Chapter 96: Farewell

At night, in the hotel where the Snow Empress was staying, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na were also temporarily lodging here.

In Gu Yue Na's room, she sat on the bed, recalling today's experiences.

The first meeting with the Snow Empress, becoming her disciple to learn... finally stopping at the words Huo Yuhao had spoken.

"When you understand, we'll talk again."

Talk again?

"Beep beep beep——"

The sound of the Soul Guide Communication Device rang out, interrupting Gu Yue Na's thoughts. She took out the Soul Guide Communication Device, saw the number on it, and her expression stiffened.

No wonder I kept feeling I'd forgotten something; turns out it was Teacher Leng's matter. She should have already arrived in Donghai City, right?

Gu Yue Na hurriedly answered, and a projection appeared in midair.

High-level Soul Guide Communication Devices possess video call functionality; it's just that she usually doesn't use it.

In the projection, Leng Yaozhu's face and the background behind her gradually became clear. In the scene, she sat on the edge of the bed, her legs long and fair, crossed together, a gentle smile on her face.

But upon seeing Gu Yue Na, a slight change appeared in her eyes, faintly observing Gu Yue Na's surroundings.

This is... a hotel?

"Sister Na... you're in a hotel?" Leng Yaozhu didn't question her leaky little cotton-padded jacket on why she'd forgotten her, simply asking: "Where's Huo Yuhao?"

"Yuhao is in the next room."

Upon hearing this, Leng Yaozhu quietly watched Gu Yue Na for a moment, then asked: "Sister Na, tell the truth, what are your thoughts."

Gu Yue Na was stunned, falling into silence.

……

In the adjacent room, Huo Yuhao held the Ice God Pearl in his palm, contemplating today's gains.

The Ice God Pearl can enhance Ultimate Ice, and it also contains Ice Law Power, which is beneficial for forging a God Position.

Plus the Body Sect, as things stand now, the basic sublimation resources for two martial souls have both been found...

"She's leaving too, isn't she."

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, his spirits not very high. He rose and walked out of the room, arriving at the pavilion behind the hotel.

Moonlight flowed like water, sprinkling around the pavilion, silver radiance covering the earth.

Inside the pavilion, the Snow Empress sat upright on a stone bench, clad in white robes whiter than snow, merging with the surrounding scenery. Her brows and eyes were like a painting, yet carried a few parts cool detachment and aloofness.

But upon seeing Huo Yuhao approach, the coolness in her eyes vanished, a trace of a smile revealing itself at the corner of her mouth. "Can't sleep either? Come sit for a while."

The Snow Empress gestured to the spot beside her.

Huo Yuhao nodded, walked over, and sat down beside her, together gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

Wisps of elegant fragrance drifted in the air, settling the heart.

The two didn't speak for a time, just sitting quietly together. After a good while, Huo Yuhao finally spoke: "Leaving?"

The Snow Empress nodded slightly. "Mm. I've seen the people, given you what should be given. I plan to return to the Extreme North first to pave the way for you."

Staying any longer, she worried she wouldn't be able to bring herself to leave.

"... No need for that. Have a little confidence in me." Huo Yuhao smiled wryly.

The Snow Empress's gaze shifted from the lone moon in the sky to Huo Yuhao, her voice gentle: "In you, I have far more confidence than in myself."

"Right now I can still help you. Once we achieve godhood, I might not be able to keep up with you, just like ten thousand years ago... So let me protect you one more journey while I still can."

"……"

Huo Yuhao exhaled. "Stay a bit longer tomorrow. These past few years I've learned some new dishes; I'll cook them all for you to taste. We'll catch up properly."

"Good." The Snow Empress smiled and nodded.

After that, the two chatted for a long time. The days when the Snow Empress taught Huo Yuhao in the Extreme North, the experience of going to Mingdu together to "knock sap", the Snow Empress guiding Su Tong, and the latter calling her Master's Wife...

Experiences Huo Yuhao knew, stories he didn't know, gradually spilled from the Snow Empress's mouth. Some made him smile knowingly, others made him a bit awkward.

But watching the Snow Empress's tranquil smile, Huo Yuhao's heart also calmed. He smiled faintly, mentioning some amusing anecdotes the Snow Empress didn't know, making her laugh lightly again and again.

Just like that, time quietly slipped by. In a blink it reached three in the morning. The Snow Empress glanced at the sky, saying softly: "Right, the Ice God Crystal alloy forging still needs time. How about giving me a gift now instead?"

"You say the word."

The Snow Empress's red lips parted slightly. "Address."

Some things, she ultimately minded.

Huo Yuhao raised his head and met the Snow Empress's clear eyes. Inspiration struck. After a slight hesitation, he still said softly:

"... Xue Er?"

Huo Yuhao's tone was very gentle, just carrying a touch of stiffness.

The two words fell. The Snow Empress was silent for an instant, then rose and said: "Too stiff. Let's not call me that for now. It's late. I'll return to my room to rest first. You should rest early too."

Finished speaking, the Snow Empress turned and left. Her steps were calm, her figure drifting, yet unable to conceal the flush on her face.

Clearly when Bing Er called it out she could face it calmly. Why when Yuhao calls it, does it feel completely different?

Making the heart tighten...

Huo Yuhao sat in the pavilion, watching the Snow Empress leave until her figure disappeared. Only then did he raise his head to look at the night sky.

The Snow Empress like this... it was the first time he'd seen her like this.

……

The next afternoon, the sunset fell on the Soul Guidance Aircraft apron. A trace of parting melancholy permeated the air. Huo Yuhao and the Snow Empress stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Waiting Hall, silently watching the Soul Guidance Aircraft taking off and landing outside.

Only the two of them were here. The Dark Phoenix Douluo seemed to have matters to handle, not planning to return to the Extreme North with the Snow Empress immediately. Gu Yue Na was the same as before, leaving the time to them.

"Be careful. If she doesn't know what's good for her, leave it to me." Huo Yuhao transmitted a reminder: "Don't indulge them!"

The Snow Empress wanted to pave the way for him. Naturally, the first thing to do was to exclude all other voices within the Extreme North.

The Mermaid Clan, based in the Extreme North Ice Sea. Among them, the Sea Princess is also Limit Douluo level, likewise an Extreme North overlord. In the sea, the past Snow Empress wasn't necessarily her opponent.

However, that was only back then.

"I understand."

The Snow Empress smiled faintly, stepped closer to Huo Yuhao, bent down, and tidied the collar his clothes that had been mussed by the airport wind.

"The road ahead is long; don't just focus on hurrying along. Remember to take good care of yourself."

Huo Yuhao's movements paused, his tone gentle, "Mm, you too. Don't overexert yourself. Until we meet again, this time... it won't be too long!"

Speaking to this point, Huo Yuhao covered this place with his Spiritual Domain, extended a finger, and while the Snow Empress was bent down, tapped her pure white forehead. A spatial imprint fell on the Snow Empress's brow and slowly disappeared.

"My current grasp of Spatial Power is not yet complete. Fortunately, my Spiritual Power's improvement speed is not bad, but this is all I can do for now. At least I'll be able to know your safety."

The Snow Empress did not stop him, allowing Huo Yuhao to act. Afterward, she touched the spot on her brow, as if realizing something.

This is an imprint Yuhao condensed with Spiritual Power relying on his own comprehension of Spatial Power. With Yuhao's current strength, he needs to rely on the Snow Empress Token she left on the other party to reversely perceive her state.

But along with Huo Yuhao's cultivation recovery, doing the same as her is also possible.

'Not yet having re-cultivated to the peak, yet worrying about me instead.'

Though she thought this, the expression in the Snow Empress's eyes grew even gentler. She considered for a moment, then extended her Spiritual Power, causing the Snow Empress Token on Huo Yuhao's forehead to manifest. Through Spiritual Power, she left behind something else as well. "Originally I didn't want to do this, but thinking it over now, I'll leave it anyway. Saves you worrying about me."

Huo Yuhao blanked for a moment, perceived what the Snow Empress left behind, and for a time didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Does this even count as a parting?

The Snow Empress is completely accompanying him by his side in another form...

(End of Chapter)