In the dark, ice cave tunnel, Mu Qingyan led the way, holding Cai Zhao’s hand with one hand and a night pearl high in the other. Although the pearl’s light was faint, it was enough to illuminate their path forward. At each cave junction, he used cloth strips to detect the direction of airflow, leaving marks to guide their way.

Cai Zhao stumbled along, struggling even more than the plump Jin beside her. The image of Qian Xueshen’s severed head rolling to her feet, its face frozen in terror and pleading, was seared into her mind. Consequently, she had just vomited against the ice wall, tears falling one by one, her hand nearly scraping off chunks of ice as she steadied herself.

This was the first time in her life she had experienced the death of a friend.

At some point, Cai Zhao had vaguely realized how different she was from her aunt. Cai Pingshu was always passionate and curious about the unknown, never afraid. If she encountered a bottomless dark cave, she would excitedly enter with a torch. If caught in a storm while sailing, she would face the waves head-on, determined to break through the vortex.

Cai Pingshu was inherently optimistic. Throughout her colorful adventures, she had lost close friends and brothers, yet she never lost heart or wallowed in self-pity. Instead, she always pressed forward with enthusiasm.

After what felt like an eternity to Cai Zhao, the terrain became increasingly steep. Hearing Jin Baohui’s heavy breathing, she quietly asked, “I wonder how long we’ve been walking.”

Surprisingly calm, Mu Qingyan answered immediately, “We’ve been walking for an hour and a half. We can rest for a bit.”

As Jin Baohui was about to sit down, Mu Qingyan kicked him, telling him to move further away. Knowing he had no leverage, Jin could only grumble as he moved forward with his torch.

Mu Qingyan spread his gray fur cloak on the ground for the girl to sit on.

Cai Zhao looked up, confused. “How did you know we’ve been walking for an hour and a half?”

“I’ve been checking your pulse,” Mu Qingyan said, sitting down beside her. “It was fast at first but has settled now.”

They sat close together, their heartbeats audible. Cai Zhao felt the tall, calm presence beside her was as solid and reliable as a mountain, gradually calming her emotions.

“Zhaozao,” Mu Qingyan said softly.

“Mm?”

“Qian Xueshen’s death wasn’t your fault. He was already in their hands. They would have killed him sooner or later after using him.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you still in a daze, as if you’ve lost your soul?”

“…My aunt said I’m too soft-hearted. I’m not suited for the jianghu life.”

“That’s an arbitrary statement.”

“It’s not arbitrary at all. I’ve always been like this. When Uncle Sand Pot next door retired and sold his shop to move back to the countryside, I was so upset I didn’t eat wonton for a whole month.”

“Didn’t the new wontons taste good?”

“No, they were delicious. The soup base was even made with pork bones and shrimp powder, tasting better than before. But I was still sad, feeling that the world is heartless and time flows like water, never preserving beautiful things. No matter how good the new things are, they’re not the same as before.”

Cai Zhao loved a peaceful, leisurely life with clear streams and lively markets.

She and her aunt were indeed different.

Mu Qingyan frowned, facing the girl. “How old were you when you learned that Lady Cai didn’t have long to live?”

“Seven or eight? Five or six? I don’t remember,” Cai Zhao shook her head. “My family didn’t hide it. They told me my aunt was sick and didn’t know when she would… They couldn’t have hidden it if they tried. My aunt was constantly drinking medicinal soups, taking herbal baths, and having acupuncture treatments. I wasn’t a fool.”

Mu Qingyan leaned back. “Your family intended to prepare you early, so you wouldn’t be caught off guard and unable to cope. But they didn’t consider the consequences of making a young child constantly think about losing a loved one.”

“My aunt said the same thing. She didn’t agree with letting me know so early either,” Cai Zhao shrugged indifferently. “But my mother said that all jianghu children need some tragic backstory to fit in.”

“My mother was always afraid of growing up, having to shave her head, and never eating meat again. My aunt and father lost their parents at a young age. But they all grew up fine, didn’t they? They became righteous people who fought against injustice, much better than those who grew up smoothly like the Songs or the Yangs.”

Mu Qingyan chuckled softly. “Your mother is quite something.”

