Chapter 42 Snowfield - 5 When Yu Jitang was hit by the spiritual energy waves outside...

When Yu Jitang was awakened by the fluctuations of spiritual energy outside, he and Wu Chen had been cooped up in the snow cave for half a month.

Of course, feeling depressed was only a state he was in alone.

Wu Chen meditates every day, like an ice sculpture; what's even more terrifying is that he seems capable of this state indefinitely. Yu Jitang senses absolutely no anxiety or impatience from him. Such a person is truly terrifying.

"Go out and take a look?" Yu Jitang asked Wu Chen, gripping the sword in his hand.

Wu Chen shook his head.

"Why? We've waited so long, isn't it all to catch someone?"

Wu Chen remained seated, "Have you sensed any demonic energy?"

Yu Jitang was about to say that the Divine Palace's precious Peace Bell wasn't with him when he suddenly remembered that Wu Chen had already given it to Lu Qing. That lust-blinded fellow! Helpless, he could only focus his attention to sense the outside world. "Huh, it's not cultivators and demons fighting. And... it's over."

Wu Chen looked outside but remained silent.

However, Yu Jitang wasn't in a hurry at this moment. The fight ended so quickly, and it was between cultivators, so it was probably some kind of dirty trick or something, which he really couldn't be bothered with.

But just as he was about to lie down and take another nap, Wu Chen stood up, put away the exquisite oil lamp, and asked, "Shall we go take a look?"

Um?

Yu Jitang was a bit irritable. Every time, he would trample on Yu Jitang's intelligence. Did this guy even know how to care about his brother's self-esteem? But if he said anything now, wouldn't he seem even less intelligent? Yu Jitang jumped up helplessly, put everything into his spirit pouch, grabbed his sword, and went out with Wu Chen.

The blizzard outside had stopped for two days. Standing halfway up the mountain and looking down, all I could see was pure white snow, with occasional undulations that were as translucent as a glass pen holder on a desk.

The air he inhaled was crisp and pure. Yu Jitang took a deep breath, somewhat surprised that the air here was comparable to that of the Divine Palace. As he breathed deeply, he looked around. "Huh, why are there no traces? Someone clearly did something just now!"

Wu Chen tossed the Taiyi Sword into the air, leaped up, and flew towards the general direction from which he had sensed the fluctuations in spiritual energy. Yu Jitang followed closely behind.

When the two arrived at that spot, they looked around and saw that the ground was covered in snow, with no signs of anything.

Yu Jitang scratched his head, lowered his flying sword, and examined the ground closely. "This is strange. Could it be that my perception is wrong?" He scratched his head again. "No, you noticed it too, didn't you? If it was just a simple attack, they wouldn't even have time to escape. Why would they bother to cover up the traces? If it was murder, there might not be anyone within hundreds of miles of here. Why go through all that trouble?"

Wu Chen carefully compared the ground below with the surrounding area, then pointed to the cliff for Yu Jitang to see.

Yu Jitang cursed under his breath, "That thief is really cunning."

At first glance, nothing seemed amiss on the ground. However, a large section of snow and ice had collapsed onto the nearby cliff, and the newly exposed portion differed slightly from the long-exposed snow. This suggested that someone had deliberately broken down this area of ​​accumulated snow to conceal something.

"What should we do? Are we going to dig it out again?" Yu Jitang's scalp tingled. "Maybe we should just give up. Who knows which petty thief died?" Just look at the signs of collapse on the cliff face. You can tell this job is anything but easy. And with such a large area, who knows where they're buried underneath?

Wu Chen jumped off the Taiyi Sword and waved to Yu Jitang, "I've heard that the Yu family's forty-nine sword techniques are extremely powerful, even the High Priest doesn't dare to underestimate them. I wonder if I'll have the honor of witnessing them today!"

Yu Jitang rolled his eyes. He was being asked to do hard labor and he was being made to talk so nicely! But he couldn't suppress the urge to laugh with smugness, so he simply gave an exaggerated smile, "Fine, I'll show you."

Yu Jitang stared at the mountain wall for a while, then found the very center. He guessed that this was likely where the murderer would unleash their power. So he used six or seven tenths of his strength, and the sword energy whipped up the snow on the ground, sending it flying to both sides.

