224 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

# Chapter 224: Patterns (1) "It's Toothless." "Minghui, don't go out." Upon hearing Toothless's dragon roar, Dongfang Minghui dashed towards the outside, disregarding the warning. Little Fatty closely followed, even faster than Mu Sheng. Boom— Li En and Mu Sheng, chasing right behind her, didn't have time to get out through the gap before a powerful force slammed them into the wall. Li En protected his head with his right hand, but was still left dizzy and disoriented. "Shaman." By the time they got out, Dongfang Minghui's figure was nowhere to be seen. The footprints in the snow were quickly covered by fresh snow, and a wave of snowballs rolled towards them. Mu Sheng pulled him back into the crevice just in time. The ground shook violently, as if the entire Ice Lotus Mountain might collapse, and small stones tumbled down from the crevice, rolling to their feet. Qian Yiling barely managed to keep her footing. "Don't panic yet. The mountain's shaking like this is probably because of that dragon roar." Li En was still worried. "But, the Shaman—" "Minghui is definitely going to find Toothless." "If you two go out now, you'll be scattered all over and unable to help each other," Qian Yiling worriedly glanced at the eight people lying on the ground. "Besides, if they wake up suddenly, they'll surely cause trouble." Mu Sheng smacked his forehead in frustration. In hindsight, he realized his actions had been reckless and that he had left things unresolved. He looked at Li En and said, "Minghui has Little Color with her; she won't fall off Ice Lotus Mountain. Besides, Little Fatty is with her too." At that moment, Dongfang Minghui was hanging on the side of Ice Lotus Mountain. Fortunately, Little Color's vines reacted quickly, or she would have been pushed all the way down by the snowballs. The vine held both of them mid-air. "Use some strength yourself," Little Color grumbled, seeing Little Fatty trying to grab on but unable, as one of its hands was occupied with holding Little Beansprout. Dongfang Minghui found it hard to gain a foothold because the mountain wall was slick with a thick layer of ice. Attempting to grab or find a stable footing often only led to slipping further downwards. Little Color, exasperated, expended great effort—like lifting a mountain—to pull the two of them up slowly. Dongfang Minghui looked down at the steep, uncharted white abyss below and patted her chest in relief, only to be startled again by sudden shakes of the mountain. Little Fatty imitated her gesture, patting its small chest with the other free hand, still frightened. "Little Fatty, you often stay with Toothless, can you find her?" "Toothless probably chased someone to the summit; otherwise, the dragon roar wouldn't have echoed above. Look for her at the top," Little Color suggested, somewhat dismissively. "If Toothless has been forced into her true form, there's nothing you could do even if you were there." Dongfang Minghui knew she was overestimating herself, yet couldn't overcome the obstacle in her heart. "Ah." Little Fatty started climbing upwards first, pressing against the mountain wall to avoid rolling snowballs. Their progress was difficult as they moved against the wind and snow. As they continued uphill, the wind and snow only grew more biting, and Dongfang Minghui's clothes were soaked through, leaving her feeling as if she were turning to ice. --- Qian Wanyu and Qian Ziyan chased a shadow off the mountain, only to realize they'd fallen for a diversion. Afterward, they too heard the dragon's roar and avoided an avalanche of snowballs just in time. Both were swift-footed and returned to the crevice to check on the others, learning that Dongfang Minghui had gone to find Toothless. Qian Wanyu then hurried alone to the summit, finding what looked like a snowman and embracing it with some fury. "Do you know what your actions are called?" Dongfang Minghui shivered violently, her lips were purple from the cold, and her chattering teeth prevented her from speaking. Qian Wanyu's tone was anything but pleasant as she began warming her with spiritual energy, expelling moisture from her wet clothes with a sigh, "Do you ever consider how I would feel, with you not taking care of yourself?" "Seventh Sister." Dongfang Minghui's tongue finally untangled from her teeth, "Toothless, Toothless is up there." Though the roar ceased, she remembered Toothless was still young and inexperienced compared to the ancient dragons, which left her worried beyond measure. No matter how much Toothless grows, she would always remain the little companion from her childhood in Minghui's heart, someone constant to worry about. Qian Wanyu nearly voiced something childish, like asking who was more