He shouldn't have held any hope for Mei Shisi - what kind of ivory could possibly come from that mouth of hers!
"Brother Mo isn't annoying at all!" Lou Xiaowu muttered discontentedly. "And neither am I."
These words struck a chord in Mo Sigui's heart. With Mei Shisi's temperament, who wouldn't she find annoying?
Though Mo Sigui claimed to prefer delicate and gentle cousins like Mei Jiu, the people he truly enjoyed befriending were actually the complete opposite.
Qiu Ningyu had been the sole ray of sunshine in his bleak childhood - so radiant that no other wonderful woman could compare. Thus he genuinely believed women should be as straightforward and capable as Qiu Ningyu.
The mountain wind drove heavy snow against them. Even through thick clothing, they could feel its force. Their faces had long gone numb from cold, and neither spoke further.
Lou Xiaowu led Mo Sigui into the manor. After helping Ling Gu back to her quarters to rest, she went to the meeting hall to search for survivors.
Lou Manor lay shrouded in the pitch-black snowy night. Beyond the howling wind, no other sounds could be heard. The lantern in Lou Xiaowu's hand swayed violently in the wind, nearly extinguishing.
The meeting hall was built practically atop the mountain peak, overlooking the entire Lou Manor. Though the mountain appeared steep, it wasn't particularly high. Channeling Inner Force to their feet, they quickly reached the entrance.
Six plain wooden doors stood without decoration. Above them hung a plaque bearing four bold, vigorous characters: "Loyalty, Integrity, and Righteousness."
Under the eaves, Lou Xiaowu shook snow from her cloak as she explained, "The clan leader previously said those with milder symptoms were all gathered in the meeting hall because there's a large ice cellar beneath it. Anyone who felt their condition worsening was to enter the cellar themselves."
Mo Sigui asked curiously, "Why build an ice cellar under the meeting hall?"
Lou Xiaowu strained to push the heavy wooden door, its hinges creaking in protest. "Most rocky mountains are unbearably hot in summer and cold in winter, making them unsuitable for habitation. But this mountain is different. They say our ancestors chose this location because our great-grandfather discovered Mystic Ice within the mountain rocks. Mystic Ice is a treasure of the Lou family, known to calm the spirit and nourish wisdom. The reason our great-grandfather built the meeting hall here speaks for itself."
In The Way of Medicine, there's the concept of "stone Medicine" - mineral-based Medicine known for their potent properties. Mystic Ice, also called Ice Soul in medical circles, belongs to the yin category and particularly benefits women. Martial artists use it to temper their Inner Force.
Forming Mystic Ice takes at least a thousand years. There are generally two types: Ancient Mystic Ice, which was more easily formed in antiquity but whose overwhelming properties require extreme caution whether used for martial arts or Medicine; and Millennial Mystic Ice, whose more manageable properties make it highly sought after.
As the hall doors opened and Mo Sigui stepped inside, a blade-like cold assaulted him. Despite his Inner Force protection, he couldn't suppress full-body shivers. "There's a naturally formed ice cave in the mountain?"
"Yes, so I've heard, though I've never been inside." Lou Xiaowu removed the lantern cover and began lighting the hall's lamps.
The warm orange glow made the room feel slightly less frigid. It also illuminated the worry in Lou Xiaowu's almond-shaped eyes. "Not a single person... Could it be that aside from Ling Gu, everyone's condition deteriorated enough to enter the ice cellar?"
Mo Sigui sighed softly. "The Lou family has been in this business for years. How could they have no precautions against poison at all?"Lou Xiaowu pouted, her face full of reluctance. "Our family has never had a physician, and this poison disappeared over a decade ago. We never expected it to suddenly reappear."
Mo Sigui frowned, the plumpness of her cheeks faintly visible beneath her veil. He suddenly felt how difficult it was to save Lou Manor with a child in tow. Then, recalling the earlier discussion about marriage, he instantly felt rather despicable.
Mo Sigui pulled out a folding fan and lightly tapped it against his thigh, pushing aside his wandering thoughts to focus on the matter at hand. "The Mystic Ice stored in Little Rock Mountain not only remains unmelted but has even formed an ice cavern. This must be ancient Mystic Ice—entering it would freeze a person solid in no time."
"Don't worry." Lou Xiaowu held up a lantern and opened a hidden compartment behind the wall, retrieving two long Mantles made of fire-marten fur.
Mo Sigui's eyes lit up as he tucked his fan into his sleeve. "These are excellent!"
Clothing made from fire-marten fur would make one sweat within moments even in winter. Lou Xiaowu then took out gloves, face masks, and other cold-resistant gear from the compartment. Once both were thoroughly bundled up, they made their way to the rear hall.
Lou Xiaowu moved aside a stone slab beneath a table. Outside, the winter wind howled fiercely, yet wisps of cold air could still be seen rising from the entrance.
Lou Shi had no adult men, so all the Mantles were designed for women. Fortunately, they were quite roomy, and Mo Sigui didn't find them too tight. Though he had inwardly scoffed at using women's gear earlier, now he wished the fur could grow directly on his skin.
"Let's go." Lou Xiaowu, ignorant and fearless, was the first to descend.
Mo Sigui felt he couldn't let a young girl venture into danger alone and followed without hesitation.
At first, the stairs were steep, but after about thirty steps, they gradually leveled out. Wrapped in thick marten fur, the two began to feel a faint sweat from the exertion.
The narrow passage stretched endlessly into darkness, and even breathing felt like blades scraping their nostrils and throats. Mo Sigui suddenly felt deep admiration for the women of Lou Shi, who had dared to enter such a place in ordinary clothing. The temperament of Lou Shi's daughters was truly remarkable.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, the lantern's light suddenly revealed a faint blue glow in the distance.
