Ugh... Said too many things against my will...

The moment the grand doors burst open, an arctic blast surged into the hall like an avalanche.

The crystal chandeliers instantly glazed over with icicles, while the nearest disciple of the Tai Xuan Demon Sect—still mid-bite into a chicken leg—was flash-frozen into a statue, the spiritual fowl leg in his hand crumbling into frosty shards that pattered to the floor.

The temperature plummeted. A thin layer of ice rapidly spread across the ground, and even the wall ornaments began to crackle faintly as frost claimed them.

Everyone shivered involuntarily, their gazes snapping toward the entrance.

"Su... Su Muwan...?"

Someone’s trembling voice uttered the name.

Then—

Click. Click.

Ice-blue stilettos shattered the frost-laden floor as Su Muwan strode into the hall, her silver-fox fur cloak billowing behind her. Where her skirt brushed the tiles, intricate mandala-like ice patterns bloomed.

Her face was a portrait of cold beauty, her eyes radiating arrogance and disdain—as if everyone present were nothing more than ants she could crush between her fingers.

Half a step behind her, Qin Luo moved with leisurely grace, his indifferent gaze sweeping the crowd like a butcher sizing up lambs for slaughter.

Hm? Not bad...

Three T0 protagonists, a bunch of T1-T2 Chosen Ones... Interesting.

Is this the full extent of the Profound Heaven Realm’s talent?

Gulp.

The hall fell dead silent.

Throats tightened as sweat turned to ice.

Holy hell... Why is this demon here?

Is she competing? Well, game over then.

Wait—no.

After exchanging glances, the crowd remembered.

This duo was here as advisors...

Not competitors. Crisis averted.

The next second—

"Welcome, Advisor Qin! Lady Su!!"

Minister Li of the Tian Hai City Martial Alliance Branch scrambled over, wiping sweat off his brow with a servile smile. "Your presence is an honor for this year’s grand competition! Ah, and this humble one is surnamed Li—you may call me little—"

Before he could finish—

"Annoying."

Su Muwan shot him a frost-laced glance, her brow furrowing slightly. "Just lead the way."

!!! Yikes!!!

The young mistress really was a walking blizzard.

Standing this close, I can barely breathe!

This... this is just—!

Minister Li’s lips turned purple, his face pale, yet he forced a sycophantic grin. "Y-yes! The lounge is prepared with millennium snow lotus tea! This way, please!"

From a shadowed corner, Su Bailian watched Su Muwan and Qin Luo’s grand entrance and mentally facepalmed.

Seriously, auntie?

Do you two have to make an entrance like this every time?

Anyone would think you’re the villains here...

Well, actually...

Only you look like the villain, auntie.

Outwardly, Su Bailian played the trembling, pale-faced victim, but inside, she was roasting them mercilessly.

As the hall remained frozen in silence, Su Muwan and Qin Luo advanced toward the lounge.

Then—

"Woof!!"

Boqi, cradled in Su Bailian’s arms, suddenly leaped out.

Boqi?!

Su Bailian’s mind blanked. Not now! You’re not in this scene!

Click. Click.

Tail wagging furiously, Boqi bolted toward Su Muwan and Qin Luo—drawn solely by the sight of Qin Luo.

But—

Whoosh!

In the next instant, Su Muwan, recognizing neither kin nor kindness, ensnared the white spirit pet’s tail in a coil of icy mist and hoisted it upside down midair.

"Where did this stray come from?"

She eyed the squirming creature, a flicker of recognition crossing her mind.

This little thing... looks oddly familiar...

"Woof!"

Boqi kept wagging its tail at Su Muwan, overjoyed to reunite with its original master.

"Su—Sister Su...!"

Su Bailian hastily rose, her gauzy skirt snagging on a table leg and nearly tripping her.

She ignored it, stumbling forward with a face etched in panic and helplessness.

"I-it’s my spirit pet!"

Her voice was a whisper, her eyes instantly welling up as if tears were seconds from falling.

She dared a fleeting glance at Su Muwan before bowing her head again, fingers nervously twisting her skirt. "Boqi doesn’t know any better... P-please... show mercy and let it go..."

Her voice dwindled to near inaudibility.

Plink. Plink.

Tears—perfectly timed—streaked down her cheeks and splattered onto the icy floor.

The surrounding young masters and misses exchanged pitying looks, some even murmuring under their breath.

"Lady Su is too cruel... She won’t even spare a spirit pet?"

