His first kiss, given today, at this moment, in this place, to a character from a novel?

No, not even that—a character who doesn’t even exist in the original story.

So what was Bai Fanlu doing? Why was his heart racing? He was confused, unable to make sense of his thoughts.

He stared blankly, forgetting to close his eyes, while the boy opposite him also kept his eyes open. But the boy was clearly more in the moment than Bai Fanlu, with an overwhelming tenderness in his gaze, showing that the kiss was intentional, not accidental.

However, Bai Fanlu’s kissing skills were so poor that Xiao Liu couldn’t hold back his laughter. He reluctantly pulled away from the lips he was so fond of, pressed his forehead against Bai Fanlu’s, and softly scolded, “Brother, you’re really something.”

“Mm…”

Mm? Bai Fanlu was completely lost, as if he hadn’t fully processed what had just happened.

Xiao Liu smiled helplessly yet indulgently, his fingers lightly brushing Bai Fanlu’s lips, his gaze darkening as he spoke in a husky voice, “If you don’t snap out of it, I might just have to get serious.”

“Wait.” Bai Fanlu blocked Xiao Liu’s attempt to move closer.

What did he mean by “get serious”? Wasn’t that kiss just now real?

It couldn’t be—it was definitely real. This little rascal dared to steal a kiss and then tried to deny it!

Bai Fanlu glared at Xiao Liu “angrily,” while Xiao Liu returned his gaze with “tender affection,” even playfully kissing the palm of Bai Fanlu’s hand.

After just a few rounds, Bai Fanlu was defeated. When it came to shamelessness, he had to admit defeat.

“Aren’t you not cold anymore? Then I’ll leave.”

“Don’t go! I’m still cold,” Xiao Liu quickly grabbed Bai Fanlu, looking pitiful. “Feel it, I’m not lying, it’s really cold.”

Who wants to feel you? Bai Fanlu grumbled internally, but Xiao Liu wouldn’t take no for an answer and placed Bai Fanlu’s hand on his chest.

Bai Fanlu couldn’t break free, and when he touched Xiao Liu, he realized that area was indeed as cold as ice. Normally, if a human body temperature dropped this low, the person would have frozen to death.

Not long ago, he had hoped Xiao Liu was just an ordinary person, but now he was glad he wasn’t.

This contradictory thinking was probably person-dependent, Bai Fanlu vaguely realized, but he had to admit that this boy, who didn’t even exist in the original story, had become special in his heart.

Recognizing this absurd truth and the tragic situation they were currently in, Bai Fanlu deeply felt the weight of the phrase “fate plays tricks on people.” He couldn’t help but sigh.

“I won’t die, brother, so don’t be sad.”

Bai Fanlu’s eyes stung. He wanted to say he wasn’t sad, but what came out was, “Don’t talk about life and death.”

Xiao Liu chuckled, still holding Bai Fanlu close, their foreheads touching, their eyes locked. Xiao Liu’s gaze was so intense that Bai Fanlu felt uncomfortable but couldn’t bring himself to move away.

“Brother, you like me too, don’t you?”

“…” Why was he bringing this up now? Bai Fanlu replied stiffly, “I told you, I see you as my little brother, so naturally I…”

“So naturally what?”

“…”

“Isn’t it that you like me?” Xiao Liu persisted gently.

Enough already, Bai Fanlu decided not to answer. He had believed Xiao Liu would mature, but how could a mature person discuss such trivial matters in a life-or-death situation? Shouldn’t they be figuring out how to survive? Couldn’t they talk about romance after they got out?

Bai Fanlu didn’t realize that his thoughts were an admission that he wasn’t against the idea of romance—just that the timing was wrong.

At this moment, Bai Fanlu was overwhelmed by his feelings, thinking he had become as sentimental as Xiao Liu, with his eyes welling up and his nose stinging. He wanted to punch the person in front of him but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Feeling on the verge of an emotional breakdown and not wanting to lose face, Bai Fanlu didn’t pull away from Xiao Liu but instead turned over in his arms, facing away from him.

