The silence that followed was not awkward.
It was… comfortable.
The snow continued to fall slowly, flake after flake, as if the sky had decided not to interrupt that moment. The wind was gentle, almost respectful, and the world seemed to have turned down its volume just to leave them there, lying side by side, breathing in the same rhythm.
Ren Zu closed his eyes for a moment.
And that was when he felt it.
A familiar mental touch, laden with such a well-known sourness that it nearly drew a smile from him before the words even formed.
"Hmph… Master." Hei Jiayue's voice sounded in his mind, clearly trying to appear indifferent, but failing miserably: "Playing in the snow, laughing, lying next to another woman… you seem to be having quite a lot of fun."
Ren Zu didn't even open his eyes.
But he replied immediately.
"Jealous?" The word was dry, direct, and deliberately cruel.
"W-w…!" She choked mentally. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm just pointing out an obvious fact!"
He opened one eye, staring at the sky, perfectly calm.
"If you want…" He answered with calculated laziness: "I can play like this with you later."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
If Feng Xue'er could have heard what was going on inside the mind of the one considered the most terrifying existence in the Primordial Chaos, she would have witnessed an entire queen short-circuiting.
"…M-Master…!" The voice returned, much softer, clearly trying to hide something: "D-don't say that kind of thing so suddenly…"
But there was something there—something dangerously pleased? That was perhaps the best way to describe that tone.
Ren Zu smiled faintly.
"Milady Queen…" He replied mentally, with a tone far too gentle to be innocent: "You would look beautiful in the snow…"
If there was any response after that… he simply ignored it.
Because, at that exact moment, something far more interesting stood before him.
Ren Zu opened his eyes and turned his face toward Feng Xue'er.
She was still lying there, gazing at the sky, her blue eyes reflecting the infinite white, her lashes carrying tiny flakes that melted slowly. There was a new emotion in her expression, something that hadn't existed in her before that day.
Ren Zu watched her for a few seconds.
Then spoke, casually:
"You know…" His voice was calm, almost distracted: "…a few years ago, the entire Profound Sky Continent was talking about a certain dance."
Feng Xue'er blinked.
She turned her face slowly toward him.
"Dance…?"
Ren Zu nodded slightly.
"The dance you performed in the snow when you were thirteen. The one that made the entire world decide, without debate, that Feng Xue'er was the number one beauty of the continent."
Her heart gave a small jolt.
"…That…?" She looked away, clearly caught off guard.
Ren Zu said simply:
"I never saw it, but I would very much like to see you do it…"
She fell silent.
The hand that had been holding snow slowly closed, fingers tightening on the fabric of her dress.
"…The last person who saw it…" Her voice came out softer: "…was Big Brother Yun."
For a moment, Feng Xue'er felt that old tightness in her chest—not as crushing as before, but still there. There was a part of her that felt… guilty. As if dancing again would erase something precious. And yet, she loved dancing in the snow—that was why she hesitated.
Ren Zu noticed, but didn't press. He simply said casually: "You don't have to if you don't want to."
She took a deep breath.
Silence stretched for a few seconds again.
After thinking for a long time, Feng Xue'er murmured:
"…Alright."
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Alright?"
She nodded.
"I… can dance." Her tone was still shy, but there was resolve in it: "Just… don't laugh."
One corner of his mouth curved.
"I wouldn't dare."
Feng Xue'er took a deep breath.
Then she stood up.
Snow slid from her shoulders as she rose, her phoenix dress settling against her body while the cold wind made the fabric ripple gently. She took two steps forward… and stopped.
Ren Zu, for his part, sat up in the snow, one arm resting on his knee, posture relaxed, gaze fixed on her with attention.
As if the entire world had been reduced to the figure before him…
Feng Xue'er kicked off her enhanced shoes, and her perfect ankles and feet immediately entered his line of sight. The pair of delicate feet—pure and translucent, white as snow and soft—stepped onto the white snow that, unexpectedly, was less bright than her delicate skin. Her feet were like the purest jade pearls in the world, divine and shining with the luster of precious gems.
Snowflakes continued to fall.
Within that world of falling snow, the Snow Princess began to dance gracefully. The hem of her beautiful phoenix dress floated with her elegant movements. Jade crystals, one after another, released an enchanting glow. Even the golden phoenix on her clothing seemed to be dancing gracefully… But how could a phoenix dance ever compare to the breathtaking beauty of the Snow Princess? Her delicate, soft body was like water lentils rippling on the surface, like willow branches swaying in the wind—so fantastical it seemed like a dream… Even the dance of goddesses in the Heavenly Palace might not have been grander than this.
