Over the past few days, Xue Yunxue's residence appeared unusually peaceful.
Peaceful… only because every danger had been eliminated before it could ever be seen.
Several groups of bandits had accepted payment to infiltrate the estate under the cover of night. Assassins without names or traces lurked upon nearby rooftops, waiting for an opening. Yet not a single one managed to pass the gates.
Xue Yunxue herself never realized that her name had already been placed on the underworld's assassination list.
Each time killing intent approached—Lin Yuan moved first.
He was rarely seen. Sometimes he stood silently beneath the shadow of a tree, sometimes atop the highest roof. With his power, he manipulated the souls of the intruders, driving them into madness or forcing them to slaughter one another. It was a cruel method, born from forbidden merfolk arts that preyed upon the deepest fears hidden within the human mind—an ability possessed only by a select few among merfolk royalty.
Lu Xiao acted as well.
Mysterious black mist spread wherever he walked, silently devouring intruders and reducing them to ash without leaving a trace. His methods were even more ruthless, yet cleaner. He disliked the sight of blood and scattered corpses; the scent of blood threatened to awaken the uncontrollable instincts of a vampire within him.
Since then, no reckless cultivator or bandit dared approach the residence again.
Meanwhile, inside the estate—
Xue Yunxue was fighting a very different war.
Yun Wu trained her without mercy.
"Your body is too weak. Your strength is too low," he stated flatly on the first day.
The training was brutal, direct, and uncompromising. Weighted running before sunrise. Breathing exercises until her lungs burned like fire. Sparring sessions that sent her crashing to the ground again and again.
She was treated like a newly recruited soldier.
Her muscles nearly tore apart. Her joints throbbed constantly. Even lifting chopsticks felt exhausting.
Yun Wu remained expressionless.
"If you are not strong enough, you will die before any of us."
His words were cold—but not wrong.
Still, Xue Yunxue's frustration gradually reached its limit. One evening, while staring at Yun Wu's food bowl, a childish thought surfaced in her mind.
She imagined slipping laxative medicine into his meal—picturing his serious expression collapsing into panic from stomach pain.
The mere fantasy brought her a small sense of satisfaction.
But the plan never succeeded.
Every time she acted even slightly suspicious in the kitchen, Lin Yuan would appear from nowhere.
"What are you doing?" he once asked, the corner of his lips lifting faintly.
"Planning something?"
Xue Yunxue could only snort in annoyance.
In recent days, Lin Yuan had kept his distance. He no longer provoked her openly. His words remained sharp, yet he never crossed the line.
He was like a shadow that had chosen silence.
That afternoon, after a training session that nearly left her unable to stand, Xue Yunxue sat on a stone bench in the backyard. Her breathing was heavy, sweat soaking her back.
Footsteps approached.
Luo Shixin stopped before her.
His face remained cold, like an impenetrable wall of ice. His calm gaze revealed nothing.
He extended a small bottle filled with clear liquid.
"Drink this," he said briefly.
"You'll feel better."
It was a military-grade recovery potion, famous for restoring exhausted soldiers on the battlefield.
Xue Yunxue stared at him for a few seconds.
This man truly resembled a snow-covered mountain—tall, silent, and distant.
Yet beneath that frost… was warmth he never openly revealed.
She accepted the bottle.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Luo Shixin gave a slight nod before turning away, as though his appearance had merely been coincidence.
After drinking the potion, the pain in her body gradually faded. Warm energy flowed through her meridians, soothing strained muscles and aching bones.
A truly precious medicine.
Xue Yunxue smiled faintly as she watched Luo Shixin's retreating figure.
Over the past few days, the Great General had remained at the residence almost constantly.
He rarely spoke. Rarely showed emotion. Yet his presence was steady—like an unshakable wall that required no praise.
Is the Great General… unemployed these days? Xue Yunxue wondered silently.
With five fully grown men possessing extraordinary appetites, their domestic life was anything but light.
A single large prey beast—a spirit deer or a horned wild boar—could disappear in one meal alone.
Because of that, they took turns hunting outside the city.
