Chapter 397: They’re Here

The old man was just on the verge of convincing Ms. Zhi Zhi, only to be thwarted by his own Crown Prince.

He let out a soft sigh.

After hearing Prince Canglan’s voice, Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare say another word. She buried her head in her porridge and quickly finished her meal.

"I’ll... I’ll be heading back now."

Yu Zhizhi left the old man’s residence.

She walked back to her chambers, but the thought that she hadn’t yet visited the Ice Crystal Dragon today made her turn and head for the Dragon Cave.

’Prince Canglan can probably see what I’m doing right now, can’t he?’

’He hasn’t said anything, so does that mean he approves?’

Yu Zhizhi had a feeling that she would likely be leaving the Extreme Ice Palace soon. When that happened, she wouldn’t be able to see the Ice Crystal Dragon anymore.

As she neared the Dragon Cave, she heard the sound of the Ice Crystal Dragon flapping its wings.

It was agitated.

It had sensed an "enemy" but was still unable to go out and fight.

Only when it heard familiar footsteps did it begin to settle down.

The Ice Crystal Dragon let out a cry and rushed impatiently to the bottom of the steps, its eyes fixed eagerly on the Rabbit Clan female who had finally come to visit.

It chittered and cooed, as if trying to say a great many things.

Although Yu Zhizhi couldn’t understand the sounds, she could perceive its emotions.

The Ice Crystal Dragon seemed particularly fixated on last night’s "uninvited guest."

She sat by the hot spring, gently wiping the Ice Crystal Dragon’s wings and soothing it softly. "It’s okay, it’s okay. They just had a little spar."

The Ice Crystal Dragon sat obediently by the pool, letting Yu Zhizhi clean its body.

It turned over, once again exposing its firm little belly.

The Ice Crystal Dragon had grown quite a bit, so Yu Zhizhi had to adjust her position. This time, she was even more meticulous than usual.

"Jeral," she couldn’t help but call out softly.

The Ice Crystal Dragon responded with a low rumble, looking at her curiously as if eager to hear what she would say next.

In truth, Yu Zhizhi didn’t have anything specific to say.

She reached out and stroked the Ice Crystal Dragon’s head.

Jeral, who had been incredibly agitated, calmed down considerably after Yu Zhizhi’s arrival. It reverted to its usual carefree self, snatching up a Crystal Ball and trying to pull her into a game.

Yu Zhizhi played with it for a long while.

The Ice Crystal Dragon would normally be sleeping by now, but today it was exceptionally energetic and clung to her for a long time.

In the end, as it crawled into its cave, it used a wing to tug on Yu Zhizhi’s arm, refusing to sleep until she sang to it.

Yu Zhizhi lulled the Ice Crystal Dragon to sleep.

She slowly left the Dragon Cave.

As she walked, she suddenly remembered the place she had taken the Ice Crystal Dragon for a walk last time. It seemed to be near the outer edge of the Extreme Ice Palace.

’If I keep walking outward, could I possibly find a way to leave?’

Yu Zhizhi felt a stir of temptation.

But the thought that Prince Canglan might be watching her right now instantly extinguished the idea.

’I’d better head back to my chambers for now.’

Yu Zhizhi pushed the thought aside and went back to find the Little Octopus.

The Little Octopus had slept for a very long time. When it woke up, a servant brought it something to eat. It ate while waiting for the little rabbit, and upon spotting a familiar figure in the distance, it eagerly waved its tentacles.

"Where did you go?" the Little Octopus asked curiously.

Yu Zhizhi remembered that Jeral was a secret of the Moon Ascending Royal Family, and that it was better for the Little Octopus not to know. So, she didn’t mention the Ice Crystal Dragon, saying only, "I went out for a little walk after breakfast."

"Oh~" The Little Octopus finished gnawing on a large chicken leg.

It used a napkin to wipe its tentacles and mouth clean, then wriggled its red body down from the chair.

