Chapter 39 Wandering in the Painting (Part Two): Immortality or Not...
Not long after returning to Plum Blossom Manor, Huo Yunfeng obtained a perfect sword, which Mei Zhiying named Yebu.
"Why is it called 'Wild Walk'? Isn't it springtime now?"
"I think it would be better to call it 'Reporting Your Wishes'!"
Mei Zhiying felt that her achievements had been offended, and she now felt that giving Yebu to Huo Yunfeng was a mistake that was like a cow chewing on a peony.
However, she soon lost the energy to mock Huo Yunfeng, because Xi Ling learned that Bao Junyi had not accepted the "final payment" and came all the way to Plum Blossom Manor feeling wronged.
"Zhiying, it's okay. I understand even if you don't say it. Even though I'm your friend, I don't care if there's no sword or gift..."
Huo Yunfeng watched the show from the sidelines, holding Bao Junyi in his arms. Xi Ling pretended to wipe away tears while secretly observing Mei Zhiying's reaction. She was somewhat helpless and amused, and said irritably, "Make it, make it! I'll make you a sword too, and call it Xiang Wang!"
Xi Ling seemed not to understand Mei Zhiying's implied meaning, and looked at Mei Zhiying with smiling eyes: "Whether it's the Prince of Xiang or anything else, it's all good as long as it's done by you."
Mei Zhiying remained silent.
During this time, Huo Yunfeng stayed at the villa. Xi Ling also wanted to stay, but Xi Bao was constantly busy with trivial matters and he couldn't get away. He had no choice but to reluctantly return to Zhuo Xian. Mei Zhiying promised to invite him to go out with her next time, which finally coaxed Xi Ling away.
"It seems like Madam Mei wants to match you two up, and you don't seem to mind," Huo Yunfeng said, winking at Mei Zhiying after Xi Ling left, never one to miss a chance for a good show.
Mei Zhiying snorted: "What do you know? I grew up with Xi Ling. My mother just wanted him to be a playmate."
"Okay, then don't forget me next time you go out."
Mei Zhiying stopped inquiring about the Xu family and gradually forgot about "Mo Dao," thus passing several very peaceful months.
Xi Ling often visited Mei Zhiying at Plum Blossom Villa, always bringing several bouquets of flowers, from pear blossoms and peach blossoms to mimosa and peony. Xi Ling would always arrive just as the flowers were about to wither, bringing another fresh bouquet.
Looking at the ever-changing, vibrant and beautiful flowers on the windowsill, Mei Zhiying suddenly realized that summer had arrived.
After realizing this, it was as if the weather had gotten hotter, and the air had become sticky and hot. Mei Zhiying, who was soaking in the smelting furnace, also began to slack off, spending her days reading leisurely books, feeling relaxed and carefree.
—If you ignore the accusing look in Xi Ling's eyes every time she comes.
Mei Zhiying knew that this person was subtly reminding her of the Prince of Xiang's matter! She had no choice but to go out and play for a while longer to relax and find some inspiration.
So the three of them set off again. This time, Huo Yunfeng was smarter and stopped interfering with the destination. He and Xi Ling quietly followed Mei Zhiying to rent a carriage.
However, the result of letting Mei Zhiying run rampant was—
"What?! You're going to the far north?!" Huo Yunfeng stopped Mei Zhiying from handing over the silver, nearly dying of shock at this decision. "Miss, is the far north a place we can go?!"
Mei Zhiying pulled her hand away and resolutely slapped the silver into the driver's hand. "Why can't we go! It's so hot in the summer, it's perfect to go to the far north to cool off!"
"The far north is chaotic and unruly, full of desperate thugs. There's no guarantee that the three of us can go there rashly!" Huo Yunfeng said in a fit of anger, grabbing Xi Ling's sleeve. "You should try to persuade her too!"
Xi Ling also somewhat disagreed, "Huo Yunfeng is right..."
“On the way, we can detour to the banks of the Luo River. I need to gather inspiration for my research on King Xiang.”
"Well... it's feasible, but then again, we're also worried about your safety..."
