That night, Lin Yuan dreamed.
It was the first time he had ever dreamed—he had never seen anything in his sleep before.
And this dream felt far too real to be called an illusion.
From the reflection in the glass before him, he found himself inside the body of a boy—about fifteen years old, thin, pale, and weak. That body sat on a small bed in a narrow room. The walls were dull, the furniture simple, yet neatly arranged. The place felt unfamiliar… and yet strangely familiar.
As if he had once lived there.
The boy's face did not seem unfamiliar to him either.
He could see, feel, and even hear everything—yet he clearly could not control that body. He could only watch from the boy's perspective.
Suddenly, the door opened.
A girl walked in.
Her hair was long, her face gentle, and her eyes were a clear, beautiful black. Her nose was slender and refined, her lips full like ripe plums—impossible to forget. That girl was Xue Yunxue, though she looked much younger, yet her features were exactly the same as the adult Xue Yunxue. Perhaps she was the same age as the boy.
"Chen… are you ready? Brother Jinhang will come pick us up soon."
Lin Yuan froze.
Chen?
He tried to speak, to call out, to ask what was happening—but the body did not respond to his will.
Instead, another voice came from his lips.
"Xue'er… I don't want to go back to that hospital."
Lin Yuan was stunned.
That was not his voice.
Yet… it was not entirely unfamiliar either.
This body—Mo Chen—spoke with genuine fear.
Xue Yunxue stepped closer without hesitation. She took both of Mo Chen's hands, warm and firm.
"Are you afraid? I'll stay with you there. You won't be alone."
Those hands were warm—Lin Yuan could feel that warmth as if it truly reached into him.
"I just… don't want to be a burden," Mo Chen's voice trembled. "You'll enter high school this year… we need money. And the cost of this surgery is more than enough for you to continue your studies."
Tears fell.
And Lin Yuan—who merely occupied this body—felt them too.
The pain.
The suffocation.
As if those emotions were his own. It made him deeply uncomfortable—such unfamiliar feelings within his usually cold and ruthless heart.
Xue Yunxue looked at him sharply.
"I won't continue school without you."
Her voice was firm.
Without hesitation.
"School means nothing if you're not there with me."
A brief silence.
Then softer, deeper—
"So don't give up. You have to get better… so we can stay together."
Mo Chen's tears fell even harder.
Lin Yuan frowned inwardly.
This boy… too weak. Too emotional. He disliked the sensation of tears on his cheeks and mucus from his nose—it felt somewhat disgusting to him.
Yet strangely—
it made everything feel even more real.
"Xue'er… thank you…" Mo Chen's voice broke. "I'll repay you. I promise I'll support your studies all the way to college once I recover… or… I can take care of you for the rest of your life, if you want."
The embrace came suddenly.
Tight.
Desperate.
And Lin Yuan felt everything—the warmth of her body, the trembling of her shoulders, even the breath caught in her chest.
"Of course. But first, you have to recover," Xue Yunxue replied gently. "Let's go to the hospital."
That day—
Mo Chen would undergo heart surgery.
Not long after, several people entered: Jinhang, Tian Yu, Junhao, Yuxi. Warm faces. Voices trying to stay strong. They comforted, encouraged, and hid their own worry.
And Lin Yuan—
remained silent within it all.
He could clearly feel their warmth.
Was this what people called family?
That sense of familiarity grew stronger.
Too strong to ignore.
Mo Chen.
That name echoed in his mind.
Was that… him?
Or someone he had once known?
Why did this feel like a memory—
not a dream?
And most troubling of all—
why was that girl…
Xue Yunxue—
there?
As if from the very beginning—
they had always known each other.
Xue Yunxue slowly woke.
Her eyelids opened, catching sight of the unfamiliar ceiling of the cave. The sound of the waterfall echoed faintly in the distance, blending with the soft reverberation within the narrow stone space. Her head still felt a little heavy, and her memories… fragmented.
Then—
everything returned.
Her face flushed instantly.
What had she done last night…?
She tried to sit up, but her body felt heavy and weak. That was when she realized something—a slender yet muscular arm was wrapped around her waist, its pale skin as smooth as jade.
Xue Yunxue slowly turned her head.
Lin Yuan.
The man was asleep beside her.
His blue-green hair fell over part of his face, his long lashes resting peacefully. For the first time, his handsome, almost godlike face showed such calm—no arrogance, no sharp coldness.
Only tranquility.
Strangely… gentle.
So different from the merman she knew.
Xue Yunxue's heart beat softly.
