222 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

Chapter 222 – Familiarity As the map was finally completed, the old man urgently tried to retrieve the Eye of Truth, yet Qian Wanyu intercepted him. Toothless reclaimed the dragon pill and retaliated, trapping the wounded in a circle of flames. Amidst consecutive avalanches and the indestructible golden flames, their fear grew, reducing them to timid turtles. Only after Dongfang Minghui completed her sketches did she notice that Seventh Sister and Toothless had effortlessly subdued the group, their speed astonishing. She checked her drawings repeatedly, realized the path they had taken was correct, and that they were now at the foot of the Ice Lotus Mountain. This only further proved the group's deep scheming nature, making it difficult to discern the fake Eye of Truth from the real one. "You are truly untrustworthy," the old man said, his wrinkled face reflecting rage and an already gaunt appearance becoming even more grotesque. Qian Wanyu smirked sarcastically. "Don't rush, authenticating the Eye of Truth is still unfinished. I always verify things repeatedly because being deceived many times taught me to be cautious. This matter of cooperation is substantial enough that I need to confirm things." "What do you mean?" "My understanding of the Eye of Truth might be more extensive than yours. If it gets tainted by someone's blood, it can help find their closest kin, making it remarkably intuitive." With that, Qian Wanyu bit her finger, flicking a blood droplet into the Eye of Truth. Its clear gaze tainted with blood became somewhat frightening, resembling blood tears, evoking both misery and compassion. This mirrored the fake Eye of Truth closely, yet lacked its previous terror. "My mother happens to be within a hundred miles. If this is the legendary Eye of Truth, it should soon help me find my mischievous mother." "You—" Qian Wanyu threw the Eye of Truth into the air again, and its eye reverted to clarity, having absorbed Seventh Sister's blood entirely, though how it did so remained a mystery. Mu Sheng's eyes widened as he nudged Minghui, who was watching intently, and quietly asked, "Is what Wanyu said true? Can it really find someone?" Dongfang Minghui looked at him blankly, scratching her head. Seventh Sister’s words should be true; otherwise, why would they need the Eye of Truth to find her father? "Sigh—" "What's the use of sighing? The Eye of Truth is moving. Let's follow it." Floating in the air, the Eye of Truth rotated a full 360 degrees before halting in the northwest direction, the very path Qian mama mentioned they should take separately. Qian Wanyu was astounded, maintaining a calm demeanor as she followed the Eye, subtly using her spirit power to sustain it in the air. "Utter nonsense, you're just using this as an excuse to take the Eye of Truth," the old man crazily attacked from behind, but was lightly blocked by Toothless, who disdainfully pointed at the black mist surrounding him. "Don't show such disgusting things; do you think I'm really afraid of you? The Eye was auctioned to us. If it's genuine, it should rightfully be ours. We are simply validating its authenticity, and once determined, it will be returned to you." "I don't believe you." "Stubborn old fool, refusing a toast only to drink forfeit," growled Toothless, irritation flaring as she unleashed a surge of flames, carving a deep mark into the ground. This resulted in violent shaking and snowballs rolling from the Ice Lotus Mountain. "Heavens, stop," Dongfang Minghui shouted as the ground quaked, nearly toppling over. Steadying herself, she yelled at them, "Do you want to be buried alive by the avalanche?" Toothless pouted in grievance, "It's not my fault; he keeps provoking." The snowballs frightened even the old man, the trembling ground leaving psychological scars. "Remember, in the Ice Lotus Mountain, avoid loud noises and fights; otherwise, don't follow us up," Dongfang Minghui warned sternly. "Yes, Priestess." Qian Wanyu waited for the ground to stabilize before speaking, "If you're worried, you can follow us. Once we find my