Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Liu Yunshu closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, the confusion in her eyes had turned into clarity.

The panic and shyness that lingered in the cave had all settled into a calm sense of relief.

She raised her hand to wipe away the ice beads on Mu Yunling's cheek, a gentle smile on her face.

"This is not your fault, nor is it Brother Shen's fault. You had no choice but to save him; what wrong did you do?"

Mu Yunling stared blankly at her, tears streaming down her face even more fiercely: "Miss Liu..."

Shen Run moved forward a few steps while still kneeling, looking up at Liu Yunshu, his eyes overflowing with regret and guilt:

"Yun Shu, I know it's too late to say anything now... but I really have no face to see you. We were clearly engaged before, but I..."

His throat moved, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"If you have hatred in your heart, then hit me or scold me. Don't be so calm... I can't take it."

Looking at his disheveled appearance, Liu Yunshu felt no resentment, only a sense of loss and regret.

She gently shook her head, her voice clear and cold like a spring in the snow: "Brother Shen, actually, I also have something to tell you."

She turned to look at Xiao Hanxing, her gaze meeting his eyes filled with starlight.

There was an undisguised tension and anticipation in it, like a child awaiting sentencing.

A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

"Just now, Alliance Leader Xiao and I were trapped in a cave, the cold was bone-chilling, and we almost froze to death. He risked his life to protect us, and even more so..."

Her ears flushed slightly as she avoided his overly intense gaze, but her voice grew even more resolute.

"So no one owes anyone anything, it's just fate playing tricks on us."

"Yun Shu, you... you all..."

Shen Run seemed to understand something. His gaze fixed on the red mark on her neck, and the words caught in his throat. His expression became complicated and indescribable.

The red mark was exceptionally clear under the snow's glow, like a silent declaration.

"So that's how it is... I see..."

He muttered to himself, the pain and regret in his eyes gradually replaced by a sense of relief.

He raised his hand and wiped his face hard, the snow water mixed with some warm liquid sliding down.

Shen Run staggered to his feet, looked at the red marks on Liu Yunshu's neck, then glanced at Xiao Hanxing, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He took a deep breath, which finally turned into a heavy yet relieved sigh.

"Yun Shu, you and Brother Xiao have been through life and death together, and your hearts are in perfect harmony. You are a match made in heaven. I, Shen Run, congratulate you both."

"Miss Liu, no matter what, I'm the one who wronged you... I promise I'll make it up to you in the future. Just ask, and I, Mu Yunling, will do anything, even die for you!"

Her voice was muffled on Liu Yunshu's shoulder, thick with nasal tone and genuine guilt.

Her thin shoulders trembled slightly from sobbing, and snowflakes fell into her hair, quickly melting into water droplets.

Liu Yunshu gently patted her back, her fingertips touching the slightly cool fabric of her clothes, and her heart softened.

"Silly girl,"

She spoke softly, her voice carrying a comforting warmth.

"I told you, this has nothing to do with you, so why talk about compensation? You and Brother Shen went through life and death together, so you should cherish each other."

She paused, turned her head to look at Xiao Hanxing, and met his eyes with an overwhelming tenderness. Her ears burned, but she continued:

"The same goes for me and Alliance Leader Xiao."

Xiao Hanxing stepped forward and naturally stood behind her, shielding her from the wind and snow.

He looked at Shen Run, his tone steady yet extremely solemn:

"Brother Shen, from now on, entrust Yun Shu to me. I will protect her and never let her suffer the slightest grievance."

Seeing the two so affectionate, Shen Run's last lingering attachment faded away.

He reached out and put his arm around Mu Yunling's waist, pulling her into his embrace, a relieved smile playing on his lips.

"Brother Xiao, your word is your bond, so I naturally trust you. From now on, we'll still be brothers, and Yun Shu will be your wife. I will treat her with the utmost respect."

Mu Yunling raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked at Liu Yunshu. Suddenly remembering something, she took out a small brocade box from her bosom and handed it over.

"Miss Liu, this is a warm jade I found in the secret realm. It can dispel cold and dampness. Alliance Leader Xiao's injuries haven't healed yet, so perhaps it will come in handy."

Liu Yunshu took the brocade box, its surface warm to the touch. Upon opening it, she found a pure white jade pendant inside, radiating a faint warmth.

She looked up at Mu Yunling, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Yunling."

"I'm the one who should be saying thank you." Mu Yunling shook her head, tears falling again. "Thank you for forgiving us, thank you for making this possible."

"Ever since I lost my memory, you've treated me like a sister. If it weren't for you, I might have been wandering the world, homeless and destitute..."

She sniffed, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the hem of her clothes.

"How about... I call you 'older sister' from now on? Let's address each other as sisters, okay?"

Mu Yunling looked up with her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with trepidation and anticipation. Snowflakes clung to her long eyelashes like tiny ice diamonds.

Liu Yunshu's heart softened, and she gently stroked Mu Yunling's hair, her voice so tender it could melt snow:

"Okay, from now on, you'll be my little sister."

Looking at the scene before him, Shen Run's eyes lit up with a relieved smile. He turned to Xiao Hanxing and said:

"Brother Xiao, Yun Ling has obtained the inheritance in the secret realm and has found the exit. We should leave quickly as we can."

