Shaotian let out a long breath before finally speaking.
His expression appeared calm, yet there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes, as though he was weighing how much he should reveal.
"General Luo is currently tracking the identities of those attackers," he said slowly. "It's just that… they don't seem to be from the rebel forces."
His tone sounded normal, but the statement itself was enough to create a sense of unease.
He did not elaborate.
Nor did he mention what he truly knew.
Shaotian chose to withhold the most critical part of the information—that the mastermind behind the attack was far more dangerous than mere rebels. That they were envoys of a darker force, something that could not be easily explained.
And that Luo Shixin was now tracing them alone.
"I believe the General will return tonight," Shaotian continued, this time with a slightly firmer tone. "We've already sent out a signal of our location, and based on the response… he shouldn't be far from here."
Xue Yunxue drew a quiet breath.
The tension that had been weighing on her chest eased slightly.
At the very least—
Luo Shixin was safe.
"That's enough," she said calmly. "At least he's alright."
But her thoughts were not fully at ease.
There were still two people she had yet to find.
Lu Xiao… and Xiang Shuai.
As for Lu Xiao, she was not too worried. That man had excellent survival instincts—in many situations, he was the one others should fear.
But Xiang Shuai was different.
Xue Yunxue's gaze slowly shifted toward the window.
Outside—
the snow had begun to fall again.
White flakes drifted down slowly, covering the world in an ever-thickening layer of cold.
The wind carried a piercing chill, making the outside feel even more silent and inhospitable.
As a snake-blooded beast, Xiang Shuai was far more vulnerable to such temperatures.
His body could not endure extreme cold for long. Under certain conditions, his instincts would force him to stop moving, seek shelter, and enter a semi-dormant state to conserve energy—almost like hibernation.
Xue Yunxue's brows furrowed slightly.
Unconsciously, her mind began to imagine the worst.
Was Xiang Shuai now hiding somewhere cold and dark? Was he asleep alone, without proper protection, still weakened after the battle?
The thought made her chest tighten slightly.
She said nothing.
But the worry lingered—quietly growing within her heart.
She actually wanted to go out and search for Lu Xiao and Xiang Shuai herself.
The urge came naturally, driven by the unease that refused to leave her. She disliked waiting without certainty—especially when two people important to her were still missing.
However, both Yun Wu and Lin Yuan refused.
Their refusal was not accompanied by many words, yet it was firm enough for her to understand that it was not something she could insist on.
In the end—
it was the two of them who left.
Yun Wu and Lin Yuan decided to go search for Lu Xiao and Xiang Shuai, leaving Xue Yunxue at the inn with Shaotian and Luo Mei.
With that decision, Xue Yunxue felt slightly more at ease.
At the very least—
she did not have to take the risk herself.
But she understood clearly—
that decision was not without reason.
The sweet scent still lingering on her body was something dangerous. Even under normal conditions, it was enough to attract attention. If she were to go out without protection—especially into the wild, filled with beasts and unknown threats—
that scent would expose her.
Even though Lin Yuan had placed a barrier to suppress it, that protection was not absolute. If she encountered ambushers or high-level beasts, the scent could still be detected.
And once her presence was exposed—
she would become a target.
That was why Yun Wu and Lin Yuan did not allow her to leave.
Staying here, with Shaotian and Luo Mei, was far safer than wandering through the dangerous forest.
After all, in Lin Yuan's eyes—
Xue Yunxue was someone who could attract danger…
even while doing nothing.
In the end, Xue Yunxue could only remain in her room.
She lay lazily on the bed, staring at the simple ceiling. The room was not large—slightly narrow and cold—but clean enough. The sheets carried a faint fragrance, offering a bit of comfort against the biting chill.
Slowly, her thoughts drifted.
She recalled her last meeting with Tao Ling.
His words.
The truths revealed.
Everything she had begun to understand…
still felt so recent.
Thinking back, ever since she arrived in this world, not a single day had been truly peaceful. Danger came one after another, never giving her time to breathe.
She fell silent for a long while.
Then—
a question surfaced in her mind.
If one day she truly managed to defeat that dark power…
would her life finally become peaceful?
She wanted a quiet life.
Truly wanted it.
Not as someone constantly hunted.
Not as the center of conflict.
But simply…
to live ordinary days in this world.
It sounded simple.
Yet precisely because of that—
it felt impossibly far away.
Her thoughts drifted until drowsiness slowly took over.
Doing nothing in such cold weather was strangely exhausting. Her body felt heavy, and the warmth of the bed gradually pulled her consciousness downward.
She pulled the thick blanket over herself, wrapping tightly, sinking deeper into the warmth.
Her eyelids lowered.
Her breathing slowed.
