99.1 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

Chapter 99: Long Winter Shen Su is a deceiver, but she's a deceiver who has always had Wei Nan Yi’s best interests at heart. When Shen Su pushed her out with all her strength, Wei Nan Yi almost lost her mind. Shen Su had found her a way to survive, but it was a path only for her, stripping away the original meaning of life. Kneeling in the swamp, she pondered for a long time, unable to convince herself to accept this deception. No one likes being deceived, and Wei Nan Yi was no exception. With this incident, Shen Su had deceived her twice already. Yet, it was hard for her to be angry with Shen Su. In the face of a person with no selfish desires who sacrifices everything, she could only feel deeply moved, and deeply remorseful for herself. She should have learned her lesson. Even though Shen Su had deceived her before, she still couldn’t hold on tightly to Shen Su’s hand. Ultimately, it was because she was too weak. Wei Nan Yi was indeed angry, but her anger was directed at herself. She had not expected Shen Su to come back, not even prepared for death. But she didn't anticipate that both Si Hua and Shen Su would return. Wei Nan Yi’s perception abilities far exceeded Shen Su’s, and she was also proficient in formation arts. When she sensed the subtle change, she hid away. She had been a hostage far too many times, and naturally had lingering fears, worried she would drag Shen Su down. Not only Si Hua, even Wei Nan Yi had underestimated Shen Su's ruthless determination. She was willing to sacrifice everything to kill Si Hua. Could Wei Nan Yi stop her? Of course not. Shen Su was keeping her promise, doing what she believed was right. Even if she couldn’t help, she shouldn’t become a burden. In the face of the transcendental realm’s thunder tribulation, not only would Wei Nan Yi become a burden, but even the Black Fox would. So, Wei Nan Yi only provided Shen Su with a spiritual tool. When she touched the Li Po Pearl, she was extra cautious. As early as when she killed Xing Yu, Wei Nan Yi had understood the conditions under which Shen Su would use the power of the Li Po Pearl. She could have refrained from giving the Li Po Pearl to Shen Su, but Wei Nan Yi knew that as a weapon, the Li Po Pearl was even more valuable than the Twin Blades of Azure Fire. It was an essential aid for Shen Su. Shen Su was shrewd and deceptive, but Wei Nan Yi was no fool, at least not in terms of memory. She remembered exactly how many spiritual water beads Shen Su had planted in Lin Qing Huai’s body, and hadn’t forgotten that Lin Qing Huai’s flesh had drunk Shen Su’s blood. Once the Li Po Pearl fell into Shen Su’s hands, it might become Shen Su’s last resort for mutual destruction with Si Hua. Wei Nan Yi didn't want to be a burden, but she also didn't want Shen Su to die. What she could do was very limited, but fortunately, she still had a demonic puppet beside her. Wei Nan Yi didn’t always order the Black Fox around but mostly asked for its help, “Help me.” The Black Fox didn’t understand what she meant, only bowed its head and affectionately rubbed the bell in her hand. Wei Nan Yi cut open her left palm, followed by the Black Fox’s paw. The two streams of blood merged, falling on the Li Po Pearl. “Soul Ban, Poison Crow.” The milky-white Li Po Pearl, infused with ice, became stained with a light red frost as it absorbed the blood. When Wei Nan Yi tried to wipe it away, it just increased, so she stopped trying and placed it into the Underworld Phoenix Furnace. She wanted to give the ring to Shen Su as well, but she had other uses for it. “Xiao Su, I will leave.” Indeed, she would leave, but she would return. Shen Su was fiercely engaged in battle. She couldn’t do much to help, but at least she could ease some of Shen Su's worries. The Phantom Valley had fewer demons than the Yan Bi Mountain, but it didn’t lack them entirely. And Shen Su was so severely injured, the smell of blood was impossible to mask, likely to attract more demonic creatures. At times like these, they feared opportunists the most—those who would take advantage of the situation. Wei Nan Yi’s cultivation was limited, but fortunately, there was still the Black Fox. She had enough Yuan Restoration Pills and spirit stones in her ring. By the time she cobbled together a barrier, the Black Fox’s spiritual power was almost exhausted, and Wei Nan Yi was equally drained. She patted the Black Fox and sincerely said, “Thank you.” She knew the Black Fox didn’t understand, but she was really grateful. From the forbidden grounds to