Since childhood, Xue Yunxue had grown up in an orphanage alongside seven sworn siblings—a family not bound by blood, yet far stronger than ordinary ties.
The eldest was Jinhang.
Calm, resolute, and always carrying responsibility without complaint. Among them all, he was the silent pillar—the one who ensured everything remained standing.
Then came Tian Yu, the second brother.
Warm, patient, and the most skilled in the kitchen. In his hands, even the simplest ingredients could turn into dishes that warmed the heart. To him, cooking was not merely survival—it was a way to keep them alive… and keep them together.
Junhao, the third brother—
who used to watch over them quietly, protecting from the shadows without ever seeking recognition.
Yuxi, the fourth—
easygoing and cheerful, often the one who lightened the mood when things grew too heavy.
Mo Chen, the fifth—
who was always there whenever Xue Yunxue needed him, silently, without asking for anything in return.
And the two youngest—
An Ning and Lan Xi.
Both far younger, like two small points of light in their otherwise harsh world. Their laughter alone was enough to make difficult days feel lighter.
And among them all—
Xue Yunxue.
As the eldest sister, she naturally took on the role of caretaker for the two younger girls.
She also helped Tian Yu in the kitchen—chopping vegetables, washing rice, and gradually learning the art of cooking from him.
--------------------------------------------
Yun Wu stood in the kitchen with a serious expression.
The problem was—
the fried meat in front of him had already transformed into a legendary black object, stubbornly fused to the center of the pan as if it had sworn eternal loyalty to it.
Even the bottom of the pan had turned black… as though mourning its own fate.
A small flame suddenly appeared.
Then grew larger.
Yun Wu simply stared at it calmly—
as if this was all part of the process.
"…"
Lin Yuan arrived just in time and immediately threw a sphere of ice into the pan.
PSHHH!
The fire was extinguished instantly.
"Are you insane?!" Lin Yuan's forehead throbbed. "Why would you just let it burn?!"
Yun Wu glanced at him indifferently.
"I once saw Xue Yunxue cook with flames over the pan. I was merely imitating her."
Lin Yuan stared at the meat.
Then at Yun Wu—with visible horror.
Then back at the meat again.
"…that was cooking technique. What you're doing right now is cremation."
He let out a long sigh and pushed Yun Wu away from the stove.
"Go. I'll cook. I still want to live today. At this rate, you'll poison everyone."
Yun Wu stepped aside without protest, though he felt the merman was exaggerating.
Lin Yuan began heating frozen dumplings from the refrigerator, his expression tired.
"Call them down to eat," he added.
He paused for a moment, then let out a faint snort.
"Seems like they'll need plenty of energy after… wrestling all night."
His tone was flat.
But his eyes clearly showed irritation.
He hadn't slept at all.
His room was right next to Lu Xiao's, and the sounds from that room…
were far too "lively."
He had even submerged his head underwater just to find some peace—
to block out those breathless, heated sounds.
Lin Yuan stared blankly at the ceiling.
The dumplings simmered quietly.
His mating cycle had not yet passed.
Faint scales flickered along his neck, appearing and disappearing.
And those sounds from last night…
had stirred something within him again.
It seemed he would need another sedative tonight.
Though overusing it…
might bring consequences in the future.
"…damn mating season."
Xue Yunxue had finished bathing in warm water and slowly made her way downstairs, looking slightly drained.
A faint masculine scent lingered around her—deep and woody, like sandalwood—noticeable even from a distance.
Her hair was still damp, clinging softly around her face.
She wore a full-body rabbit pajama.
She had no intention of letting anyone see the faint marks scattered across her neck and chest.
That vampire—
had clearly left them there on purpose.
A fluctuation of energy rippled through the air.
A tear opened—
and Xiang Shuai stepped out, returning from his training.
He looked exhausted and immediately sat down, picking up a warm dumpling with his chopsticks.
The cold, snowy weather dulled his sense of smell—
but even so—
he could faintly detect that lingering masculine scent.
From Xue Yunxue.
Sitting right across from him.
The dumpling slipped from his chopsticks.
His mouth fell open in disbelief.
…Had this shameless woman slept with one of them again?
His gaze snapped toward the three men at the table—
and quickly locked onto the source.
