Cai Zhao was petite, while Qian Xueshen was lean. Indeed, the two of them could easily share a single Golden-feathered Giant Peng.
The further north they traveled, the colder the weather became. Fortunately, the Giant Peng was strong and sturdy, its wings stirring up dust and stones as it soared through the clouds. By sunset on the third day, Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen arrived at a small town at the foot of the Great Snow Mountain.
In the far northern lands, the days were short and the nights long. Looking around, the sky was ashen, the clouds leaden, and the landscape desolate and barren.
Amid the vast expanse of gray and white, a few small black dots moved slowly in the distance. Only upon drawing closer did they realize they were silent, sluggish people.
The Snow Mountain Town was sparsely populated, with only one inn at its center, aptly named "Snow Mountain Inn."
Due to the fierce winds and bitter cold, the inn's entrance was draped with two thick woolen felt curtains, now stained with layers of grime and grease, their original color long faded. Pushing aside the curtains, Cai Zhao was immediately assaulted by a pungent mix of alcohol, smoke, and the stench of unwashed bodies. She wrinkled her nose, forcing herself to endure the discomfort as she stepped inside.
The appearance of a delicate, beautiful young girl and a slender, refined young man at the doorway caused the noisy hall to fall silent for a moment before buzzing with murmurs once more.
An eager waiter hurried over, ushering Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen to an empty table in the middle of the room.
Cai Zhao shook her head and walked straight to a secluded table against the wall.
The innkeeper standing behind the counter narrowed his eyes slightly at her chosen seat.
Once seated, Cai Zhao swiftly surveyed the hall—
A slightly balding innkeeper, five waiters bustling about with dishes and drinks, and a sallow-faced woman in her twenties wiping wine jars in a corner.
A large iron kettle hung over a roaring fire in the center of the hall, surrounded by a dozen or so dining tables, seven or eight of which were occupied. Three of the occupied tables, also against the wall, were clearly occupied by Martial World practitioners, while the rest were filled with boisterous locals drinking and laughing.
The waiter brought two coarse porcelain bowls, poured hot water from the iron kettle, and placed them before Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen.
Cai Zhao's brow twitched violently at the sight of the greasy fingerprints smeared along the rim of the bowl.
Qian Xueshen, cold and hungry, immediately demanded wine, meat, and steamed buns—by now, Cai Zhao had learned that not all inns served eight cold and hot dishes or ten meat and vegetable platters. In such desolate places, a clean bowl of hot soup and rice was already a blessing.
Two lecherous locals had been eyeing them for some time before finally staggering over uninvited and seating themselves at the table.
One of them had a sinister expression, glaring fiercely, while the other had a dull gaze, one hand rubbing suggestively over his exposed chest as he leered at Cai Zhao. "Where’s this little lady from? The roads here ain’t safe. How ‘bout we brothers show you the way?"
Qian Xueshen scowled in disgust. "No need. Get lost!"
"Oho, this brat’s got a temper!" the bare-chested man jeered. "This pretty-boy lookin’ down on us, eh? We’re takin’ the little lady for some fun. You’d better scram if you know what’s good for ya!"
Ignoring them, Cai Zhao turned to Qian Xueshen. "What should I do in this situation?" When traveling, it was best to consult someone with experience.
Qian Xueshen was furious. "In lawless places like this, we can’t show weakness. Show them what you’ve got and shut them up!"
"Got it," Cai Zhao replied succinctly.
Their exchange had already startled the hall into silence.Under normal circumstances, when a young man and maiden traveled together, it should be the maiden relying on the young man. But judging by their conversation, the opposite seemed true here.
Before anyone could make sense of it, two short screams rang out as the two idlers were sent flying with a bang.
The dull-eyed man's exposed chest bore two crisscrossing wounds dripping with blood, the flesh split open to reveal the depth of the injury. The sullen-faced man fared worse—his left hand had been cleanly severed at the wrist, blood gushing as he rolled on the ground wailing in agony.
This sudden violence shocked everyone in the hall.
Qian Xueshen stared at the severed hand, his tongue tied. "I-I... I only told you to show off a little, not chop off someone's hand!" During their stay at previous inns, local ruffians had also provoked them, but the girl had never struck so brutally before.
Cai Zhao slowly placed a dagger on the table—the very one that had been sheathed at the dull-eyed man's waist moments ago. No one saw how she'd drawn it, slashed, severed the wrist, then sent both men flying with palm strikes in one fluid motion.
This was no ordinary Martial World technique—it had to be an advanced skill from a top-tier sect.
The three men who'd been sitting with the idlers realized they'd crossed someone formidable. Without sparing a thought for their fallen companions, they scrambled to flee the inn.
Cai Zhao plucked four or five chopsticks from the table's holder and sent them flying with a flip of her palm. With several thuds, all three men collapsed—one with a chopstick embedded in his nape, the other two each with two chopsticks in their backs—moaning as they crawled away.
She lifted a bowl of hot water for Qian Xueshen to smell. "Do you know what drug's in this?"