Last night… she had lost control. Lin Yuan's charm, that intoxicating aura—it had clouded her mind completely. She took a slow breath, then carefully slipped out of his embrace.
Lin Yuan's arm tightened briefly, as if by instinct to hold her, but soon loosened again.
He was still asleep.
Xue Yunxue sat for a moment, calming herself. She quickly put on her clothes, faint red marks scattered across her body.
That man… had truly lost control last night.
Xue Yunxue clearly knew that Lin Yuan was not interested in women. Yet last night, he had completely lost control—and she herself had been unable to resist his charm. Would this merman kick her a thousand miles away when he woke up?
She stood.
It seemed the day was already quite late.
And Yun Wu…
had not returned.
Or perhaps—
he had.
And had seen them.
That thought made her face grow even redder. If that were true, she would be far too embarrassed to face that wolf.
She stood and walked deeper into the cave. Her fever seemed to have subsided, but that strange sensation in her lower abdomen still lingered.
The front of the cave was narrow, but deeper inside, the space widened slightly. The air grew warmer, and the sound of flowing water became clearer.
Soon, she found a small pool.
Water flowed slowly from a crack in the rock, thin steam rising from its surface. From the cave ceiling, a narrow opening allowed sunlight to slip in shyly, reflecting off the shimmering water.
Xue Yunxue crouched and touched the water.
Warm.
With a faint sulfur scent.
It seemed there was a natural hot spring here.
Without hesitation, she removed her clothes and stepped into the pool. The warm water immediately enveloped her body, easing the lingering cold and fatigue from the night before.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Enjoying the warmth.
Calming herself.
Soothing her still-chaotic thoughts.
But that peace did not last long.
A voice appeared—
not from outside,
but directly from within her consciousness.
"Yunxue… can you hear me?"
The voice was soft.
Deep.
And incredibly familiar.
Xue Yunxue opened her eyes.
"Tao Ling…?"
In an instant, her consciousness felt as though it was pulled out of her body.
Everything became light.
Distant.
Then—within a second, she found herself standing somewhere else.
Beneath a tranquil sky, before the magnificent Tree of Immortality. Its peach blossoms drifted down like rain made of light, and the air around it was filled with gentle life energy. Though the outside world was cold and covered in snow, this tree stood firm, its green leaves warm and vibrant, as if untouched by the harsh weather.
Beneath the tree—
Tao Ling was waiting for her.
His face was gentle, his eyes warm, gazing at Xue Yunxue with care… and something deeper than simple concern.
As if he had long been waiting for this very moment.
"Tao Ling… it's been a while," Xue Yunxue said softly.
Tao Ling smiled faintly, though a trace of seriousness lingered in his eyes.
"Yes. And you… have grown. Much stronger than before."
Xue Yunxue looked at him directly.
"Then tell me. What is really happening?"
Tao Ling's smile faded slightly.
"Xue'er… the power of darkness is rising. They are no longer moving in secret. Many kingdoms have already been infiltrated—and this is only the beginning."
His voice was calm, yet heavy.
"If you do not gather strength and allies soon, when they fully descend… it will already be too late."
Xue Yunxue frowned.
"But that should be the Star Princess's responsibility, not mine. I am no one… I don't have that kind of power."
Tao Ling chuckled softly.
"You foolish girl… do you truly not realize who you are now?"
He stepped closer.
"You possess a rare plant element. You have healing power. You can even awaken Hu Shui's sword art—something that should have long been lost."
His gaze sharpened.
"You can unite Moa's power. And do not forget—this body is that of a fire fox. You simply have yet to master its element."
He paused, then spoke more softly—
"Xue Yunxue… you are very special."
Xue Yunxue fell silent.
But the next sentence made her breath stop.
"Have you still not realized… that you are also a Star Princess?"
Xue Yunxue immediately shook her head.
"That's impossible. Isn't the Star Princess Hu Shui?"
Tao Ling let out a light sigh.
"You are the Star Princess… of your own world."
Silence.
Peach blossoms drifted slowly between them.
"That is why the guardian spirit of your world saved your soul and brought it here," Tao Ling continued.
"And the reason Hu Shui's body could merge with yours… is because you share the same destiny."
"Two Star Princesses. From two different worlds."
Xue Yunxue froze.
"That's impossible… in my previous world, I was just an ordinary human," she said softly, almost inaudible. "I couldn't even save myself… how could I possibly—"
"Humans in your former world were not weak," Tao Ling interrupted gently.
"They once possessed extraordinary physical abilities and potential. But over time, everything faded… and that power was lost."
His gaze softened again.
