A Decade of Nightscape Lights

The people in the stone chamber exchanged uneasy glances as the blizzard raged outside, the tremors caused by the giant serpent drawing ever closer.

Only Mu Qingyan remained focused on the matter at hand. He asked Qian Xueshen, "Do you have any remaining Snowscale Dragon Beast saliva left?"

Qian Xueshen looked apologetic. "No, the saliva my father and uncle collected in their youth was already scarce. I stored all of it in that apricot-yellow jade vial."

Mu Qingyan then turned to Cai Zhao. "Did you really hide the remaining saliva near the snow hut?"

Cai Zhao gave a bitter smile. "Yes, behind the ice wall at the back of the snow hut."

Mu Qingyan said, "Then there's no point thinking about it. Even if the ice wall wasn't shattered by the serpent's movements, it would have collapsed under the hot spring water by now."

"Must you always poke at people's sore spots?" Cai Zhao felt a pang of regret.

The Snow Woman urged them, "You must leave quickly. This place is no longer safe."

After such a world-shaking commotion, only the Tao family's vengeance had been settled. Filled with remorse, Qian Xueshen gritted his teeth and declared, "If there's no other way, I'll go with you. Whether they flay me or chop me to pieces, I'll do my best to expose that impostor!"

"Expose what? All they'll want is your Body Transformation Art—what else is there to gain?" Cai Zhao snapped irritably.

Mu Qingyan's expression remained stern as he pressed on with his questions. "Miss Snow, earlier you mentioned that twenty years ago, the Snowscale Dragon Beast recognized Lady Cai Pingshu as a descendant of Fallen Blossom Valley. How did it identify her?"

The Snow Woman paused briefly before answering, "At the time, Lady Cai was injured. The Snowscale Dragon Beast followed the trail of her blood to find her. My master saw that although the beast was exhausted, it remained deeply attached to a woman it had never met before. That's how she concluded Lady Cai was a descendant of our ancestors."

"So that's how it was." Mu Qingyan exhaled deeply, his sharp eyes flicking toward Cai Zhao. He drew a silver blade as thin as a cicada's wing from his sleeve. "I need to prick your finger and let a drop of blood fall onto this eggshell."

Cai Zhao blinked. "Will... will that work?"

"My father once said that ancient spirit beasts often form a deep bond with their masters through the recognition of their blood essence. Those two Snowscale Dragon Beasts were saved by the ancestors of Fallen Blossom Valley and lived alongside them for many years. It's likely they've already imprinted on the bloodline."

Cai Zhao was unfazed. "Fine, just a prick on the finger—worth a try." She placed the Bright Sun Blade and the large egg on the stone table, then deftly took the small silver blade and made a quick cut on her left index finger.

Everyone watched intently as a drop of crimson blood landed on the milky-white eggshell, instantly spreading into two or three short red threads, like fine crimson lines embedded in the shell. Moments later, a faint crack sounded from the egg.

The Snow Woman, who had spent twenty long years with this egg, gasped in surprise—this was the first time she had heard such a sound.

Feeling a sudden intuition, Cai Zhao squeezed out a few more drops of blood. The red lines on the eggshell grew longer, gradually encircling the entire surface. A series of soft and heavy cracks followed until, along the thickest and longest red line, a fissure split open at the center of the egg. Something inside wriggled and whimpered.

Amidst the sticky egg fluid, a plump little creature squirmed its way out of the shell.

First came two soft little horns, no larger than mung beans, followed by a pair of swollen eyelids and a round head. Translucent fleshy wings sprouted from its ribs, and its entire body was no bigger than two or three palms put together. Only the row of shimmering snow-white scales along its spine distinguished it from an ordinary puppy.It propped up its short limbs on the stone table, wobbling unsteadily as it moved, sniffing the air until it found Cai Zhao. Extending its tiny pink tongue, it began licking her repeatedly.

Having witnessed her younger brother Cai Han's birth and often held and played with him, Cai Zhao skillfully slid her hands under the little beast's front limbs and lifted it like a baby. The creature struggled to open its amber-colored eyes, blowing two bubbles of saliva before grinning at Cai Zhao—a goofy, adorable smile that left a long trail of drool soaking the stone table.

—The Snow Scale Dragon Beast Saliva they had gone through so much trouble to obtain was now available in endless supply.

"Is this really the Snowscale Dragon Beast?" Qian Xueshen was the first to voice his doubts. "I heard from my father and uncle that the Snowscale Dragon Beasts they saw in their youth were majestic and formidable." The chubby little ball before them, supposedly an ancient infant, looked even sillier than the mutt he'd kept as a child.

The Snow Woman remained expressionless. "This egg was personally entrusted to me by my master. There’s no mistake."

Cai Zhao carefully set the cub down. "Maybe it’ll grow majestic and formidable when it’s older."

