"Third Brother Niu, you..."
A look of astonishment flashed across Hongmao's face.
In an instant, he understood Niu Xuanfeng's intention.
He was giving him courage.
To face Lantu directly, to tell that figure who haunted his dreams:
"I'm sorry I'm late."
Creak.
The worn wooden door made a squeaking sound.
A figure dressed in a plain white long skirt, ethereal and graceful, pushed the door open and stepped out.
She looked anxious, as if searching for something.
"Third Brother Niu, have you seen Hantian anywh..."
Lantu's light, gentle voice froze the moment her gaze met that figure's.
'He... who is he...?'
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
For some reason, Lantu's calm, placid heart lake erupted with violent tremors.
Her fingertips trembled, her shoulders trembled, her heart trembled.
'Why?'
Lantu covered her mouth, tears desperately streaming out.
Even though she didn't know this person.
Even though it was their first meeting.
She simply couldn't suppress the overwhelming emotion threatening to burst forth.
She wanted to embrace him.
Hold his hand.
Gaze deeply into his eyes, just keep gazing.
Forever.
No!
Lantu suddenly thought of something and quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
She clenched her fists, nails digging deeply into her palms.
The heart-piercing pain restored her reason.
An inner voice told her she couldn't do this.
The person she was looking for was Hongmao!
That figure who made her weep uncontrollably every time she remembered him in her midnight dreams.
Besides him, she wanted no one else.
"Third Brother Niu, who is this? Is he a new fight..."
Lantu forced a heartbroken smile, resisting the urge to throw herself into Hongmao's arms, and asked Niu Xuanfeng.
However, before her words finished,
A familiar, warm embrace fiercely enveloped her.
He held her so tightly.
Lantu bit her lip, but tears still flowed uncontrollably.
She wanted to push him away, but her hands froze.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move an inch.
His breath, his warmth, the faint scent of sweat on him...
All made Lantu feel dizzy, her heart racing wildly.
'Who exactly is he?'
'Why did every cell in my body yearn for him?'
'Crave him, chase after him.'
"Young hero, you mustn't do this..."
Lantu's cheeks instantly flushed with two blushes as she struggled hard.
But in the end, it was just light punches from her delicate fists, and a voice like a little rabbit's murmur, speaking coquettishly.
A slight smile lifted the corner of Hongmao's mouth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, savoring this long-lost scent.
A faint, elegant fragrance, like a green lotus, entered his heart through his nostrils.
It's Lantu.
Her eyes, her hands, her gentle body.
Were all just like their first meeting, making his heart flutter.
Then, Hongmao brought his lips close to Lantu's ear and whispered in a remorseful voice, "Lantu, I'm sorry I'm late."
As these words fell, all of Lantu's struggles, all her shyness, transformed into a miserable ache deep in her heart.
A feeling of grievance flowed through her blood and meridians to her throat.
"You... are you Hongmao?"
"Mm."
Hongmao nodded and responded softly.
The wind blew, leaves fell.
There were no heart-wrenching sobs, nor heaven-shaking roars.
Lantu simply quietly closed her eyes, relaxed all her strength, and leaned into that embrace.
'So, he finally came.'
'No need to persist anymore, right?'
'No need to hold on anymore, right?'
'All the pain, grievance, sadness...'
'With him here, I can tell him everything, right?'
A captivating, happy smile curled on her exquisitely beautiful face.
Just like that, quietly, she rested in Hongmao's embrace.
And fell asleep.
"It's been too hard!"
On the other side, Niu Xuanfeng stood in a corner outside the fighting arena, watching the scene of this immortal couple finally recognizing each other, and couldn't help but shed old tears.
Heaven knows what sin they committed to be tormented like this by fate.
After countless hardships, enduring endless suffering, only at this moment…
The best moment, the worst moment, the most appropriate moment…
Did they meet again.
Hongmao and Lantu.
Their lives had been tightly entwined since that first glance they exchanged ten years ago.
Body and soul.
For all eternity, they would never part.
'However, we still need to tell Hongmao about that Hantian matter quickly. It wouldn't be good if it affects their young couple's feelings.'
Niu Xuanfeng slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering an important issue.
Although Lantu had no romantic feelings for Hantian whatsoever, and it was all a misunderstanding born from mistaking him for Hongmao, but men...
Who could accept their beloved's tenderness being given to another man?
He, Old Niu, knew this well, which was why he was extremely worried.
However, in the eyes of this couple, his worry seemed unnecessary.
Hongmao held Lantu, standing quietly for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
He didn't move an inch, letting her relax her tightly strung nerves properly in the most secure posture.
Then, Lantu opened her drowsy, sleepy eyes. The first thing that met her gaze was Hongmao.
So wonderful.
A strange sweetness surged in Lantu's heart, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
Being with him, no matter what they did, felt happy.
"... Lantu, there's something I want to tell you."
"Mm."
Lantu nodded gently, burying her head in Hongmao's chest, hiding the blushes on her cheeks.
"Sigh."
Hongmao took a deep breath, his eyes turning cold and sharp.
He knew Lantu was kind-hearted by nature, chivalrous and tender, and hated the indiscriminate killing of the innocent most.
He knew Lantu repaid kindness, valued friends, and would repay a lifesaving favor a hundredfold.
Hantian was her friend, her lifesaver.
If he told Lantu the whole truth without reservation, this newly reunited warmth might turn into the hatred of strangers.
But, he still had to say it.
No matter how much he darkened, no matter how many people he killed, how many evil deeds he did, the one person he could never deceive was Lantu.
"I killed someone. His name was Hantian."
Seven words were uttered lightly from Hongmao's mouth.
Although his tone was light, Hongmao's heart still contracted violently, and he slightly closed his eyes.
He was waiting.
For a possible slap from Lantu, a punch, a scolding, even a sword through the heart.
He was willing to bear it all.
However, what Hongmao never expected was…
What he waited for was a touch of exquisite, smooth sensation in his palm.
Lantu's snow-white, cold, slender fingers tightly intertwined with Hongmao's large hand, inseparable.
Her soft words, like a gentle breeze, echoed in his ears.
"Hantian was a very important friend to me, my lifesaver. I really wanted to save his life, to repay that kindness."
"But…"
"Compared to you, does his life or death matter?"
As these words fell, Hongmao's eyes froze in that instant.
He was wrong.
He had imagined countless possibilities, only forgetting this one.
Under the baptism of the Fountain of Youth, Lantu had forgotten everything.
Forgotten her past as a great hero, forgotten her identity as the Jade Toad Palace Master, forgotten the morals and ethics she had believed in since childhood.
She wasn't that Ice Soul Sword Master who took the world as her responsibility, the Jade Toad Palace Master who sacrificed for all living beings.
She was just Lantu…
That young maiden of ice and snow from ten years ago, just like at their first meeting.
In her heart, apart from a trace of instinctive kindness, the remaining rivers, lakes, seas, and the starry sky above…
Every inch was imprinted with Hongmao's name.