Time flowed like sand; in the blink of an eye, autumn passed and winter arrived.
On this day, snowflakes swept across heaven and earth, turning the world into an unbroken expanse of white.
Amid that boundless whiteness, a carriage arrived before Insect Valley.
The driver was a young man in a conical hat. Though it was the depths of winter, he still wore only thin clothing.
A closer look at the long hair beneath his hat revealed that its color differed from that of ordinary people—it was a deep crimson.
Set against the snow filling the sky, that head of red hair stood out like blazing flames.
"Master, we've arrived at Insect Valley." The red-haired youth called into the carriage, then turned to look toward Insect Valley's entrance.
At the entrance, the Poisonous Miasma slowly parted. The one who came out to greet them was unexpectedly Insect Valley Young Miss Lu Yao.
She had put away her usual wanton air. Clad in a fitting winter robe, she looked like a refined young lady from a great household.
After nodding to the red-haired youth driving the carriage, Lu Yao softly said, "Your niece has come to welcome Second Uncle. My father is unable to come out, so Yao'er will lead Second Uncle to him."
"Mm, I've troubled Yao'er to come out here." An elderly voice came from within the carriage.
"Caw..."
Before the person in the carriage showed himself, a spirit monster in the form of a black magpie squeezed past the curtain first, about to fly toward Lu Yao.
Suddenly, a small childish hand reached out from behind the curtain and seized the black bird's wing. The movement was so swift that the spirit monster had no chance to evade.
"Spare me, Eldest Senior Sister!" The black bird spoke human