Mei Zhiying patted her chest and assured them, "Don't worry, I have a brilliant plan."
Xi Ling, who was already wavering, instantly switched sides upon hearing this, and looked at Huo Yunfeng, the only one who disagreed, and said: "Actually, Zhiying is not wrong either."
Huo Yunfeng was so angry he almost fell backward: "I've really had enough!"
However, it wasn't until they set off that Xi Ling realized that Mei Zhiying's "going to Luoshui for inspiration" was just a delaying tactic; she had no intention of going to Luoshui at all!
Now it was Xi Ling's turn to die, while Huo Yunfeng sneered from the side, as if he had expected it.
However, the matter was already settled. No one knew how Mei Zhiying communicated with the coachman, but the carriage did not head north. Instead, it went around in circles and swayed its way to the Holy Mountain.
Huo Yunfeng recognized the road to the Holy Mountain. He asked, puzzled, "Why go to the Holy Mountain? It seems the Sword Tomb isn't ready to be opened yet?"
Mei Zhiying gave a mysterious smile, refusing to answer any questions, which piqued the curiosity of both of them.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the foot of the sacred mountain. The three of them got off the carriage and saw a woman standing in front of them. She slowly walked over when Mei Zhiying appeared, revealing her true face.
The woman was dressed in white, covered with a light blue veil. A gentle breeze blew, and the hem of her dress swayed like new leaves after the rain.
"Miss Mei, it's been a long time." After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the woman introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Lin Youbie."
Huo Yunfeng then realized what was happening and couldn't help but show respect.
Mei Zhiying gave a brief introduction to Huo Yunfeng and Xi Ling. Lin Youbie nodded as a greeting, then looked at Mei Zhiying again: "I've prepared everything. I look forward to your good news."
Following this, Lin Youbie turned to the side, revealing three bags behind him. Mei Zhiying took them and quickly packed them, discovering that they contained not only many unusual items but also some cotton-padded clothes and boots.
"The far north is bitterly cold, so I specially prepared some thick clothes," Lin Youbie said with a smile.
Soon, Lin Youbie pointed to a small round disc and said, "This is a compass, which can help you identify directions."
"These are calming pills, strength pills, panaceas... their effects are very obvious, so I won't go into detail."
"These are three golden robes. Ordinary weapons cannot harm them in the slightest. One robe for each person will provide some protection."
After introducing the contents of his bag, Lin Youbie took a deep breath, took out a bone whistle from his pocket, and solemnly handed it to Mei Zhiying: "Miss Mei, this bone whistle can summon carrier pigeons from the Holy Mountain. If there is any news about the Heavenly Snow Lotus, please be sure to inform me."
Mei Zhiying cupped her hands in greeting: "I will certainly not fail in my mission."
After packing their bags, the three set off again. Huo Yunfeng looked back and saw the green figure blending into the lush greenery. Lin Youbie was already too far away to see.
Inside the carriage, Xi Ling asked solemnly, "Heavenly Snow Lotus? You want to help Lin Youbie retrieve the Heavenly Snow Lotus?"
Mei Zhiying: "Yes, I promised to help Lin Youbie bring back the Heavenly Snow Lotus. In exchange, she prepared our luggage." As she spoke, Mei Zhiying unfolded the glittering gold-embroidered robe and exclaimed, "She really went all out."
Xi Ling, however, was not optimistic: "It is said that the Heavenly Snow Lotus can heal all internal injuries, and many of the outlaws in the far north are after the Heavenly Snow Lotus. It is estimated that it will be difficult for the three of us to succeed."
Xi Ling was still being tactful, but Mei Zhiying knew perfectly well that the chances of her succeeding were almost zero.
Xi Ling: "Even so, why did Lin Youbie still ask us to go? Her martial arts skills are superb, and it would be easier for her to succeed if she went herself."
Mei Zhiying shook her head: "She can't leave the Holy Mountain. Xie Yun's health is deteriorating. If Lin Youbie leaves at this time, Xie Yun will only have one way out: death."
