Chapter 428: Cold
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"Of course it's…"
Before Qiao Qier could finish, the Crimson Dust Sword sliced cleanly across her throat…
"I don't want to hear it."
Swiftly sheathing her sword, Su Muchan still needed to pursue her master and Dongfang Jue. She couldn't linger with these three for too long.
However, Su Cheng and Dongfang Jue weren't flying particularly fast, and she caught up with them before long.
"Muchan, didn't I say to let them go?"
Su Cheng's expression was a mask of forced smiles, betraying no emotion. Yet Su Muchan, who could hear his inner thoughts, remained utterly unperturbed.
"Didn't the Master give me a hint before departing? Wasn't that telling me to eliminate the threat completely?"
Su Cheng had never given her any such look. When he left, he hadn't even noticed what Su Muchan was doing…
【Damn it, this kid's starting to read my mind. Not a good sign.】
【But she’s doing quite well—figuring out my thoughts without me saying a word.】
【Could it be because we're both instance entities? Our thought processes are strikingly similar?】
【Even if she is a dungeon entity, she's still young. Her entity value isn't particularly high among dungeon entities—barely passing, really…】
【What was I doing when I was sixteen?】
Hmm… Can't quite recall, but I was probably less mature than she is now…
"Heh, let's go."
"Here I am, Master~"
Before long, Su Cheng arrived in the Northern Realm with his two disciples.
This was a valley in the Northern Realm. Compared to the white world outside, it was relatively warm here.
"Are you cold?"
"Jue'er isn't cold." Dongfang Jue was the Northern Frontier General—if he started complaining about the cold now, wouldn't that be…
"Mu Chan is cold! Mu Chan is freezing!"
Dongfang Jue: What the hell? I distinctly remember you saying something different earlier!
If you're freezing, just put on more clothes! You barely have two feet of fabric covering your entire body—how haven't you frozen to death yet!
He just smiled at Su Cheng, then casually took off the fur coat wrapped around his body and draped it over Su Muchan…
Dongfang Jue's eyes nearly popped out of his head…
Damn it, so you were waiting here for her!
"Jue'er is cold too, Master! Jue'er is cold too!"
Kids are like that. When they're alone, they might be fine. Even if food is right on the table, they won't rush to eat it.
But if you tell them, "If you don't eat it, I'll give it to your little sister~"
Hmph, if she misses that bite, she won't sleep a wink tonight!
Exactly. Food tastes best when you have to fight for it.
Su Cheng inwardly groaned. He prided himself on not being able to fathom women's minds, but he wasn't exactly dim-witted…
This Dongfang Jue…
Jealous!
"Alright, alright, I have more here! Put it on and you won't be cold!"
Oh dear, poor little Jue'er is so upset!
He hurriedly entered the system store and bought a leather coat identical to Su Muchan's, draping it over Dongfang Jue!
"It's not the same, Master! This one's different!"
"Huh? How is it different?" Su Cheng was baffled. This was the exact same leather coat!
Same price, same materials, same craftsmanship—why isn't Jue'er satisfied?
Su Muchan stood nearby, stifling a giggle. Dongfang Jue was actually quite adorable when jealous!
Dongfang Jue was born a girl, naturally radiating a fresh, sunny charm.
This sudden shift into a girlish demeanor left Su Cheng utterly baffled…
"Shall I exchange it for you, disciple?"
"Jue'er doesn't want it! Jue'er wants the one Master wore! The one Master wore…"
Mid-sentence, Dongfang Jue realized something was off…
She quickly made up an excuse: "Master's worn clothes… Master's worn clothes are warm from being worn! They'll keep me toasty!"
One dared to say it, the other dared to believe it—and Su Cheng actually bought it!
"I see. Then shall I wear it for a while before giving it to you?"
Truthfully, Su Cheng didn't understand, but he believed it nonetheless!
Children, after all. This behavior was like a child tucking their cold little feet under his covers. He didn't overthink it, seeing it simply as a childish way of seeking affection.
His disciple—if he didn't spoil her, who would?
Expect that old man, the Human Emperor?
Ha! That old fool Dongfang Shuo only loved one woman his entire life!
His affection for Jue'er stemmed solely from her striking resemblance to the late Queen—and the fact she was the Queen's only flesh and blood.
Caring for the child? He was lucky if he even had time to glance at her!
Though Dongfang Jue lacked for nothing—food, drink, or any desire—life in the palace was what one might imagine. Happiness was not meant for a princess.
"How about this? I'll warm this coat up for you, then put it on for you, okay?"
Hearing her master speak thus, Jue'er's heart felt a little more balanced.
Once both were wrapped in their fur coats, the trio resumed their journey.
This was the location Su Cheng had scouted long ago—the optimal spot calculated through precise measurements.
Activating the Void Blueprint here would minimize the anchor point's impact on this world.
The valley had already been secured by Crane Light operatives, with surrounding space stabilized and magnetic interference minimized.
A small team of nearly thirty personnel handled security, guarding against any interference with the positioning.
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow at the Crane Light guarding the valley entrance and chuckled.
"Heguang? Where's Xiao Ai?"
Just like when she backed up Shiyao that time, Hakko was fully armed today. The equipment on her back had been replaced with what looked like jet packs placed beside her, making her resemble a mobile suit!
But no matter how one thought about it, Hakko didn't need any jet pack—she could fly on her own.
The armor's coating featured the latest matte-finish paint—a creamy white that suppressed metallic clangs during movement.
Hakuo stood with one hand on her hip, looking utterly bored.
"I'm off to prepare your coffin."
"Uh, is everything ready?" Su Cheng gave an awkward laugh, not one to hold a grudge against Hakko.
After all, Hakko was just venting verbally; she wouldn't actually pull any underhanded tricks.
"Hurry up. I'm busy."
Most of Hakko's gear lay nearby—the heavy skirt armor and breastplate, along with the Sixth Generation Godslayer Greatsword that Xiao Ai had custom-made for her at great expense—all casually propped against a nearby rock.
Currently on standby, Hakko wore only a form-fitting inner layer of light armor, revealing the attachment points for her heavy armor scattered across her body.
However, Su Cheng noticed something peculiar…
"Hey? Hakkou, that bracelet… why does it look so familiar?"
"This was a gift from Lady Gu Ai. Got a problem with that?"
Damn it, Hakkou, you're a total rogue!
The Valkyrie under Little Ai's command is definitely part of some shady underworld operation!
"Um… Your Lady Gu Ai… How could I possibly object? It looks quite nice on you…"
"Yeah, that's exactly what Lord Gu Ai said."
Su Cheng suddenly remembered something! There was something incredibly important still in that stash!
"Whoa, you guys didn't move all my treasures, did you?"
He Guang, rarely serious, looked grave as he spoke.
"That was a gift from the Queen to Lady Gu Ai. It belongs to her. Why did you hide it away all this time? What were you thinking?"
That was a gift Su Cheng's mother had intended for her future queen.
But Su Cheng's mother never lived to see the day Xiao Ai married him. Instead, Xiao Ai joined the Executioner's Blade, becoming Xun Ye's adopted daughter—the little princess of the Executioner's Blade.
"I knew it…" Su Cheng looked utterly helpless. He had genuinely forgotten about this matter!
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