Xue Yunxue did not remain idle. Aside from training, most of her time was spent cooking and cultivating plants. Back in her previous life, when she still lived in an orphanage, she had already grown accustomed to planting vegetables and herbs.
Only… the plants in this world were far more complicated.
Spirit coriander leaves.
Flame ginger roots.
Wild onions with piercing aromas.
Though their flavors resembled those from her previous life, their shapes were stranger—larger, more vibrant, filled with spiritual vitality.
Life felt… simple.
Peaceful.
What made her most proud were the flowers she planted along the eastern side of the courtyard.
From those petals, she extracted fragrant oils using a simple distillation technique. She failed repeatedly, tried again countless times—until finally she succeeded in producing several small bottles of clear perfume with a gentle, elegant scent.
When Xiang Shuai caught the fragrance, his eyes immediately lit up.
"This isn't ordinary perfume," he said with a crooked smile.
"This scent can mask the smell of human blood from beastkin senses. If we enter wild territories, they won't immediately treat us as prey."
Xue Yunxue naturally already knew this. Moa had taught her many things about plants and medicine, greatly expanding her medical knowledge.
Ten thousand miles away from Wulong City—
At the highest pavilion of the Eastern Palace of Yanhuo, a young woman stood before an open window.
The night wind stirred crimson-gold silk curtains.
In her hand lay a neatly opened letter.
Her fingers were slender, nails shining like pomegranate petals. Her sharp eyes—cunning and sleek like a fox—moved across every line of the report without missing a single word.
When she finished reading—
A small flame ignited at her fingertip.
The paper burned instantly, turning into drifting ash that vanished without a trace.
She was Hu Lian.
The lost princess. The legitimate eldest daughter of the Yanhuo Kingdom.
The future Star Princess, whose coronation would take place in two weeks.
Her lips curved slightly, yet no warmth existed within that smile.
"Xue Yunxue…" she murmured softly.
What kind of girl dared to take what should have belonged to her?
Even after Hu Shui had "died," those five beast-like men still had not come to her.
She had sent an official invitation.
She had opened the door for them.
Yet not one of them appeared.
The rejection felt like a slap across her face.
She—the rightful princess of the kingdom—had been refused by five men who should have been honored simply to stand beside her.
But she knew the reason.
They hated Hu Shui.
And in their eyes, all royal princesses were the same.
Arrogant. Manipulative. Cruel.
All because of Hu Shui.
Hu Lian's gaze hardened.
No one knew the real truth.
Hu Shui's death had not been an accident.
She herself had orchestrated it.
She had arranged the grand funeral—complete with false tears and towering incense smoke.
While the real Hu Shui—
Was imprisoned in the deepest underground chamber.
Tortured under accusations of colluding with rebels.
Broken slowly, piece by piece, until she nearly died.
And when that body was no longer useful—
It was discarded far beyond Yanhuo's borders to erase all traces.
Everything had been done without the King and Queen's knowledge. Only she and a few trusted confidants knew the truth.
Yet after all those sacrifices and calculations—
She still had not obtained those five men.
Frustration burned within her chest like raging fire.
How could they still refuse?
Now, they had even become the husbands of Xue Yunxue.
A girl without noble blood, without status, without legitimacy.
Hu Lian closed her eyes briefly.
But in two weeks—
She would be crowned the Star Princess.
The royal prophecy had already been announced.
The entire nation awaited her.
With a status that high, who would dare refuse her?
She would not only possess the throne—
But the very symbol of heaven itself.
When she stood as the Star Princess, bathed in sacred light and blessed by the kingdom—
Those five men would surely see her differently.
Not only because of power.
But because of her beauty… and her grandeur.
She had worked tirelessly to win the hearts of the people. Only one final step remained before she became the center of the world's attention.
Hu Lian opened her eyes.
There was none of the gentleness the people rumored.
Only burning determination.
She did not need to turn around. She merely waved her hand lightly.
The air behind her trembled faintly—like a curtain brushed by invisible wind.
From the shadow of a jade pillar, a man emerged soundlessly.
