City Lord Mansion, rear courtyard.
This was the forbidden heart of Skywater City, as well as Neuvillette's private domain.
With the clamor of the outside world shut out, the only sound here was the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
A thick, white shag carpet lay before the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, turning soft and intimate.
Neuvillette reclined on a chaise longue, holding an ancient book, his expression calm.
His long hair fell loosely over his shoulders, and a tranquil yet profound light, like the deep sea, flowed through his pale violet slit-pupiled eyes.
He wasn't reading.
Or rather, his thoughts weren't on the book.
At his side, a breathtakingly beautiful woman leaned against him, languid and relaxed.
Her snow-white hair spilled across the carpet, mingling with Neuvillette's silver hair until it was impossible to tell them apart.
Snow Empress.
The ruler of the Far North was curled in Neuvillette's arms like a docile kitten.
Her eyes were closed, her long lashes fluttering slightly, and a tipsy flush colored her stunning face.
Neuvillette's fingers gently traced her swanlike, graceful neck.
The touch beneath his fingertips was smooth and warm, like the finest white jade.
His fingers slid down the elegant line of her collarbone.
Snow Empress shivered faintly and let out a soft whimper.
"It tickles..."
She opened her eyes. Her icy blue gaze had already melted into a pool of spring water, reflecting Neuvillette's handsome face.
The corners of Neuvillette's mouth lifted. He said nothing, only letting his gaze drift lower.
Her pair of flawless jade-white legs rested casually across his knees.
Not an ounce of excess flesh marred their smooth, shapely lines.
Her skin was so fair it was almost translucent, and faint blue veins could be seen beneath it in the sunlight.
Neuvillette's palm gently cupped one of her dainty, exquisitely shaped feet.
Her arch was taut, and her toes curled shyly, tinged a delicate pink like a flower bud on the verge of blooming.
It was a breathtaking beauty.
A pure, artistic kind of temptation.
"The wind is rather noisy today."
Neuvillette's voice was low and resonant, like the vibrating strings of a cello.
He bowed his head and gently kissed Snow Empress on her smooth forehead.
His movements were elegant and unhurried.
They carried the authority of a man of power, yet held the special tenderness of lovers.
Snow Empress wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest, greedily breathing in his cool, clear scent.
It smelled of the sea.
And just outside the door, with only a wall between them—
A petite green figure pressed herself against the crack in the door, staring fixedly at the scene inside.
Ice Empress bit her lip, clutching her clothes so tightly that she nearly crumpled her skirt.
Her eyes were full of envy, and an aching jealousy that threatened to spill over.
"Sister..."
"I want that too..."
Watching Neuvillette's long fingers toy with Snow Empress's delicate foot, she felt the soles of her own feet grow hot.
A tingling sensation shot up her spine and straight to her head.
She had come to seek refuge with this lord alongside Snow Empress long ago.
But...
She could never work up the courage to express her love as boldly as her sister did.
All she could do was hide in a corner like this, watching her sister enjoy his undivided affection.
"Ice Empress?"
Just then, a lively voice suddenly rang out behind her.
Ice Empress jumped in fright, springing up like a startled rabbit.
She turned around and saw Furina tilting her head curiously at her.
"What are you doing here? Why's your face so red?"
Furina blinked her big eyes and followed Ice Empress's gaze toward the door.
Before she could get a good look, Neuvillette's calm voice came from inside:
"Furina, since you're here, come in."
She'd been caught spying.
Ice Empress wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground. Covering her face, she turned and ran.
Furina, on the other hand, pushed the door open without the slightest hesitation.
Taking in the scene inside, she pursed her lips and muttered:
"In broad daylight... Have some shame."
Neuvillette didn't let go of Snow Empress. He remained in that intimate pose and simply turned to look at Furina.
"Is something wrong?"
Furina had come to report that the Shrek Seven Devils had caused trouble.
But seeing the warm scene before her—and remembering Shui Bing'er's message that the matter had already been settled—she rolled her eyes and gave a soft snort.
"Nothing."
"I just came to see what mischief you were up to."
"You big bad guy."
With that, she made a face and ran out, conveniently closing the door behind her.
Neuvillette shook his head helplessly.
"Let's continue."
Snow Empress lifted her head, her eyes hazy, and leaned forward to offer him her red lips.
Meanwhile, on the back hill of Skywater Academy—
Xiao Wu, frozen into an ice sculpture, had been left alone in the grass.
Nobody paid her any attention.
Like a piece of trash someone had forgotten.
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
Despite the palace's opulence, its atmosphere had turned icy.
Bibi Dong sat high on the papal throne, Iudex's Cane in hand, her stunning face clouded with frost.
Below her stood Qian Renxue, dressed in a golden gown. She held her head high and met her mother's gaze without backing down.
Mother and daughter faced off, poised for a clash.
"You're too naive."
Bibi Dong spoke coldly, her voice carrying an unquestionable authority:
"Skywater City is an enormous variable."
"Such power must be brought under Spirit Hall's control."
"Before our army marches on them, we shouldn't try to win them over. We should conquer them outright with overwhelming force!"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, a helpless look flashing through her eyes.
"Mother, you don't understand."
"That Neuvillette... He's not just a city lord."
The man's image surfaced in her mind.
The unfathomable aura around him, like the Abyss, still filled her with unease.
"The pressure I felt from him was even greater than what I felt from Grandpa."
"If we go to war recklessly, we'll bring utter ruin upon Spirit Hall!"
"Enough!"
Bibi Dong slammed Iudex's Cane down, and the floor instantly cracked.
"Greater than Qian Daoliu?"
"Utter nonsense!"
"I think that man has bewitched you. You're glorifying the enemy and demoralizing our own!"
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening.
This was how things always went between them.
Endless arguments, endless distrust.
Bibi Dong never thought much of her and constantly pressured her.
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate—
The enormous Golden Ranking List shook once more in the sky.
Rumble—
Golden light poured down, dyeing the entire continent gold.
Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue looked up at the same time.
New words slowly appeared on the list.
[Continent Rare Treasure Ranking, Ninth Place.]
[Holder: Bibi Dong.]
[Treasure: Rakshasa Demon Scythe.]
Before you continue