220 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

From Mu Sheng's sleeve, vines suddenly shot out, yanking him back forcefully and breaking the fingers that were tightly gripping Dongfang Minghui's neck. The intense pain surged from his fingers straight into his brain, causing Mu Sheng to let out a scream, and his previously dull eyes showed a glint of clarity. Qian Wanyu slightly redirected the purple lightning in her hand, sending it toward Mei Wu. In the blink of an eye, the situation changed so swiftly that Mei Wu couldn't even form a hand sign before the thin lightning struck her, piercing her heart. Staring wide-eyed in disbelief, she glared at Qian Wanyu with eyes not closing in death. Her fingers that controlled Mu Sheng remained stiff as her body crashed against the wall. "It seems she couldn't believe you'd kill her so easily," Qing Mo murmured. Qian Wanyu walked over, meticulously inspecting Mei Wu's body with her whip. After confirming the kill, she summoned several more heavenly thunders, reducing Mei Wu to ashes before stopping. Dongfang Minghui covered her neck, not daring to make a sound. Bound securely by the vines and with his mouth sealed, Mu Sheng was clueless about the situation, looking the most bewildered like a pair of eyes darting back and forth. Qian Wanyu glanced at Mu Sheng, then walked over to Dongfang Minghui. Pulling her roughly into an embrace, she wore a long face, "Are you hurt?" Dongfang Minghui, meek as a quail, shook her head, "Nothing serious." A conspicuous bruise marked her white neck, an eyesore to Qian Wanyu who lightly touched it, causing Dongfang Minghui to instinctively pull back, increasing the distance between them. Qian Wanyu frowned, displeased, "Is this what you call 'nothing'?" Pouting with a hint of grievance, Dongfang Minghui cautiously glanced at Mu Sheng. He appeared utterly oblivious to his earlier actions, now looking at her with pleading eyes. Helpless, she wrapped her arms around Qian Wanyu's neck, acting coquettishly, "Seventh Sister, it hurts." Qian Wanyu kept a stern face, pretending to be unfazed, "Didn't you just say it's nothing?" Dongfang Minghui, mimicking Little Fatty and Wu Ya's usual antics, buried her head into Qian Wanyu's chest, rubbing against her so much it nearly caused a nosebleed, "That was just now. Now, even talking hurts." Knowing it was her beloved person in pain, without hesitation, Qian Wanyu took out a host of porcelain bottles from her spatial storage, "Which one will help you recover faster?" Dongfang Minghui selected a pill and potion from the array and adeptly administered them internally and externally. Once done, she pointed at Mu Sheng, who had long been ignored by them. Qian Wanyu looked at her, disappointed, and advised, "Speak less." Dongfang Minghui nodded, covering her neck and mischievously mimed zipping her mouth. It was initially to pacify Seventh Sister, but now the pain was genuine. Mu Sheng had squeezed her neck with full force, without sparing her due to their friendship. Qian Wanyu drew her whip, the cold tip tracing over Mu Sheng's face. As she wished, she saw Mu Sheng shiver twice. She clasped her hands together, praying for him while casting a 'wish-you-luck' glance. "Let him speak." The vines unraveled slightly, and Mu Sheng looked at them in terror, "Wanyu, Minghui, why are you tying me up?" Qian Wanyu squinted, observing his facial expressions closely, "Do you remember what you did before?" Mu Sheng genuinely tried to recall, "I seem to have fallen asleep and dreamed, but—" He shook his head vigorously, "I can't remember what the dream was about." Qian Wanyu pulled Dongfang Minghui closer, exposing the bruise on her neck for him to see, "You almost strangled Ninth Sister just now. You truly don't remember?" Mu Sheng was dumbfounded and speechless, looking to Dongfang Minghui for confirmation. Seeing her nod, he wore a look of despair, as if unable to accept it, "I, I, this, Minghui, why would I do such a thing?" Seeing his expression, Dongfang Minghui almost laughed, enduring the pain as she explained for him, "It was that demon woman's trick." "The demon woman is dead now. Otherwise, we could've gotten some