His long black robe brushed the marble floor without producing a single footstep. A dense, dark aura flowed from his body like poisonous mist. His spiritual pressure was crushingly heavy.
He stopped half a step behind Hu Lian.
His head slightly lowered.
Yet his presence alone… was enough to make anyone tremble.
Controlled killing intent.
Power barely restrained.
A butcher accustomed to living in darkness.
Hu Lian spoke calmly—
"Kill a woman for me."
----------
Bitter steam continued to rise from the clay pot, filling the kitchen with a sharp, piercing herbal scent.
"What exactly are you cooking? That smell makes my tongue uncomfortable," Xiang Shuai complained, briefly flicking out his sensitive serpent tongue before quickly retracting it with a disturbed expression.
"Ah, sorry. I'm brewing an herbal concoction," Xue Yunxue replied while stirring slowly. "It's a potion that temporarily enhances combat strength."
"You can make something like that?" Xiang Shuai froze in surprise. His golden eyes widened in disbelief.
In truth, the formula came from Moa. The ancient spirit, who had lived for over five thousand years, possessed immeasurable knowledge of rare plants. Within its body were even preserved DNA samples of ancient herbs long extinct in the outside world. From there came all the seeds now growing in the villa courtyard.
Moa had urged her to attempt recreating an ancient strength-enhancing elixir.
And Xue Yunxue knew… she would need it.
Secretly, she had cultivated several rare herbs in a corner of the courtyard, nurturing them personally and feeding them spiritual energy to accelerate their growth.
"Uh… yes. I've been reading ancient medical texts and studying them," she answered quickly, searching for a reasonable excuse.
Xiang Shuai narrowed his eyes at the murky liquid bubbling inside the pot.
"You're not making poison, are you? That looks more like mud than medicine."
"Of course not!" Xue Yunxue snorted irritably. "I made this for myself."
Inside, Xiang Shuai felt relieved.
Good.
That meant he wouldn't have to taste that suspicious mud-colored brew.
Suddenly—
"Is our little Xue'er making medicine?"
Lu Xiao appeared silently at the doorway, as if a shadow had condensed into human form. He had just returned from hunting; fresh game hung over his shoulder, while several high-level beast crystal cores glowed faintly in his hand.
"Yes, I made a few potions," Xue Yunxue replied, pride slipping into her voice.
She took several small glass bottles from a wooden shelf and lined them neatly across the table.
Inside were liquids of various colors—light green, clear blue, faint red, and pale gold.
"This one relieves colds. This is for internal injuries. This one treats external wounds," she explained, pointing one by one. "And this… ah, this is for broken bones."
Her eyes sparkled like a child proudly displaying handmade crafts.
"You really made all of these?" Xiang Shuai asked again, this time without mockery.
Xue Yunxue nodded.
Not long after, Yun Wu returned carrying his hunting spoils and immediately began cleaning and cutting the meat in the courtyard.
Seeing him get to work at once, Xue Yunxue glanced at the two noblemen before her.
"You two should clean the rest of the meat and cut it into portions. I'll cook something delicious later," she said.
"You're ordering this honorable prince to clean meat?" Xiang Shuai protested unhappily.
"Of course. Whoever doesn't work doesn't get dinner," Xue Yunxue replied firmly.
Though reluctant, Xiang Shuai could not resist the promise of her cooking. He followed Lu Xiao into the courtyard to help prepare the prey.
Earlier that morning, Luo Shixin had gone to the border near Wulong City. Apparently, intruders had attempted to enter Yanhuo Kingdom's territory.
Xue Yunxue looked around for Lin Yuan, but the merman seemed absent again. The man disappeared whenever he pleased.
Near evening, Lin Yuan finally returned carrying an enormous haul of fish and shrimp.
"I'm tired of eating meat. Today I want something different," he said calmly.
Xue Yunxue didn't mind at all. She was already imagining the delicious dishes she could make with such fresh seafood.
"Alright, clean some of the fish and shrimp. I'll make something good for you," she replied. Truthfully, she herself had grown tired of eating meat every day.
Night deepened as the spirit clock on the wall slowly approached nine.
