219 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

"Are you alright, Minghui?" The moment Dongfang Minghui lifted the tent flap, she came face to face with the understanding Mu Sheng. Her face turned crimson, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole. She quickly waved her hand and said, "I'm fine, really. Seventh Sister wants Mother and Uncle to come over for something important." Mu Sheng glanced at her with a subtle expression before nodding and heading off. But then, he suddenly turned back and remarked, "Play all you want during the day, but when it's late at night..." Dongfang Minghui's face flushed even redder, almost as red as a monkey's behind. After Mu Sheng finished speaking, he realized how awkward it was and quickly set off to fetch Uncle and Qian Mama. Even when the wooden Uncle and Qian Mama arrived, the warmth on Dongfang Minghui's face still hadn't faded. She stood there, red-cheeked, and unmoving. "Mother, I want the three of us to combine our strength to place a seal on Ninth Sister." "A seal?" "Yes," Qian Wanyu explained the small array seal that she and Qing Mo had devised. With their combined forces, they could enhance its effectiveness threefold. It would take someone with spiritual power exceeding theirs to break it, and such individuals are virtually non-existent on the Seven-Colored Continent. Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling didn't ask many questions but instead glanced at Dongfang Minghui. "Shall we start now?" Qian Wanyu handed Little Fatty over to Mu Sheng to look after and had Little White fluff guard outside. Dongfang Minghui also released Little Color, whispering, "Don't fall for that enchantress's tricks. Don't look or listen, and don't smell anything she gives me." Plants are particularly sensitive to airborne scents, so she reminded Little Color earnestly. "Stop nagging. Do you think I'm as gullible as you?" "Alright, alright." Dongfang Minghui then moved all the necessary items for the spell into Seventh Sister's space, gently explaining to the trembling man-eating flower and Little Bean Sprout. However, Little Bean Sprout stubbornly refused to stay inside the space, bouncing around the tent on its own, hopping in circles. It took her quite some time to catch it, yet the Tianyin Helm managed to slip from her grasp. Little Bean Sprout had become seriously resistant to being confined in the space, doing everything it could to avoid going back inside. Qian Wanyu released a bit of spiritual energy, pinning the bouncing Tianyin Helm in place. Little Bean Sprout swung its sole flower bud back and forth, looking a bit pitiful. Seeing this, Dongfang Minghui couldn't help but suggest gently, "Little Bean Sprout, in the days to come, we'll likely be traveling through harsh, snowy terrain. The cold outside is far too severe; it's best for you to stay in the space for your safety." Little Bean Sprout fought to escape, its roots even bending with its effort. Qian Wanyu quickly withdrew her spiritual energy, afraid of hurting it, as they didn't want to damage the future hope of the Ghostface Tree clan. Ninth Sister would be angry for a long time if that happened. "If it's this resistant, let it choose for itself—whether to stay in the space or travel with you." Dongfang Minghui persuaded, "Little Bean Sprout, you do know how cold it is outside, don't you?" Once freed, Little Bean Sprout promptly directed the Tianyin Helm to hop outside. She rushed to follow it and saw that somehow, Little Bean Sprout managed to discover Toothless and Little Fatty under a snow-draped tree. The Tianyin Helm, with all its strength, leapt towards Little Fatty. "Hey, where did this bean sprout come from?" "Ah ah." I'm not a sprout. Little Fatty accurately caught it and patted its flower bud with a chubby hand. In response, Little Bean Sprout's flower bud amusingly thumped his fingers. Undeterred, Little Fatty continued to gently stroke it. Dongfang Minghui watched helplessly and said, "Little Fatty, I'm leaving Little Bean Sprout in your care for now. Make sure not to lose it." Little Fatty responded with a couple of "ah ah" sounds and nervously cuddled the Tianyin Helm, showing genuine concern. Toothless reached out a hand to tease it, but Little Fatty easily