She was almost asleep—
Tok… tok…
A soft knock at the door made her frown slightly.
With a lazy movement, she opened her eyes and slowly got up from the bed. The cold air immediately touched her skin as the blanket slipped away, making her instinctively hug herself.
Her steps were light but reluctant as she walked to the door.
She opened it.
And paused in surprise.
"Luo Mei? You're already better?"
At the doorway, Luo Mei stood upright.
Her face was still slightly pale, but far more alive than before. Her gaze was calm, though it held something difficult to describe.
Reflexively, Luo Mei touched her right shoulder—
where the wound had been.
Now—
there was no pain.
No ache.
No lingering discomfort.
The recovery felt too perfect.
And precisely because of that—
it felt unnatural.
Deep down, she still could not understand.
How could Xue Yunxue's treatment heal something even military medicine failed to cure?
Her sister-in-law…
was hiding far too many secrets.
"Yes," Luo Mei answered softly. "It's all thanks to you."
Her tone was calm—
yet carried genuine respect.
Standing at the doorway, Luo Mei's tall figure almost filled the entire frame of the narrow room. Her presence was striking—not just because of her height, but because of the calm authority she naturally carried.
"Come in," Xue Yunxue said.
Luo Mei stepped inside without much speech.
The room was small—only one chair and one bed. Without hesitation, Luo Mei took the only chair, while Xue Yunxue returned to sit on the edge of the bed, facing her.
The atmosphere grew quiet.
But not a comfortable quiet—
rather, one that seemed to hold something back.
"Sister-in-law… there's something I want to talk to you about," Luo Mei finally said.
Her voice was gentle—
yet firm.
Her demeanor resembled Luo Shixin—elegant, composed, controlled. But unlike her brother, Luo Mei carried a clearer softness, especially in the faint smile and the sharp, fox-like gaze that was not entirely cold.
"Of course," Xue Yunxue replied. "Is it something important?"
She looked at Luo Mei attentively.
But when she saw the girl's expression—
she realized.
This conversation…
was not going to be light.
"Sister-in-law…" Luo Mei began slowly,
"How is your relationship with my brother?"
She paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
"I mean… how do you feel about him? Do you think he is a good husband?"
Her gaze dimmed slightly.
There was something in it—
hesitation.
Or perhaps… concern.
Xue Yunxue fell silent.
She truly had not expected that question.
Her thoughts moved slowly.
Not only about Luo Shixin—
but also about her past life.
About Jinhang.
About the same person in her previous life.
A man who always stood at the front, protecting others, carrying responsibility without hesitation, never allowing anyone else to bear the burden alone.
The feeling she once had toward him…
was admiration.
And respect.
"Shixin is a good husband," Xue Yunxue finally said.
Her voice was calm.
Without hesitation.
Her gaze briefly shifted toward the window, watching the snow still falling slowly, before she continued,
"I like him as well… just as he likes me."
She paused for a moment.
Then added more deeply,
"Even though there are other beast husbands between us, he is still the most responsible one. And… I respect him very much."
Her gaze returned to Luo Mei.
Clear.
Steady.
"To me, Luo Shixin is Luo Shixin."
There was no doubt in her eyes.
No wavering.
Luo Mei smiled.
It was a small smile—
but sincere.
As if that answer was something she truly wanted to hear.
Yet behind that smile, her eyes dimmed slightly.
"In that case…" she said softly, "would you still accept him… even if one day he is no longer a great General?"
She looked at Xue Yunxue deeply.
"What if he becomes just an ordinary citizen?"
Her tone was gentle.
But the question—
was heavy.
"Of course—"
Xue Yunxue answered without thinking.
But her sentence stopped midway.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Luo Mei more seriously.
"Did something happen to him?"
An uneasy feeling began to rise in her chest.
Subtle.
But clear.
As if something was being hidden from her.
Luo Mei did not answer immediately.
She took a slow breath.
Then said,
"Yes… actually, my brother plans to leave the Luo family."
Her head lowered slightly.
"Because Father… keeps forcing him to marry Princess Hu Lian."
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
heavier than before.
Xue Yunxue froze.
She truly had not expected that Luo Shixin would be willing to leave his family… for her.
The thought felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Unconsciously, her memories returned to her previous life.
Jinhang.
A child who had always longed for the warmth of family—something he never truly had, even as he grew older.
And now—
that same person…
was choosing to leave his family.
For her.
The feeling in Xue Yunxue's chest became complicated.
She understood Luo Shixin's position.
She understood the pressure he faced.
But still—
that sacrifice felt unequal.
Silence lingered between them.
Several seconds passed without a word.
Until finally—
"I will talk to him later," Xue Yunxue said softly, breaking the silence.
