Snow Empress's Farewell Kiss

After they left, a golden figure slowly emerged from the depths of the nearby forest.

Covered in golden fur, her entire body seemed like translucent crystal, carrying a strange texture. Her overall form resembled a lion, but her four claws were like those of a dragon, each Dragon Claw stepping upon a cluster of golden flames.

Besides her ordinary pair of eyes, she had a third eye. Her two eyes shimmered gold, while the vertical pupil in the middle radiated an eerie hint of red.

Behind her followed a Soul Beast over five meters long and exceptionally robust. It resembled a lion, yet had three identical massive heads. Its six eyes all stared in the direction where Lin Yaoyang and the Snow Empress had vanished.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

The Emperor Auspicious Beast, beloved child of the Star Dou Forest.

Her nose twitched slightly as she sniffed the lingering scent in the air. A complicated glimmer flashed through her golden eyes.

"It's him again."

Her voice was clear, yet it carried an aloof chill that did not belong to humans.

This was not the first time she had seen that human boy.

The last time had also been in this forest. He had been absorbing a soul ring then as well. She had watched from afar without revealing herself.

Because she had noticed the white figure beside him: the Snow Empress.

She did not want to be abducted by the Snow Empress.

Scarlet King stood behind her, his three heads all looking toward the sky, his six eyes filled with confusion.

He was truly curious.

As one of the Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North, why would the Snow Empress personally hunt souls for a human? And judging by her attitude, it was practically as though she were... raising a child?

He had lived for over a hundred thousand years, yet this was the first time he had seen such a thing.

After a moment of silence, Scarlet King said, "Let's go. We should head back."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion did not move.

She continued looking toward where Lin Yaoyang had disappeared, her golden dragon eyes narrowing slightly.

That boy's aura... was so warm.

Just like... the sun.

"Hmph." She gave a soft snort, turned, and vanished into the depths of the forest.

Scarlet King hurried after her.

Shrek City.

When the Snow Empress and Lin Yaoyang flew out of the Star Dou Forest's borders, a magnificent city appeared on the distant plains.

Its towering walls stretched out to either side, extending beyond sight.

Shrek City connected to the continent in all four directions, with transportation routes leading everywhere.

Not only was it home to Shrek Academy, it was also the most important commercial city at the crossroads of the three great empires that had once belonged to the Douluo Continent.

The city gates teemed with people. Merchant caravans, travelers, and soul masters came and went without end. Vendors' cries, shouts, and haggling mingled together in a bustling clamor.

The Snow Empress brought Lin Yaoyang down into a small grove not far outside the city gates.

"Yao Yang." The Snow Empress turned toward the boy before her and reached out to straighten his collar.

Her movements were gentle and slow, as though she were doing something immensely important.

"You must be careful on your own. Pay attention to your safety."

She extended her fair hand and gently stroked his head. His short orange-red hair brushed across her palm, carrying a faint warmth.

Her eyes were full of tenderness and reluctance, her sky-blue gaze glimmering faintly.

"Don't focus only on cultivation. Remember to rest properly. Eat your meals on time..."

She went on and on, as though she wanted to remind him of every possible thing she could think of.

Lin Yaoyang listened obediently without interrupting her.

He knew this was how the Snow Empress expressed her reluctance to part.

In seven hundred thousand years of life, she had never worried over anyone like this.

He nodded. "I understand, Sister Xue'er."

The Snow Empress stroked his head again, then seemed to recall something. She withdrew her hand and poked his forehead with a slender finger, her tone carrying a trace of barely concealed jealousy.

"You didn't come here because of that Jiang Nannan, did you?"

Lin Yaoyang took her fair hand and smiled as he shook his head. "How could that be? I only thought it would be more convenient to have someone I knew here."

Several years ago, they had met Jiang Nannan in Lingdou City.

Lin Yaoyang had encountered her in a pharmacy.

At the time, her mother was critically ill, and she had gone to buy medicine.

She stood before the counter, clutching the few soul coins she had in her hand, her face pale as paper. The pharmacist impatiently waved her away. Her eyes reddened, but she stubbornly refused to cry.

After learning what had happened, Lin Yaoyang used the excuse that he needed someone to help manage his house while living in Lingdou City. He paid for the medicine and had the mother and daughter work for him.

In truth, there was not much work at all. They only cooked and cleaned each day.

Later, Jiang Nannan became familiar with him. That stubborn yet strong girl only revealed her softer side before him.

The Snow Empress gave a delicate snort. "It had better be!"

Though she said so, the jealousy in her eyes had clearly faded quite a bit.

A moment of silence passed.

The Snow Empress suddenly took a deep breath, as though she had made some momentous decision.

Light flickered around her body. Her delicate figure, more than three meters tall, gradually shrank until she was around one meter eighty.

Her long white dress remained as pure as snow, and her snowy hair fell to her waist. Her exquisite features were breathtakingly beautiful beneath the sunlight.

Before Lin Yaoyang could ask what she intended to do, the Snow Empress wrapped her arms around his waist and gently pulled him into her embrace.

Then she kissed him.

It was a deep, lingering kiss.

The coolness of ice and snow intertwined with the warmth of the sun.

After a long while, their lips parted.

A faint blush stained the Snow Empress's lovely face, spreading all the way to her ears. She turned her head slightly, not daring to meet Lin Yaoyang's eyes. Her voice was so soft it seemed as if she were speaking to herself.

"Don't let other girls lure you away."

Lin Yaoyang stood stunned for quite some time before coming back to his senses.

He reached out and touched the Snow Empress's waist, feeling its slender softness beneath his hand, and somehow blurted out, "Sister Xue'er, what if I can't hold myself back?"

The Snow Empress abruptly turned her head and glared at him, her gaze both embarrassed and annoyed.

"You dare?!"

She pinched Lin Yaoyang's waist, but the force was so light that it felt more like a tickle.

The two lingered together for a while longer before the Snow Empress reluctantly let go.

She stepped back two paces and looked deeply at Lin Yaoyang, as though she wanted to carve his appearance into her memories.

Then she turned around. With a flash, she transformed into a streak of white light and flew northward.

Lin Yaoyang stood where he was, watching that graceful white figure gradually vanish beyond the horizon.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, composed himself, turned, and walked along the road toward the city gates.

People flowed endlessly around the city gates, and the place was bustling with activity.

Lin Yaoyang blended into the crowd and walked at an unhurried pace.

He raised his head and looked toward that magnificent city.

The three words "Shrek" on the city wall shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

A golden glint flashed through Lin Yaoyang's eyes. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, forming a meaningful curve.