“Yes, she is. When I was little, I wished for flowers to always bloom, the moon to always be full, and for happiness to last forever. My mother told me to go to bed and stop overthinking. She said, ‘If flowers never wither, how can we appreciate their beauty when they bloom? If the moon is always full, how can we cherish its fullness? If there’s no sadness in life, how can we long for happiness?'”

In her childhood, Cai Zhao had been so afraid of loss, death, and anything that could change the beautiful status quo.

Mu Qingyan asked, “Do you understand those words now?”

“I’m still trying to understand. I suppose I’ll fully grasp it someday.” She had to face it now.

The girl’s expression was both knowing and helpless. Mu Qingyan felt sympathy for her and pulled her closer.

“Brother,” the girl suddenly said after a moment of silence. She had grown accustomed to calling him that.

“Yes?”

“What kind of person was Nie Hengcheng?”

Mu Qingyan was somewhat surprised. “Why are you suddenly asking about him?”

“When I was little, I used to play by the Qingluo River. I only saw boats passing by, rarely any fishermen. Later, I learned that after the great battle at Qingluo River, Nie Hengcheng’s loyal followers died in droves, their bodies piling up like mountains and filling the river. The local fishermen made a pact not to eat fish from that river.”

“My father said that on that night, Zhao Tianba, Han Yisu, and the others quickly realized they had fallen into a trap, surrounded. Yet they refused to retreat, determined to avenge Nie Hengcheng at all costs. My father felt that although they were demonic cult members, their unwavering loyalty to Nie Hengcheng was admirable.”

Mu Qingyan was silent for a while before responding, “Throughout history, many leaders of our sect – Patriarchs, Law Kings, Elders, even the Four Altar Masters – have used drugs to control their subordinates. But Nie Hengcheng didn’t. Not only did he not do it himself, but he also disliked others doing so. My father once said that Nie Hengcheng’s talent and strategy were rarely seen in this world. In his youth, he led from the front, and as he grew older, he became stern and decisive. To your Northern Chen Six Sects, he might have been a demon, but to many of our followers, he was a pillar of strength, an anchor in the storm.”

“He sounds like a good person. Why did he become so cruel and bloodthirsty later?” Cai Zhao asked curiously.

Mu Qingyan replied, “Because he accidentally mastered an incredibly powerful martial art.”

“Is it the one that Elder Yin Dai desperately wanted to know about?”

“Yes,” Mu Qingyan’s voice deepened. ” I’m not sure about the details of that martial art. My father only said it was an ancient, divine skill that should have disappeared from this world long ago.”

Cai Zhao pondered, “I see.”

Mu Qingyan continued, “When one knows their limitations, they respect the laws of nature. But once they realize they can move mountains and seas at will, they lose that respect. My father deeply regretted Nie Hengcheng’s fate.”

Cai Zhao smiled bitterly, “That makes sense, but if we had the power to move mountains and seas right now, we would have already escaped and Qian Xueshen might still be alive.”

Mu Qingyan frowned, about to say something, when suddenly they heard Jin Baohui’s shrill cry from the tunnel ahead, “Come quick! Hurry, come here!”

Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao jumped up and rushed over. They found Jin Baohui frantically digging at an ice wall with a dagger, shouting, “Come help me dig!”

Mu Qingyan grabbed Jin Baohui’s shoulder, saying sternly, “Calm down and explain what’s happening.” Just then, he heard the girl behind him gasp softly. He quickly turned to look.

This area was a junction with multiple paths, surrounded by ice caves leading to unknown destinations. The recent massive tremor had partially exposed several corpses previously sealed within the ice walls. Near Cai Zhao, a stiff, purple hand protruded from the ice, its fingers eerily outstretched. Behind Mu Qingyan, half of a bluish-purple head emerged, its face contorted and eyes bulging, resembling a demon fresh from hell. The wall Jin Baohui was frantically digging at revealed half a shoulder of another corpse.

“Quick, help me dig out this body!” Jin Baohui babbled incoherently. “I’ll reward you handsomely… I mean, I’ll do my best to repay you, Young Master Yan…”

“I won’t help unless you explain clearly,” Mu Qingyan stated firmly.

After much internal struggle, Jin Baohui realized he couldn’t break through the iron-hard ice with his limited martial arts skills. Gritting his teeth, he confessed, “Fine, I’ll tell you. Look, the corpse’s right hand is holding a small bottle—I want that bottle!”

