Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The oil lamp in the cave was almost burned out; a black lump had formed on the wick, and the flame flickered intermittently.

Su Chang'an sat cross-legged on the stone bed, wrapped in a black cloak that was obviously several sizes too big, like a child who had stolen an adult's clothes.

Bored, she tugged at the fur collar of her cloak, wondering how long the effects of the Transformation Pill would last.

It's definitely easier to be a human than a fox; at least these hands can skillfully peel pine nuts to eat.

"Squeak—"

The broken wooden door was pushed open, and the wind and snow, carrying a chill, rushed in, almost blowing out the pitiful lamplight.

Su Chang'an shrank his neck, about to open his mouth and curse, "Don't you know how to close the door?", but swallowed the words back.

Chen Xuan, who came in, seemed very strange.

He didn't brush the snow off his body, nor did he hang up the broken sword; he even forgot to close the door.

He walked in straight in, soaking wet, with ice crystals in his hair, and his face was as white as a dead man who had just crawled out of his grave.

Those eyes, which were usually cold and arrogant, were now empty and unfocused.

Su Chang'an tossed aside the pine nut shells in his hand and jumped off the bed. His bare feet touched the ground, and the coolness crept up his spine.

"Hey, Chen Xuan."

She called out, but not loudly.

Chen Xuan didn't react. He mechanically took two steps forward, then his knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground.

With his back against the stone wall of the sacred spring, his head drooping, he looked like a collapsed mountain.

Su Chang'an frowned.

This kid has been stubborn since he was a child; his bones are as hard as stone.

Back then, when they dug out his bones and threw him into a death trap, he wasn't shed a single tear even though he was covered in blood. He just gritted his teeth and said he would live on.

What's wrong with me today? Did I go crazy from practicing swordsmanship? Or did some blind old monster bully me?

She sighed, took her short legs and walked over, then squatted down in front of him.

She was only up to Chen Xuan's chest at the moment.

He's squatting like this, and you have to look up to see his face clearly.

"Are you mute?" Su Chang'an stuck out a finger and poked Chen Xuan's forehead. "Did you lose your soul after going out for a while? If you get bullied, just say something. Although I can't beat them right now, I can help you yell back."

Chen Xuan still didn't move.

But his aura was chaotic, and a suppressed tremor came through Su Chang'an's fingers.

Su Chang'an put away his playful expression.

She was all too familiar with this situation.

Thirteen years ago, that little kid who huddled in the corner of the cave did the same thing every time there was a thunderstorm.

He was trembling all over, hugging his knees tightly, curling himself up into a ball, as if the world's malice couldn't find him if he shrank small enough.

At that time, all she could do was wrap her tail around him to give him some warmth.

Su Chang'an sighed, reached out and cupped Chen Xuan's cold face in his hands, forcing him to raise his head.

"Look at me."

Chen Xuan's eyelashes trembled, and he slowly lifted his eyelids.

Those bloodshot eyes were brimming with tears, yet stubbornly refused to let them fall.

He was looking at Su Chang'an, but it also seemed as if he was looking at something else through Su Chang'an.

"elder sister……"

The cry was extremely soft, tinged with sobs, like a child who had suffered a great injustice finally seeing their mother.

Su Chang'an's heart skipped a beat, and that strange emotion called "motherly love" began to stir again.

"I'm here, trying to call back your soul." She replied irritably, but her thumb lightly brushed against the corner of his eye, wiping away a little moisture. "How old are you? Still crying like that, aren't you ashamed?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Xuan suddenly moved.

He suddenly reached out and pulled Su Chang'an into his arms.

The force was terrifying, as if it wanted to crush her and embed her into her bones.

Caught off guard, Su Chang'an bumped into his cold, wet embrace.

Because of the size difference, she was almost completely encircled by Chen Xuan, her face buried in his cold neck, her nose filled with the wind, snow, and that indescribable smell of blood.

"Hey! Be gentle! Are you trying to strangle me?" Su Chang'an struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free.

Chen Xuan buried his head in her shoulder, his body trembling violently.

"Don't move...please, don't move..."

His voice was hoarse and broken, carrying a sense of despair on the verge of collapse.

"I thought... I thought I was going to lose you..."

Su Chang'an was stunned.

Lose me?

What exactly did this kid go through outside?

She stopped struggling and let him hold her.

The hands that were about to push him away paused in mid-air before gently landing on his back.

Once, twice.

Just like when I was a child, I patted the table rhythmically.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Su Chang'an's voice softened, carrying a lazy, soothing tone. "I'm perfectly fine here, where could I go? But you, with that chilly aura, are you trying to freeze me to death so you can inherit my fortune?"

Chen Xuan didn't speak, but simply tightened his grip on his arm.

He was trembling.

It wasn't because of the cold, it was because of fear.

Just now at the Cliff of Repentance, every word that inner demon said felt like a nail piercing his heart.

