Bai Fanlu didn’t care about the dust and debris as he rushed over, searching desperately in the floating gray haze until he found a hand exposed outside. Xiao Liu was almost entirely buried under the rubble.

Bai Fanlu forced himself to suppress the immense panic in his heart, not daring to use magic, and instead began moving the stones away with his bare hands.

His hands were trembling badly, and when he finally saw Xiao Liu’s face, Bai Fanlu froze. A drop of liquid, perhaps sweat or something else, fell on Xiao Liu’s dust-covered hand.

“Brother…”

“I’m fine… Don’t… don’t cry…”

Bai Fanlu was stunned. Crying? But he wasn’t crying, just staring too long, causing his eyes to ache.

Xiao Liu tried to lift his hand but couldn’t move it. His face was scarred from the stones, and there was a bloody gash on his forehead.

But that wasn’t the most frightening thing—the most frightening thing was that his lips had turned a dark purplish-blue. Bai Fanlu knew it was poison, and it had spread.

“Don’t talk.” Bai Fanlu gripped Xiao Liu’s hand, gritting his teeth as he continued to clear the stones.

As he worked, he silently cursed: Fool! Idiot! Big idiot!

Why didn’t you listen to me? Why did you recklessly use magic?

Being an ordinary person would have been fine, but you had to go and practice that damn magic!

But he couldn’t voice these thoughts. The pain in Bai Fanlu’s chest intensified, making it hard to breathe.

When he finally dug Xiao Liu out, Bai Fanlu used the last remaining spiritual energy in his wrist to absorb some of the poison from Xiao Liu and heal his injuries, but it was only a temporary measure, not a real solution.

Xiao Liu silently watched Bai Fanlu’s actions, his gaze soft as it fell on Bai Fanlu’s face. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

Bai Fanlu couldn’t stand that look, so he turned his face away and gently helped Xiao Liu sit up. Xiao Liu took the opportunity to lean against him, pressing his face against Bai Fanlu’s chest, sneaking a smile.

That look of joy, like a little dog finding a bone, made Bai Fanlu feel a mix of anger, amusement, and helplessness.

“At a time like this, you’re still happy? Are you heartless?”

“I don’t have a heart…” Xiao Liu gasped and sighed weakly. “I used to… but my brother took it away.”

“…” Bai Fanlu was about to explode. How could this person still have the energy to tease him? Did he think that whatever he said now would force him to respond?

Bai Fanlu had no words. But the other’s nonchalant attitude, as if he had nothing left to lose, made Bai Fanlu feel even worse, deeply pained by Xiao Liu’s stubbornness.

Bai Fanlu remained silent, covering Xiao Liu’s eyes with his hand. A moment later, Xiao Liu’s grip on his hand loosened as he fell into a deep sleep.

But what next? Should they go back to find Ling Qingzi? Could Xiao Liu survive the journey to Tianxu Gate?

The answer seemed almost predictable, but Bai Fanlu still carried Xiao Liu on his back.

Just as he leaped out of the pit and returned to the surface, Bai Fanlu saw a figure standing in the midst of the dust and mist, right opposite the collapsed Fengshen Terrace.

Xun Huang had somehow broken free from the fire curse. He stood with his arms crossed, a long halberd at his side, his imposing figure exuding a natural sense of oppression as he stared indifferently at Bai Fanlu.

“You’re not him.”

Slowly, a hoarse voice said this.

Bai Fanlu frowned at the words.

But then, a sudden change occurred.

Xun Huang moved incredibly fast, the freezing cold air mixed with oppressive energy waves struck hard, nearly freezing Bai Fanlu entirely.

He quickly set Xiao Liu down, but in that brief moment, Xun Huang was already close.

On that cold, frost-covered face, the unseen eyes now emitted a burning, intense murderous intent, seemingly the opposite of the surrounding cold air, searing and penetrating.

Before Bai Fanlu could react, Xun Huang grabbed his neck, pressing him forcefully into the ground.

At that moment, Bai Fanlu felt like he was suffocating. Xun Huang’s strength was overwhelming, and the bones in his neck emitted a distinct cracking sound as if they were about to snap.

Bai Fanlu barely maintained a sliver of clarity, stubbornly meeting Xun Huang’s gaze.

Xun Huang coldly stared at the unyielding Bai Fanlu, the icy veil over his eyes flickering, revealing emotionless pupils, as if he were looking at a dead object.

He tightened his grip on Bai Fanlu’s throat and slowly uttered a sentence in a raspy voice, “Who… are you?”

Damn it, I want to know that too!

Bai Fanlu was both anxious and angry, channeling his spiritual energy to resist. But as it gathered in his opponent’s palm, it seemed to fall into a bottomless pit, completely swallowed up. Bai Fanlu’s face grew increasingly purple as his neck went numb with pain.

