Douluo: This Legend of the Dragon King is not quite right

Chapter 920 The Snow Empress's Suppressed Emotions
The cheers from the crowd reached their peak, with countless people tilting their heads back, mouths agape, and shouting excitedly.

Amidst the deafening noise and dazzling light, Hyotei quietly turned her head to look at Yuki-tei beside her.

Xue Di still had her face slightly tilted up, her beautiful eyes reflecting the dazzling colors of the sky, but the focus of her gaze was clearly on Lu Jun's profile, which was constantly illuminated by the fireworks.

Her gaze was focused and complex, surging with a repressed yet yearning light that Hyotei knew all too well.

Hyotei's emerald eyes flickered, and a sly yet encouraging smile appeared on her lips.

Taking advantage of the roar of another massive firework explosion, she turned slightly to the side, leaned close to Xue Di's ear, and whispered in a breathy voice, almost drowned out by the deafening roar, yet incredibly clear:

"Snow Emperor, stop looking!"

"No matter how beautiful the fireworks are, they will eventually fade away."

"Some words, some feelings, if we don't say them now, we may never have the chance again."

"Look, even God is helping you build momentum... It's so noisy, no one can hear what you're saying."

So don't be afraid.

"Stop suppressing yourself."

"Right now, right here..."

"Be bold, be brave and tell him."

Hyotei's voice was extremely low, blending into the deafening roar of fireworks and the clamor of the crowd. It was as subtle as a wisp of icy wind brushing against the ear, yet it possessed an undeniable penetrating power, clearly piercing into Yuki-tei's ears.

Upon hearing Hyotei's secret telepathic message, Yuki-tei stiffened abruptly.

She almost hastily withdrew her gaze from Lu Jun's profile, unconsciously clenching her fingers, her fingertips sinking deep into the soft, cool grass beneath her.

The subtle coolness of the broken blades of grass spread along my fingertips, but it did nothing to quell the sudden, unfamiliar, and overwhelming heat rising on my cheeks.

She suddenly turned her head, her icy blue eyes meeting Hyotei's cunning gaze, as if he already knew what she was thinking.

They've been good friends for so many years, how could they not see each other's mental state?

In an instant, Xue Di felt her heartbeat completely out of control.

It was no longer a gentle, powerful pulse, but had turned into a herd of startled fawns, frantically thrashing about in the closed chest cavity, chaotic and noisy like the beating of drums.

Her breathing became short and erratic; the cold air she inhaled seemed to ignite some kind of flame, burning her throat until it was dry.

She doesn't understand.

I don’t understand why Hyotei would choose this moment, in this way, to suddenly pierce through that thin layer of paper that she herself dared not think about deeply, and that she had carefully maintained with silence and distance.

She couldn't understand why she had panicked and lost her composure the moment she was exposed.

She didn't ask for much.

I just want to stay quietly by his side, within his sight, to offer help when he needs strength, and to have a corner where he can rest when he returns exhausted.

Just like everything she has done since he awakened her from the slumber of the Ice Abyss Sword and gave her a new life.

They would charge into battle for him, share the burden of powerful enemies with him, and silently protect him while he cultivated or fought.

She would obey his orders without hesitation, no matter the danger. Initially, this may have stemmed from the simplest desire to repay a debt of gratitude.

If Lu Jun hadn't used the Ice Abyss Sword as a vessel to contain her nearly dissipated essence, allowing her to avoid divine punishment and even turn misfortune into blessing, breaking through to the god level as the Ice Abyss Sword evolved and Lu Jun's cultivation surged, she would have long been a shard of ice in the dust of history.

How can I not repay the life-saving grace and the kindness of giving me a second chance?

But at some point, this original intention quietly changed.

The companionship that flows like a gentle stream, the shared experiences of life and death, watching him overcome obstacles and grow rapidly, and feeling the deep care and responsibility he shows for those around him beneath his seemingly cold exterior.

That pure gratitude, as if quietly polished and fermented by the years and small acts of kindness, has brewed into a more complex and intense emotion that she herself has never noticed or was unwilling to delve into.

Otherwise, why would she set aside the pride and habits of the overlord of the far north for hundreds of thousands of years, and patiently learn the complicated cooking skills of humans, just so that she could prepare a meal for him by hand?
Otherwise, how could she have noticed that the villa, which was originally just a temporary place to stay, was too deserted, and quietly decorated it with Hyotei, planting flowers and plants to add greenery, trying to turn it into a warm place that felt more like home?
Otherwise, how could she have been willing to accompany him as a spirit for so long, following him without complaint, taking his goals as her own, and valuing his safety more than her own?

After the final, breathtaking burst of fireworks that illuminated almost the entire sky, the spectacle of the fireworks in the night sky finally began to wane.

The explosions became sparse, and the light was no longer so overwhelming. The brilliant fragments, trailing flames, slowly fell and disappeared into the deep blue night, like the last lingering echo before the end of a glorious era.

This fading brilliance was like a silent reminder, striking a chord in Xue Di's troubled mind.

Time... is running out.

After tonight, when the sun rises tomorrow, Lu Jun will once again plunge into the massive vortex of events that is intense and crucial to the fate of the entire continent.

The shadow of the abyss looms large, the Spirit Pagoda project needs to be advanced, and the courses at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy await commencement…

He will once again become that busy, burdened chief consultant, rarely having such a moment to let down his guard and be with Lu Jun.

Perhaps... Hyotei is right.

Some emotions are like volcanoes covered in ice and snow; the more suppressed they are, the hotter and more intense their core becomes, and the more astonishing the energy they accumulate.

Instead, let's take advantage of the lingering glow of the fireworks, the quiet corner that belongs only to the three of them amidst the noise, and the rare relaxed atmosphere... and try to say it.

Even if... it's just saying it out loud.

Even if this fluttering feeling is just wishful thinking on my part.

Even if speaking out would disrupt the existing peace and bring awkwardness that leaves people at a loss.

At least... she did not betray the feelings that had taken root in her heart and were growing stronger day by day.

At least, she was brave.

Once the mind is made up, courage surges forth like the spring tide breaking through the ice.

As another, slightly larger firework exploded in mid-air, the fleeting light concealed all subtle movements and expressions.

Without warning, Xue Di turned to the side, stretched out her arms, and tightly, with a slight tremor but with unwavering determination, embraced Lu Jun beside her.

She pressed her soft body against his, burying her slightly cool cheek deep into his neck.

This action was completely out of character for her usual aloof, self-possessed, noble, and distant image as the overlord of the far north; it was more like that of an ordinary young girl experiencing her first love, seeking reliance and comfort.

(End of this chapter)