Deviant: No Longer Human

Yue echoed her sister, her voice a scared murmur as she clutched at her father\'s sleeve, "Freezing... It\'s freezing."

Both girls latched onto Wang Xiao, their bodies shivering as they buried themselves into his embrace.

They clung to him, their hands clutching his clothes as anchors to reality.

Wang Xiao felt their bodies were as cold as ice and immediately circulated warmth through them using his internal strength.

He enveloped them in his strong arms, his hands gently rubbing their backs in soothing circles. "Hey, hey... It\'s alright, I am here now," he reassured them, his voice a soothing elixir against the echoes of their fear. "You\'re both safe. That cold, that darkness—it\'s over."

As he held them close, Wang Xiao felt a surge of protective resolve.

As they continued to shiver and cling, Wang Xiao extended a slender wisp of his own spiritual energy, a thread of glowing essence that flowed from his palms into the bodies of his daughters.

This energy, light as a feather yet potent, searched through their beings for any remnants of hidden dangers.

With a furrowed brow, Wang Xiao delved deeper, his consciousness mingling with theirs, probing the remnants of sword intent that lingered like a stormcloud.

It was an intent fierce and vast, reminiscent of the legendary techniques used by the Athene—a sea of swords, raging and sharp, embedded within their young minds.

This discovery, both wondrous and daunting, was akin to a Domain; given mastery, they could wield this mist as an arsenal of ethereal blades.

Yet, such profound knowledge had never passed from his lips to their ears, casting a shadow of mystery and deepening his concern.

As vitality returned to their limbs, painting their pale cheeks with the bloom of health, Wenxi clung to him more tightly, shivering.

Her small frame trembled against his, her face buried in the safety of his chest.

"Dad... what happened to us?" Her voice, muffled and edged with a blend of fear and confusion, vibrated against his heart.

Lowering his gaze, Wang Xiao peered into her eyes—clear and crystalline, set strikingly against her hair as though frosted snow had been caught in silk.

Drawing a slow, measured breath, he allowed a moment\'s pause.

"How am I supposed to explain that, Xi\'er? Shouldn\'t you be telling Dad what chaos you\'ve managed to summon now?" His voice, lightly teasing yet warm, broke the tension, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

After confirming their safety, the stern mask of concern that Wang Xiao had worn dissolved, replaced by a carefree grin that crinkled the corners of his eye.

"I... I didn\'t do anything..." Wenxi\'s cheeks colored slightly under his intense scrutiny.

As her gaze shifted past him, a shiver caught her attention—Yue was still trembling, clutching at their father for warmth.

Gasp!

A wave of panic washed over Wenxi\'s face as she abruptly stood, covering his mouth with her small, delicate hand.

"Dad! It\'s Wenxi, not Xi\'er!" Her voice carried a mix of embarrassment and mild reprimand, her eyes darting to Yue to check if she had overheard the slip.

"Mmphh..." Wang Xiao\'s eyes twinkled in mild surprise, his words stifled, the soft brush of her hand against his lips muffling his response.

Normally, such an audacious act would not be tolerated, but these spirited little creatures always seemed to push the boundaries of decorum in his presence.

Wenxi\'s eyes scanned Yue anxiously; seeing her sister still distracted, she exhaled a breath of relief.

"Dad... Please, call me Wenxi when others are near! No Xi\'er!" she pleaded, her eyes shimmering with an innocent earnestness.

"Mmmokayhh..." His voice muffled, Wang Xiao nodded, signaling his acquiescence.

As she withdrew her hand, his expression softened into a knowing smile, and a touch of amusement at her distress.

Wenxi, catching the hidden meaning in his smile that only both of them can understand, felt a sudden urge to vanish into the earth, her face glowing red as if touched by the first light of dawn.

A faint redness spread to her neck as Wang Xiao, with a playful grin, scooped her face into his hand. "Just a little bigger and already so rebellious... Sigh..." He feigned a pitiful expression, shaking his head in mock despair.

"Daddy!"

Wenxi\'s voice rose in protest after seeing his exaggerated sulk.

Then, with a burst of energy, she climbed up his body. Wang Xiao caught her effortlessly, falling back slightly as he received her weight, holding her close.

"Ah—no!"

"It will leave marks! Dad! No..." Wenxi\'s protests soon came in quick succession.

A few moments later, Wenxi was rubbing her face aggrievedly, while Wang Xiao\'s smile only broadened.

"Hateful..." She murmered.

"Still want to fight me?" he teased, his voice rich with amusement.

Wenxi shook her head instantly, her fear of further punishment evident.

She traced the faint imprints on her face, her eyes swelling with the threat of tears.

Any mark on her flawless skin was distress to her; she cherished her clear complexion above all.

Her attire mirrored this preference for purity—she always dressed in light colors, favoring white most of all.

Her jewelry, too, was an evidence to her taste for cleanliness: every piece, including the amulet she wore, was made of shining silver set with a brilliant sapphire gem.

With such a penchant for cleanliness, Wang Xiao knew precisely how to handle her.

"Heal it!" Wenxi demanded, her tone urgent as she touched the faint marks on her face.

Wang Xiao shrugged, adopting an innocent expression. "It will heal on its own."

Wenxi was momentarily speechless, her frustration evident as she huffed, "..."

She then diverted her attention, scanning their surroundings.

Although visibility was clear, the range was limited; the dark, dense matter had enveloped an area with a ten-kilometer radius.

The only other visible figure was the earlier \'bird man,\' now shrinking and crying at a distance.

Choosing to ignore him, Wenxi turned her attention back to Wang Xiao, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Are we in the air, flying?" She couldn\'t pinpoint why, but she sensed they weren\'t on solid ground.