answers from her," Qing Mo remarked with slight regret, "Neither how she replaced Cheng Jiang nor how she controlled Mu Sheng is known." "Dead is dead." Continuing was pointless. Qian Wanyu asked Mu Sheng two more questions, which he answered clearly. She then got up, moving to the cave entrance, pushing the blockading snowball. It remained immovable, like an unyielding fortress. Dongfang Minghui quietly signaled Xiao to loosen the bonds, but just as she was about to help, she heard Seventh Sister say, "No untying." On cue, Xiao wrapped another loop around him, binding Mu Sheng into a tight bundle, leaving only his head free. "Let him stay put until we leave this cave," Qian Wanyu instructed, not turning her head, as she struck the snowball twice. It didn't move but shed a few small snowflakes. "Be careful, if you exert too much force, the snowball might not break, and instead, you'd collapse the cave." "I'll try." Dongfang Minghui watched as three extra hands suddenly appeared behind Seventh Sister, each radiating a different aura. She rubbed her eyes, witnessing the five palms strike the snowball in unison. The snowball didn't budge at all. Amazed and slightly sighing, Dongfang Minghui hadn't even reacted when she saw the snowball shatter in all directions, and simultaneously, the whole cave began trembling violently. "What's happening?" "Is the cave collapsing?" Qian Wanyu waved away the oncoming snow, looking up to see the snowball broken into pieces, yet outside, a larger intact one steadfastly blocked inside. "Ninth Sister, do you recall how many times the cave shook during the avalanche?" Dongfang Minghui pulled the fallen Mu Sheng up, thinking carefully, "About three or four times." "It seems outside there are three or four more such large snowballs blocking the entrance." After calculating, Qian Wanyu waited until the aftershocks subsided, "If we stay inside this cave, we'll slowly suffocate. Breaking these snowballs is our only chance at survival." Even a single snowball made the cave tremble continuously. To break several such massive snowballs might lead to its collapse. Seeing Seventh Sister with a furrowed brow, appearing hesitant, Dongfang Minghui cleared her throat, "Seventh Sister, just do what you need to. If the mountain caves again, we'll be trapped and unable to leave, better to break through the snow." Qian Wanyu nodded slightly, though inwardly, she was not as unconcerned about Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan's safety as she appeared. A post-avalanche scene means drifts can completely bury people beneath the snow. They had to think of a way out quickly, "If the cave collapses, just ensure your own safety first, Ninth Sister." Mu Sheng opened his mouth but deflated like a punctured ball upon seeing the bruise on Dongfang Minghui's neck. She quietly signaled him to be quiet, telling Xiao in her soul sea, "Loosen Mu Sheng, if the cave collapses, we might not be able to protect him, and he'll be buried." "What if—" "No ifs. Mei Wu was directly killed by Seventh Sister, and you haven't smelled anything unusual, Mu Sheng should be truly clear-headed." "Fine, just remember it's on you if your Seventh Sister asks." Xiao preferred avoiding confrontation with Qian Wanyu, who was half its nemesis, terrifying indeed. Pursing her lips, Dongfang Minghui thought, at worst she'd just act spoiled with Seventh Sister again. "What about Wu Ya and Little Fatty?" She worriedly looked at the two unmoving people, noticing Little Fatty's sprout didn't look good, "Oh dear." She tried to rescue the wilted sprout from Little Fatty's grip, only to have her fingers burned, turning red, "Xiao Miao, help me retrieve the Tianyin Helmet from Little Fatty, please?" Held tightly by Little Fatty, the small sprout withered, the bud bending into a unique 'wealthy' shape. Xiao Miao nodded, fire automatically enveloping his hands as he tried to pick up the Tianyin Helmet, flames engulfing his palms. Despite his efforts, Little Fatty clung tightly, preventing Xiao Miao from retrieving it. Suddenly Little Fatty's eyes flew open, "Ah—" A spout of fire erupted from her mouth, aimed directly at Xiao Miao's face. The spooked