Inner Thoughts

Why is this bastard's embrace so warm...? Ice Empress felt her body temperature rising from the transfer of heat, and it struck her as deeply unusual.

My heartbeat is speeding up too... The last time I felt like this was when I was with Xue'er... Could I possibly have feelings for this bastard? How could that be? It must be because I'm too weak after the Heavenly Tribulation.

Ice Empress consoled herself inwardly, but when she thought of the Heavenly Tribulation, Ye Qing's figure surfaced in her mind again. The sight of him standing against the thunderbolts seemed exceptionally imposing. In her memories spanning tens of thousands of years, he was the first person to stand before her—and the only male who had ever done so.

As the ruler of the Ice Jade Scorpion clan, she had struggled against the environment of the Extreme North from the moment she was born. As the king of the Ice Jade Scorpions, she had stood at the forefront ever since breaking through the hundred-thousand-year mark. She could ignore the clan's affairs and freely enjoy everything the clan offered, but in return, she was the race's sharpest spear and toughest shield. Her title as the Extreme North Heavenly King had not been bestowed upon her by others; it was respect earned through slaughter.

No, the Heavenly Tribulation seemed like child's play to him... It must have been effortless for him... But he didn't have to help me. What exactly is my relationship with him?

Ice Empress admired Ye Qing's strength in withstanding the Heavenly Tribulation head-on. The strong easily earned respect no matter what they did. But if she searched her own heart, would she have helped someone else? Without blood ties or emotional bonds, she felt she would not have done such a thing. Protecting the weak had never been an obligation for the strong.

Over their year or so together, they had spent most of their time bickering. Ice Empress simply could not beat him. She felt that if she encountered an opponent like herself, she would probably have struck to kill long ago, rather than playfully punishing him as Ye Qing did—and even willingly cooking for him.

Though that method of punishment had been rather... bastardly.

Does this mean I owe him again? But this bastard always seems to be taking advantage of me, whether before or just now... Thinking of the inexplicably stolen first kiss from before, her body temperature rose slightly once more.

"Alright, wake up. We're here."

While Ice Empress was lost in thought, Ye Qing had brought her to Bi Ji's location. Though he could tell that Ice Empress was only pretending to sleep, he decided not to expose her for the sake of her condition. He had no idea what she was thinking, but he could tell that she was gradually heating up. He suspected her true form had already changed color by now.

"Bi Ji, are you here?" By the side of a lake, Ye Qing called Bi Ji's name. This place was called Emerald Lake, one of the larger lakes in the Star Dou Great Forest and the territory of the Emerald Swan clan. At his call, a massive swan flew from the reed beds on the lake's central island and landed before him.

"Lord Qing Di, Lady Bi Ji just went out. It will take some time for her to return, according to her usual routine..."

"It's fine, I know. She'll be back very soon this time." He dared say that because Bi Ji usually only left her territory for two reasons: to visit Di Tian or to aid other Spirit Beasts.

Di Tian was currently in seclusion, so she had naturally gone to seek out Spirit Beasts injured by the Heavenly Tribulation. However, this Heavenly Tribulation had all been drawn to Ye Qing by his Devour talent. The only injured person was right beside him, so he concluded that Bi Ji would return very soon.

Sure enough, Bi Ji soon reappeared behind them.

"You're back? No wonder a Heavenly Tribulation suddenly appeared. I guessed it had something to do with you."

"What does it have to do with me? I merely happened to be nearby."

"Merely happened to be nearby? Heavenly Tribulations used to occur only once every tens of thousands of years, but in less than a century since you arrived, there have already been three. Was she the one crossing the tribulation this time? It seems you gained quite a lot from this outing. Is this your new sweetheart? Don't get tired of the new and forget Xiao Qing." Looking at Ice Empress in Ye Qing's arms, Bi Ji teased him.

A Spirit Beast crossing a tribulation was both an opportunity and a crisis. Those who successfully broke through the Heavenly Tribulation entered a period of weakness, usually guarded by the person they trusted most. Ice Empress's aura did not belong to the Star Dou Great Forest, so she was naturally an outsider. In Bi Ji's eyes, the two must have shared an intimate relationship.

The worldview of Spirit Beasts did not care how many partners a male had. Just as Bi Ji knew Di Tian had recently grown close to a Hell Demon Dragon, yet said nothing about it. In truth, there were quite a few Spirit Beasts on this continent with Di Tian's bloodline.

"No, I'm absolutely not in that kind of relationship with this bastard. Don't imagine things." Ice Empress did not want to be misunderstood. She admitted that her impression of Ye Qing had greatly improved, but she firmly believed that she loved Snow Empress. It was impossible for it to be Ye Qing. Thus, still pretending to sleep, she struggled to escape Ye Qing's arms. But in her current state, how could she break free from his strength? To Bi Ji, it looked even more like a shy little girl.

The look in Bi Ji's eyes grew gentler. By age, Ice Empress was no different from a child in Bi Ji's eyes.

"Fine, if you say it isn't, then it isn't. Come, let big sister treat you. Put her down." Following Bi Ji's instructions, Ye Qing placed Ice Empress on the grass. As emerald light enveloped her, the injuries left by the Heavenly Tribulation rapidly healed at a visible rate. In mere moments, if not for the bloodstains still remaining on her body, no one would have guessed she had just been grievously wounded.

"What powerful healing..." Ice Empress could clearly feel it. The shattered carapace from resisting the thunderbolts had completely Regenerated, and all her injuries, inside and out, had been fully healed.

"Of course. The Emerald Swans didn't earn their title as the strongest healing-type Spirit Beasts for nothing. Do you want to wash up, or go back like this?"

"The water of Emerald Lake is quite special. Wash up here. Girls should stay clean." Looking at the remaining bloodstains and black marks on her body, Ice Empress nodded and walked toward the lakeshore.

"Hey, you bastard, don't peek." After leaving Ye Qing with those words, she leaped into the lake.

"Relax, relax. I'm not interested in you. You've got nothing where it counts. I have Xiao Qing at home," Ye Qing replied casually.

"Your relationship really is unusual."

"Not at all. If we really had that kind of relationship, we were probably mortal enemies in our past lives."

"You men really don't understand women."

"??"

"You'll understand someday. You've already taken root in her heart. When that flower blooms, its fragrance will be intense. But with that girl's temperament, it may take a long time before she can face it honestly. Big sister is very good at reading people, you know.

Beneath the lake's surface, Ice Empress blew bubbles one after another like a fish. As she washed away the grime, she recalled what had happened earlier, and a faint smile quietly appeared on her face.

This lake water really does seem special... It appears to contain a unique energy. This feeling—why is it so similar to Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow? It seems to be coming from underground.

Following the sensation, Ice Empress arrived at a fissure at the bottom of the lake. The water flowing from the crack made her understand where that familiar feeling came from.

My luck seems pretty good.