important, Toothless or herself. Instead, she draped her robe over Dongfang Minghui's shoulders and urged her along, "If you want to move, do it quickly. At your pace, it will be dawn before you know it." Dongfang Minghui considered handing back the robe but refrained when she saw the tense and serious expression on her sister's face. She sensed Seventh Sister's anger—extreme anger. Several times, Dongfang Minghui was nearly tripped by the hurried pace, while the person in front did not even glance back, an indication of her deep vexation. "I was worried when you all went out." Worried for Toothless, and worried for you. Qian Wanyu listened without acknowledgment, her lips a thin line as she led them along. As Dongfang Minghui's voice faltered, the conversation ceased, leaving her tense and bewitched. She remembered from past experience that coaxing Seventh Sister out of her genuine anger was extremely difficult. She signaled Little Fatty trailing behind with her eyes multiple times, but it just responded with exaggerated winks and nods, clearly misunderstanding her intentions. It seemed hopeless to rely on that. Thus, she abandoned the idea of Little Fatty intervening. The three arrived at Ice Lotus Mountain's summit, amidst the howling wind and snow, not a soul was visible. "If Toothless isn't here, where could she have gone?" Qian Wanyu took her around the summit, examining the scattered ice shards and obscured footprints. Even beneath the snow, she managed to spot two shallow prints, distinct yet faint. "Toothless was here, but it seems she's moved on." "But we didn't meet her on the way." "It's not surprising." Though there appeared to be only one way down, who knew if there were hidden paths or gaps leading down the mountain? Dongfang Minghui realized Toothless, being a dragon, could fly. "Could Toothless have descended the mountain already?" "Possibly." "Seventh Sister, let's head down then." Qian Wanyu shook her head, not taking her down immediately. Instead, she brought her back to the cave Li En had ventured into twice. The cave was unchanged, but there seemed to be more ice stalactites than before. "Do you notice anything?" Dongfang Minghui was perplexed, unsure of what her sister was referring to. She glanced around curiously and remarked, "This seems like a good place to shelter from the storm. Hey, Seventh Sister, look, there are even fruit here." Vividly colored fruits lay like artwork, bright and enticing, yet making it hard to discern if they were genuine. Encased in ice atop a platform, they added a lively hue to the austere cave. Little Fatty, spotting the fruits, climbed up eagerly, placing its small sonic helmet on the pedestal. Eyes gleaming with desire, it left an imprint on the thick ice with its hand, which promptly fogged up white, echoing the icebound fruit beside it. Dongfang Minghui couldn't help but cover her face, exasperated by Little Fatty's tendency to drool over everything despite knowing what could or couldn't be eaten. "Be careful, Little Fatty." "Fruit in Ice Lotus Mountain? Li En searched high and low and found nothing to eat," Dongfang Minghui mused, curiously releasing Qian Wanyu's hand to explore deeper, stumbling upon an icy coffin. "Seventh Sister!" Only then did she recall Li En's dream, "Seventh Sister, is this the ice coffin Li En spoke of in his dream?" Qian Wanyu, following unhurriedly, found her mind brimming with a sense of something overlooked. As they moved, each detail seemed more significant, sharpening her vigilance. "Seventh Sister, can the ice coffin be opened?" "No." Initially, Qian Wanyu thought her Ninth Sister wouldn't have the strength to open the lid, but as her gaze settled, inside was a figure vaguely seen through the icy depths—a presence hidden before. Could it be Li En? Dongfang Minghui was clearly oblivious to the true nature of the situation and pushed against the icy coffin, which didn’t budge at all. "Don't open—" Just as Qian Wanyu issued her warning, the lid of the ice coffin unexpectedly moved on its own. With all her force behind it, Dongfang Minghui found herself collapsing straight into the coffin, coming face to face with the man inside. The man with thick eyebrows and large eyes suddenly patted the base of the coffin and leapt up, the lid whirling thrice in the air before he kicked it toward Qian Wanyu. Dongfang Minghui's hand scraped along the edge of the ice coffin, leaving her bewildered and startled from the cold touch, causing her to finally come to her senses. As she stood, she noticed another smaller coffin hidden nearby, but her curiosity was quelled by the unsettling events. Qian Wanyu's water thunder whip snapped through the air as she engaged the man in midair combat. "Ah." Little Fatty was trying to squeeze some fruit when