"Are you still thinking about the marriage alliance?" The Little Octopus could tell the Rabbit Clan girl before it was worried, and it couldn’t help but try to comfort her. "Don’t pay any mind to them. If you have to choose, just pick the one you like the most."

"Even though I’d love for you to go to the Deep Sea, staying here in Moonrise or going to Varolan seems pretty good too."

"And besides, the Underground City—"

Yu Zhizhi quickly clapped a hand over the Little Octopus’s mouth and shook her head.

’Don’t mention the Underground City here.’

She didn’t want to cause trouble for Dracula.

The Little Octopus immediately fell silent.

It actually quite liked the Underground City. The small taverns had plenty to eat and drink, and when it was bored, it could play with its mechanical wings.

Unfortunately, they had broken after only a few uses since arriving at the Extreme Ice Palace. It would have to find someone to fix them later.

After a moment, it spoke up again. "Do you know anyone from the Knight Alliance? Or maybe we should go to Demon Dragon Ridge!"

It had heard that was the most chaotic region on the planet. The Little Octopus was practically rubbing its tentacles together in anticipation, eager to go take a look.

Yu Zhizhi’s thoughts turned to Wild Dog.

’Hmm...’

She didn’t have any particular feelings about Demon Dragon Ridge at the moment, and she didn’t know the purpose of the Knight Alliance’s arrival either.

’Is Wild Dog here?’

Last time, she had only heard from the Duke that he’d arrived, but Yu Zhizhi hadn’t actually seen him.

While they were still talking, a tremor suddenly echoed from the distant sky. The Little Octopus scurried outside.

Yu Zhizhi followed close behind.

She saw the sky, covered by a golden Barrier, look as though someone had struck it with a colossal hammer. It was shattering, with fissures beginning to spread...

The Extreme Ice Palace was instantly plunged into chaos.

Even from a distance, Yu Zhizhi could hear a great commotion.

She and the Little Octopus ran toward the source of the noise.

When they rounded the corner to the front of the palace, the attendants were all in a state of unease.

She spotted the Lizard Servant and quickly called out, "Alpha—"

The Lizard Servant stopped when he saw her. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, you’re out here too?"

"What’s happening?"

"It might be an enemy attack..."

The Lizard Servant’s face was deathly pale. ’If even a Barrier this strong is about to shatter, this enemy can’t be just any ordinary Demon.’

The surroundings of the Extreme Ice Palace were perilous, but with Prince Canglan present, it had always been perfectly safe.

He had just seen one of the councilors hurrying away as well.

THUMP-THUMP!

THUMP-THUMP!

Yu Zhizhi’s heart suddenly began to pound violently, and the ice-colored pattern on the back of her hand reappeared along with it.

’This is...’

’Sensen’s Soul Resonance?’

’Could he be nearby?!’

The Little Octopus stared at the cracks spreading across the sky. It wrapped a tentacle around the little rabbit’s wrist. "It’s Lord Shen He."

The sheer power of that last heavy blow, the aura that now filled the air... The Little Octopus was absolutely certain. It was Shen He, the Imperial Marshal of the Deep Sea!

The Lizard Servant was dumbstruck upon hearing that name—

’The Hai Giant Shark?!’

’He’s here already?!’

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t worry about that now. She rushed toward the outer perimeter of the Extreme Ice Palace. The closer she got, the more strongly she could sense Sensen’s presence.

’Shen He is here...’

’Sensen is here too!’

’Did they come together?’

Before she even reached the entrance to the Extreme Ice Palace, she saw a familiar figure standing before the gate. His dark green robes emanated a faint glow, and restless white spider silks stirred at the hem.

Yu Zhizhi slowed her pace.

The Lord of Paradise tilted his head slightly. He looked at the little rabbit who had rushed over, his mismatched eyes darkening. "In such a hurry?"

’Is she in a hurry to see the shark, or the Mermaid?’