"Oh? Then suit yourself."
Snow Kui honestly didn't understand his big brother's thinking.
To him, human courtship was nothing more than—breeding instinct.
And he wasn't human. A yaksha had no such urges. Why would he care?
He also couldn't distinguish beauty from ugliness among humans.
Over the years he only learned their aesthetic standards from how others reacted to different faces.
But to Snow Kui, people were just… faces.
Which was why he couldn't understand why his big brother was so obsessed with Sister Shuang—who merely fed him snacks.
He yawned and turned to leave.
But something latched onto his leg.
Snow Kui looked down.
Good grief.
The same man who moments ago declared he would conquer love with pride and valor was now hugging Snow Kui's thigh, wailing like a child.
"Don't leave, Snow Kui! Snow Kuiii~ Help your big brother! This request concerns my entire life!"
Snow Kui stared blankly.
How many 'once-in-a-lifetime requests' does this man have?
It felt like the longer they knew each other, the less composed and reliable Shi Chen became.
"All the Rainbow Flowers you brought back are ruined now. We can't continue."
Snow Kui sighed.
"Then go pick more."
"No. I'm hungry. We'll go tomorrow."
Snow Kui rejected him instantly.
Shi Chen slowly stood. His expression darkened.
A strange pressure filled the room.
"Seems I must use my ultimate move."
"…?"
Snow Kui raised a brow.
Shi Chen lifted one finger.
"One roast chicken."
Snow Kui froze.
A second finger.
"Grilled tiger fish."
The white-haired yaksha shuddered.
"Roast goose."
"Braised pork."
"One full jar of fine wine."
…
Every dish listed made Snow Kui tremble harder.
At last, drooling slightly, he wiped the corner of his mouth and turned around with deadly seriousness.
"Not enough. Two meals."
Shi Chen's face darkened.
"Impossible. I'm trying to court Shuang—I don't have that kind of money."
Snow Kui shrugged.
"Then do it yourself."
He turned to leave.
"Wait!"
He stopped.
Shi Chen's voice dropped to a chilling depth.
"Fine. Two meals."
Snow Kui bolted out the door—expression twisted in exhilaration.
Ha! You never saw it coming, Shi Chen!
Years of observing human society have taught me—always squeeze out maximum benefits!
Once upon a time, he'd let himself be bribed by a single roasted fish. Now?
He demanded two full FEASTS.
Truly…
he had grown despicable.
Back in the courtyard, Shi Chen grinned ear to ear, face twisting in manic triumph.
You think you took advantage of me?
Snow Kui—my true bottom line was FOUR meals.
Truly…
Snow Kui was still too young.
The plains stretched wide.
Rainbow Flowers bloomed like a soft pink blush dusted across a maiden's cheeks.
Surrounded by crimson leaves, each blossom stood like a queen at the center of her court.
And that proud queen had her sacred dignity violated.
Snow Kui leaned close, sniffed—
—then shook his head in disappointment.
The leaves rustled angrily.
How dare he ignore our queen!
Utter blasphemy.
But Snow Kui paid no mind—comparing scent, clarity, and purity.
Even flowers of the same species varied.
The perfect one couldn't be too sweet or too bold.
Sister Shuang was gentle and clean.
Overpowering fragrance didn't suit her.
Just as Snow Kui examined another blossom, a familiar warmth—like a spark—entered his senses.
He didn't even turn.
Soft hands suddenly covered his eyes.
"Guess who I am?"
The deliberately low voice fooled no one.
Snow Kui pulled the hands away and glanced up.
"Next time you play that game, learn to hide your aura first, Yingda."
Flame-red hair, bright lilac eyes.
Yaksha Yingda grinned down at him.
"How do you even sense people's auras?"
"That's just something you're born knowing. Are you sure you're a yaksha?"
"Humph! Says the one who doesn't even know how to wear his yaksha mask."
"That thing is pointless. Even without a mask, I'm still stronger than you."
Yingda puffed her cheeks like a hamster stuffed with food.
It wasn't untrue.
Even among yaksha, they needed two or more to hold their own against Snow Kui now that he had touched upon the power of Principle.
But truth and a girl's temper had little correlation.
Snow Kui plucked the blossom he had been inspecting and offered it to her.
"Here. It suits you."
He wasn't clueless anymore.
Years among humans had sharpened his awareness of emotions—at least enough to tell when someone was sulking.
This flower's fiery, aggressive fragrance—sharp on the nose—was a perfect match.
Yingda stared at it, stunned.
Sometimes, the moment two people lock eyes, they know they are destined as kin or lifelong rivals.
Perhaps flowers had the same fate.
She took the flower with a prim little huff.
"Wildflowers are beneath me but—fine. I will graciously accept."
Snow Kui resumed searching.
Yingda followed him.
"Why are you still here?"
"I want someone to play with. Snow Kui—what if this flower wilts?"
"Then it wilts."
"Nooo. Do something!"
Snow Kui's head buzzed.
He grabbed the flower back.
A moment later, Yingda gasped.
The flower returned to her hands—encased in thin, crystalline ice.
Sunlight refracted through the frost, turning its colors into soft transparency.
Its once flamboyant beauty became refined, like Guizhong's definition of art.
"As long as you don't set it on fire, it'll last a long time."
Snow Kui frowned at his own hands.
The power of Principle.
Used… to preserve flowers.
He wasn't sure whether to be impressed with himself or ashamed.
While Yingda admired the frozen blossom with stars in her eyes, Snow Kui glanced up.
An altar stood not far away—an offering table.
And a slow, mischievous grin spread across his face.
He remembered whose territory this was.
Morax's.
Snow Kui lowered his voice, smiling like a demon who just spotted opportunity.
Time to cause trouble.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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