The wind and snow in the Northern Lands were as large as mats.
A young girl sat cross-legged.
Her eyes were tightly shut, her breathing faint to the point of near absence.
Even her terrifying aura flickered in and out, as though she were nothing more than an empty shell.
Red Sun Demon Venerable crouched at her side, both hands tucked into his sleeves and his neck hunched, looking exactly like an old farmer waiting at the village entrance to mooch a feast.
No one knew how much time passed.
A thin layer of frost gathered on the girl's shoulders.
Old Flood Dragon carefully edged a little closer to her.
"M-Master?"
"..."
No response.
Red Sun Demon Venerable swallowed, his courage growing slightly. "Um... it's cold. Shall this old dog find you a coat?"
Still no response.
She had left!
She had really left!
She was young, after all—without the slightest sense of caution.
With her Primordial Spirit out of her body, this fleshly body was merely an empty shell.
Couldn't he do whatever he pleased?!
Old Flood Dragon slowly rose to his feet and circled the girl twice.
The humility in his eyes gradually turned into something playful.
He muttered to himself, "Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"Weren't you so arrogant before? Didn't you enjoy calling me old dog every other breath?"
"Why aren't you calling me that now? Come on, call me old dog again for this old man to hear."
Only the howling northern wind answered him.
Red Sun Demon Venerable took a deep breath, his thoughts beginning to stir.
If he swallowed this body whole while he had the chance, not only could he reclaim the Dragon Pearl, he might even turn the fortune she had obtained into his own...
He approached step by step, raising his fist