Cai Zhao craned her neck to look. Indeed, the corpse’s right hand, still encased in ice, clutched a small apricot-yellow jade bottle about three to four inches long, its mouth rimmed with dull copper wire. “What’s so special about this bottle? Is there something valuable inside?”

Noticing Jin Baohui’s evasive gaze, as if debating whether to lie, Cai Zhao smiled and said, “Elder Jin, it’s best to tell the truth. If it truly doesn’t affect us, we’ll help you without question. But if you’re trying to deceive us… well, my brother has quite a temper, and we have no prior relationship with you.”

Mu Qingyan played along, letting out a heavy, cold snort.

Jin Baohui immediately crumbled, hastily explaining, “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you! I’m not lying, it’s really of no use to you. The bottle contains the saliva of a rare beast—have you heard of the Snow Scale Dragon Beast?”

Hearing this name, both Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao flinched, exchanged a glance, then expressionlessly shook their heads.

Jin Baohui, not suspecting their reaction, continued, “It’s a legendary creature. A full-grown Snow Scale Dragon Beast is larger than a small courtyard, with wings on its ribs and sharp claws. Except for the sea, it can roam freely in the sky and on land, known as the ‘Celestial Martial God, Dragon King of the Land’. Legend has it that the Northern Chen ancestors kept a few, which proved incredibly useful during the great battle against the demon cult.”

His eyes gleamed with longing as he spoke.

“Even if it is the Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva, how can you tell through the ice?” Cai Zhao asked, puzzled.

Jin Baohui explained urgently, “Can’t you smell that scent? Spicy, sweet, with a hint of fresh grass… It must have spilled while the corpse was running. He didn’t make it to this ice cave before freezing or starving to death.”

Upon his reminder, both Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao indeed noticed a faint grassy scent mixed with an odd spicy sweetness. Cai Zhao wasn’t convinced, “Is this the scent of the Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva? This corpse must be at least a few hundred years old. How could the spilled scent still linger?”

Jin Baohui swallowed hard, “You don’t understand. The Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva doesn’t freeze in cold but only melts in heat. This snowy mountain is freezing, so the scent can last for ages.”

Mu Qingyan responded with an “Oh,” and then placed his palm on the ice wall. Channeling his energy, he applied force. With several cracking sounds, the iron-like ice wall split along several fissures, ice fragments falling away to reveal the frozen corpse inside.

Cai Zhao noticed that Mu Qingyan seemed to pause slightly as the ice layer cracked.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Jin Baohui eagerly used his dagger to chip away at the corpse’s fingers, snatching the small jade bottle. He shook it, hearing the slow movement of liquid inside, then removed the stopper and poured a drop onto his palm. After sniffing and tasting it, his face lit up with wild, almost manic joy. “…Perfect, this is it!”

Cai Zhao couldn’t bear to watch. “That stuff is hundreds of years old. Be careful not to upset your stomach, Elder Jin. Are you sure it’s Snow Scale Dragon Beast saliva? Don’t make a mistake.”

Jin Baohui was ecstatic, “It’s real, it’s real! Back in the Northern Chen ancestors’ time, Snow Scale Dragon Beasts were plentiful, running around everywhere. You could bump into them during training. Later, they became rarer, until they went extinct about 160 years ago. But many sects kept some of their saliva for its nourishing properties. My family used to train beasts, so we had some too. I saw the last bottle when I was a child. I’ve smelled and tasted it before, so I’m certain!”

Clutching the small jade bottle, he was so elated he nearly jumped for joy. However, his happiness was short-lived as Mu Qingyan swiftly snatched the bottle from his hands.

“What are you doing? Give it back to me!” Jin Baohui angrily tried to lunge at him.

Mu Qingyan effortlessly pushed him away with one palm, smiling, “Speak nicely. Don’t be so aggressive. You might frighten my sister, and you can’t afford that, can you?”

Jin Baohui was thrown two zhang away. He painfully peeled his fat body off the ice surface, aching all over but not daring to complain.

Mu Qingyan twirled the small jade bottle between his slender fingers. “So, you came to the great snowy mountain for this Snow Scale Dragon Beast saliva?”

Jin Baohui cautiously replied, “Yes, that’s right.”

“If this item is so precious, why should I give it to you?”