—Everyone’s gaze shifted back to the stone table, where the plump, tender cub blew two more bubbles, resembling a wobbling lump of jelly.

Even Mu Qingyan was silent for a long moment before finally saying, "Perhaps we should leave for now. Judging by its current state, it won’t be majestic anytime soon."

No sooner had he spoken than the stone chamber shook violently again. The giant serpent was clearly close—through the open stone window, the familiar stench of blood wafted in on the wind.

Just as they were about to move, the cub on the table suddenly arched its back. Its previously drowsy, swollen eyelids snapped open, and a low growl rumbled from its throat.

Mu Qingyan’s instincts kicked in, and he reached out to grab it, but the cub bared its teeth at him with a menacing air. Reluctantly, he turned to Cai Zhao. "Quick, carry it to the window!"

Understanding immediately, Cai Zhao lifted the cub to the window, letting it hear the noises outside and smell the serpent’s scent.

The foul stench of rotting flesh and bones drifted across the snowy peak, accompanied by the spine-chilling hiss of the approaching serpent. Yet, inexplicably, the cub grew excited. Its tiny wings stretched taut, the gleaming scales along its spine stood on end, and it raised its head to let out a piercing roar—not particularly loud, but deep, so deep it sounded like a horn echoing from the earth’s core.

To most, it meant little, but Mu Qingyan knew the difference between human and beastly hearing—some sounds imperceptible to humans could be heard clearly by animals.

The cub stiffened its short neck, roaring continuously, as if the stench in the air had frozen solid.

After twenty years, the terror engraved in the serpent’s bloodline was reignited. This roar belonged to the ancient predator that had devoured countless of its kind—the same predator that had once effortlessly skinned and feasted upon the once-feared serpent race.

After what felt like an eternity, the tremors beneath their feet gradually faded, and the air returned to its icy clarity.

"Did... that giant serpent just leave?" Cai Zhao asked uncertainly, looking down at the cub in her arms. "It just roared a few times, and the serpent ran away?"

Mu Qingyan glared at the fleshy ball in the girl’s arms. "Do you know what a natural predator is? A natural predator is the nemesis that can slaughter an entire race generation after generation, no matter how they multiply—just like our Sacred Sect is to your Big Dipper Six Sects."Cai Zhao: "...As long as you're happy, brother."

Snow Woman estimated the giant serpent would retreat back into the mountain's belly. Once the danger had passed, everyone continued on their way.

Mu Qingyan was naturally suspicious. Even if this cub was truly a Snowscale Dragon Beast, there was no guarantee its saliva could actually break the Body Transformation Art.

At his insistence, Qian Xueshen meditated and circulated his qi for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Then he took out silver needles hidden against his skin and casually transformed Mu Qingyan into a middle-aged, lecherous-looking butcher with a face full of rough features.

Cai Zhao: ...You're taking personal revenge here.

Mu Qingyan glared coldly at Qian Xueshen, displeased. Qian Xueshen pretended not to understand.

After drinking the saliva, Mu Qingyan indeed turned ice-cold all over as if dead, but soon returned to his original form.

Cai Zhao was overjoyed: "It's real then!"

What do newborn babies have most of? Drool.

The chubby dragon beast cub grinned foolishly, drooling profusely. Snow Woman brought out a half-foot tall jade bottle from the inner room for Cai Zhao to collect the saliva. "If it's just to break the Thousand Faces Sect's spells, actually a tiny bit is enough. I don't know how many people you need to test, but this big bottle should be sufficient."

Cai Zhao noticed a detail in her words. "Just a tiny bit? How little saliva is needed to reveal one person's true form?"

Snow Woman shrugged: "I'm not sure, but my master said someone once poured a small cup of saliva into a twenty-jin wine jar, and forty or fifty people at the banquet all revealed their true forms."

"What?!" Cai Zhao was shocked. "It works when mixed with wine? Then would water work too?"

"Of course," Snow Woman said. "What did you think made the Thousand Faces Sect's founding ancestor retreat from the Martial World in his prime? Just one spit from a Snowscale Dragon Beast into a water vat, and everyone who drank would be revealed. With such a fatal flaw, what else could the founding ancestor do but retire?"

Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan exchanged glances. Qian Xueshen suddenly understood: "So that's why. Only after confirming the Snowscale Dragon Beasts were completely extinct from the Martial World did our sect dare to gradually reemerge."

Mu Qingyan sneered mockingly: "Actually, Old Ancestor Bei Chen had long foreseen that the Body Transformation Art violated too many taboos and would eventually become a target. By revealing its weakness before his death, he was trying to protect them. Unfortunately..."

Cai Zhao sighed: "Unfortunately, not even Old Ancestor Bei Chen's great abilities could predict human greed. The Thousand Faces Sect ultimately couldn't escape disaster."

Snow Woman filled a large flask with saliva for Cai Zhao, saying it would be enough to test over a thousand people.