the Phantom Valley, the Black Fox had been a major contributor. Wei Nan Yi hung the bell back around the Black Fox’s neck and softly said, “You are free.” Demonic puppets were more like animals without spiritual intelligence but entirely tamed bodies. They obeyed orders but could survive without human control. Their instincts would drive them to hunt and seek safety; although they lacked autonomous action, they could act passively. When the bell controlling them was returned, they gained a sluggish form of freedom, no longer a mere weapon in someone's hand. The object controlling a demonic puppet was almost like an extra life for it and couldn’t be easily destroyed, but not everyone could use it. As long as the Black Fox didn’t encounter people from the Sheng Lian Sect, it could remain free forever. Wei Nan Yi couldn’t take the Black Fox along anymore. She didn’t know how far Shen Su could go, nor how effective the forbidden spell she had cast on the bell would be. Looking back might lead to death. The Black Fox had helped them so much; it wouldn’t be right for it to die with them. Wei Nan Yi had learned forbidden spells, thanks to Jiang Rui Ping, who had never hidden her study of forbidden books and even actively invited Wei Nan Yi to join her. Especially when Shen Yin Xue grew weaker day by day, Jiang Rui Ping nearly read through all the forbidden books in the library. At that time, Wei Nan Yi thought Jiang Rui Ping was mad, but now she understood. Jiang Rui Ping probably just wanted to extend Shen Yin Xue’s life. Deep affection is hard to let go. If she had known about Jiang Rui Ping’s feelings for Shen Yin Xue before, she would have found it hard to understand such obsessive love. But now she could empathize with her uncle. One shouldn’t meet too good a person; the love stirred by such a person could become a cage, easily imprisoning the soul and body, making escape impossible and leading one deeper into the quagmire. Shen Su was just such a good person. So, when falling in love with Shen Su, one could not help but ponder whether they were worthy. Even without Jiang Xu, even if Shen Su didn’t like Jiang Xu, she would still have these wild thoughts. She didn’t dare to hope that Shen Su would like her. She felt she was not a good match for Shen Su. She had often lamented in her heart: how could an old tree dare to pair with a new sprout? Wei Nan Yi quickened her pace, simultaneously using the Bright Eye Technique to clearly see Shen Su’s dire situation from afar. She often got hurt, but her life was tenacious. Even her choice of death was to give Wei Nan Yi a way out, unlike Wei Nan Yi, who had once entertained thoughts of suicide due to the psychological gap when she fell from her pedestal. Shen Su was commendable in appearance, talent, resilience, and intellect. She wasn’t just a good person; she was almost flawless, inspiring admiration in a very young Wei Nan Yi. Shen Su had sacrificed so much for her, even to the point of risking her life. Wei Nan Yi felt a lack of self-confidence, always feeling indebted to Shen Su, and dared not hope for anything. Only when Shen Su lied, calling herself Wei Nan Yi’s husband, did she dare to respond, calling her husband. What she did was merely going along with the situation, only finding the courage to be a bit bolder in these moments. Wei Nan Yi admitted she was somewhat self-deprecating, an emotion she had not experienced before, but... did Shen Su really like Jiang Xu? Although standing from afar, she saw the golden sword shatter into fragments, scattering in the wind. Shen Su didn’t even spare it a glance, her eyes showing no sadness. It was as if it was just a trivial weapon, although Jiang Xu had left it to her. Shen Su should have cherished it, just like she cherished her, right? Wei Nan Yi had always thought she was more like an object Jiang Xu had left to Shen Su, with some value and a measure of sentiment, so Shen Su had always taken good care of her. But today, she seemed a bit unsure. Thinking carefully, Shen Su had been exceptionally kind to her. She was willing to sacrifice everything for her, just as Wei Nan Yi was willing to sacrifice for Shen Su. No, no, it’s still different. Wei Nan Yi hurriedly dismissed the budding speculation in her heart. Her anxiety grew, but her steps slowed. Her body was already weak, with little spiritual power left. Cobbling together a barrier with the aid of the Black Fox and spirit stones had exhausted her. Additionally, using the Bright Eye Technique to observe Shen Su and Si Hua had sapped even more of her strength. Her body