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

The giant eagle circled overhead and let out another piercing cry that echoed all around. Its eagle shriek carried a powerful aura of intimidation.
Hearing that cry, Fu Zishi and the Furry Demons alike felt a blow to their souls. Fu Zishi managed to keep his wits and continue fighting, though his head pounded. The Furry Demons fared worse: most wavered as if about to collapse, and some simply fell unconscious.
This shriek was formidable—but peculiarly, it had no effect on Gu Yuan. He seemed to sense this and looked up at the circling eagle. On the eagle’s broad back stood a pristine white-furred fox, poised gracefully. Undoubtedly, it was Bailulu. Gu Yuan inclined his head to her, then set off, racing through the soft snow toward Fu Zishi.

In the dash, his storage ring released several Flying Swords, while moisture in the air crystallized into a transparent spear—exceptionally strong and razor-sharp. Fu Zishi, enduring the headache, gripped his great axe in readiness. Exposed now, he resolved to face Gu Yuan head-on. Though he favored ambush, as a Golden Core Zhenren he had some skill in direct combat.
Around Fu Zishi, crackling strands of electricity flickered within three meters, posing a serious threat. Gu Yuan, noticing the trap, halted his sprint. He guided his Flying Swords and the ice spear with his divine sense, thrusting them toward Fu Zishi. Fu Zishi swung his axe down into the ground, sending a spray of snow as a path of lightning shot toward Gu Yuan. The airborne swords and spear did not touch the lightning but passed beside it, each flying to its target. Although the lightning followed, it moved faster than the projectiles and reached Gu Yuan first. He stamped his foot, raising a wall of snow to block the lightning. Meanwhile, the Flying Swords and spear struck Fu Zishi. He countered by unleashing thunderblades—arcs of lightning forged by his axe—to intercept the incoming weapons, wearing down their force. In the end, the Flying Swords fell, the spear shattered, and the lightning path dissipated. Under their mutual defenses, this clash ended in a stalemate.
But Gu Yuan had reinforcements. The eagle shrieked again, inflicting soul shocks on everyone except Gu Yuan. Fu Zishi, who had endured two shocks already, now suffered a third. His will collapsed; the lightning arcs around him vanished. Swaying as he stood before Gu Yuan, Fu Zishi seemed drained of combat power.
Gu Yuan seized the moment, charging like a steed with heavy sword raised, intent on beheading his traitorous companion. Fu Zishi, recognizing the peril, chose to ignore the soul assault and flee at top speed in the direction they had come. No longer resisting the soul shocks, blood poured from all his orifices as his life ebbed.
Gu Yuan halted—but not out of mercy. Bailulu’s voice spoke in his mind: “Gu, stop.” Obeying, Gu Yuan ceased pursuing Fu Zishi. He turned back to the gate and struck again.
Bailulu summoned the eagle to dive. Its talons spread, gleaming sharp, [N O V E L I G H T] aimed at Fu Zishi. Gu Yuan’s threat had fled, but a new danger came. Soul-sense unerring, Fu Zishi looked up, blinking through blood-clouded eyes and swung his axe to summon more thunderblades. Suddenly, a hidden soul shock pierced his mind like a needle, freezing his action. The eagle swooped in, claws rent flesh and bone, spraying crimson blood as it shredded him to pieces.
Meanwhile, Gu Yuan had smashed through the ice gate. With twin swords in hand, he pressed forward into the disarrayed Furry Demon horde, their strength broken by repeated eagle cries. The eagle, guided by Bailulu, soared above and cried again, lending Gu Yuan renewed vigor. The demons, ravaged by soul shocks, could no longer stand. At a leader’s command, they retreated, no longer obstructing Gu Yuan. He did not slaughter them further; he simply walked out of their encirclement and stood behind the gate.
The giant eagle landed beside him, and Bailulu spoke, “Shall I lift you up?” Gu Yuan smiled and nodded, then leapt onto the eagle’s back. With powerful wingbeats, it soared again toward the Blue Moon.
Riding on the eagle’s back, Gu Yuan gazed at the snowy expanse and asked, “How did you get in here?” Bailulu’s demeanor shifted—she sniffed, “Curiosity, of course! Otherwise, why would I come?”
Gu Yuan began, “Then why—” but Bailulu cut him off, “Just happened by. No need to fuss!” Gu Yuan laughed knowingly, “All right, all right, I won’t ask more.”
He fell silent, staring at the Blue Moon with worry in his eyes. Bailulu tapped his shoulder with her left paw. “Don’t worry. With me here, you’ll be safe!” Feeling her concern, Gu Yuan blinked, and his anxious look faded into calm. “I’m not worried about myself. I’m wondering why this realm is guiding everyone there.” Bailulu tilted her head and was silent a moment, then said calmly, “Probably a formation. You humans love those things.”
“A formation…” Gu Yuan murmured, then asked the spirit Mo in his mind, ‘Is there a formation here?’ Mo finally proved useful: ‘The Cold Soul-Sealing Grand Array. It imprisons people in ice chains and extracts their souls. That Ice Hall must be the soul-extraction site.’ Gu Yuan did not question why Mo had not told him sooner—trivial now. He asked, ‘What is the array’s range?’ ‘The entire secret realm.’ Gu Yuan’s hair stood on end. He asked, ‘How can one escape?’ Mo smiled in his mind: ‘Destroy the array’s core or slay its array master. The core is in that Ice Hall!’