dodged him. "You little chub, let me play with it for a bit." "Ah ah." I won't let you. Little Fatty ran off with the Tianyin Helm, leaving behind a trail of small, burnt footprints in the snow. Even when covered by snow, the unique indentations, likely made by Xiao Miao, stood out among the rest. Toothless chased after Little Fatty, the two of them running back and forth in the snow, unafraid of the biting cold. "Fatty, let me play with the sprout for a bit." "Ah." No. Little Fatty was fast, but Toothless was even faster. Dongfang Minghui saw a few blurs and soon noticed a flame-like streak as Toothless released fire-elemental spiritual energy, pouncing on Little Fatty and the Tianyin Helm, which smoothly rolled across the snow. Little Bean Sprout, full of energy, began hopping circles around the tent, prompting Xiao Miao to join in the chase. The more he pursued, the faster Little Bean Sprout leaped. The snow melted where they played, leaving patches of exposed ground due to the fireballs they sent flying now and then. Dongfang Minghui watched, amused, and laughed heartily until a hand reached out from the tent and pulled her inside. "Continue." "Alright." Blushing, Dongfang Minghui realized she was easily distracted, almost forgetting the important task at hand. "Everyone else is fine staying in the space. This seal won't restrict their breathing, right?" "It merely seals off the aura of everything within this space to prevent others from peeking inside." "Good." She stood aside, observing as Seventh Sister, Qian Mama, and the others released their spiritual powers. Their multicolored, overwhelming energy enveloped the items. Unnoticed was an additional piece of jade that had appeared in the hidden clasp of the affection bracelet. The jade embedded within exhibited a mottled appearance, channeling the vibrant spiritual energy that flowed on its surface in a dazzling display. After most of an hour, their combined energies gradually enveloped the affection bracelet. When they withdrew their spiritual powers, the affection bracelet had altered significantly, its jade's sheen diminished as though stained by something, the original glow seemingly evaporated. "Hmph." Dongfang Minghui lamented, scrutinizing her affection bracelet with some concern. Seeing her displeasure, Qian Wanyu explained softly, "Once the seal is undone, the affection bracelet will return to its original state. You can wear it again, but be cautious—all items except for the concealed weapon must remain untouched." Dongfang Minghui secured the bracelet around her waist once more, attempting to retrieve something from the space but found no reaction. However, touching the concealed weapon yielded the usual result, "It feels a bit odd." Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan stood up. "Don't worry about Lian for now. It's possible he's found a cave to weather this snowstorm. If he doesn’t return once the snow stops, we'll search in shifts." "Okay. Mother, Uncle, you can rest and meditate here in the tent. I'll go to the other tent with Minghui." Qian Wanyu quickly led Dongfang Minghui outside. The snowfall had intensified, and the areas where they had previously sprawled were now lightly blanketed with snow. It was serene outside. Holding her hand, Qian Wanyu softly asked, "Does it still hurt?" Dongfang Minghui glanced sideways, trying to pull away from Seventh Sister’s grasp, but was held even tighter. She pouted, her face growing warm at the gentle concern. Her stinging backside constantly reminded her of the spanking she'd received, forced face down in the tent while Seventh Sister administered the punishment. Everyone outside had heard, which didn’t help matters when Mu Sheng teased her right after. Hmph. Color her thoroughly miffed. Qian Wanyu circled an arm around her neck, drawing her into a gentle embrace. "Are you upset?" Dongfang Minghui wrinkled her nose, remaining silent. "The Night Fox Clan has some history with Mother, but even she can't confirm if they're truly from that clan. In the future, if that enchantress asks you to do something under the guise of healing, feel free to say no." "Yes," of course, she would refuse. She wasn’t foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice. What delighted her inexplicably