TSFLIP Chapter 244

He murmured, “Qingyu.”

“Qingyu is my uncle. My mother passed away shortly after giving birth to me, so he raised me. But I don’t like calling him ‘uncle’—he’s only thirteen years older than me. I’m going to marry him.”

He smiled faintly, his expression cleaner and purer than the snow and ice surrounding them. “Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Why should I be ashamed?” Her bright eyes blinked playfully. “You don’t know how handsome Qingyu is. There are plenty of women who adore him. And with his reserved nature, if I don’t take the initiative, he might slip away.”

He asked suddenly, “Do you often call people handsome?”

“Not really. I’ve only ever said it about two people: Qingyu, and you.” She grinned and plopped down on the icy bed beside him. “But even though you’re very good-looking, I still think Qingyu is the most handsome.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “She also often says I’m handsome.”

“She? Are you talking about that beautiful lady? Who is she to you?”

His gaze shone like the stars. “She’s my wife.”

“You must love her very much.”

Love?

That word… he still didn’t quite understand what it meant. He only knew that keeping her by his side was the only way he could go on living. Was that love?

He asked her, “Do you want to live forever?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Immortality sounds great, but once you live forever, the people around you grow old and leave, until you’re the only one left. That kind of loneliness would be unbearable. Life and death are natural. In youth, you have friends and love. In old age, you have a partner by your side and grandchildren around your knees. Isn’t that kind of life better than a destiny of eternal solitude?”

A glimmer flickered in his eyes. In the past, if someone had said such things to him, he would never have envisioned the scene of growing old with a companion or being surrounded by grandchildren. But now, he could imagine it—just a little.

Seeing his silence, the girl, named Xiaoxiao, shyly scratched her head. “Honestly, I’m just rambling… I was inspired after hearing Aunt Mu talk about a story from many years ago, where an evil villain killed many people to create an immortality elixir.”

“A murderous villain… ha.” His lips curled into a faint smile, one that carried both tenderness and an untamed charm.

Afraid he didn’t believe her, she added quickly, “Aunt Mu is the current leader of Qianjin Pavilion. Everything she says must be true. Oh, and guess what—I also know the leader of the Demon Sect!”

“Do you?”

His casual tone only fueled Xiaoxiao’s determination to prove herself. “I’m not lying! The previous Demon Sect leader was Uncle Nangong. He’s in poor health because a very bad person broke his clavicle years ago. Aunt Guan has been taking him all over the land, searching for the right medicines to heal him. So, Uncle Nangong passed the position of sect leader to his son, Nangong Mo. But I don’t like Nangong Mo.”

“Why don’t you like him?” He seemed mildly intrigued.

“He’s so full of himself! Did you know, Xiaoyu—she’s Uncle Dan and Aunt Mu’s daughter—doesn’t like Nangong Mo at all? But Nangong Mo kidnapped her and brought her back to the Demon Sect! In the end, Uncle Dan had to storm the sect to rescue her. For days afterward, Xiaoyu was so scared she wouldn’t sleep alone and kept calling me to stay with her at Qianjin Pavilion. Uncle, don’t you think Nangong Mo is awful?”

He smiled gracefully, exuding an air of elegance. “He is rather awful. Shall I kill him for you?”

“Ah?” She was startled, her eyes wide at his calm, almost nonchalant tone. She quickly waved her hands. “No, no! Nangong Mo might be awful, but he’s Aunt Guan’s son. Aunt Guan treats me very well. I don’t want to upset her.”

“She treats you well?”

“Mm-hmm. Qingyu says it’s because Aunt Guan feels guilty about something to do with my mother. But they won’t tell me what. I think Qingyu’s lying. After all, when I was little, I loved teasing Nangong Mo, that little brat.” She suddenly lit up with excitement. “Qingyu must be jealous. He doesn’t want me near Nangong Mo, so he made that up. Honestly, all that talk about treating me like a niece is just a lie. I’m so adorable—how could he not fall for me when he sees me every day?”

“You’re not wrong.” His gaze drifted from her smiling face to the figure lying on the bed. His icy hand gently caressed the cold face of the woman in red. This was the action he had repeated most often over the years.

She was so lovely. How could he not fall for her?

Xiaoxiao sat quietly, knowing better than to interrupt such a tender moment.

In the stillness, he suddenly spoke. “Why are you looking for the Ice Crystal Fruit?”

Xiaoxiao froze for a moment before replying quickly, “Qingyu often suffers from heart pains. Grandpa Sun told me it’s because part of his heart is missing. Qingyu doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but I want to cure him. I heard that the Ice Crystal Fruit from the Northern Region has regenerative properties, so I came here to find it.”