Heavenly Spring Town

"We're here, you two. This is Heavenly Spring Town."

The coachman's voice came from beyond the bamboo curtain. Hu Liena and Meng Xuanji got out of the carriage one after the other.

Meng Xuanji deliberately stayed one step behind Hu Liena.

"Thank you, sir. Here's the fare."

Hu Liena handed the coachman a silver soul coin, and he drove away with a smile.

Hu Liena turned to look at Meng Xuanji.

"We could have taken a Spirit Hall carriage here. Why did we have to rent one ourselves?"

"You don't understand. If we came openly to investigate, anyone with ulterior motives would have hidden the truth long ago."

"If we want to uncover those unspeakable secrets, traveling incognito is undoubtedly the most effective method."

Meng Xuanji walked alongside Hu Liena, never allowing his shadow to fall over her.

"Fine, I'll listen to you. So where are we going next?"

"Let's take a walk through the market. There are the most people there, and it's also where we're most likely to hear what the townsfolk have been talking about."

As he spoke, Meng Xuanji turned to Hu Liena.

"After you, my lady."

Hu Liena, ever observant, had already noticed something amid Meng Xuanji's many unusual actions.

"Wait, why aren't you walking ahead to lead the way?" Hu Liena was puzzled by Meng Xuanji's strange behavior.

By their usual routine, he should have already walked ahead and waited for her to catch up from behind. Why was he sticking behind her like a block of wood today?

It had been the same in the carriage. He had deliberately kept away from the windows, making sure sunlight never touched him. Could it be...? Was he hiding some secret from her?

"Are you hiding something from me?" Hu Liena was not a girl who liked to beat around the bush.

"You'd better confess on your own. Otherwise, when I find out myself, you're finished."

Hu Liena clenched her little fist at Meng Xuanji, looking eager to have a go.

"Sigh, fine. I knew I couldn't hide this."

As he spoke, Meng Xuanji took Hu Liena's small hand. The shadow of his arm suddenly fell across hers.

"Why did you suddenly grab me?"

"You'll know soon enough."

The next moment, Hu Liena's consciousness suddenly scattered. Her soul seemed to have been hurled by some mysterious force into an icy cavern. Fear rose from the depths of her heart like a demon's claws tearing at her mind, making her legs tremble uncontrollably.

Fortunately, the feeling lasted only a second.

Yet when Hu Liena's soul returned to her body, she was still shivering involuntarily.

"W-What was that just now?"

"What a lovely little girl. Her skin is so delicate, and even her soul is so delicious. It truly makes one want to swallow her in a single bite."

Ice Soul Ghost Shadow's voice sounded from behind Meng Xuanji.

Hu Liena stared in horror at the black shadow behind Meng Xuanji and instinctively retreated two steps.

"What is that thing? Are you really Meng Xuanji?"

"That's enough. Get back in there and behave yourself." Meng Xuanji threw the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow, which was clamoring to come out and play, back inside.

"As you can see, that's why I didn't let my shadow cover you. There's someone on me you can't understand. Just now, he made a bet with me over whether I could keep my shadow from touching you before you noticed."

"Since I won, he has to help me with one thing for free. Don't worry. Without my permission, he won't drag you back into that place again."

Meng Xuanji extended his right hand toward Hu Liena, only to see her decisively take two steps back.

"Don't touch me." After saying that, Hu Liena seemed to realize she had overreacted and quickly added, "My body is a little sensitive right now. I don't want anyone else touching me. Please understand."

"All right, I understand."

Meng Xuanji made an OK gesture.

"Then please lead the way, my lady."

"Mm."

Along the way, Hu Liena kept half a step away from Meng Xuanji, afraid that Ice Soul Ghost Shadow would drag her back into that freezing hell again.

To outsiders, Meng Xuanji looked like this young lady's attendant.

Coupled with Meng Xuanji's handsome features, a glance from the side made him look more like a pretty boy being kept by her.

Meng Xuanji did not care much about it. So what if he was living off a woman? Being able to do so was proof of his good looks, wasn't it?

"How did it go?"

"Don't worry. The ghost seed has been planted. Once she falls asleep, you can enter her dreams and hypnotize her, making her subconsciously want to carry out the orders you give her after she wakes."

"I'm curious. With my abilities, I could plant the ghost seed directly without warning. Why did you insist on letting her notice it this way?"

Meng Xuanji hesitated for a moment.

Looking at the pure and adorable figure ahead of him, Meng Xuanji slowly spoke.

"First, to let her get used to my power, so it'll be easier for me to act in front of her later. Second, to clear myself of suspicion. Even if she asks about it later, I can explain that I was forced."

Meng Xuanji always left himself a way out, lest his relationship with Hu Liena suddenly fall apart.

"You're pinning the blame on me so it'll be easier to flirt with girls? You really know how to play."

"Heh, you'll get used to it."

Meng Xuanji ended the conversation and closely followed behind Hu Liena.

Hearing Meng Xuanji's footsteps drawing closer, Hu Liena gradually began to panic.

What do I do? He's coming closer. Is he really Meng Xuanji? Where did that terrifying power on him come from? Could it hurt him?

Buzz.

A warm sensation traveled from Hu Liena's palm to her mind.

When she turned around, she saw Meng Xuanji's gentle smile.

"You don't seem very happy. Did the cold get to you? How about holding my hand? Think of it as a little comfort for your heart."

Meng Xuanji's smile, capable of melting ice, pierced deeply into Hu Liena's heart. Her little face instantly flushed red.

Amid such nervous excitement, Hu Liena forgot how to speak for a moment.

"Oh? You don't like this? Heh, I really don't know what to do with you." Meng Xuanji released Hu Liena's hand and stepped back half a pace, bending at the waist in a gentlemanly invitation to take her hand.

"My beautiful and gracious lady, may I atone for my crime? May the greatest Angel God bless you."

Hu Liena stared blankly at the scene, so flustered that she did not know what to do. Under the gazes of passersby, the embarrassment in her heart kept her from extending her hand.

At that very moment, an unexpected incident erupted.

"Move! All of you, move! If you block my lord's carriage, you'll pay for it! Get out of the way!"