little sprout bent into an inverted U, with its bud touching the obsidian soil inside the helmet. "Little Fatty, be careful with the sprout." Dongfang Minghui, already dragged aside by Xiao, was immediately beset by another round of shaking as Qian Wanyu struck snowball after snowball. The cave's tremors escalated, leaving everyone tumbling about chaotically. Xiao Miao, displaying his cleverness, promptly released his grip as soon as Little Fatty awakened. "Little Sprout," Dongfang Minghui wanted to remind Little Fatty not to apply heat again, or the sprout might end up steamed. Suddenly, large stones began to fall from the cave's ceiling, making it hard for Dongfang Minghui to stand upright. She hastily instructed Xiao Miao, who had just received a face-full of fire from Little Fatty, "Xiao Miao, watch over Wu Ya for me, don't let anything happen to it." "Ouch." Despite being held by Xiao, she was inevitably pulled towards the cave wall. Everything felt tilted, making it impossible to stand steadily. "No need." Wu Ya, who had awakened at some point, calmly walked past her, even giving her a steadying hand. He stopped beside Qian Wanyu and, with a teasing tone, remarked, "It's surprising that a snowball could trouble you. Stand aside." A mass of gold-red flame shot towards the snowball, creating a person-sized hole. Wu Ya strode forward, the snow melting into water wherever she went, "Let's go." As the cave continued to tremble, Qian Wanyu grabbed Dongfang Minghui and followed closely behind Wu Ya. After what felt like the time it took to burn a stick of incense, they emerged from the cave, looking back to see five or six large snowballs blocking the entrance. The rest of the area had become a sea of snow. They were in the lowest position; hence, the cave was blocked by the cascade of snowballs. Mu Sheng stumbled out after them, only to find himself facing a towering snow mountain. He swallowed hard, "Am I still dreaming?" "Dream? We're buried under all this, and our tents back where we were are probably destroyed," Dongfang Minghui said, worry creasing her brows. "Seventh Sister, what do we do now? Where do we go?" Qian Wanyu surveyed everyone present, her gaze lingering longer on Xiao Miao. Dongfang Minghui noticed and took an extra glance at Xiao Miao as well. "Xiao Miao, this icy environment is the best opportunity to practice your control techniques." Xiao Miao nodded eagerly, having received a set of control techniques similar to Little Fatty's from Qian Wanyu, but he had never used them. He envied Little Fatty's easy mastery. Dongfang Minghui pondered, looking between Wu Ya and Little Fatty. Since Wu Ya transformed, her self-control during conscious times was noteworthy, similar to Little Fatty’s. She glanced at them, "Seventh Sister, Little Fatty looks a bit thinner." "By the way, why were they both so still earlier? It was scary." Wu Ya and Qian Wanyu glanced at Little Fatty in unison and agreed, "Indeed, slightly thinner." Little Fatty waved the Tianyin Helmet, exclaiming a series of "Ah ah ah," appearing quite anxious. "Little Sprout doesn’t look well, as though it’s been cooked." Accepting the helmet, the warmth was palpable, a testament to the subconscious heat Little Fatty emitted. "Seventh Sister, I need to check on Little Sprout first." The sprout wilted completely, its bud drooping in the obsidian soil, unable to stand upright. With no other choice, Dongfang Minghui transplanted the sprout along with the obsidian soil from the Tianyin Helmet to the snowy ground. Instantly invigorated by the cold, the sprout faintly attempted to lift its bud, only to droop back. Annoyed and anxious, Dongfang Minghui scolded, "I told you to stay in the space—you insisted on coming out. Well, if you don't pull yourself together, Seventh Sister and I can roast you for dinner." The sprout quivered before collapsing back into the snow, feigning death. Wu Ya, curious or feigning curiosity, asked, "Sprouts can be roasted? How do they taste? Better than roasted meat?" "Ah ah." Little Fatty clenched her fists, seeming ready to fight Wu Ya. Wu Ya smirked, "Roasting sprouts, not roasting you. Why are you upset?" Dongfang Minghui considered