Formation lamps illuminated the dining room in warm golden light, reflecting off thin steam rising from dishes that filled the table.
Xue Yunxue stood beside it for a moment, quietly admiring her work with simple satisfaction.
Fresh game had been turned into tender steaks, their browned surfaces releasing irresistible savory aromas. Beside them were sweet-and-sour stir-fried meat glazed in red sauce, and marrow bone soup whose rich broth carried a soothing fragrance.
Lin Yuan's catch was equally tempting—sour fish soup, grilled fish coated in spices, and sizzling stir-fried shrimp served on heated stone plates.
She sighed softly.
If only there were wheat… I could've made shrimp tempura.
This planet didn't have anything resembling wheat. Perhaps later she should discuss alternatives with Moa.
The five men had already gathered around the table.
Xiang Shuai barely concealed his excitement, chopsticks moving even before everyone officially began eating. Lu Xiao ate leisurely, occasionally praising the flavors, while Yun Wu remained calm as always—yet his plate emptied faster than anyone else's, a clear sign of approval.
Lin Yuan, who once barely cared for human food, was quietly becoming addicted. He refilled his fish soup without a word, deliberately slowing his movements as if hiding his enjoyment.
The atmosphere felt warm and alive.
The soft clink of chopsticks, brief conversations, and the aroma of food created a peace they rarely experienced.
Then the front door suddenly opened.
Night wind swept in together with Luo Shixin.
The general looked slightly weary—something rarely seen. Travel dust clung to his robe, and his cold aura felt heavier than usual.
Xue Yunxue immediately stood.
"You're back?" She quickly handed him a bowl and chopsticks. "Wash your hands and eat. The food's still warm."
Luo Shixin paused, seemingly surprised by her natural concern, before nodding quietly and doing as told.
After returning, he sat down and drank a mouthful of hot soup. His tense shoulders visibly relaxed.
Yun Wu lifted his gaze. "What happened? Trouble at the border?"
Luo Shixin placed his bowl down slowly. "Yes. A large number of mutants attempted to breach the kingdom's territory. The stationed troops were too few… many were injured."
The dining table fell noticeably quieter.
Xiang Shuai paused mid-bite, brows slightly furrowed. "Why have they suddenly become more aggressive?"
Luo Shixin answered calmly, though his tone carried weight.
"It's most likely connected to Hu Lian's coronation as Star Princess in the capital… two weeks from now."
Xue Yunxue's spoon froze midair.
A breeze drifted through the open window, causing the spirit lamp flames to flicker.
At the end of the table, Lin Yuan and Lu Xiao exchanged a brief glance—silent, yet filled with shared understanding.
"What do you mean… Princess Hu Lian?" Lu Xiao asked quietly.
His usually relaxed eyes darkened, as though old memories had begun to stir.
"The coronation invitations were distributed several days ago," Luo Shixin replied evenly.
The warm atmosphere vanished, replaced by silence. Only the faint crackling of the spirit lamp could be heard.
Lin Yuan set down his chopsticks, blue eyes sharpening.
"Are you certain Hu Lian is truly the Star Princess?"
"The royal priest has prophesied it," Luo Shixin said flatly. "She is called the savior goddess… the princess destined to lead the world out of darkness."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Lin Yuan and Lu Xiao exchanged another glance. No words were spoken, but doubt was clear in their eyes.
Could it be…?
Hadn't the real Star Princess died long ago?
Across the table, Xue Yunxue blinked in confusion.
Wasn't Hu Shui supposed to be the Star Princess, according to the Sea Priest Lin Tianhai? she wondered inwardly.
Moa's voice immediately echoed in her mind, ancient and deep like a memory from ages past.
That is correct. The true Star Princess is Hu Shui, Moa said firmly.
Its tone soon grew serious.
Hu Lian is not the Star Princess. And a Star Princess cannot be born twice within five thousand years.
Xue Yunxue stiffened slightly.
Why are you so certain? she asked silently. Wouldn't it be good if someone replaced Hu Shui? Wouldn't our burden become lighter?