was hearing Seventh Sister refer to that woman as an enchantress too, lifting her spirits a bit. Knowing how compliant Ninth Sister could be, Qian Wanyu suspected she would soon forget their conversation. She anticipated that Minghui might repeat her mistakes in similar future encounters. Frustrated, she gently bit Dongfang Minghui's neck again. "Ouch, Seventh Sister, be gentle." "It's important you remember this. Learn from it." Dongfang Minghui couldn't help but pout. How was she supposed to know better? She felt she had been quite vigilant, just unprepared for the enchantress's surprise attack. "If that's the case, why not drive them away?" "Allowing them to leave easily isn't enough. Besides, their true intentions remain hidden. Perhaps they've come to deliver something valuable." "Something valuable?" Qian Wanyu said nothing more and noticed that Dongfang Minghui's hands were cold, so she quickly ushered her into another tent. Inside the tent, Mu Sheng and a few other warm stoves were gathered, making the tent exceptionally cozy, with Little Fatty being the center of attention due to his adorableness and gentle nature. "This tent is so comfortable," Dongfang Minghui sighed. "Ah ah," Little Fatty lifted the Tianyin Helm and placed it on his head, wobbling his way towards Dongfang Minghui. Concerned, she watched as the helm precariously balanced atop his head. If it accidentally toppled, Little Bean Sprout might end up squashed. As Little Fatty neared, she quickly scooped Little Bean Sprout into her arms and found even the helm to be warm. "You're a clever one; staying outside to soak up Little Fatty's warmth, huh?" Little Bean Sprout swayed its flower bud towards her, which had grown a bit larger, giving it a top-heavy look. Despite its appearance, Dongfang Minghui checked its stem to ensure it was unharmed before feeling reassured. "Ah ah," Little Fatty attempted to crawl onto Dongfang Minghui’s shoulder but was intercepted by Qian Wanyu, who swept him aside. "From now on, Little Bean Sprout is your responsibility. Don’t lose it, understand?" Little Fatty reached out, hoping for a hug from Dongfang Minghui. However, Qian Wanyu skillfully placed the Tianyin Helm into his hands before leading Dongfang Minghui to a corner of the tent. "We don’t know when the snow will stop. You should rest for a while. I'll wake you when it's over." "I... Worry about Lian," Dongfang Minghui admitted, feeling restless and uncomfortable in any position due to her aching backside. She opted to pace around the tent. Toothless sniffed the air and truthfully said, "After the snow stops, many scents will become faint. Finding him will be difficult." Qian Wanyu saw how her words caused Ninth Sister to frown again, so she tried to reassure her, "While scents may weaken and footprints vanish, there are always ways to find him. If you don’t rest properly now, you won’t have a chance once the snow stops." Realizing she was fretting unnecessarily, Dongfang Minghui reluctantly glanced at the uneven ground. "Come here." Qian Wanyu laid a layer of animal hide on the ground, then spread out the bedding they had prepared beforehand. After climbing in first to warm the bed, she patted the space beside her, "Come sleep." Dongfang Minghui glanced sideways at Mu Sheng, who was pretending to cover his mouth and eyes in jest. Embarrassed, she too wanted to cover her eyes. "Stop dawdling." "Seventh Sister." Finally nestled in the sheets, Dongfang Minghui felt the warmth envelop her, prompting a contented sigh. Qian Wanyu gathered her into an embrace, gently patting her back. "I know you're uncomfortable. Rest against me; I'll warm the bed for you." Dongfang Minghui, who had been shivering, now felt warmth seep into her very core, prompting her to sigh lightly, "Seventh Sister, I’m not angry anymore." A soft smile played on Qian Wanyu's lips, "Sleep." Tightly enveloped, sleep came swiftly to Dongfang Minghui. She awoke feeling wonderfully rested, with Toothless and Little Fatty having somehow snuck into her bed during the night. Her sister, however, had left at some point. Quickly getting up, she peeked outside to see a pristine blanket of snow. Finally, the snowstorm had ceased. "Seventh Sister." "Awake?" Qian Wanyu's footprints were deep in