that being from the same sprout family, they were practically siblings, no, perhaps sisters. "Little Sprout, you heard—everyone's waiting to eat you. If you don't grow quickly, you're destined for the table. At least if you recover, you can escape." Qian Wanyu found Dongfang Minghui's nonsensical musing both amusing and exasperating, "Stay here, I'll scout around." "Seventh Sister, let Wu Ya accompany you." Dongfang Minghui was uneasy; the surroundings were strange, who knows what's out there. Wu Ya and Qian Wanyu exchanged a look of disdain, turning away from each other, "She doesn't need company." "I'd rather Wu Ya stays here with you all for my peace of mind," they concluded. Without giving Dongfang Minghui a chance to argue further, Qian Wanyu leaped two meters ahead and vanished from sight. As soon as Qian Wanyu left, Dongfang Minghui bit her fingertip, coaxing a round blood bead out from within, feeding it to the ailing sprout. "You’re feeding it your essence blood?" Wu Ya was shocked, especially at the fleeting powerful aura she noticed, causing her handsome brows to knit. "Yes." It's known the Ghost Face Tree Spirits thrive on human essence blood, but when would Little Sprout ever ‘grow up?’ Wu Ya felt like roasting the limp sprout, unknowingly conjuring a spark in her hand. "Ah." Little Fatty clenched her fists, glowering at Wu Ya. "You can't speak, yet you're smart," Wu Ya dispersed the flame casually. Seeing how much Dongfang Minghui cherished the sprout, destroying it would surely send her to a corner crying. Dongfang Minghui remained unaware of the near-argument over the sprout, feeling slightly dizzy after feeding it her essence blood, plopping down in the snow. Mu Sheng helped her up quickly, "Minghui, how long have you been using your blood to nurture this spirit plant?" Dongfang Minghui shook her head, "I don't remember, probably a long time." Mu Sheng advised, "No more feeding. The greater the excess, the greater the loss—don't you know that? You remember why the Golden Thorn Tree was planted in your courtyard?" His words left her momentarily bewildered; Lan Xing’s demise stemmed from over-nourishment by Situ Hao’s spirit fluids. Reflecting on herself, she realized she may have over-cared for Little Sprout, "Is it because I’ve been feeding you essence blood for too long that you can’t bloom or bear fruit?" Once energized by her blood, Little Sprout revived energetically, flipping into the Tianyin Helmet, hopping around until it nestled into Dongfang Minghui's arms. "Little Sprout, have you not grown due to absorbing too much of my essence blood?" Dongfang Minghui felt Mu Sheng’s reminder was apt; overindulgence leads to problems. She resolved to discuss Little Sprout with Seventh Sister. Little Sprout rubbed its bud against her finger before hopping back to Little Fatty, perhaps too cold. Seeing it shiver with a solitary bud in the wind, Dongfang Minghui laughed in exasperation, "Serves you right. Freeze a little." In response, Little Fatty threw the Tianyin Helmet to the ground, chased it joyfully. The helmet wobbled briefly before stabilizing, prompting Little Sprout to bounce after Little Fatty, its speed utterly outmatched. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the sight, except for Dongfang Minghui, who eventually remarked, "Seventh Sister's been gone so long, why hasn’t she returned?" Mu Sheng found it odd too, exchanging glances, "Wanyu shouldn't be in any danger." Dongfang Minghui remained confident and suggested, "Let's wait a bit longer." As time passed without Qian Wanyu's return, they unexpectedly encountered Li En, missing for two days. He appeared utterly disheveled, covered in snow, tumbling down from a height and landing in front of Dongfang Minghui. "Li En?" "Be careful." Mu Sheng pulled Dongfang Minghui back, cautiously nudging Li En with his foot, getting no response. Xiao's vines flipped him over, revealing his flushed face and tightly closed eyes, his body soaked, as if emerging from an ice river. Dongfang Minghui hurried to check his pulse, "Very weak, Mu Sheng, help me carry him back into the cave." Wu Ya disapproved, "That cave could collapse any moment, taking him there is