Ren Zu watched with an appreciative gaze, his eyes fixed without moving for a long time. The image of her dancing nimbly in the snow, every single moment, was deeply engraved into his memories and soul.
He knew that in his entire life, he would never be able to forget this graceful figure dancing.
While he watched without blinking, Feng Xue'er eventually noticed that fixed, appreciative stare. Feeling it upon her, her perfect, delicate cheeks gained an involuntary rosy hue. It wasn't an ordinary look. It was as if those black eyes weren't undressing her body, but her soul—seeing every contained emotion, every silent doubt, every secret she herself barely understood.
A warmth rose up her neck, and her heart raced. Not just from the effort of dancing, but from the strange, intense sensation of being watched in that way.
It was as if, for the first time, someone was truly seeing her.
The idea made her nervous at first. Her steps faltered for a brief, almost imperceptible instant. But then… came the joy.
A subtle, growing joy, like snow accumulating slowly until it becomes something grand. The more she danced, the more she wanted him to keep watching, for those black eyes to follow her every turn, every graceful extension of her arms, every light leap that sent snow scattering around like white confetti. It was as if his gaze made her more alive, more real—as if the dance had stopped being just for herself and had also become for him.
At first, she hadn't even wanted to dance. But as her body moved, as the snow fell gently and the wind whispered around her, she remembered why she loved it so much.
Dancing in the snow was freedom.
It was peace.
It was as if the entire world dissolved, leaving only the movement, the gentle cold against her skin, and the distant sound of the wind. That was where she felt truly herself.
And now, with him there… with his gaze following her… all of it became even harder—and more beautiful—to explain.
Reluctantly, the young woman stopped the dance, letting her body relax as her eyes roamed the whitened world around her. She felt as if she had fallen into an illusory realm, something that had never appeared even in her deepest dreams. The beauty of that place surpassed any divine fantasy she had ever imagined—it was so perfect that she couldn't even conceive how it could be captured in a drawing, even if she had such talent.
For a moment, she remained silent, absorbing everything: the snow, the cold air, the almost unreal sense of peace.
Then she turned to Ren Zu.
There was a soft, almost touching innocence in her eyes when she spoke, her voice carrying a natural sweetness:
"Was my dance good, husband?"
The question came out simple, sincere, as if that moment were eternal.
Ren Zu didn't answer right away. He simply smiled lightly—and even so, it was beautiful enough to make the world around seem to lose color. The snow, the sky, the mountains—everything paled before that simple curve of his lips.
Feng Xue'er froze for a second.
Her heart beat too hard.
Then he raised his hands… and clapped softly, in a slow, sincere rhythm, as if he didn't want to break the delicacy of the moment.
"I loved it." His voice came out calm, deep, carrying a tranquil honesty. "It was beautiful."
She had heard compliments before. Many. Since childhood, people had praised her beauty, her grace, her dance. Beautiful words had never been rare for her. So why… why did those words, spoken by him, make her chest warm like that? It was strange. A soft, almost shy warmth spread inside, as if something had been touched in just the right place. Her smile appeared before she even realized it—spontaneous, lighting up her delicate face.
"If… if you want…" She said, too excited to hide it, eyes shining. "I can keep dancing."
Ren Zu tilted his head slightly before letting himself be carried away by that precious moment in his life full of schemes and ambitions.
"Actually…" He spoke while slowly rising from the snow and approaching her: "…I'd prefer something else."
He extended his hand to her.
"I'd like to dance with you."
Feng Xue'er's eyes widened. She quickly spoke timidly:
"With… me…? My Noble Father once said that no one is allowed to touch my body, especially men. I cannot disobey my Noble Father's words, so… so…"
"I believe that rule doesn't apply to me, since we're going to be husband and wife, right?"
Feng Xue'er remained silent.
It was true—the two of them were husband and wife at that moment. Her father had been clear: she should behave properly before him, obey, not cause trouble. All of it still echoed in her mind. But Yun Che had been the only man who had truly come close to her, the only one who had occupied that delicate space in her heart. Betraying that memory felt wrong. Painful. As if she were staining something she still cherished.
But at the same time, she didn't want to disappoint the man in front of her. He was there, looking at her, waiting. And in that instant, between the weight of the past and the reality of the present, there was a brief second of hesitation.
Then desire arose.
Too fast to be rationalized. Silent, yet intense. Not lust, but a confused, almost instinctive need that cut through her doubts and reached straight to her heart.
Before she could think better of it, she extended her hand.
And placed it over his.
The instant their fingers touched, Feng Xue'er felt as though a gentle current ran through her entire body. His hand was warm. Not an aggressive heat, but a gentle, firm, welcoming warmth.
A warmth that enveloped her heart.