grew increasingly frail. Wei Nan Yi took another two steps forward, but when she reached the tribulation area, her body wavered, and she fell. She was too weak; even a hint of the thunderstorm’s aftershocks was enough to destroy her. Even the healed wounds on her body began to bleed again. Wei Nan Yi coughed lightly twice, feeling the coldness seeping into her bones. She shivered, understanding that Shen Su must have used the Li Po Pearl. It was so cold. She was too cold and had no energy left to use any technique to counter the wind and snow, which was colder than the forbidden grounds. Her body curled up tighter and tighter, gradually transforming into a white parrot. Returning to the days of being blind and voiceless, Wei Nan Yi unexpectedly did not find it repulsive. When she transformed into her demonic form, her resilience was stronger, and even the frost and snow that fell on her didn’t feel as cold. She flapped her small wings, slowly rising into the air, flying towards Shen Su and Si Hua in the direction confirmed by her earlier use of the Bright Eye Technique. Although Shen Su was very smart, Wei Nan Yi wasn’t sure if Shen Su could see through her methods and would thus stop her extreme actions, so she needed to go remind Shen Su. With her body injured, the white parrot’s flight was unstable. The wavy, crooked path it took nearly threw off the route Wei Nan Yi had memorized, but thankfully, just as she was about to get lost, she caught Shen Su’s scent. Her demon soul was very sensitive to Shen Su’s blood. She knew Shen Su's scent. The little parrot finally found the right spot and slowly landed. Perching on Shen Su’s shoulder, she took a couple of gentle steps and, feeling the physical reality beneath her feet, suddenly felt immensely aggrieved. Shen Su had deceived her again. She was always deceiving her. Wei Nan Yi’s initial anger was directed at herself, but now she was genuinely a bit angry at Shen Su. This wasn’t the first time Shen Su had deceived her. Even though it was for her own good, Shen Su had clearly promised her that if they were to die, they’d die together. Shen Su couldn’t remember things they had agreed upon at all. Wei Nan Yi could feel Shen Su’s head turning towards her, so the little parrot turned its head to the other side. She waited for Shen Su to speak to her, but after a long wait, only faint sounds and raindrops pattering were heard. She could clearly feel Shen Su turning her head towards her, yet she still didn’t hear a voice. She softly called out, “Xiao Su.” Still, there was no response. The cold wind blew, gradually wetting the parrot’s wings. The little parrot’s limbs were getting stiff, and even her beak couldn’t open. Wei Nan Yi suddenly understood that Shen Su was probably frozen by the Li Po Pearl and couldn’t speak, and her innate abilities likely couldn’t be used. Shen Su couldn’t hear her voice, and she couldn’t hear Shen Su’s. She was even more pitiful; she couldn't even see Shen Su’s appearance. Wei Nan Yi fearfully thought that if she delayed any longer, her body might become immobile, completely losing the ability to warn Shen Su. When the strange sounds started near her ears, the little parrot moved closer, pecking lightly at the girl’s face beside her. She didn’t dare peck too hard but was really anxious; the frost was setting in so harshly that even the blind parrot could feel it worsening. “I did help you, didn’t I? You just sealed your meridians; I didn’t stop you.” Shen Su wanted to hear Wei Nan Yi’s voice but couldn’t hear a word. On the contrary, she couldn't avoid hearing Si Hua’s voice. Her throat frozen, she couldn’t make a sound. Si Hua didn’t even open her lips but used a voice transmission spell to speak, making Shen Su scoff internally. Si Hua hadn’t refrained from stopping her out of the goodness of her heart; she simply hadn’t had the time or means to stop her, and even if she hadn’t interfered, it wasn’t to help her but to keep her alive as a furnace. Shen Su wasn’t a girl who could be easily deceived by a few words. She ignored Si Hua and focused on activating the power of the Li Po Pearl. As the rain fell harder and harder, it formed a layer of ice on the swamp. In just a blink, the ice had climbed up to Shen Su’s calves, making Si Hua a bit frantic. She continuously used her spiritual power to break the meridians that were gradually being sealed by the ice. Shen Su indeed feared Si Hua might escape before she was completely sealed. Shen Su dared not slack off, not even caring about the parrot on her shoulder as she quickened the pace of using