mother, the item will be returned to you." "Ah." Don't return it, right? The Little Fatty stood with its mouth agape, looking at the floating Eye of Truth, tempted to snatch it if possible. "Ah." Right? Little Bean Sprout nodded in agreement, gently swaying its bud. Dongfang Minghui didn't notice the two little things silently agreeing but was amused by their unexpected harmony. "Seventh Sister, let's hurry; it will be inconvenient after dark." "Mm." With no other choice, the old man glanced at his men trapped and silent in the flames, "Release my people to show goodwill for cooperation." Toothless feigned forgetfulness, "Apologies, I forgot. But they look fragile; my flames are just to keep them warm." The old man twitched at her words; those flames could annihilate souls, warm them? "Toothless, release them." "Alright." Reluctantly, Toothless withdrew her flames, "Don’t blame me when it gets cold." The group followed the Eye of Truth, which led them to a tent corner. Dongfang Minghui quickly rushed over to pull it, but Li En and Mu Sheng soon helped her retrieve the tent buried in the snow. Though buried, the tent was in good condition, only the poles broken, likely from succumbing to the weight during the avalanche and then buried under snow for days. "Looks like Lahan and Cheng Jiang were also buried by the snow." "Ugh—" With Toothless lending a hand, Little Miao managed to pull out another tent corner, its small size requiring help. Seeing the coordinated efforts to recover the tent, Qian Wanyu instructed, "There should be one more tent. We’ll need to search thoroughly because we must ensure warmth during the coming days." Even with full spiritual energy, they couldn't withstand Ice Lotus Mountain's chill. Despite the thorough search, they were unable to locate the last tent. "Let's go." "Seventh Sister, something seems off about this path." Qian Wanyu glanced at the Eye of Truth, murmuring, "The snow's covered the road; perhaps my mother and Uncle tried to circle back for us and lost their way in the snow." Toothless followed behind the old man, playing with a small flame. Though tiny, its heat was noticeable. The old man dared not turn, his eyes carefully scanning the ground. Li En, armed with a bow, guarded the rear with Mu Sheng, aiming vigilantly at the group. The Eye of Truth led them to an empty snowfield, floating silently. The old man, seeing this, was overjoyed, ready to claim the Eye but choked back his words. "Odd, why is there no one here?" "Mother, Uncle." Toothless scanned the area, no signs of life, save for possible caves or hidden shelters. The observant Little Fatty waddled through the snow, leaving footprints on its way forward. "Little Fatty." Qian Wanyu called back her spiritual energy, noticing the Eye had ceased moving, and swiftly pocketed it. "Now that you're here, return the Eye of Truth," the old man, seeing Qian Wanyu hoard it, assumed reluctance to return it and grew agitated. "No, not yet," Qian Wanyu shot him a cold glance. "I advise you, attacking won't benefit you. Moving here can trigger an avalanche, and if you wish to experience the full force of snowballs, be my guest." "Indeed," Toothless added gleefully, "Once an avalanche starts, we'll all be buried." The old man knew well that it was genuine. Earlier, he had merely made a few extra movements and witnessed numerous snowballs rolling down the Ice Lotus Mountain, having already experienced large snowballs crashing around the cave’s entrance. Hence, any rash actions were not advisable. "Ah, ah." Little Fatty held the Tianyin Helmet tightly, moving quickly. It pulled a piece of cloth from the snow’s edge next to a depression, with a slight trace of blood that had long frozen on it, cold to the touch. "Let me see." Relying on her excellent memory, Qian Wanyu quickly identified the fabric as a part of Zhi Lan's clothing. "Seventh Sister, whose clothing is this from?" "Sister Zhi Lan's," Qian Wanyu replied. Mu Sheng also quickly recognized it. Since Uncle often sought Qian Yiling, he had become familiar with Zhi Lan over time, allowing him to recognize it swiftly. "Have they encountered