It took a lot of effort, but finally, near the bottom of the cliff, a strange color appeared.

Yu Jitang stopped his sword strike and approached with Wu Chen.

There lay a male corpse. His face was completely disfigured, his original features unrecognizable. His hair was disheveled, and he was only wearing an undergarment. Because he was buried in the snow, his body was clean, without a trace of dirt.

Yu Jitang looked at the disfigured face and felt a little disgusted, so he looked away. He then examined the other parts of the face.

The two squatted on either side of the male corpse, examining it carefully.

"There were no external injuries. His heart meridian was shattered, killing him instantly." Yu Jitang used his sword sheath to pry up the corpse's arm. "Judging from these bones, this person should be a cultivator, and a high one at that. Look at these hands, so well-maintained, he must have lived a life of luxury. Hey, what are you doing?"

Wu Chen actually started to strip the dead man of his clothes. However, the body was already stiff and difficult to handle.

Having no other choice, Yu Jitang put down his sword, and the two of them began to grope an unidentified male corpse in the snow.

"This person is definitely not an ordinary pampered individual," Wu Chen frowned slightly. There wasn't a single wound on this corpse. Cultivators often fight demons and monsters; injuries are commonplace. Even Wu Chen and Yu Jitang had their share of injuries. But this corpse was completely unscathed. Either his family had abundant elixirs and he received meticulous care after being injured, or his family cherished him greatly, protecting him from even the slightest harm.

But regardless of the circumstances, why would such a person die alone here?

The two checked repeatedly but found no clues to his identity. The only trace was that the person had likely worn a ring or something similar on his left index finger, as there was a slight difference in the skin beneath the ring.

However, there are many practitioners who wear jade rings on their left index finger.

"I feel like I've seen this person somewhere before," Yu Jitang said uncertainly.

Wu Chen helped the corpse put his clothes back on. He then lifted him up by the back of his collar. The male corpse was actually about the same height as the two of them.

Wu Chen also felt a vague sense of familiarity; it seemed he had indeed seen this person before. However, there were too many people who looked familiar, and he couldn't recall who it was.

"Hey, Wu Chen, you should put him down. Have you considered my feelings about staring at such a bloody and mangled face?" Yu Jitang complained.

Wu Chen then put the corpse down again and buried it with snow.

"What should we do? Should we stay here?" Yu Jitang asked.

Wu Chen shook his head. "Not many people should know this road. Including us, this is already three groups. If they know the way, they should have already come. Let's chase after them and see if we can find the killer."

"Okay, okay." Yu Jitang hurriedly agreed. If he were to stay in this snowy plain any longer, he would really go crazy.

The two turned and left.

About half a day after they left, two more people arrived on the snowfield. They had come one after the other on flying swords, and by the time they reached the snowfield, they were exhausted. They landed and rested not far from the ice cave.

The sunlight shone on their faces, making their features exceptionally clear.

The latter was somewhat angry. Upon closer inspection, he recognized her as Qi Ying, Wu Chen's close attendant. He looked down at the woman sitting on the ground with a serious expression and said, "Qi Zhi, come back with me. Your stubbornness will anger the master."

Qi Zhi didn't even look at him. "Anyway, the adults don't want me anymore. If I can really make him angry, it proves that I still have a place in his eyes, right?"

Qi Ying felt sorry for her and angry at her. "What do you mean you have no place by the master's side? The master said that as long as you straighten your mind, you can still come back to Nukun Peak."

Qi Zhi trembled slightly, "And then what? Do you just watch the adults being affectionate and intimate with other people every day?"

"What do you want?" Qi Ying was also angry. "The master has never overstepped his bounds with you, nor has he ever said or promised you anything. Even as you are, he is still willing to send you to Qixia Peak to recuperate. As long as you let go of your thoughts..."

"Why should I give up my feelings?" Qi Zhi roared. "I admire you, Master. I've been studying diligently and practicing my skills for so many years on Nukun Peak. I've done better than any other female disciple in the Divine Palace, including the daughters of noble families. Which one of them has been more devoted to you than I have? Haven't I suffered and been tired? Why have I done all this? Isn't it so that I can stay by your side for a long time? You're telling me to give up my feelings. What's the difference between that and tearing my heart out? What's the difference between that and forcing me to become a living dead?"