"Exactly! Boqi’s so adorable—how could she?"

"Poor Little Lian... To beg like that for her own pet..."

"Rumor has it she’s Lady Su’s sister. Imagine the treatment she gets at home..."

Su Bailian’s head drooped lower at the whispers, her shoulders quivering as if bearing the weight of the world’s injustice.

Her fingers gently stroked Boqi’s fur, her voice choked with sobs. "Boqi really didn’t mean it... It’s just playful... Sister Su, you’re magnanimous... Please forgive it this once..."

Her tone was abject, as if Su Muwan were a deity and she a mere mortal pleading for scraps.

Grit!

Even knowing Qin Luo had instructed Su Bailian to "act natural"—

This is just infuriating!

Su Muwan’s insides twisted.

But... my reputation’s improved lately. I’ll endure!

With that, she maintained her icy facade. A flick of her finger brought Boqi eye-level, and she pinched the pet’s head between her fingers.

Boqi’s tail stopped wagging, its round eyes blinking innocently.

Su Muwan scoffed, her voice unexpectedly softening a fraction. "Little Lian, why the dramatics? It’s just a pet. I’m not petty enough to hold a grudge."

Ah, so it’s that steak-glutton mutt Su Bailian’s been spoiling.

No wonder it looked familiar.

Wait, it’s a spirit pet now?

How much resources did she dump into it?

Or does Su Bailian actually have a talent for beast taming?

...What about my little sharks back in the aquatic realm? Their potential’s definitely superior.

The hall collectively froze.

The whispers died instantly, replaced by stunned gaping.

"D-did Lady Su just call her ‘Little Lian’?"

"Wasn’t she always cold to her? Like during the ancient ruins incident in the royal city... Felt like she didn’t even see her as human..."

Excuse me?! What slander is this?!

Su Muwan’s ears burned.

"Could it be... Lady Su actually cares but just can’t express it?"

Su Bailian, too, feigned shock, lifting her head—

Her eyes held a mix of surprise and confusion, as if she hadn’t expected Su Muwan to suddenly address her with such familiarity.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt, her voice stammering slightly, "S-Su... Sister Muwan... You..."

Su Muwan gave her a cool glance, her tone still indifferent, but her words were unexpectedly considerate: "How have you been lately? I heard you’ve hit a bottleneck in your cultivation. Do you need help?"

The statement exploded like a bomb, instantly stirring up murmurs among the crowd.

Everyone stared at Su Muwan in shock, as if seeing her for the first time.

"Oh my! Miss Su actually took the initiative to care about Junior Sister Bailian!"

"I told you! Miss Su might seem cold, but deep down, she really cares about her family!"

"Looks like we all misunderstood her before—she’s just not good at expressing her feelings..."

Su Bailian’s eyes reddened again.

She lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly, "Thank you... Sister Muwan... I-I’m fine. It’s just a minor issue with my cultivation, but I’ll figure it out..."

Su Muwan frowned, her tone still aloof: "Don’t take cultivation problems lightly. If you really can’t solve it, come to me... or Qin—never mind, just come to me."

With that, she released her grip on Boqi, who didn’t fall to the ground but instead lunged toward Qin Luo.

"Woof woof woof!"

Qin Luo: ?

Su Bailian bit her lip and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Muwan... I will."

Su Muwan nodded. "Let’s go, Qin Luo."

"Yes, Young Miss."

Qin Luo shook off Boqi and followed Su Muwan out of the hall.

The crowd watched her retreating figure.

Suddenly, someone gasped in realization.

"I remember now! There were rumors that the reason Miss Su became so harsh was because of her cultivation technique—it devours emotions!"

"That explains it... No wonder she’s always so cold."

"Ah... What a tragic fate..."

"Junior Sister Bailian, come on, get up. The floor’s cold."

Several people rushed to help Su Bailian to her feet.

As she stood, Su Bailian felt dizzy, her chest churning with nausea.

Oh no.

She had heard far too many words that should never have come out of Su Muwan’s mouth.

Even though she knew it was all an act...

But—!

Su Bailian covered her mouth.

Gag!

Ugh!!!

Sister Muwan, please just go back to calling me a scheming little bitch like before!

That venomous, ruthless version of you is the real one!

...

...

Meanwhile, back in the lounge, Su Muwan was also pale, letting Qin Luo massage her chest to soothe her discomfort.

"Young Miss, what’s wrong?"

"Ugh... I said too many things I didn’t mean... It’s making me sick..."

"......?"