Lu Xiao.
A crack—
His chopsticks nearly snapped in his grip.
First Luo Shixin…
and now Lu Xiao?
Xiang Shuai's expression darkened.
This didn't feel like the first time.
A faint sense of inferiority crept into his chest.
Had Yun Wu… and Lin Yuan also—
No.
He remembered clearly.
Both of them had said they had no romantic interest in Xue Yunxue.
Which meant—
they probably hadn't crossed that line.
And yet—
that thought did little to ease the tightening in his chest.
For the first time—
Xiang Shuai felt something unfamiliar.
A quiet…
crisis of confidence.
However, he clearly remembered—
both Yun Wu and Lin Yuan had once said they held no romantic interest in Yunxue.
Which meant—
they likely hadn't crossed that line with her.
"…Right."
"Do you want to watch the execution today?" Lin Yuan asked, his tone calm.
At the mention of execution, Yun Wu's expression darkened slightly.
His jaw tightened.
A faint chill spread across his face.
His mood was clearly poor, yet he remained silent, chewing his food without a word.
"Execution? Who's being executed?" Xiang Shuai asked.
Lin Yuan briefly explained what had happened two days ago—
how Bai Zhou had received an imperial decree to execute Xue Yunxue, forcing them to expose the real culprits: Eyen and Xuxu.
Eyen had already died at Yun Wu's hands.
And today—
Xuxu would be executed in public.
Xiang Shuai let out a breath of relief.
"Finally… Xue'er's name has been cleared."
Her house arrest had also been lifted last night.
That was good news.
"I don't want to see it. Go without me," Xue Yunxue said indifferently.
She still looked exhausted.
Sleepy.
All she wanted now—
was to rest.
After finishing her meal, she quickly headed upstairs to her room.
"I won't go either. I'll stay with Xue'er," Lu Xiao said.
Xiang Shuai immediately grabbed his wrist.
"Are you that shameless? You just drained all her energy and still want more? Don't you have any shame at all?"
His tongue was as sharp as ever.
Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow.
So—
this snake was planning to compete with him now?
The tension at the table instantly thickened.
"It would be best if no one approaches Xue'er's room," Yun Wu said coldly, his gaze fixed sharply on Lu Xiao."She needs rest. She's still exhausted. Don't disturb her."
Lu Xiao's expression darkened.
But he knew—
Yunxue truly hadn't rested enough.
Not after last night.
Not after everything that had happened.
In the end, he chose to sit back down quietly.
Perhaps later—
he would hunt a high-level beast.
Something rich in energy.
As a proper, devoted partner—
he needed to nourish her well.
---------------------------
Snow crunched softly beneath Yun Wu's boots.
His steps were steady—
but heavy.
The winter wind swept across his thin coat, yet as a werewolf, he felt none of the cold.
What he felt instead—
was something far sharper.
Regret.
From a distance, the execution grounds came clearly into view.
A crowd of beastmen surrounded the platform, their breaths forming thin mist in the freezing air.
Noise echoed faintly—
metal clashing, voices rising, cries demanding blood.
Yun Wu stood in the shadows.
He had only come—
to see Xuxu one last time.
A silent farewell.
His gaze remained forward, but his thoughts drifted back to the night before—
Xue Yunxue had sent him a recording.
A video taken during her captivity under Noctar.
In that recording—
Noctar was on a call with Xuxu.
The two appeared intimate.
Close.
As if she had already become one of his women.
That betrayal—
felt like a dull blade carving into his chest again and again.
Yun Wu's jaw tightened.
He felt foolish.
Guilty.
Because of his insistence on saving Xuxu from the rebel stronghold—
Lin Yuan had been injured.
Xue Yunxue's true form had been exposed.
And now—
Noctar was obsessed with capturing her.
If Noctar succeeded—
it would be because of his mistake.
Perhaps—
Xuxu had been sent to Wulong this time…
for Xue Yunxue all along.
After all—
Noctar had already seen her true form.
A nine-tailed divine fox.
Combined with her rare plant-element power—
anyone who recognized her value…
would crave her.
Just like Eyen.
Just like Xiang She.
The crowd's roar shattered his thoughts.
Xuxu was brought out.
Her head was covered with a white cloth.