Of course he didn't—wait, this water was drugged?
Cai Zhao answered herself: "Soporific. Low quality—victims wake up vomiting with headaches." Then she lifted another bowl. "And this one?"
Qian Xueshen shook his head rapidly.
"An aphrodisiac. Also crude, but potent. The drugged become like beasts, and suffer lasting organ damage afterward."
Qian Xueshen trembled—whether he or Cai Zhao ingested either drug, the outcome would be dire.
The waiter who'd served the water shrank back as Cai Zhao's gaze settled on him. "Not me! I didn't drug anything!"
"Of course not you." She looked at the wailing men on the floor. "It was them. One distracted us while the other slipped in the drugs."
"Make them drink these." She pushed both bowls toward Qian Xueshen.
Gritting his teeth, he took the bowls over. The two men struggled to crawl away, but despite his mediocre skills, Qian Xueshen had trained in martial arts for years. Planting a foot on each man's neck, he forced the water down their throats.
Cai Zhao tossed silver to the waiter. "Have them thrown out."
The staff, thoroughly intimidated by her ruthlessness, hastily carried the idlers out in pairs without even consulting the manager. Everyone knew what fate awaited those two, though none spoke of it.
From then on, all whispers about the Cai-Qian pair carried newfound respect.The innkeeper silently turned around, lifted the curtain leading to the kitchen, and shouted loudly, "Bring fine wine for our honored guests, and serve two freshly roasted chickens and ducks!"
The last remaining waiter in the hall finally snapped out of his daze and hurriedly brought fresh tea and water for Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen.
This time, the teacups were spotless.
Qian Xueshen stood woodenly in place.
He understood the girl's intentions behind her actions.
The Snow Mountain Inn was different from the previous inns they had passed—it wasn't just a place to eat a meal, rest briefly, and ask a few questions before leaving. They would genuinely be staying overnight here, perhaps even for more than a day or two.
If the girl didn't intimidate everyone from the start, trouble would inevitably follow.
Cai Zhao paid no attention to the surrounding gazes. She pulled out a notebook from her bundle and began reading carefully under the dim lamplight.
Contrary to her expectations, while the snow-capped mountains above seemed as distant and frozen as a celestial palace, the town at the foot was no colder than the northern villages they had passed through earlier. In fact, the surrounding land could even grow some crops.
But this was only the situation at the mountain's base.
The Great Snow Mountain could roughly be divided into three sections—upper, middle, and lower—each with vastly different climates.
The foothills, though densely forested and deeply ravined, had relatively ordinary snowstorms. There were even many rare beasts and high-quality medicinal herbs. Hunters and herb gatherers traded animal pelts and herbs in southern villages for daily necessities like salt and cloth.
Due to the extreme elevation, the foothills were already higher than the midsection of ordinary mountains. The cold was intense, and the beasts' fur was exceptionally thick. The locally produced Snow Ginseng was even more prized by merchants than the aged ginseng from typical deep mountains.
However, these hunting and herb-gathering activities were limited to the foothills. Once one ventured into the midsection, dangers lurked everywhere, and fewer than half returned. As for the summit, it was said that no one who had gone up had ever come back down.
All this information she had gathered by questioning waiters and locals along the way, repeatedly verified and unlikely to be false.
"Another Sky Piercing Peak," Cai Zhao murmured softly as she closed her notebook.
But unlike the deathly silence of Sky Piercing Peak, herb gatherers and hunters occasionally heard terrifying beastly roars while working in the mountains. These roars, mixed with the howling winds and snow, echoed down from the distant summit.
Such a place was too dangerous even for the Golden-feathered Giant Peng to risk flying up.
Seeing the girl frowning in thought, Qian Xueshen couldn't help but let his mind wander.
He had initially thought Cai Zhao, delicate and seemingly naive, had come to the Great Snow Mountain on a whim and would retreat once faced with hardships. Yet, when it came to actual preparations, she was remarkably thorough and composed.
Thick winter clothing, fur boots and gloves, ointment to prevent chapped skin, aged wine to warm the body, a small heated nest to keep the wine warm, even long cloth straps to secure them both to the Giant Peng—she had thought of everything, leaving nothing out.
Some small but useful items even Qian Xueshen hadn't considered, yet the girl had meticulously listed them all in her notebook.
They rode the Golden-feathered Giant Peng for half a day at a time before landing to restock food and water. Each time, they inquired about the Great Snow Mountain in the far north, asking how many rivers and mountains lay ahead before boarding the Giant Peng again. As they flew, they carefully mapped each river and mountain they saw, cross-referencing the information upon landing to ensure they didn't lose their way.The young girl had even thoughtfully chosen fake names for herself and Qian Xueshen—"The affairs of Azure Tower Sect haven't spread so quickly yet, especially in this remote northern border where news travels slowly. For this journey, we'll use false identities to avoid being recognized."
She called herself Feng Xiaoyao, taking one character each from her mother’s and younger brother’s names, while Qian Xueshen was given the surname Wan...