Jin Baohui panicked and quickly babbled, “No, no, no, it’s not precious at all… I mean, it is precious, but not that precious! Oh my…”

After a moment of confusion, he gathered his thoughts and explained, “It’s like this. The Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva does have nourishing properties, but its effects aren’t unique. Many other medicines have similar benefits. Take the snow ginseng from this mountain, for example. Using a good quality snow ginseng to replenish energy and heal injuries for cultivators is even more effective than this saliva.”

“Think about it, if this saliva was that precious, how could various sects have used it up so easily long ago? My family had more, which is why I could see the real thing as a child. Back then, I didn’t think the saliva was anything special. When my grandfather was injured once, we were out of fresh bear gallbladder, so we used that bottle of saliva as a supplement.”

At this point, Jin Baohui was filled with regret, “If I had known it would be useful now, I would have insisted on keeping that bottle of saliva!”

Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan exchanged a glance.

Regardless of whether the Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva was truly a great panacea, they had no intention of giving it to Jin Baohui. They still needed to expose the impostor in the Qingque Sect. However, they wanted to extract more information.

Seeing their silence, Jin Baohui thought they were hesitating and became even more eager, “Really, if you don’t believe me, ask your elders when you get home. The Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva isn’t some miraculous medicine that can resurrect the dead or regrow flesh and bone. It’s just an ordinary nourishing substance! The valuable parts of the Snow Scale Dragon Beast aren’t its saliva, but its heart, liver, and horns. They say those can increase cultivation and power several times over!”

Faced with such a greedy and sinister expression, Cai Zhao couldn’t hide her disgust.

Mu Qingyan spoke calmly, “No matter how convincingly you speak, you can’t provide any evidence right now. You’re just taking advantage of our youth and inexperience. Who knows if this jade bottle doesn’t contain some priceless treasure? If you want me to believe you, it’s simple. Since you say the Snow Scale Dragon Beast’s saliva is just an ordinary nourishing substance, tell us why you’re so desperate to find it. What’s its true purpose?”

Jin Baohui’s expression flickered, but he refused to reveal the truth, “Everyone in the jianghu has their secrets, Young Master Yan. Why force me? In any case, if you give me this saliva, you can choose one of my family’s three heirloom treasures—the Eye of the Fire Qilin, the Venom Sac of the Blood Swamp Lizard, or the Seven-Pearl Lotus from Penglai Fairy Island. How about that? I can bite my finger and write you a sworn statement right now!”

Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao were surprised again. The fact that Jin Baohui was willing to exchange such treasures showed how desperately he wanted the saliva. This made Mu Qingyan even more reluctant to give it up, repeatedly using words to lure Jin Baohui into revealing the saliva’s true purpose.

Jin Baohui was on the verge of breaking and revealing the truth when suddenly, a familiar voice came from the direction of the air current at the cave entrance—

“Old Lan, hang in there! At least guide us out before you die. I’ll take care of your old mother!”

Then, an even more familiar but weak voice replied, “Don’t worry about my mother. I’ve left her enough money and land. The young girl she adopted recently is filial and spirited. She’ll take good care of her.”

These two voices unmistakably belonged to Hu Tianwei and Lan Tianyu!

Jin Baohui rejoiced as if hearing heavenly music. He immediately cheered and ran towards the cave entrance without looking back, shouting, “Hu Zi, Hu Tianwei, Hu Tianwei, I’m here… Ah!”

However, in his haste, he stumbled into a pile of ice fragments at the corner, burying himself halfway, with only his lower body visible and struggling.

After Mu Qingyan pulled him out by the ankles, Jin Baohui clutched his throat, coughing repeatedly. His fat face was flushed red, seemingly having swallowed some large ice chunks that were choking him.

While patting his back, Cai Zhao advised, “Quickly, try to spit it out. If you can’t, induce vomiting. The ice layers here are wrapped around corpses. Don’t swallow any corpse fragments mixed in the ice.” Even as she said this, she felt nauseated and numb.

Surprisingly, Jin Baohui showed extreme determination. He closed his mouth, stiffened his neck, forcefully took a few deep breaths, then turned and continued running forward.

Cai Zhao was stunned by his actions.

When Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao reached the cave entrance, they found themselves in a spacious ice chamber, circular and about ten zhang in diameter, seven or eight zhang high, with abundant light and good air circulation. Looking up, they saw sunlight penetrating through the ice, indicating that the ice layer at the top was extremely thin.

