Chapter 13: Encounter in the Ice Cave

“Damn it!” Xing Haotian roared in anger. He had never imagined that what he had done merely as a ruse would backfire so severely—now the fiery poison had truly manifested!

This outbreak of the fiery poison seemed far more intense than before, and the intervals between its attacks had drastically shortened. Had he known this, he would have never ventured into the wilderness.

His war chariot had also been taken away by Li Meiyu, and the coolant was still on it. He felt as if fate itself was conspiring against him.

“There should be several ice caves near the imperial capital!” Dark light glimmered in Xing Haotian’s eyes as he clung to the remnants of his reason, desperately searching for a way to cope. At this moment, he needed ice desperately to lower his body temperature; otherwise, he would bring ruin upon the earth.

A burst of flame erupted around him with a thunderous roar. His profound core rotated fiercely, engulfing him in blazing fire as he suddenly surged forward with the power of a fourth-level supreme profound flame assault.

Enveloped by the flames, Xing Haotian charged madly toward the ice cave. Yet, the use of profound arts caused the fiery poison within him to spread even more uncontrollably.

In the blink of an eye, he covered the distance of a thousand meters and entered the ice cave.

But the fiery poison was far too potent. The ice cave on the edge of the imperial capital was merely a cramped hollow, and upon his entry, the poison spread, and the sheer heat from his body began melting the cave.

Within less than ten minutes, the refreshing chill at the cave’s entrance vanished; frost melted away, steam rose, and the surroundings grew stiflingly hot once more.

“Ah!” Xing Haotian growled through clenched teeth as the toxic flame runes spread across his body. “So hot!”

He tore off his military dress uniform and fiercely punched the cave wall with his arm, the immense force causing the cavern to tremble. The silver-gray communicator on his arm cracked with a sharp snap.

“Damn it!” After returning to the imperial capital, he had replaced his communicator, never expecting it to be so fragile that it broke. Now he couldn’t even call for his men to find him!

Xing Haotian pressed deeper into the ice cave as the toxic flames grew fiercer, more rampant than ever. He had no choice but to push further in. The surrounding ice instantly vaporized like fragile clay upon contact with his searing body.

A frozen pool ahead caught his attention. Greedily, he climbed onto it. The ice was brittle and shattered immediately, plunging Xing Haotian beneath the surface.

“So hot!” Instinctively seeking the cold, he broke through the floating ice and finally grasped the coldest source.

Beneath the ice was a woman frozen in place. Through the transparent ice, she was breathtakingly beautiful—skin as white as snow, a straight nose that no longer breathed, and pale, chapped lips that inspired pity. Her closed eyes bore thick lashes resembling delicate fans, and her small face, barely palm-sized, framed by waist-length hair, was stunningly enchanting.

She was a young girl, clad only in her undergarments, sitting cross-legged within the icy pool, which struck Xing Haotian with a powerful impact.

Already overwhelmed by the invading poisonous flames and losing his reason, seeing this scene made him feel utterly deranged!

Moreover, the woman’s breath was faint, her life force waning—she was freezing to death!

No, she must not die!

For reasons unknown even to himself, Xing Haotian felt a tearing pain in his heart. He did not want her to perish.

Without hesitation, he embraced the block of ice, pressing his burning lips to the girl’s frozen nose. The ice began to melt rapidly.

Wei Zi had just absorbed an Ice Muscle Fruit when she was enveloped by high heat. Having just thawed from the ice, her body had yet to regain sensation. Her delicate lashes trembled as she opened her eyes, confused, staring up at the handsome face looming before her, struggling to comprehend the situation.

Before her was a shock of fiery red hair and a pair of sun-like scarlet eyes, blazing with a wildness and aggression, black veins spreading within them like a beast fixated on its prey.

Wei Zi’s gaze shifted from confusion to horror, staring at the figure before her in disbelief.

“Xing... Xing Haotian!” Her lips trembled as she barely uttered the name in a voice so low it was quieter than a mosquito’s buzz, a scream of terror barely contained. At that moment, the icy weakness from her frozen state left her feeling immense fear.

Why was he here?

A flash of realization struck Wei Zi’s mind—this day, this very day, was the day she was disfigured. She had been bound and sold at an underground auction, and at night, sacrificed to this man.

To her shock, after being reborn, she had not escaped the cruel fate but had met this man more than ten hours earlier than before.

Could this be a punishment from destiny?

Her thoughts thundered in chaos, but before she could settle, Xing Haotian aggressively pressed forward, his lips devouring hers with a storm of passionate hunger.

Wei Zi’s eyes widened as the scorching tongue ravaged her mouth, awakening her mind. She struggled fiercely against him.

Yet her feeble resistance was no match for Xing Haotian’s ferocity. His black-veined eyes locked onto her like a beast fixated on its prey, refusing to let her escape.

She had seen such eyes before—far more terrifying ones, completely black—eyes that inspired dread.

Xing Haotian seemed addicted to the kiss, sucking eagerly, smacking his lips as if her saliva were the most exquisite delicacy, devouring her greedily, numbing her tongue.

The subtle fragrance of the ice muscle fruit in her mouth was the perfect antidote to his fiery poison, and he cherished it dearly.

“Ugh!” Wei Zi winced in pain. The kiss was agonizing; she could barely breathe, and her tongue was bitten until it bled.

The faint metallic tang startled Xing Haotian. His eyes locked onto Wei Zi’s, then reluctantly withdrew his tongue, but without letting go. He grabbed her chin, prying her mouth open to examine her tongue. Seeing the fresh red blood, he frowned before finally releasing her.

At that moment, Xing Haotian felt himself slipping into madness, yet a strange willpower supported his actions. He knew this fragile woman before him was his lifeline. Though he longed to consume her whole, he did not wish to harm her, for she was a rare treasure he had found.

Her cold body eased the fiery poison’s invasion, restoring a fragment of his sanity.

Yet he was unwilling to let her go.

Forsaking the most exquisite lips, Xing Haotian turned to her neck. The pulsating veins felt icy cold, and her collarbone was like a delicious frozen treat. He licked it over and over until it warmed, then moved on to another cold spot.

——————

Muah! Thanks to all the generous patrons—Various Fake Ji, Various Wounds, and Empty City_l—for the 100 book coins!