When Xiao Huan and I arrived at the banquet tent, most of the sect leaders had already gathered and taken their seats. Several sect leaders who had good relations with Fenglai Pavilion inquired about Xiao Huan’s health after he sat down.

Xiao Huan smiled and thanked those sect leaders when suddenly, a clear voice came from the end of the long table: “The martial arts world of the Central Plains has been stuck at the foot of Bogda Peak for months without achievement. Now that Master Bai has arrived, the situation is bound to change. Several sect leaders and I are eagerly anticipating this.”

Following the voice, I saw that the speaker was Lan Ruoyin, the Acting Sect Leader of the Emei Sect. The Sect Leader of Emei, Master Jingqing, firstly could not recover her martial arts due to her meridians being completely severed, and secondly, it was now widely known that she had injured Xiao Huan through despicable means. She likely had no face to appear at the foot of Bogda Peak, so Acting Sect Leader Lan Ruoyin led the Emei disciples this time.

Speaking of Sect Leader Lan, he came from an official family and was sent to Emei Sect to practice martial arts in his childhood due to his weak constitution. Though the original intention was merely to strengthen his body, his exceptional talent showed through. Several years ago, when he was only fifteen or sixteen, he was already outstanding among young heroes and one of the top masters of the younger generation. He earned Master Jingqing’s high regard, otherwise, he would not have stood out in the Emei Sect, which traditionally valued female disciples, and been appointed as Acting Sect Leader.

I had heard of his reputation long ago but never expected him to be like this: his long hair was casually tied with a black jade hairpin, falling onto his shoulders. His aloof phoenix eyes held a faint mist, revealing a world-weary look as if he had seen through all worldly matters. Yet his face had a jade-like warmth and gentleness, complemented by the deep rose-colored fur coat on his shoulders, creating a brilliance too dazzling to look at directly.

I smiled, squeezed Xiao Huan’s hand, and spoke for the first time since the banquet began: “Does Sect Leader Lan mean that Fenglai Pavilion should first demonstrate some achievements as an example for the other sects?”

Lan Ruoyin hadn’t expected me to suddenly speak up and so directly state his intentions. He raised his long eyebrows, his lips, already carrying a hint of a smile, curving higher: “This young lady is…?”

“This is what I planned to inform everyone today,” Xiao Huan took over with a gentle smile. “From today onwards, my disciple Ling Cangcang will be the Vice Leader of Fenglai Pavilion. She has full authority to handle all matters.”

At these words, all the sect leaders present were moved. After all, in their eyes, even if Xiao Huan were gone, Su Qian would be the next Leader of Fenglai Pavilion. My sudden appearance was quite surprising.

I continued smiling and said after Xiao Huan finished: “All sect leaders here are intelligent people, so let’s not speak in riddles. This time, coming to Xinjiang to suppress the Tianshan Sect, our Fenglai Pavilion’s Leader arrived later than the other sect leaders. If we don’t show some sincerity first, everyone will surely find it unreasonable.”

Here, I smiled and shifted my tone: “Fenglai Pavilion will certainly show sincerity. I just hope that when everyone sees it, they’ll remember our Central Plains martial arts world’s purpose in coming to Tianshan – is it to compete and observe each other, or to uphold righteousness and demonstrate the martial world’s proper spirit!”

As I spoke, I stood up and bowed to Xiao Huan with clasped hands, raising my voice: “I, Ling Cangcang, Vice Leader of Fenglai Pavilion, request permission for battle from the Leader. I volunteer to lead the vanguard and command our sect’s disciples to capture the first checkpoint within three days, to demonstrate the might of Fenglai Pavilion and the Central Plains martial world!”

Xiao Huan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, his voice steady and dignified: “Granted.”

I raised my head slightly, meeting his mist-heavy eyes. He nodded slightly, his eyes carrying a faint smile.

I clasped my hands and bowed deeply: “I will not disappoint the Leader’s expectations.”