the Li Po Pearl. Her palm tightly clutched the Li Po Pearl, allowing her entire hand to freeze over. As the frost built up, reaching Shen Su’s and Si Hua’s waists, Si Hua went mad. Her eyes turned crimson, the glaring red light enveloping her entirely. A brilliant flame ignited around her, but even with the fire, she didn’t manage to break through the ice. Instead, her meridians became even more sealed. Her body started to tear open with bloody gashes, and black-feathered crows squeezed out of her broken skin, flying and swirling in the air, only to explode into countless blood droplets in an instant, like a bloody firework display. Each time a black-feathered crow emerged, the color in Si Hua’s lips faded. When Si Hua stopped using her spiritual power, the flames extinguished, and the black-feathered crows vanished. Shen Su was still puzzled by the scene before her when Si Hua suddenly went crazy. “That woman is not Shen Clan’s disciple. Shen Clan’s disciple would never use the Soul-Locking Blood Lingo Curse. I bet you are Jiang Rui Ping’s student. Just like Jiang Rui Ping—cruel and deceitful! You’ve fooled me!” Si Hua didn’t know that the white parrot was Wei Nan Yi, but she wasn’t foolish. With only a handful of people there—Shen Su clearly wouldn’t know such a spell, the Black Fox was a demonic puppet, so the only one capable would be Wei Nan Yi, whom they had seen earlier. She didn’t know when the spell had been cast but was certain it wasn’t self-inflicted. The Soul-Locking Blood Lingo Curse. Shen Su seemed to recall this forbidden spell from the original novel. The protagonist had used it when driven to despair, thanks to his master Jiang An, who guarded the library. It was a sinister spell that locked a person’s soul within their blood. When the caster used their full power, the blood would transform into black crows, squeezing out of the body with the victim’s soul and then shattering, destroying both body and soul. For Wei Nan Yi to know such a spell, when had she cast it? Shen Su certainly didn’t believe that Wei Nan Yi, disguised as a parrot, could use such a spell when she couldn’t even make a sound. Her gaze slowly shifted downward, landing on the bead in her palm. She remembered noticing blood on it when she first received it, matching the injuries on Wei Nan Yi. The Soul-Locking Blood Lingo Curse must have been cast on the bead. Since Wei Nan Yi had gone to such lengths, she couldn’t fall behind. Shen Su pushed the power of the Li Po Pearl even harder. The frost climbed up to her chest. They seemed to be frozen in an ice lake, with their bodies becoming less movable. Wife. Shen Su opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. She believed that Wei Nan Yi could easily leave. With her current cultivation of the fifth level of Qi Condensation, coupled with the Black Fox’s presence, she could slowly gain some support from other demonic creatures. She could also seek out Lin Shui Yan and the others; Wei Nan Yi had a way out. She didn’t need to die with her here. To see Wei Nan Yi one last time before dying, she was already very content. Si Hua’s voice shattered the silence between Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi. “Little one, do you really want to die here? Don’t you want your wife anymore?” That wasn’t her wife. Even though she always called her wife, Wei Nan Yi wasn’t hers. Shen Su couldn’t make a sound, but the white parrot on her shoulder showed obvious displeasure at hearing Si Hua’s words, turning its head and pecking at her face. The parrot’s beak, though sharp, was gentle. Wei Nan Yi pecked lightly as if protesting. But what was Wei Nan Yi protesting? Seeing no reaction from her, the white parrot pecked at the ice near Shen Su’s shoulder again. Shen Su suddenly understood. Wei Nan Yi had placed the Soul-Locking Blood Lingo Curse on the Li Po Pearl not to speed up the sealing but to plan an escape for her. With the curse in place, even if Shen Su didn’t fully utilize the Li Po Pearl’s potential, Si Hua couldn’t leave for a while. Si Hua, gravely injured, couldn’t use her full strength to break free. The Li Po Pearl was no ordinary spiritual tool; it was akin to a divine weapon. Even in the Transcendence Realm, Si Hua, injured and unable to fully exert herself, couldn’t easily escape the ice. Moreover, due to the curse, Si Hua couldn’t fully heal. Her ability to recover from wounds was already inferior to Shen Su’s, and now with additional restrictions, it became even slower. Shen Su was different. Though most of her body was frozen, her demonic core continued to spin