

The Snow Empress pulled out a chair beside him and sat down. Looking at Shu Yan's indescribable expression, she raised an eyebrow before saying,

"You seem very nervous. Or rather, your emotions are very complicated—so complicated that even you do not know how you feel."

The Ice Empress held a cup of strawberry ice cream and gave a disdainful snort, casually saying,

"Xue'er, why bother with him? His girl... hmm... right, his girlfriend is here. Maybe he is afraid of getting dumped?"

The Snow Empress rubbed her forehead. Looking at a carriage slowly approaching from the distant street, surrounded by numerous royal knights, she lightly tapped the tabletop. An invisible ripple instantly spread outward. Shu Yan was jolted awake in an instant, the Snow Empress's voice echoing by his ear. The next moment, Shu Yan moved, vanishing from where he stood in an instant. The people around them did not even notice anything, and the world returned to normal the next moment.

The Snow Empress lazily propped her head up with one hand while casually stirring the drink in her cup with the other. Together with the Ice Empress, she watched the two carriages bearing the Star Crown totem slowly enter the imperial palace. Only after a long while did the two slowly withdraw their gazes...

Under the cover of the Spiritual Power left behind by the Snow Empress, Shu Yan entered the familiar Princess Mansion with ease.

Looking at the slightly messy couch in the main hall, Shu Yan let out a soft sigh. Xu Jiujiu was an extremely tidy and self-disciplined person. In the past, although the main hall would occasionally become a little messy because of the two of them fooling around, it had never given off such a dusty feeling everywhere, as though no one had lived here for a very long time.

As Shu Yan looked at the familiar grass and trees, he felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Clearly, eight months was not a long time, yet to him, it felt as though the world had changed. Shu Yan stood behind the pale golden curtains, listening as Xu Jiujiu, sounding somewhat weary, dismissed the maidservants who wished to step forward and serve her. She then slowly entered the hall.

Perhaps because she had not rested properly for too long, Xu Jiujiu had grown noticeably thinner in Shu Yan's eyes. Her back even gave off an inexplicable sense of being reduced to skin and bones. Though the aura around her remained noble and elegant, it had gained a trace of coldness that made others dare not approach her casually.

After entering the main hall, Xu Jiujiu went straight to the couch and collapsed onto it, staring blankly at the white jade table before her, not knowing what she was thinking.

Shu Yan stepped out from behind her. Though he made no effort to hide his footsteps, Xu Jiujiu heard nothing, as if she had never heard them at all.

The pain in Shu Yan's eyes was undisguised. He slowly came up behind Xu Jiujiu, then forcefully gathered her frighteningly light body into his embrace.

That familiar scent lingered at her nose, and the cool sensation made Xu Jiujiu freeze uncontrollably. Tears slid from her beautiful golden eyes. Xu Jiujiu abruptly lifted her head, meeting Shu Yan's sky-blue eyes, brimming with emotion.

"A-A Yan..."

Xu Jiujiu's voice was somewhat hoarse. Looking at the man before her, whose face was familiar yet carried a trace of unfamiliarity, her body suddenly began to tremble violently.

Before Shu Yan could say anything, Xu Jiujiu's lips, carrying a hint of madness, had already pressed against his. As their lips and teeth entwined, Shu Yan suddenly frowned slightly. The taste of blood spread through their mouths, and Xu Jiujiu's movements became even more frenzied. Shu Yan merely let her vent. He knew that too much pain and longing had accumulated in Xu Jiujiu's heart. Too much longing was an illness; when the illness deepened, it became an affliction. Xu Jiujiu wanted to vent, and so did Shu Yan.

He had always felt that he was someone who did not know how to express his emotions. There were many sweet words he could not bring himself to say, but that did not mean he was indifferent to love deep down. On the contrary, people like him, who buried their feelings in their hearts, suffered the most. That suffering made one repeatedly struggle between reality and ideals, as though one wrong choice would condemn them to an abyss of eternal damnation...

After the fierce, lingering kiss ended, Xu Jiujiu was breathing heavily. Her fair arms suddenly exerted force, directly pushing Shu Yan down onto the couch. The next moment, she threw herself over him, almost crazily drawing in the scent of Shu Yan's body.

"A Yan... I truly missed you so much... Ever since we parted, your figure has filled my mind every moment. It feels as though the whole world has lost its joy. Every day, it is as if I am living on a blank sheet of paper. No matter how hard I try, I cannot see even a trace of color. Do you know how long it has been since I slept well? The moment I fall asleep, all I see is the final scene from that day. If I could, I would rather have died with you than be left alone..."

Shu Yan looked at the large expanse of fair skin Xu Jiujiu had exposed through her intense movements, his gaze darkening slightly. He then slowly sat up, leaning against the back of the couch and allowing Xu Jiujiu to straddle his lap. Shu Yan took a blanket from the side and wrapped it around Xu Jiujiu's body. The two held each other tightly for a long, long time before Shu Yan softly said,

"Jiujiu, I am sorry for leaving you for so long. During my time in the Extreme North Land, I missed you too. But for our shared future, I had to carve out a brand-new and difficult path. Before returning, I had imagined countless scenes of our reunion, but from the moment I saw you, I realized none of that mattered..."

Xu Jiujiu sobbed uncontrollably in Shu Yan's arms. She could no longer distinguish reality from dreams, and she had completely lost the nobility and elegance expected of the Star Luo Princess. At that moment, she only wanted to properly release the pain and longing in her heart. Everything else seemed to have become unimportant.

Shu Yan felt Xu Jiujiu's tears gradually soaking through his clothes. He raised a hand and gently patted her back. Under his soft comfort, Xu Jiujiu's sobs grew quieter and quieter. In the end, she fell into a deep sleep.

Looking at Xu Jiujiu's slightly uncomfortable sleeping face, Shu Yan gently kissed her forehead. He then helped her remove her shoes, socks, and outer robe. Only after Xu Jiujiu had fallen completely asleep did Shu Yan slowly rise and lower the curtains around them before walking out.

Everyone, please invest!! We only need twenty-four more to reach one hundred! ●)o(●