When I raised my head, my gaze swept across the faces of all the sect leaders present, and among the solemn or seemingly solemn faces, I found Lan Ruoyin’s face bearing a faint, playful smile.

The banquet ended quickly, and the sect leaders took their leave. I hurried to help Xiao Huan back to the tent. Although he hadn’t coughed blood, his pale face and lips frightened me.

After lying down on the couch in the tent, Xiao Huan didn’t rest but instead had me call in all the hall masters. He gave another series of instructions, explaining my appointment as Vice Leader and arranging the manpower and attack strategies for capturing the first checkpoint.

He leaned against the cushions, having to close his eyes and lightly cough to regulate his breathing after every few sentences, yet he was thoroughly familiar with the geographical conditions of Tianshan and the current situation, arranging the strategic steps methodically.

I listened attentively, memorizing each point carefully.

After finishing the instructions, Xiao Huan finally went to sleep, and I withdrew with the hall masters to further discuss the specific details of the attack.

Just as we sat down in the neighboring tent, Su Qian started laughing: “Well, well, look at you, getting yourself appointed as Vice Leader behind our backs. You take advantage of the Leader’s favor.”

I smiled and clasped my hands, saying: “I’m ashamed.”

Although Xiao Huan had provided the strategy for attacking the first checkpoint, he hadn’t specified who would lead and how to deploy forces. After some discussion, we decided that I and two other hall masters would split into three routes, each leading people to attack the checkpoint. Su Qian would lead people to guard the camp, while other halls would either provide support along the way or remain mobile. All arrangements were settled.

Tianshan Sect’s Haisha Palace was located high in a valley beside Bogda Peak, with treacherous peaks at its back and a ridge in front that was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Tianshan Sect had built five checkpoints staggered along the necessary path, each with guards. The Central Plains martial world had been at the foot of Tianshan for months, only fighting back and forth at the first checkpoint with the Tianshan Sect. Several times they had barely established a foothold before being driven out again.

Now in the depths of winter, the snow line had moved down, and the rocky mountains were covered in snow and ice, making them even more treacherous and difficult to traverse. The difficulty of the attack was greater than in high summer or late autumn. We split into three teams and launched our attack when the ice and snow slightly thawed in the afternoon, only managing to occupy the checkpoint by dusk.

That night we stayed within the checkpoint. The next day, people from other sects also arrived at the checkpoint. Although Tianshan Sect launched several more attacks, they never managed to recapture the checkpoint. The Central Plains martial world had finally firmly secured this checkpoint.

By the third day, Xiao Huan and the other sect leaders had also arrived on the mountain. Since Fenglai Pavilion had fulfilled its promise to take the first checkpoint, subsequent cooperation naturally went smoothly, and plans for the future were settled without much dispute.

The buildings at the checkpoint were cramped, and the various sects’ forces gathered there could only squeeze in uncomfortably. Even so, I still arranged for Xiao Huan to have a separate room. After the discussions ended, I pulled him in and made him rest on the couch.

His complexion looked better than in previous days, and he seemed to cough less. Since arriving at the checkpoint, he had been talking and laughing as usual. Now, pressed down onto the couch by me, he didn’t speak but just smiled and closed his eyes to rest.

I helped tuck his fur blanket around him, waited a while until his breathing became even, and then withdrew from the room.

After I left, a disciple was put in charge of Xiao Huan’s meals and medicine. I found that the disciple asked about Xiao Huan’s condition over the past two days, and then took over the tasks again.

While brewing medicine with a soot-covered face over a small stove, I wondered if I had already grown accustomed to taking care of Xiao Huan, as these tasks felt so natural. This was good – anyway, I now felt uncomfortable thinking about others feeding him medicine or washing his body.

After brewing the medicine and slowly straining the liquid into a bowl, smelling the medicinal scent, I suddenly realized it was different from the medicines Li Mingshang had left. Could it be that Xiao Huan, fearing bitterness, deliberately prescribed himself something less unpleasant to drink?