inside her, still absorbing its power. As a half-demon, her body had a better resistance to the cold. She could still cultivate, while Si Hua could only be stagnant, her only option to heal properly and wait for a chance to break free from the ice. Wei Nan Yi undoubtedly bought Shen Su some time to deal with Si Hua. It was unrealistic to surpass someone in the Division Realm within a year or so, but more time meant more hope. Even in a worst-case scenario, they might get reinforcements. Without reinforcements, at least she could spend some more time with Wei Nan Yi. Shen Su had always had a strong desire for survival. She would never choose a path of death if not driven to absolute despair. At this moment, she made a quick decision. Shen Su managed to slightly lower her stiff neck, leaning forward to touch the little parrot’s head with her forehead. The little parrot was very clever and obediently hopped onto Shen Su’s head. As soon as the parrot perched on her head, Shen Su hastened to operate the Li Po Pearl, stacking the ice layer past her shoulders. Only her head remained above the ice, while Si Hua, being shorter, had her chin sealed in ice. Si Hua glared furiously at Shen Su, but the anger on Si Hua’s face made Shen Su feel more at ease. With that setup, even if Si Hua tried to escape, it would take her considerable time. As long as Shen Su could sense it in time, she could always reseal Si Hua, ensuring mutual destruction if necessary. Great. Unexpectedly, both Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi had survived. The unfortunate thing was that the little parrot couldn’t make a sound, and Shen Su’s mouth was too frozen to open. The soft, smooth feathers of the little parrot rubbed against Shen Su’s hair, brushing away the frost and snow on her head. Finding a more comfortable spot, the parrot slowly lay down. Perhaps because of the cold, its head instinctively burrowed into Shen Su’s hair until it fell asleep. It was probably for the best, as remaining awake to feel the frost’s bite was too torturous. Although Shen Su couldn’t speak, the sound of steady breathing from above her head gave her great comfort. After Si Hua’s spiritual power waned, Lin Qing Huai’s soul resurfaced. But perhaps because Si Hua had partially fused her soul, Lin Qing Huai appeared less solid than before, almost ethereal, and her mouth was even noisier than Si Hua’s. “Shen Su, quickly save me! What’s the point of sealing yourself as well?” She took everything for granted, as if they were still allies. Shen Su couldn’t speak right now. If she could, she would definitely mock Lin Qing Huai a bit. Even if she wasn’t completely trapped with Si Hua, and even if she could escape, her first course of action would be to seal Lin Qing Huai and kill her. Their grudges had yet to be settled. Lin Qing Huai surely didn’t think she would show any mercy to someone who had repeatedly harmed her and chased Wei Nan Yi, right? Shen Su still felt more for herself and for Wei Nan Yi. With her and Si Hua, there were only two outcomes: either she would break through to a realm where she could overwhelm Si Hua and release the Li Po Pearl’s power, killing Si Hua with her own hands, or Si Hua would break Wei Nan Yi’s spell first, or heal her injuries first. Then she would try to escape again. At that point, Shen Su would activate the Li Po Pearl and enclose both of them. Si Hua had no chance of escaping, and Lin Qing Huai would die fused with her. They were one entity now. One Si Hua was annoying enough, and merging them together was even worse. Wei Nan Yi had set up a weak barrier around the swamp. It wasn’t particularly strong but sufficient to conceal them. The swamp already was one of the more dangerous places in the Phantom Valley. Apart from cultivators collecting herbal treasures or unlucky people drawn by the Blacklight Bird, nobody else was around. With the barrier in place, the Blacklight Bird couldn’t get out, so no one else would be drawn here. Even if the occasional demon beast or cultivator broke through part of the barrier, the deadly cold inside would drive them away. Major demons in the Phantom Valley would sense danger and flee rather than seek treasure. Shen Su and company found themselves in a place of peace and quiet. Inside the barrier, there was no change in daylight, and time became indiscernible. Si Hua and Lin Qing Huai had grown quiet, but Wei Nan Yi remained in deep sleep. Wei Nan Yi’s body couldn’t withstand the cold from the Li Po Pearl, her bodily functions minimized, and she entered a deep sleep to survive. Shen Su