Boundless snow-capped mountains
Snowflakes fluttered down, turning the world into a vast expanse of white in an instant. Scattered snowflakes drifted down the sides of the corridor, piling up into irregular snowdrifts.
Walking through the corridor, Dan Hong, holding an umbrella, caught up with Sui Zhixu, who was walking briskly.
Whether it was because she was extremely anxious or not, she momentarily forgot about her light-footed skills, and upon realizing it, she quickly left the crimson umbrella.
The green figure stood out against the vast expanse of white snow. Danhong watched as she flew over the rooftops and disappeared from her sight.
Dan Hong's heart was pounding with panic; her hand gripping the umbrella handle was trembling so badly she could barely hold on.
"Nothing can happen. God bless us and may our family return safely."
She stepped into the snowstorm. The sound of the falling snow was very soft, but the wind howled and her umbrella was blown away.
When she finally returned to Jianjia Pavilion, she happened to see Sui Zhixu's forehead pressed against the vermilion pillar.
Dan Hong folded up her umbrella, tossed it aside, and walked up to her wife, only to find that she was gripping two swords tightly in her hands.
"My wife..."
"I'm going to the Prince of Xuanping's residence." Sui Zhixu's eyes were empty, and he uttered these words blankly like a puppet.
Cong Lan's right eyelid twitched incessantly, growing more and more intense, as if it had turned into rapid drumbeats, striking his mind with each beat.
He heard Sui Zhixu's words as soon as he entered the door. Ignoring his injured foot, he snatched the sword from her hand and said, "Even if the sky falls, Father will be the first to hold it up. When will our family need a child like you to be the first to step up?"
"It's Gu Qingyi, it must be her." Sui Zhixu let him snatch the sword, but the veins on the back of his hand bulged.
Her gaze met Cong Lan's, and an endless tug-of-war, regret, grief, and hatred gripped her deeply. Her hands arched, her nails digging into her flesh.
Winter clothes are heavy, but they don't seem to show on her. Her slender figure inexplicably reminds one of the pure and crisp pine trees in the winter wind and snow.
The tops of the pine and cypress trees were now teetering on the brink of collapse.
Cong Lanxin felt a heavy weight lift from his shoulders. He grasped Sui Zhixu's shoulders and said, "Your mother is my wife, and I am your father. If anyone should go, it should be me."
Sui Zhixu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Too many things had happened recently, one after another. Just when they had finally solved the Pei family's case, Xiao Furong was infected with a Gu worm, and now even her mother was in trouble.
And it's all because of her.
"Calm down and tell me how your mother is doing now."
"The Golden Bell of Tianque Tower is besieging Chu Mountain. Xiao Hei is sending a distress signal. Tonight, heavy snow will block the mountain, and I'm afraid Mother will be in grave danger. Gu Qingyi wants me. If I go to the Xuanping Prince's Mansion, Mother will be alright."
She spoke hastily, snatching the sword from Cong Lan's hand, but he threw it directly outside. It landed on the soft snow, its bamboo-green tassel stained with snowflakes.
“Your mother was nearly thirty when she had you. She loved and cherished you more than anyone else. If she knew that you would give your life to save hers, she would rather die than accept it.”
"Go find Chu Feixuan and have him mobilize the remaining military units in Chang'an. Take your gyrfalcon to Chu Mountain tonight. I'll handle Sima Xian. Father has been in the court for years, and he didn't do it for nothing. Listen to me, go find your mother and bring her home."
Cong Lan patted Sui Zhixu's shoulder, his broad and gentle palm holding her shoulder.
Puyang Kai chimed in, "Junior sister, go and take your master's wife home. Our teacher is here in Chang'an."
"I understand." Sui Zhixu turned to Liu Lü and instructed, "Go and inform Lord Chu that we will meet outside the city gate in three quarters of an hour."
Liu Lü immediately agreed, "Yes!"
Sui Zhixu picked up the sword from the snow, glanced at it, and Cong Lan waved her away, signaling her to leave.
After Sui Zhixu left, Cong Lan fully revealed his brilliance, saying, "Xiao Kai, come with me to meet this carefree immortal, Prince Xuanping, and learn some knowledge from him."
Puyang Kai cupped his hands and said, "Yes."
The snow fell heavily, and amidst the swirling snowflakes, Chu Feixuan rode up and stopped beside Sui Zhixu, saying, "I have arranged for the soldiers of the Military Academy to leave the city through various gates."
Stepping out of the city gate, Sui Zhixu looked up and gazed into the distance. The distant, rolling mountains were also covered in snow, blending into the sky and earth, leaving only faint outlines.
She said sternly, "Hurry up and head to Chushan!"
The nights in the mountains are cold; I wonder if my mother can hold on.
The howling wind, carrying snowflakes, blew against their faces. Under Chu Feixuan's arrangement, the soldiers successfully met at a pavilion fifteen miles outside the city.
