Is This What Human Feelings Are? The Snow Empress Joins the Household, and Zhu Ying: My Son Has Brought Home Another Wife?

A dozen minutes later.

The runes on the magic circle slowly dimmed, and the two pillars of light gradually dissipated.

The Blood Pact was complete.

Zhu Lu swayed, her legs buckled, and she fell backward.

Dai Huabin had been waiting at the edge of the formation. He rushed over and caught her steadily in his arms.

Zhu Lu had already fainted. Tears still clung to her face, but her breathing was steady and her pulse was strong.

Dai Huabin reached out and touched her forehead; it was slightly hot, but not seriously so.

"Elder Yi, how is Lulu?"

Electrolux's phantom floated over and glanced at him.

"Don't worry, she just has too much mental energy and needs to rest. After all, you have a body that has been modified by the Life Gold, and you withstood it when you signed the Blood Pact."

Although her physique has been enhanced by the treasure, it's still not as strong as yours. A good night's sleep will do the trick.

Dai Huabin nodded, "Thank you, Elder Yi."

Electrolux smiled slightly, his figure transforming into a speck of light and re-entering Dai Huabin's Eye of Life.

At the other end of the magic circle, Snow Empress stood quietly in place.

She lowered her head, her sky-blue eyes somewhat dazed.

The images that had just flooded Zhu Lu's memory were still replaying in her mind over and over again.

Those hugs, those whispers, those ordinary yet heartwarming everyday moments.

Is this what love between humans is?

Snow Empress silently recited these words in her heart, feeling both unfamiliar and subtle.

Ice Empress walked up to Snow Empress and waved his hand in front of her.

"Hey, Xue'er, what are you spacing out for?"

Snow Empress snapped out of her reverie and gently shook her head. "It's nothing."

Ice Empress looked at her suspiciously, then waved his hand in front of his nose.

"Hmm? The aura on you..."

Ice Empress circled around Snow Empress, her emerald green pupils slightly contracting, and her tone carried a hint of surprise.

"Xue'er! The aura of the Soul Beast on your body has been masked by Lulu's bloodline!"

Snow Empress looked down and felt it; it was indeed so.

After the Blood Pact was established, Zhu Lu's bloodline seeped through the contractual bond, forming an extremely weak but continuously functioning shield on her body.

From the outside perspective, she appears to be just an ordinary human with extreme ice attributes.

Even experts at the Titled Douluo level would find it difficult to detect her true Soul Beast origin through this layer of human bloodline.

"From now on, you can go to human cities openly and legitimately." Ice Empress patted Snow Empress on the shoulder.

Snow Empress gave a soft "hmm".

Dai Huabin carried Zhu Lu over and looked at Ice Empress and Snow Empress.

"Bing'er, Xue'er."

Dai Huabin paused.

"The title 'Snow Empress' isn't appropriate for the human world. From now on, I'll call you Xue'er. You don't mind, do you?"

Ice Empress shrugged. "I'm used to it. Call me whatever you want."

Snow Empress nodded blankly, "Mm."

Dai Huabin noticed that Snow Empress's condition was a bit off; her reactions were much slower than before.

He guessed it was a side effect of the Blood Pact memory exchange. After 700,000 years of solitary life, suddenly a large amount of human emotional memories flooded in within a dozen minutes. Anyone would need a while to recover.

"Let's go. I'll take Lulu back. You all come out too; the Undead Semi-Plane is not a place to linger."

Ice Empress was the first to respond, their emerald green twin tails swishing loudly.

"Fine! I'm so tired of this place! If it weren't for Xue'er form, I would have left long ago. This godforsaken place is so gloomy, there's not even a ray of sunshine, it's so stifling."

Snow Empress didn't say anything, she just quietly followed behind Ice Empress.

The six-pointed star magic circle lit up, and a gray light enveloped the four of them.

After a slight dizziness, my vision suddenly brightened.

The underground training room of the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

Dai Huabin carried Zhu Lu up the stairs, through the corridor, and back to his bedroom.

He carefully placed Zhu Lu on the bed and covered her with the blanket.

Zhu Lu's complexion has regained much of its color, and the wound on her lip is healing.

Dai Huabin sat by the bed for a while, then reached out to wipe away the remaining tear stains on her face.

"Thank you for your hard work," he said softly.

Zhu Lu turned over, instinctively grabbing the hem of his clothes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Dai Huabin smiled helplessly, gently pried her fingers apart, and got up to leave the room.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress were standing in the courtyard.

Ice Empress looked around, surveying the Duke Mansion's garden. Snow Empress, on the other hand, looked up at the sun in the sky.

She must not have seen sunlight in a long time.

"Let's go see my mother first," Dai Huabin said. "There's an extra person in the manor; we need to inform her."

Ice Empress responded with an "oh," and quickly followed after Snow Empress, pulling her along with him.

Main hall.

Duchess Zhu Ying was sipping tea when she heard footsteps and looked up.

Dai Huabin walked at the front, with Ice Empress and Snow Empress walking side by side behind him.

Ice Empress has been here for a while, and Zhu Ying is quite familiar with her. But Snow Empress is a completely new face.

"Greetings, Duchess." The Ice Empress and the Snow Empress bowed simultaneously.