As his consciousness began to scatter, Bai Fanlu struggled to turn his head, looking at the unconscious boy beside him.

Xiao Liu…

No… He can’t die! Absolutely not!

The thought struck Bai Fanlu like lightning, thundering in his mind, and in an instant, a surge of force erupted from his dantian as if some shackle had been suddenly broken.

The next moment, a burst of white light exploded, violet light shot into the sky, and Xun Huang was instantly forced back, retreating several steps before finally stabilizing himself.

In the center of the light, Bai Fanlu stood in mid-air, his right hand forming a sword array, a powerful force capable of shattering everything emanating from the array, forming a hundred-foot-long arc that reverberated with a sound that shook the heavens. In a blink of an eye, the spiritual sword in his hand split into countless sharp sword lights, shooting rapidly toward his opponent.

Xun Huang swung his halberd, dodging the first sword light, leaping to avoid the second. While still in mid-air, the third sword light came straight at his chest.

The sword lights became denser and denser, like shadows following his movements. Xun Huang roared in anger, his body suddenly doubling in size, forcefully enduring the sword array’s attack as he thrust his halberd toward Bai Fanlu.

He came on fiercely, but Bai Fanlu’s expression remained calm. Only then did Xun Huang realize he had been tricked. The sword array was clearly just a prelude; the real move was the spiritual explosion technique that was still gathering energy in Bai Fanlu’s palm.

But it was too late to retreat now. The wind and snow gathered around Xun Huang as he lunged straight at Bai Fanlu, the two energies colliding in mid-air like clashing weapons. In an instant, the sky darkened, shrouded in swirling clouds.

Xun Huang grunted, retreating seven steps. Behind his thin veil, his eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Bai Fanlu.

But as the dust gradually settled, there was no one left in mid-air…

Bai Fanlu had already taken the opportunity to fly far away with Xiao Liu on his back. He didn’t have time for a fight now. In a prolonged battle, his internal energy and cultivation would surely be no match for the Dragon God. All he wanted now was to hold on long enough to save Xiao Liu.

After leaving the temple, the outside was still an empty city. Xun Huang couldn’t leave the temple, so there was no immediate worry.

Bai Fanlu flew for a long time but couldn’t escape this area. It felt like he was lost, but he knew he wasn’t.

He was too anxious, his mind in turmoil. Xun Huang’s true form had not yet awakened; how could they possibly escape?

This city was a massive barrier specifically designed to deal with the Dragon God Xun Huang, but now it also blocked their way out.

According to the novel’s plot, Yun Zhan and the original protagonist fought Xun Huang after sealing the demonic rift, but they were unable to defeat him. Yun Zhan was also poisoned.

But shortly after, Xun Huang’s true form awakened under the Fengshen Terrace, transforming into a dragon and breaking through the barrier, allowing them to escape.

Later, when the celestial and demonic realms clashed, Xun Huang was besieged by the celestial realm for the crime of destroying the entire Ling City and massacring innocent lives out of selfishness. He also joined the demonic army and was eventually killed by Yun Zhan, fulfilling the cycle of cause and effect.

But for now, the city’s barrier was still in place, indicating that Xun Huang’s true form had not awakened yet. Bai Fanlu could only wait. According to the novel, it would take a few hours after sealing the demonic rift. He had to find a way to buy Xiao Liu some more time.

Bai Fanlu found an open courtyard with the door ajar. Although everything inside was covered in dust, there was still a bed with blankets. Bai Fanlu used magic to clean it up and placed Xiao Liu on the bed.

The bracelet around Xiao Liu’s wrist, originally a clear light, had dimmed to a dark purple. But in contrast, Xiao Liu’s face had slightly improved.

In this situation, if they delayed any longer and Bai Fanlu was forced to retract the bracelet, he would be poisoned as well. But he couldn’t care about that now. In fact, he thought that if he could absorb all the poison, it might be easier to deal with than if Xiao Liu were poisoned.

This thought seemed so natural to him. Bai Fanlu subconsciously believed in his own constitution and refused to think further about it.

“Brother…”

A weak voice interrupted Bai Fanlu’s thoughts. He quickly looked down, but Xiao Liu hadn’t woken up; he was just murmuring in his sleep.

Xiao Liu mumbled, his hand groping in the air. Bai Fanlu reached out, and Xiao Liu immediately grabbed his hand.

Once he grabbed it, he held on tightly. Bai Fanlu didn’t pull away, sitting by the bed and silently watching the boy’s face.

It was hard to imagine that someone unconscious could be so strong. How afraid was he of being abandoned?

Bai Fanlu thought of how Xiao Liu had smiled and clung to him earlier, insisting that he only wanted to follow him. Now, seeing him so weak, lying here, Bai Fanlu was filled with regret. If he had known this would happen, he would never have agreed to let Xiao Liu accompany him.