Her body dragged forward.
Weak—
yet still struggling.
A judge began reading her crimes aloud.
Even exposing how she had deliberately disguised herself as Xue Yunxue to frame her.
The crowd exploded.
Outrage surged.
They learned—
she belonged to the Chameleon Clan.
A clan infamous for mimicking others.
The reaction intensified.
Anger.
Mockery.
Fear.
All tangled together.
"Execute her!"
"Kill the fraud!"
The voices rose like waves.
The executioner shoved Xuxu onto the execution frame.
Her neck was locked in place.
Above her—
a massive blade hung suspended.
Large.
Sharp.
Sharp enough—
to sever a rhinoceros's neck in a single strike.
Xuxu struggled violently.
"I'm innocent! Let me go—!"
She screamed again and again.
No one cared.
The crowd drowned her out completely.
Yun Wu watched.
Only for a few seconds.
His eyes were empty.
No sympathy.
No anger.
Only…
fatigue.
He turned away.
He had no interest in watching her head fall.
BANG!
His steps halted.
The sound tore through the air like thunder.
Yun Wu turned.
The executioner—
collapsed.
Blood burst from his chest.
Silence.
—
The next moment—
chaos exploded.
The beastmen panicked, scattering in all directions.
Screams filled the air.
Silver bullets rained down upon the crowd.
Bodies fell.
Blood spread across the white snow—
a brutal contrast.
The Mayor of Wulong, present at the scene, was knocked from his seat as one of his aides was shot and collapsed onto him.
City guards rushed forward, shielding him and dragging him toward a safer building.
Bodies kept falling.
Blood soaked the snow.
Silver rounds tore through the panicked beastmen—
military-grade bullets capable of piercing rhinoceros hide and shattering soul cores.
Yun Wu narrowed his eyes.
His instincts flared instantly.
This wasn't an accident.
This—
was an attack.
He tried to locate the source of the gunfire.
Moments later—
his nose caught a faint, familiar scent.
At the same time—
the sky trembled.
Like an invisible veil being torn open.
A massive shadow slowly emerged from nothingness.
A warship.
Enormous.
Large enough to carry ten thousand soldiers.
Silent.
Oppressive.
Its gun barrels pointed downward—
at the fleeing, panicked crowd below.
Clearly—
it possessed advanced camouflage, enough to evade the city's defenses.
And on its side—
a skull emblem marked with a red banner.
The flag of the Rebel Army.
Yun Wu's pupils shrank.
"…Noctar."
One by one—
soldiers descended from the sky.
Landing heavily.
Opening fire immediately.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Within minutes—
Wulong City fell into complete chaos.
City guards panicked.
Orders were shouted.
Formations hastily formed.
Gunfire returned.
But the assault—
was too fast.
Too precise.
Too organized.
If this was merely to rescue Xuxu—
then it was excessive.
No.
This was something far greater.
Noctar intended—
to crush Wulong City.
And take it.
Yun Wu no longer hesitated.
His body transformed.
Bones shifted.
Muscles swelled.
In an instant—
a massive black wolf stood amidst the falling snow.
Its eyes burned with a fierce, predatory light.
He inhaled deeply—
sorting through the chaos of scents in the air.
Blood.
Iron.
Gunpowder.
The mixed stench of countless beastmen.
And beneath it all—
that faint, unmistakable trace.
Though subtle—
he was certain.
There was only one person who carried such a scent…
and possessed the power to command an army like this.
Noctar.
Without hesitation—
he ran.
Fast.
Faster than the winter wind.
Snow exploded behind him as he tore across the ground.
Only one destination filled his mind—
their residence.
If Noctar was leading this assault personally—
then there could only be one target.
Xue Yunxue.
And this time—
Yun Wu would not allow anyone to lay a hand on her again.
Even if he had to tear this entire city apart—
with his own claws.
----------------
Back at the residence—
Lu Xiao and Lin Yuan had already sensed a massive fluctuation of energy from afar.
But neither of them knew what was happening.
The moment Yun Wu arrived and explained everything he had seen—
the two exchanged glances.
That abnormal surge of power—
clearly belonged to high-tier beastmen.
Xiang Shuai had met Noctar once before.