"But you are different. You came into this world… and merged two destinies into one body."
"That means… your power does not belong to just one world."
Xue Yunxue clenched her hands.
"Then… do I have to bear everything alone?"
There was doubt.
There was weight.
And for the first time, she truly felt that this responsibility was too heavy for her.
But Tao Ling smiled.
"You are not alone."
Xue Yunxue looked at him.
"The five beast husbands by your side… are not a coincidence."
Tao Ling's voice grew deeper.
"They are the reincarnations of the five guardians of the Star Princess in your previous life."
Xue Yunxue's heart pounded.
"What do you mean…?"
Tao Ling looked at her directly.
"Jinhang. Tian Yu. Junhao. Yuxi. Mo Chen."
"Their souls have been bound to yours since your previous life. That is why, in this world, they are connected to you by soul bonds."
"From your past life… until now, they carry the responsibility of protecting the Star Princess."
A gentle wind passed.
Peach petals drifted between them.
And for the first time—
Xue Yunxue realized…
that the fate she was walking now—
was not something new.
But something that had begun long ago.
"Xue'er… Xue'er!"
Yun Wu's voice sounded tense.
He shook Xue Yunxue's limp body inside the small pool. Her body was wet, weak, and unresponsive. Warm water still flowed around her, yet she remained unnaturally still.
Yun Wu immediately pulled her out.
Lin Yuan, who was also there, quickly draped a bathrobe over her body, covering her properly. He crouched beside her, his usually cold face now filled with unmistakable worry.
"Strange…" he muttered.
He could not sense Xue Yunxue's spiritual presence.
"Her soul… is gone."
Yun Wu stared at him in disbelief, but the merman's ability to detect souls was unquestionable.
Yun Wu continued shaking her, trying to wake her. The robe shifted slightly, revealing faint reddish marks along her neck and chest.
Yun Wu's gaze paused for a moment.
His Adam's apple moved.
But now was not the time for such thoughts.
"Xue'er!"
No response.
Lin Yuan's face grew even paler.
A terrible thought struck him.
Back then… he had nearly killed her while extracting her heart's blood core to save Lu Xiao.
And now—
had he done it again?
Had he, in last night's loss of control, accidentally killed her?
Was her body truly that fragile?
For the first time, Lin Yuan felt fear—so intense his face turned as white as paper.
So afraid that he did not even dare touch her again.
But then—
Xue Yunxue's lashes trembled.
Slowly, her eyes opened.
"What… are you two doing…?"
Her voice was weak, soft.
She realized she was in Yun Wu's arms.
Lin Yuan immediately moved closer, instinctively wanting to pull her into his embrace—but he stopped midway, afraid that touching her again might make things worse.
"You… didn't die?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
Xue Yunxue's brows twitched.
"Die?"
"You weren't moving… and your soul disappeared. I thought you…" Lin Yuan did not finish.
Xue Yunxue finally understood.
She gently slipped out of Yun Wu's arms and sat up carefully.
"I didn't die," she said lightly. "I just… fell into a very deep sleep."
A weak excuse.
But enough.
Yun Wu and Lin Yuan exchanged a glance.
Who "sleeps" until their soul aura completely vanishes?
Xue Yunxue pretended not to notice.
But as she moved, she suddenly realized—
beneath the robe, she was wearing nothing.
Her face flushed instantly.
"Could you both step outside… I need to get dressed."
Yun Wu let out a quiet breath, the tension in his chest easing slightly.
"Alright. I'll wait outside."
He turned and left the cave without another word.
But—
Lin Yuan did not move.
He remained where he was.
Watching.
Xue Yunxue frowned.
"Yuan… you too. Go out."
"Why should I?"
His tone was flat.
No teasing.
No mockery.
"I saw everything last night. There's nothing left for you to hide. You don't need to feel embarrassed anymore."
Silence.
Xue Yunxue stared at him in disbelief.
This man… was serious?
Did he truly have no sense of shame—or did he have some strange fetish?
"Get out," she repeated, more firmly.
But Lin Yuan remained still.
Unmoving.
His gaze steady, as if it were perfectly natural.
Xue Yunxue took a deep breath.
Fine.
She was too tired to argue with this stubborn man.
With quick movements, she grabbed her clothes and put them on as fast as possible, almost as if racing against time.
If not for—
what she had just learned from Tao Ling…
that Lin Yuan was Mo Chen—
she might have kicked him out of the cave long ago.
Mo Chen and Lin Yuan, though different in appearance and personality, shared one thing—
they were both equally dense…
and a little foolish.