Xi Ling fell silent. He guessed that Lin Youbie was pinning his hopes on the Heavenly Snow Lotus, hoping that it could save Xie Yun's life.
"As the saying goes, there's always a way out, and things will work themselves out. We're not without hope of getting the Heavenly Snow Lotus."
Mei Zhiying was optimistic, "Lin Youbie, as long as we can bring back the Heavenly Snow Lotus, the gates of the Holy Mountain will be open to us. That's the Holy Mountain! The Holy Mountain with the Sword Tomb! It's hard not to be tempted!"
Thinking of the peerless divine weapons in the Sword Tomb, Mei Zhiying smiled happily. Xi Ling and Huo Yunfeng, who were standing next to her, couldn't bear to look at her and looked away.
The official roads were impassable on the way to the far north; they had to pass through a bandit stronghold. Mei Zhiying hired a professional and experienced driver who would flee at the last minute when the bandits were robbing others. The three of them made it to the far north without any major incidents.
The driver could only take them to the foot of the Northern Border City. Mei Zhiying settled the fare, and the group, all wearing thick cotton-padded clothes, looked at the two characters "Extreme North" written in a flamboyant style on the city wall, and their hearts were filled with emotion.
The closer they got to the northern border, the colder it became. Even in the sweltering summer, Huo Yunfeng, wearing a cotton-padded coat, could still exhale white breath, clearly quite chilled.
"We've finally arrived." The three, fully armed, resolutely stepped into the city.
There are no outposts in the north, and naturally, no guards.
This is a place beyond the control of the Wen Dynasty, consisting of the outer city "Far North" and the inner city "Snow Walk".
Here, morality has collapsed, and the system is disregarded; murder and robbery are commonplace. The far north is somewhat better, with scattered civilians living there, most of whom are family members of the madmen. Therefore, people are always hesitant to act in the far north.
Snow Walk is different; it is a true battleground. Legend has it that a god once attempted to become emperor in Snow Walk, which sparked the greatest battle in history. Blood flowed on every part of Snow Walk, and even now, the land of Snow Walk is dark red.
Mei Zhiying planned to stay in the far north first, find out more about the Heavenly Snow Lotus, and then set off again.
However, once they entered the city, they realized that their ideas were too naive. There were indeed some commoners here, but there were no normal living circles like "inns," "taverns," or "shops." People slept haphazardly in the city, and if anyone disliked another, they would pick up a weapon and start fighting. There were violent conflicts everywhere.
"If the far north is so chaotic, I can't imagine what it will be like when Xue leaves..." Mei Zhiying felt a pang of sympathy. The three of them walked together, their nerves on edge, not daring to relax in the slightest.
The three were clearly new faces, and many people had been openly scrutinizing them as they walked, seemingly judging whether they were easy targets.
Fortunately, Huo Yunfeng always maintained his "Report to the Emperor's Will" attitude, appearing fierce and unapproachable, which briefly deterred some of the restless villains.
But Huo Yunfeng alone was not enough, Mei Zhiying knew this perfectly well. She took out her sword "Chang Sheng" and, after Huo Yunfeng drove away yet another ill-intentioned person, she suddenly attacked and cleanly and neatly cut off the man's head.
The man never expected that the woman in the group would strike first; in a flash, the body was severed from its body.
Hot blood splattered all over Mei Zhiying's face. She smelled the stench of blood, her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she felt nauseous.
But she held back, expressionless, sheathed her sword, and looked around: "Look again, your fate will be the same as his."
As a warning to others, Mei Zhiying stood like a killing god, while Xi Ling and Huo Yunfeng stood silently behind her, like two towering mountains.
After realizing that the three were not to be trifled with, the cold gazes around them noticeably lessened. Mei Zhiying breathed a sigh of relief, exchanged a glance with Xi Ling and Huo Yunfeng, and began to continue on her way.
On the way, Xi Ling specifically read the Xi Bao family's ancestral book, "Regional Secrets," and learned that there was a pavilion in the far north called the Star-Picking Pavilion, which had a high reputation in such a chaotic place as the far north and specialized in buying and selling information.
