Chapter 2 – The Lord of the Frozen Tomb

The surroundings were no longer Sacred Snow Mountain.

She stood there in a daze, unsure where to go, staring blankly at the unfamiliar yet hauntingly beautiful scenery before her.

Beside her was a magnolia tree of extraordinary elegance and uniqueness. Its leaves were not green but icy white, as though carved from crystal. Blossoms of translucent magnolia clung to its branches, exquisite and otherworldly.

This strange sight was unlike anything she had ever seen in her nineteen years of life—not even on television.

What puzzled her most was that despite the bone-piercing cold, the purple lake before her remained unfrozen, just like the mysterious lake on Sacred Snow Mountain.

Her black down jacket had several tears, barely shielding her from the bitter chill. She crouched beneath the magnolia tree, hugging herself tightly, shivering uncontrollably.

It was even colder than Sacred Snow Mountain! Far beyond what a human body could endure. She didn’t know how much longer she could last.

…

“Lord of the Tomb, a woman appeared outside the lake today.”
A refined young man stood respectfully at the gates of the Hall of Silent Frost, speaking softly. “Her attire is strange, unlike that of ordinary people. The aura on her body is neither that of a demon nor that of a common mortal.”

Inside the hall, incense smoke coiled upward from the sculpted head of a beast, fragrant and ethereal.

A man in a flowing violet robe sat serenely by the window, sipping tea. Beyond the window stretched a world of ice and snow, and at the distant edge lay the mist-wreathed purple lake.

Hearing the hint of hesitation in Yi Yao’s voice, Bingyou’s jade-like hand froze midair, the emerald teacup suspended between his fingers.

His gaze shifted toward the distant horizon, his deep violet eyes glowing faintly. Instantly, the mist over the Lake of Purple Despair dispersed.

At the lakeshore, a young woman crouched beneath the magnolia tree, rubbing her hands and breathing into them. Tears streamed down her face, freezing into tiny pearls of ice upon her cheeks.

Her clothes were filthy, her hair a tangled mess—she looked like a beggar. And her pitiful struggle against the unbearable cold made her seem utterly desperate.

Bingyou’s eyelids lowered slightly as he withdrew his gaze.

Yi Yao sensed that this woman was no ordinary wandering soul. He dared not make a decision on his own—whether to allow her into the Frozen Tomb or to drive her away. Thus, he came to seek the Tomb Lord’s judgment.

“Who are you?”
No footsteps preceded the voice, yet suddenly it sounded right beside her.

Nearly frozen senseless, Mu Shuiqi lifted her head. A man of otherworldly grace stood before her, looking down indifferently at her blood-streaked face.

Their clothing was unlike anything from the modern world—more like people from ancient times.

His long white hair cascaded like the snows atop Sacred Snow Mountain, tinged faintly with glacial blue.

A sumptuous violet robe draped his form, exuding a regal air, while a white jade belt at his waist shimmered with cold light. His eyes were the same hue as the purple lake—deep and unfathomable, radiating a piercing chill.

He was too beautiful—so beautiful it felt unreal. At first glance, she thought she had stumbled into the world of a fantasy manhua. Even descriptions used for the most flawless women—skin like jade, a form as delicate as porcelain—seemed insufficient for him.

Behind him stood a young man in a blue robe, strikingly handsome in his own right.

Mu Shuiqi felt that as the two approached, the air around her grew even colder.

Bingyou asked again, “Who are you? For what purpose have you come here?”

His voice was low yet powerful—gentle, but with a distance that made him seem untouchable.

Mu Shuiqi wiped her nose with her finger, only to realize her snot had frozen solid! If it weren’t for the unbearable cold, she might have gotten a nosebleed just from seeing such a devastatingly handsome man.

“I… I don’t know. I don’t know anything…” Her brain felt numb, unable to function.

Bingyou’s gaze remained calm and detached. “You mean to say, you don’t even know who you are?”

Mu Shuiqi raised her eyes to his flawless, icy face, pleading miserably:
“It’s so cold. I feel like I’m going to die… please, save me! Please!”

“Tomb Lord, could this woman be… a spy?” Yi Yao asked in a low voice.

Bingyou remained silent, his unfathomable gaze fixed on Mu Shuiqi.

“I really can’t take it anymore… I’m going to freeze to death… please, save me…” Mu Shuiqi crawled forward, clutching at the hem of Bingyou’s robe. Her entire body was numb and purple from the cold.

Yi Yao gave a short laugh. “Only the dead come to the Frozen Tomb. If you are here, it means you are already dead. What use would saving you be?”