passed the time by counting Wei Nan Yi’s breathing patterns. Unlike Si Hua, she couldn’t use her meridians, only passively absorbing the demon core’s power within her. Although her cultivation progressed, Shen Su didn’t know how far she had come. Maybe if she broke through to the Gold Core stage, a thunder tribulation would descend and reduce them all to ashes. But that was highly unlikely. With her meridians inactive, any breakthrough wouldn’t be detected, and there would be no thunder tribulation. Time moved at an incredibly slow pace. Lin Qing Huai, perhaps out of frustration or because she realized that Si Hua couldn’t leave the icy lake formed by the Li Po Pearl, became increasingly prickly and unpleasant. “You call yourself an ancestor of the Hehuan Sect, yet you’ve been cornered by a mere Core Formation Stage cultivator. Useless, useless!” Her shrill voice rose at the end. Si Hua quietly solidified her half-ethereal soul, responding with a resentful laugh, “If it weren’t for you falling into her trap, I wouldn’t be stuck here.” Trapped for so long, Si Hua had realized. Her downfall wasn’t just her fault; it was also Lin Qing Huai's body, filled with Shen Su’s blood and spiritual water. Lin Yang Hui was a fool, and her granddaughter was even more foolish. Si Hua had never felt so humiliated, not even when Jiang Rui Ping chased her into the forbidden grounds. Jiang Rui Ping was a death-dealer, impossible to judge by conventional cultivation comparisons. Even if her realm was lower, she had the ability to corner Si Hua. But Shen Su wasn’t like Jiang Rui Ping. Her cultivation was far lower, almost insignificant. Si Hua thought she had already won, but a tiny grain of sand overturned her victory. Si Hua couldn’t help but hate Shen Su, hate Wei Nan Yi, and even disdain Lin Qing Huai. Facing each other and frozen solid, Si Hua’s venomous voice echoed in Shen Su’s mind, “You gave your life for your wife, but she hasn’t come to see you once. Isn’t she just like Shen Yin Xue—heartless? Don’t you regret it? Don’t you want revenge? Let me out, and I will give you the power to avenge!” She tried to tempt Shen Su once again. Over these days, Si Hua had frequently tried to lure her, but why should Shen Su regret anything? Why seek revenge? Her wife was right atop her head. The little white parrot, though unable to speak or see, was always at her side, never leaving. Wei Nan Yi was a truly good person, not heartless like Si Hua implied. Shen Zong Zhu wasn't either, for only someone like Shen Zong Zhu could have raised Wei Nan Yi. If she was heartless towards Si Hua, it was because Si Hua didn’t deserve her compassion, not Shen Zong Zhu’s fault. Unable to speak, Shen Su decided to close her eyes and ignore Si Hua and Lin Qing Huai. Shen Su had consumed many demon cores, although half were depleted when she used the God-locking Technique. She now had only twenty-one higher-quality demon cores left, including the one from the Transcendence Realm black bear demon. She would occasionally look within and see the demon cores slowly dissolve, merging into her being. The white pearl left by Jing Qin shattered, but it hadn’t caused Shen Su to lose her ability to control the demon cores’ power. Instead, she seemed to master it even better, no longer needing external aid, relying only on her own blood flow. She could still suppress the demon cores, now using her own bloodline. Her demonic side from Jing Qin had fully integrated. If she could tell Wei Nan Yi, she knew she would be thrilled. How was Jiang Xu doing now? Shen Su wasn’t particularly thinking about him, just considering Wei Nan Yi’s daughter. Since Jiang Xu’s story had deviated from the original plot, perhaps because she had even broken the protagonist’s leg and thrown him into a pigsty, Jiang Xu’s chances of falling for him were slim. If she didn’t love the protagonist and Wei Nan Yi was still alive, there would be no transformation of love into hatred, right? The original plot might not unfold at all. And then... Shen Su suddenly glanced at Lin Qing Huai, still arguing with Si Hua. Given the current state of Lin Qing Huai, she wouldn’t likely meet the protagonist in the Lin Well. This fate was nipped in the bud. With Fu Yuan and Wei Jin He dead in the Phantom Valley, the protagonist’s confidantes now numbered four fewer. This was good for the female lead Bai Ru Yi. Shen Su's only concern was Jiang Rui Ping. In the latter part of the original story, Jiang Rui Ping had died completely without any mention. If they and Si Hua were truly to be trapped there for that long, Shen Su