Holding the medicine bowl, I shook my head – I didn’t know what to do with him.

Xiao Huan had gone to sleep in the afternoon. I went to wake him near dusk, and we ate dinner together before I watched him take his medicine.

Putting down the medicine bowl, I kissed his cheek, happy because his health had improved: “It will be good once we’ve conquered Tianshan Sect quickly.”

He nodded with a smile. Now the mist in his pupils had thinned to an almost imperceptible layer, and with the addition of a smile, those deep eyes became brilliantly captivating: “It won’t take long.”

I nodded, looked at him with a smile, and for a moment my mind went blank of words. I just hugged him and rested my head on his shoulder.

My nose touched his neck, and the warm sensation transmitted through his skin. I couldn’t help but smile again – why did I feel a bit silly at this moment?

Raising my head, I lightly kissed his thin lips and smiled: “Why does it feel like something might be lost when I’m just a little happy?”

He looked at me and smiled without speaking further.

That night, I again squeezed onto the same couch with Xiao Huan under the pretext of providing nearby care. He slept soundly all night, not only avoiding coughing blood but also coughing much less.

The next day, all sects launched their attack and captured the second checkpoint in one swift move. The following days progressed quite smoothly. There was some fighting over the third checkpoint, but by the fourth checkpoint, Tianshan Sect’s momentum had already declined, and they gave it up without much resistance.

As the Central Plains martial world was about to strike at Haisha Palace, something strange occurred. Although Su Qian had mentioned that Lingbi Sect’s people were also on the mountain, their shadows hadn’t been seen so far. The Tianshan Sect Leader, known as the Tianshan Strange One and rumored to have unfathomably deep martial arts, also hadn’t appeared. However, it was certain that at this rate, the fall of Haisha Palace was just a matter of time.

I spent all day leading disciples in battles, my eyes full of gunpowder smoke and fresh blood, my mind occupied with how to capture the next checkpoint, leaving no time to think about other matters.

This day, just after giving instructions to the disciples at the fourth checkpoint, I saw a white figure in the distance among the crowd.

Xiao Huan was walking this way slowly, discussing something with Master Xuezhen and Daoist Qiusheng. The harsh wind of the checkpoint blew past, stirring up fine snowpowder. He brushed away the messy hair blown across his forehead with his hand. The hem of his snow-white fox fur coat fluttered slightly in the wind, and the noisy crowd occasionally passed in front of him, while disciples sometimes stopped to bow in greeting.

Suddenly unable to contain myself, I lifted my robes and ran over, hugging him tightly when I reached him: “Brother Xiao.”

His embrace was warm, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance. He held my shoulders and patted them, smiling: “Cangcang, let go quickly, there are so many people here.”

I hugged him even tighter, as if in defiance: “Don’t care.”

My face was lifted, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Master Xuezhen and Daoist Qiusheng turning their heads aside.

Xiao Huan cupped my chin and lowered his head to kiss my lips lightly, smiling: “Be good.”

Blood rushed to my head suddenly, causing dizziness. I could barely see what was in front of me, and clutching his sleeve, I finally managed to say after a long while: “That’s the first time you’ve kissed me on your own.”

He smiled: “I know.”

I sniffled and rose on tiptoe to kiss his lips back: “Although you still owe me many more, I’ll return this one to you.”

He continued smiling, his bright deep eyes full of mirth: “Then thank you?”

I climbed down from him and stood beside him, holding his sleeve: “You’re welcome.”

In a daze, I was led by Xiao Huan, walking while listening to him continue talking with Master Xuezhen and Daoist Qiusheng. After a long while, I finally realized hazily: didn’t those words I just said sound rather foolish…

While still in a daze, suddenly there was a commotion at the front of the checkpoint, and a Fenglai Pavilion disciple hurriedly came to report: “Someone outside the checkpoint specifically asks to see the Leader.”

