"It's not dependence, not gratitude, and not some nonsense about companionship! It's just a woman's love for a man!"
I don't need your response right now, nor do I need any promises from you! You can continue to play dumb, and you can continue to bear your responsibilities and burdens!
"But you can't get rid of me!"
Her chest heaved violently, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like the most stubborn star in the night sky.
"Wherever you are, I will be. In this life, the next, and for all eternity, I will follow you! If you want to become a god, I will accompany you to the Divine Realm! If you want to Destruction the world, I will hand you the sword! Whatever you want to protect, I will protect it for you even if it costs me my life!"
This is my answer!
After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at him and, as if using all her strength, suddenly turned around and practically ran out of the room.
The door slammed shut behind her, isolating her from the outside world.
Hu Liena leaned against the cold outer wall of the castle, panting heavily. Tears finally welled up uncontrollably in her eyes, but a relieved, tearful, radiant smile appeared on her lips.
She said it.
She finally spoke out what she had kept in her heart for five years!
Inside the room, Xuan Ming remained standing in the same spot, the scalding, resolute touch still lingering on his lips. He raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching his lower lip. In the depths of his icy blue eyes, the perpetually frozen lake seemed to have been plunged with a red-hot iron, stirring up ripples that were difficult to quell.
He stared at the tightly closed door, remaining motionless for Jiujiu...
As the first rays of dawn pierced the horizon, bathing the ice crystal castle in a soft golden glow, this long night's conversation finally drew to a close.
After Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ye Lingling also entered the room in turn.
Ning Rongrong abandoned her usual spoiled attitude and told Xuan Ming with unprecedented seriousness that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could do without her, but she could not do without this "home" where he was.
Zhu Zhuqing's words remained concise, yet carried the unwavering determination of Hell Spirit Cat locking onto its prey. "I'm sticking with you."
Ye Lingling, with her gentle yet firm healing power, silently expressed her determination to use the power of the Nine Heart Begonia to forever heal his wounds.
They all gave their answers, and received a silent but clear response from Xuan Ming —he did not reject anyone's approach.
In the end, only Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu remained on the beach.
The two women exchanged a glance, both seeing the complexity in each other's eyes. Unlike Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, their bond with Xuan Ming was not deep.
Back in the Heaven Dou Empire, their impression of him was more that of a brilliant yet ruthless opponent in the Soul Master Tournament, a powerful figure they looked up to and could never reach.
That feeling was more like a young girl's admiration for a hero and her longing for the pinnacle.
Until they arrived at Sea God Island.
Over the years, they have witnessed firsthand how he struggled on the brink of life and death time and time again, how he carried unimaginable burdens, and how he became stronger almost self-destructively.
They saw beneath his cold exterior an almost obsessive commitment to his promises and a silent protection for those around him.
They gradually understood why Ning Rongrong had said that Xuan Ming was like a succubus.
At first, one might be drawn to his formidable strength and exceptional talent, like a moth drawn to the most intense flame.
But once you get close to him and truly understand him, you will be captivated by his deep-seated obsession and heavy sense of responsibility, becoming deeply immersed in him and unable to extricate yourself.
He was like a bottle of strong liquor that was known to be poisonous but was still sweet to drink; once you tasted the burning sensation in your lungs, everything else in the world became bland water.
Between them and him, there was no debt of gratitude for saving their lives, no warmth of years of companionship, and not even many memories of being alone together. If one were to insist on talking about affection, it would be pitifully shallow.
but...
Chapter 397 I finished it long ago
Shui Bing'er took a deep breath of the salty, fishy morning air and took a step forward. Huo Wu moved almost simultaneously with her, and the two walked side by side toward the castle that shone brightly in the morning light.
Gu Yuena stood at the doorway, looking at the last two people with a calm and unwavering gaze, before stepping aside to make way for them.
Inside the room, Xuan Ming still stood by the window, as if he hadn't moved all night. The morning light outlined his tall, slightly lonely figure.
Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu walked up behind him.
" Xuan Ming," Shui Bing'er spoke first, her voice as clear and cold as her Martial Soul, "We know that we... don't actually have a very deep relationship with you."
Huo Wu chimed in, her tone still carrying her characteristic straightforwardness, but with less of her usual competitive spirit. "Back in Heaven Dou City, we might have just been resentful, or... a little admiring of you. We thought you were very strong and powerful."