the snow, leading up to her, with the snow nearly reaching her calves and her robe soaked. "Where did you go?" "The snow stopped over an hour ago. Lian hasn't returned, so Mother and I decided to search in separate directions." Qian Wanyu pointed towards the path Lian had last taken. "Mother and Uncle have already set off. I discovered a fork about ten meters ahead; Mother and Uncle likely took the left path." Dongfang Minghui nodded quickly, "So we’re setting out now?" "Get everyone together." "Minghui, Miss Wanyu, do you need our help to search as well?" Mei Wu’s voice was gentle, possessing a unique charm despite its weakness. Dongfang Minghui mused that if she were interested in women, she might have found the voice enchanting—not that she was. Qian Wanyu smiled, "You’re right, Miss Mei Wu. However, someone should stay to guard the tents. I suggest you remain here with Brother Lahan to watch over them. Meanwhile, one of you can join us." Mei Wu flashed a momentary look of confusion before Qian Wanyu continued, "There’s likely a heavy snowstorm ahead. Without these tents, we’d risk freezing to death out there." Dongfang Minghui nodded fervently, "Guarding the tents is a crucial task, and I believe Miss Mei Wu is best suited for it." Having caught the conversation, Mu Sheng emerged, having awakened both Little Fatty and Toothless. "Sister Wanyu, Minghui, we're all ready. Can we head out?" Qian Wanyu gave Mu Sheng an appreciative glance, "Is Miss Mei Wu's brother coming with us?" Mei Wu could only give a nod to Cheng Jiang. "The snow and ice make the paths hard. If you two don’t find him, return soon before nightfall. Mei Wu and Lahan will hold down the fort here." Dongfang Minghui sensed a veiled undertone in Mei Wu's words and found them quite harsh, "We will find Lian." "Ninth Sister, let’s go." Little Fatty stepped barefoot into the snow, finding it chilling but enjoyable. He released some fire energy to melt the surrounding snow, clearing half of it in moments. Walking last, Cheng Jiang looked surprised, his head down yet curiously observing his surroundings. Noticing his furtive demeanor, Mu Sheng kept a discreet watch, "Brother Cheng Jiang, trekking with us must be tiring, right?" Cheng Jiang shook his head dumbly, "Not at all." "Really? I’ve been exhausted keeping up with Sister Wanyu and the others." Mu Sheng exclaimed loudly, eager to test him, much like Zilan had left without sparring with Lian. "You must be impressive. We should spar sometime." Hearing this, Qian Wanyu’s brow furrowed slightly. "Did anything odd happen when Cheng Jiang sparred with Lian?" "No," Qing Mo recalled. "The sparring was normal, and Lian even gained the upper hand initially, but eventually lost curiously." Suddenly it came to him, "Lian paused mid-fight, perhaps due to a lapse in concentration." "When she entered the tent, she saw no others, likely bewitched by some scent, clouding her senses. Still, the fragrance bears scrutiny." "Were you aware of anything unusual?" "I masked my sense of smell before departing." Qian Wanyu's sense of smell was less acute compared to Dongfang Minghui, though her hearing was sharper. Qing Mo’s briefly eased heart tensed again, anxiety as sharp as teetering on a cliff, "Your Ninth Sister and the little ones rely on scent to track Lian's path. They might..." Qian Wanyu’s expression darkened, a storm brewing, before abruptly taking Ninth Sister’s hand. A transfer of spiritual power flowed into her unexpectedly. Dongfang Minghui was stunned, adjusting quickly yet puzzled. "Even in daylight, you two show your fondness so boldly." Despite the teasing, Little Color bemoaned, brushing off his embarrassment, "This weather might freeze me solid." "Little Color, did you catch any peculiar scents?" "No odd scents at all." A heavy snowfall had buried all traces. Toothless remarked, "The snowfall yesterday was too intense, completely masking Lian's trail. What now? Do we continue searching?" After a brief contemplation, Qian Wanyu asked, "Cheng Jiang, any suggestions?" Cheng Jiang peered at the sky, "There’s plenty of daylight left. We should advance; we might find him soon." "Alright." Xiao Miao trotted behind Little Fatty, leaving conspicuous footprints—melting snow and singed impressions where he