A cold body pressed against her back…
Lu Qingtang wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Jiang Xunbai’s body temperature felt even colder than it had been during the day.
He held her tightly in his embrace, his icy aura enveloping her, making her shiver involuntarily. Her heart raced with anxiety. When she lifted her gaze to look at him, he happened to lower his head slightly and open his eyes. The moment their eyes met, Lu Qingtang was utterly terrified.
By the firelight, she noticed that Jiang Xunbai’s pupils had turned nearly transparent white. His expression was indifferent, his entire being shrouded in a gloomy aura—completely different from his usual self.
Lu Qingtang cried out in alarm, “Jiang Xunbai! Y-Your eyes!!”
Jiang Xunbai looked bewildered, as if deep in thought. Unable to resist, Lu Qingtang waved her other “free” hand in front of his eyes. Jiang Xunbai didn’t even blink, as though he had only just regained consciousness and realized he was not only gripping her wrist but also holding her captive in his arms.
Abruptly, he released her and pushed her away. Lu Qingtang asked worriedly, “Are you okay?”
Jiang Xunbai’s voice was cold, tinged with confusion. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”
His mind was in chaos—this was the moment his psychological defenses were at their weakest. He hadn’t expected time to pass so slowly within the formation, nor had he anticipated its formidable power. While breaking the formation, he had accidentally torn a space-time rift and dragged Lu Qingtang into it.
His worst fear had come true: he was destined to spend the full moon night with Lu Qingtang.
This delicate, easily frightened young lady, who cried at the slightest trouble, had not reacted with fear upon seeing him in this state. Instead, her first instinct was concern.
Why was she so fearless? Was she truly unafraid of him in this condition?
She should be afraid of him, Jiang Xunbai thought.
Yet, in the deepest, most hidden corner of his heart, he felt a faint stir of excitement. As for why, even he couldn’t say. All he knew was that hearing Lu Qingtang’s worried voice had brought him a sense of relief.
Lu Qingtang asked, puzzled, “Why would I be afraid of you? Aren’t you Jiang Xunbai?”
In a world of fantasy, it seemed normal for a demon hunter to possess unique abilities. His pupils clearly indicated some extraordinary power—perhaps the ability to see through a demon’s true form at a glance.
Jiang Xunbai was taken aback by her question and murmured softly, “…Yes.”
Hearing Lu Qingtang attempt to move closer, he suddenly spoke up, “Stay away from me—”
His voice was icy, colder and more distant than anything Lu Qingtang had ever heard from him. She paused, thinking he was worried about frightening her, and reassured him with a smile, “I’m not afraid, really, I’m not—”
Before she could finish, Jiang Xunbai cut her off sharply, “Keep your distance.”
Sensing the unusual tone in his voice, Lu Qingtang’s smile froze. She took a few steps back and sat down against the stone wall.
Jiang Xunbai closed his eyes again. The Cold Evil Qi within him surged violently, as though his blood and internal organs were on the verge of freezing. Frowning slightly, he began to meditate, channeling his spiritual power in an attempt to dispel some of the chilling cold.
But he knew deep down that this biting cold wasn’t the worst of it—the excruciating pain that would soon tear through his limbs and organs, as if his entire body were being ripped apart, would be the true ordeal.
He wouldn’t lose consciousness, but if Lu Qingtang approached him again, sensing someone nearby might startle him awake, and he could hurt her. He had hoped she would sleep soundly until dawn, but she had woken up unexpectedly and seen him in this state.
All he could do was tell her not to come near.
As Jiang Xunbai focused his energy, he suddenly heard a faint sob. He paused. Apart from the crackling of the campfire, there was no other sound, making him wonder if he had misheard.
A moment later, he heard the sob again and immediately understood. Halting his meditation, he closed his eyes and asked softly, “Why are you crying?”
There was no response. Jiang Xunbai opened his eyes and glanced toward Lu Qingtang, asking again gently, “Are you afraid?”
Lu Qingtang bit her lower lip hard, suppressing her sobs, and whispered, “A little.”
Afraid he might misunderstand, she added, “Not afraid of you.”
Jiang Xunbai sighed softly and apologized, “I was wrong to be cold to you earlier. Please don’t cry.”
Lu Qingtang stubbornly retorted, “Who’s crying?”
Jiang Xunbai couldn’t help but chuckle, “Alright, alright, I must have misheard—but, Lu Qingtang,” his tone grew serious, “don’t come near me.”
Wiping her tears, Lu Qingtang asked in confusion, “Why?”
Jiang Xunbai had intended to say little, but fearing she might not listen, he explained, “I might hurt you.”
Before she could respond, he closed his eyes again and resumed his meditation.
Lu Qingtang couldn’t quite explain why she had cried. Perhaps it was because she had suddenly remembered her past life, only to realize she had forgotten most of those memories. She couldn’t distinguish whether her past life was real or if this present one was.
Since arriving in this world, she had been constantly on edge—afraid of demons, ghosts, and death. Now, she and Jiang Xunbai had inexplicably fallen into a space-time rift. Though he insisted they could return, his sudden transformation frightened her—not because of his altered appearance, but because of the change within him.
His earlier expression and tone had been so cold, making him feel like a stranger. Overwhelmed by fear and exhaustion, she had broken down in tears.
Lu Qingtang stared blankly at the campfire before her. In the distance, the bright moon hung high in the sky, its reflection shimmering on the lake’s surface as a gentle breeze rippled the water.