After being confined in dark, narrow ice caves for so long, seeing such bright sunlight both surprised and delighted Cai Zhao. She could hardly believe it, “This… can we get out of here?”

Lan Tianyu, sitting against the wall and panting, replied, “Yes, we’ve reached the upper ice crevice. There’s no need to search for an exit anymore. The ice layer above is less than two chi thick. With your abilities, you can break through and get out.”

The “you” he referred to naturally meant Hu Tianwei and Mu Qingyan.

Cai Zhao then noticed that besides Jin Baohui, Mu Qingyan, and herself, only Hu Tianwei, Lan Tianyu, and the mute servant were in the ice chamber. There was also the enormous corpse of a woolly rhino, its fur covered in blood stains, with one eye injured. It was the smaller of the two woolly rhinos.

She couldn’t help but ask, “How did it end up dead here?”

Hu Tianwei boasted proudly, “This beast tried to ambush me, but I killed it. I also wounded the other one.”

Killing a woolly rhino single-handedly made Cai Zhao look at Hu Tianwei’s combat prowess with newfound respect. “Hu Zi, you’re impressive!”

Lan Tianyu let out a cold laugh, “The impressive one is this old servant. His martial arts are profound, his techniques vicious, and his poison darts accurate. The demon cult truly hides tigers and dragons. I’m impressed.”

Cai Zhao couldn’t help glancing at the old servant twice, while Mu Qingyan approached the corpse of the maodun beast, examining the black blood around its mouth and nose. Hu Tianwei let out a cold snort, no longer paying attention to them.

Cai Zhao walked over to Lan Tianyu’s side. “Senior Lan, where’s Hero Zhou? And Miss Qinong and the others?”

Lan Tianyu shook his head. “We got separated when the ice cave shattered earlier. Don’t worry, they all have food with them. As long as they don’t run into that blue-eyed ice crystal python and follow the air currents slowly, they’ll find their way out eventually.”

Slightly relieved, Cai Zhao crouched beside Lan Tianyu and said softly, “Senior Lan, let me carry you up later. My qinggong is quite good. Once we’re down the mountain, you can get proper treatment for your injuries.”

Lan Tianyu shook his head with a bitter smile. “It’s no use for me, whether I go up or not. Don’t waste your energy. I know my condition.”

Seeing Lan Tianyu’s paper-white face, weak breath, and occasionally unfocused pupils, Cai Zhao realized his injuries were too severe and treatment had been delayed for too long. He was now at the end of his rope.

Lan Tianyu spoke haltingly, “I… I haven’t done many good deeds in my life, but… but I’ve done quite a few bad ones. Now… now that I’m dying, it’s not a pity. Little girl, you have a kind heart. Don’t delay, hurry down the mountain.”

“That’s right, quickly hand over the bottle and go down the mountain. Don’t waste time,” Hu Tianwei said with a smile as he approached. Beside him, Jin Baohui’s face was full of smug malice, having revealed everything about the jade bottle.

Cai Zhao snorted with a cold laugh, thinking to herself that she and Mu Qingyan together were more than a match for him. However, when she turned, she saw Mu Qingyan’s cold expression and tense posture as he stood defensively in front of her.

Cai Zhao was puzzled.

Hu Tianwei advanced step by step, his face twisted with a fierce smile. “Young Yan, be smart and hand over the bottle. That thing is of no use to you. Why not give it up willingly? You should know that cooperating with us will give you…”

Before he could finish, Jin Baohui suddenly let out a loud, agonizing scream. He clutched his stomach and rolled on the ground. “It hurts! I’m dying of pain! My stomach hurts! There’s something inside! Quick, someone save me…”

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone.

At first, Cai Zhao thought it was a trick, but seeing Jin Baohui’s face change color from the pain and large beads of sweat rolling down, she realized it was real. However, she had no idea why he was suddenly suffering from such severe abdominal pain.

Jin Baohui’s voice trembled with pain as he used his last bit of strength to tear open his clothes, revealing his round, bare belly.

To everyone’s horror, his abdomen seemed to be moving as if something was burrowing inside, causing his skin to bulge in and out.

Hu Tianwei pressed one hand on Jin Baohui’s shoulder and gripped his judge’s pen with the other. He said in a low voice, “Old Jin, hang in there,” then focused on the bulging area of Jin Baohui’s belly. He quickly made an incision with the tip of the pen where the bulge was about to slide away.