a death sentence." "What should we do then?" Her spatial constraints left her without access to medicine or pills—all in Seventh Sister's keeping. Among them, only Mu Sheng had spatial capabilities, the others weren't quite human. Dongfang Minghui's eyes lit up, "Mu Sheng, could you change Li En into some dry clothes?" Mu Sheng quickly agreed. To avoid impropriety, Dongfang Minghui and the others turned away until Mu Sheng called out, "Finished." Dongfang Minghui noticed that although Li En now wore dry clothes, his wrists and calves remained exposed, indicating the clothes weren't a perfect fit. Mu Sheng, filled with remorse, realized that his height couldn't compare to Li En's, who had grown significantly, almost equaling beast tribe members. Other than Mu Sheng, it seemed no one else could aid in this matter. "Ahem, thank you for assisting, Mu Sheng. Could you help with one more thing?" Just as Qian Wanyu returned, she saw the two handling blocks of ice, wrapping them in cloth to place on Li En's head. She noticed Dongfang Minghui’s frozen red hands, "What are you two doing?" Mu Sheng was wiping snow on Li En’s body, trying to lower his temperature, but he realized it wasn't a long-term solution. "My fingers are burning from the cold. Seventh Sister, perfect timing—could you give me a pill from the space to reduce the fever?" Qian Wanyu quickly found a bottle, "When did Li En come back?" "He rolled down from the top shortly after you left, and hasn't regained consciousness," Dongfang Minghui explained, shivering as she tucked a pill into Li En's mouth. Qian Wanyu glanced around, "Leaving him exposed here won't help. We need a windproof place, or his injuries will worsen." "Seventh Sister, let's dig a hole." "A hole?" Dongfang Minghui vaguely recalled how people dig holes to shield from the elements, allowing them to survive harsh winters in safety until the weather improved. Qian Wanyu nodded, calling Wu Ya over. Together, they found a spot not far from the cave and effortlessly dug a large hole. Qian Wanyu set up a tent using the space they cleared. With an extra tent set inside, it became noticeably warmer. "How is Li En?" "We'll have to see how he fares overnight," Dongfang Minghui said, puzzled by how Li En, usually a skilled wind elementalist, could become so ill. If he had fainted elsewhere, a few days of exposure could have easily resulted in death. Noticing Dongfang Minghui's hands swollen from the cold, Qian Wanyu pulled her over, wrapping those frozen hands in her own, "Do you want to lose these hands?" The warmth from her touch brought comfort to Dongfang Minghui. Qian Wanyu channeled weak spiritual energy into her, the warmth spreading throughout Dongfang Minghui's body, relaxing her. With layers shielding them, the wind and snow outside couldn't touch them. Seeing this, Mu Sheng took over guarding Li En, diligently observing any changes. The first half of the night passed without incident. Qian Wanyu held Dongfang Minghui, watching the snow cover erasing all traces. Her earlier search revealed no signs of others, suggesting her connection to her mother and uncle was lost. Looking down at the sleeping Dongfang Minghui, her cheeks rosy, Qian Wanyu touched her forehead gently. Finding her temperature normal brought relief. "Father." "Mother, don't go." Li En, restless even in his single blanket, suddenly grabbed Mu Sheng's injury-ridden hand with a forceful grip, causing Mu Sheng to pale with pain. Dongfang Minghui awoke to his groans, "He's heating up again." Mu Sheng's handsome face contorted in pain, but Li En's hold was unbreakable despite his efforts. "Seventh Sister, help me hold him down." Dongfang Minghui swiftly inserted her silver needles into several acupoints on Li En's wrist, causing his hand to slacken, freeing Mu Sheng. However, his hand was bloody from Li En's nails. She swiftly disinfected and bandaged Mu Sheng's wounds, "Mu Sheng, I'm sorry. We might have been a bit rough earlier. I'll stabilize your fingers and treat them daily; they'll heal in time." Mu Sheng shook his head, "I should be the one apologizing. Is your neck better?" Unable to see her neck, Dongfang Minghui relied on Mu Sheng and