Qian Xueshen protested, "Though the characters 'Qian' and 'Wan' often appear together, the surname 'Qian' carries such elegance, while 'Wan' just reeks of nouveau riche vulgarity."
Cai Zhao retorted, "The Thousand Faces Sect also bears the surname 'Qian,' and now you're the only dreg left alive from them. At this point, 'Qian' isn’t elegant—it’s downright unlucky."
Qian Xueshen had no rebuttal.
Several times, Qian Xueshen noticed Cai Zhao nearly collapsing from exhaustion on the Giant Peng’s back and suggested she rest while he took over guiding their flight.
Cai Zhao snapped, "Do you think I insisted on sharing a mount with you because I’m worried you’d tire or freeze? Wake up, Young Master Qian—I’m keeping you here so you don’t run. If Mu Shaojun hadn’t lent me this Giant Peng, I would’ve broken one of your legs before tossing you onto a saddle. If you took the lead, who knows where you’d steer us? Stop complaining and stay put."
Qian Xueshen persisted stubbornly, "Your father’s disappearance wasn’t my fault—I’m a victim too! You’re highly skilled in martial arts, but I’m not. The Great Snow Mountain is perilous. You’d move faster alone, and I’d just be dead weight."
"Keeping you has its uses," Cai Zhao said coolly. "Once I obtain the Snowscale Dragon Beast’s saliva, you’ll immediately transform into a few people for me to test. If the beast’s saliva truly can break the Body Transformation Art, I’ll let you go. Otherwise..."
The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air.
Qian Xueshen sighed softly and resignedly huddled beside Cai Zhao.
Just then, the waiter brought out fragrant roasted chicken and duck, while the innkeeper personally carried over an exquisite small wine jar, eagerly pouring drinks and setting out bowls for the two. "What may we call you both, honored guests?"
Cai Zhao beamed amiably. "I’m Feng Xiaoyao, and this is my... uh, not yet wedded—no, my betrothed future husband..."
Qian Xueshen stared blankly at the ceiling rafters, his thoughts drifting back—
"Why must we pose as an engaged couple? Why not pretend to be siblings? Or you could just say I’m your attendant." Remembering Mu Qingyan’s icy glare before their departure sent a chill down his spine.
Cai Zhao had explained, "I need to keep you close, which means sharing a room at night. Posing as an engaged couple—or even a married pair—makes it more proper."
"...Engaged couple it is, then."
The innkeeper grew even more deferential. "And how should we address this young master?"
Before Qian Xueshen could speak, Cai Zhao cut in, "His name is Wan Daqiang."
The innkeeper nodded as if deeply impressed. "Ah, Young Master Wan! Meeting such an admirable couple today is the honor of my life."
Qian Xueshen slumped weakly over the table—
"Why 'Wan Daqiang'? That’s so unspeakably crude!"
"You could also be 'Wan Ersha' if you prefer. Pick one."
"...Fine, Wan Daqiang it is."
After pouring wine for Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen, the innkeeper sighed softly. "As you’ve seen earlier, our town is far from peaceful. Located in the extreme north, it’s desolate and remote—making it a haven for outcasts of the Martial World, murderous bandits, and all sorts of unsavory characters with shady pasts.""When you two first walked in, I thought you were just another pair of young masters and misses who didn't know any better, coming to admire the wonders of the Great Snow Mountain. Now I realize I failed to recognize true gold—since you have such confidence, I can rest easy. By the way, I've been rambling all this time without even asking what brings you esteemed couple to our Snow Mountain Town?"
Cai Zhao: "We're here to admire the wonders of the Great Snow Mountain."
Innkeeper: ...
The innkeeper forced a smile: "With your skills, miss, you can certainly see any sights you wish. But the Great Snow Mountain is treacherous after all. Why should someone as precious as jade like yourself suffer such hardships?"
Cai Zhao said earnestly: "My aunt says marriage is a serious matter—one must never enter into it blindly. Discovering incompatibility after marriage would be too late. The best way to know if a future husband is suitable is to travel together. Just journey together, share boats together, endure hardships together, face dangers together... and compatibility becomes crystal clear."
The innkeeper glanced at Qian Xueshen beside her.
The thin young man hung his head dejectedly, looking utterly bewildered, like a pitiful quail drenched by rain.
—Did someone of his caliber really need such an advanced trial as the Great Snow Mountain?
"Does the innkeeper think my aunt's idea is good?" Cai Zhao asked.
The innkeeper replied woodenly: "I've never heard a better idea in my life."
Cai Zhao smiled: "If this match goes well, when we get married in the future..."
Just then, there was a sudden flapping sound as the woolen felt curtain was lifted again, and a freezing wind carrying ice particles swirled into the inn.
As the curtain fell, the cold was instantly cut off.
Everyone looked up to see a tall young man standing at the entrance, dressed in light furs with loose sash, his expression aloof and weary, yet his features were breathtakingly handsome—like distant light upon snowy peaks, indescribably beautiful.
He said coolly: "I don't approve of this marriage."
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