“But the master doesn’t like you! The person he loves isn’t you!” Qi Ying’s words struck Qi Zhi’s most painful spot.

"You're lying!" Qi Zhi shrieked. "I've been by your side for so many years, no one knows you better than me. He's not the kind of person who would ruin his future for beauty or love. If it were beauty, is there any woman in the entire Divine Palace more beautiful than me? If it were love, is your master the kind of shallow man who would be blinded by a few words? He's only been gone a short time. How could he have fallen deeply in love with a woman and become so attached to her?"

Qi Ying was so angry she wanted to knock her unconscious, drag her back, and lock her up.

Qi Zhi's voice grew louder and louder as she spoke, "No one understands the Master better than me. He won't succumb to the pressure of his family background, nor will he be tempted by beauty. He will only choose the woman who is most suitable for him. No woman is more suitable for the Master than me. That news was just something the Master released to mislead others. You've been deceived too."

Qi Ying laughed in exasperation. "Don't dream about it. The master has never had romantic feelings for you. He only sees you as a valued disciple. If you want to overstep that line, you'll have to see if the master is willing to give the nod."

In the three days leading up to their departure, the adult secluded himself at home, refusing visitors. Aside from preparing supplies for the winter hunt, he would occasionally drift into thought or smile. Whenever this happened, he would unconsciously gaze southward. The meaning of this was self-evident.

“Yes. It requires the master's approval.” Qi Zhi stood up and knelt down in front of Qi Ying with a thud. “Qi Ying, we have been fellow disciples for many years, and our bond is like that of brothers. You have long known my feelings for the master. You did not stop me before, and I beg you, please do not stop me from now on. You must know that if I give my all, the master might take pity on me and let me stay by his side. But if I give up, I will truly never be able to return to the master's side. Qi Ying, I beg you.”

Qi Ying looked at her sadly, "But the master already understands your thoughts. He won't change his mind."

Qi Zhi burst into tears. "Qi Ying, things have already reached the worst point, haven't they? Even if the master is angry and banishes me from Nukun Peak forever, what difference would that make from our current situation? I beg you, is our friendship of so many years as fellow disciples really less important than a vixen I've never met?"

Qi Ying sighed inwardly. No wonder the master wanted to send Qi Zhi away; her foolishness had truly betrayed the master's good intentions. However, his and Qi Zhi's martial arts skills had always been evenly matched; even if they were to fight, it would be difficult to determine a winner. Moreover, in this perilous Western Wilderness, if they were to fight recklessly, who knew what the outcome would be?

Seeing that Qi Ying remained silent, Qi Zhi stood up with a cold laugh. "I didn't expect you to be even more heartless than the adults. Let me tell you the truth, Qi Ying, this trip of the Divine Palace disciples to the Western Wilderness for the winter hunt was ordered by the Divine Palace. I am also a disciple of the Divine Palace, so why can't I come? What right do you have to force me to go back?"

Qi Ying shook his head inwardly, "Fine, since you say so, I will not stop you. We have been fellow disciples for many years, and the Western Wilderness is fraught with danger, so let us travel together."

Qi Zhi visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Qi Ying."

Qi Ying frowned slightly and said nothing more. She secretly resolved to keep a close eye on her and make sure she didn't make any mistakes. Finding the adults in such a vast snowfield wouldn't be easy for her. Besides, perhaps a period of experience in the snowfield would help her gradually come to terms with things.

But to everyone's surprise, Qi Zhi rummaged in his sleeve for a while, then walked in one direction. "Qi Ying, look, there's an ice cave here. It looks like someone used to live there."

Qi Ying followed her over and saw that the ice cave did indeed look like someone had lived there, but it was now completely empty.

Qi Zhi's suppressed joy did not escape Qi Ying's notice. Qi Ying's heart skipped a beat, growing even heavier.

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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2020-06-24 14:54:16 and 2020-06-27 18:04:10!

Thank you to the little angels who threw landmines: Repigon and newshemay (1 each);

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 19262682 (30 bottles); Tuantuan (28 bottles); and someone who passed by (1 bottle).

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!