danger?" Toothless grabbed the fabric, forcefully shook off the snow, and sniffed it lightly. "If she's injured, I can follow the scent of blood to locate them." "Alright." Toothless sniffed the air, turned, and quickly darted in another direction. Qian Wanyu didn’t rush to follow, but stood scanning the area. Dongfang Minghui thought she was worried about her mother, and softly reassured her, "Seventh Sister, with Mother and Uncle's skills, ordinary people wouldn't easily hurt them." The worst scenario might be them being temporarily buried by the snow. Dongfang Minghui racked her brain to find comforting words for Seventh Sister, but realized she wasn't particularly adept at it. Qian Wanyu, noticing her troubled expression, patiently explained, "I’m wondering, in such a critical moment, if I were Mother, where would I choose to hide?" "Huh?" "After giving it much thought, underground is probably safer," Qian Wanyu said directly. "This place is higher than where we came from. During an avalanche, the snowballs would be too forceful; digging a hole beyond reach isn't feasible, so they must have headed to higher ground." Dongfang Minghui, following behind Seventh Sister, raised her head and indeed noticed a spot higher than the rest; however, beneath it was an expansive frozen river. "It’s not there." "Hmm?" Qian Wanyu calculated based on the timing of the avalanches they experienced, "That location could have been Mother and Uncle’s initial hiding place." Like them, as they had exited the cave, a second wave of snow had caught them unprepared. Maybe Mother and Uncle had attempted to return to find them, but since the tents were snow-buried, they— Could they have met Lahan and Cheng Jiang? "Hey—" Toothless shouted abruptly, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Startled, she stopped shouting and gestured for the others to come. Holding hands, Qian Wanyu guided the others quickly toward Toothless, asking, "What did you find?" Toothless gestured, having melted the snow revealing a hole just big enough for one person to enter. "I'm certain the scent of blood leads here; perhaps your mother and the others are inside." Glancing at the hole, Qian Wanyu replied, "I’ll go down and have a look. You all wait here." "No," Dongfang Minghui and the old man protested almost simultaneously, both worried for different reasons. She feared for Seventh Sister's safety below, while he worried she might escape with the Eye of Truth. Qian Wanyu produced the Eye of Truth and tossed it to the old man, saying, "Alright, it’s yours now. Any more objections?" The old man inspected the Eye of Truth cautiously, seemingly worried they had swapped it with a fake. Seeing his cautious demeanor, everyone felt annoyed. Dongfang Minghui mockingly remarked, "You've got your device, seen the map, now you can leave." "Ah, young lady, that’s not a polite way to..." he began, wanting to lecture, but nobody paid him any heed. Qian Wanyu whispered, "Hold them off for me, Seventh Sister; I'll be back shortly." Dongfang Minghui, turning her fierce gaze on the old man, anxiously clung to Qian Wanyu's sleeve, "Seventh Sister, I’ll stay here, but I suggest taking Little Color with you to pull you up if needed." "Unnecessary," Qian Wanyu replied. With that, she deftly slipped into the hole. Once Qian Wanyu disappeared, Dongfang Minghui turned to the old man, "What are you staring at?" Little Fatty approached the hole, eager to go down, but Toothless dragged it back. "She won’t be long. Why make things busy?" Toothless guessed right; Qian Wanyu soon emerged, carrying an unconscious individual, followed closely by Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan. "Ninth Sister." "Sister Zhi Lan." "Mhm." Dongfang Minghui hurriedly examined the injuries, instructing, "Seventh Sister, set up the tent to shield her from the wind, lay down the bedding, and let Sister Zhi Lan lie down." Mu Sheng and Li En quickly erected the tent once more, although with broken frames, it was less spacious and stable, swaying dangerously in the wind. But at this moment, no one had time to worry about it. After setting up, Qian