it looked up to see the two figures streaking past, shattering icicles from the cave's roof, which began raining down. The cave shook, and Dongfang Minghui fell heavily to the ground, narrowly avoiding a sharp icicle that sliced through the air just an inch from her head. Looking up, she saw the once-stable icicles were now crashing down one by one, thick and long enough to embed themselves into the ground. "Little Fatty, get out!" "Ah, I still haven’t gotten anything to eat." Little Fatty reluctantly glanced back once more before grabbing the sonic helmet and scrambling out of the cave, tumbling onto the snow-covered mountain summit. Dongfang Minghui found herself constrained amidst the fight; the man seemed to be holding back, as if reluctant to destroy the items inside the cave. It struck her that perhaps he was the owner of the ice coffin. With no time to ponder, Qian Wanyu's whip lashed the air next to her, prompting Dongfang Minghui to vault out of the cave, mimicking Little Fatty's sidled movements, to finally leap back onto the mountain summit. Seeing her escape, Qian Wanyu focused entirely on the person before her. "Who are you?" "And who are you?" The whip's reach inadvertently ruined some objects in the cave, prompting the man to suggest, "This cave is too narrow. Let's take this outside." "Alright." Qian Wanyu agreed readily, stepping out of the cave. As soon as she landed, the man nonchalantly smiled before leaping from the narrow ledge into the void below. "Ah—Seventh Sister, he, he—" Dongfang Minghui ran to the cliff edge, dumbfounded. Surrounding them was a vast emptiness, so even a falling stone would go unnoticed, let alone a person disappearing without a trace. Qian Wanyu's grip tightened around the handle of her water thunder whip, her expression dark. "Why did he jump, Seventh Sister?" "He didn't jump to fall; he escaped." Dongfang Minghui thought she heard her sister grinding her teeth and turned back to see that, aside from her grim expression, Seventh Sister seemed fine. Qian Wanyu stood still for half an incense stick’s time, quickly regaining composure. "Let’s go." Astonished, Dongfang Minghui still had many questions, but now was not the time to ask them. "Little Fatty, we’re leaving." "Ah." Little Fatty kept staring longingly at the caved-in area, prompting another exasperated sigh from Minghui. "This mountain is ice and snow year-round. Who knows what kind of treasures it might harbor?" "There are surely treasures; you’re just too busy traveling to notice," Little Color chimed in with interest upon mentioning treasures. "If you truly want to search, Seventh Sister wouldn’t stop you," Minghui teased, saying, "Afraid of the cold, yet making excuses." Since Dongfang Minghui’s spatial abilities were sealed, she missed her companions like the Pig Fairy Herb. "All the vegetation on Ice Lotus Mountain is dead; I haven’t seen a single living tree. You better stay put, or who will warm you when you get cold?" In contrast, Little Fatty held Little Beansprout, a solely thriving spiritual plant that thrived. It didn't need sunlight; it was fine with any weather or temperature. "Seventh Sister, there’s something I want to discuss with you." "Hmm?" Qian Wanyu paused her descent and slowed her pace, puzzled by the silence behind her. Turning, she saw Minghui biting her lip—anxious, like a bun crumpling under pressure. "What is it about?" "Little Beansprout." Minghui had initially wanted to mention Little Beansprout’s condition, but her resolve faltered when she remembered Seventh Sister’s anger. The words wouldn’t come. The one being discussed perked up its ears, its bud standing straighter than a lamppost, making Little Fatty tread carefully, with light steps. Qian Wanyu glanced at the eager Little Beansprout waving in Little Fatty’s hands. "What is it you want to say, Ninth Sister?" "Uh, I forgot." Minghui bowed her head, averting her gaze from Seventh Sister’s face. Wanyu didn’t push, and the pair remained silent as they retraced their steps to where they'd sheltered from the storm the day before. By then, daylight broke, and the winds had lessened until they faded altogether. "You’re finally back." "Mother." Both greeted in unison, an uncommon synchronicity. Qian Yiling brushed snowflakes from their heads, speaking, “You were gone all night; we were so worried.” Qian Wanyu’s eyes caught sight of Toothless, holding there momentarily. Dongfang Minghui hurriedly checked Toothless from top to bottom, relieved to find her unscathed. "Mother, yesterday we encountered—" "A major storm. Luckily, we found a cave on the summit to shelter in, and we returned once the storm eased." Qian Wanyu filled in seamlessly as if the truth needn’t be known. Yet Li En’s inquisitive gaze upon hearing of a summit cave