In the familiar courtyard, Shuyan suddenly turned around. A faint smile appeared on his face as he called out loudly:
"Granny Manyi, it's been a long time. Won't you come out and say hello?"
As his voice faded, the figure of Nebula Douluo Manyi appeared out of thin air. A flicker of astonishment and joy lit up her clouded eyes. Her aged body trembled slightly before she spoke:
"Little Yan… you've really come back…"
Shuyan stretched his limbs and replied with a grin:
"As real as it gets, Granny Manyi. I'm truly back."
Nebula Douluo quickly stepped forward and grabbed Shuyan's wrist. The shock on her face deepened as she exclaimed in disbelief:
"You actually made it out of the Extreme North alive and your soul power has surged all the way to the Soul King level… this…"
Realizing her words might carry unintended meaning, she quickly corrected herself and asked again:
"Shuyan, how did you make it out of the Extreme North? Why would the Snow Empress let you go? And your cultivation… your aura and appearance… why have they changed so dramatically?"
A flurry of questions left Nebula Douluo's mouth. Shuyan rubbed his temples with a hint of a headache and replied softly:
"The Snow Empress let me go because we came to an understanding about something important. You could say we're partners now. As for the changes in my cultivation and appearance she had me consume a rare treasure, which completely transformed and refined me…"
Nebula Douluo's pupils contracted sharply. She involuntarily took two steps back, as if she had just heard something utterly unbelievable. Her whole body froze in stunned silence.
After a long pause, she finally swallowed hard and asked:
"Then… with you back now, is the Snow Empress still in the Extreme North?"
Shuyan's expression turned a bit strange. He pointed behind Nebula Douluo and sighed.
"She's not. She and the Ice Empress ranked second among the three kings of the Extreme North have both come to Star Luo City with me. They're right behind you, Granny Manyi…"
Nebula Douluo froze, a chill crawling up her spine. She had mentally prepared for monsters—yet when she slowly turned around, her eyes widened in disbelief.
In her view stood the Snow Empress, clad in a sky-blue gown, breathtakingly elegant. Her snow-white hair drifted behind her, her presence divine and untouchable.
Beside her was the Ice Empress, her twin ponytails and deep green hair highlighting her skin's snowy radiance. Though less regal than the Snow Empress, she exuded a cold and striking beauty. The contrast was made almost comical by the fact that this "little girl" was currently holding two different-flavored ice creams, alternating bites from each, completely ignoring Nebula Douluo.
The Snow Empress recognized Nebula Douluo from their previous encounter. Perhaps out of respect for Shuyan, she gave a slight nod in greeting. But Nebula Douluo was too frozen to react.
Before her stood the two most powerful of the Extreme North's Three Kings—real, living legends. For someone like Nebula Douluo, who had lived over eighty years, it was a shock beyond words. Her mind blanked, unable to form a response.
Shuyan, long used to such situations, began making introductions:
"This is Granny Manyi, titled Nebula. She's a senior who's watched Jiujing grow up, and one of the people who guided me onto the path of cultivation someone I consider closest to family."
Nebula Douluo snapped out of her daze. She gave a respectful bow and said:
"Greetings, senior Empresses."
Her feelings were mixed. Never had she imagined she'd one day address two soul beasts as seniors. It was unthinkable. Humans and soul beasts had never coexisted peacefully. Countless worries bubbled up within her, which Shuyan clearly noticed.
After a brief pause, Shuyan spoke again:
"Granny Manyi, there's no need to worry. The Snow and Ice Empresses are not unreasonable. Besides, our Star Luo Empire has never had major conflicts with the Extreme North. I'll be heading to the palace tomorrow to explain everything to His Majesty. But please, rest assured—their presence in Star Luo will only bring benefits. That much, you'll see with time."
Shuyan's words weren't wrong. When the potential benefits of something are overwhelming, people often choose to ignore the risks. Or rather, when the rewards are great enough, the risks seem irrelevant.
"…Very well."
Nebula Douluo hesitated but eventually nodded.
She looked at the two Empresses still standing calmly nearby and, after a moment's thought, said:
"You two are new to the human world and must not be familiar with Star Luo City. There's a peaceful and scenic courtyard just beside the Princess' Manor. If you don't mind, it's yours to use. If there's anything you need, feel free to ask the servants."
The Ice Empress licked her lips and turned to the Snow Empress, whispering:
"Xue'er, what do you think?"
The Snow Empress met Shuyan's gaze, then nodded slightly, her tone unreadable.
"We'll accept your hospitality, then."
Nebula Douluo quickly nodded. In the face of a being comparable to a Limit Douluo, she had no pride to hold onto. Even though the Empresses had completely restrained their auras, Nebula Douluo could still sense the terrifying power within them. If they wished to act, even the combined forces of Star Luo's strongest cultivators might not be enough to stop them…
Shuyan merely shook his head and chuckled. As he walked toward the inner hall, he called back:
"Granny Manyi, could you inform them for me? I'll be entering the palace tomorrow morning to see His Majesty. I'll be counting on you for that."
His gaze then turned back to the Empresses.
"Xue… Sister Xue, take that gluttonous little one and rest well tonight. No one here will harm you—or dare to. If anything comes up, just find me. We're just a wall apart, after all. Very convenient."
The Snow Empress raised an eyebrow, seemingly moved by the way he addressed her. She gave a faint nod and replied:
"Alright."
Shuyan was used to her cold demeanor in public. He waved casually and, after a few more words with Nebula Douluo, watched her leave. Only then did he quietly step into the hall.
There, on the soft couch, curled up like a kitten, was Xu Jiujing. Shuyan sighed, removed his outer robe, and gently pulled her into his arms.
She resisted slightly at first, but as she caught his familiar scent, her furrowed brow gradually relaxed. Her fair arms wrapped around his waist, her legs entangled with his, and her cheek nuzzled against his chest. Slowly, she calmed down.
Holding the soft, warm girl in his arms, Shuyan's thoughts drifted to the past.
At first, he had seen Jiujing simply as someone to rely on in this unfamiliar world—perhaps like an older sister, though unrelated by blood. But later, Jiujing herself broke the unspoken boundary between them, moving their relationship to a new level. Now, they were lovers in every sense.
Everything felt like a vivid, beautiful dream, one they were both deeply lost in.
Having lived two lives, Shuyan realized that his feelings for Jiujing had grown naturally over time. It was an instinct born of shared experiences. Jiujing herself likely hadn't expected their childhood bond to turn into love—but now, if given the choice, she would walk the same path all over again, without hesitation.
Some people simply cannot be replaced. The world may be full of exceptional individuals, but when that one person stands before you, you realize talent and brilliance mean nothing. Because they, without you even noticing, have become your entire world.