418. Highest Existences In Extreme North

"Why are you apologizing?"

Qian Renjue turned to look at the Snow Empress beside him, who was radiating a sense of guilt. With a smile, he asked:
"Are you saying you might harm me?"

"Of course not!"

The Snow Empress instinctively raised her beautiful eyes, her voice firm.

How could I ever hurt Qian Renjue?

"Then that's that."

Qian Renjue couldn't help but chuckle.

He reached out to brush away the snow-blown strands of white hair on the Snow Empress's face and smiled.
"I'm already grateful that you're willing to agree with me."

"No, that's not it..."

The Snow Empress looked flustered, wanting to explain herself, yet she didn’t know where to start.

Deep down, she felt guilty.

Qian Renjue treated her so well, willingly spending time with her, but it was all based on the premise of her offering herself as a sacrifice.

It was her decision to redirect the compensation Qian Renjue had originally prepared for Bing'er to herself.

In truth, it was Bing'er who deserved Qian Renjue's gratitude.

"Hmm? What’s really going on?"

Qian Renjue glanced at the beautiful figure beside him, puzzled.

Unknowingly, this once unattainable flower on the peak seemed to have softened, no longer so aloof.

"Qian Renjue, I actually deceived you."

The Snow Empress pressed her candy-sweet lips together, her icy blue eyes filled with regret.

She said no more and instead pulled him forward gently, letting his curiosity linger.

"It's alright. No matter what, we're good friends."

Qian Renjue suddenly smiled again.

To him, the worst-case scenario was simply the Snow Empress deciding not to go through with the sacrifice.

How bad could that really be?

This is how it should be.

"Good friends?"

The Snow Empress stopped walking and turned to look at Qian Renjue's smiling face.

Compared to when they first met, there was now an added layer of warmth.

She might have underestimated him earlier.

Qian Renjue wouldn’t get angry over something like this.

Even if, one day, the dim sun were to truly fall, it wouldn’t offer as much as what Qian Renjue had already given her.

"Qian Renjue... actually, the one who’s supposed to sacrifice..."

The Snow Empress was about to confess but was interrupted by a voice from behind the snow-covered hill.

"Xiao Bai! How can you eat so much? That’s supposed to be my last meal!"

"Aunt Bing, I’m sharing it with you out of kindness."

"You can’t expect me to die on an empty stomach!"

"..."

Qian Renjue froze for a moment. Even amidst the wind and snow, the voices were clear.

That’s the voice of the Ice Emperor—that scorpion—and someone else, rough and unfamiliar.

"Ice Emperor, are you really going to sacrifice yourself to a human? Is that human strong?"

"Hmm?"

Qian Renjue's expression turned odd.

The Ice Emperor’s last meal? Sacrifice? She’s sacrificing herself to a human? To... me?!

As the thought crossed his mind, Qian Renjue seemed to piece everything together.

Turning his head, he stared at the Snow Empress in surprise.

"Wait... the one who’s going to sacrifice herself to me—is it the Ice Emperor?"

"Yes, you didn’t hear wrong. I’ve decided to let Bing’er sacrifice herself to you first," the Snow Empress replied with a soft nod.

Her words hung in the cold air as she took Qian Renjue’s hand and led him over the snow-covered hill.

The two of them stood side by side at the top of the hill, gazing at the scene below.

Qian Renjue’s expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief.

At the base of the hill, three figures were seated on the ground, surrounded by an array of food.

The only female among them was none other than the Ice Emperor, whom Qian Renjue had encountered multiple times—often in battle.

With her green twin tails, delicate features, and petite frame, she looked like a harmless little girl.

The other two were far less human in appearance, but their distinct forms made it easy to discern their true identities.


The Titan Snow Demon King is a descendant of the ancient Ice God and the primordial giants. With the bloodline of the Ice God and the physical strength of a giant, in its soul beast form, it stands over 100 meters tall.

Even when taking on a human form, it remains tank-like, towering over three meters in height.

As for the Snow Empress's godson, his appearance is somewhat comical.

The Ice Bear King, Xiao Bai, in his human form, resembles a ball—his massive belly protruding, his chubby white flesh jiggling, and even his head appearing round.

The snacks between them, naturally, were provided by Qian Renjue.

The twin-tailed Ice Emperor was busy using both hands to stuff food into her mouth, all while berating Xiao Bai beside her.

"Stupid Xiao Bai! You don’t say a word—just keep eating. Look at you, you ball-headed glutton!"

"Mmmpf!"

The round Xiao Bai lay on the ground, his head unable to touch it.

Between bites, his chubby hand pointed at the Titan Snow Demon King beside him.

"Sister Bing, stop picking on me. Look at that beast over there! His mouth’s even bigger, and he’s eating way faster than I am!"

"Ah-Tai! That was for my sister!"

Suddenly, the Ice Emperor jumped to her feet.

She lashed out with her leg, landing a kick on the Titan Snow Demon King’s head and rescuing the candied hawthorn from his clutches.

She raised her chin, scolding him:
"Eat, eat, eat! That’s all you ever do!"

"Look at your big teeth! Something so tiny is just going to get stuck between them anyway. Such a waste!"

"Ice Emperor, don’t be so stingy. It’s just a skewer."

Ah-Tai rubbed his thick, rough face, unfazed.

"Stingy?! Do you even realize this cost me my life to get?"

"..."

Watching the fuming Ice Emperor below, Qian Renjue couldn’t help but laugh.

"I wasn’t lying! I really didn’t eat that much."

The Snow Empress’s slightly aggrieved voice sounded in Qian Renjue’s ear.

He turned to look at her and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

"My apologies, then."

"Hmm."

The Snow Empress nodded slightly, a small smile on her face, though a guilty blush crept across her cheeks—especially after hearing the Ice Emperor’s words.

She felt even guiltier now.

Her eyes held a hint of pleading as she softly whispered to Qian Renjue:
"You mustn’t tell Bing’er."

Seeing the Snow Empress’s flustered, guilty expression, Qian Renjue couldn’t help but pinch her soft, fair cheek.

He chuckled and promised:
"Don’t worry, I won’t tell her that you skimmed a little for yourself."

"That’s not what happened!"

The Snow Empress puffed out her cheeks indignantly, her face turning even redder.

If I had left it to Bing’er, she probably wouldn’t have managed to get even a bite to eat.

"Haha."

Qian Renjue chuckled softly.

The Snow Empress was becoming more and more human.

"A human?!"

Below the hill, a rough, thunderous voice echoed, shaking even the wind and snow.

"Mom (Sister)!"

The Ice Emperor looked up, and Xiao Bai’s round body rolled over.

The Snow Empress nodded slightly toward them and said to Qian Renjue:
"Let’s go down."

"Alright."

Qian Renjue nodded as they descended hand in hand.

"Ice Emperor, is this the human you’re planning to sacrifice to?"

Ah-Tai raised his massive finger, pointing at Qian Renjue as he asked the Ice Emperor.

"Hmph! That’s him!"

The Ice Emperor bit into a piece of dried tofu, glaring at Qian Renjue as she tore into it.

This hateful human! Holding hands with her sister—so infuriating!

"He looks so weak," Ah-Tai muttered in his deep, muffled voice, scratching his head.

Still, he didn’t dare to be too rude.

When the Snow Empress and the others had invited him to help, they had firmly stepped on him and warned him not to lay a hand on Qian Renjue without permission.

His back still hurt from that encounter. He wouldn’t dare anger the Snow Empress again.