Moa fell silent for a moment before replying, its voice heavier than before.
Because Hu Lian is Hu Shui's elder sister. When Hu Shui was born as the Star Princess, that destiny became bound to her soul and cannot transfer to another—especially not Hu Lian. And if Hu Lian had truly been the Star Princess, then two Star Princesses would have existed at the same time. Such logic is impossible.
Xue Yunxue's grip on her bowl tightened unconsciously.
Back in the real world, Lin Yuan spoke again.
"Could the royal priest have made a mistake?"
Luo Shixin shrugged lightly. "Perhaps. The current priest is not the former one. He was very young when he took the position."
He paused, recalling something.
"I met him once. Around twenty-two years old. White hair, handsome face… but thin and pale like someone ill."
He looked down at his bowl.
"Very different from the former Grand Priest of the Eastern Sea—tall and imposing. Even generals lowered their heads instinctively in his presence."
Silence settled once more over the table.
"They have sent me an invitation. Most likely, all of you received one as well," Luo Shixin said calmly, though his gaze hardened slightly.
Yun Wu slid open the screen of his chakra computer. Silver rune-light shimmered softly in the air, forming a slowly rotating royal emblem. The official aura radiating from the seal carried a faint pressure—enough for anyone to understand that this was no ordinary message.
Lin Yuan, Lu Xiao, and Xiang Shuai almost simultaneously activated their devices. Rings of energy unfolded around their wrists before forming transparent screens.
And sure enough—
A digital invitation stamped with the golden seal of the Yanhuo Kingdom appeared, its grand lettering glowing brilliantly:
Coronation Invitation — Star Princess Hu Lian.
The words pulsed faintly with light.
Xiang Shuai snorted softly. "A direct royal invitation… they even used a high-level chakra network."
Lu Xiao read the message without blinking, his expression gradually darkening. Meanwhile, Lin Yuan stared silently at his screen, yet the air around him seemed to grow slightly colder, like the deep ocean suddenly turning still before a storm.
On the other side of the table, Xue Yunxue remained relaxed.
She did not even bother opening her chakra computer. She did not even know who this Princess Hu Lian was.
After dinner ended, Xue Yunxue immediately stood up to clear the table. Her hand had just reached out to gather the dirty plates when a large hand gently stopped her.
"I'll wash them," Luo Shixin said briefly.
His tone remained as flat as usual, but his movement was firm—leaving no room for refusal. Xue Yunxue blinked in surprise. A great general who normally commanded armies was now standing in the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves slightly and neatly stacking the dishes.
"Then… I'll leave it to you," Xue Yunxue said with a light smile.
Without waiting any longer, she returned to her room. Her body felt warm and heavy after a full meal. As soon as the door closed, she dropped onto the soft bed.
Ah… so comfortable…
Her thoughts gradually blurred, and it did not take long before her consciousness sank into sleep.
She dreamed.
Not about this world.
But about her former life.
That day was her graduation day at school.
The sky was bright, the summer breeze gentle, and the school courtyard was filled with laughter and farewell voices. Xue Yunxue stood holding her graduation certificate—the highest ranking in the entire school.
Her smile was bright, slightly shy, yet full of pride.
At the school gate, several figures were already waiting for her.
"Xue'er! Over here!"
The warm voice belonged to Jinhang, the eldest brother at the orphanage. Tall and sturdy, his face always calm like someone carrying responsibilities far beyond his age.
"Let's go home. We've prepared a big dinner," he said with a smile.
"Yeah! Tian Yu even cooked meat today!" Yuxi shouted excitedly. The young man gently ruffled Xue Yunxue's short hair. Behind his smile lingered a faint sadness—he still remembered how Xue Yunxue had once sold her long hair to pay for his medical treatment.
"Then we should hurry home!" Xue Yunxue replied cheerfully.
Her smile was so sincere that everyone around her felt warmed by it.
They were not related by blood.
Yet growing up together since childhood had forged a bond stronger than blood itself.
In that orphanage, there were five brothers and three sisters.
Jinhang was the eldest, always the pillar everyone relied on.