He was afraid that Su Chang'an would find out about his filthy thoughts, afraid that she would look at him with disgust, and even more afraid that she would really treat him like an ungrateful wretch, just as his inner demons had said, and leave him forever.

That kind of fear was more terrifying than death.

"I'm not ungrateful..." Chen Xuan's muffled voice came from her shoulder, thick with a nasal tone, "I'm not..."

Su Chang'an rolled his eyes, inwardly cursing the kid for suddenly becoming so pretentious.

"Yes, yes, you're not an ingrate, you're a big yellow dog, okay?" Su Chang'an patted his back while smoothing his wet hair back. "Who said you're an ingrate? Tell me, and I'll bite him to death."

Chen Xuan didn't reply, but buried his face even deeper, greedily inhaling the warmth and milky scent emanating from her.

This is real.

It's not that inner demon that only seduces people.

This is Su Chang'an, who will scold him, criticize him, yet also wipe away his tears.

"elder sister."

"what?"

Don't leave me.

Chen Xuan raised his head, his eyes red and swollen, like those of an abandoned puppy.

He looked at Su Chang'an, his eyes filled with pleading and vulnerability.

Even if... even if I become a bad person, even if I do wrong things, please don't abandon me, okay?

Seeing him like this, Su Chang'an felt a sharp pang in the softest part of her heart.

This is the future Emperor of Central Continent!

That ruthless man, decisive in killing and whose sword could chill fourteen provinces, was now kneeling on the ground, holding this little vixen and weeping.

The contrast is absolutely astounding.

"Alright, alright, it's no big deal." Su Chang'an reached out and wiped his face haphazardly with her sleeve. "As long as you behave well from now on and don't run away from home all the time, I'll reluctantly continue to take care of you."

She paused, then added, "Besides, I'm your father... If I don't protect you, who will?"

Chen Xuan sniffed, and a hint of human emotion finally appeared on his usually cold and stern face.

He looked at Su Chang'an, at her delicate little face, and at the mature demeanor she was putting on to appease him.

The fire in my heart slowly subsided. In its place came a sour, throbbing pain.

He wanted to kiss her.

I wanted to kiss away the disgust on her lips, and taste the flavor in her mouth.

But he dared not.

At least not now.

He could only carefully rest his head against her chest, listening to her steady and powerful heartbeat, which was his only anchor in this world.

"Go lie down on the bed." Su Chang'an patted his head, like patting a big dog. "You're all wet, you're filthy."

Chen Xuan obediently released his hand, but did not move.

"My legs are numb," he said softly, with a hint of coquetry in his voice.

Su Chang'an glared at him irritably and sighed resignedly.

"I really owe you one."

She struggled to lift Chen Xuan from the ground, dragging this man, who was much taller than her, towards the stone bed. Half of Chen Xuan's weight was on her, making him feel as heavy as a dead pig.

After finally getting him into bed, Su Chang'an was panting heavily.

She was about to turn around to get a dry cloth to wipe his hair when Chen Xuan grabbed her wrist.

"Don't go."

"I'll go get a towel!"

"Don't go." Chen Xuan repeated stubbornly, his grip on her hand not loosening at all. "Right here."

Looking into his stubborn eyes, Su Chang'an finally gave in.

"Okay, okay, I won't leave. I'll just stay here and watch you, alright?"

She climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged next to Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan then released her hand, lay down on his side, and rested his head on her lap.

Su Chang'an stiffened for a moment, wanting to push him away, but seeing his exhausted face, she withdrew her hand halfway through.

Forget it.

Let's indulge him this once, considering he almost went crazy tonight.

Su Chang'an reached out and casually stroked Chen Xuan's hair.

My fingertips ran through those damp strands of hair, bringing a cool sensation.

The wind and snow were still raging outside the cave, and the howling wind sounded like the wailing of ghosts.

But the cave was unusually quiet.

Chen Xuan closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually became steady.

His hand was still tightly gripping Su Chang'an's clothes, as if he were grasping at the last straw.

Su Chang'an looked down at that face.

High brow bones, a straight nose, and thin, tightly pressed lips. This kid is really good-looking, but his life is just too hard.

"Go to sleep."

Su Chang'an hummed an unknown tune softly. It was a lullaby she had heard in her past life. The tune was completely off-key, but at this moment it seemed exceptionally peaceful.

"You'll wake up after a good night's sleep, and it will be daylight."

Chen Xuan's eyelashes trembled, and a tear slid down the corner of his eye and disappeared into the hem of Su Chang'an's clothes.

He silently recited a sentence in his heart.

Even when dawn breaks, I will not let go.

That night, the lights in Duanqingju stayed on until dawn.

As the poem says:

The wind and snow on the precipice disturbed my resolve, while my red robes, like fire, warmed my cold quilt.

In the past, she called me "Father" at my knees; today, she is filled with foolish anger in my arms.

Do not laugh at the young man's infatuation; it is only because the fox spirit is deeply seductive.

The Book of Forgetfulness has become worthless; from now on, the rebellious disciple is no longer under his control.