"Claire… my precious daughter… look at your father… please… I was wrong! I never should've forced you like that…"
Lord Dean wept helplessly, his deeply wrinkled face twisted in pain. "That useless schoolteacher… he's no good! Even after you ended up like this, he still refuses to come see you!"
Adrian stood quietly at the side, listening long enough to understand what had happened.
He stepped forward slowly and spoke with deep regret. "Lord Dean, Miss Claire was pure and kind—like the clearest jade in this world. It is a tragedy that she encountered such a vile beast in human skin."
Lord Dean turned toward him, his voice hoarse and exhausted. "Who are you? I've never seen you before. Why are you here?"
Adrian bowed respectfully. "Lord Dean, I am Adrian, disciple of Cloud Retainer of Mt. Aocang. I travel the mortal world to help the departed find peace."
At those words, Lord Dean exploded like a lit powder keg.
"Get out! Stop talking nonsense! My daughter Claire is only asleep! She's just tired—she'll wake up tomorrow morning! Don't spout nonsense and disturb her!"
He flailed wildly, on the verge of losing control.
Adrian could only think silently: If she really wakes up, you'd probably die of fright yourself.
His tone stayed calm. "Lord Dean, my senior sister, commands Cryo. She can prevent Miss Claire's condition from worsening. And as a disciple of the adepti, I can ensure she departs with dignity."
Without waiting for a response, he turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Lord Dean's brittle voice sounded behind him. "Let your senior sister come. As for you… don't come again for now."
Adrian nodded. "Very well."
He left the sorrow-filled, foul-smelling estate and quickly returned to his shop.
After washing away the stench, he changed into clean clothes and approached Shenhe's door.
"Senior sister, I need your help." His voice was soft, almost pleading.
A moment later, the door opened.
Shenhe appeared—cold and pure as a snow lotus blooming atop a frozen peak. Her pale features were sculpted like ice, distant and untouchable.
She looked at him quietly. "Speak."
Adrian gathered his thoughts and recounted everything that had happened at Lord Dean's estate.
When she heard how Lord Dean still clung to hope despite everything, a faint emotion stirred in Shenhe's pale eyes—something like distant memory.
Without a word, she turned and walked outside.
Adrian hurried to lead the way.
A quarter-hour later, they reached Lord Dean's residence.
Adrian waited at the gate while Shenhe entered alone.
Moments later, Cryo energy surged inside the courtyard, and the overpowering stench faded completely.
Soon, Shenhe emerged again—expression unchanged, cold and silent. She simply kept walking.
Adrian followed.
But instead of returning to the funeral shop, Shenhe continued westward, crossing busy streets until the scenery grew desolate.
She stopped before a fully collapsed, abandoned house. Its walls were cracked and its roof half-fallen. Wild grass grew freely over the stone steps.
In front of them, several pure-white Glaze Lilies swayed gently in the wind.
Shenhe lowered her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the flowers.
Adrian stood quietly beside her. He understood. In his previous life, he had often stood alone before grave markers, feeling this same kind of silence.
The sun sank slowly, casting its final warm glow upon the world.
Shenhe finally broke the silence. She turned her head slightly and asked, "Junior brother… do you think Lord Dean was wrong?"
Adrian thought for a moment. "The dead have passed. Forcing things will only bring more pain to the living. But… Considering Lord Dean's circumstances, his behavior is understandable. No one has the right to blame or stop him."
"Why?" Her voice trembled slightly.
Adrian explained softly. "He and his wife had two daughters. Their family was once happy. Ten years ago, his wife died unexpectedly. Five years ago, his elder daughter died of illness. And now… the youngest, the one he cherished most, has taken her own life. How could he bear all that?"
Shenhe lowered her gaze, sympathy flickering within her cold eyes. "Junior brother… Please help him as much as you can."