Lou Xiaowu hurried forward with the lantern, and Mo Sigui sighed inwardly, unsure whether her actions were foolish or brave.
With a slight movement of his arm, Mo Sigui gripped his fan and rushed after her.
Lou Xiaowu crouched by the glow, lantern in hand, and stared for a long moment before suddenly crying out, "Second Sister!"
Mo Sigui caught up and saw a woman standing with a sword, its tassel adorned with a fluorescent stone. Her eyes were closed, lips pressed tightly together, and her delicate face was covered in a layer of frost. Yet, the heroic spirit in her brow was still evident.
"Second Sister!" Lou Xiaowu circled the frozen figure anxiously. "Brother Mo, think of something quick..."
She looked up and saw Mo Sigui staring dumbfounded at Lou Mingyue's face, growing even more frantic. "Is there no hope?"
"No," Mo Sigui snapped out of it and pressed, "She's your second sister? She grew up in Lou Shi? What's her name?"
Lou Xiaowu's tear-filled eyes glistened as she looked at Mo Sigui. "My second sister is Lou Mingyue. If you want to marry her, you have to save her first!"
She hadn't forgotten her earlier promise.
"Lou Mingyue," Mo Sigui murmured. He crouched, spread his marten fur to wrap around Lou Mingyue's feet, and tore off his gloves to press his hands against her.Lou Xiaowu stood holding a lantern, staring at him in a daze. After a long while, she murmured to herself, "To treat Second Sister so well before even marrying her... he must truly like her a lot."
"Bring the lantern closer," Mo Sigui said, looking up.
Only then did Lou Xiaowu realize that her second sister was frozen to the ground. To rescue her, they first needed to separate her from the frozen surface.
Lou Xiaowu crouched down and moved the lantern closer. "Should I go up and get a torch now?"
"No," Mo Sigui replied gruffly. "If we thaw her too quickly with intense heat, her feet might be ruined."
The two of them crouched around the frozen legs, relying solely on their hands to slowly melt the ice. The process was painstakingly slow. Unable to bear the silence, Lou Xiaowu spoke up, "Brother Mo, you look at my second sister differently. Did you know her before?"
"Her features resemble an old acquaintance of mine," Mo Sigui asked again, "Are you certain she grew up entirely at Lou Manor?"
"Well... I can't say for sure," Lou Xiaowu hugged the lantern, her features bathed in its warm glow. "Mother had an accident while pregnant with me, so I was born prematurely and was frail from birth. The cold at Lou Manor was too harsh, and the elders feared I wouldn't survive, so they sent me away. I only returned to the manor at eight and have been back for five years now. Second Sister has always been here."
Mo Sigui's heart pounded wildly. "How old is your sister?"
A woman's birth details were usually kept private, but Lou Xiaowu felt Mo Sigui was a great benefactor and it wouldn't hurt to tell him. "Eighteen."
"If Ning Yu were alive, she'd be around that age too," Mo Sigui murmured softly.
Lou Xiaowu was curious. "Who is Ning Yu? Is she related to my second sister?"
There was no definitive answer. Mo Sigui couldn't be certain, but if what Lou Xiaowu said was true, Lou Mingyue might indeed be Qiu Ningyu.
Mo Sigui's urgency to save her grew even stronger. Once she woke up, he would have his answer!
"Brother Mo values Ning Yu greatly," Lou Xiaowu concluded, then gave him a resentful look. "It's understandable to want to marry Second Sister to repay your life-saving grace, but to make her a substitute for someone else... Xiao Wu feels terrible."
Lou Mingyue was far too proud for that.
"Stop imagining nonsense!" Mo Sigui couldn't help but smack her head lightly, then brought his hand to his mouth, breathing warm air onto it through his mask.
Lou Xiaowu couldn't see his expression at that moment, but she could see the determination and focus in his eyes.
On the other end of the night.
Mei Jiu had already fallen asleep, but An Jiu found little rest. She lay stiffly on the bed, gripping her dagger tightly as memories flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern, dizzying her.
As dawn approached, she closed her eyes to rest briefly.
A faint noise came from the corridor. An Jiu's eyes snapped open, her grip tightening on the dagger.
A shadow flickered before her. An Jiu rolled off the bed instantly, slashing out with the dagger.
Chu Dingjiang blocked it barehanded. The dagger sliced through his protective True Energy, leaving a shallow cut on his palm. He pulled out a black cloth from his sleeve and wrapped the wound. "Your reflexes are still sharp, but your strength is weaker than last time."
His tone was unmistakably pleased.
An Jiu couldn't fathom what he had to be happy about in his current predicament."You lack sufficient Inner Force, but this dagger can cut through True Energy. If you use it skillfully, even a fifth-rank martial arts master might not survive your attack." Chu Dingjiang was quite satisfied with An Jiu and didn't want her to take unnecessary risks. "Elder Zhi of Mei Shi has been imprisoned, and the Mei family head lacks decisiveness. If misfortune befalls Mei Shi, the outcome may mirror that of Lou Shi. You now have a choice—return to Mei Shi or join the Crane Control Army directly."
As the highest-ranking officer of the Divine Martial Army, he had the authority to recruit talent exceptionally.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight and tall, towering over An Jiu by a full head and a half. She had to look up at him, and this angle of viewing displeased her somewhat.
"I'll return to Mei Manor."
An Jiu actually believed joining the Crane Control Army now would be safer, but after briefly discussing it with Mei Jiu, she ultimately followed her advice—after all, it was Mei Jiu who would walk the path ahead.
"Very well." Chu Dingjiang said no more and simply called out, "Attendant."
A shadow guard entered and stood in the outer chamber, cupping his hands in salute. "Commander."
"Escort her back to Mei Shi." Chu Dingjiang ordered. (To be continued...)
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