With their elders' fates still unknown, Cai Zhao didn't want to delay further.

As they prepared to leave, the chubby cub kept nuzzling against Cai Zhao, clearly attached to her.

Feeling sentimental, Cai Zhao said, "It's not that I don't want to take you down the mountain, but there are too many bad people outside. You're safer here. Sigh... maybe after I find my master and father, I'll come back up the mountain to stay with you."

Mu Qingyan snorted with laughter: "Give it up. You complain for days if your wonton soup lacks scallions. Someone so attached to worldly pleasures could barely last three days on this cold, silent snow peak, let alone live here long-term to keep it company. Hah."

Blushing at having her true nature exposed, Cai Zhao said sheepishly to Snow Woman: "When I have time, I'll come up the mountain to visit you and Little Snow."

The corners of Snow Woman's mouth curved up, as if remembering something: "Your aunt said the same thing to my master before she left back then."

Cai Zhao froze.The Snow Woman spoke, "But my master waited for over a decade, and your aunt never returned. On her deathbed, she wished to see her one last time, but it never came to pass." Though usually cold and emotionless, her words couldn't conceal a trace of resentment.

Cai Zhao lowered her head. "...Not long after my aunt left this place, the Martial World fell into chaos. Later, she fought desperately against a great Demon. The Demon perished, but she was left crippled, bedridden for more than ten years. She couldn't possibly have climbed this snowy mountain again."

The Snow Woman's expression softened slightly. "So that's how it was. Has her health improved now?"

"Three years ago, she passed away."

Before leaving, Cai Zhao repeatedly urged the Snow Woman, "If you ever grow tired of staying here, come find me at Fallen Blossom Valley."

The Snow Woman wore a faintly mocking smile. "This place is good. I won't grow tired of it. Humans are the source of all evil. The world below the mountain—I never wish to set foot there again."

As they descended the mountain, Cai Zhao sighed repeatedly. "For my own selfish reasons, I forced Little Snow to hatch. I don't know if it was the right thing to do. Now it's the only Snowscale Dragon Beast left in this world—how lonely it must be."

Qian Xueshen, thinking of his own solitary existence—his sect and family all gone—felt a pang of empathy and sighed softly as well.

Unexpectedly, Mu Qingyan coldly remarked, "Save your sighs, both of you. Snowscale Dragon Beasts have extremely long lifespans, living at least two hundred years. In two hundred years, the world will have changed beyond recognition. Who knows? Another of its kind might emerge from some forgotten corner. But by then, even our grandchildren would be dust—us ordinary mortals shouldn't waste our breath worrying about that long-lived little beast!"

Qian Xueshen immediately stopped feeling melancholic.

Cai Zhao sulkily punched Mu Qingyan. "You really have no sense of romance."

When they reached the mountainside, Qian Xueshen suddenly stopped. He said, "You two go on ahead. I won't be leaving."

Mu Qingyan arched an eyebrow. "Don't you want my antidote?"

Qian Xueshen smiled and shook his head. "That poison was fake, wasn't it? Mu Shaojun, you must have noticed many inconsistencies in my behavior along the way. Thank you for tolerating and enduring me." With that, he bowed deeply to Mu Qingyan.

Cai Zhao was puzzled. "But what will you do staying here? It's freezing, desolate, and uninhabited. Why would you want to remain?"

Qian Xueshen smiled faintly. "The Snow Woman was right about something, and it gave me much to reflect on. Whether it's the Snowscale Dragon Beast or the Body Transformation Art, these are things that should never have resurfaced in the human world. Honestly, it would be better if I were dead, but I can't bear to part with this body just yet."

"This is where my family once lived. Staying here brings me peace. I'll slowly raise Snow Wind and Snow Pearl's offspring. Young Lady Knight Cai, Mu Shaojun, meeting the two of you has been my fortune. But all gatherings must come to an end. Let us part ways here."

"The world below the mountain—I don't wish to return there either."

As dusk fell, the mountain winds and snow picked up again. Through the swirling flurries, the three bid each other farewell.

Watching the girl's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Qian Xueshen suddenly called out loudly, "If I ever meet travelers in distress on this mountain in the future, I—I'll still save them!" After saying this, he gathered the four white-furred little beasts in his arms and turned away without looking back.

Two streams of hot tears rolled down his cheeks as he choked back sobs and walked into the snowstorm.

There was something he had kept in his heart, never spoken to Cai Zhao.

—Thank you.

Thank you for saving me time and again.

Thank you for speaking up for me, for helping me seek justice.

Thank you for always believing I wasn't a bad person.

Father, Mother, Uncle, Aunt—none of them were at fault. The wrong lay with those evil men.Vengeance is fulfilled, life renewed. Henceforth, I vow to guard this snow-capped ridge for the rest of my days.

A noble deed indeed.