As Xu and Chu Feixuan rode ahead, he said, "There's a shortcut to Chu Mountain. At the next intersection, follow me."
As they approached the intersection, she slowed down and followed him, turning left. The horse's hooves kicked up a wave of snowflakes, leaving a trail of hoofprints.
As darkness fell and the snowy night blurred everything, Sui Zhixu lost track of how long he had been riding. They even changed horses along the way.
They were almost there. The hazy mountains gradually magnified before their eyes. After passing through the forest, Chu Feixuan stopped his horse.
"The path leads up to the mountains, so we won't go any further. We'll have to walk." He gripped his sword tightly, looked up at the towering mountains, and beckoned his gyrfalcon.
He instructed the gyrfalcon in a special language to search for Sui He's figure.
As Mali had entrusted the same gyrfalcon to him, soon two black and white figures were circling around the mountainside.
Holding the bamboo shoots and the snow-splitting blades in my hands, my feet crunched through the snow.
Where could my mother be?
The snow was falling too heavily, obscuring the tracks on the ground, and the group had no way of determining Sui He's whereabouts by the footprints.
Behind the layers of branches and leaves in the distance, several people silently watched Sui Zhixu's movements.
"You were right, she really did come."
Gu Qingyi's face was hidden under her shawl. She chuckled softly, "You know her temper. She was definitely angry at first and wanted to go to the Xuanping Prince's Mansion to find me, but Cong Lan stopped her. I think Cong Lan must know about her past, otherwise Sui He wouldn't have been in such a hurry to come back. She has a lot to do in Jingzhou."
"You're still the same, always scheming. Chang'an is such a hassle. She's not as cunning as you. You should come back to Miao territory with me."
Gu Qingyi shrugged, not denying Jiang Li's assessment of her. "As for where A-Ling is going, let's talk about bringing her back first. I really should reflect on how I was too strict in the past. Perhaps she prefers a gentle mother like Sui He, which is why she stays outside and refuses to come back."
"Gentle?" Jiang Li murmured to herself. The first person she thought of was Shen Huaiyu, but after thinking about it, she felt that it was not appropriate.
“Then you weren’t gentle this time. She doesn’t like going out in the snow.” Jiang Li, tall and slender, faced her, a hint of annoyance flashing across her cold and beautiful face.
"No, I have to go see her."
Without waiting for Gu Qingyi's reply, Jiang Li wrapped her cloak tighter and stepped into the wind and snow.
Jiang Li's figure was graceful, her back view alluring, and the dawn sky seemed to become a backdrop for her.
Gu Qingyi smiled. Not gentle? It's alright. I just used some methods to get her back.
—
The group searched for Sui He along the winding path. The snow fell even heavier, and overnight, a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the mountaintop. They dared not speak loudly, for fear that the snowdrifts would collapse and block their path.
Chu Shiguan once marched to Chu Mountain. He found the cave on the mountain based on his memory, but did not find any trace of Sui He.
He rubbed his forehead. "Where exactly is the patriarch?"
Sui Zhixu shook his head, "The gyrfalcon hasn't responded yet."
Light shone through the clouds, but the snow continued to fall, and willow catkins still filled the air, gradually intensifying their search.
Chu Feixuan gritted his teeth: "Let's look again."
"Bingjialiao split into two teams and continued searching. Once found, send a signal."
As Xu stood not far from the cave entrance, he knew Jinling must still be there, but why couldn't he find them anywhere? And where was his mother?
Every word Gu Qingyi said about going home annoyed her. What would she do if she went back? Go to her death? She knew Sima Xian's intentions better than anyone, yet she pretended to be an elder and tried to persuade her.
She missed her mother; she hadn't seen her mother in a long time.
She woke up from the cliff and returned home severely injured. Her mother stayed by her side day and night. She had seen her handling clan affairs by candlelight late at night. In order to take care of her, her mother postponed all the housework until the evening.
How did she manage to stay by her side punctually during the day?
At first, she found it hard to accept her mother's affection, but she liked that her mother stood firmly by her side. For the first time, she began to feel that she liked this place.
She chose her over Sui Shan.
Although Auntie San and Suishan didn't get along, Auntie San still subtly mentioned Suishan and Mother's past when they were young, and that they had a very good relationship as siblings.
She had to admit that she initially just wanted to watch the show. She harbored extreme malice towards them and calculated the worst possible outcome, but Sui He always chose her time and time again.
She liked this feeling. Her decision to help Sui Chengyu poison Sui Shan was partly due to her cousin, but also because of her own reasons.
Some malice that arose from the bottom of one's heart.
When Mother returns to Jingzhou, she should find out that there are arrangements made by her.
Sui Zhixu lowered her head, her fingertips constantly rubbing the hilt of the sword. She closed her eyes and then opened them again. Her most urgent task was to find her mother.
A sharp, short cry hovered above her head.
"Gyrfalcon? Have you found your mother?"