Qian Wanyu's observations. In a short time, her bruise had significantly healed. She touched her neck lightly, smiling carefree, "It should be fine now. The medicine seems effective." Mu Sheng nodded slightly, relieved—the guilt he carried eased. He hesitantly asked, "Was I... very aggressive then?" That question was hard to answer. Dongfang Minghui pondered, "You seemed different from your usual self." Normally gentle, Mu Sheng's swift aggression had left her mind blank. She never expected an attack from him. Survival instincts over how not to implicate her Seventh Sister dominated her thoughts. "If I act foolish again, you can be harsher with me," Mu Sheng murmured. "That's not an option," Dongfang Minghui countered, "Hurting you once was already difficult. You want me to feel guiltier?" Qian Wanyu, seeing they were done, remarked, "Take a look at Li En. He seems to be having nightmares." Li En, caught in his night terrors, flailed his arms, muttering parental terms. Dongfang Minghui pierced his forehead with needles, calming him somewhat, "No wonder he seeks revenge; even in sleep, he cries for his parents. His foster parents must have been good to him." "Foster parents?" "Yes, Harlow mentioned that before meeting me, Li En was pursued, claiming it was Cyril's people who killed his parents. I thought they were his biological parents, fueling his hatred. But Harlow clarified it was foster parents." "Foster parents." "Ninth Sister, have you confirmed that matter with Karu?" Dongfang Minghui brought some snow over, wrapped it, and placed it on Li En's forehead, checking his breathing periodically, "Yes, I've asked. Karu denies involvement." Qian Wanyu nodded thoughtfully, "I suspected as much." Dongfang Minghui assumed Seventh Sister referred to Li En guessing her identity, admiringly noting, "Li En not only has talent but is smart too. He saw through me when even Karu didn't. No wonder I saved his life." Qian Wanyu sighed, "Luckily, I claimed you as my own back then, or who knows which stranger might have deceived and sold you." Even Dongfang Minghui discerned the teasing in those words, stomping her foot in frustration. Mu Sheng, absorbed in their discussion about Li En, suddenly felt like an outsider, his cheek burning as he haphazardly excused himself to find Little Fatty. --- The night passed silently. Thanks to Dongfang Minghui’s attentive care, Li En woke briefly after three hours. "Shaman." "Shh, don't speak." Dongfang Minghui checked his forehead and exposed wrist, relieved that his fever had subsided, "You had a high fever. Drink some water and rest." Li En managed a faint nod, sipping the warm water offered, feeling his strength return, though still unable to sit up. After ensuring he was settled, Dongfang Minghui busied herself with potion and pill preparations nearby. Li En quietly observed until sleep overcame him once more. While watching Li En, Qian Wanyu heard Qing Mo's teasing, "Your Ninth Sister seems more sought after than you. A casual rescue led to finding Qian Ying’s son. That boy even harbors thoughts about her. What will you do? You can't kill him, yet you must coddle him." "It might not be him." "Isn't it? He used the human language for 'father' and 'mother.' Your Ninth Sister is too naive to see the anomaly. No true beast tribe member fond of foster parents would use the human language," Qing Mo argued confidently, "Besides, hasn’t his demeanor changed drastically?" In the span of a year, one can shed youthful appearance but not achieve such rapid mental maturity. "Perhaps his soul has been taken," Qian Wanyu speculated darkly, "That group infiltrates everywhere. They might target those we hold dear, aiming to conquer their soul sea and take over their bodies." "Indeed, but you should know. You've spent time with Li En before—how steadfast is his mind?" Qian Wanyu remained silent for a moment, recalling how, back in the Kas Tribe, Li En displayed resilience, enduring Jing Ke's water element torment before awakening his wind element. "If it's really him, we'll have fulfilled our promise to Qian Ying." "Hold on, don't rush into things," Qing Mo cautioned, surprisingly cautious. "We need to be absolutely