Wanyu let Little Fatty warm the cold bedding with its body. Zhi Lan was already unconscious, her complexion paler than the snow. Dongfang Minghui checked her weak pulse, cleared the tent of men, leaving Toothless, Seventh Sister, and Qian Yiling inside. Without delay, she opened Zhi Lan's clothes, discovering the worst injury was a diagonal wound on her back, approximately thirty to forty centimeters long. "Mother, who ambushed her from behind?" A vicious strike intended to end her life. "Zhi Lan shielded me, bearing the brunt," Qian Yiling explained. "I see." Noticing Qian Yiling’s fatigue, Qian Wanyu gently patted her shoulder. "Mother, I’ve got this. You should rest if you find it hard to watch." Qian Yiling shook her head, "Those three weren't true Night Fox people. They followed us to seize the map." Qian Wanyu embraced her lightly, "Are those two dead?" "No, during the fight, earthquakes struck, and with Zhi Lan severely injured, your uncle and I hid here temporarily." She planned to search for them once it was safer outside, but Zhi Lan’s injuries had worsened, delaying them until now. "Ah, so that’s how it happened," Dongfang Minghui murmured. "Little Nine, has Zhi Lan's condition changed?" "Yes," Dongfang Minghui had always found it strange why Sister Zhi Lan’s body temperature was so low. Finally, the culprit was identified as ice elements causing her injury. Thanks to her experience, she recognized the particular suffering caused by ice-type wounds. Previously considered a result of low ambient temperatures, the real reason unraveled after gentle probing revealed ice shards within. "Mother, did you identify their weapons?" "An ice blade." "Indeed." This simplified things considerably. Dongfang Minghui swiftly removed the ice shards from Zhi Lan's body, causing blood to gush and splatter onto her face, but the blood was no longer icy cold. Without missing a beat, Dongfang Minghui requested, "Seventh Sister, pass me the special concoction I recently made." Qian Wanyu promptly handed her a porcelain bottle, wiped the blood from her face with her sleeve, and steadied her. "Need cloth and alcohol?" "Yes." Their seamless collaboration was so natural and harmonious. Qian Yiling, while deeply concerned for Zhi Lan—who had been with her for a long time and taken a deadly blow for her—was momentarily distracted by their display of mutual understanding and care. Though aware of their affection, this was her first encounter with such closeness between same-sex partners. Intrigued, she quietly observed. "Seventh Sister, have Little Fatty come lie with Sister Zhi Lan for a bit." "You mean as a companion?" Companion? That term sounded novel from Seventh Sister. Dongfang Minghui blinked, feigning seriousness, "Seventh Sister, Little Fatty might object unless you bribe it properly." Dongfang Minghui considered using snow or alcohol to raise Zhi Lan’s body temperature but deemed these ineffective amid the icy conditions, opting instead for the warmth of a living heater to heat the bedding. And she was right. Qian Wanyu, calling Little Fatty over and explaining the situation, watched as it blinked its round eyes, refusing the offered elixirs. "Little Fatty, how about two elixirs?" Little Bean Sprout’s bud nodded back and forth, as if saying—No way. "Three stalks?" Dongfang Minghui offered. After treating Zhi Lan's wounds, she suggested, "Let Little White Ball come out and lie next to Sister Zhi Lan; its body temperature is very high." Seeing Little Fatty's stubborn refusal, Qian Wanyu sighed, "We’ll have to do that then." Just as she was about to put away the spirit medicines, Little Fatty snatched them away, stuffing them into its mouth while burrowing into the bedding, placing the Tianyin Helmet in the center of the bed. Dongfang Minghui shook her head, "Little Fatty, you can't leave Little Bean Sprout there." Qian Wanyu understood suddenly, realizing Little Fatty was being shrewd and bargaining with her in its own way. She offered, "How about placing Little Bean Sprout with me? I’ll take good care of it." Little Bean Sprout, initially nodding, went still upon hearing this. Suddenly, Little