Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On the ice plains, I am the only one without a Snow Soul.

This means I cannot control the water element like everyone else, and I could freeze to death at any moment.

Unless… I enter a Bonding with a man, using my body as a medium to obtain half of his Snow Soul.

A knock sounded at the door, and my brother, Le Yan, walked in.

Behind him, a man dressed in a white cloak stepped in from the snow.

He stood quietly by the door, his figure tall and slender. His deep blue eyes were incredibly clear, like a frozen lake in winter.

In the Ice Clan, only one person possessed such eye color-the Right High Priest, Lan Yi.

My brother gave a bitter smile and said to Lan Yi, “She is my sister, Xing Yan. Please, treat her well.”

Lan Yi gave a soft hum of affirmation, signaling that he had accepted my fate.

After my brother left, Lan Yi and I were left alone in silence.

I bit my lip and asked, “Would you like some wine?”

Lan Yi didn’t answer; he simply approached me slowly.

To hide my fluster, I poured myself a cup of wine and brought the rim to my lips.

As the liquid flowed out, it unexpectedly transformed into wisps of white mist, condensing into a translucent butterfly in mid-air.

As expected of Lan Yi.

His ability to manipulate the water element had reached a state of perfection.

It was then that Lan Yi finally spoke, his voice gentle. “Xing Yan, are you hungry?”

I blanked for a moment, but understood in the next.

Bonding required physical strength. Lan Yi likely wanted me to eat my fill first so that he could enjoy himself to the fullest.

The table was filled with fragrant dishes, and I realized my stomach was indeed empty.

I lowered my head to drink a bowl of sweet congee, but it failed to dispel the cold in my body. I then picked up a chicken leg and chewed slowly.

Lan Yi watched me quietly the entire time, his deep blue eyes bottomless.

I took a bite of a rice cake, looked at him, and asked curiously, “Aren’t you eating?”

He said, “I will eat after the Princess is finished.”

I wiped the corner of my mouth and said tonelessly, “I am no longer a Princess.”

In the Ice Clan, those born Soulless-even those of the purest bloodline-were nothing more than useless trash abandoned by the snow plains.

Lan Yi said, “In the eyes of your humble servant, you will always be the Princess.”

I was stunned for a moment, then I understood a little.

He and I had never associated with each other. The only reason he was so patient with me was likely because my brother had pleaded with him beforehand to be kind to me.

Several silver braziers burned in the room, filling it with warm fragrance, yet I had already begun to shiver.

This was a precursor to my spiritual energy running dry.

My brother used to use his power as the Left High Priest to transfer spiritual energy into me inch by inch, barely maintaining my body temperature.

But after reaching adulthood, my bloodline formed its own cycle, and external spiritual energy could no longer sustain me for long.

Lan Yi glanced at me, seemingly understanding my predicament, but he did not point it out.

He ordered the servants to clear the food, leaving only a bowl of clear water on the table.

He turned back and asked me, “Xing Yan, do you want to learn the Water Control Art?”

I said frankly, “I do.”

Unfortunately, I would never be able to learn it.

When I was a child, every time I saw other children forming ice balls and playing around, I could only watch with longing eyes.

He said softly, “It’s alright. I will teach you.”

Lan Yi stood up, untied his belt, and approached me step by step.

“Xing Yan, are you afraid?”

What use was fear? What was meant to happen would happen eventually.

So I shook my head and clenched my fingers tightly.

He walked up to me and used that belt to cover my eyes.

The world instantly fell into darkness.

I couldn’t see him; I could only hear his voice right next to my ear, low and soft:

“Concentrate. Feel the temperature and the shape of the water in that bowl.”

“When I speak, the surface of the water will ripple slightly. Try to make that ripple spread and turn into a vortex.”

I tried my best to hold my breath and focus, attempting to perceive it.

But just like before, there was nothing.

Suddenly, Lan Yi let out a sigh.

“Princess, perhaps we should try… another method.”

Before his voice had even faded, a stream of icy water had already taken shape, wrapping around my neck like silk.

Before I could realize what was happening, I could no longer breathe.

Lan Yi’s voice remained gentle and warm, as if coming from the horizon:

“Calm down. Now, use the hand within your mind to untie it.”

I didn’t know what that meant. I could only reach up to pull at the water whip, but it was useless.

Just before my breath was about to cut off, the feeling of constriction suddenly vanished.

Water droplets pitter-pattered down, soaking my clothes.

I slumped down weakly, gasping for air.

In the next instant, I was swept up into his arms, his steady and powerful heartbeat sounding in my ear.

Lan Yi sighed silently, carefully removing my cold clothes and wrapping me in a dry quilt.

From beginning to end, he did not make a single move that overstepped the bounds of propriety.

Shivering, I untied the belt he had wrapped around my eyes and stared at him in disbelief.

“Lan Yi, you… if you are unwilling to part with your Snow Soul, you can just tell me. You don’t have to torture me like this…”

Lan Yi lowered his eyes and said slowly, “I just… didn’t want to start with you in that way.”

I didn’t understand.

Since he was unwilling to enter a Bonding, why waste each other’s time?

Lan Yi stroked my forehead and explained, “Your brother told me that you were born lacking a Snow Soul, but I still held a glimmer of hope. I wanted to try and awaken your talent for water control.”

I curled into the bedding, shivering as I said, “If you… if you despise me, it’s not too late. I… I can find someone else.”

Lan Yi’s lips curled into a faint smile, and the color of his deep blue eyes darkened, like the sea before a storm.

“No, it’s too late now…”

He leaned down, his cool lips brushing past the tip of my nose.

Then, very lightly, he pressed them against my lips.

A crisp, clean scent filled the room, and at the same time, a wave of warmth enveloped me.

As sleepiness washed over me, I heard Lan Yi’s gentle whisper:

“Princess, tomorrow… we continue.”