stepped. Battling through the icy wind, they continued forward for over half an hour before one of the group called out, "Hold on." "Look, over there—a cave perhaps?" Pointed out by Cheng Jiang, they focused in the direction indicated—a small, barely noticeable cave mouth amidst the white expanse. Snow softly cascaded from above as they cleared away the drifts, revealing a dry interior. As they ventured deeper into the cave, Dongfang Minghui suddenly stepped on something sharp that made her wince. Qian Wanyu handed out a moonstone to everyone, illuminating the cave floor, where they found Lian's finely crafted iron bow and scattered arrows. "Seventh Sister, this is Lian's bow and arrows," Dongfang Minghui exclaimed. "Yes," Qian Wanyu replied solemnly, raising her moonstone to survey the entire cave. "There's no sign of a struggle." It seemed, as they suspected, Lian had sought shelter from the blizzard in the cave. Dongfang Minghui picked up the bow and arrows, worry clouding her features. "Seventh Sister, Lian never parts from his bow and arrows. He treats them as though they are his life. Could something have happened to him?" She regretted allowing him to hunt in this relentless snow. "No prey would be out in this ice and snow," she thought ruefully. "Not necessarily," Qian Wanyu reasoned. "Most people, when resting, will automatically set aside their bow and arrows. It's uncomfortable to rest against a wall with them on their back." She scrutinized the cave further, "He must have stood up suddenly during his rest and walked out." The snow had stopped by morning, and both her mother and she had already walked the track left by Lian. Hence, he couldn't have left after that. It suggested he left before the snow stopped. "But nothing adds up," Dongfang Minghui argued. "If Lian truly heard something, he'd have taken his bow and arrows. Why would he leave behind the things he values as much as his own life?" Qing Mo mused in her soul sea, "There's another possibility. Remember how your Ninth Sister, after inhaling that bewildering scent, doubted whether Little Fatty was fake? If Lian smelled it too, he might have believed he was taking his bow and arrows, yet actually left them." Qian Wanyu subtly glanced at Cheng Jiang, "Let's wait a bit longer; Lian might return soon." Dongfang Minghui fiddled with the heavy iron bow, noting the animal script etched into it, the marks polished and shiny from frequent touch. "Will Lian really come back, Seventh Sister?" she asked anxiously. "He will," Qian Wanyu said with unwavering confidence. "Believe in him." Dongfang Minghui was still uneasy. What could have caused Lian to leave his bow and arrows behind? Her own silk umbrella, though no longer useful, had shielded her through countless perils. She still hoped to find a master craftsman to repair it someday. "Sigh." Qian Wanyu held onto her hand, channeling a steady flow of spiritual energy into her. She noted Mu Sheng had inexplicably fallen asleep leaning against the wall, only then saying through her soul sea, "Ninth Sister, pretend to be asleep, lean into my arms." "But why?" Dongfang Minghui asked just as she noticed Little Fatty standing asleep, clutching the Tianyin Helm, his skin turning a peculiar shade of red. Little Bean Sprout was eerily still in her hand. Toothless also lay still, but uneasily asleep, her brows furrowed. Dongfang Minghui felt as though the beauty mark on Toothless's face was flickering with firelight. She yawned, unable to resist the instinctual need to sleep as she leaned into Qian Wanyu and drifted off. Qian Wanyu rested her head against Dongfang Minghui's pretending to be asleep as well. The only one who remained wakeful was Xiao Miao, and the revealing true form of Cheng Jiang. "Hahaha." Cheng Jiang's laugh was oddly seducing, a woman's voice mingled with enchantment rather than a gruff tone, invoking pity in anyone who heard it. "Am I hearing Mei Wu's voice?" "Not just seems like—it’s truly her." Xiao Miao was taken aback, watching him morph into a woman. With wide eyes, he nervously blocked her path with both arms spread wide. "Brat, don't get in the way." "You can't hurt them." Xiao Miao was in a panic, usually unable to control his flames, but today, they wouldn't ignite. "You—" "Get