suggested he wasn’t fully convinced. Uncertain why Seventh Sister concealed the details, Minghui wisely held her tongue and led Toothless away, repeatedly ensuring her safety. “To reach our next destination quickly, let’s refrain from splitting up,” came a rough, hoarse voice from the old man cloaked in ebony, effectively masking them in shadow, offering a sense of secure anonymity. “Everyone is here, so let’s set off.” Nothing untoward occurred thereafter, and during rest, Qian Wanyu seemed to study a terrain map. Surrounding her were Mu Sheng, her mother, and the old man. Glancing at Toothless, Minghui remembered the previous night's events. She pulled her aside. "Toothless, what happened yesterday?" "Nothing notable." Toothless dodged-making eye contact, unable to disguise her flickering gaze, nudging snow with her foot nonchalantly. Minghui peered around, leading her even further from prying ears, "You’re not good at lying. I heard you roaring—it’s not something you do without cause. Especially when Seventh Sister and I encountered a stranger where you fought." She watched Toothless’s eyes avert, confirming her suspicion. "Do you know him, Toothless?" Frustrated by the probing, Toothless snapped, "I don’t." "But you—" "Ninth Sister." Qian Wanyu called from a short distance, beckoning with her hand. Minghui glanced at Toothless, who had already darted off to amuse Little Beansprout next to Little Fatty. She sighed, "Seventh Sister, what’s up?" "We will change our route; a passageway leading to the next mountain has been found." "A passage?" Her ears perked up, confused, prompting an uncertain look. Qian Wanyu instinctively patted her head, whispering, "We'll discuss Toothless later," before speaking louder, "The old man discovered it; he says it crosses the mountain, but warns it's perilous. Stay with me, okay?" "Did you discuss this with Mother and them?" "That’s what we talked about earlier." "Alright, then." Onward they trekked until encountering another crevice before the summit. The old man eagerly bounded ahead, “This must be it.” With his entourage, the old man slipped through the gap first. Qian Wanyu nodded reassuringly, clutching Minghui’s hand. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, revealing the old man and his followers hacking at a corner of the cave wall. "Seventh Sister," Dongfang Minghui murmured, still a bit dazed. She had only been gone for a moment, yet suddenly a secret passage appeared. "How long will this take?" Qian Wanyu pulled her aside, gently patting her arm. "Once we break through this wall, we can proceed." Later, Dongfang Minghui learned in bits and pieces from Mu Sheng that after they knocked everyone unconscious, some of them feigned fainting. They claimed the reason was a sudden, distinct scent, after which everyone collapsed. In his quest to find the cause, the old man turned the resting area upside down and discovered the secret passage when checking a loosened section of the wall. They had even scouted the passage before, discovering it connected with another mountain crevice. For a quicker path and to avoid the harsh weather, everyone discussed and opted for this route, which Dongfang Minghui wasn't very fond of. Being sentimental, she had just gotten used to the icy winds and snow of Ice Lotus Mountain, where both day and night were as bright as midday due to the snow. Transitioning abruptly to a dark and damp passage, she found it quite unsettling. "Seventh Sister, it's pitch dark here." "Mm." Qian Wanyu could see the path clearly and cautiously held Ninth Sister's hand while letting the old man lead his people ahead, partly for exploration and partly to clear the way. Toothless stayed at the back, toying with ten slender, golden flames. Though the fire was faint, it allowed those behind to see droplets above in the passage, accompanied by a faint dripping sound on the moist ground. Both Xiao Miao and Little Fatty attempted to conjure fire; theirs were smaller flames, flickering out almost immediately. Despite numerous tries, only Toothless kept a feeble flame burning. Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan exchanged wary glances, their vigilance apparent. "I think I smell something different," Little Color suddenly announced in Minghui's mind sea. Having only known snow from Ice Lotus Mountain for so long, even the smallest scent was welcome. "I don't smell anything. Why is that?" "Probably because it's still far away." The tunnel’s temperature was considerably higher than outside; apart from the occasional splash from dripping water, most of their clothes remained dry. Little Color, curious, slipped out from beneath her robe's cover unnoticed. Dongfang Minghui, seeing that no one paid it any mind, let it be. "Seventh Sister, do you still have the incense pills I gave you?" "I do." As Qian Wanyu glanced over, her eyes met Minghui's bright ones winking at her. A hand at her waist twitched subtly. Behind them, the old man, ever vigilant, noted the conversation. His ear was attuned to every sound, each movement suspect, the mystery of their previous fainting still unresolved. Though they'd found the passage, why they fainted remained unclear. Dongfang Minghui nudged Seventh Sister’s fingers, urging, "Seventh Sister, I need one." Qian Wanyu retrieved a porcelain vial from her space, offering it to Minghui, but the old man swiftly snatched it, estimating its weight and shaking it to hear several pellets inside—most discernible in the quiet passage. "What are you doing?" Dongfang Minghui glared at the old man, "Grabbing my things—do you covet this treasure of mine?" The path came to a halt, and the people behind, overhearing, assumed the old man was causing trouble again, readying their weapons. Qian Wanyu frowned, clearly displeased, "Old sir, that wasn't very gentlemanly. If you liked it, you could have just asked. Such blatant taking—does it not consider our collaborative relationship?" Collaboration? She scoffed inwardly. If not for wanting to draw out his intentions towards the Dragon Tribe, she'd have rid herself of this old man long ago. "And what do these pills do?" "They attract beasts from miles around, care to try, old sir?" Dongfang Minghui mocked. "If you want a taste, wait until we clear this passage. If beasts come now, we'd have nowhere to flee." A malicious glint passed through the old man's eyes, though his cloak concealed it well. "Hey, Minghui, pass on that you mustn’t rest; get through the tunnel quickly," Little Color's anxious voice screeched in her mind. It informed her about branching paths ahead, each with a stench of corruption. Minghui surreptitiously shared the intel with Seventh Sister via their twin cultivation link. Qian Wanyu's expression remained unchanged. "Keep the vial, old sir, a gift from us. Please continue to lead the way toward the Dragon Tribe." With that, their pace quickened. Little Color’s vines split into three, venturing down each tunnel branch. Time raced by; Dongfang Minghui grew weary, mentally comparing herself against Zhi Lan and Mu Sheng. Yet, despite fatigue, they stayed silent, and so did Wanyu. "Hold on, there seems to be a fork here." "Yeah." Little Color cursed incessantly in Minghui’s mind as its exploration across the three branches did not cease. "Had I known, the snowy wild outside would've been preferable." Shortcuts often accompany danger and high risk. Minghui rolled her eyes at the hindsight wisdom. Having walked all day, these remarks served no purpose now—Seventh Sister surely had a reason for choosing this path. "Miss Qian, which way do you think we should go?" "What do you suggest, old sir?" Playing the question back like a volley. "Which path, Little Color?" "None are good," Little Color grouched, retracting its vines. "This place is riddled with traps; one misstep, and you're all done for." Minghui turned serious. "Did you see anything?" The vine ends came back rotten; Little Color snapped them off, grimacing in pain. "To the left, there's intense Light spiritual energy, deceptively soothing. But beyond it lies a swarm of carnivorous bugs, fattened and exuding grease." The vine had escaped, barely avoiding being devoured. "Intense light—" That ruled out the left path, as Qian Wanyu’s dark spiritual energy clashing with light spelled disaster, not to mention the swarm’s threat to her and Mu Sheng, both Wood spiritualists. "What about the second?" "Odd—a mountain of bones amassed to the right. Merely stepping in drenches the air in death, rotting my vines.” Little Color snickered at its sacrifice, “If only to save you." Ignoring its muttered grievances, Minghui deemed the right path inadvisable. The old man's people, all Dark spiritualists, would thrive there but overwhelm her group, with potions barely sufficient. "Let's go straight ahead." Silence from Little Color. The old man, sensing the potent aura of death, sinisterly suggested, "Let's take the right path." Qian Wanyu raised an eyebrow, suddenly smiling, "I think the left serves nicely. Shall we?" Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan surveyed the bones in three passages, noting their color variation, except the center being void of bones, seemingly safe. After examination, others concurred, “The left looks better. Why not choose it, old sir?” It would benefit him, certainly, but he couldn't admit that. In a stalemate, sides were taken over road superiority, sparing no mercies in argument. Minghui, fed up with the endless debate avoiding the center, finally interjected, "Let's stop arguing and take the middle." Eyes turned collectively towards her, with the tunnel basking in an unusual quiet. "Why not?" Minghui questioned. The old man smiled, conceding, "The young lady is right; let us proceed down the main road." Qian Wanyu nodded approvingly, "As Ninth Sister suggested, let's break and take the middle." The sudden shift, quickly adopting the alternative, left Minghui pondering their expectation of someone to propose a middle ground—making her the unlucky arbitrator. "Seventh Sister, Little Color said the middle path is also extremely dangerous, too risky for it to even approach." "Don't worry." After a brief rest, as they prepared to take the front path, the old man leading them suddenly found an excuse, "Yesterday, when we fainted, our bodies became weak. It might be better for Miss Qian to lead us for now, and we'll take over after resting a bit more." Sending Seventh Sister to the forefront because of potential danger. "You—" Qian Wanyu gently tugged on her, speaking coolly, "The old gentleman is right. Fatigue isn't suitable for exploration. So, why don't you take the rear, and Toothless, you come to the front with me." Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan exchanged glances before rearranging positions. Soon, the old man found himself last, behind Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan, while Mu Sheng and Zhi Lan swapped to the middle, joining Little Fatty and Xiao Miao. Li En followed closely behind Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui. Toothless let out a cold snort, "We'll finish off this old ghost eventually." At the front junction, the passage widened significantly, accommodating three to five people. The walls on either side were adorned with intricate patterns, ancient and rare. Dongfang Minghui reached out, brushing the surface, finding it cool and rough beneath her fingers. "Seventh Sister, these designs aren’t painted; they’re carved with some tool. Without a closer look, no one would realize this is just a wall. It’s incredibly intricate." Though said nonchalantly, her words struck a chord with Qian Wanyu, who examined their surroundings more closely. The designs stretched forward along the walls, vanishing into the darkness without an apparent end. "Get closer, so I can see clearly," Qing Mo directed in her mind sea. Qian Wanyu habitually embedded a moonstone into the wall, which unexpectedly crumbled into dust. The resulting chime reverberated, lingering eerily. Dongfang Minghui waved her hand in front of Qian Wanyu to regain her attention. "Seventh Sister, what’s with you? You crushed the moonstone." "Crushed?" Wanyu examined the fragments in her palm, their glow dimmed. "Ninth Sister, you mean I did this?" Dongfang Minghui nodded. "Yes, was something wrong, Seventh Sister?" Wanyu asked Qing Mo the same question. "Try again, without my interruptions. Let me discern what's off about it. And those patterns—I feel I've seen them before." Everyone was momentarily enthralled by the wall’s craftsmanship, forgetting the urgency of passing through. Bored, Dongfang Minghui pulled out a sketchbook, tracing the designs meticulously. "These are exquisite. Little Color, they resemble a tree vine with vibrant green leaves, unlike yours," she playfully taunted. "Watch it!" Little Color grumbled, whipping its vine around Dongfang Minghui and, chiefly, against the wall's patterns. Abruptly, the patterns morphed into its vine form, shocking Little Color back into the mind sea. "Let’s go. Something’s off about this place." "What do you mean, off?" "The patterns changed—they became my vine." Rolling her eyes, Dongfang Minghui dismissed it, "Little Color, you must be losing it. World-renowned, huh?" Little Color felt oddly validated by her spirited scolding, calming a bit. Despite the scare, it urged her insistently within the mind sea, "Don’t linger, let's go." Hearing Little Color’s repeated warnings, Dongfang Minghui snapped out of her daze. "Right, we’re supposed to be hurrying." Aware of her surroundings, she noticed an unusual calmness among everyone. Li En meticulously carved some design into his cherished bow, and upon closer inspection, saw the same branching patterns etched over it, obscuring what he’d inscribed before. "Li En, do you really like these patterns?" "Shaman, don't you think they’re captivating?" Dongfang Minghui scratched her head. Sure, they were intriguing, but the sudden ubiquity of the intricate patterns gave her the creeps. "They're, um, perhaps not that great," she said, admitting they were not quite as endearing as Little Color. "What?" Li En’s demeanor turned menacing, thrusting the knife toward her. "Shaman, what did you just say?" Startled by the confrontation and the blade's gleam, Dongfang Minghui's mind raced with expletives.