On the ice field.
Wind and snow blanketed the sky.
Chen Jin and the Snow Empress walked side by side toward the edge of the core region.
Her long silver hair fluttered in the cold wind.
Her white skirt trailed over the snow without leaving a trace.
The Snow Empress raised her hand.
All the snowflakes in the air stopped around them.
"I have lived here for nearly seven hundred thousand years."
"Reluctant to leave?"
"The Far North is very quiet."
Her silver eyes turned toward the distant ice mountains.
"Will the outside world be this quiet too?"
"No."
"Will there be many people?"
"Yes."
"And many Soul Beasts?"
"More than here."
The Snow Empress lowered her hand.
The suspended snowflakes began falling again.
"I don't like crowds."
"You can stay in the Soul Ring."
"Then I won't be able to see you."
Chen Jin stopped walking.
"You want to see me?"
The Snow Empress stopped beside him too.
Her silver eyes did not look away.
"A Soul Spirit needs to understand her host."
"Just understand?"
"Just that, for now."
Chen Jin reached out and removed a snowflake from her hair.
His fingertips brushed her long silver hair.
The Snow Empress did not step back.
"Are all the women outside like Huo Wu and Qian Renxue?"
"No."
"They often fight over you."
"You'll get used to it."
"I don't want to fight."
The Snow Empress took half a step forward.
Her fair fingers gently caught his Red Sleeve.
"I can simply stay by your side."
Chen Jin looked at that slender hand.
"Doesn't this count as fighting over me?"
"No."
The Snow Empress moved gently closer.
Her long silver hair fell over the front of Chen Jin's shoulder.
"The contract has already been established."
"No matter where I am, I