lost." Mei Wu swung a palm, but Xiao Miao, panicked and quick-thinking, spat a burst of flame onto her hand. Mei Wu quickly counteracted with ice, extinguishing the small fireball in an instant. Inwardly, Dongfang Minghui cursed. How could another be of the ice element? "Seventh Sister, she's not from the Night Fox clan." "Better that way." "Huh?" It meant not having to worry about their mother being put in an awkward position when dealing with her. Little Color's vines had quietly spread all over the cave walls and even blocked the cave entrance. "Lucky Seventh Sister warned us, or we’d be force-fed those disgusting bugs again." "She's like Meng Yixiao," who controlled the dreaded bugs. Recalling the events in the tent, Dongfang Minghui's stomach churned. "Miss Mei Wu, picking on a child isn’t much of a feat," Qian Wanyu said as she snapped the water whip towards Mei Wu. Caught off guard, Mei Wu attempted to dodge, but the whip's tip hooked her cheek, tearing away skin and leaving a bloody, gruesome wound. "Oh no, she’s disfigured," Dongfang Minghui covered her face, wincing in sympathy. She knew the whip's tip had a barbed return hook capable of maiming many. Unperturbed by the blood on her hand, Mei Wu laughed, "So you noticed, despite underestimating you all." Qian Wanyu nudged Toothless, finding her body uncomfortably hot. Little Fatty's skin had turned a vivid red, heating the Tianyin Helm until it was as if baked. Little Bean Sprout, planted within the helm, seemed close to wilting from the heat. "What is your goal?" "Hand over the map and this woman," Mei Wu demanded, greedy. When she mentioned the map, Qian Wanyu remained composed, but at the mention of Dongfang Minghui, she unleashed her spiritual power, slamming Mei Wu against the wall. Little Color swiftly withdrew its vines from the walls. Qian Wanyu gripped Mei Wu's throat, fingers tightening. "Who sent you? Answer me, and you may die whole." Mei Wu's face distorted from pain and lack of air, an ice spike forming in defense easily crumbled by Qian Wanyu. She watched helplessly as her spiritual energy drained away. "You—" "Not talking?" In Qian Wanyu's hand, a pale azure wind blade formed, like a dagger but larger, and a chilling gust whistled through the cave. Little Color's vine shrank away. "It’ll freeze me to death." Dongfang Minghui watched as Seventh Sister unleashed her fury. She turned away, unable to witness the transformation of a once-beautiful woman into something pitiable. Deep in contemplation, she noticed the abnormal states of Toothless and Little Fatty. When she attempted to touch them, the heat recoiled her, unsure of what to do. She noticed Xiao Miao staring blankly at Qian Wanyu and Mei Wu. "Xiao Miao, can you move Toothless and Little Fatty outside into the snow?" Xiao Miao's eyes flickered with realization. He nodded forcefully, exerting himself to move the two outside. Within the hour, he witnessed the surrounding snow swiftly melt, turning to water before evaporating, the ground cracking in response. Frightened, Xiao Miao retreated back into the cave. Dongfang Minghui squatted, trying to revive Mu Sheng by patting his face, but a sudden tremor nearly slammed her into the wall. "What’s going on?" "Outside, outside—" Qian Wanyu dragged Mei Wu outside, witnessing the snow receding and the ground cracking. From the distance, snowpacks cascaded from high points and mounds of snow flew towards them with blinding speed. "An avalanche." Dongfang Minghui exclaimed, lost like a headless fly, unsure whether to seek shelter in the cave or flee into the distance. Watching the ground quake and the figures of Little Fatty and Toothless unmoving like gate deities, she shouted, "Xiao Miao, help me bring them back inside!" Fleeing with both Little Fatty and Toothless was impossible; Dongfang Minghui hoped the cave was sturdy enough to withstand the collision of boulder-sized snowballs. "Hurry back to the cave, Seventh Sister." Xiao Miao managed to move Little Fatty and Toothless back just in time. As the snowball barreled towards them, its repeated impacts finally sealed the cave entrance with snow, shaking the entire cave. At one point, Dongfang Minghui truly thought they might be buried alive, but incredibly, the cave held firm against the