The winter that year was exceptionally cold. Several southern prefectures have experienced multiple heavy snowfalls since the beginning of winter. The weather, much colder than previous years, made life difficult for commoners. Without sufficient clothing and coal to resist the severe cold, people soon began to freeze to death.

It started with homeless beggars, frozen like pitch-black stones by the roadside. Then came those in remote villages, impoverished shanty towns, and the weak elderly and children… Because this cold wave arrived so suddenly and too many people died at once, lower officials dared not report upward. They forcibly buried the frozen corpses and prohibited anyone from leaving their native places.

As a result, the royal capital of Yan City was initially unaware of this disaster. By the time the news could no longer be concealed and spread, ministers hurriedly went to the palace to seek His Majesty for discussion, only to discover that the Emperor wasn’t in the palace at all. He was always like this—leaving without warning, now becoming increasingly outrageous, without even sending a message.

Only the young prince remained in the palace, sitting in Sima Jiao’s usual chair, swinging his legs and looking at them with an innocent face.

The ministers thought: The country is doomed! It must be doomed!

They inwardly condemned and criticized the Emperor, then lamented sorrowfully before gathering to discuss how to handle this once-in-a-century snowstorm disaster. After all, the Emperor rarely managed these matters anyway; they could handle it themselves.

Then another problem arose—not all officials were selfless and impartial. Everyone had their ideas and began to bicker among themselves.

While they argued, the Emperor and Noble Consort were actually a thousand miles away in Nanming Prefecture, the very “disaster area” causing their endless debate.

Two days earlier, Liao Tingyan had grown bored in the palace and noticed that the royal capital of Yan City showed no signs of snow this winter, while the south was gripped by bitter cold. She suddenly felt like going to see snow. In the cultivation realm, she hadn’t seen heavy snow for many years and missed it. So after discussion, she took the Emperor on a flying spiritual vessel to Nanming Prefecture to enjoy the snow.

The vast white snow and leaden gray sky transformed this elegant southern prefecture into a snow-covered range. Though indeed beautiful, Liao Tingyan furrowed her brow after just a few glances.

Sometimes having such high cultivation was truly not ideal. Her perception was extremely powerful—strong enough to see through layers of snow to the frozen corpses within. Extending her divine sense further, she could even perceive lingering resentful spirits of the dead with a single glance.

Liao Tingyan lost all desire to appreciate the snow. Her change in expression caught Sima Jiao’s attention. The two stood atop a city tower in Nanming Prefecture. Sima Jiao wore a black fox fur coat. His warm palm brushed against Liao Tingyan’s face, wiping away a snowflake that had landed on her cheek.

“What’s wrong? Is the snow not beautiful?”

“Many people have died here.” Liao Tingyan held three of his fingers, somewhat dispirited.

Sima Jiao showed no expression. “If that’s the case, then let’s go see snow somewhere without dead people.”

Liao Tingyan: “…” She had forgotten that this ancestor was once a figure who brought bloodshed with a mere wave of his hand in the cultivation world. He didn’t care about such matters.

Liao Tingyan spoke again: “Seeing so many deaths here makes me uncomfortable.”

Only then did Sima Jiao’s eyebrows twitch slightly. “Then let’s handle it.”

Liao Tingyan thought for a moment, then looked up at the sky where something flickered faintly above. She suddenly waved her hand, and vast spiritual energy shot toward the heavens, dispersing the cold snow clouds. The daylight suddenly brightened significantly, and traces of sunlight finally appeared in this place that had been gloomy for a month.

She heard faint thunder but paid it no mind, merely glancing at Sima Jiao. Ever since obtaining the spirit fire, whenever she did anything, she would hear thunder. But after obtaining the spirit fire, she no longer feared the sound of thunder.

It was as if Sima Jiao had given her not just the spirit fire, but also some part of his nature, reducing her fear of this world.

“It’s not just Nanming Prefecture. The cold front is moving south. If I disperse it now, it will gather again after some time.” Liao Tingyan decided to summon her demon generals to help. After all, working alone was too exhausting, and saving the world required manpower.

She and Sima Jiao stayed at an estate in the Zongjing Mountain suburbs of Nanming Prefecture. The mountain forests were also covered in snow that had not yet melted. The thick accumulated snow glistened in the sunlight, making the world clear and bright. This scenery made Liao Tingyan feel slightly better.

The demon generals who had been stationed in the royal capital of Yan City arrived, accepting their tasks with bewildered faces—clearing snow and providing disaster relief.