Ice Empress performed the greeting smoothly. She had been warmly received by Zhu Ying several times during this period and had learned some manners.

Snow Empress's movements were somewhat stiff, but her natural aloofness made the etiquette appear exceptionally dignified.

Zhu Ying nearly dropped the teacup in her hand.

Her gaze fixed on Snow Empress.

Her white hair reached her ankles, her sky-blue eyes were unbelievably clear, and she wore a simple white dress. But her face, her figure, and the otherworldly aura that emanated from her very bones were all striking.

Only four words were in Zhu Ying's mind:

A fairy descended to earth.

She glanced at Ice Empress again; her emerald green twin ponytails, delicate face, and lively, playful demeanor made her a beauty among beauties.

Then look at your son.

Zhu Ying put down her teacup and looked at Dai Huabin with a complicated expression.

"Huabin."

"Um?"

"You already have Lulu and Bing'er." Zhu Ying pointed at Snow Empress.

Who is this?

Before Dai Huabin could speak, Ice Empress interrupted him.

"Madam, this is my good friend Xue'er."

Zhu Ying said "Oh," with a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Alright, alright. Huabin, Bing'er's friend."

She stood up, walked up to Snow Empress, looked her up and down, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad. Much taller than Bing'er."

When Snow Empress was being scrutinized like this by a human woman, the hairs on her body stood on end.

"Bing'er and Xue'er are both very good."

Zhu Ying patted Snow Empress's hand, then turned to look at Dai Huabin, her smile carrying a deeper meaning.

You two should get along well.

These words were spoken to Dai Huabin.

Dai Huabin understood his mother's subtext; the Duchess had already imagined a grand drama of her "beloved son taking in many beauties."

"But."

Zhu Ying suddenly stopped smiling, and her tone became more serious.

"You can't let Lulu down. Although Bing'er and Xue'er are indeed a little prettier than Lulu."

"A little?" Ice Empress muttered quietly from the side.

Zhu Ying glared at her, and Ice Empress immediately shut up.

"But," Zhu Ying continued.

"Lulu was the first one to stay by your side. That child is kind-hearted and devoted to you. If you dare to bully her, don't blame your mother for disciplining you."

Dai Huabin smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhu Ying nodded in satisfaction, sat back down, picked up her teacup, and watched as her two "new daughters-in-law" seemed to like her very much.

She beckoned to a maid and ordered that another superior guest room be prepared next to the Ice Empress's for the Snow Empress to stay in.

He also instructed the kitchen to prepare extra dishes for tonight, to cook a nice welcome dinner for the two girls.

From beginning to end, no one corrected Zhu Ying's "misunderstanding".

Ice Empress was completely numb to it. She rolled her eyes inwardly; she was used to the routines of this human family.

This was the first time Snow Empress had experienced such a scene.

She lived for a very long time, enduring heavenly tribulations time and time again, and fighting countless times with all kinds of Ferocious Beast. She was never afraid of anything.

But when the Duchess held her hand and asked her how she was doing, she actually felt a little flustered.

The three of them came out of the main hall and walked back to the courtyard.

Ice Empress tucked their hands behind their heads and walked with light steps.

"Xue'er, were you scared just now?"

Snow Empress was silent for two seconds.

"Duchess, has she misunderstood something?"

Ice Empress glanced at her sideways. "What do you think?"

"She thought I was Dai Huabin's..."

"Yes." Ice Empress interrupted her crisply, "She thinks you're the woman Huabin brought back."

Snow Empress paused slightly in her steps.

Dai Huabin walked ahead, his shoulders twitching slightly.

"Why are you laughing?"

Ice Empress strode up to him, her emerald green eyes carrying a hint of warning.

"I didn't laugh." Dai Huabin quickened his pace.

Ice Empress took two steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back at Snow Empress.

"Xue'er, don't worry about it. That's just how the Duchess. You'll get used to it after a few days."

Snow Empress's expression remained indifferent, but a touch of light pink had appeared on the tips of her fair ears at some point.

She raised her hand to touch her ear and felt it was a little hot.

After returning to the courtyard, Dai Huabin asked Ice Empress to take Snow Empress to the newly prepared guest room to settle in.

He then returned to his bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, watching Zhu Lu as she slept soundly.

The Blood Pact was successful.

The Snow Empress was also willing to cooperate.

The remaining problem is that we need to get Zhu Lu a good enough fourth Soul Ring before school starts.

There's also the issue of Snow Empress's identity.

If I'm going to take her to the Shrek Academy, I'll have to come up with a plausible backstory.

Just then, Zhu Lu turned over in bed and mumbled something incoherently.

Dai Huabin leaned closer and heard clearly.

"Huabin... don't let go..."

He paused for a moment, then reached out and grasped Zhu Lu's hand, which was sticking out from under the covers.

"I'm here."

Zhu Lu's brows relaxed, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, and she continued to sleep.

Dai Huabin sat by the bed for a long time.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, mixed with the sounds of Ice Empress haggling with his maid in the courtyard over whether to add more spice.

Snow Empress stood in the corner of the courtyard, quietly watching the last rays of the setting sun slowly sink below the horizon.

This is her first dusk in the human world after she took human form.