And, without realizing it, that sensation spread through her entire soul, bringing with it something she hadn't felt in a long time: safety.
Ren Zu closed his fingers around her hand carefully, as if holding something far too fragile to grip tightly. Seeing the blush grow even stronger on her face, he simply smiled again—and that made Feng Xue'er blush even more, as if she had been caught doing something forbidden.
Then he gently placed his other hand on her waist.
Feng Xue'er held her breath for a moment.
And then, with no music except the wind and the falling snow, they began to move.
Like a first wedding dance beneath a romantic melody that existed only for them.
Ren Zu led with ease, each step sure, each turn smooth, guiding her as if he had done it countless times before—even though he hadn't. Feng Xue'er followed almost instinctively, her body responding to his, their movements fitting together with an astonishing naturalness.
The phoenix dress rippled around them. Snow rose with every turn, forming a white veil that enveloped them like a world apart.
She rested her free hand on his broad shoulder. He was close enough for her to feel his warmth contrasting with the winter cold. Close enough to notice that his heart beat firm, steady, reassuring.
Ren Zu didn't break the rhythm of the dance.
The steps remained slow, almost lazy. The snow crunched softly under their feet. The cold was no longer noticed by Feng Xue'er—everything that existed was his warmth, the firm hand on her waist, and the tranquil presence that enveloped her completely.
After a few moments, he spoke.
His voice came out low, too close, as if he didn't want those words to exist outside that small white world.
"It's strange…" He said without interrupting the movement: "I've only known you for a short time."
Feng Xue'er raised her gaze slightly, lashes still carrying tiny flakes.
"And yet…" He continued, with an honesty that didn't sound rehearsed, "…in so little time, you've become someone I couldn't replace."
Her heart skipped a beat… and then raced.
It was as if those words had pierced straight through her chest, ignoring any defenses she still tried to raise. A light, almost absurd sensation spread through her stomach—like invisible butterflies, agitated, confused… and strangely happy. Feng Xue'er blinked, surprised, feeling the blush spread across her cheeks, warm and soft, like snow melting under the sun.
"I… I…" Feng Xue'er murmured, her voice trembling but carrying something too sincere to deny. She took a deep breath, gathering courage…
"You… you've also become someone important to me, husband." The words came out slowly, as if they needed to be felt before being spoken. "I… don't know how to explain it properly… but it's true."
As she said it, she realized she wasn't lying. Perhaps she didn't fully understand what she felt, perhaps it was still too early to name it, but the feeling existed. Real, present, pulsing in her chest alongside the heart that now refused to return to its normal rhythm.
Ren Zu didn't reply with words. Instead, he raised his free hand and gently placed it on her face, long warm fingers touching her soft skin, making her tremble as if a subtle lightning had run down her spine. The touch was gentle, almost reverent, as if he were holding something far too precious to grip tightly.
The dance ended naturally, as if it had reached its inevitable conclusion.
"Xue'er…" He said, his gaze locked on hers, deep and calm. "Our marriage… political or not… it no longer matters."
She held her breath.
"Now, I've already decided—you're free to refuse. But I would like you to be my wife in truth…"
The words hung in the air like suspended snowflakes, carrying an intensity that made her heart beat even harder. Feng Xue'er felt the world shrink until everything disappeared, leaving only him before her, those black eyes swallowing her like a sweet, inescapable abyss. The idea of refusing crossed her mind for a moment, but in that instant it was the only thing that made her feel happy and alive, that made her forget her sadness and anguish, that made her feel so happy and at peace as she had never felt before… If she refused, she would lose all of this that had become so important in her heart without her even realizing…
She slowly raised her hands and held his wrist—not to push away, but to keep it there. Her fingers were cold from the snow, but they trembled slightly—not from fear… but from intensity.
"I…" Her voice came out low, almost a whisper carried by the wind. She looked away for a moment, as if needing to gather enough courage to face not him, but what she felt: "I'm still learning to live with what I've lost. There are still memories that hurt… and parts of me I don't know where to put."
She raised her gaze again, meeting his.
"But when I'm with you…" The blush returned faintly: "…I don't feel pressured. Or suffocated. I feel safe. I don't want to lose this… I accept. I… want to be your wife in truth."
Ren Zu said nothing. His dark eyes softened for an instant, the tiniest crack in his indifferent facade. Then, with deliberate slowness, he leaned his face toward hers. The hand on her waist pulled her closer, their bodies touching with a closeness that made her gasp.
He stopped just a few centimeters from her face.
So close that Feng Xue'er could feel his breath mingling with hers, warm and steady, contrasting with the cold air around them.
He tilted his head slightly, his voice low, careful, almost solemn.