With Jin Baohui’s distorted scream, a round jet of blood shot out from the wound. Mu Qingyan broke off a piece of ice and threw it. With a shrill squeak, the creature was smashed against the ice wall, turning into a bloody pulp.

Fighting the numbness in her skin, Cai Zhao looked closely and saw that the pulp was a tiny furry mouse. Although its body and head were smashed, its mouth full of fine, sharp teeth was still visible.

Mu Qingyan said calmly, “It must have been a baby mouse nesting in the ice debris. Jin Baohui accidentally swallowed it when he fell into the ice pile earlier.” He tossed over a large chunk of ice to cover the mouse’s remains, preventing Cai Zhao from looking further.

Jin Baohui continued to wail weakly, “Save me! Please save me! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die…”

Hu Tianwei glanced at the wound on Jin Baohui’s belly and stood up. “The little beast has chewed up your spleen and intestines. You can’t be saved. Accept your fate. Do you want me to give you a quick end?”

Hearing the bad news, Jin Baohui cried out in despair, but his voice was too weak to be loud.

“…If only you had vomited it out earlier,” Cai Zhao said, feeling both contempt and pity. “Truly dying for wealth.”

“Well said, little girl,” Hu Tianwei no longer paid attention to Jin Baohui and continued to approach. “Since you know it’s not good to die for wealth, why don’t you quickly persuade your brother to hand over the bottle!”

Mu Qingyan stepped in front of Cai Zhao.

Hu Tianwei smiled, “Oh? Young Yan has something to say?”

“There’s indeed one thing,” Mu Qingyan’s handsome and solemn face suddenly broke into a smile. “After all these days, Hu, have you figured out my background?”

Hu Tianwei was taken aback—of course, he hadn’t. He had never heard of Mu Qingyan’s skills or techniques.

Mu Qingyan smiled slightly, “It seems you haven’t. However, I’ve figured out the background of your master and servant.”

Hu Tianwei’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”

Mu Qingyan suddenly raised his voice, “Elder Tianji, Duan Jiuxiu, how long are you going to hide your tail? I never imagined you’d fall into such a miserable state.”

These words shocked everyone in the ice room.

After a tense moment of silence, the old servant who had been pretending to be mute slowly raised his head, revealing a sinister smile. “Young man, you have good eyes to see through this old man’s background.”

Seeing the mute speak and Hu Tianwei respectfully standing behind him, Cai Zhao knew Mu Qingyan’s words were true. She couldn’t help but say, “You… I… I heard that Heroine Cai Pingshu had issued a death warrant for you. So you didn’t die?”

Duan Jiuxiu laughed, his dried and wrinkled old face looking even more unpleasant. “That bitch Cai Pingshu thought she was invincible, but she died before me. How laughable, utterly laughable!”

Cai Zhao’s face turned cold. “Of course, no turtle lives as long as you. There’s nothing to be happy about.”

Mu Qingyan said coldly, “Although Heroine Cai didn’t live long, she lived freely and happily while alive, enjoying silk clothes and jade food. That’s far better than your cowardly life in hiding.”

Duan Jiuxiu sneered, “Young brats, stop showing off your sharp tongues. When I capture you two, I might show some mercy and let you die quickly. But don’t worry, I’ll take good ‘care’ of your pretty ‘sister’.” Thinking of his anticipated pleasure, he let out a wicked laugh, full of lust and malice.

“That depends on whether you have the ability. Don’t end up in my hands instead. I won’t show mercy just because of your former title as Elder Tianji,” Mu Qingyan’s expression remained unchanged. “Oh, I forgot, Elder Tianji is no longer you, old Duan.”

Duan Jiuxiu flew into a rage. “Hmph! Ignorant brats who don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth! You won’t believe it until you see your coffin!” He turned to give orders, “Tianwei, let’s make our move. This Yan fellow is quite tough, don’t underestimate him.”

“Stop dawdling and come at me,” Mu Qingyan let out a clear whistle and immediately pounced forward.

As the master and disciple prepared themselves, Mu Qingyan suddenly changed direction mid-air. He quickly struck the four ice walls with heavy palms, then made virtual strikes toward the high ice ceiling and the ice floor below.