Xiao Liu noticed Bai Fanlu’s mood and decided not to tease him further. He was about to snuggle closer when he noticed something wrong. When Bai Fanlu turned over, his long hair got twisted under him, exposing his neck.

Xiao Liu’s pupils contracted sharply. “Brother, what’s that on your neck?”

“Hm?” Bai Fanlu was puzzled. He turned his head slightly, following Xiao Liu’s shocked gaze, and reached his right hand to touch his neck.

As his fingertips brushed his skin, a sudden sharp pain shot through him. Bai Fanlu quickly realized what it was.

“It was just a scratch from Xun Huang, a minor injury. It’ll heal in a few days.”

Xiao Liu frowned. The dark red mark encircling Bai Fanlu’s neck didn’t look like it was from a fight—it looked more like someone had strangled him.

Xiao Liu gazed deeply at Bai Fanlu, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Bai Fanlu didn’t want him to worry, so he didn’t explain further. He didn’t fully understand why Xun Huang had suddenly grabbed his neck, nor how he had miraculously fought back.

So, he simply told Xiao Liu that they had encountered Xun Huang again on their way out, fought a bit, and managed to escape by sheer luck.

Bai Fanlu turned away again, recalling the original story, trying to see if he had missed any clues about Xun Huang.

Behind him, Xiao Liu stared at the wound on Bai Fanlu’s neck, his eyes flashing with a dark expression. He was about to reach out and touch it when he suddenly heard Bai Fanlu gasp, “Are they back?”

“What?” Xiao Liu asked.

Bai Fanlu turned around and raised his hand, noticing that the two strands of spiritual energy from the bracelet had returned to his wrist.

“Have they safely crossed the snowstorm?”

As Bai Fanlu asked, a blue light flashed. Before he could see it clearly, Xiao Liu raised his hand and caught the light. “Mine’s back too.”

“What is that?” Bai Fanlu pried open Xiao Liu’s hand, but there was nothing inside.

“It’s a protective barrier. They’ve safely passed through.”

Finally, some good news. Although the blue light seemed familiar to Bai Fanlu, he couldn’t quite place it. But with the spiritual energy returning to him, his first thought was that he could buy more time for Xiao Liu.

Without hesitation, afraid to waste a moment, he wrapped the returning spiritual energy around Xiao Liu’s wrist.

As a magical artifact, the bracelet initially had little offensive power. Its strength lay in its ability to neutralize force with softness and turn the intangible into the tangible. It was only in the later stages of the original story, after being corrupted, that it gained exceptional offensive abilities through manipulation.

Xiao Liu wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but seeing the relieved expression on Bai Fanlu’s face as he looked at the bracelet, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

However, he secretly placed his palm on Bai Fanlu’s waist.

Bai Fanlu felt like Xiao Liu was lightly scratching him. “What are you doing?”

“What do you want me to do?” Xiao Liu grinned at him.

Bai Fanlu blushed, glaring at him before turning back around quietly…

Half a day had passed by the time they re-entered the temple. Looking at the open secret door behind the shrine, Bai Fanlu was already prepared.

He had two options: continue waiting in hopes that Xun Huang would soon awaken and break the seal, allowing them to escape unscathed.

If luck wasn’t on their side, they could face endless delays. Xiao Liu could die from the poison, Bai Fanlu could survive, but the poison from the bracelet would transfer to him, making his survival a matter of time.

The second option was the one Bai Fanlu was planning to take—going back to find Xun Huang. Although this wasn’t in the book, the poison had come from Xun Huang, so he should have the antidote if he was willing to provide it.

But why would an ancient Dragon God listen to him?

Should he say, “I know your future, that you’ll die at the hands of someone named ‘Yun Zhan.’ I can help you avoid it”?

That would be too ridiculous. But Bai Fanlu had no other choice. He couldn’t wait any longer; the time in the original story had already passed, and Xun Huang’s true form had shown no signs of awakening. Xiao Liu had just fallen asleep again, and the bracelet wouldn’t hold out much longer.

