Xu Jiujiu's Surprise

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

Warm sunlight slipped quietly through the gaps in the curtains and into the hall, finally falling upon Xu Jiujiu. She slowly awoke from a deep sleep. The unfamiliar warmth beside her made her feel as though she had returned to the days when Shu Yan was still around. Back then, no matter how demanding her studies and cultivation were, all she needed was a good sleep in his arms to recover.

But ever since Shu Yan left, the quality of her sleep had declined again and again, until she had eventually become afraid to fall asleep at all.

The reason for it all was that boy who had once been inseparable from her. If not for a soul master's physique being far superior to that of ordinary people, coupled with the unimaginable treatment she enjoyed as a princess, her body would likely have collapsed long ago...

Last night, she seemed to have had an incredibly vivid dream. In it, Shu Yan suddenly returned. Overjoyed, she wept, and after the two shared their longing for one another, she fell into a deep sleep in his embrace...

That dream seemed to have let a ray of sunlight shine upon the heart that had long been shrouded in mist. Even her dispirited air regained a measure of vitality.

As she shifted slightly, Xu Jiujiu had been about to stretch when her entire body suddenly stiffened. In that instant, she seemed to sense someone else beside her.

A powerful sense of danger drove her to strike without conscious thought. Golden Soul Power surged forth, and Shu Yan, lying beside her, abruptly opened his eyes. He caught her jade-like hand wrapped in golden Soul Power directly in his grasp. Their gazes met in midair, and Xu Jiujiu froze blankly in an instant. Shu Yan slowly released her hand once it had returned to normal, then helplessly pinched the girl's cheek before saying:

"Jiujiu, trying to murder your husband first thing in the morning isn't a very good habit..."

That familiar voice, that familiar tone—Shu Yan before Xu Jiujiu gradually overlapped with the Shu Yan she remembered. She asked in disbelief:

"A Yan?"

Shu Yan nodded gently, then pulled Xu Jiujiu straight into his arms.

"You haven't had a proper rest in a long time. Listen to me and sleep a little longer."

He could feel Xu Jiujiu's exhaustion. Clearly, a single night's sleep was not enough to erase the torment and suffering she had endured during this time.

Xu Jiujiu's body trembled faintly, but under Shu Yan's patient soothing, she gradually calmed down.

She raised her head in Shu Yan's embrace. Her eyes brimmed with the ultimate joy and shock of regaining what she had lost, and tears slowly streamed down her face. Her lips trembled as well, as though she had countless words she wished to say.

Shu Yan kissed Xu Jiujiu's forehead once more, then said softly:

"Jiujiu, I know you have many things to say and many emotions to vent right now. My return was probably too sudden for you, to the point that it feels unreal. But I need to tell you that I really have returned. So much has happened over these nearly nine months, and I'll explain it all to you properly later. But what I need to tell you is that I have found a brand-new path for our future. It will become the goal that the two of us strive toward together from now on."

Xu Jiujiu nodded with a slight tremble. Crystal tears continually slid from the corners of her eyes before falling onto the golden bedsheets.

Her feelings were difficult to describe in words. The surprise and joy of regaining what she had lost made it impossible for her to conceal her excitement. At the same time, she was filled with boundless curiosity about what Shu Yan had experienced in the Extreme North Land, as well as what exactly the path he spoke of was...

All of it made it difficult for her to maintain the poise and manners expected of a princess. To be honest, she was extremely possessive, especially when it came to Shu Yan. She desperately wanted to know everything about him. The mystery now surrounding Shu Yan felt like countless ants gnawing at her heart, nearly impossible to suppress.

Shu Yan noticed Xu Jiujiu's unusual state as well. He sighed helplessly, then reached out and patted her soft rear before saying quietly:

"Don't think about all that nonsense for now. You're my lover, so naturally I won't hide anything I can tell you later. There really is no need for things like imprisoning me and forcing a confession..."

A tempting flush spread across Xu Jiujiu's fair cheeks. Shu Yan's bluntness left her embarrassed and irritated. She glared fiercely at him, then said in a low voice:

"Don't touch me carelessly before we're married!"

"And I've never thought of those things you mentioned. Though if you want to try them, this Princess can reluctantly agree..."

Shu Yan imagined the scene, and goosebumps immediately rose uncontrollably all over his body. Shaking his head, he said:

"That's really not necessary. Jiujiu, it's still early. His Majesty hasn't finished court yet, so sleep a little longer. Later, we'll enter the palace together to see His Majesty. Then, I'll slowly explain the whole story to all of you..."

Xu Jiujiu gave a soft snort in Shu Yan's arms. She then shifted into a more comfortable position, seized one of Shu Yan's arms to hug, wiped the tears from her face, and coughed several times before mumbling:

"Fine, whatever. But you have to explain clearly what happened over the past few months afterward. Otherwise, don't even think about getting into my bed again..."

Shu Yan chuckled and nodded. Only after watching Xu Jiujiu's eyelids, which had been constantly struggling to stay open, slowly close and her breathing gradually steady did he dare shift slightly and pull back his numb leg.

As he looked at Xu Jiujiu's peaceful sleeping face, Shu Yan's emotions gradually calmed. From today onward, he would lead Xu Jiujiu and the entire Star Luo Empire in striving toward a realm that existed only in the continent's history. From this point on, everything would be different. The history of Douluo Continent would be changed by them...

Near noon, Xu Jiujiu finally woke leisurely. Shu Yan held her as she washed and dressed. Having only just regained what she had lost, the girl was especially clingy, and Shu Yan's words had made her somewhat uneasy. Naturally, she wanted Shu Yan to remain by her side at all times. Shu Yan could not bring himself to refuse. After waiting with difficulty for Xu Jiujiu to finish applying her makeup, the two finally left the Princess Mansion.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress had already been waiting for a long time. Their figures were concealed within the shadows. No matter how many pedestrians passed by, not one could notice their presence. Shu Yan waved at them, leaving Xu Jiujiu somewhat confused. But the next second, after she blinked, the Ice Snow Two Emperors suddenly appeared before her.

For some reason, perhaps by instinct, every hair on Xu Jiujiu's body stood on end when she saw the Ice Snow Two Emperors. She almost subconsciously took a step back. The two women before her felt unfathomable. Even before her Imperial Brother, she had never felt anything like this.

Her instincts told her that these two were definitely no ordinary people. As her memories returned, Snow Empress's face, so strikingly similar to Shu Yan's, suddenly reminded her of something. Her whole body trembled as she said in disbelief:

"Snow Empress!?"

Snow Empress's gaze swept over Xu Jiujiu's entire body, carrying a trace of scrutiny. She wanted to know what was so exceptional about the woman Shu Yan valued so highly. After examining her, she had grasped seven or eight tenths of Xu Jiujiu's circumstances. Taken as a whole, she truly was rather remarkable.

A princess of an empire, close in age to Shu Yan, with a Soul Power Level above thirty-five, and an unusual stellar aura radiating from her body—presumably brought by her martial soul.

With such status and talent, she was indeed worthy of Shu Yan.

At that thought, Snow Empress parted her thin lips and said: