523. Be My Pillow

Night deepened.

Qian Renjue sat cross-legged on the bed, quietly cultivating.

Aside from being sent to the Pope’s Hall earlier by Bibi Dong, who had practically banished him, he hadn’t seen his mother since.

He had only heard from Xiao Feidie that Bibi Dong had shut herself in the cultivation chamber.

In this single room, he felt slightly unaccustomed but oddly free.

At least now, he could share his bed with others—like now.

"Qian Renjue, isn’t it time to set off?"

The Ice Empress wriggled under his blanket, resembling a cocooned caterpillar.

Her long green ponytails spread across the bed like a soft meadow.

"Yes, let’s go," Qian Renjue replied with a smile. Turning, he stretched out his hand toward the loli beside him.

"Come on."

The Ice Empress poked her head out of the blanket, her fair face glowing faintly. She raised her chin proudly but couldn’t hide the shyness in her eyes.

"Haha."

Qian Renjue chuckled, gently cupping her delicate chin.

With a buzz, the Ice Empress transformed into a beam of green light, shrinking down and landing in his palm.

She quickly climbed onto his shoulder.

At the same time, the Evil God Hook appeared, its dark, chilling glow slicing through the space.

The bed, now empty, retained only the lingering warmth of their presence.


---

The Extreme North.

Night and day were like two extremes—pure black and white constantly cycling.

The Snow Empress’s cavern was eerily silent.

The chandeliers of icy pearls embedded with luminous gems dimmed under a layer of frost.

The howling wind echoed endlessly.

From the darkness, a void-like black hole opened, obscuring all sight.

A figure stepped out, treading on thin air.

On the icy bed, a woman in a white gown with graceful curves suddenly vanished.

"Qian Renjue"

A soft, cool voice welcomed him from the shadows.

Before Qian Renjue had fully stepped through, he found himself holding a cool and supple body in his arms.

The faint fragrance in the air was intoxicating.

Delicate arms wrapped around his neck as a soft voice cooed:

"Sister… ah!"

Before the Ice Empress could finish her sentence, she was frozen and sent hurtling to the ground.

Crash!

"It’s me," Qian Renjue said with a light laugh, his lips curving as he wrapped his arm around the Snow Empress’s slender waist.

Though the surroundings were pitch black, it didn’t hinder their sight.

"Did I disturb your rest?" he asked.

"No, I couldn’t sleep," the Snow Empress replied, shaking her head as she gazed at him. Her voice softened as she added, "But now, I feel a little sleepy. What about you?"

Thud!

Below them, the Ice Empress broke free from the ice, glaring at the scene above. She began pacing in irritation.

Hmph!

Her sister, who had no worldly experience, somehow knew exactly how to charm Qian Renjue.

Wasn’t "feeling sleepy now" just a way to suggest he stay with her?

"I’m not sleepy yet. The Ice Empress insisted I bring her to see you," Qian Renxue explained with a smile.

"Hmm."

The Snow Empress nodded slightly, releasing him before taking his hand.

She led him toward the icy bed below.

"You’re not sleepy, but I am. So, Qian Renjue, you’ll be my pillow tonight."

"Huh?"

Qian Renjue blinked, glancing down at the little scorpion pacing circles on the icy ground.

Wasn’t this a bit of a misstep?

The Ice Empress paused mid-transformation, staring at her sister in disbelief.

"Sister, I came all this way to visit you!"

"I know, but I’m tired now," the Snow Empress replied without even glancing back, dragging Qian Renjue toward the bed.

"I…"

The Ice Empress fell silent, lowering her head. She doodled circles on the ice with her pincers, a despondent look on her face.

Decades of deep bonds seemed to fade in an instant.

"Snow Empress, wait for me to take off my shoes—ugh!"

Before Qian Renjue could finish, the Snow Empress pulled him onto the bed without hesitation.

She threw herself onto him, her soft body shifting slightly against his.

Her delicate, snow-white feet kicked playfully like soft rice cakes, leaving Qian Renjue utterly helpless.


Kicking off Qian Renjue's shoes onto the floor, the Snow Empress finally settled down.

“All done~”

Nestled in Qian Renjue's arms, she tilted her delicate face up, her tone carrying a hint of smugness.

Qian Renjue was left speechless.

The Snow Empress simply hugged him, treating him as a warm mattress. Pressing her ear against his chest, she gradually closed her eyes.

Lying on the hard ice bed, Qian Renjue didn’t feel cold at all.

But he suddenly realized—what exactly had he come here for? How did he end up lying in her bed like this?

After a moment of hesitation, he pulled out a coat and draped it over the Snow Empress.

Then, in a soft voice, he called out:

“Snow Empress~”

“Hmm, I’m listening.”

“What if I’d said earlier that I was sleepy too?”

“Then we’d sleep together.”

“…”

Qian Renjue couldn’t help but chuckle. Sure enough, there was a fine line between naïveté and silliness.

The Snow Empress had never been one to leave room for negotiation.

Crack!

Suddenly, the Ice Empress, who had finished drawing circles on the ground, climbed onto the bed.

“Sister, I... I’m sleepy too.”

“Then go back.”

The Snow Empress, clutching her warm "furnace," grew soft and drowsy, her voice tinged with languor.

“Go back?”

The Ice Empress scratched her head in confusion. Where exactly was her sister asking her to return to? The frozen caves of the Extreme North?

“Back to Qian Renjue's soul ring, of course,” the Snow Empress replied casually.

“?!”

The Ice Empress lowered her head in defeat, her mind clouded with frustration. In the background, she could faintly hear Qian Renjue stifling a laugh, which only made her angrier.

Glaring at him in the darkness, she silently cursed.

It was all this human’s fault for stealing her sister away!

Hmph!

With a cold snort in her heart, the Ice Empress scrambled toward Qian Renjue's pillow.

If he took her sister, then it was only fair for him to compensate her by becoming her pillow!

Without hesitation, she curled up beneath Qian Renjue’s neck.

Her refusal to transform into her human form was a sign of respect for her sister—absolutely not due to any ulterior motives.

This was humility!


---

Outside the cave, the wind and snow howled. Inside, only the steady sound of breathing could be heard.

Time passed.

The Snow Empress, still nestled in Qian Renjue’s embrace, hadn’t fallen asleep. She murmured softly:

“Qian Renjue, I missed you~”

“Hmm.”

Qian Renjue responded gently, tightening his embrace as he stroked her silky hair.

“I’ll stay with you tonight.”

“…”

The Snow Empress didn’t reply, simply hugging him closer. Her body, as cold as jade, gradually warmed.

Slowly, she drifted into slumber.

Until the dim light outside crept in, she remained asleep—only to be stirred awake when Qian Renjue accidentally brushed against her in his sleep, his warmth making her unable to doze off again.

Her pale face flushed red as she basked in his heat, waiting for him to wake.

Before long, Qian Renjue's biological clock kicked in.

The Ice Empress climbed onto his forehead, persistently poking at him in an effort to wake him up.

“Qian Renjue, get up! You still have to report to the Pope’s Hall!”

The Snow Empress paused her motion to swat the Ice Empress away, but stopped when she saw Qian Renjue's eyes flutter open.

Her face grew even redder as she sat up slightly, giving him space.

“Ah, sorry,” Qian Renjue said, plucking the little scorpion off his face with an apologetic smile.

“It’s fine,” the Snow Empress replied calmly, shifting slightly to give him room to move.

In a soft voice, she asked:

“When do you plan to break through?”

“I’ll do it as soon as I can.”

“Then I’ll wait for you a little longer.”

The Snow Empress nodded gently, summoning a basket filled with snow lotuses. Barefoot, she sat on the bed, watching Qian Renjue.

“Qian Renjue, how about we have snow lotuses for breakfast?”

“Sounds good.”

Qian Renjue nodded with a smile but remained seated, refusing to stand up out of respect for her presence.

Standing at full height now would feel… inappropriate.

“I want some too!”

The Ice Empress transformed into her human form, sitting cross-legged nearby, her face filled with faint resentment as she looked at the Snow Empress.

“No problem,” Qian Renjue said, smiling warmly.