Xing Gui was indeed very weak, she didn’t even have the strength to walk. Most of the time she would be lying in Liao Jian’s arms, and she looked as if she was sleeping. Even when the snowstorm got a little bigger, Huang Tuo had to protect her with his invisible shield. But when danger was near, she would open her eyes and tell us how to avoid it. Xing Gui. Xing Gui’s spiritual power was indeed very extraordinary and she didn’t even need to use the star-reading stuff, she would still be able to know when the danger would be coming.
For example when we entered the mountain, Xing Gui told us to make a left turn and hide behind the trees, and then we saw several palace maids walked past our right side, their hair were so long that they were dragging along the ground. There was once we went into a valley, and when we were in the middle of it, Xing Gui struggled to get up and screamed loudly suddenly, telling us to back out of the valley. The time when Yue Shen was the last one to get out of the valley, the snow on the hilltop collapsed, burying the entire valley. Amidst the loud snow crashing sound, Xing Gui’s rapid breathing went weak as if it was going to break soon. She was just like a crystal b.u.t.terfly that could not even survive a snowstorm.
When we were about to go into Huan Xue Mountain palace, we almost met Lian Ji, if not for Xing Gui telling us to stop, we would have b.u.mped into her. The moment we came to a stop, Lian Ji was walking past us and for a moment she stopped to turn to our direction. Then Pian Feng summoned a strong wind, sweeping off the snow from the ground and covered the cherry blossom forest where we were hiding.
Huan Xue Mountain was filled with precious herbs and deadly poisons. Huang Tuo would always tell us which herbs were for detoxification, and which we should avoid. There was once Chao Ya was about to pluck a tiny flower, Huang Tuo told us the flower’s name was Shang Yao and the poison made from it was slow yet lethal, when the time has come, the diffused toxins would gather together and traveled straight up to the head, becoming a toxic. When Huang Tuo was talking about these herbs, he looked so gentle and quiet as if talking about their most beloved person.
“This poison is something that we often used in a.s.sa.s.sination.” Yue Shen said.
We have finally reached the central entrance of Huan Xue Mountain after thirteen days. It looked so ridiculous when the words “Ren Xue Cheng” (Ren Snow City) were written on the majestic city gate.
I had once imagined the mystery and prosperity of this empire for a million times, but when I entered the city, there wasn’t a single man or magnificent-looking houses. The entire place was covered with a thick layer of snow and a long straight street leading to somewhere afar.
“My King, you will meet Feng Tian at the end of the long street.” Xing Gui said softly.
I walked over to Liao Jian, leant forward to look at Xing Gui and asked. “Is there any possibility for me to win Feng Tian?”
Xing Gui closed her eyes but I could see the hidden tears in it. Despair was written on her expression.
I stroked her hair and whispered. “Xing Gui, don’t have to worry about me. I know it’s hard to defeat her but I will still try my best to protect you.”
“My king, it’s not like this.” Xing Gui shook her head and tears came streaming down.
Wind. Strong wind.
The snow was being swept up from the ground, just like the time when Li Luo appeared before me, and then I saw the legendary great priestess at the end of the snow. Feng Tian.
I’ve finally known why Xing Gui’s expression was so sad.
It’s because at the end of the long street, I saw an extremely familiar and dependent face, my granny.
If it was someone else I could still use the fire magic to a.s.sa.s.sinate him or her, because no one would not be aware of my right hand but granny already knew about my fire magic and I have no confidence in defeating her with my ice magic.
This would be a battle that we would lose.
A kind smile flashed across her face when she looked at me. “Ka Suo, when you were born, I have read your star and knew that one day we would be going against one another. It seems like fate is acting in accordance to what had been set.”
“Ka Suo, my child, just go straight and at the end of it, you will see the East Guardian’s Mie Tian Bai Hu palace. The name of the East Guardian is Qing Ren.
I looked at granny and her hair has become as short as a teenage boy. I felt my throat being choked with something and I couldn’t speak. She had transferred all her spiritual power to me. I looked down to my hair circling on the ground and looked back to granny. Snow began falling from the sky, falling onto her shoulders. I walked over to give her a hug and activated my invisible shield, sheltering her from the snow. Granny could no longer win a young sorcerer now. I hugged her and cried like a kid.
When I bade farewell with granny, she held my hands with hers. I could feel her wrinkled rough hands and she was holding them tightly in hers, I could feel the stinging pain so I knew she was worried about me.
I took both Shi and granny’s power with me, and then I heard granny’s voice coming from behind, saying. “My king, don’t trust anyone in Ren Xue City and you don’t have to apply any fairness or justice to anyone. Winner takes all, loser takes the fall.”
When we were standing before the White Tiger Temple, Liao Jian spoke suddenly. “My king, do you know that my father, Liao Que the East Guardian for your father, has been very strict to me when I was a kid. In his eyes, I have to become an upright person and I grew up learning combat, strength, fight, there’s many that I fainted in the snow due to the strong impact of all these trainings. Everytime I woke up lying next to a warm stove, surrounded by the refreshing fragrance of the wood and a bowl of hot soup. Although my father had never told me, I knew he was the one who carried me back to the room. His face may always look serious all the time, but I knew he cared a lot about me. This was why I swore to become the best East Guardian. But my father pa.s.sed away before I turned adult, a fire spirit killed him during the Holy War. My father wanted me to become the best G.o.d of war, and I hope I can do it as well.”
“Liao Jian, what are you trying to tell me?”
“My king, I hope you allow me to deal with Qing Ren.”
“Liao Jian, I know that you are strong, but…”
“My King, please let me try.” Liao Jian knelt before me.
Looking at his determined look, I have no way to reject but I couldn’t see if the end of his fate was covered with snow or not.