certain before breaking the blood oath, or it could backfire on us." Qian Wanyu smiled softly. --- Unable to resist the boredom, Wu Ya and Little Fatty climbed out of the cave as soon as the snow stopped after dawn. Xiao Miao followed, quietly observing their antics while occasionally playing along with a gentle smile. Despite Dongfang Minghui's objections, Li En, after a night's rest, attempted to stand, breaking into a sweat from the effort. Sitting side-by-side with Qian Wanyu, Dongfang Minghui addressed Li En, "Li En, where did you go? We were very worried." "I couldn’t find any prey that day, so I tried to return, but snowfall blocked the path. I had to find a place to shelter from the storm," Li En explained. "The snow kept falling, wouldn't stop, so I waited near the cave entrance and must have fallen asleep from exhaustion." Asleep from exhaustion? Dongfang Minghui accepted this explanation. Li En had been challenged by many, not fully recovered from practice, and the journey wore him out. It's normal to doze off unintentionally. "And then?" Li En rubbed his head, "I dreamt of lying in an ice coffin surrounded by mist. I couldn't see clearly, so I tried to move closer for a better view." "An ice coffin? Inside one?" Mu Sheng scratched his head, finding the dream strange. His own experience in the cave shared uncanny similarities with Li En's, yet he remembered nothing. Qian Wanyu raised an eyebrow, "How did you know you were in an ice coffin?" Li En paused at this question, "Just a feeling, that someone lay within it, and that person—was me." Eagerly, Dongfang Minghui pressed on, "And then?" Li En smiled slightly at her, recalling the bizarre dream with furrowed brows, "I awoke atop the snow mountain, nearly blinded by the snow, and was knocked down by something massive, eventually climbing out of the snow." Dongfang Minghui already knew the rest. "During the avalanche, you must have been high on the mountain and were pushed down by those large snowballs," Qian Wanyu sympathized. "Have you considered that what you thought was a dream might not have been?" Li En nodded honestly, "I have." The possibility made it eerier, leaving everyone exchanging puzzled looks. "Li En, do you remember if you had your bow and arrows in the dream?" "Of course," Li En replied, his attachment to his weapons evident. Upon waking, he regretted finding his hands empty, clueless about their disappearance. Dongfang Minghui grinned, "Seventh Sister." Qian Wanyu retrieved the bow and arrows from her space, handing them back, "We found these in the cave you stayed in." "Take better care of them next time. Losing them again might not be easily recoverable," Dongfang Minghui advised. "Thank you, Shaman." Qian Wanyu huffed, displeased. "If you went back to where your dream led, could you find the way?" "Back to that place?" Li En puzzledly asked. "Yes, to verify if there truly is an ice coffin and who lies within it," Qian Wanyu smiled slyly, "Don't you want to solve the enigma that's troubling you?" To Dongfang Minghui, Seventh Sister's smile seemed mischievous. Li En hesitated. "Who's there? Stop sneaking around and come out!" Wu Ya suddenly shouted, her fireball scorching the snow, forcing hidden figures to reveal themselves. --- A reader might say the plot is confusing—need an explanation? Alright, let me clarify: Elven Tribe—Merfolk—Mysterious Village—Fallen Dragon Valley—Auction. Visiting the Merfolk was for rescuing Wei Junlan, entirely her side story, but crucial later on. Understand? Encountering the Qiang Lansong people, stumbling into a village, meeting a false dragon, acquiring a map. Understand? Going to the Fallen Dragon Valley was to change Uncle's fate, uncovering events from twenty years ago, and laying seeds for the Ten-thousand Beasts Tribe's betrayal. Meanwhile, Wu Ya gained wisdom, acquiring the dragon's hiding place, and Seventh Sister grasped reincarnation, eventually mastering phantom skills. The auction was to unravel Seventh Sister's family secret and the blood oath and relate to the Dragon Tribe. Understand? If not, it's my limited skills to blame. I can only write as per the outline, lacking grand, atmospheric storytelling.