CHAPTER 14 — "THE PRINCESS OF FATE"
Long Hao stepped up beside the moss-covered well, his expression steady, his shadow stretching across the clearing. The beautiful girl looked up at him, violet-gold eyes shimmering with urgency.
"Someone's trapped inside?" he asked.
She nodded rapidly. "Yes! I—I heard him crying for help. Then the rope broke!"
Her voice was like soft bells — gentle, melodic — almost too out of place in the wild ruins. And yet, there she was, kneeling beside the stone ring like a celestial maiden fallen to earth.
Long Hao peered inside.
A faint whimper echoed from the darkness.
He sighed.
"Stand back."
Before she could respond, Long Hao hopped onto the well's rim and dropped inside, descending in silence. His body flowed downward with effortless control. He landed on a narrow ledge, grabbed the trembling boy, and leapt back out with both feet landing smoothly on the grass.
The boy scrambled away, crying in relief before running off into the forest, thanking them repeatedly.
Long Hao dusted off his hands. "There. Done."
The girl stared at him.
Not in awe — but in surprise.
"You… you just jumped in without hesitation?"
Long Hao shrugged. "He needed help."
Her lips parted, then curved slightly — a soft, warm smile that felt like sunlight breaking through clouds.
It startled him.
She stood up, dusting her white dress, and only now did Long Hao notice just how badly her dress was dirtied, the torn sleeve, and several bite marks on her boots.
"Let me guess," he said, crossing his arms. "Wolves?"
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
"I—It was not my fault!" she sputtered. "I was surrounded! And then my foot slipped, and the ground here is uneven and—"
"So you fell," Long Hao finished, lips twitching.
Her eyes widened.
"Y-You—! You're laughing at me!"
Long Hao smirked. "Only a little."
Her embarrassment deepened, but instead of anger, she puffed her cheeks, looking strangely adorable.
"No one has ever laughed at me before…" she muttered.
"That's because no one has seen you fall before," Long Hao replied calmly.
She stared at him — almost stunned.
And then… she laughed.
A soft, musical laugh that belonged nowhere except fairy tales. The warmth in her voice melted the cold aura she had earlier. She brushed her silver-black hair behind her ear, revealing a delicate earring shaped like a snowflake.
"You're interesting," she said with a faint playful tone.
Long Hao raised an eyebrow."That's my line."
The girl's smile faltered, replaced by a more elegant, graceful expression.
"I haven't thanked you yet." She bowed slightly — refined, royal. "I am Ouyang Xue'er, princess of the Ouyang Royal Family."
Long Hao blinked once.
Even the system buzzed.
[Alert: Encountered Divine Talent Holder.][Identity: Ouyang Xue'er — Celestial Frostheart Spirit. Potential: Divine Rank.]
Long Hao stared at her for a moment.
A princess.A divine talent sigil holder.A girl who could freeze armies if she wanted.
Yet she fell into a well while fighting wolves.
Life had a strange sense of humor.
Xue'er noticed his silence. Her expression turned slightly cold — gracefully, instinctively — like her natural personality resurfacing.
"Most people kneel or bow when they hear my name," she said. But her voice wasn't arrogant — more like she was simply stating a fact.
Long Hao tilted his head."I'm not 'most people.'"
Her eyes widened again — only slightly, but enough to reveal surprise.
Then her lips softened into a small, genuine smile.
"I can tell."
She stepped closer, her violet-gold eyes studying him.
"You helped me even before knowing who I was. That means…"She paused."…you're either very brave or very foolish."
Long Hao grinned lightly."I've been called both."
Xue'er giggled softly — a sound she didn't even seem used to making.
"Thank you, Long Hao."
He raised an eyebrow again. "You know my name?"
She blinked innocently."Well… you didn't hide your presence when you approached. And Long Clan markings are recognizable."
He smirked. "Sharp."
Her eyes sparkled.
"You have no idea."
She brushed dust from her dress again and sighed dramatically.
"I must look horrible. Torn clothes, dirt everywhere, hair messy… ugh…"
"You look fine," Long Hao said casually.
She froze.
Her cheeks flushed instantly — a warm rose-gold spreading across her pale skin.
"I—I… uh…" She looked away, flustered. "You really shouldn't compliment a girl so casually…"
"I wasn't complimenting," Long Hao replied. "Just stating a fact."
Her heart just about melted on the spot.
"You're unfair," she whispered.
Long Hao raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because you're too calm," she pouted softly. "Most boys trip over themselves around me."
"That sounds annoying."
"It is!" she exclaimed, puffing her cheeks again.
Long Hao chuckled.
She was supposed to be an ice-cold beauty.Untouchable.Admired from afar.Royalty.Divine talent.
Yet here she was, acting like a flustered, adorable girl in front of him.
After a moment, Xue'er tilted her head.
"What brings you out here? You don't look like someone randomly wandering the wilderness."
Long Hao turned toward the path ahead."I'm traveling. Training. Getting stronger."
Xue'er's eyes flickered — admiration and curiosity blending beautifully.
"Then… our meeting must be fate," she said softly.
Long Hao didn't respond.
But the faint smile tugging at his lips said everything.
The system chimed gently.
[New Fate Thread Detected — "Ouyang Xue'er"][Compatibility: High][Trajectory: Intertwined]
Long Hao ignored it.
He didn't need a system to tell him that.
Something about her felt inevitable.
Xue'er dusted her dress again and placed a hand on her hip.
"Well then, Long Hao…"She gave him a dazzling smile."…care to accompany me out of this awful place?"
He nodded once. "Sure."
She beamed — the kind of smile that could start wars.
The two stepped forward together, the sunlight catching her silver-black hair, making it shimmer like a halo.
And the moment their shadows touched…
Something ancient stirred in the earth.
But neither noticed.
Not yet.
For now, the world had simply brought together two destinies — one forbidden, one divine.
The future trembled.
[CHAPTER ENDS]