Xiao Hanxing nodded and naturally took Liu Yunshu's hand. The warmth of her palm and the temperature of the warm jade intertwined, keeping out the cold wind and snow.

"Okay, I'll lead the way."

"Oh right, didn't you say you wanted silverfish?"

Liu Yunshu looked at Xiao Hanxing, then frowned slightly, "But what will we use to put it in after we fish it out?"

Xiao Hanxing gently stroked her palm with his fingertips, a smile spreading across his eyes, and then reached behind him to untie a dark silk pouch from his waist.

The bag is embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns, and the edges are sewn with fine waterproof soft velvet. It feels slightly cool to the touch but is not breathable.

"It's all ready."

As he spoke, he slapped his palm into the cold pool, instantly creating a half-foot-high white wave on the surface.

Dozens of shimmering silver fish were lifted out of the water by the force of the palm strike.

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Hanxing's dark silk pouch unfolded like butterfly wings, and the silver fish, as if pulled by invisible threads, fell into the pouch one after another.

"This bag is woven from silk and black gauze, making it both waterproof and heat-insulating."

He pinched the knot at the top of the bag with his fingertips, tied it neatly, and hung it around his waist.

"Let's go."

Xiao Hanxing took Liu Yunshu's hand, and Shen Run followed behind with Mu Yunling in his arms.

The four of them successfully exited the secret realm this time.

After resting at the inn for one night, Xiao Hanxing handed the silver fish to the guards, and the group rode their horses to Liu Family Manor.

After traveling for several days, we finally arrived at Liu Family Manor.

As soon as we entered the villa, Mother Liu came out from the main hall to greet us.

She first looked at Liu Yunshu with delight, then, noticing her haggard appearance, asked with concern:

"Yun Shu, was the journey too tiring? You've lost so much weight and your face is so pale."

Liu's mother quickly stepped forward and reached out to touch her face.

His gaze swept over her and Xiao Hanxing's clasped hands, then caught sight of Shen Run and that Miss Mu standing close together.

Liu's mother's hand paused in mid-air, and the worry in her eyes gradually mixed with a bit of surprise and inquiry as she looked at the four people's faces.

"Yun Shu, this is...?"

Liu Yunshu took her mother's slightly cool hand in return, a reassuring smile playing on her lips:

"Mother, I'm sorry to have worried you. It's a long story. Is Father at the manor?"

"Your father is handling some matters in his study. I'll send someone to fetch him right away."

Although she was full of doubts, she didn't ask any more questions and just smiled and invited everyone into the house.

"Let's go inside and talk things over."

Not long after they sat down, Master Liu strode into the hall, his dark brocade robe making his figure appear even more upright.

When his gaze fell on Liu Yunshu, he first showed a hint of heartache.

He then caught sight of her holding hands with Xiao Hanxing, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Yun Shu, what's going on between you and Alliance Leader Xiao?"

Liu Yunshu stood up, knelt down, and looked at her parents with a face full of guilt:

"Father, Mother, your daughter is unfilial... I'm afraid my engagement with Brother Shen will have to be called off."

Master Liu frowned even more deeply. Although he had some suspicions, he still stepped forward to help her up.

"Why are you kneeling? Get up and speak slowly."

"Yes, Yunshu, get up quickly. No matter how big the problem is, your father will take care of it. Why kneel?"

Liu's mother quickly stepped forward to support her arm, and felt even more heartache when her fingertips touched her daughter's cold wrist.

"You child, you've already had a long and tiring journey, why are you putting yourself through this?"

"The engagement is important, but there's always a reason for everything. Tell me slowly; your parents aren't unreasonable people."

Liu Yunshu was helped up by the two people. Her eyes were slightly red, but she still managed to calm herself down and recounted her experiences in the secret realm.

Xiao Hanxing stood beside her the whole time, his palm pressed tightly against the back of her hand. He felt her fingertips tremble slightly, so he supported her a little.

After Liu Yunshu finished speaking, he stepped forward and knelt down on both knees.

"Master Liu, Madam Liu,"

Xiao Hanxing's voice was steady and firm, his gaze fixed intently on the two elders before him, filled with unquestionable solemnity.

"Yun Shu is not only a confidante to whom I would entrust my life, but also the wife I have chosen for this lifetime."

"In the secret realm, if she hadn't used her own warmth to ward off the cold, and if we hadn't supported each other, I would have already perished in the ice cave."

He raised his hand and stroked the back of Liu Yunshu's hand, his fingertips caressing the slightly cool skin on her wrist, his eyes brimming with burning affection.

"Although we were not formally married, we had already made a vow of life and death."

"I've come today for two reasons: first, to apologize to you both for failing to protect Yunshu and causing her danger; and second, to propose marriage—"

His tone grew increasingly firm, and he spoke each word clearly:

"I humbly request the Lord and Madam to grant me permission to marry Yun Shu. From this day forward, I, Xiao Hanxing, swear by my life that I will protect her for the rest of my life, pamper her without worry, and never let her suffer the slightest grievance or fright again."

Having said that, he bowed and kowtowed, his forehead striking the cold gold brick floor with a dull thud.

"If you two do not agree, I will kneel here until you nod in approval."