A demon cultivator said: “We… we are demon cultivators, you know.”

Demon General Wie looked ferocious as he replied: “I also remember we’re demon cultivators, but the Demon Overlord doesn’t remember! Why don’t you go remind her?!”

The demon cultivator rolled his eyes: “Do we have to save these mortals? So many have already died. The Demon Overlord must be giving casual orders. Why don’t we—”

Demon General Wie instantly displayed patriotic loyalty with his bushy eyebrows and large eyes, raising his hand: “Guards! This person is defying the Demon Overlord’s orders. Bind him and take him to the Demon Overlord!”

The demon cultivator: “!!!”

One demon cultivator who attempted to secretly disobey and collect corpse materials for refinement was burned to death.

The demon generals led the now-obedient demon cultivators to several severely affected prefectures, dispersing the cold front and artificially stopping the snow. This task wasn’t particularly difficult, just somewhat tedious. After completing their work and reporting back, the demon generals received the Demon Overlord’s approval and departed, feeling relieved.

Demon General Wie was the fastest among them. As he prepared to leave after meeting the Demon Overlord, he happened to encounter Sima Jiao in the corridor. During the period when this former Demon Overlord ruled the demon realm, everyone trembled at the sight of flames. Wie was no exception—he had never seen such a powerful and brutal Demon Overlord. He had nearly been frightened out of his wits several times. Even though Sima Jiao was now a mortal, Wie instinctively felt fear.

He couldn’t help but hold his breath, standing aside hoping this ancestor would leave on his own. After all, he can’t see me now, Demon General Wie comforted himself inwardly.

“Wie.”

Demon General Wie froze, meeting Sima Jiao’s gaze as the hair on his back stood on end. He saw me! He saw me!

After Sima Jiao left, Wie finally came to his senses, recalling what Sima Jiao had just said: “Bring the snow to Zongjing Mountain.”

He had said only this before walking away.

Wie suddenly clapped his hands. Hey! The former Demon Overlord remembered my name! Suddenly feeling so honored and proud!

But what did “bring the snow to Zongjing Mountain” mean? Zongjing Mountain was this very mountain range. Did His Excellency want heavy snow on this mountain? The current Demon Overlord wanted the snow to stop, while the former Demon Overlord wanted it to snow… Hmm, had he learned too much? Was he encountering trouble?

After hearing this matter, one of his subordinates shook his head. “General, do you remember when the former Demon Overlord was in the demon realm? Whatever his beloved wanted, he would give her. Even if she didn’t ask, as long as she liked something, he would find it for her. Doesn’t this current behavior seem familiar? In my view, either our current Demon Overlord wants to see snow, or the former Demon Overlord wants to enjoy the snow with his beloved!”

We said: “Tsk, tsk, having a beloved is too troublesome!”

After this small complaint, he obediently carried out the task, driving the cold front and snow clouds to this uninhabited mountain forest, creating artificial snowfall for the two masters in the mountain estate.

Liao Tingyan was meeting with Hong Luo, who occasionally came from the demon realm to see her, bringing along many specialties from Qinggu Tian to improve Liao Tingyan’s life.

As soon as Hong Luo arrived, she saw Liao Tingyan directing the demon generals busily. She didn’t understand: “What are you doing? Why bother with these things when you have nothing better to do?” After all, she was a native demon cultivator who truly couldn’t comprehend Liao Tingyan’s actions.

Liao Tingyan didn’t explain much, only saying: “Perhaps because I am ultimately a mortal.”

Hong Luo rolled her eyes: “With your level of cultivation, you’re telling me you’re a mortal?”

But no matter how high one’s cultivation might be, if one’s heart remained mortal, then one was indeed still a mortal. This might explain why she could watch the conflicts and deaths in the demon realm and cultivation world without being affected, yet couldn’t bear the deaths from snowstorms in this mortal world.

Able to accept sacrifices in a tumultuous life, yet unable to witness disasters in ordinary lives—this was probably the mentality of all ordinary mortals.

Hong Luo didn’t want to discuss such trivial matters further. “Forget it. If you want to do these small things, go ahead. They’re just ordinary people anyway.”

It was at this moment that Liao Tingyan noticed it was snowing outside. She was startled at first, then closed her eyes briefly. Her divine sense detected that the snow existed only in this mountain forest, only in what she could see before her.

The snow on the pine forest behind the mountain had not yet melted. With this heavy snowfall, the pure white world would probably be maintained for quite some time.