Shui Bing'er nodded, her gaze fixed on Xuan Ming's retreating figure, and continued, "But after arriving at Sea God Island, seeing you risk your life time and time again, seeing you carry so much... we finally understood that Ning Rongrong was right."
Huo Wu took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage. "You're like a bottle of poison! Addictive! Now, we can't see or feel anyone else, no one else can fit in our eyes or hearts!"
Shui Bing'er's voice was gentle yet firm. "So, we're standing here not to ask you to promise anything, nor to ask you to take responsibility for us."
Huo Wu nodded vigorously, eager to speak, "Yes! Let's just say we made the decision ourselves, we were foolish! But we just want to stay, we want to be by your side! Even if... even if we can only watch from afar, that would be enough!"
Their voices echoed in the quiet room in the early morning, carrying the fearless courage unique to young girls, but also a hint of trembling fear of rejection.
They have no profound past to rely on, so they can only use the most straightforward way to reveal their truest feelings.
This feeling may have started with admiration, but now, under the daily gaze, it has fermented into a more complex and inseparable attachment.
Xuan Ming slowly turned around.
The morning light reflected in his icy blue eyes, seemingly melting away some of the past chill. His gaze calmly swept over Shui Bing'er's beautiful face, then Huo Wu on Huo Wu's eyes, which burned with a stubborn flame.
He didn't speak.
It's still his consistent style.
But slowly, he reached out his hands to them.
It was a silent invitation and acceptance, more powerful than any words.
Incredible joy flashed in Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu's eyes, and tears quickly welled up in their eyes. Without hesitation, they rushed forward almost simultaneously, one on each side, and hugged him tightly.
No further words were spoken.
The morning light shone gently through the ice wall, bathing the three people in their embrace.
Outside the castle, all the waiting girls witnessed this scene. No one spoke, but a strange, ineffable harmony and consensus quietly emerged in the morning light.
Xuan Ming made no promises, but he showed his attitude through his actions—he accepted their existence and the complex, heavy, yet warm emotions they shared.
The Fourth Trial: " Severing Romantic Ties, achieving inner peace and clarity."
Perhaps what ended wasn't the romantic relationship, but rather the confusion and struggle of the past. What became clear was their mutual understanding and a path they were willing to walk together, a path they had never walked before.
Golden sunlight bathed Sea God Island, seemingly bringing a temporary pause to the emotional storm that had raged all night.
Just as Xuan Ming led Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu out of the Ice Crystal Castle and met up with Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others who were waiting on the beach, a strange change occurred.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu —all the girls who participated in last night's "lottery"—had their assessment marks on their foreheads simultaneously glow with a soft light.
A pure and gentle energy surged into their bodies, nourishing their Soul Power and Divine Power. At the same time, a clear message appeared in their minds—
[ Sea God Trial's Third Trial Test: Clarify the Mind and See One's Nature. Passed.]
[Rewards are awarded based on individual performance and potential.]
Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shimmered with light, faintly revealing a clear, crystalline quality; Zhu Zhuqing's aura became even more profound and unpredictable; Xiao Wu's Soul Power fluctuations grew increasingly agile; the illusory image of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor around Dugu Yan solidified somewhat; Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia petals gleamed with a faint golden light; and Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu's control over their ice and fire attributes had also noticeably improved.
They smiled at each other, and the last trace of anxiety in their hearts vanished. Passing the test seemed to be an affirmation of their courage in facing their inner selves and making the choice last night.
The girls seemed to have put their worries to rest for the time being. They huddled around Xuan Ming, chattering away, their faces beaming with ease and joy, as if they had unloaded a heavy burden.
However, Gu Yuena, standing in the shadows of the castle, looked beyond the group of cheerful girls and into a more distant place.
Her silver-purple eyes shifted slightly, first glancing at the temple Sea God Mountain, whose doors remained tightly shut— Bo Saixi still hadn't appeared.
Then, her Divine Consciousness swept across the other side of the island, to the temporary dwelling constructed of Ultimate Ice.
The auras of the Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Bi Ji, and Zi JI lay dormant there, completely out of place with the bustling atmosphere on the beach.
A barely perceptible hint of seriousness flashed in Gu Yuena's eyes.
