The nightlife in small places like Dishu City wasn't as vibrant and bustling as in a giant metropolis like Star Luo City. Dishu City was considered one of the larger settlements near the Extreme North Land, with a population estimated to be a few hundred thousand. A Heavenly Soul Empire army was permanently stationed both inside the city and in the military camps outside, serving as a layer of defense against potential Beast Tides.
The three of them walked along the somewhat deserted main street. Most of the shops on both sides had already closed, with only a few still lit. However, one small area within the city was still brightly lit, and that was the direction they were heading.
The Ice Empress and the Snow Empress were both unparalleled beauties, attracting countless stares along the way. Fortunately, the people seemed to have some self-awareness and only snuck glances without taking any further action. If they had done otherwise, Shu Yan truly couldn't guarantee their lives.
What made him slightly uncomfortable was that quite a few men were looking at him with the same infatuated gaze they used for the two Empresses. It was a sensation similar to his previous life: when the dorm lights were turned off, a roommate would secretly crawl onto his bed, their eyes shining with an unnerving light, and then whisper into his ear: "Brother/Sister, you smell so good..." Just thinking about it made Shu Yan involuntarily get goosebumps. That was another kind of super-level horror, wasn't it?
The Snow Empress said nothing, but the Ice Empress was clearly uncomfortable with the stares, her eyes flashing with blatant disgust. She allowed a hint of her aura to slightly leak out, and instantly, everyone around who was sneaking glances froze in place, as if they'd seen a flood or a ferocious beast. Only then did the Ice Empress let out a soft hum, take the Snow Empress's hand, and continue walking forward.
Walking in a human city after such a long time made Shu Yan feel a bit emotional. Spending more than eight months in the Extreme North Land made coming out again feel like being reborn after being cut off from the world for a full day.
Candied Hawthorn
Upon reaching the city center, the surroundings became noticeably livelier. The Ice Empress was instantly attracted by the various human foods at a nearby small stall, looking at Shu Yan with eager, pleading eyes. Shu Yan found it amusing. The scorpion, the Ice Empress, was actually quite likable—if only she didn't have those mischievous habits.
The Snow Empress watched silently, a small smile on her face, as Shu Yan wandered among the various small stalls with the Ice Empress. She didn't feel bored at all; instead, she felt a sense of novelty and interest. Compared to the cold, empty solitude of the Extreme North Land, this place had a unique charm.
After accompanying the Ice Empress on a spree of indulgence, Shu Yan's wallet was still impressively full. Back in Star Luo City, Xu Jiujiu had completely sponsored him, regularly giving him hundreds of thousands of gold soul coins each month to purchase items for the Princess Manor. However, he had always preferred simpler decorations and lacked no cultivation resources himself, so the gold soul coins just accumulated. The soul tools the Ice Empress had sent last time also added up to over ten million gold soul coins. In short: this guy was flush with cash!
The Snow Empress followed the two but wasn't very interested in the human foods. It was only when they were about to leave the street that she suddenly stopped at a corner.
Seeing that the Snow Empress hadn't followed, Shu Yan turned his head and followed her gaze. He saw an old grandmother with a kind, aged face sitting on a faded yellow lounge chair under the dim streetlights at the corner. Beside her, two small boys who looked about three or four years old were playing happily. The small stall in front of them had nothing special: just a pushcart with many skewers of full, round candied hawthorn, coated in crystal-clear syrup, stuck onto a mold.
Seeing the Snow Empress lost in thought, Shu Yan chuckled, then stepped forward and gently asked:
"Grandma, how much are these candied hawthorn?"
Hearing this, the old grandmother slowly opened her eyes, a smile appearing on her face. "Two copper soul coins a skewer," she said. "I guarantee they're both sour and sweet."
Shu Yan smiled, took out six gold soul coins, and placed them on the cart's table, then took three skewers.
"It's so late, you should go back and rest early, Grandma," he said kindly. "I see your two grandsons are already tired and getting sleepy."
The old woman nodded with a gentle smile, her gaze toward the two little ones kind and soft. Such a domestic scene couldn't help but evoke a longing for simple beauty in people's hearts. Shu Yan pushed the six gold soul coins further in, waved his hand, and left the corner stall with the three skewers of candied hawthorn.
When he reached the Snow Empress, she suddenly snapped back to attention. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the candied hawthorn Shu Yan offered her, but still reached out and took it.
The Ice Empress ran back from a distance, looking a bit displeased that she'd been left out. However, her eyes suddenly lit up when she saw the two skewers of candied hawthorn in Shu Yan's hand, and she pounced forward, snatching them from his grasp.
Shu Yan didn't find her actions strange. He just turned his head and couldn't help but laugh out loud at the Snow Empress's slightly clumsy appearance as she held the skewer.
The Snow Empress glanced sideways at Shu Yan. He quickly composed his expression, then stepped forward to gently help her peel off the thin oiled paper wrapped around the candied hawthorn.
"Remember not to swallow it whole," Shu Yan reminded her one last time. "The hawthorn inside has pits."
The Snow Empress gave him a beautiful eye roll. "This Empress isn't stupid," she said rather helplessly.
"Yes, yes, you're the smartest," Shu Yan replied casually, then said nothing more.
The Snow Empress raised an eyebrow, looking at Shu Yan's back. She felt that something wasn't quite right about his tone, but after thinking about it, there seemed to be no actual abnormality, so she simply put the thought aside for the moment.
As the hawthorn coated in syrup entered her mouth, the Snow Empress's eyes lit up slightly. She really liked the combination of the slightly sour fruit and the hint of sweetness from the coating. Her mood seemed to improve along with the taste.
The Ice Empress's eating style next to her completely lacked the Snow Empress's elegance and composure. But her beauty was undeniable. Overall, in the eyes of those coveting the Ice Empress's beauty, this wasn't even a flaw, but a different kind of "cuteness."
Unsettled Thoughts
Accommodation for the night was simple. Since Shu Yan wasn't short on money, he naturally booked two of the best rooms in the city's best hotel. Of course, this was only achieved because the Ice Empress had pleaded with the Snow Empress. Looking at the Ice Empress's eyes, which held a hint of triumph mixed with provocation before the door closed, Shu Yan just smiled silently.
If the Snow Empress had really let the Ice Empress have her way and they had shared a room, what would the past hundreds of thousands of years have meant? The Ice Empress was perhaps a bit too easy to satisfy; a small concession from the Snow Empress was enough to give her endless motivation.
Perhaps thinking about returning to Star Luo City soon, Shu Yan felt a deep sense of guilt alongside his inner excitement. Xu Jiujiu's face kept flashing before his eyes, disturbing him so much that he couldn't cultivate peacefully.
So, he simply lay on the soft bed and began to zone out. Amidst various chaotic thoughts, Shu Yan slowly fell asleep, but his brows remained slightly furrowed. Clearly, even in his dreams, he couldn't help but be affected by the heavy thoughts.
The night was as still as water, a cool wind swept in, and a different kind of longing traveled south, finally arriving at the somewhat mysterious Star Luo City in the night. Under the same stars, two people in different places thousands of miles apart had surprisingly consistent thoughts...