If Xiao Liu were someone else, Bai Fanlu might have considered hardening his heart, retrieving the bracelet early, suppressing the poison that would transfer to him, and buying enough time to continue waiting for Xun Huang’s awakening. That would be the easiest and most rational choice.

But Xiao Liu was Xiao Liu, not anyone else. Bai Fanlu couldn’t just let him die, even though he kept telling himself that Xiao Liu was just a fictional character, and they would eventually part ways.

But Bai Fanlu could no longer maintain the calm detachment he initially had.

Even if it meant taking a gamble, Bai Fanlu could only choose to return and negotiate with Xun Huang.

This time, when he passed through the secret door, Bai Fanlu was prepared to fight if necessary. However, the Dragon God was more courteous than expected, not immediately resorting to violence.

Moreover, it seemed Xun Huang had anticipated Bai Fanlu’s return. He stood by a stone platform, turning slightly when he heard footsteps from the secret door.

Bai Fanlu noticed that Xun Huang’s appearance had changed. He had shrunk considerably, though he was still much taller than Bai Fanlu. The terrifying dragon tail was gone, and the killing intent had slightly diminished. At first glance, he looked like a human general dressed in silver armor.

If it weren’t for the ice-colored ribbon still covering his eyes, Bai Fanlu might have thought he was someone else.

And those covered eyes, Bai Fanlu could now be sure, were looking at him.

“Who are you? What do you seek?”

To Bai Fanlu’s surprise, Xun Huang spoke first, which was exactly what Bai Fanlu had hoped for. “I am Lu Fan, a disciple of Tianxu Gate, seeking the antidote to the cold poison from the Dragon God.”

“Tianxu Gate? Lu Fan?” Xun Huang snorted. “A nobody!”

Bai Fanlu stood respectfully, not showing any emotion. This Dragon God had cultivated for ten thousand years, and even now, not fully awakened, he was already so powerful. If he could avoid a direct confrontation, all the better.

Xun Huang scrutinized Bai Fanlu for a moment before slowly stepping away from the stone platform. “Why did you intrude on my Fengshen Terrace?”

“I was ordered by my master to investigate the demonic rift and ended up beneath Fengshen Terrace by accident, with no intention of causing damage.”

Xun Huang sneered. “You have quite the nerve.”

“The Dragon God is an ancient deity. The demonic energy running amok is a calamity for all living beings. Surely you would not stand by and do nothing. I believe you wouldn’t blame us.”

“Arrogant fool! Why should I care about mere mortals?”

Xun Huang roared, and a dragon’s roar echoed around them. Bai Fanlu felt an overwhelming pressure from Xun Huang’s divine power but stood his ground, secretly gathering his strength.

The ice-colored veil over Xun Huang’s eyes flickered again. He seemed to squint, examining Bai Fanlu closely.

To him, this person was no more than an ant, yet that determined gaze, that stubborn expression, could not be ignored.

“You look just like him, with that fearless attitude.”

Him? Who? During their fight, Xun Huang had seemed to mistake him for someone else. Could it be Bai Junming again?

Given Xun Huang’s age and the fact that he had been sealed for ten thousand years, it shouldn’t be Bai Junming—the timelines didn’t match.

After saying this strange thing, Xun Huang slowly circled around to stand behind Bai Fanlu. Bai Fanlu could feel his gaze on him, like a dense, tangible needle.

Letting an opponent stand behind you was never a wise choice. Bai Fanlu clenched his fists, a movement that did not escape Xun Huang’s notice. He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smile.

“Hmph! Detoxifying the poison is not difficult.”

Bai Fanlu was overjoyed to hear this but held back. “What does the Dragon God require me to do?”

There was no such thing as a free lunch—Bai Fanlu knew this well.

“It’s simple,” Xun Huang’s cold voice came from behind him. “Kill the person traveling with you.”