The Snow Empress fell silent.
Indeed, aside from the explanation Jiang Shengyu had offered, she couldn't think of any other possible reason.
In all her long years of life, she had never heard of anything like this! Let alone the concept of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. It was simply unheard of.
Could that mysterious power also be a result of the soul-level connection between the two?
The Snow Empress glanced toward Jiang Qingtong. She had now dressed herself using Jiang Shengyu's clothes. The oversized garments draped loosely over her frame, ironically accentuating the graceful curves beneath, leaving far too much room for the imagination.
She waved and smiled playfully at the Snow Empress.
"You're still smiling?"
Seeing her grin, the Snow Empress said to both of them, "From now on… I'm afraid you two won't be able to keep playing the role of siblings."
"Why?" Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong asked instinctively.
"After what just happened between you, do you really think you can continue pretending to be brother and sister?" she countered bluntly.
Her words silenced both of them. They turned to look at each other—two dazed faces occupying either half of their shared field of vision—unsure of what to say.
"In my opinion, forget this whole sibling thing," the Snow Empress said calmly. "When you grow up, just get married. Honestly, there's no one in the world closer than the two of you. And besides... you've already slept together…"
"Stop! Don't say things that will give people the wrong idea! It's not like anything really happened!"
The two of them cut her off without hesitation.
Jiang Qingtong tugged at the oversized top she was wearing, looking helpless. "I'm heading back."
They both understood it clearly: if either of them were to one day choose a lifelong partner, there was no one more suitable than the other. No one else could even compare.
After all, whether male or female, they were essentially the same soul—no one could know them better, or care more.
But even so… it was something that couldn't be rushed. They needed time to process and accept this truth.
Jiang Qingtong opened the door to leave—only to find Xiao Hongchen and the others returning from outside.
The moment they saw her, everyone's expressions changed to surprise. But just as they were about to approach her, she slammed the door shut again.
Inside, Jiang Shengyu called to the Snow Empress who was still floating nearby, "Quick, get back in!"
"You dare order me like that?" she snapped, raising her brow.
Jiang Qingtong leaned against the door, keeping it closed, and said in a hushed voice, "Please, big sis Snow Empress, go back in for now. If they see you, we'll have a hard time explaining it! Not everyone is as friendly toward soul beasts as we are."
"Friendly? You think this Empress fears them?" Snow Empress snorted coldly. She clearly didn't take the people outside seriously—but in the end, she obeyed and returned into the embryo within the storage soul tool.
Only after confirming she had left did Jiang Qingtong breathe a sigh of relief and open the door again.
At once, she was met with a crowd of suspicious faces—Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others standing at the doorway, all staring curiously at her and the Jiang Shengyu behind her.
Meng Hongchen narrowed her eyes and asked, "Qingtong, you and Shengyu…"
Xiao Hongchen added, "Didn't you two fly off using the Void Godflight? Why are you back here?"
Behind them, Jiang Shengyu shrugged and said, "I don't know either. I just woke up and found myself here."
Snow Empress had already told them everything about Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao—but of course, they couldn't tell the others about that.
As Meng Hongchen glanced at their clothes—and then at the messy bed behind them—something seemed to click in her mind. Her eyes widened, and she quickly turned to the rest of the group. "You all… go take care of your own things for now!"
Gu Lingjun raised a brow at her reaction. "What's going on?"
"Nothing! Really, it's nothing!" Meng Hongchen shook her head quickly, flustered.
Seeing how anxious she was, Gu Lingjun still had doubts, but chose not to press the matter. She nodded and said, "Let's go settle Rainhao's condition first."
The others nodded and left without questioning further.
Once the hallway cleared, Meng Hongchen slipped inside and pushed Jiang Qingtong in with her. Xiao Hongchen tried to follow—only for Meng Hongchen to slam the door in his face.
He nearly got his nose broken.
Staring blankly at the closed door, he knocked and asked, "Hey? What's going on? I haven't even gone in yet!"
From inside, Meng Hongchen's voice came through the door: "Brother, just wait outside. It's… inconvenient right now."
Inconvenient?
What's inconvenient?
Xiao Hongchen scratched his nose and frowned. He had no idea what she was talking about.
Inside, Meng Hongchen locked the door and turned to stare at Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong. The intensity of her gaze made both of them visibly uncomfortable.
Qingtong asked awkwardly, "Sister Hongchen… what's wrong?"
"I should be asking you that," Meng Hongchen said sternly. "What's going on between the two of you?"
"What do you mean, 'what's going on'…?" Jiang Qingtong scratched her head, completely confused. That was, until Meng Hongchen suddenly said the words—
"You're supposed to be brother and sister!"
Brother and sister…
Siblings…
Sister…
...Ah.
Her voice echoed in the room.
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong fell silent, expressions shifting as they suddenly understood what she meant.
"You've got it all wrong, Sister Hongchen!" Jiang Qingtong immediately waved her hands in denial.
"Oh? And what exactly did I get wrong?" Meng Hongchen countered. "Are you not siblings? Or are you saying… nothing happened just now?"
"Nothing happened," Jiang Shengyu said calmly.
Meng Hongchen let out a heavy sigh. She pointed at the rumpled bed and said, "Do you think I believe that? Just look at the state of things! Shengyu, Qingtong—just confess already and make things easier for yourselves."
Prejudice is like a mountain in one's heart.
Meng Hongchen had already jumped to conclusions—and considering that Qingtong had just undergone an Evil Fire eruption, no explanation would likely convince her otherwise.
Under her pointed stare, the two could only sigh.
Finally, Jiang Shengyu said, "Alright, Sister Hongchen… just as you guessed, Qingtong and I aren't actually siblings. We're not related by blood at all."
Meng Hongchen's pupils contracted in shock. She stared at them, stunned, before finally asking, "Then… what's the real story?"
Jiang Shengyu gave a half-truth explanation—spinning a tale to conceal their real soul-bound nature—but at least it was enough for Meng Hongchen to tentatively believe them.
After hearing him out, she finally let out a long sigh. "That's a relief. But—when are you planning to tell Lord Silvermoon?"
"We'll see. We'll tell him when the time feels right," Jiang Shengyu replied.
Meng Hongchen shook her head. "You can't keep delaying it. The sooner you tell him, the better. I'm sure Lord Silvermoon would be honored to officiate your wedding! With such a miraculous bond between you two—it deserves a grand celebration!"
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