Normally, when a woman tells you, "I am willing to pay any price," the only price she usually wants to pay is one.
But… Snow Empress is not human; she is a Spirit Beast.
She truly wanted to give her all in exchange for the Land of Extreme North's protection and Ice Empress Undergoing Tribulation.
Kong Ming'an quietly looked at Snow Empress, at her posture as if she was about to sacrifice herself for her people at any moment, and a hint of surprise inexplicably arose in his heart.
There was no doubt that the Dominator of the Land of Extreme North was powerful, but her Heart-Nature… was a bit too simple and direct.
This unguarded entrustment made him feel as if he could easily take complete control of her and toy with her as he pleased… Did she seem very easy to deceive?
Indeed, compared to humans, Spirit Beasts are relatively purer… Hmm, this purity is both a compliment and a criticism.
However… "I refuse."
Under Snow Empress's gaze, filled with anticipation and determination, Kong Ming'an calmly rejected the trade proposed by Snow Empress.
Just three simple words, yet they were like an ice pick piercing Snow Empress's heart, which had just ignited with hope. A trace of shock flashed across her beautiful face, and then the light in her ice-blue eyes dimmed at a visible speed.
Her long eyelashes lowered slightly, and Snow Empress pressed her lips together, her eyes showing disappointment, but no resentment.
After all, she herself knew that the value of all she possessed was not enough to pay for "the promise of protecting the Land of Extreme North" and "the method for Ice Empress to undergo Heavenly Tribulation."
Her so-called "giving her all" was merely her attempt to take a gamble, but clearly, the other party would not lower the price because of her all-out effort.
Seeing Snow Empress looking rather emo, Kong Ming'an smiled slightly, his tone softening a bit:
"Disappointed already?"
"…"
Snow Empress said nothing, merely raising her pair of ice-blue eyes slightly.
Those eyes were still cold and pure, but the light within them visibly dimmed, inexplicably carrying a sense of brokenness.
Kong Ming'an's gaze was calm, but he actively leaned in slightly, his voice gentle:
"Actually, you can possess enough value to pay for everything."
"I… can?" Snow Empress murmured, her ice-blue eyes filled with confusion.
There was no doubt that Snow Empress was very powerful, but in certain matters, the other party seemed unusually… clumsy, or perhaps, simple?
Tsk… Why does she seem even easier to deceive! And why do I inexplicably feel a sense of guilt?
Kong Ming'an felt an inexplicable strangeness in his heart, but he quickly dispelled it, instead meeting Snow Empress's eyes with a calm gaze, and continued speaking with a slightly serious tone:
"Snow Empress, my refusal is not a denial of your value, nor is it an unwillingness to make a deal."
"Your current value in my eyes is only barely equivalent to my promise, but… that is only your current value."
"If you want to gain more, if you want Ice Empress to safely undergo Tribulation in addition to the safety of the Land of Extreme North, then you need to show me more corresponding value."
"More value?" Snow Empress's eyes brightened slightly.
"Yes, value," Kong Ming'an patiently explained, as if guiding a student.
"It can be you becoming stronger, becoming a more reliable helper for me. It can also be knowledge unique to you, that you have comprehended, or perhaps, the indispensable help you can give me in the future… All of these can be converted into the value you use to exchange for the chips you need."
Snow Empress's eyes brightened. She quickly understood Kong Ming'an's meaning: if her current value wasn't enough, then she would work hard to improve herself until her value was sufficient. At that time, by giving her all, she would be able to obtain what she desired!
She looked at Kong Ming'an, a trace of genuine gratitude appearing in her clear, cold eyes. "…Thank you."
"No need, it's merely mutual benefit."
Kong Ming'an smiled, extending his right hand, palm upward, in an inviting gesture, his tone slightly gentler:
"So, are you willing to make such a trade?"
Snow Empress's gaze fell on his outstretched hand. She was momentarily stunned, but then, as if by some strange impulse, she raised her own hand and gently placed it in Kong Ming'an's palm.
Just as she was about to speak her assent, Snow Empress suddenly noticed something amiss.
She lowered her gaze to her hand, which was gently resting in someone's palm.
Unlike what she had expected—that the young man might be affected by her inherent coldness and thus involuntarily withdraw his hand—
She did not detect any discomfort from the young man. Instead, she felt the warmth emanating from the young man's palm.
It was not a mundane, dry heat, but an ineffable… inclusive and peaceful temperature.
The extremely pure and ultimate ice and snow Energy within her body not only showed no suppressive or repulsive reaction, but instead conveyed a strange sense of harmony.
Her own ultimate ice and snow seemed not to repel the young man in front of her; in fact, it seemed to favor him unusually?
Snow Empress's expression changed slightly. She had only vaguely felt such a sense of harmony before when facing Ice Empress, who was also of ultimate ice.
But that was due to the natural affinity between energies of the same origin.
So why was she having this feeling towards a human now? One should know that the young man before her wasn't even an ice-attribute Spirit Master!
Snow Empress fell into thought, looking at their clasped hands, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
Kong Ming'an did not notice Snow Empress's change. At this moment, his attention had been drawn by Snow Empress's hand.
Snow Empress's hand, at first touch, was cool, but not bitingly cold. Instead, it had a unique feel, moist and smooth like jade, soft and delicate, like a piece of top-grade cold jade that had been nurtured for a long time and was suitable for admiration.
Hmm, it was generally softer and cooler than Miss Meng's hand.
But… this was not the reason his attention was drawn.
What truly attracted him was the incredibly perfect and harmonious Energy structure of Snow Empress's body, which he could perceive more clearly through the casual intermingling of their energies upon contact, from an "Energy perspective."
He was somewhat mesmerized, like appreciating a peerless work of art, his eyes revealing pure inquiry and admiration. But in Snow Empress's eyes, this seemed to carry an unusual implication.
Snow Empress suddenly thought of something, her eyes slightly brightening. She looked at Kong Ming'an seriously, her tone carrying a hint of probing:
"You… are you a Spirit Beast who cultivated anew?"
Kong Ming'an, who was immersed in appreciating the perfect Energy structure, was startled by this abrupt question.
"Huh?"
He subconsciously wanted to let go and step back, but Snow Empress did not release him. She grabbed his hand back and took a step closer.
With a hint of inquiry and expectation, Snow Empress's tone carried a bit of joy at seeing a kindred spirit, as well as an inexplicable aggressiveness, as she asked again:
"I just asked… are you a Spirit Beast who cultivated anew?"
Kong Ming'an heard clearly this time and blinked unconsciously.
No… Do I not look human at all?
And… why does Snow Empress seem a little off?