Xunxue swept her gaze over her daughter’s new, boyish appearance, a smile lingering on her lips, her eyes filled with utter indulgence.
As long as her daughter liked it, that was enough.
She took Lu Qiancha’s hand and walked slowly toward the two massive city gates.
Xunxue produced an Ice Soul Wolf Medallion radiating icy energy; the guarding Wolf Soldiers instantly dropped to one knee in salute, their movements perfectly synchronized.
The two of them were ushered into Wolf King City with the utmost respect.
On the wide bluestone main road.
Lu Qiancha and Xunxue walked side by side, heading straight for the towering palace suspended in the distance, looming faintly amidst the wind and snow.
At that moment.
Suddenly.
A tall figure cloaked in a black hooded cape appeared—whether rushing or simply absentminded, it was hard to say.
There was a loud “bang.”
The man crashed hard into Lu Qiancha’s shoulder, with no small amount of force.
“My apologies!” A hurried, hoarse voice emerged from beneath the cloak, laced with unmistakable panic.
Lu Qiancha was jolted to the side, frowning as she glanced at the man, but simply waved her hand dismissively.
Not wishing to make a fuss, Lu Qiancha held Xunxue’s hand and continued on their way.
But just as they were about to pass each other—
A heavy “thud!!” sounded from behind, followed by a burst of startled cries and chattering from the surrounding pedestrians.
Lu Qiancha, acting on instinct and curiosity, turned to look.
The cloaked man who had just bumped into her now lay sprawled on the cold stone path, limbs splayed wide.
His hood had fallen askew, revealing—
A pale human face.
“A human?”
A flicker of surprise flashed through Lu Qiancha’s eyes. To think a human could appear in this heavily guarded demon city.
“Look! Isn’t that the human thief who stole the ‘Frostmoon Wheel’?!”
“Still alive after stealing the Saint Object? Tough luck!”
“Tch, isn’t it just because the Eldest Princess is protecting him? Heard he lucked out and took a fatal blow meant for her. Now, Her Highness Ling Muxue is staking her life to keep him safe!”
“Pah, the Wolf Tribe’s dignity is really being trampled by the Eldest Princess!”
“Watch your words! You might lose your head.”
The surrounding Wolf Tribe members gossiped incessantly, their tones full of disdain, scorn, and a trace of helplessness.
Out of kindness toward a fellow human, Lu Qiancha squeezed through the crowd and squatted down. Her claw-tipped fingers precisely touched the man’s pulse, pure spiritual energy probing silently.
His pulse was steady, breath even—nothing amiss on the surface.
Yet deep within his limbs and skull, a dense, chilling, writhing dark purple mist slithered like a living thing, quietly eroding his meridians and gnawing away at his mind.
This Poison Mist… the sensation and its pattern of movement…
So familiar.
Lu Qiancha furrowed her brow, tracing the poison’s origin with her spiritual sense.
She finally locked onto the man’s waist, where a somewhat grimy storage pouch dangled, with a crooked “Cha” character embroidered at the bottom.
Lu Qiancha almost laughed out loud. So he was a little thief—he had stolen right from her!
Fortunately, she was in the habit of smearing Marrow-Soothing Drug on valuables; otherwise, this thief would have gotten away with it.
Of course, Lu Qiancha had built up immunity to this drug; she would never be affected by her own poison.
Lu Qiancha abruptly stood up and gave the man two clean, sharp kicks to the stomach—bang! bang!!
The force wasn’t great, just enough to vent her frustration at her kindness being repaid with theft.
The sound wasn’t loud, but in front of this crowd, it rang out especially clear.
At that moment.
“How dare you—!!!” A crisp female voice, icy as frozen steel and brimming with fury, exploded through the air.
The crowd split like waves cut by a blade, scattering left and right with a rush.
At once, Xunxue and the wolf “youth” who had just pulled back his foot stood alone in the clearing.
Lu Qiancha instinctively looked toward the source of the voice—
Ahead stood a wolf tribe girl, clad in frost-white ice armor, long hair a shade of gray-blue.
Her eyes blazed with unconcealed rage, fixed unblinkingly on Lu Qiancha, who had just finished kicking the man.
That gaze looked as if she wanted to tear Lu Qiancha apart and devour her.
“You… you insolent wretch?!” Ling Muxue’s voice trembled, shrill with overwhelming anger. “How dare you treat Mufeng… so rudely?!”
“Rude?”
Lu Qiancha glanced expressionlessly at the man lying on the ground, her tone utterly calm: “This guy stole my belongings. Now the poison’s set in, and I gave him a couple of kicks to clear his head—I’ve already shown him mercy.”
“Mufeng stole from you?!” Ling Muxue seemed to hear the most absurd joke in the world, her voice rising, both protective and accusatory: “Where’s your proof?! Show me your evidence!”
Hopelessly blinded by love.
Lu Qiancha made a quick judgment in her heart.
Trying to reason with someone lost in their own prince-saving fantasy…
Utterly pointless.
She couldn’t even be bothered to spare Ling Muxue a glance. Instead, she turned away, naturally taking Xunxue’s cool hand and striding off.
“Stop right there!”
Ling Muxue, consumed with rage, stomped her foot, sending up a spray of snow.
Like a streak of lightning, she lunged forward in pursuit—
At that moment.
Xunxue halted.
She turned, and those usually gentle blue eyes now seemed to conceal an unfathomable, icy abyss.
Xunxue’s gaze locked precisely onto Ling Muxue’s face, a dangerous smile curling her lips.
“Little girl, tantrums come with a price, you know.”
Xunxue’s voice was soft, yet every word was as cold as ice.
“Who do you think you are?! What right do you have to lecture me?”
Ling Muxue’s retort burst from her throat, but a surge of overwhelming pressure engulfed her, and her voice faltered into a stammer: “W-wait, you—you’re, Xun, Xunxue Aunt?!”
“You recognize me now? Little Muxue?”
Xunxue chuckled lightly, but not a trace of warmth lingered in that laugh.
She strolled forward elegantly, and when she was almost within reach, Xunxue slowly raised her jade-like, icy-cold fingers, gently grasping Ling Muxue’s sculpted chin, forcing her to look up.
In a cold voice, Xunxue spoke: “Now, do I have the right to lecture you?”
“Y-yes, you do!”
Pinched by the chin, Ling Muxue’s voice was muffled, but saturated with fear.
“Heh…” Xunxue seemed to lose interest, letting her fingers slip away.
Ling Muxue staggered back as if pardoned, gasping for breath, cold sweat soaking her undergarments.
“Heh, take your little man and get lost. My son and I don’t want to see you.”
With that, Xunxue looped her arm around Lu Qiancha’s and strode off toward the looming, frost-rimmed palace.
All that remained behind was the stunned Ling Muxue.
A torrent of humiliation and indescribable dread washed over her like icy water.
Only then did she seem to awaken from a dream, biting her lip hard…
She nearly forced the words out through clenched teeth, barking at the trembling servants beside her: “Hurry… get Mufeng out of here! Take him to the nearest Medical Hall!!!”
On the way, Lu Qiancha glanced curiously at Xunxue and asked, “Mother, do you know that person?”
“Not really. I just gave her a lesson when she was a child.”
Xunxue answered blandly.
Lu Qiancha nodded knowingly.