333. Who Is The Evil?

The [Illusion Garment Pearl] rested against Snow Empress's fair, slender neck.

She gazed at the small, thumb-sized pearl, observing its flowing red, green, and blue colors.

These hues moved like liquid, occasionally blending into a beautiful spectrum.

As Qian Renjue’s fingertips lightly brushed her cool, porcelain-like skin, Snow Empress expression remained impassive, though subtle emotions stirred within her.

Sensitive to even the faintest temperature changes, she’d never experienced such close contact from a human before.

The warmth from his fingers spread across her neck before fading.

“All done,” Qian Renjue announced, fastening the necklace and gently brushing her silken hair with his hand. With a slight input of soul power into the [Illusion Garment Pearl], the tri-color blend extended across her body, cloaking her in a delicate silk garment.

Snow Empress looked down in surprise, watching the rare red marks on her skin disappear under the soft, white fabric.

Her clear blue eyes filled with amazement—this attire seemed identical to the one he had previously torn.

“How did you manage that?” she asked, her voice cool yet intrigued.

Qian Renjue chuckled, pointing to the pearl at her collarbone. “It’s the pearl’s power. By channeling soul energy, you can activate it.”

Snow Empress observed the now-transparent pearl and tentatively infused her own soul power into it.

Buzz!

Before Qian Renjue's eyes, Snow Empress' figure shimmered, returning to her natural, unclothed state.

“Amazing!” she exclaimed, her clear eyes sparkling with curiosity as she looked at the flustered Qian Renjue.

“Do humans have many such items?”

“No, only I have this,” he replied, quickly averting his eyes with a hint of embarrassment. “But, um… could you please put your clothes back on?”

“Why?” Snow Empress asked, perplexed. “You seemed to enjoy looking.

"Why insist on me wearing clothes?” She paused before adding, “And is that why you apologized?”

“Oh…” Qian Renjue was at a loss. How could he deny her words when he had indeed looked longer than intended?

Her innocence and questions were almost too much to answer.

Snow Empress leaned closer, her icy gaze observing his reddening face. “It’s so cold here, yet you seem warm?”

Her observation struck him. He lifted an outfit and held it before her as he explained, “It’s not warmth; it’s just… embarrassment.”

Snow Empress tilted her head, peering at his hands resting on her shoulders, and noted a faint warmth spreading within her as well.

With a cold, slightly puzzled look, she demanded, “Qian Renjue, you still haven’t answered my previous question.”

“In human society,” he replied with a serious expression, “a woman’s body isn’t meant to be viewed casually by men. That’s why I apologized to you.”

“Is that so?” she said, considering his words. “Then who can see a woman’s body?”

“Only her husband, the man she’s married to.”

“‘Husband’? ‘Marriage’?” Snow Empress looked thoughtful, seeming puzzled by the concept.

“Does that make sense to you?” Qian Renjue asked softly, noting her curious expression.

The Snow Empress nodded but seemed confused. “It’s different from what Bing’er told me. She said that marriage is something important between two women.”

“What?!” Qian Renjue was stunned.

Snow Empress nodded earnestly. “After you ruined my clothes last time, Bing’er wanted to move in with me. Since we weren’t married, I turned her down.”

“…I see,” Qian Renjue mused, suppressing a laugh.

Bing’er’s influence was indeed apparent.

“Why are you laughing?” Snow Empress asked, her cold yet beautiful face tinged with confusion.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just found it amusing,” he replied, wrapping her in the outfit he held. “You could always ask her about it again.”

“Did Bing’er lie to me?” Snow Empress's expression shifted, suddenly uncertain.

She was clearly uneasy, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in ages.

“I’ll ask her,” she said finally, holding onto her outfit as she regarded Qian Renjue.

“So, since you’ve seen my body… are you my husband now?”

“Wait, what?!”

“No, it doesn’t work like that. You’re only supposed to see it after marriage.”

“Then what do we do now?”

Her innocent, wide-eyed gaze made him almost avoid her eyes.

“Let’s just… move on to another question,” he suggested.

Snow Empress thought for a moment, nodded, and continued, “I’d like to know why you said I was evil.”

“Evil?” Qianren Jue’s eyes flickered with surprise. “Did I say that?”

“Yes,” Snow Empress replied seriously. “The first time you came, you said I was ‘very evil.’ What part of me is evil?”

"Well--"

  Qian Renjue opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself, obviously he remembered.

  But is this something I can say to the Snow Empress?

  "Um?"

  The Snow Empress frowned and stared at Qian Renjue, her eyes full of curiosity.

  This problem has been bothering her for a long time.