Tian Yu, only a year younger, was skilled at cooking and rarely spoke much.
Jun Hao, the third brother, was cheerful and often the source of laughter.
Yuxi, a year older than Xue Yunxue, was gentle yet strong.
Mo Chen, the same age as Yunxue, always protected her quietly from behind.
Yunxue also had two younger sisters—An Ning, twelve years old, and Lan Xi, only ten—both of whom often stayed with Aunt Tang's children because they were still too young.
That night, they all gathered around a simple round table in the orphanage.
An old table marked by the scratches of time.
Neighbors came as well, bringing food.
Aunt Tang from next door brought fragrant ginseng chicken soup, an expensive dish they rarely tasted. Uncle Ye from the house behind arrived laughing loudly, placing a stack of warm meat pies on the table.
Dim yellow light illuminated the small room. Laughter filled every corner.
There was no luxury.
Only simple food, beloved faces, and the warm feeling of home.
"Our Yunxue really is the smartest child. I heard you received a scholarship to study in the city?" Uncle Ye asked as he handed her a warm meat pie.
The savory aroma of meat mixed with the steam of soup, filling the small room. The old ceiling lamp swayed gently in the night breeze, casting warm shadows across everyone's faces.
"Thank you, Uncle Ye," Xue Yunxue replied softly as she accepted the pie. She smiled, though a faint hesitation lingered in her eyes. "I'm happy I graduated well this year… but about university, I might need to think about it again."
She understood their situation.
Pursuing higher education was not merely a dream—it was a luxury difficult to reach for orphanage children like them. Even with a scholarship, studying medicine was far from cheap.
"No. You must go to university."
Jun Hao's voice sounded firm from across the table. He looked at Xue Yunxue with a seriousness he rarely showed.
"We'll help you continue your studies."
"That's right," Tian Yu added as he placed a bowl of soup in front of her. "You don't need to worry about money. We'll work to support you. You've sacrificed too much for us already… now it's your turn to chase your dream."
His words made Xue Yunxue's hand freeze midair.
Warm.
Heavy.
And so sincere that her chest tightened.
"I'm planning to find work in the city too," Mo Chen said quietly, his voice calm as always. "If you study there, you won't be alone. I'll stay with you."
The room fell silent—not from sadness, but from the warmth filling every corner.
Xue Yunxue's eyes began to sting.
Tears slowly fell before she could stop them.
"As for An Ning and Lan Xi, you don't need to worry," Aunt Tang said gently beside her. The middle-aged woman smiled warmly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealing deep sincerity. "They'll be safe with me. All of you just need to focus on your own futures."
"That's right," Uncle Ye nodded with a small laugh. "This neighborhood may be simple, but everyone here is family."
Tian Yu looked at her again, his smile bright and honest.
"We'll work hard so you can become a doctor… just like you've always dreamed."
Those words struck Xue Yunxue's heart gently yet deeply.
She gripped her chopsticks tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly.
At that old wooden table, surrounded by simple food and people who loved her unconditionally, she felt something more precious than anything else—the warmth of home.
In her young heart at that time, Xue Yunxue silently made a promise.
If one day she succeeded… if she truly managed to change her fate, then she would never abandon them. She would never forget that small dining table, their simple laughter, or the warm hands that always pushed her forward even while they themselves lived in hardship.
That promise rooted itself deeply within her, becoming a small light she carried wherever life dragged her.
—
In another world, inside a quiet room, Xue Yunxue's body lay peacefully upon a soft bed. Her breathing was steady, yet the corners of her eyes slowly grew wet.
Clear tears flowed without her realizing it.
Even in sleep, her heart was struck by an overwhelming longing—a longing that could not be touched, could not be chased back. The faces that once stood beside her now existed only in memory; those beautiful moments could never return.
She missed their voices.
She missed the laughter in the orphanage.
She missed the simple home filled with warmth.
Within her dream, Xue Yunxue still stood beneath the warm yellow light, surrounded by a family not bound by blood, but by a love stronger than anything else.
And unconsciously, her lips moved softly, almost like a whisper.
"…I will never forget you."