Her tone was calm.
But firm.
Luo Mei looked at her deeply.
"Will you leave him?"
The question came directly.
Without detour.
Xue Yunxue shook her head slowly.
"No."
Her answer was short.
But certain.
She looked at Luo Mei, her gaze deepening.
"But… what Luo Shixin is doing—abandoning his family just for me—that is not equal."
She paused briefly, as if weighing her own words.
"In my eyes… he shouldn't have to lose all of that."
Her voice softened—
yet became even stronger.
"He is someone who deserves to shine brightly."
Her gaze was steady.
Without hesitation.
"He truly deserves the very best."
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
a silence filled with meaning.
Luo Mei's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her gaze became sharper—not out of suspicion, but deeper evaluation.
She truly had not expected—
that the young girl before her would think of Luo Shixin to such an extent.
Not merely affection.
Not merely closeness.
But something deeper—
a desire not to become a burden.
Not to become an obstacle in Luo Shixin's path.
Slowly, the corner of Luo Mei's lips curved faintly.
She understood completely.
"I think you don't need to worry, Sister-in-law," she said calmly.
Her voice was gentle—
yet filled with certainty.
"I… will always stand on your side."
After saying that, Luo Mei raised her hand. A faint light flickered at her fingertips as she retrieved something from her storage space.
A small box appeared in her palm.
It was simple.
Yet it radiated a subtle, unusual aura.
She handed it to Xue Yunxue.
Xue Yunxue accepted it carefully and opened it slowly.
Inside—
lay a single feather.
White.
Pure.
Without blemish.
Its tip shimmered like glass catching light, reflecting a faint glow that almost seemed alive.
Its beauty…
was extraordinary.
"This is a White Phoenix feather," Luo Mei said softly.
Her gaze rested on the feather.
"If one day you find yourself in danger… use this."
She paused for a moment, then continued in a deeper tone,
"The entire Phoenix clan will come to your aid."
Xue Yunxue fell silent.
Her gaze remained fixed on the feather.
But this time—
not because of its beauty.
But because of its meaning.
This item…
was far too precious.
"This… is too valuable," she said softly.
She lifted her gaze.
"I can't accept it."
Her tone was sincere.
Not mere politeness.
But Luo Mei shook her head gently. Her golden eyes shimmered softly, as if hiding something she did not fully reveal.
"No," she said calmly. "I want you to keep it."
Her gaze deepened.
As though there was a greater reason behind her actions.
"Someone… told me that I must give this to you."
Those words made Xue Yunxue pause.
Doubt surfaced.
But so did curiosity.
In the end—
she did not refuse again.
Slowly, she closed the box and accepted it.
"Thank you… Sister-in-law," she said sincerely.
But after that, she gave a faint, wry smile.
"I don't even have anything of equal value to return to you."
Luo Mei only smiled.
After handing it over, she quietly returned to her room.
Xue Yunxue remained where she was, weighing the velvet box in her hand.
Wait…
Didn't she just say Phoenix clan?
Did Luo Mei have a connection to the Phoenix clan?
A soft knock sounded at the door.
Xue Yunxue turned slightly.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, and Julia appeared with a bright smile. Both her hands carried a tray filled with steaming dishes.
"I've prepared some food for you," she said cheerfully.
One by one, she placed the dishes on the small table in the room. Though the space was narrow, she arranged everything neatly—as if trying to offer the best she could despite the limitations.
Various simple dishes were served.
Warm soup.
Roasted meat.
And a few side dishes.
The aroma was quite appetizing.
Xue Yunxue had initially wanted to refuse.
But seeing Julia's sincerity—and the joy with which she prepared everything—
she could not bring herself to reject it.
"Thank you," she said gently.
Julia only smiled brightly before taking her leave.
Not long after, Xue Yunxue called Shaotian and Luo Mei to join her.
The room, which had felt adequate before, now became cramped.
Shaotian and Luo Mei were both tall and well-built, while the room itself was not designed to hold many people.
And yet—
that only made the atmosphere feel warmer.
Julia had even added two small stools into the room. They sat together around the small table, eating as best they could in the limited space.
Light conversation began to flow.
No heavy topics.
No pressure.
Just simple talk, occasionally accompanied by soft laughter.
Even though the food was not as exquisite as Xue Yunxue's cooking—
it was still enjoyable.
And in a moment like this—
that was more than enough.
Xue Yunxue observed quietly.
Her gaze occasionally drifted toward Shaotian and Luo Mei.
The way they spoke.
The way they responded to each other.
And the distance between them—
so close.
There was something there.
Something unspoken—
yet clear enough to be felt.
Could it be…
that they liked each other?