That afternoon.
The sky took on a blend of ice-blue and pale pastel hues, tinting the expanse like a cracked-ice glazed screen. In this pure white world, the soft, slightly desolate daylight was reflected by the snow into a hazy blur.
Braving the wind and snow, three figures finally spotted the silhouette of a city-state at the edge of the snowfield.
"Xiaya, you really live up to being an heir of an assassin family. You're a natural scout too. Without you, I'm afraid we wouldn't have found Chinston City before dark,"
Lanqi praised Xiaya with a grin.
Xiaya lowered his head, rather bashful.
It had been a long time since he had received such genuine praise.
Usually, whenever people mentioned his family, it was to mock him.
Yet this person was different.
"You didn't mention me once, yet it feels like every word was aimed at me,"
Side muttered from the side.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Lanqi rubbed his cheek, slightly numb from the frost, and looked at Side with a bewildered expression.
"Nothing. Sometimes affection points are deducted directly—no notification service required."
Amidst the howling wind and the chatter of their voices, they gradually arrived before the checkpoint of the city-state.
Across the vast snowfield, the land around them was blanketed in boundless white. Bitter winds blew by from time to time, swirling up snowflakes that danced in the air like fine powdered sugar.
This was the southern border of Chinston City. Its towering walls, constructed of metal and long-frozen earth, resembled a steel canyon rising from the snowfield, shutting out the frigid wind and every danger of the outside world.
The city gate was made of heavy Demon Realm steelwood, reinforced with cold iron along its edges and carved with the totems and magic runes of Chinston City. Inside the barrier, two rows of guards stood clad in armor with weapons in hand, the bright orange-red plumes on their helmets fluttering gently in the cold wind.
The guards' attention was immediately drawn by the approaching trio, their eyes turning toward the distance across the snowfield.
Slowing their pace, the three traversed the final stretch of endless snow. Pulling out their identification in advance, they walked up to the city gate and handed their documents through a briefly opened passage in the barrier to the knight captain leading the guards.
After a careful inspection, the knight captain looked directly at Xiaya.
"Young Master Xiaya Candice, welcome to Chinston City. Please enter the city with your friends and wait for a moment while I contact the lord's manor for you."
Seeing from Lanqi's and Side's credentials that they were students of the Protos Royal Magic Academy from the Imperial Capital of Herrom, the knight captain found it inappropriate to speculate about their relationship with Xiaya, simply treating them as his traveling companions.
The city gates slowly opened, the iron chains and wooden beams letting out heavy rumbles. In an instant, the clamor of the city flooded their ears, and its scenery gradually unfolded before their eyes.
No longer an endless expanse of snow, pedestrians bustled across the bluestone-paved streets in the distance. Smoke drifted from residential chimneys alongside the savory aromas of dinners being prepared, and the laughter of children playing in snowball fights could be faintly heard.
Next came a period of waiting.
They did not wait long at the entrance of the city-state before a carriage sent to receive them dashed onto the open plaza nearby and came to a stop.
A middle-aged man in a classic black formal suit walked over. Gold patterns were embroidered on his cuffs and collar, and he held a wax-sealed letter in his hand. With steady yet swift strides, he arrived before the trio.
"Young Master Xiaya, and esteemed guests, I am the butler of the lord's manor."
He gave a slight bow, his tone respectful.
"Our lord, Viscount Laiwen Chinston, has learned of your arrival and sent me to receive you."
He gestured for the three to follow him toward the exquisite carriage bearing the Chinston family crest. The carriage body was draped in deep-red silk, its windows veiled with sheer embroidered curtains. The butler opened the carriage door, revealing animal-hide cushions and intricately carved wooden armrests inside.
"Please step inside."
The butler offered a subtle smile—the composed, measured demeanor typical of someone serving prominent figures.
The three exchanged glances and boarded the carriage with the butler.
Before the carriage set off:
"Excuse me, is Viscount Laiwen Chinston busy with important business?"
Side asked the butler.
"Yes. Ordinarily, the viscount and the young lady would welcome Young Master Xiaya in person, but there are esteemed guests at the manor right now, and they cannot step away at the moment. He could only send me to escort you back first. My sincerest apologies,"
the butler apologized.
Side nodded.
It seemed the viscount had not slighted Xiaya intentionally.
According to the aristocratic etiquette of the Protos Empire, even if Xiaya—an earl's heir with an active betrothal—arrived at an unscheduled time due to transportation issues, Viscount Laiwen Chinston or the young lady should still have received him in person.
A deep rumble sounded.
The carriage wheels carved deep ruts into the thick snow. Outside, the frigid wind howled, but inside the carriage was warm and comfortable.