As soon as the sound faded, the gyrfalcon flapped its wings and took off. Chu Feixuan, who was trying to search in the snowdrift, looked up and said, "Quick, follow it."
"Wait! Something's wrong with the snow mountain, get out of the way!" Sui Zhixu heard a slight twitch in her ear. She looked up at the snow mountain, where the snowdrifts on the summit looked like they were about to collapse. She quickly jumped away from that area.
In an instant, the snowdrift slid down the mountainside, gathering more companions along the way. As the snow tumbled, it raised a cloud of snow mist that filled the entire world.
The trees along the way were as if they had been swept away by a flood, leaving only a few pieces of logs.
The raging torrents, with their immense power, left behind only a deathly silence.
Although Xu reacted in advance, that brief moment was not enough in the face of the avalanche. She was knocked down by the snow above, and as she rolled, her back slammed into a thick tree trunk. The slender branches above were no match for the impact and all of them fell on her.
She planted her sword in the snow to maintain her posture and prevent herself from being swept away by the snow flow to the next place.
After a moment of silence, the crowd dispersed.
The gyrfalcon flew to Sui Zhixu's side, hooked her clothes with its sharp seeds, and tried to pull her out of the snow.
Sui Zhixu then realized that her shoulder had been injured by a tree trunk. She had been in the mountains for too long, and her limbs were cold, making her reactions much slower.
"Take me to my mother." She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them. She couldn't imagine her mother's situation; she needed to hurry.
She crawled out of the snow, her steps uneven, and looked around but couldn't find Chu Feixuan or the others.
With no other option, she could only grip her sword tightly and follow the gyrfalcon.
"Ring ring—"
Suddenly, a noise came from around the corner ahead. Despite the discomfort in his shoulder, Sui Zhixu held his sword up with both hands and remained alert.
As the hem of her clothes came into view, she quickly stepped forward and slashed at the person who had come at her. Her sword sliced across the umbrella, and the person opposite her pushed off forcefully to deflect Sui Zhixu's attack.
Amidst the flashing swords, she caught a glimpse of the colorful Miao clothing worn by the other person, the silver ornaments on their chest shimmering in the fine snow, and almost instantly knew their identity without much thought.
She lifted the umbrella, revealing a cold and beautiful face. The jingling silver ornaments on her body were even more striking than any gold ornaments.
She moved with agility and easily grasped Sui Zhixu's hand to take his pulse. Sui Zhixu, slightly surprised, withdrew his hand.
A look of surprise flashed across Jiang Li's eyes. "The Gu worms on your body are actually gone."
"But it's good that you're coming back to Miao territory with me now. I'll keep all the flowers you've been growing, so you can continue watering and caring for them next spring."
The sharp sword was pointed at Jiang Li, and she looked somewhat displeased, but soon regained her composure.
"Are you blaming me for not saving you? I was in seclusion at the time and didn't know you were in trouble." Regret appeared on her beautiful face, and her aloof and cold demeanor softened instantly.
Although Xu was unsure of her attitude, she seemed more normal than Gu Qingyi.
She hesitated before speaking, "Can't I blame you? I really did die once, my body left to rot in the wilderness. Why should I go back to a home like that?"
Jiang Li held her hand. "Come back to Miao territory with me. I won't let them hurt you."
That's not normal either.
Sui Zhixu pulled his hand away from hers and said coldly, "Where is my mother?"
"I've overdone my medicine."
"You've already harmed Zirong, are you going to harm my mother too?"
She pressed the sword against Jiang Li's neck. Jiang Li looked up at her and said, "You've only known her for a year, and you've already recognized her as your mother? Look at yourself now, you're completely irrational."
Sui Zhixu scoffed, "Rationality?"
"You keep pushing me, pushing me to my death, and you still expect me to have any sense?" She forced Jiang Li to retreat repeatedly.
“We raised you, how could we force you to die? Ah Ling, I just want you to come back to Miao territory with me.”
"Enough!"
As Xu brandished her sword, Jiang Li quickly bent down to dodge, then drew her silver whip from her waist and entangled with her.
The cold sword and the silver whip clashed repeatedly, sparks flying everywhere.
The gyrfalcon overhead opened its sharp claws and pounced on Jiang Li, but she moved nimbly and immediately bound its feet with her whip.
The two humans and the beast were locked in a fierce battle. Unable to withstand the attack alone, Jiang Li was forced to retreat within a quarter of an hour.
Miao's clothes were slashed several times by Sui Zhixu. She stabbed Jiang Li's shoulder blade with her sword, almost piercing his heart.
"stop!"
A cold voice made Sui Zhixu turn his head. It was Gu Qingyi. Behind her were dozens of men in black with gold bells on their waists. One of them was holding Sui He hostage.
"you!"
Gu Qingyi said quietly, "I can hand Sui He over to Chu Feixuan, but you have to come back with us."
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