Yu Nanqing took the hot water, and Huang Ye lowered her eyes and retreated the next moment.

Outside, the wind and snow howled, while inside the room, the candlelight flickered. Yu Nanqing placed the prepared hot water beside the bed, gently removed Su Wanyan's shoes and socks, and immersed her small feet in the warm water.

Su Wanyan instantly felt a warm current flow straight to her heart and lungs.

With a slight flick of his big toe, he created a shower of water droplets that soaked Yu Nanqing's clothes.

Yu Nanqing didn't dodge. With a helpless smile, he held her toes and gently tickled the soles of her feet. Su Wanyan immediately flinched and cried out, "Ouch!"

But Yu Nanqing held on tightly, leaving her no room to maneuver.

Su Wanyan pouted, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but turn up: "It was an accident."

"Hmm." Yu Nanqing followed her words: "It was an accident, too."

Su Wanyan pouted even more.

Listening to the wind outside the window, she changed the subject: "In winter, heavy snow will block the mountains, and we may need to find a place to stay."

November will pass and December will follow; traveling in the dead of winter is not a realistic option.

"The next village is about half a day's journey from here. Let Tanaka check the road conditions tomorrow before we can make a more detailed plan."

As they were talking, Yu Nanqing had already washed Su Wanyan's feet. Su Wanyan tucked her feet under the covers and looked up to ask, "What about you? Shall I wash yours?"

"No need for Yan'er to worry, I'll do it myself."

"Hehe, I was just asking." Su Wanyan laughed, already lying in bed.

Even though he was used to it, Yu Nanqing couldn't help but smile when he heard this. He picked up the basin of water and said, "You rest first, I'll be there in a moment."

"Um."

Due to the weather, the trip back to Fuzhou has changed.

Su Wanyan and Yu Nanqing had no choice but to settle in a small village. Before entering the village, Tian Zhong had already spoken with the village chief.

After paying the money, the village chief readily cleaned up a house that had been vacant.

The house was built against the hillside, and because of its high location, the snow that fell yesterday did not affect the access to the house at all.

After climbing the stone steps up the slope, there was a small courtyard. The snow in the courtyard had been cleared by the village chief's men. A wooden bridge had been built on the left side of the courtyard, connecting it to the village houses on the other side.

According to the village chief, since the village is built against the mountain, visiting villagers by normal route would be time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, bridges were built between the village houses to make it more convenient and faster.

"You can stay here and rest assured that you won't leave the village during the cold winter. It's not too late to set off after winter is over."

There's no village or shop in sight here; it's all remote mountains. Even the local villagers have to think twice before going up the mountain, let alone Su Wanyan and her fellow outsiders.

"Thank you," Su Wanyan said to the village chief.

The village chief waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned. Winter was the hardest time to endure, and since they had given him money, he would naturally treat them well.

As if remembering something, the old village chief reminded them: "That's right, there have been rumors recently that there are bandits in the area. Be careful, and don't wander around outside unless necessary."

The winters are very difficult for them, and if the bandits have no food, they will definitely target their village.

"Mountain bandits?" Su Wanyan asked curiously, "If mountain bandits target the village, won't you suffer too?"

“If it’s just a matter of getting a couple of bites of food, we can manage, but…” The old village chief looked the two of them up and down: “I see you’re dressed in fine clothes, so you must be from a wealthy family. Compared to us, you’re more likely to be targeted by bandits.”

After hearing what the old village chief said, Su Wanyan understood: "Thank you for reminding me, village chief."

When they arrived at the village, the accompanying guards did not come with them, but stayed at the post station.

Accompanying Huang Ye and Luo Xue were Tanaka and Mingyu.

Having given all the necessary reminders and said everything that needed to be said, the old village chief said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. Whatever you need, it's all in the warehouse; just go and get it."

"Thank you," Su Wanyan said again.

The house was built off the ground, against the hillside, and had two and a half stories. Judging from the layout, the first floor was for entertaining guests, the second floor had several rooms for resting, and the upper half floor was a warehouse, where many tools were piled up.

According to the village chief, the house has been vacant for a long time. Most of the villagers who were able to move away have already done so, and the remaining few dozen households are mostly elderly people.

Even young people in this village are extremely rare these days.

Since we're here, let's make the best of it.

Su Wanyan opened the second-floor window, from which she could take in the entire view of the opposite bank.

Looking down, the small river that separates the two banks has frozen over, and the wooden bridge that was built there is covered with snow.

Yu Nanqing appeared behind Su Wanyan and gently took her hand: "How are you?"

"Not bad," Su Wanyan said with a smile. "It's more comfortable than staying at a post station."

Yu Nanqing tightened his grip on Su Wanyan's small hand and lowered the window: "It's cold."

The wind made her little hands cold.

"The village chief just said there are bandits roaming the mountains. Could it be the same group we heard rumors about before?" Su Wanyan asked. "Speaking of your attack on Baiyou Valley, I haven't heard you mention it since. How did it go?"

"Nearly the end."

“That Xiao Chensheng…”

Yu Nanqing knew what Su Wanyan wanted to ask and shook his head: "She has never appeared."

"Oh." Su Wanyan lowered her eyes slightly, as if to say that Xiao Chensheng hadn't broken the illusion drug?

That Xiao Chensheng may already be...

The thought had barely formed when Yu Nanqing gently pinched her nose.

"..." Su Wanyan was speechless: "What are you doing?"

Because she was pinching her nose, Su Wanyan's voice sounded particularly coquettish.

Yu Nanqing's heart skipped a beat. She pursed her lips to steady herself before looking at him with narrowed eyes and saying, "Yan'er is thinking about someone else again."

Su Wanyan rolled her eyes and brushed his hand away: "No matter how much I miss other people, none of them are as good as you. You walked straight into my heart."

Upon hearing this, Yu Nanqing's cheeks flushed bright red, and she stared at Su Wanyan, completely stunned.

Su Wanyan found it amusing; she was still so easily amused.

"Let's go outside and take a look." We still need to figure out the basic routes in the village.

Yu Nanqing lightly covered his thin lips, seemingly still not recovered from Su Wanyan's words: "...Mm."

The village has only a few dozen households, but there are over a hundred buildings. Looking at the magnificent, layered houses, Su Wanyan could sense that this place had once been glorious.

Once you reach the highest point of the village, you can take in the entire village in one go.

Looking further out, one sees layer upon layer of mountains, covered in snow, a vast expanse of white as far as the eye can see.

The cold wind at the mountaintop was particularly biting. Su Wanyan was also tired, so she pulled Yu Nanqing up, and the two of them returned the way they came.

Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan stayed in the village for more than half a month.

As December approached, the temperature in the mountains grew increasingly cold. Fortunately, the old village chief had a large stockpile of charcoal, which he could use to take care of Su Wanyan and her group while also distributing the charcoal to villagers who came to him for help.