Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Late at night.

The wind outside the Moon Palace has stopped.

The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, illuminating the snow on the ground with a blinding white light.

Su Xiaojiu was not asleep.

She sat by the window, staring blankly at the moon outside.

A thick layer of frost flowers had formed on the window frame, refracting the moonlight into fragmented pieces.

A series of steady footsteps came from outside the hall.

Unlike Indra, who exudes an aura of power, or Tianpeng, who is impatient.

The footsteps were steady, each step firm and solid, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the night.

The door was gently pushed open.

Roll up the curtain and came in.

He carried an old lantern in one hand and a food box in the other.

He hung the lantern on the shelf by the door, brushed the snow off his clothes, and then walked to the table.

"Still not asleep?"

The sound of the shutter rolling was muffled, as if it were coming from the chest.

Su Xiaojiu turned her head.

"I can't sleep."

The roller blind didn't ask any further questions.

He opened the food box and took out a bowl of steaming hot noodles.

Two poached eggs rested on top, sprinkled with chopped green onions, and the aroma instantly filled the entire hall.

"Have something to eat."

Rolling up the curtain, she handed over the chopsticks. "The imperial kitchen just made these, eat them while they're hot."

Su Xiaojiu took the chopsticks.

She was indeed a little hungry.

I've been eating nothing but air these past few days, and my stomach feels really empty.

She picked up a mouthful of noodles, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.

The noodles are chewy and the soup is delicious.

"tasty."

Su Xiaojiu said.

Rolling up the curtain sat opposite her, watching her eat noodles.

His face, covered in stubble, was expressionless, but his eyes were gentle.

"Eat more if it's delicious."

"I'm sorry you've had to go through all this trouble these past few days."

Su Xiaojiu didn't say anything, and focused on eating her noodles.

She didn't put down the bowl until she finished the last sip of soup, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"The general's late-night visit, could it be just to bring me a bowl of noodles?"

Su Xiaojiu wiped her mouth and looked at the roller shutter.

The roller shutter remained silent for a while.

He took a cloth out of his pocket and slowly wiped the water stains on the table.

"Did His Majesty come during the day?"

"Um."

Don't take what he said to heart.

The curtain-roller stopped what he was doing. "He is the Demon Emperor, carrying the weight of the entire demon race on his shoulders. There are some things I have to say."

"I know."

Su Xiaojiu leaned back in her chair. "He's in a position, so he should do his job. I don't blame him."

Roller nodded.

"You don't blame him; that shows your magnanimity."

"But we owe you."

Rolling up her head, her cloudy eyes filled with a hint of guilt.

"Back then, we failed to protect her."

"Now, I must sacrifice you again."

"This demon court claims to be for the sake of all living beings, but in reality, it's all about eating people."

Su Xiaojiu looked at the roller shutter.

This taciturn general understood life better than anyone else.

"general."

Su Xiaojiu spoke up, "Have you seen her before?"

"I've seen it."

The curtain roller said, "Back then, I was just a curtain roller, and she was a fairy from heaven."

"She liked to stand by the Milky Way and look at the stars, so I stood behind her and held a lantern for her."

"She's a very nice person and never treats us like servants."

The sound of the shutter rolling was somewhat low, as if it were recalling a long-ago event.

"And then?"

"later……"

Rolling Curtain gave a bitter laugh. "Then the sky fell down."

"The monkeys caused a disturbance, and the Milky Way overflowed. To save people, she jumped in."

"I watched helplessly as they approached, but I couldn't stop them."

Silence fell over the hall.

Only the candlelight inside the lantern flickered occasionally, making a crackling sound.

"So, when you see me, it's like you're seeing her."

Su Xiaojiu said, "Di Shitian wanted to save his master in order to make up for the regret of that year."

"Tianpeng wanted to let me go because he didn't want to see another tragedy."

"And what about you?"

Su Xiaojiu looked at the roller shutter. "Why did you bring me noodles?"

Roll up the curtain and look at the empty noodle bowl.

"So that you can have enough to eat."

Rolling Curtain said, "When you set off, don't be a starving ghost."

Su Xiaojiu was stunned for a moment.

Then, she burst out laughing.

"The general is a very honest man."

"Much better than those who spout empty platitudes about morality and righteousness."

Rolling up the curtain, she tidied up the bowls and chopsticks and put them into the food box.

"Three days from now, I will personally stand guard at the altar."

She lifted the food box, walked to the door, and took down the lantern.

"If...if it really hurts."

With the curtain turned away from Su Xiaojiu, he said, "Just shout it out."

"Shouting it out might make you feel better."

Su Xiaojiu watched his retreating figure.

The figure was somewhat hunched over, as if carrying an unseen mountain.

"general."

Su Xiaojiu called out to him.

"If I hadn't died."

Will I ever be able to eat this bowl of noodles again?

The footsteps of the roller shutter paused for a moment.

He didn't turn around.

"As long as you live."

"Enough is enough."

After saying that, he picked up his lantern and walked into the snowstorm.

The lantern's light grew farther and farther away, finally disappearing around the corner.

Su Xiaojiu withdrew her gaze.

She touched her slightly full stomach.

"To be alive..."

She murmured softly.

People in this world are all struggling to survive.

Indra lived for his master, Tianpeng lived for his thoughts, and Juanlian lived to atone for his sins.

Bai Yin lived for her.

What about her?

Su Xiaojiu walked to the bronze mirror.

The person in the mirror still had a pale face, but their eyes were bright.

She reached out and gently traced her fingertips across the mirror.

"system."

She called out in her heart.

"exist."

A mechanical sound rang out.

"That mission to defy fate."

Su Xiaojiu looked at herself in the mirror and a smile appeared on her lips.

"If I don't die this time, does that mean I've changed my inevitable fate?"

The system remained silent for a moment.

"Calculate."

"That's good."

Su Xiaojiu turned around and walked towards the cold jade bed.

"Then let's take a gamble."

"I'm betting that fate can't kill me."

"Bu Suanzi: Night Talk in the Moon Palace"

Snowstorms blanket the cold palace; a solitary figure sits by the window.

The prince lowered his brows as he spoke of the bigger picture; to whom could he express this deep sorrow?

A bowl of hot soup noodles, and half a cup of leftover tea.

With the curtain rolled up and head bowed, I sigh helplessly; life and death are all in the hands of fate.