Douluo: The Throne of Ice

Chapter 19 Earth Pivot City, Candied Hawthorn (Please read on Tuesday, please!!!)

The nights in this small town are generally not as lively and bustling as those in a giant city like Xingluo City. This small town is called Dishu City, and it is one of the larger cities near the far north, with an estimated population of several hundred thousand. An army of the Tianhun Empire is stationed in the city and in the military camps outside the city, which serves as a layer of protection against the possible beast tides.

The three walked along the somewhat deserted street. Most of the shops on both sides were closed, with only a few lights on. However, a small part of the city was still brightly lit, and that was the direction the three were heading.

Both the Ice and Snow Emperors were stunning beauties, attracting the attention of countless people along the way. Fortunately, those people had some self-awareness and only stole glances without making any other moves; otherwise, their lives might not have been so easily guaranteed.

What made him slightly uncomfortable was that quite a few men were looking at him with the same kind of gaze one would give to the two Ice and Snow Emperors. It was like in his previous life, after the dormitory lights were turned off, in the darkness, his/her roommate secretly climbed into his/her bed, his/her eyes gleaming with infatuation, and then whispering in his/her ear, word by word:

"Brother/Sister, you smell so good..."

Just thinking about it gave Shu Yan goosebumps. Goodness, this was a unique kind of super-horror...

The Snow Empress didn't say anything, but the Ice Empress seemed uncomfortable with these gazes. Her eyes flashed with obvious disgust, and a trace of her aura was slightly leaked out. Instantly, everyone around who was secretly watching seemed to have seen a monstrous flood, and they all froze on the spot.

Hyotei then gave a soft hum and, holding Yuki-tei's hand, continued walking forward.

As Shu Yan walked through the long-unseen human city, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

After spending more than eight months in the far north, emerging again felt like a rebirth after a lifetime of separation.

Upon arriving in the city center, the surrounding area became noticeably more lively. Hyotei was drawn to the various human foods at a nearby stall, staring longingly at Shu Yan. Shu Yan found it somewhat amusing; Hyotei, this scorpion, was actually quite good, though it would be even better if those perverse tastes were removed.

Xue Di watched Shu Yan wander among the various stalls with Bing Di, and smiled silently. She didn't find it boring at all; on the contrary, she felt it was full of novelty and fun...

This place, compared to the cold desolation of the far north, has a unique charm...

……

After indulging in a wild and carefree time with Hyotei, Shu Yan's wallet was still frighteningly bulging.

Back in Xingluo City, Xu Jiujiu had essentially been his sugar daddy, giving him hundreds of thousands of gold soul coins every month to buy things he liked to decorate the princess's residence. However, he always preferred simple decorations, and since he didn't lack any cultivation resources, he accumulated more and more gold soul coins. The soul tools that Bingdi sent last time contained more than ten million gold soul coins.

It's very simple, in short, I have plenty of money!

Xue Di followed behind the two, but she wasn't particularly interested in these human foods. Just as she was about to leave the street, she suddenly stopped at a corner.

Seeing that Xue Di hadn't followed, Shu Yan turned around and followed her gaze. He saw an old woman with a kind face sitting on a withered yellow recliner under the dim streetlights. Beside her, two little boys who looked to be three or four years old were playing. There was nothing special on the stall in front of them, just a small cart with many strings of plump, round candied hawthorns coated in glistening syrup stuck in the molds on it.

Seeing that Xue Di was lost in thought, Shu Yan shook his head with amusement, then stepped forward and whispered:

"Grandma, how much are these candied hawthorns?"

Upon hearing this, the old woman slowly opened her eyes, a smile appearing on her face, and then said:

"Two copper soul coins per string, guaranteed to be both sour and sweet."

Shu Yan smiled, took out six gold soul coins and placed them on the table of the cart, then took three strings of them.

"It's so late, you should go home and rest early. I see your two grandsons are already sleepy from exhaustion."

The old man chuckled and nodded, his gaze towards the two little ones gentle and kind. It was hard not to feel a longing for that beautiful memory in one's heart.

Shu Yan pushed the six gold soul coins further in, waved his hand, and then left the small stall in the corner with the three strings of candied hawthorns.

When she arrived at Xue Di's place, she suddenly came to her senses. Looking at the candied hawthorn that Shu Yan offered her, Xue Di hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and took it.

Hyotei ran back from a distance, somewhat displeased, but his eyes lit up when he saw the two strings of candied hawthorns in Shu Yan's hand. He then pounced over and snatched them from Shu Yan's hands.

Shu Yan didn't find it strange, but when he turned to look at Xue Di's somewhat clumsy appearance, he couldn't help but laugh.

Xue Di glanced at Shu Yan, who quickly composed himself before gently peeling off the thin oil paper wrapping the candied hawthorn.

"Remember not to swallow it whole, the hawthorn inside has pits..."

Shu Yan didn't forget to give one last piece of advice.

Xue Di rolled her eyes at Shu Yan, then said with a hint of helplessness:

"I'm not stupid..."

"Yes, yes, you're the smartest."

Shu Yan replied casually, and then said nothing more.

Xue Di raised an eyebrow as she watched Shu Yan's retreating figure, feeling that something was amiss, but after thinking about it, she couldn't quite put it aside for the time being.

As Xue Di took a bite of the candied hawthorn berries coated in sugar, her eyes lit up slightly. She loved this sweet and slightly sour treat, and it seemed to lift her spirits as well.

Hyotei's eating manners were not as elegant and composed as Yukitei's, but her good looks were undeniable. Overall, in the eyes of those who coveted Hyotei's beauty, this was not even a flaw, but rather a unique kind of "cuteness".

The problem of accommodation for the night was also simple. Shu Yan was not short of money, so she naturally found the best hotel in the city and asked for two of the best rooms. Of course, this was something that Bingdi had begged Xuedi to get. Looking at Bingdi's provocative and smug eyes before the door closed, Shu Yan just smiled silently and didn't say anything. If Xuedi could really let her succeed, then what did the previous hundreds of thousands of years matter?

It can only be said that Hyotei is too easy to please. As long as Yukiteru softens her heart even a little, she can have endless motivation.

Perhaps it was the thought of returning to Star Luo City that filled Shu Yan with excitement mixed with a deep sense of guilt. The image of a certain person kept flashing before his eyes, making it impossible for him to concentrate on his cultivation. So he simply lay down on the soft bed and began to drift off into a daze. Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Shu Yan slowly fell asleep, though his brow remained slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that even in his sleep, he was still affected by his heavy thoughts…

The night was still and quiet, a cool breeze swept through, and a unique longing traveled south, finally arriving at Xingluo City, shrouded in mystery under the same star. Though separated by thousands of miles and living in different places, their thoughts were surprisingly aligned…

……

P.S.: Today is Tuesday, so please be sure to read to the end and add a follow-up comment for the author! (Thank you so much!)

P.S.: Invest, everyone! If all else fails, I'll let you guys beat my brother to a pulp (doge).

(End of this chapter)