feared she’d never get the chance to ask Jiang Rui Ping anything or even let Wei Nan Yi see her one last time. Shen Su sighed internally, wondering why Jiang Rui Ping had to die—surely it wasn't because she was too powerful and Heaven had to eliminate her? Breathing in and out cold air day after day, Shen Su felt that if this continued, she might even lose her sense of smell. One day, Shen Su was jolted awake by a clamor. The barrier had been eerily silent, with Shen Su only occasionally hearing Si Hua and Lin Qing Huai quarrel, so she was used to the tranquility. The sudden intrusion of multiple voices startled her, and her ears found it unpleasant. The voices drew closer, and though they were still far off, Shen Su couldn’t make out what they were saying. Si Hua, however, brightened up. “Someone’s entered! Little thing, you’re dead!” Shen Su knew why Si Hua was excited. Being the old master of the Hehuan Sect, Si Hua was skilled at sowing discord. Shen Su’s resolve was unbreakable, but the people entering the barrier might not all share her unwavering will. Si Hua saw hope. Shen Su couldn’t help but think this was bad. Was Wei Nan Yi’s barrier malfunctioning? It couldn’t be. Even without the barrier, the cold from the Li Po Pearl shouldn’t be bearable for ordinary cultivators. While she overheard someone complaining about the cold, their steps grew more determined, heading steadily toward them—almost as if they were deliberately searching for them. Were they looking for herbal treasures? But those herbs weren’t exactly rare; they could be found elsewhere. The voices grew nearer, and finally, Shen Su and Si Hua saw the intruders—a group of about ten young cultivators, primarily women. They seemed no older than eighteen or nineteen. Leading them was a girl glowing with golden light, who smiled warmly upon seeing Shen Su and pointed, “Found them.” So they were searching for her specifically. But why did it look like they were aiming for her? Just as Shen Su was trying to figure it out, a yellow figure dashed toward her. “Zong Zhu!” The girl in yellow was plump, her chubby white face radiating good fortune. Her arms filled out her sleeves robustly. She barely took two steps before stumbling and falling, releasing spikes from her body that pierced the ice to keep her steady. She mumbled indistinctly as more spikes emerged, curling up into a ball and rolling toward Shen Su. She rolled fast, resembling a grey-yellow ball from afar. Si Hua muttered under her breath, “Where did this hedgehog come from?” Hedgehog? Indeed, she resembled one. Just as Shen Su realized the girl was like a hedgehog, she had already rolled up to her, smiling sweetly and half-kneeling on the ice. She tilted her head to look at Shen Su. “Zong Zhu, where is my master?” Shen Su was still processing when the girl noticed the white parrot asleep on Shen Su’s head. With a mix of surprise and delight, she stretched out her hand but didn’t touch the parrot. She only said, “Master turned into a little parrot? So tiny.” Wait, this cheerful girl knew the white parrot was Wei Nan Yi. She called her Zong Zhu and addressed Wei Nan Yi as her master, and she was a little hedgehog... Shen Su had a sudden realization. This young girl was A Ran, the little glutton who had once rolled down the mountain with Wei Nan Yi. Shen Su’s eyelashes fluttered as she stared at the now-rounder face of A Ran, fearing the worst. When they had left the Divine Maiden Mountain, A Ran was still a chubby child. Now, this girl should be at least eighteen or nineteen. Si Hua, sensing their familiarity, fell silent, her expression darkening as she glared at A Ran and Shen Su, occasionally glancing at the slowly approaching young cultivators. A Ran, not getting a response from Shen Su or waking the parrot on her head, lowered her head in sadness. “Zong Zhu, are you mad at us for being late? We set out as soon as we found Sister Yu, and we’ve been in the Phantom Valley for ten years looking for you. If Sister Ruan Tong hadn’t advanced to the Golden Core, gaining a new perception ability, we might never have found you. Who’d think such a place would hide a barrier? And it’s so cold, my spiky shell can’t take it.” “Ah, master,” A Ran suddenly remembered. Her master was weak, so she quickly checked the parrot’s body temperature, feeling relieved that it was still warm. “She’s still alive.” This girl wasn’t lying, right? A Ran was supposed to have an absolute perception ability, meaning the barrier shouldn’t block her sensing Wei Nan Yi. But A Ran had just mentioned ten years... Shen Su’s bad