Fatty climbed up from the bedding, hugging the Tianyin Helmet tightly, looking wary. Dongfang Minghui couldn’t help but roll her eyes. "Alright, Little Fatty, lie back down. Little Bean Sprout is yours, no one is taking it from you. You’ve let the warmth escape already." "Ah ah, promise kept." "Yes, yes, now go lie back down." Only then did Little Fatty obediently lie down, setting the Tianyin Helmet beside its head, staring intently at the ancient patterns on the helmet. "Sister Zhi Lan will be fine, but it depends on her recovery. It’s best for her to rest today; if she doesn’t develop a fever overnight, she’ll likely wake up tomorrow." Having said this, Dongfang Minghui prepared to step outside for some fresh air—space was cramped with so many people, making it feel stuffy. Qian Yiling, keeping watch inside, remembered something and quickly called them back. "Big Brother scratched his arm accidentally. Little Nine, could you take a look?" "Sure." Dongfang Minghui had never had the chance to approach Uncle Wood in her capacity as an apothecary. Now instructed by her mother, she was eager, as Uncle Wood was the only surviving and sane zombie, valuable for study. His case was more valuable than any. Seeing her eyes glow with excitement, Qian Wanyu teased, "Happy?" Dongfang Minghui pursed her lips, quickly tempering her smile. "Seventh Sister, if I tell you, promise you won’t be mad." "Silly, without your heartless self-sacrifice before, Uncle wouldn't be here today. If you want to ask him questions, go ahead." "Wise as ever, Seventh Sister." Qian Wanyu playfully pinched her nose before accompanying her to find Qian Ziyan. Qian Ziyan, standing by the frozen river with the giant iron box on his back as always, turned upon hearing footsteps. Seeing the two of them, he asked, "How’s Zhi Lan?" "If she doesn’t get a fever today, she’ll wake up tomorrow." "That’s good." Noticing they hadn’t left, Qian Ziyan asked, "Is there something else?" "Mother mentioned your arm got injured." "Uncle Wood, I’d like to examine it thoroughly," Dongfang Minghui requested eagerly. Though initially inclined to refuse, Qian Ziyan extended his arm on seeing Dongfang Minghui's hopeful expression. "It’s not serious, but since you're concerned, please check for any further issues." Qian Ziyan presented his arm, revealing a noticeable red mark around his wrist, resembling a red line that seemed familiar. She frowned, reaching out to touch it, "Uncle, when did you get this mark?" Previously, except for the scar where Green Star accidentally nicked his arm, there was nothing— Her words stalled; the scar had inexplicably disappeared. "What is it?" Qian Wanyu asked, curious about her odd expression. "Uncle, when did the scar on your arm vanish?" "Scar?" Qian Ziyan was even more surprised than Qian Wanyu. "What scar? Since I awoke, aside from this mysterious red line on my wrist, there have been no scars." Dongfang Minghui rubbed her head, questioning her own memory—was it faulty? She examined the wound again, more astonished to find, "The wound doesn’t seem severe." The wound bore similarities to Zhi Lan's—large and scratched—but Uncle’s injury had mostly healed. "Uncle, your body’s recovery seems exceptionally strong. Did you consume something special?" "No," Qian Ziyan replied. "Alright." Leaving with a head full of ponderings, Dongfang Minghui's demeanor showed deep thought. Qian Wanyu remarked, "Uncle, there’s something else I must tell you." Qian Ziyan lowered his sleeve, glanced at those vigilantly guarded by Toothless, and asked, "Is there news on the Eye of Truth?" "Yes. The Eye of Truth in that man’s possession is authentic. I used the method you taught me; it led us here, helping us find you." "Astonishing." Satisfied with the exchange, Qian Ziyan asked a few more questions before they concluded the conversation. --- Meanwhile, Dongfang Minghui, distracted, nearly bumped into Li En who was looking for her. "Priestess, what’s wrong?" Dongfang Minghui mulled over the costs of a dead returning to normal, pondering why Uncle Wood recovered so well—was it merely her blood, or was it something