The three leaned back against the plush cushions. Xiaya looked a bit uneasy and restrained, whereas Lanqi and Side seemed completely at ease.
For a moment, it was hard to tell who the young master actually was.
Looking at the flaxen-haired youth—so nervous, gentle, and carrying a hint of timidity—Lanqi patted Xiaya on the shoulder from across the compartment.
"Puff out your chest. Miss Lilith Chinston would probably prefer a man who's a bit more assertive."
"But... I'm only here to marry into the Chinston family. Shouldn't they prefer a son-in-law who knows his place?"
"Lilith Chinston's combat class is assassin, and according to her enrollment report, she showed quite a fierce performance during exams. As a descendant of a renowned assassin family in the empire, you two will definitely hit it off."
Lanqi had already begun coaching Xiaya.
Xiaya stared at Lanqi, his brow knitted in utter bewilderment.
*How do you know everything?*
"But right now I lean more toward administrative work... If it's working for their family's merchant guild, I might be of some use. Although I've learned all of my family's techniques, I've barely used them in actual combat..."
Xiaya admitted with little confidence.
"I see."
Lanqi rubbed his chin, falling into thought.
"Meow, meow, meow! Don't listen to him!"
An indignant voice rang out from below. Accompanied by a black shadow, the little black cat leaped onto the seat, scrambled onto Lanqi's shoulder, and shouted at Xiaya,
"Romance between youths requires delicacy and letting things take their natural course! Once this guy gets involved, any heartwarming story will turn out just like those twisted Shadow Worlds he wrecks! Love doesn't need violent overtaking or industrial-strength welding!"
Filled with righteous indignation, it scolded Lanqi furiously, huffing and puffing so hard it took a while to catch its breath.
"Oh, you finally decided to come out, little black cat,"
Side said, looking at Lanqi's shoulder with amusement.
The next instant, as if cowering, Boss Cat pattered over to Lanqi's other shoulder, putting distance between itself and Side while shivering.
Xiaya looked at the spirit cat in astonishment.
Even this cat was stronger than him.
It was actually close to the fourth tier!
"...Do you think I'm only third-tier, meow?"
Boss Cat seemed to read Xiaya's mind and glared at him sternly.
Both of them knew telekinetic spirit magic, which gave them an innate sense of affinity.
"Could it be... you're actually fourth-tier?"
Xiaya asked in disbelief.
"..."
Boss Cat fell silent for a moment before deciding to change the subject, figuring it was best not to bring humiliation upon itself.
"Boy, just interact with Miss Lilith naturally. If you're fated for each other, mutual affection will follow in due time. Whatever you do, do not listen to his romance advice! This guy has no clue what love even means, and his idea of affection is terribly twisted!"
It pleaded earnestly with Xiaya.
"Uh..."
Xiaya looked at the little black cat, then back at Lanqi.
For a moment, he didn't know whom to believe.
Both were utterly sincere, wishing him well with all their hearts—there was no doubt about that, as plain as day in their eyes.
Caught in a dilemma, Xiaya could not make up his mind.
A hush fell over the three people and one cat.
"Actually, I think McCarthy makes a fair point. For instance, I'd also favor a guy stronger than myself,"
Side pondered aloud from the side, offering her perspective as a woman.
She couldn't understand why the little black cat was trashing Lanqi's romance advice so harshly. It sounded perfectly reasonable to her.
"..."
Lanqi cast a look of pity at Side.
*Another one who'll never get married.*
"What was that look supposed to mean?"
Side asked.
By now she had realized that her Holy Son rarely said anything overtly impolite.
Instead, he expressed everything through subtle facial cues—the highest form of contempt.
"Go ahead and deduct affection points. When you're out to frame someone, any excuse will do, right?"
Lanqi wore a helpless smile that seemed to have seen through the vanity of the world.
"..."
Side shook her head with a smile, not telling Lanqi how many affection points would be docked.
Beside them:
"Meow, so Xiaya, are you really going to let this green tea bitch teach you about love?"
Boss Cat looked at Xiaya and asked.
"But don't Mr. Luoqi and Miss Side get along quite well?"
Xiaya asked Boss Cat in confusion.
He felt Senior Luoqi wasn't 'green tea' at all; he was clearly a gentle, good-natured young man.
"Meow?"
Boss Cat tilted its head. Lanqi and the Bishop of Domination? Did they really get along harmoniously?
It had always thought the two were mismatched in every conceivable way—status, strength, age, and personality.
Yet hearing Xiaya put it that way...
It realized that their dynamic felt surprisingly plausible.
Wait.
If one swapped Lanqi's and Sigrid's genders...
What kind of green tea maiden and domineering CEO trope was this?!
Chapter 311