Her gaze shifted to Jiang Xunbai across from her. His brow was slightly furrowed, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. Then, something bizarre happened.
Lu Qingtang widened her eyes and pinched herself lightly, afraid she was dreaming or seeing things.
Before her eyes, Jiang Xunbai’s jet-black hair, as he meditated with closed eyes, began turning snow-white at a visible pace. In mere moments, his hair had transformed entirely into a sheet of pure white.
Even his long, thick eyelashes turned pale, as if frost had crystallized upon them.
Lu Qingtang covered her mouth, staring blankly at Jiang Xunbai. He began trembling slightly, his lips drained of color, turning pale enough to frighten. Both his lips and eyelashes quivered, as if he were extremely cold.
Jiang Xunbai’s warning surfaced in Lu Qingtang’s mind. She didn’t dare approach him, merely sitting by the fire wrapped in his cloak.
Later, Jiang Xunbai began muttering deliriously, whispering to himself in a low voice. Lu Qingtang asked, “Jiang Xunbai, what are you saying?”
His voice was too faint for her to make out clearly, so she cautiously moved closer. Holding the cloak in front of her, she stayed ready to flee at any moment.
“Wh-what did you say?”
As Lu Qingtang drew nearer, she could only hear Jiang Xunbai softly utter a few words: “Cold… so cold…”
“Are you cold?” Lu Qingtang asked again. If only she could wake him—his dazed, possibly unconscious state made her somewhat afraid.
Jiang Xunbai didn’t wake, only continued murmuring softly, “Cold… cold…”
Lu Qingtang’s heart softened despite her fear. Tentatively, she offered, “I—I’ll give you the cloak.”
Jiang Xunbai’s eyes remained closed. Summoning her courage, Lu Qingtang clutched the cloak and approached him. When she detected no threat from him, she moved closer still and draped the cloak over him.
Lu Qingtang looked down at him. His snow-white hair made his skin appear as pure as ivory, while the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye was the only spot of color on his face.
As she stared at him in a daze, his eyes suddenly flew open. The moment their gazes met, Lu Qingtang inexplicably wanted to look away.
But she didn’t, because she noticed there wasn’t a trace of emotion in Jiang Xunbai’s pupils.
She explained hurriedly, “I—I didn’t disobey you. I just thought you were too cold and wanted to give you the cloak.”
As she spoke, she began to retreat, but a pair of icy hands abruptly seized her wrist, pulling her backward with unexpected force.
“Ah—!”
Lu Qingtang gasped in shock. The next instant, a cold body pressed against her back. Her heart pounded wildly, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment.
Jiang Xunbai rested his chin on her shoulder, his shallow breaths whispering by her ear. Lu Qingtang felt as though she had been plunged into an ice cellar.
In his haze, Jiang Xunbai sensed something being draped over him, slightly dispersing the cold, but it wasn’t enough.
His entire body felt frozen stiff, his organs laced with shards of ice, each breath sending waves of pain through him.
Soon, agony consumed every part of him; every inch of his skin felt as if it were about to split open.
Just then, a voice as cloyingly sweet as malt sugar reached his ears, inexplicably easing his pain.
He couldn’t make out her words, only sensed the voice growing fainter—
Was she leaving him?
Jiang Xunbai let the desire within him run wild, blooming and bearing fruit. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her effortlessly into his embrace.
Her body temperature was so warm, her blood so soothing, even her hair carried a faint fragrance.
The pain throughout Jiang Xunbai’s body lessened slightly.
Lu Qingtang struggled gently, mainly because Jiang Xunbai’s body was so cold she felt her own blood beginning to freeze.
While in his embrace, she caught that sweet fragrance again, even more intense than when they had fallen into the space-time rift and she had smelled it in his arms.
She called out softly, “Jiang Xunbai?”
“Jiang Xunbai, you—you need to let go of me first…”
Jiang Xunbai still held her wrist tightly, making it impossible for her to move.
He was barely conscious, his grip rough and uncontrolled, causing Lu Qingtang’s wrist to ache with pain.
A wave of grievance washed over her, and she nearly burst into tears: “Jiang Xunbai, you—you let go of me…”
The girl’s slightly choked voice suddenly reached his ears, exploding like a bomb beside him. Jiang Xunbai abruptly regained a sliver of awareness.
He tilted his head slightly but couldn’t see the girl’s expression. In an instant, he released Lu Qingtang.
Feeling the pressure on her wrist vanish, Lu Qingtang looked at Jiang Xunbai through tear-filled eyes. She saw him frowning, his gaze utterly devoid of emotion.
His voice carried a hint of panic: “S-sorry.”
But Lu Qingtang’s attention was drawn elsewhere. She waved a hand in front of Jiang Xunbai’s eyes—he didn’t even blink.
A suspicion began forming in Lu Qingtang’s mind, and she exclaimed in shock, “Jiang Xunbai, you—you—you can’t see?!”
Author’s Note:
Frozen shattered TangTang be like: [bursting into tears] vs being used as a heating pad TangTang be like: [chin in hand]
Finally wrote out this white-haired blind setting for Jiang TangTang! Now we can write all sorts of blindfolded play [heart eyes][dog head]
About the couple’s fun facts part two:
TangTang is an appearance-lover. Jiang TangTang is good-looking and fully aware of it, using his advantages to tease our TangTang [laughing loudly][dog head]