Earlier, when they fell into the ice cave, Mu Qingyan had carefully observed the two major tremors. Whether it was the two maodun beasts or the blue-eyed ice crystal python, they had all hit the ice walls, causing the cave to shake.

This ice room was no exception. As the four supporting ice walls cracked, the room immediately began to collapse.

Taking advantage of the master and disciple’s momentary confusion, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao used their qinggong to leap upwards quickly. Duan Jiuxiu and his disciple followed closely behind. Mu Qingyan grabbed two pieces of ice that had been soaked in the poisonous blood earlier, intending to throw them down. Suddenly, a loud beast roar was heard. The larger maodun beast appeared out of nowhere, leaping past Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao, and charging straight toward Duan Jiuxiu and his disciple.

It first knocked down Hu Tianwei, making him fall heavily on the ice, then roared and pounced towards Duan Jiuxiu.

Knowing the maodun beast wanted to avenge its mate and was prepared to die together, Duan Jiuxiu didn’t dare to be careless. He kicked off the ice wall with both feet, using all his strength to strike with both palms.

The maodun beast let out a mournful cry as it slammed against the ice wall, but Duan Jiuxiu also had to land on the ground after his palm strike. Realizing it was outmatched, the maodun beast howled sorrowfully and leaped away.

As this heart-stopping scene ended, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao finally reached the top opening. However, the ice layer at the top had split straight down the middle. Two huge, thick sheets of ice were falling into the ice room simultaneously, like a thick wall separating the two.

At that moment, the ice wall that Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao were climbing suddenly cracked and fell backward. They realized that this ice room was just a partition in a massive ice cave, with vast areas of space beneath the surrounding ice layers.

Ice fragments rained down everywhere, and endless snow poured in. The two could only struggle to leap towards the gaps above them.

Completely separated by thousands of feet, Mu Qingyan shouted with all his might to the girl, “After we escape, let’s meet at the foot of the mountain!”

Cai Zhao responded loudly, “It’s a promise!”

Just before escaping the ice cave, Cai Zhao looked back one last time—

As the ice room completely collapsed, Duan Jiuxiu and his disciple were still at the bottom. It was too late for them to leap up, so they quickly ducked into another ice hole, probably to find another way out.

Jin Baohui lay motionless on the ice, covered in blood, presumably dead.

Lan Tianyu sat by the collapsing wall, waiting for death. From his mumbling lips, Cai Zhao could tell he seemed to be repeating words like “retribution.”

Cai Zhao didn’t dare to linger, fearing she might be buried again by the incoming snow. She could only keep leaping towards the outer edge of the ice layer. It took her nearly half an hour of continuous jumping before her feet finally touched solid ground instead of hollow ice.

She stood up and looked around. Everything was a vast expanse of white, with no smoke or animal sounds. The loneliness and coldness made it feel like the end of the world.

She sat down heavily and reached for her fur water pouch to drink. As she did so, she felt something strange in her bosom. She pulled it out and saw it was the small apricot-yellow jade bottle. She didn’t know when Mu Qingyan had slipped it into her clothes.

“He should be able to escape, right?” Cai Zhao murmured to herself.

Mu Qingyan’s qinggong was no worse than hers, and his inner strength was even greater. If she had made it out, he should be fine too.

They had come up the mountain as a lively group of three, but now she was left all alone, which inevitably made her feel low. Fortunately, the pack on her back was intact, with dry food and clothes still there. She could slowly make her way down the mountain, waiting for Mu Qingyan along the way.

Facing the dazzling sun, Cai Zhao sat askew for a long time, feeling more and more frustrated the more she thought about it.

Suddenly, she stood up, pointed at her reflection in the icy leaves, and began to berate herself in a deep voice, “What are you waiting for? You talked big when you came up the mountain, but now some have died, some have scattered, and you’re running down the mountain like a coward. You’ve completely disgraced your aunt!”

“Have you finished your business? No, wait, there’s another thing—have you finished it? Can you go down the mountain with a clear conscience? In the future, don’t say your aunt raised you. Your aunt can’t bear this shame!”

After scolding herself harshly, Cai Zhao indeed felt much better. Her mind quickly began to calculate.

—Step one, find a safe place to rest and recover, preparing for the big battle.

Since she had thought it through, she couldn’t pretend to be confused anymore.

—Step two, find a high point with the best panoramic view.

After securing her pack tightly to her body, she held her head high and strode forward with determination.