I was startled and asked before Xiao Huan could speak: “Just one person?”

The disciple bowed and replied: “Yes, one person, just standing outside the checkpoint asking specifically to see the Leader, with no other movements.”

I nodded, looked up to exchange glances with Xiao Huan, and we walked together toward the parapet wall of the checkpoint.

Looking out from the wall, amidst the stark white snow stood a figure in tender green on a rocky outcrop, robes dancing in the wind like a snow lotus blooming fiercely among ice and snow.

Seeing us appear on the wall, she looked up with a slight smile: “Master Bai, we meet again.”

The clear voice, the slightly proud smile, the sharpened gaze – this suddenly appearing young woman was Zhong Lin! The Zhong Lin who had said she wanted to walk the jianghu alone.

Zhong Lin took out a letter from her sleeve, holding it between her fingers, and raised her eyebrows slightly: “Zhong Lin, Hall Master of the Boundless Hall of Lingbi Sect’s Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, here to deliver a message from the Sect Leader to Master Bai.” Before her words finished, the letter in her hand flew over like a shooting star, carrying a sharp wind.

Xiao Huan extended his fingers, deftly catching one end of the letter without opening it to read, and nodded: “Thank you for your trouble, Deputy Sect Leader Zhong.”

The Hall Master of Lingbi Sect’s Boundless Hall was the Deputy Sect Leader of Lingbi Sect – Zhong Lin had become the Deputy Sect Leader.

Zhong Lin smiled, her brows relaxing: “Master Bai is too kind.” As she spoke, she waved her hand and turned to leave, revealing the broad sword on her back.

I quickly rushed to the wall’s edge and shouted: “Zhong Lin!”

Zhong Lin stopped but didn’t turn around: “Vice Leader Ling, what guidance do you have?”

“You became Lingbi Sect’s Deputy Sect Leader?” I asked.

She laughed lightly: “Can’t you tell, Vice Leader Ling?”

“Did you wound Muyan?” I took a deep breath and asked again.

She stiffened slightly but still laughed: “What? That person isn’t dead yet?”

I took a deep breath, my voice trembling with anger: “Dead! Dead completely! The body was burned to ashes! Are you satisfied now?” I was so angry I felt dizzy. I grabbed some snow from the parapet wall, made it into a ball, and threw it at her. “You cowardly bastard! Zhong Lin, I never thought you’d be so useless! You liked Muyan too, why did you still hurt him? You don’t even dare to hold onto the person you love, you’re completely useless!”

The snowball hit Zhong Lin’s back, her shoulders shook, and she gave a cold laugh: “Yes, I’m useless, but still better than you holding onto a love that’s destined to have no future. Just wait until you have nothing left before you start making a fuss about life and death!”

I drew in a sharp breath, my throat painfully constricted. How could she say such venomous words?

I gritted my teeth and sneered: “I, Ling Cangcang, don’t have friends like you. Get lost…”

Before I could finish speaking, my vision suddenly darkened, and Xiao Huan quickly caught my waist: “Cangcang.”

I didn’t look at Zhong Lin again, turning to hug Xiao Huan and burying my face deep in his chest, shaking my head: “I’m fine.”

What right did I have to scold Zhong Lin? I was probably angry at myself. I understood better than anyone the feeling of hurting someone you love – it’s not just simple regret, nor just hating yourself to the point of wanting self-destruction. That feeling will never fade; it becomes clearer and more deeply etched with time. Usually, by the time you think of trying to make amends, you’ll find there’s nothing left.

Xiao Huan held me quietly, and after a while, patted my shoulder and smiled: “You’re not planning to cry for this long, are you?”

I raised my head, wiped the tears from my face, and glanced at him: “You’re smiling so happily – is watching young girls argue that entertaining?”

He smiled and shook his head: “Not really, but watching the Deputy Sect Leader of the world’s greatest sect Lingbi Sect and the Vice Leader of Fenglai Pavilion argue to the point of throwing snowballs – that’s entertaining.”

Remembering the snowball I had thrown in anger earlier, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing with a “pfft.”

Thinking of the letter Zhong Lin had just delivered, I snatched the envelope from Xiao Huan’s hand to look. Inside was just a plain note with one line of elegant writing: Haisha Palace is presented with both hands.

I looked up at Xiao Huan; he smiled slightly as if he had already known what the letter would contain.

Sect Leader Chen meant to say that Haisha Palace wasn’t conquered by us, but rather handed over by her.

Since Xiao Huan’s arrival, the Central Plains martial world had been winning victory after victory. Tianshan Sect, which had remained unconquered for so long, seemed to be waiting for Xiao Huan to break it. Whether the Central Plains martial world or Tianshan Sect won or lost didn’t matter – she had indeed just set up a trap on Tianshan, waiting to take Xiao Huan’s life.

I swiftly tore the letter and envelope into pieces, threw them over the parapet wall into the thousand-foot cliff, dusted off my hands, and turned back to smile at Xiao Huan: “Will you make me mutton stew again tonight? The soup last time was delicious.”

Xiao Huan smiled and nodded: “Alright.”

Hand in hand with him, we found the kitchen, but it was empty. I called people to search for mutton and ingredients, stirring up a group of busybody disciples. In the end, they went down the mountain to slaughter a fat sheep and brought it up. Some washed the meat, others set up the pot, and they managed to stew a huge iron pot of mutton. Not only did Fenglai Pavilion disciples crowd over to eat, but disciples from other sects guarding the fourth checkpoint also came running with bowls.

The group thoroughly vented their pent-up fighting energy from the past days – eating, grabbing, laughing and joking without restraint. I squeezed into the crowd and managed with great difficulty to secure two bowls of mutton soup. Breaking free to find Xiao Huan, we ran to find an empty corner and sat down.

It was nearly mid-month, and through the uneven parapet walls, you could see the almost full moon on the horizon. Its clear radiance spread evenly over the snow-covered mountain ranges, and the sky was the color of deep sapphire.

Drinking the hot soup made my whole body warm. After putting down the bowl, I leaned my head on Xiao Huan’s shoulder, closed my eyes, and swung my legs.

He had only taken one sip of the mutton soup I brought before setting it aside. Now he reached out his arm to hold my waist: “Cangcang, are you tired?”

I made a “mm-hmm” sound, still closing my eyes and swinging my legs.

He smiled and patted my waist gently: “You’ve been too tired these past few days. I’ll give you fewer tasks from now on.”

I “mm-ed” again, lifting one eyelid to look up at him: “Brother Xiao, are pregnant people easily tired?”

He narrowed his eyes and smiled softly: “Yes, but that won’t happen until two or three months after conception.”

I sighed: “That long?”

He smiled: “Yes, it takes at least that long for symptoms to show.”

I couldn’t help feeling tender, grabbed his hand, and rose to kiss his somewhat pale cheek, shielding him from the increasingly damp and cold mountain wind after nightfall: “Your hands are completely cold, let’s go back to the room quickly.”

He smiled and nodded, supporting himself on my arm to stand up.

Even though the fourth checkpoint was crowded with people from various sects, I still demanded an empty room.

After going in, I first made up the bed and had Xiao Huan lie down to rest, then tidied up the somewhat messy room, throwing out all the scattered things. When I returned to the couch, Xiao Huan had already fallen asleep with his eyes closed, his breathing steady, his head slightly tilted on the pillow, his thin lips a light pink, forming a gentle curve.

I smiled quietly – he was falling asleep faster and faster.

Carefully tucking the fur blanket around him, I also slipped under the covers and lay down next to him. That night we slept foot to foot, passing the night without a word.