That man—
a supporter of the Third Prince.
The one who had helped that traitor seize the throne.
He had also heard—
Noctar had set his sights on Xue Yunxue.
Because she possessed the form of a nine-tailed fox.
This time—
his arrival undoubtedly carried a purpose.
Without hesitation, Xiang Shuai woke Xue Yunxue.
They had to leave Wulong City immediately.
From the distance—
screams echoed endlessly.
Gunfire thundered through the air.
The scent of blood and metal grew sharp and suffocating.
Still slightly drowsy—
Xue Yunxue followed her four beastmen as they searched for a way out of the city.
But midway—
her sleepiness vanished.
Her eyes widened.
What she saw—
froze her in place.
Weak beastmen—
being hunted down.
Among them—
a woman clutching a small panda cub, too young to even transform.
Something twisted in Xue Yunxue's chest.
Anger.
Sorrow.
Without hesitation—
she turned to Lu Xiao.
"Help them."
Lu Xiao nodded.
In an instant—
the pursuing rebel soldiers were slaughtered.
Xue Yunxue finally understood—
in war…
the ones who suffered the most—
were always the weakest.
Women.
Children.
Her conscience stirred.
She could not ignore this.
She reached out and tapped Yun Wu's side as he carried her through the chaos.
"We can't just run," she said firmly."We have the power to fight. Let's fight—and save as many people as we can. We can't flee like cowards."
Yun Wu and the others fell silent.
Then exchanged glances.
Xiang Shuai recalled the words of High Priest Shen Qiyun—
that Xue Yunxue might be the true Star Princess.
Compassionate.
Righteous.
Someone who would never stand by while others suffered.
He nodded immediately.
Even if he was the weakest among her four beastmen—
he would still fight at her side.
As long as she wished it.
The others followed.
"I'll treat this as cultivation training," Lin Yuan said coldly.
In truth—
he held no affection for the Yanhuo Empire.
Whether it fell or not—
meant nothing to him.
But as the future successor of the Eastern Sea Priesthood—
he was responsible not only for the Eastern Sea—
but for the balance of the world itself.
Running from battle—
would stain his name.
Xue Yunxue raised her hand.
Her plant-element power surged violently.
From beneath the ground—
thousands of golden vines erupted.
They wrapped around the rebel soldiers—
binding them instantly.
Sharp thorns pierced into their flesh.
Some managed to break free—
bleeding heavily.
Others—
were dragged beneath the earth.
Never to return.
Xue Yunxue stood alongside her four beastmen.
The winter wind howled, snow swirling around her delicate figure.
The once pure white ground—
had turned crimson.
Blood stained the snow—
defiling its fragile purity.
She moved without restraint.
A massive whip formed in her hand—
woven from poisonous thorns.
With a single swing—
a dozen elite soldiers fell.
Yun Wu—
in his massive wolf form—
tore through enemies with fang and claw.
Anyone caught—
did not survive.
He was like a walking slaughter machine.
Lin Yuan's mental force struck—
disorienting the rebel soldiers.
The moment they faltered—
countless ice blades descended.
Ending them in a single motion.
Lu Xiao's poisonous mist spread across the battlefield—
coiling around enemies—
reducing them to pools of blood.
Xiang Shuai lashed out with his hardened serpent tail—
crushing bodies—
devouring their soul cores.
The rebel forces grew cautious.
They had assumed this was a weak border city—
with the weakest defenses.
But now—
they realized their mistake.
High-tier beastmen still existed here.
Signals were sent.
Reinforcements called.
From the main gates—
tens of thousands of rebel soldiers flooded into the city.
Spreading across every district.
Their intent was clear—
to flatten Wulong City.
To erase it completely from the map.
Meanwhile—
Bai Zhou curled up in his secret chamber with several trusted aides.
His face was pale as paper.
His hands trembled uncontrollably.
He sent a distress signal to the Emperor.
Praying—
that the imperial army would come.
That Wulong City could still be saved.
The Emperor read the message.
He frowned slightly.
Wulong City—
weak.
Borderline.
Lacking resources.
From a strategic standpoint—
sending troops there would be a waste.
Without hesitation—
he ignored the message.
And continued preparing—
to attend Princess Hu Lian's birthday celebration.