The Aloof Girl Opens the Door of Her Heart Only to Him

“What's going on? Why haven’t we encountered anyone else after all this time?”
Fu Zishi sat on the cold snow, his tone tinged with resentment.
Across from him, Gu Yuan offered comfort, “Let’s wait a bit longer. Someone ought to arrive soon.”
Gu Yuan harbored some resentment himself. After all, they had waited in this snowy wasteland under relentless flurries for who knew how long—and no one had appeared. Who wouldn’t feel aggrieved?
A chill wind swept by, and after another stretch, even Gu Yuan grew impatient. “Let’s just force our way in. There’s no point waiting any longer.”
Again, Fu Zishi soothed him. “We’ve waited this long—let’s give it a bit more time. Perhaps someone really will show.”
Since Fu Zishi said so, Gu Yuan could not press ahead alone and reluctantly agreed, “All right… let’s wait a little longer.”
…

Feeling snowflakes drifting onto him, Gu Yuan found himself recalling a phrase: “Snowflakes flutter, north winds sigh.” At that moment his mood mirrored it entirely—so cold, so lonely. And worst of all, his companion was a burly bear of a man, beard bristling. How he wished it were Fang Qing. If only she were here, he would wait as long as needed. But, of course, that was impossible.
The “bear” opened his beard-strewn mouth and said, “Let’s go. Waiting is pointless.”
Hearing Fu Zishi’s weary tone, Gu Yuan too sighed, “Right. There really is no one here.”
Fu Zishi nodded. “Shall we go first, or you?”
“Together,” Gu Yuan replied.
“All right.”
After that brief exchange, Fu Zishi rose and hefted his great axe. Gu Yuan ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) also stood, twin swords in hand, ready. Without further words, they set off side by side toward the Furry-Demon gate.
At first they strode steadily, then at roughly four hundred meters, the pair broke into a full sprint. Their movement drew the attention of the demons. A roar went up, and the gate’s demons took position, hurling ice balls at Gu Yuan and Fu Zishi.
Their responses mirrored each other: each activated a personal shield—one crackling with lightning, the other rippling like water. The projectiles, aimed at two small targets, largely missed. Those that struck only rippled their shields before shattering or bouncing off.
Thus they thundered to within a hundred meters of the gate, but a new problem arose. Gu Yuan, still only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, could not sustain his water-wave shield as long as Fu Zishi’s Golden Core strength. The shield cracked.
Noticing the fissure, Fu Zishi’s eyes flicked. If he ambushed Gu Yuan now—though Gu Yuan’s reputation suggested Nascent Soul prowess—a surprise attack amid the ice-ball barrage might just kill him. In an instant, Fu Zishi’s mind churned with murderous intent.
At that moment, a sudden, piercing eagle cry rang across the sky, startling both men and demons. They looked upward to the source: a ten-meter wingspan giant eagle, its head noble and fierce, white-bluish wings spread wide, descending from the heavens.
Gu Yuan, uncertain why it appeared, snapped back to clarity and shouted, “Now—this is our chance!”
Almost immediately, Fu Zishi dropped his treacherous thought and followed Gu Yuan in a rapid dash for the gate. The demons, roused by their leader’s roar, refocused their assault on the fleeing pair.
Given the respite, Gu Yuan’s shield reformed around him, and he reached the gate with little hindrance. Standing before the solid ice doors, Gu Yuan swung his right sword, Xuánlán. “Crack!” A fissure appeared. He struck again and prepared a second blow, calling to Fu Zishi behind him, “Cover me!”
Fu Zishi was surprised—had Gu Yuan really trusted him? In truth, he saw this as his last chance: if he did not strike now, he might never get another opportunity. Resolutely, he lifted his great axe, ready to strike Gu Yuan in the back.
But once more the giant eagle shrieked from above—“Lì—”
Fu Zishi, determined, ignored the eagle and poised his axe. Yet in that instant, an unaccountable daze stopped his swing.
Meanwhile, Gu Yuan, having launched his second blow, heard a familiar voice: “Found you, Gu!”
It was Bailulu’s voice. Gu Yuan recognized it instantly and turned to speak—but was cut off.
“Gu, finish off the one behind you—or you’ll pay with your life~”
Trusting the companion he had known for days, Gu Yuan spun to see Fu Zishi raising his axe. Without hesitation, Gu Yuan vaulted aside, evading the deadly blow. At the same time, he formed a shield overhead to block ice balls hurtling from the gate.
Bracing his shield with his left hand’s Diǎnxīng and glaring at Fu Zishi, Gu Yuan sighed inwardly. He had wanted to trust Fu Zishi—there was no prior grudge, no treasure dispute—yet in this moment, Fu Zishi had chosen betrayal.
Rising fully, Gu Yuan fixed Fu Zishi with a look of murderous resolve. Since Fu Zishi had drawn blade on him, they were now enemies unto death.