The problem for the young girls has been solved. They are young and passionate, and they can do anything for the love in their hearts, putting aside their so-called pride and reserve.
But what follows is the real trouble.
Bo Saixi, the high priestess of Sea God Island, has guarded this place for nearly a century. She holds a prestigious position and possesses a dignified yet reserved personality, along with the pride and self-respect befitting Demigod.
It's absolutely impossible for her to rush in recklessly like Hu Liena, or to openly reveal her feelings like Shui Bing'er Huo Wu.
Even though Gu Yuena had been subtly and overtly guiding her over the past few months, and even tempting her with the promise of "the right to Sea God Inheritance's legacy," Bo Saixi remained steadfast in her principles. She could wait, she could hint, but she would never take that step.
This matter requires Xuan Ming to take the initiative to approach her and give her a clear stance.
Otherwise, she would rather bury that stirring of emotion forever beneath the robes of the Sea God's priestess and continue to be that solitary and aloof Great Enshrined.
The same applies to Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Bi Ji, Zi JI.
They are Ferocious Beast overlords who have lived for hundreds of thousands of years, the pinnacle of the Soul Beast pyramid, ruling over countless Soul Beast in the Far North or the Star Dou Great Forest. They possess pride and majesty etched into their very bones.
To expect them to be jealous and competitive like human girls, or to lower themselves to beg for love, is nothing short of a fantasy.
Even when Gu Yuena tried to persuade them with the greater good of the future of the Soul Beast Clan and the continuation of their bloodline, they would at most say "no objection," but would never "take the initiative."
They could acquiesce and wait for Xuan Ming to grow and make his own choices, but to expect them to actively approach him like Ning Rongrong and the others? Absolutely not.
This matter also requires Xuan Ming to demonstrate sufficient attitude and action.
Gu Yuena sighed softly.
She knew Xuan Ming's passivity and hesitation in matters of the heart all too well. Asking him to face these "young ladies" with deeper thoughts, more concerns, and more unique identities would be incredibly difficult...
"By the way, where's Mom?" Xiao Wu suddenly asked.
"Why didn't Mom come? Was this not her assessment?"
"I've already passed that." Ah Rou pushed a small cart from a distance, which was filled with steaming breakfast.
Xiao Wu looked confused. "When?"
"Do you think I'm like you?" Ah Rou took out a small table and laid out breakfast.
"I completed the assessment on the same day it was announced."
"???"
Everyone looked completely bewildered.
That's amazing?
Chapter 398 A Selfish Promise
Night fell once more, and Sea God Island was enveloped in tranquility.
The laughter and chatter of the girls during the day had fallen silent, and the ice crystal castle shone with a cool, serene light under the moonlight.
Xuan Ming appeared silently outside the castle. Instead of heading towards Hu Liena and the others' residence, he turned towards the temporary dwelling built of Ultimate Ice on the other side of the island.
Moonlight spilled onto the crystal-clear ice wall, reflecting a cool, serene glow.
He knocked on the door and went in after receiving permission.
The Snow Empress, still dressed in a white gown, as pure and aloof as a snow lotus, sat regally on a chair formed of ice crystals. The Ice Empress, with her arms crossed, gently swayed her scorpion tail, her azure eyes scrutinizing him. Bi Ji and Zi JI were not present, seemingly deliberately leaving space for each other.
"What is it?" Snow Empress's voice was as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion.
Xuan Ming didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "I've come to talk about what happened between us."
Ice Empress raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his voice. "What? Finally remembered to deal with us old guys? Or did Gu Yuena force you to come?"
Xuan Ming shook his head, his expression calm. "It has nothing to do with her. I came here on my own."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress. "I truly have no ulterior motives towards you, at least not yet."
His bluntness surprised both the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress.
"As for what the future holds, I don't know either," Xuan Ming continued, his tone flat. "I don't have the time to think about these things right now. Hu Liena and the others need to resolve their inner conflicts because the God's Trial is approaching. But you... you have plenty of time, no need to rush."
Ice Empress snorted, "Who's in a hurry? Stop trying to make yourself look good."
Xuan Ming ignored her stubbornness and changed the subject. "As for my so-called Fourth Trial, I don't care whether I succeed or fail."
A flicker of emotion finally crossed Snow Empress's usually cold eyes. "You don't care?"