onslaught of snow. With a grim focus, Qian Wanyu tied up Mei Wu and left her at the cave entrance. When the snow slipped down, Mei Wu was swallowed into the heap, with no one bothering to save her. Qian Wanyu shielded Dongfang Minghui with her entire body, even as Mu Sheng stirred awake amid the tremors. "It's gotten dark," remarked Mu Sheng, as if the tumult had never happened. Dongfang Minghui clung tightly to her Seventh Sister, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Seventh Sister, with everything that happened here, what about Mother and Uncle? They won’t be... buried under the snow, will they?" Qian Wanyu gently stroked her back. "Don’t worry. Mother and Uncle are strong; they can protect themselves." "But why did such a large amount of snow suddenly cascade from above, and so quickly at that?" The only one who seemed to know the truth was the little one, who blinked its black eyes at the still-oblivious Little Fatty and Toothless. Scratching her head, Dongfang Minghui pondered, "There are many reasons for avalanches, and I can't say for sure. But to think there was such a massive snowy mountain here—how did we miss it before?" Qian Wanyu noted her confusion. "The map marked a snow mountain here. Yesterday, when we set up camp, it was dark, and after the snowfall, the entire world turned white, so it’s normal you didn’t spot it." "Perhaps someone accidentally broke the barrier concealing it," Qing Mo hypothesized. "Who could have such power?" Several candidates came to Qian Wanyu's mind, yet none seemed capable of breaking through formations or barriers. Who could it be? Both fell into silence, simultaneously voicing, "Someone with the True Sight." Dongfang Minghui had been too distracted the previous day to closely study the surroundings, and now under Seventh Sister’s guidance, she accepted it, though her eyes drifted to Mu Sheng, who still seemed dazed after his earlier statement. "Mu Sheng?" "Huh, Minghui, what happened? I felt like I was dreaming," Mu Sheng yawned, feeling exhausted. If not for his need to converse with Minghui, he might have dozed off again. "Don’t sleep. You were tricked by the enchantress, inhaling something you shouldn’t have, causing you to doze off. We’re trapped by a snowball inside this cave and must find a way out quickly," she said, pulling him. With no awareness of what was happening, Mu Sheng reflexively pinned her to the wall. "Don’t move." "Mu Sheng." Qian Wanyu swiftly drew her water whip, noting how Mei Wu, embedded in the snow, traced something intangible in the air. As she moved, Mu Sheng tightened his grip on Dongfang Minghui’s throat, leaving her speechless. "We should've killed her earlier," Qing Mo sighed in the soul sea, "Stall for time. Your Ninth Sister will find a way." "Hmm." Qian Wanyu regretted her earlier mercy. These people were like voracious leeches, utterly vexing. She vowed to eliminate every one until they dared not show their faces again. "You want the map? I have it; I can give it to you." Mei Wu smirked, a grotesque pairing with her ruined visage. "I want the map, but I also want her." With a flick of her finger, Mu Sheng moved Dongfang Minghui, inching her towards the treacherous woman. "Don’t move." As Qian Wanyu considered a move, Mu Sheng’s fingers dug into Minghui’s neck, marking a reddish line. Though unable to see Seventh Sister’s expression, Dongfang Minghui could sense her displeasure. Meanwhile, the beauty mark on Toothless's brow seemed to glow fiercely. "Little Color, can you subdue Mu Sheng in an instant?" "I’ll try." Little Color was tense. If the friend's neck snapped, it would be doomed as well. Mei Wu, noting Qian Wanyu’s steely expression, grinned, "If you don’t want harm to come to her, find a way to clear the blockage outside. Otherwise, I'll treat her the way you treated me." Qian Wanyu held the water whip tightly, eyes narrowed, wishing nothing more than to shred Mei Wu to pieces. She regretted not finishing her off earlier. Hesitance breeds chaos. "Step aside so I can blast away this snowball." Gathering wisps of violet lightning in her palm, Qian Wanyu prepared to unleash them, the cave lit as bright as day from the radiant glow. Inside the soul sea, Dongfang Minghui urgently prompted, "Little Color, now—"