On the other side, Shuyan was frantically combing through every secret realm and ancient ruin he could recall from the original Soul Land II storyline. But in the end, he could only come to one frustrating conclusion: in the scraps of memory he had left, there was simply no such opportunity recorded in the original work.
After a moment of thought, Shuyan spoke up:
"Let's go with Xue Jiujing's judgment. Even if we knew exactly what this place holds, we're not fully prepared right now. It's best not to touch something so unknown—it could be a rare chance, or it could be a deadly trap."
The Ice Empress curled her lip in disdain. Just like Shuyan, she didn't sense anything strange here. The mountain ahead, while unusual at first glance, merely seemed tall and rich in spiritual energy. Aside from that, it wasn't much different from any other.
The contrast in perceptive ability between Ultimate Douluo and Super Douluo was starkly clear between her and Xue Jiujing.
Xue Jiujing cast one last glance at the mysterious mountain, then turned and led the two away from the site.
All the secrets remained buried deep underground, never to see the light of day. Xue Jiujing was convinced that no one else would discover and unseal this hidden place, which had likely remained untouched for countless years. In this era, there were only a handful of people capable of even detecting it. And even if they did find it, the price to open it would be far from small...
All things considered, Xue Jiujing's judgment was undoubtedly both rational and wise. Whether they gained something or not was a minor matter—if it cost them their lives or provoked unforeseen disaster, it wouldn't be worth it at all.
Back on familiar ground, Shuyan felt an immense weight lift from his shoulders. After ordering three drinks from a small shop he frequented, he took a seat by the street and let his gaze settle on the towering, awe-inspiring city wall in the distance.
The sweet and sour taste of the drink filled his mouth, and Shuyan unexpectedly found himself nervous. The thought of seeing that familiar figure again stirred not only tension but also a touch of excitement in his heart.
Xue Jiujing pulled out the chair beside him and sat down. Noticing Shuyan's indescribable expression, she raised an eyebrow and said:
"You seem nervous. Or rather, your emotions are… complicated—so complicated that even you don't seem to know what you're feeling."
The Ice Empress took a disdainful sip of her strawberry-flavored ice cream and scoffed casually.
"Why are you even bothering with him, Xue Jiujing? His girlfriend—yes, girlfriend—is right here in this city. Maybe he's just afraid she's going to dump him?"
Xue Jiujing massaged her temples and looked toward a carriage slowly approaching from the distant street, surrounded by a procession of royal knights. She gently tapped the table. A pulse of invisible energy rippled outward.
Shuyan instantly snapped to attention. Xue Jiujing's voice echoed in his ears, and in the next moment, his figure vanished on the spot—so swiftly and silently that no one around even noticed. The world, as if nothing had happened, returned to its usual rhythm.
Xue Jiujing leaned lazily on one hand while stirring her drink absentmindedly with the other. Together with the Ice Empress, she watched the two carriages marked with the Star Crown sigil slowly roll into the royal palace. After a long while, the two finally withdrew their gazes…
…
Under Xue Jiujing's spiritual concealment, Shuyan easily slipped into the familiar Princess Manor.
Seeing the slightly disheveled couch in the main hall, Shuyan let out a quiet sigh. Xu Jiujing was someone who had always been obsessively tidy and disciplined. Although their playful moments would occasionally mess up the room, it had never looked as dusty and abandoned as it did now—like no one had lived there in a very long time.
Looking at every familiar corner of the place, Shuyan felt as though a lifetime had passed.
It had only been just over eight months, but to him, it felt like an entirely different world. Standing behind the light golden drapes, he listened as Xu Jiujing wearily dismissed the maid trying to attend to her outside. Then, she slowly stepped into the hall.
Maybe it was due to prolonged exhaustion, but in Shuyan's eyes, Xu Jiujing looked much thinner. Her slender figure exuded a ghostly frailty. Though her aura still carried its noble and elegant quality, there was now an added coldness that kept people at a distance.
After entering the main hall, Xu Jiujing collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the white jade table before her, lost in thought.
Shuyan stepped out from behind, making no effort to hide his footsteps, but Xu Jiujing didn't react at all—as if she hadn't heard anything.
The pain in Shuyan's eyes was evident. He slowly approached and, without hesitation, pulled her frighteningly light body into his arms.
That familiar scent surrounded them both. The cool sensation caught Xu Jiujing off guard, and her golden eyes filled with tears. She abruptly looked up and met Shuyan's deep blue eyes, overflowing with emotion.
"A-A'Yan…"
Her voice was hoarse. Staring at the face that was at once familiar and yet a little changed, her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Before Shuyan could say a word, her lips suddenly met his with desperate intensity. As they kissed, a metallic tang of blood spread between them, and Xu Jiujing grew even more frenzied. Shuyan simply let her vent—he knew how much pain she'd bottled up, how deep her longing had run. Longing left unhealed turns into a sickness, and that sickness can become a torment. She needed to release it, and so did he.
Shuyan had always been someone who struggled to express his emotions. Sweet words never came easily. But that didn't mean he was indifferent to love—far from it. People like him, who bury everything deep within, suffer the most. Their pain pulls them constantly between reality and desire, and one wrong step could plunge them into a hell they can't escape from…
When the long, fierce kiss finally ended, Xu Jiujing was gasping for breath. With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed Shuyan down onto the couch and straddled him, almost feral in how she clung to him.
"A'Yan… I missed you so much… Ever since we parted, I've seen your face every second of every day. It's like the world has lost all color. Every day I live like I'm on a blank page. No matter how hard I try, I can't find a single stroke of life in it. Do you know how long it's been since I've had a good night's sleep? Every time I close my eyes, I see the moment you left. If I could choose, I'd rather die with you than go on living alone like this…"
Shuyan's gaze darkened slightly as Xu Jiujing's intense movement revealed large areas of her skin. He sat up and leaned back against the couch, letting her stay perched on his lap. He reached for a blanket and wrapped it around her trembling body.
They held each other like that for a long, long time. Finally, Shuyan whispered:
"Jiujing, I'm sorry I was gone for so long. While I was in the Far North, I missed you every day. But I had to gamble everything on a new path for our future. Before I returned, I imagined countless ways we might meet again but now that I've seen you, I realize… none of that really matters anymore."
Xu Jiujing wept uncontrollably in his arms. She no longer knew whether she was dreaming or awake. At this moment, all her noble grace as the Princess of Star Luo was gone. She was just a woman pouring out her grief and yearning. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore.
As her tears soaked through his clothes, Shuyan gently patted her back. Under his soft voice and calming presence, Xu Jiujing slowly stopped sobbing and eventually fell into a deep sleep.
Watching her sleep, her expression still troubled, Shuyan gently kissed her forehead. He carefully removed her shoes and outer robe. Once she was fully asleep, he rose, lowered the surrounding drapes, and quietly stepped out of the room.