feeling grew stronger. It wasn’t that Shen Su didn’t want to respond to A Ran; on the contrary, she had many questions. But she couldn’t open her mouth right now. A Ran, dull but now also tearful, said, “Zong Zhu, do you think I’m lying? We haven’t been in the Phantom Valley for ten years. On the way here, we were attacked by robbers and weird people who wanted us to join their sect, saying we had extraordinary gifts. We wouldn’t, so they captured us, taking advantage of their higher cultivation. It took us ages to escape. You have no idea how perilous the journey was. I didn’t mean to lie; Second Sister said if you knew we wandered for ten years, you’d mock us. So she told us to make up a story. If you want to blame someone, blame Second Sister.” No, something wasn’t right. This child seemed off, unlike the honest and obedient A Ran from Shen Su’s memory. Had Lin Shui Yan raised all the children crooked in her and Wei Nan Yi’s absence? Where was Ruan Tong? What had happened to her? Shen Su’s gaze shifted to the hesitant young leader being pushed forward by others. That soft, gentle face was more recognizable than A Ran’s. When they first met, Ruan Tong had appeared sickly. Now she seemed much healthier, her dress adorned with colorful butterflies. An elegant dress for a beautiful girl. She first called out “Master” respectfully to Wei Nan Yi before turning to Shen Su. Blushing, Ruan Tong stammered, “Z-Zong Zhu, it wasn’t me who taught them to lie.” No wonder she was reluctant to approach; she knew A Ran was off-kilter. Ruan Tong had hardly finished speaking when a girl who had been pushing her forward poked her head out. “A Ling can attest; it was Second Sister’s idea.” A Ling. Back then, the youngest and most talented among them. Whether she had aged slowly or broken through too quickly, she still looked small, maybe thirteen or fourteen. Yet she was the most petite of the group, with bright eyes and a mischievous smile. With A Ling guaranteeing it, Shen Su began to doubt Ruan Tong’s words. But since they mentioned Lin Shui Yan, where was she? Ruan Tong, noticed how Shen Su looked at her and selflessly cared, thus she realized the severity of Shen Su's situation. Bending low on the ice, Ruan Tong cautiously examined Shen Su’s throat. She asked with concern, “Zong Zhu, has your throat been frozen and you can’t speak?” Shen Su was about to nod when a black shadow suddenly appeared before her eyes. A familiar voice followed, “Who’s Zong Zhu, buried in ice and unable to speak?” Shen Su’s eyes lifted slightly. It was Lin Shui Yan. Lin Shui Yan was more recognizable than the others. She hadn’t entirely shed her youthful air. Though donning a dress, her brows remained sharp, exuding a heroic vibe. Lin Shui Yan was carrying someone on her back—Leng Ru, instantly recognizable even in her current state. Leng Ru looked asleep, her arms around Lin Shui Yan’s neck, held up by one of Lin Shui Yan’s arms gripping her hands and the other propping up her legs, preventing her from slipping off. Seeing Shen Su looking at her, Lin Shui Yan, despite her mocking words, acted sincerely. She half-lay on the ground without a second thought, thus causing Leng Ru, clinging to her back, to lie down as well. However, Leng Ru remained on Lin Shui Yan's back. Moving her head closer to Shen Su, Lin Shui Yan lightly pushed Leng Ru’s head with her finger and muttered, “Zong Zhu, look at this silly fish you left me with. She can fall asleep anywhere.” Her words betrayed her disdain, but she didn’t hand Leng Ru over to anyone else. Instead, she maintained this odd posture, chatting with Shen Su on her own. Both Ruan Tong and Lin Shui Yan lay in front of Shen Su, with A Ran tilting her head to the side nearby. Shen Su’s eyelids twitched. Did they really not find this way of talking a bit strange? She struggled to open her mouth, while Lin Qing Huai, who had been silent for a long time, seemed to have reached a similar thought. She once again floated out from Si Hua’s body, exasperated. “Enough! Are you really going to keep talking like this?” “How come there’s always something trying to steal someone’s body wherever I go?” Lin Shui Yan glanced at Lin Qing Huai, visibly disgusted by the sight of two souls in one body. With a look of disgust, she kicked at Lin Qing Huai’s face, though her lips formed a slight smile. “I have a bad temper. Don’t talk to me, or I’ll gouge out your eyes, pour hot oil on you, and turn you into a human stick.” Lin Shui Yan’s reaction was direct and intense, reflecting her dislike for the unsettling dual presence in front of her.