The Three Princes' Palace.

Chen Xun stood aside, watching Mu Ange leisurely pack her things with half an orange in her mouth.

He asked, "Your Highness, do you really have to go?"

On the wall behind the sleeping quarters lay his silver-white spear, its blade made of fine black iron, meticulously forged by a master blacksmith. It could cut through iron like mud and take a man's head from ten paces away.

The hand with distinct knuckles gently stroked the spearhead, on which was carved a phoenix spreading its wings, drawn by Mother herself.

Mu Ange reached out and held the spear behind him, his posture upright and his tone leaving no room for doubt: "The medicinal ingredient for the Golden Toad Gu is growing there, and I must go and retrieve it."

Chen Xun was very worried: "The depths of Liuxi Valley are extremely dangerous. Even herbalists who have been gathering herbs for generations dare not venture there easily. Your Highness, I am worried about you going alone. I will go with you."

Mu Ange tightened his belt, put on his face mask, and said, "I will go by myself. You stay in the capital."

"Your Highness!"

Mu Ange pushed open the door, then turned back to add with concern, "Take good care of your aunt... and her."

Chen Xun knew who he was; he was the little eunuch who always made the prince make exceptions for him time and time again.

A eunuch? The prince wouldn't be...

Inside a secluded, humble dwelling on the outskirts of Beijing.

The dim light still seemed out of place in this quiet place. The person in the main seat was dressed in a black robe, and the cloak completely covered his face, making it impossible to see his figure. Only his sharp chin and bloodless lips could be seen.

The black color seemed to blend seamlessly with his entire being; if light were to fall upon him, it would likely scorch him into flames.

The room was completely silent.

"Mu Ange, has she left the city?"

He suddenly spoke, his voice carrying the chill of ice and snow and deliberately lowered, making it impossible to discern his age.

One of the men knelt on one knee: "My lord, they have gone in the southwest direction."

The man called Lord moved his neck and gazed into the southwest.

"He was heading southwest out of the city, with the Pingchang River meandering along the way. Twenty miles away, Pingchang City was situated on the riverbank. Was he going to Pingchang City?"

"My lord, I have contacted the spies in Pingchang City and ordered them to keep a close eye on Mu Ange."

The lord chuckled softly, with a hint of disdain: "Pingchang City is not particularly wealthy, and the city lord has no ambition. There is no need to win him over. Coming down this road in the southwest, I'm afraid the only place we'll find any gains is in Liuxi Valley."

The subordinate hesitated for a moment, then said, "I will send men to Liuxi Valley to intercept and kill them immediately."

The Lord raised his head slightly and said slowly, "Make sure he never returns."

"yes."

He never believed that Mu Ange was a notorious good-for-nothing. He remembered studying together when they were young. Mu Ange was a learned man who was praised by the Grand Tutor. At the age of twelve or thirteen, he was full of vigor and had an unparalleled reputation. He rode his horse through the streets with a long spear. The bright young man was the most dazzling sight in the world.

But after falling ill, his personality changed drastically, and he became the carefree and irresponsible person he is today.

He didn't believe it, he didn't believe it, he didn't believe that Mu Ange would become useless and incompetent!

Regardless, he was the one he feared most, so he had to die, and everything about him could not be left behind.

~~

A crescent moon hangs in the sky, the night is cold and the wind is fierce.

Within Liuxi Valley, one side is a towering, insurmountable cliff shrouded in mist and clouds, while the other side is a vast, boundless wetland with flowing streams.

The rustling footsteps were crystal clear in the silent night.

The Xifu Lotus grows in the Liuqi Valley, where the sun never shines. In the deepest part of the valley, in a pool of icy water, grows the unique Xifu Lotus, which is cold in nature, nourishes Yin, and can detoxify all poisons.

Mu Ange followed his memory to find the direction of the icy pool; he had to finish this quickly.

"arrive."

A vast expanse of icy water lies hidden in the night, surrounded by towering ancient trees, like stern-faced guards protecting a serene princess.

Mu Ange held her breath and took a step forward. With a whoosh, she stepped directly into the icy pool.

In an instant.

The bone-chilling cold that spread from his toes was like ice nails piercing straight into his spine. The blood surging in his body was instantly frozen as it flowed to his limbs and bones, causing him to spasm all over and break out in a cold sweat.

"hiss."

He gasped and quickly pulled his leg back.

The chill subsided slightly, but my entire calf became incredibly stiff.

He tried touching it; it felt like ice.

He had visited Liuxi Valley three years ago, but had never been to the Frozen Pool, so he didn't know what was there.

A cold wind blew, but thankfully the clouds parted and the sun shone through. The cool moonlight filtered through the gaps in the lush branches, scattering dappled light and shadow on the icy pool.

Mu Ange immediately spotted the Western Lotus in the center of the pond. Within its translucent, ice-crystal-like petals lay a pure white stamen, as white as fresh snow. Its roots, gleaming with a cold light, meandered into the pond, their depths unfathomable.

Mu Ange gripped his spear tightly, leaped into the air, and reached out to touch the flowers in the pond.

A beastly roar that shook the mountaintop suddenly rang out.

The mountain wind was biting, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently.

A dark figure suddenly rushed out from the opposite bank of the pool, its sharp claws gleaming coldly, and pounced straight at Mu Ange's face.

He was startled, used the water to his advantage to turn around, and then blocked a claw with the butt of the spear, staggering to the ground.

The booming sound of the spear demonstrated just how astonishing the beast's strength was.

Again!

Mu Ange thrust his spear diagonally into the sky, then leaped into the air with a powerful kick of his right leg, attacking from the left side of the ferocious beast.

With another claw strike, Mu Ange did not retreat. He swung his long whip at his waist and charged towards the Xifu Yaolian in the pond. Unexpectedly, the pond water suddenly surged up with huge waves, and a huge tail covered with scales and gleaming with dark cold light suddenly emerged from the water, knocking Mu Ange's long whip back into the pond.

The long whip, imbued with the overwhelming chill of the icy pool, seeped inch by inch into his palm.

Mu Ange frowned and quickly pulled back the whip. On the other side, the ferocious beast roared and swung its body into the spear, throwing Mu Ange and the beast to the shore.

Bang.

Mu Ange's back slammed heavily against an ancient tree on the bank, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, rolling to the ground.

He gripped his spear and propped himself up, irritably wiping the blood from his lips: "Two, huh? I'm getting serious!"

Mu Ange stood up and roared, his spear flying a hundred meters away and splitting an ancient tree on the bank in half. The broken branches scattered in all directions, many falling into the icy pool.

The giant python leaped up and pounced on the broken branch.

Seeing the opportunity, Mu Ange moved forward like a dragonfly skimming the water, retrieved the spear, and flew across the broken branches to the center of the pool. With a cold look in her eyes, she gathered her strength and thrust the spear straight into the beast's chest and abdomen.

With a bang, the black iron blade sliced ​​through the beast's belly, leaving a trail of sparks. Mu Ange was shocked: Was it protected by armor?

Mu Ange gripped his spear, stepped on the beast's head, and flew horizontally into the air, thrusting the spear into the beast's right eye.

With a splatter, blood gushed out, and a wail of agony suddenly erupted.

"not good."

Out of the corner of his eye, the giant python's triangular head leisurely rose two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) above the water, its sinister and cold eyes fixed on him, its dark mouth slightly open, flicking out a crimson tongue...