Mist rose endlessly from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The icy spring chilled to the bone, while waves of heat rolled off the fiery spring. Two utterly opposing forces, one cold and one hot, intertwined and mingled in this narrow world, drifting in midair.
Violet stood on the bluestone platform suspended above the icy spring, his long hair stirred gently by the currents of hot and cold air. He turned his head, glanced at Gladys and Olivia standing quietly beside him, then called softly toward the churning spring below.
"Ophelia, Master's back. Come over here."
Gladys and Olivia bowed slightly at the same time. Their gazes settled on the icy spring's surface, their expressions calm. Clearly, they were long used to this.
"Glug~ Glug~ Glug~"
A stream of bubbles rose from the depths of the icy spring, breaking through its frigid surface.
A head slowly emerged. Blue hair fading into red clung to the shoulders of Ophelia, the guardian of the Ice Egg.
She looked up through the curling cold mist and immediately fixed her gaze on Huo Yuhao atop the bluestone platform. Shock swept through her like a tide, followed by the fierce longing she had buried over countless years.
"Violet? How... Master? Have you returned?" Ophelia's voice trembled faintly.
Huo Yuhao looked at the young woman in the icy spring, a trace of helplessness crossing his eyes. He nodded gently. "Yes. I'm sorry I took so long."
Beside him, Violet, Gladys, and Olivia looked perfectly at ease, without the slightest surprise.
They had long been accustomed to Ophelia living in the icy spring and occasionally popping her head up from its depths. There was nothing strange about it to them.
Ophelia came to her senses, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
Cold air swirled around her as she