---
"Sorry, but I can't tell you right now. When the time comes, I promise that I will tell you everything."
Li Yong's voice was quiet, laced with a guilt that settled heavy in his chest. His eyes, so often calm and resolute, now flickered with shadows. As he avoided her gaze, Lu Wei looked at him long and hard, then sighed.
"Okay," she said softly, "I understand that you have a lot of responsibility. But… you will come with me to see our daughter, right?"
There was a pause—too long—and then he shook his head.
"No, I can't. I've made a promise… to protect him at all costs."
Lu Wei's eyes narrowed for a moment, not out of anger, but in understanding. She had known this man for many years, known his sense of duty, his sacrifices. His decision didn't surprise her, but it still left a void in her heart.
"Don't worry. I'll come to see our daughter soon," Li Yong added, trying to ease her pain with a faint smile. "When this child becomes strong, he must come to our continent. I'll be waiting for him there."
His eyes softened as he looked toward Su Yang, who lay unconscious near the dissipating flames.
"So… is this child our granddaughter?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe as he turned his gaze to Lu Ying—whose sleeping form bore a striking resemblance to a younger Lu Wei.
Lu Wei glanced down at her granddaughter, her expression tender. "Yes," she said with a gentle nod. "She takes after her mother, even more than I expected. Like her, she possesses an ice physique… only this time, it's much stronger. Because of that, she's endured far more than we ever did."
---
❄ A Body of Ice, A Life of Isolation
"What do you mean by that?" Li Yong asked, his brows furrowed.
Lu Wei explained with a distant look in her eyes. "To awaken the Extreme Ice Body, a cultivator needs a strong foundation—mentally and spiritually. But Lu Ying… her ice body is different. Stronger. If she awakens it without control, it could consume her."
"She had to wait until she turned eighteen," Lu Wei continued, "and even then, her cultivation progressed slowly compared to others. Because of that, she's been looked down upon… bullied by those in the sect who don't understand her potential."
Li Yong clenched his fists slightly, memories of his own past resurfacing. "I know that feeling. I was beaten down, humiliated by stronger disciples… but those scars taught me the truth of this world."
Lu Wei nodded. "That's why I didn't stop it. I told our daughter not to protect her too much. This world respects only strength. If she doesn't learn now, she'll break later."
"Power commands respect," Li Yong agreed quietly, "and weakness invites cruelty."
The two of them looked down at Lu Ying—now slowly stirring—as silence stretched between them. They had both endured pain in their lives. Perhaps this child would too, but from it, she would become unshakable.
---
"It looks like her awakening is almost complete," Li Yong said, observing the last flickering embers around the girl's body.
"Yes," Lu Wei replied. "But it's not over yet. I'll need to take her to a secluded place. Her ice body is unlike anything I've seen. A single mistake… and it could destroy her from within."
Li Yong's smile faded. "If you just take her away now… she'll be hurt. She and that boy—" he looked at Su Yang, "—they've accepted each other. This bond… it's what stabilized her ice body. You know this ritual only works when hearts truly connect."
Lu Wei hesitated, but nodded. "I know. But I must be sure her body can handle it. If she survives this stage, I'll give them some time. But afterward… she must come with me. Her path isn't here. And since she's lost her innocence with him… he must carry the weight of that responsibility too."
---
Just as her words faded, both of them turned sharply.
The blaze—which had protected and isolated the two—had finally vanished. In its place lay two figures, both unconscious and completely exposed. The sight sent a jolt through Lu Wei's chest.
Before either could react, Li Yong was already by Su Yang's side, removing his own outer robe and covering him with practiced ease. At the same time, Lu Wei moved to Lu Ying, gently draping a clean robe over her, her hands trembling slightly. A mother, a protector, a cultivator—now overwhelmed by the fragile image of her granddaughter's vulnerability.
Moments passed.
Then Lu Ying stirred.
Her eyelashes fluttered open slowly, and a weak breath escaped her lips. "Grandma…?"
Lu Wei knelt beside her, lifting her up carefully and
helping her sit upright. "I'm here, child. It's okay now. You did well."