"Xue'er…" The fingers touching her face moved slowly, his thumb lightly brushing the line of her cheek: "I want to kiss you."
"May I?"
Feng Xue'er's heart pounded hard enough to make her forget how to breathe for a second. The entire world seemed to disappear again, reduced to that suspended moment, to the man before her, and to the silent desire forming in her chest without her asking for it.
She didn't answer with words.
Her eyes, still moist with emotion, slowly descended… stopping on his lips.
They fixed there.
It was as if something inside her had already decided before her mind could catch up. A gentle, unconscious, almost innocent longing took shape as anticipation in her heart. Like someone who, without realizing, draws closer to warmth after a long time in the cold.
Then, with a small, almost imperceptible movement of her head…
She nodded.
Ren Zu noticed immediately.
Without haste, he leaned in and claimed those perfect lips, worthy of a goddess stepped out of a dream.
The first touch was too soft to be real. Just a delicate brush, almost shy, like a snowflake landing on skin: cold and warm at the same time. They were so soft there was no explanation. Incredibly soft. Like silk warmed by sunlight, like the velvet of a petal still holding morning dew.
Feng Xue'er felt a shock run through her entire body. It wasn't a violent bolt, but a subtle, electric current that made her knees weaken and the air vanish from her lungs. Her lips trembled against his, uncertain and inexperienced, but responded on instinct. Her blue eyes closed on their own, as if the world had disappeared in that instant.
Ren Zu didn't force. He guided her patiently, shaping his lips to hers, leading each movement with a calm that only made everything more intense.
When his tongue touched hers gently, Feng Xue'er shivered from head to toe.
The world spun.
His taste was intoxicating, warm, impossible to ignore. Emotions crashed inside her: surprise, shyness, a growing warmth in her chest that spread through her veins… and something deeper, more dangerous—desire.
Then the kiss deepened.
His tongue brushed hers like a silent invitation, slow, almost respectful, as if calling her to a secret dance that existed only between the two of them. Feng Xue'er surrendered without realizing, their movements intertwining in a calm, intimate rhythm. He pulled her closer, bodies pressed together, his chest against hers. She felt his heart, firm and steady, beating in time with hers.
Her hands rose to his broad shoulders, clutching the dark fabric as if she needed to anchor herself to something real before everything around her dissolved.
Feng Xue'er melted in his arms.
Her entire body softened, her knees truly weakening now, her weight leaning against him as if he were the only fixed point in the universe. The cold of the snow contrasted with the fire growing inside her, making every sensation more vivid: the heat of that kiss, the touch, the lack and need for air at the same time.
The kiss lasted an eternity—or perhaps only a few seconds.
When they finally parted, slowly, reluctantly, her breathing was rapid. Her blue eyes remained locked on his, dazed, as if she were still trying to understand what had just happened.
A single tear slid down her cheek.
It wasn't sadness.
It was simply too much emotion to fit inside her heart.
Ren Zu touched her face again, wiping the tear with his thumb.
"You're mine now…" He whispered calmly into her ear…
And Feng Xue'er, with her heart pounding like a drum, nodded—not out of duty, but for something that was born there, in that moment, beneath the snow.
"Yes… husband."
The kiss still echoed through her body like an unfinished melody, leaving her dizzy, warm, wanting more—even if she didn't know how to ask.
_______________________
(A/N: Yeah… there's really no running from it 😌 Our girl Feng has finally fallen in love with Ren Zu and let's be honest, that was basically screaming at us since the last chapter. Emotions don't come with an instruction manual, and humans are definitely terrible at explaining them.
What really matters is that Feng Xue'er is genuinely happy. Even with something so "small," Ren Zu fulfilled a dream she carried in her heart: seeing snow. And as if that wasn't enough, he played with her, laughed with her, and shared a simple moment with her… a moment that ended up becoming eternal in her memory. In the end, she simply couldn't resist the charm of our beloved Demon Emperor and honestly, who could? 😏
I truly hope you enjoyed this moment between the two of them. From here on out, the development will become a bit deeper, more emotional… and maybe hotter 👀🔥
There's a strong chance I might write a lemon scene between Ren Zu and Feng Xue'er before the Illusory Demon Realm arc. What do you think? 👀🍷
I really want to hear your thoughts on this development. Personally, I liked how it turned out — but there's nothing better than hearing from you all. So comment, complain, praise, and freak out with me....
Did you enjoy the chapter? Then you should know that over on my Patreon you can read up to 18 chapters ahead for just 5USD! And yes—for that price, you also get full access to all of my content. That's right: cheaper than a snack… and with way more drama, action, and guaranteed emotional damage.
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