The years stretched into decades, but the flow of time meant nothing to a soul that was already broken.
For five more years, the past Su Qinglan lived under the silent shadow of Xuan Long. He was different from the others; he didn't demand words or smiles. He looked at her as a strange, quiet companion.
Eventually, a cold sort of protectiveness grew in his heart. He decided to adopt her, treating her like a lost child who would never grow up.
Xuan Long thought that perhaps if he took this "dumb" female to a large city, the sight of other people and the noise of civilization might wake her up.
He moved her to a bustling beast city, and though she remained as silent as a stone, their life was peaceful.
Xuan Long was a solitary figure, used to centuries of loneliness, so he didn't mind her stillness.
To him, she was a quiet presence that filled the void of his long life. He was simply happy to have a companion who didn't fear him or ask anything.