intrinsic sparking vitality anew? "Could my blood not only resurrect but also rejuvenate from the inside out?" she wondered aloud. "You're overthinking it," Little Color interrupted cynically in her mental sea. Dongfang Minghui reluctantly acknowledged the possibility, "Still, do you recall Uncle Wood’s old scar?" Back when Green Star cut a piece of flesh from Uncle Wood’s wrist while he was in a necrotic state, leaving an ugly scar that seemed irreparable. Unexpectedly, in the years since, not only did Uncle regain sanity, but the body had rejuvenated—the deathly odor gone, recovery exceeding normal human speed. In mere days, the wound had healed, leaving only a red mark. "Oddly enough, the red mark on Uncle's wrist resembles the whisker given by the Child Saint Body Elder," she mused. Mentioning the whisker made Dongfang Minghui wince. The precious relic, able to regenerate, could save many lives, yet... "Little Color, do you remember what happened to that little radish?" "No idea." "Had I known, I'd have tied it up with a red string," she lamented. "Priestess, are you alright?" Li En called her back to the present after many unanswered calls finally broke through her distraction. Only half-focused, Dongfang Minghui returned his smile, "Li En, did you need something from me?" Li En beamed broadly, showing eight bright white teeth. "Ninth Sister." "Seventh Sister, done talking with Uncle?" "Yes, Seventh Sister wants to ask you something, come with me." Qian Wanyu led her aside, finding a quieter spot for a private conversation. "I couldn’t help but notice you seem preoccupied. Is something wrong with Uncle?" Dongfang Minghui struggled to articulate. "Uncle's improvement is indeed positive. Maybe he's had a peculiar encounter, though it's odd given he's been a zombie for over ten years. But you saw, Seventh Sister, his healing is excellent." "Since returning to the Qian family, Uncle has had no special experiences," Qian Wanyu confirmed. "You can verify that with Mu Sheng; he knows as well." "Then it makes even less sense." Every effect has a cause, yet this enigma remained unsolvable—a frustrating puzzle. "Solving Uncle's mystery could help in treating future zombies. If only," she lamented her lack of progress. "We’ll take it slow, no rush." Qian Wanyu reassured her with a head pat, "Once Zhi Lan stabilizes, we can head to the Ice Lotus Mountain." "To the summit Li En mentioned?" "If it’s convenient, we’ll make the trip." Dongfang Minghui eyed her curiously, "Seventh Sister, are you suspicious of—Li En?" "Dear Minghui, Big Brother requests your presence; seems Zhi Lan's condition isn’t improving." "Alright." The sudden interruption made Dongfang Minghui forget her previous thoughts as she hurried into the tent with Mu Sheng. Little Fatty had vacated the bedding, obediently sitting alongside Little Bean Sprout. She reached out, shivering at the surprising warmth. "Men, please exit." Seeing her struggles, Qian Wanyu helped turn Zhi Lan, revealing reddened wounds beneath the initially applied medicines. Dongfang Minghui muttered to herself, "This is indeed troublesome." Qian Yiling waited anxiously on the side, tempted to speak up several times. But seeing how busy Dongfang Minghui was with pills and ointments, she held back until everything was sorted. “Little Nine, how is Zhi Lan doing now?” “She's been hanging on for quite some time,” Dongfang Minghui replied, leaning back against a comforting presence behind her. “Mother, do you know if Uncle has had any unusual encounters lately?” The topic shift came abruptly, leaving Qian Wanyu momentarily taken aback. She gently ruffled Dongfang Minghui's hair. “If you’re tired, lean against Seventh Sister and take a rest. I’ll watch over Zhi Lan.” Qian Yiling, puzzled by the question, asked, “Has something happened with your brother?” “Mother, don’t overthink it. Little Nine is just puzzled about something.” “Oh.” “The wounds on Uncle’s hand have completely healed,” Qian Wanyu added. Moments later, the sound of steady breathing was coming from Dongfang Minghui. Qian Wanyu made a shushing gesture toward Qian Yiling. Seeing her daughter’s