Huo Qiyuan continued to shed tears as he wiped down Huo Sizhun. Overwhelmed by immense grief, even someone as perceptive as he did not realize at first that they had changed environments.
Although the space maintained a constant temperature, corpses did not undergo any adverse changes due to temperature fluctuations.
Just as it was now, Huo Qiyuan’s cleaning of Huo Sizhun would keep his body in that state, preventing further frosting and saving him the mechanical, repetitive task.
Knowing that any comfort or words at this moment would be pale and powerless, Su Muqing did not speak to disturb Huo Qiyuan.
She silently took out a damp towel and wiped away the thin layer of frost that had reformed on Leng Muran’s face.
Soon, the frost was wiped away, and Leng Muran’s features became clear.
Su Muqing had heard from Granny Zhou that her young lady had come from a privileged background and was once groomed to be the family’s heir. Even after she gave up the family business, she married into the glorious King of Side’s manor and was deeply in love with the old king.
Due to Leng Muran’s own exceptional business acumen, she had always lived a life of affluence and never lacked money. After giving birth to Huo Qiyuan, she was doted upon even more. Despite being in her forties, she maintained her youthful appearance, looking radiant and captivating.
However, Leng Muran’s complexion was now somewhat bluish-purple and slightly swollen. Su Muqing guessed this was likely due to Emperor Rui not promptly freezing her body after her death, causing blood to stagnate.
Even though Leng Muran’s complexion was uneven, Su Muqing could still tell that she was very beautiful.
Su Muqing had not seen Huo Qiyuan’s appearance before he was poisoned, and she also knew that his current face was completely different from before. Yet, she inexplicably felt that Huo Qiyuan’s face should resemble Leng Muran’s.
Huo Qiyuan sat there with swollen, red eyes, gazing blankly at his parents’ remains, for as long as Su Muqing had accompanied him.
“Qingqing, my heart truly aches. Even though I knew years ago that I had lost them, and I had desperately tried to recover their bodies, seeing them today, I wish I hadn’t. That way, I could still deceive myself with those impractical fantasies…”
Huo Qiyuan’s voice was not pleasant at this moment. It was dry and hoarse, accompanied by uncontrollable sobs that broke through his repression. Despite his best efforts to control himself, Su Muqing could clearly hear the tremor in his voice.
She stepped forward and gently hugged Huo Qiyuan’s waist from behind. Su Muqing wanted to tell him to never look back! If a person remained immersed in past pain and sorrow, they would certainly miss the beauty and joy ahead.
Perhaps it was because Su Muqing felt she wasn’t good at comforting people, and after careful consideration for a long time, she still didn’t say that. “Big Brother Huo… no matter what happens in the future, I will always be with you!”
Huo Qiyuan turned, hunched over, and pulled Su Muqing into his embrace. He lowered his head, burying his red and swollen eyes into the girl’s fair neck, greedily and eagerly inhaling the scent of her body, as if only then could he find the motivation to live.
Su Muqing also raised her hand and gently patted the man’s strong back, patiently, as if coaxing a child, repeating the gentle and warm gesture over and over.
After they embraced for a while, Su Muqing went to the kitchen to cook, while Huo Qiyuan sat back down in front of the two ice coffins. He had never seen his parents before, and although they were now separated by life and death, leaving only two corpses, he still wanted to spend more time with them.
Suddenly remembering something, Huo Qiyuan raised his hand abruptly and tremblingly touched his face.
His former appearance resembled his mother, but his physique had perfectly inherited his father’s tall stature. Now, however, he was disfigured. Apart from the cold and fierce aura emanating from his eyes and the generally similar contours, there was no trace of his former self.
He heard Qingqing say he had become a divine envoy and had the chance to meet the most unforgettable person in the small world. He wondered if, when the time came for him to see his parents again, they would be able to recognize him as their son.
In the sea of fog.
Emperor Rui, who had fainted again, slowly woke up once more. At first, seeing the white mist around him, he thought they were still in the ice chamber of the Chonghua Palace. However, gradually, he began to sense that something was amiss.
There was no imperial consort’s coffin here, nor any thick, solid ice walls. Even the white mist in the air lacked that bone-chilling cold.
Emperor Rui didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he felt an indescribable sense of comfort spreading throughout his body as he inhaled the fresh air.
It was as if the air carried spiritual energy, capable of soothing inner turmoil and alleviating physical pain.
(Su Muqing: The dog emperor enjoys himself quite well!)
Although the air here made Emperor Rui feel pleased both mentally and physically, he couldn’t help but feel curious. “Where is this place?”
“Is anyone here?”
“Guards!”
“Yuan… Huo Qiyuan… where are you?”
Emperor Rui circled the white mist. Everywhere he went, it was the same hazy expanse. The place seemed vast, as if it had no end, yet after walking for so long, it felt as though he hadn’t moved from his spot.
Su Muqing, who was cooking, saw that Emperor Rui had woken up and immediately used her consciousness to merge the two small patches of fog.
Emperor Rui had been unconscious earlier, and Su Muqing, worried that Huo Qixiao might take the opportunity to kill him, had placed them in adjacent spaces.
Receiving no response and unaware of his location, Emperor Rui grew increasingly anxious. Feeling the sweat on his forehead and the heat in his body, he took off his cloak and the strange garment.
Recalling the angina he had experienced in the ice chamber from the cold, Emperor Rui did not discard his clothes but carefully carried the heavy garments with him as he walked forward.
His intention was simple: if they returned to the ice chamber later, at least he wouldn’t have to endure that sensation of numb, itchy, and painful cold again!
Before Emperor Rui had taken a few steps, the white mist before him suddenly dispersed. His eyes widened in surprise, and he ran towards the area without mist, completely failing to notice that the path he had just traversed had once again disappeared into the thick fog.
Suddenly! Emperor Rui’s light jog halted. Not far away, a man was leaning against the ground, with a person who had already frozen into ice lying beside him.
In the empty environment, the sound from behind also caught Huo Qixiao’s attention. His back stiffened; he thought those two monsters had tracked them into the sea of fog.