Liao Tingyan opened the windows wide, allowing the swirling snowflakes to drift in, carrying away the warm air from the room. She had come here to see snow, and only one person knew this.

Hong Luo was telling her about Sima Jiao: “You’ve been by his side for half a year now. How much has he remembered? Has he remembered you? How are things between you two?” As Liao Tingyan’s closest friend, she was always concerned about her friend’s emotional problems.

After talking for a while, she realized Liao Tingyan wasn’t responding. She was looking at the snow outside, her face bearing a smile.

Never mind, no need to ask anymore.

Her ears twitched, and she suddenly said quickly: “I’m done talking. I’ll leave first. See you next time.” With that, she leaped out the window and instantly disappeared.

As soon as Hong Luo left, Sima Jiao entered. He naturally sat down behind Liao Tingyan, embracing her as they watched the snow outside together. Liao Tingyan habitually leaned against his chest. With a slight movement of her fingers, the room’s brazier began to radiate heat, making the air around them as warm as spring.

When heavy snow falls, the world always becomes exceptionally quiet. For a moment, Liao Tingyan wanted to ask Sima Jiao how much he remembered. The fact that he had made this snow appear indicated he indeed remembered a great deal.

But ultimately, Liao Tingyan didn’t ask. She just felt very secure.

She had known for a long time that Sima Jiao would eventually remember. After all, he wasn’t reincarnated but rather had his soul temporarily housed in another body.

If reincarnation was like disassembling a computer’s components and reassembling them in other computers, then soul possession was more like reinstalling the operating system on a computer—one that had backed up its data. Even if the pregnant woman who gave birth to him hadn’t eaten the soul-returning pill, his memories would gradually return. Previously, Liao Tingyan just didn’t know how long this process would take.

To be honest, recovering her memories completely might be even more difficult. Because Sima Jiao would naturally remember as he grew older, while she needed the pain of her divine soul to recall the memories that had been washed away.

Liao Tingyan had been “going with the flow” all her life. She held Sima Jiao’s hand, feeling the faint spiritual energy flowing within his body, and slowly closed her eyes drowsily.

Just let things take their natural course. Everything in the world becomes more complicated the more you think about it.

The snowfall had stopped in several southern prefectures. The only place where it continued to snow was the uninhabited Zongjing Mountain.

Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan strolled through the pine forest behind the mountain. A red umbrella was covered in snow, turning white. There was a small path in the forest leading to a wild pavilion up the mountain. Having nothing better to do, they decided to climb the steps and search for the pavilion through the snow. Liao Tingyan rarely felt inclined to climb mountains herself; usually, she would stay in one place and “hibernate.”

As the saying goes: spring drowsiness, summer rest, autumn fatigue, and winter hibernation—these are the living habits of all working people. Even though Liao Tingyan hadn’t been a working person for many years, she still hadn’t changed.

The two walked along the mountain path, with Sima Jiao slightly ahead. Without an umbrella to shield him, snow fell on his shoulders. Liao Tingyan followed a step behind, holding an umbrella to shelter herself from the snow. They walked one in front of the other. Liao Tingyan twirled her umbrella, causing snow to fall onto Sima Jiao’s fox fur coat, which he lightly shook off.

He turned his head, raising an eyebrow, then continued walking at a leisurely pace, ignoring her teasing.

The wild pavilion on the mountain was desolate and dilapidated, mostly broken down and almost buried in snow. After circling it once, they strolled to a withered tree beside the pavilion. Sima Jiao reached out and shook it, causing the snow on the dead branches to instantly fall onto Liao Tingyan’s head just as she had put away the umbrella she’d been using to show off.

Liao Tingyan: “…”

Before she could retaliate, Sima Jiao broke off the branch that had shed its accumulated snow. His fingers tapped on the withered branch, which quickly sprouted flower buds, opening into several pink mountain peach blossoms in the blink of an eye.

This was the spring-returning technique, a very ordinary spell.

Liao Tingyan remained silent for a moment, accepting the branch of mountain peach blossoms that revealed its pink color amidst the snow.

Sima Jiao then took her hand and led her back.

“I know what you fear, but as I’ve said before, as long as I’m here, you have nothing to fear.”

Liao Tingyan swayed the unseasonable peach blossom branch, thinking: What do I have to fear? In this world, the only thing I fear is you.

But her Emperor was just like this branch of flowers—blooming whenever he wished, not yielding to anyone’s control.