gentle care, holding and soothing Dongfang Minghui, Qian Yiling felt a warmth unique to their moments together and quietly left the tent, giving them privacy. “Little Fatty, come here.” Qian Wanyu retrieved some blankets from her space, and Little Fatty, being clever, helped spread them out. It even rolled around in them for a while, indulging in the warmth, before looking at Dongfang Minghui with its wide, curious eyes. “This isn’t your sleeping spot.” She wasn’t oblivious to how Little Fatty had once nudged Toothless to squeeze Dongfang Minghui between them on her absence. Once might be an accident, twice wouldn’t be permitted. “You can sleep here, but in return, Little Bean Sprout stays with me. I noticed there’s a river outside. That Tianyin Helmet of yours is filthy; it’s time for a good wash.” Little Bean Sprout stood at attention. The Tianyin Helmet even rose on its own. With alarm, Little Fatty snatched up the helmet, its dark eyes full of suspicion. Qian Wanyu gently tucked the sleeping Dongfang Minghui into the warmth that Little Fatty had created, as she peacefully curled up and drifted off. Qian Wanyu settled nearby, checking on Zhi Lan every incense stick’s worth of time. The night passed quietly, with snow and wind lasting until morning. They shared the tent cosily with Little Fatty. The others huddled together in the other tent, spending the night without trouble. "Young Mistress." "Zhi Lan, you're awake." Qian Wanyu first checked her pulse, then felt her forehead. These actions, learned from Dongfang Minghui, she executed with impressive accuracy. "Do you feel strong enough to sit up?" "Yes." Zhi Lan lay prone, her arms supporting herself as she rose. Qian Wanyu quickly assisted. "Mother was very worried about you, watching over you constantly." "Lady needn't worry. Zhi Lan considers herself fortunate to still be alive and see you." "Zhi Lan." Hearing her voice, Qian Yiling, overcome with excitement, raised her voice slightly. Dongfang Minghui, startled from sleep, sat up dazedly, taking a moment to comprehend Zhi Lan was indeed awake, and rushed to check her over. "Sister Zhi Lan’s injuries are manageable," assured Dongfang Minghui. However, as an apothecary, she disagreed with continuing up the Ice Lotus Mountain. Healing needed rest, and the uncertain dangers ahead were worrisome. But they had to care for an ailing person. "I’ll treat her gradually during the journey." This was her promise. After a few more hours of rest, the group set off for the Ice Lotus Mountain, moving cautiously due to the patient among them. Having learned something of the snow mountain’s challenges, Qian Wanyu’s group wisely avoided traveling by night. In twilight, blizzards could easily transform unwary travellers into snow-bound figures, and visibility posed serious navigational risks. Thus, come evening, they would dig hollows in which to shelter from the elements. That day, they dug a deep pit and tidied up the area for rest. Dongfang Minghui cradled Little Fatty in her arms, the living warmer. Little Fatty snuggled on her lap, adjusting its temperature, clutching Little Bean Sprout. Mu Sheng looked on enviously, shivering in the cold air. "If you’re envious, you could hold Little Miao," Qian Ziyan suggested. Mu Sheng glanced between Little Fatty and Little Miao, quickly turning into a curled-up ninja turtle. At nightfall, silence reigned. Snow floated down outside, everyone engaged in their cultivation. Li En suddenly opened his eyes, rising swiftly to leap out of their pit. The others were instantly alert. Qian Wanyu exchanged glances with Toothless and quickly followed, tracking Li En as he vanished into the swirling snow. "Follow him. He might lead us to the ice coffin he mentioned before. Caution, this Ice Lotus Mountain is perilous," Qing Mo hesitated in their mental connection. "Understood." Li En moved swiftly up the mountain, and Qian Wanyu shadowed him. The blustering snow impaired her vision, and she risked losing his trail. Several times her footing slipped dangerously close to losing balance down the icy slope. "He’s familiar with this mountain," she realized.