If he had been alone from the start, it wouldn’t have come to this…

But what about now?

Bai Fanlu hesitated. What about the beginning?

There were no answers, his mind a jumbled mess, more chaotic than a bowl of mush.

He was about to let go and go for a walk, but before he could stand up, he heard Xiao Liu softly moan.

“…Cold…”

The boy frowned, his hand trembling as if he were shivering. Bai Fanlu touched his forehead—it was icy cold. He checked under the blanket; his shoulder and neck were the same.

The poison had reached the second stage. This was a cold poison, originating from the ancient cold abyss where the Dragon God resided. The most tormenting aspect of it was the cold.

Recalling what the original protagonist did to save Yun Zhan in the novel, Bai Fanlu didn’t hesitate to climb under the blanket beside Xiao Liu.

He gathered fire spiritual energy in his body, slowly radiating warmth under the covers. Xiao Liu seemed to sense it and instinctively snuggled closer, wrapping his arms and legs around Bai Fanlu like an octopus, probably mistaking him for a hot water bottle in his sleep.

Bai Fanlu didn’t move, quietly watching Xiao Liu. He remembered a morning when he woke up to find the boy clinging to him just like this.

But back then, he had hurriedly pushed him away, unlike now when he could take a closer look.

So close, the boy’s face was pale, but his features were well-defined, handsome and spirited. Although his eyes were closed, Bai Fanlu remembered them clearly.

Suddenly, those eyes moved and slowly opened.

“You’ve been staring at me… for so long… I’m getting embarrassed.”

Xiao Liu smiled, but as his chapped lips stretched, they tore, and he winced in pain, making a face.

“You…”

Bai Fanlu was about to move but hesitated, considering Xiao Liu’s injuries. His initial resistance was stifled at the outset, allowing Xiao Liu to continue holding him, even pulling him closer.

“Brother, you’re so warm…”

Please stop talking so ambiguously.

Bai Fanlu protested silently, but Xiao Liu, despite being frozen like a popsicle, gazed at him with a fire in his eyes even more intense than the flames he had used against Xun Huang earlier.

If it weren’t for the cold he could clearly feel from Xiao Liu’s body, Bai Fanlu would have thought this little rascal was just trying to fool him and gain sympathy.

“Brother, I really like you…”

Bai Fanlu pretended not to hear, even though he was blushing slightly. But since he was currently “on fire,” emitting heat all over, his face was already quite red, so Xiao Liu probably couldn’t tell.

“Brother, are you blushing?”

“No!”

Bai Fanlu answered firmly, but realizing his quick response might betray him, he added, “You… you’re overthinking it…”

His stammering only made it worse.

Bai Fanlu hastily tried to explain, “I’m just trying to keep you warm. You’re poisoned with cold poison, so you’ll feel cold.”

Talking too much only made it worse.

The smile in Xiao Liu’s eyes seemed to see right through Bai Fanlu’s thoughts.

Embarrassed, Bai Fanlu quickly turned around, facing away from Xiao Liu, grabbing a corner of the blanket to cover half his face, pretending to be an ostrich.

“Ah, I’m still so cold…” Xiao Liu sighed pitifully.

Bai Fanlu didn’t plan to respond, but his body acted on its own, automatically increasing the heat, truly becoming a self-regulating human-shaped heater.

Xiao Liu’s soft laughter reached Bai Fanlu’s ears as the warmth in the bed steadily increased.

Outside, it was the depth of winter, but inside, it felt like the peak of summer.

Before long, Bai Fanlu was sweating profusely, yet Xiao Liu continued to explore under the blanket until he found his hand and held on tight.

“Brother, can you turn around?”

Xiao Liu’s cool breath tickled Bai Fanlu’s neck as he spoke, making Bai Fanlu shrink back.

“No.” Bai Fanlu replied. He could generate heat from both sides, so it made no difference.

“Then can I kiss you?”

Bai Fanlu was already flustered, but hearing this was too much. He was about to firmly refuse, saying “Absolutely not,” and to show his determination, he even turned his head.

As soon as he turned his head, his lips met something equally soft.

“…”

Bai Fanlu’s eyes widened, too shocked to pull away.

The boy’s gaze was as deep as a pool, and Bai Fanlu felt his soul drift away, forgetting everything.

All his attention was focused on his lips. Those lips weren’t smooth; they were cracked from frostbite, cold, and uncomfortable.

Bai Fanlu’s mind went blank. When it started working again, he instinctively thought, so this is what kissing is like?

Kissing didn’t have the sweetness or beauty described in novels, but it did share one common feeling.

The feeling of a racing heart…

Bai Fanlu covered his face.