Now, Mei Zhiying and the other two are standing in front of the Star-Picking Pavilion, each of them breathing a sigh of relief.
Although they had made an example of someone to deter the madmen, the journey was not easy. There were still some audacious people who dared to challenge Mei Zhiying's bottom line. The three of them fought their way through the area before finally reaching the Star-Picking Pavilion.
Mei Zhiying felt extremely uncomfortable after only a few hours in the far north. The place was filled with bloodshed and violence, and she suspected that staying there for too long would cause mental problems.
Fortunately, just as Xi Ling had said, no one dared to act recklessly in the Star-Picking Pavilion, so the three of them breathed a sigh of relief and were able to experience a normal atmosphere for the first time.
The Zhaixing Pavilion soars into the clouds, its sharp and imposing architecture resembling a sword piercing the sky from afar.
A woman sat at the front of the pavilion. She could not be seen clearly from a distance, but one could sense her coldness. Just sitting there, she was like a block of ice that had never melted.
However, upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the woman only appeared to be a saint in the snow; in reality, her eyes were empty, exuding a sense of vacancy.
Huo Yunfeng glanced at the woman again, drawn to a small, blooming flower on her forehead. The flower, perfectly placed between her brows, added a touch of liveliness to her appearance.
The woman guarded a wooden sign that read: "Three days later, the Heavenly Snow Lotus will bloom in the snow."
Mei Zhiying's eyes widened: "This news is just being spread around like this?"
Huo Yunfeng: "They only mentioned the time, not the place." He then looked at the woman and asked, "What's your name?"
The woman did not answer.
Huo Yunfeng: "We'd like to know more details. Shall we go upstairs?"
As if she had found some keywords, the woman replied woodenly, "Please follow me."
The three followed the woman upstairs. She first led Mei Zhiying to a private room on the first floor, preventing Huo Yunfeng and Xi Ling from entering. Then she led Huo Yunfeng to a private room on the third floor. This time, Xi Ling knew he couldn't get in, so he watched Huo Yunfeng's back disappear.
The woman set off again, leading Xi Ling up floor after floor, finally stopping at the top floor.
Xi Ling: "Is there any particular reason for this?"
The woman didn't answer, seemingly because she had no response.
The Star-Picking Pavilion was strange in every way, and Xi Ling had no choice but to push open the door and enter.
...
First floor.
Upon entering the private room, Mei Zhiying was greeted by a huge curtain that stretched across the entire room and blocked her view.
She was somewhat puzzled, unsure if anyone was behind the curtain, but still asked, "Excuse me, do you have any more specific information about the Heavenly Snow Lotus?"
A strange voice came from behind the curtain, as if it had been altered, and it didn't sound like a human voice, which gave Mei Zhiying the creeps.
"Ten taels of silver."
This was the price quote. Mei Zhiying could easily afford a mere ten taels of silver. She readily cut off the silver and placed it on the tray to her right.
...
Third floor.
When Huo Yunfeng entered the room, he was truly shocked – the person sitting opposite him was the woman who had led the way!
That doesn't seem quite right either. The woman leading the way looked like a puppet, soulless, but the one sitting in front of them seemed much more lively, and was looking at Huo Yunfeng with a smile.
"You asked my name just now?" the woman asked with a smile.
Huo Yunfeng wasn't sure if the two women were the same person. They looked alike, but they felt different. He stammered, "Uh, perhaps they're asking for your names?"
The woman smiled even more brightly upon hearing this: "Alright, her name is Ning Hanshuang, she is my younger sister, and my name is Ning Hanxue, I am the owner of Zhaixing Pavilion."
"What do you want to ask at the Star-Picking Pavilion? Just a reminder, since you're so cute, each person can only ask one question. Your friend has already asked about the whereabouts of the Heavenly Snow Lotus."
"This is great!" Huo Yunfeng thought to himself with a secret delight. "Isn't this like getting an extra question?"
So he pondered for a while, and after a long pause, he cautiously asked, "The curse of plucking laurel branches... is there a way to break it?"
...
Top floor.
Xi Ling entered an empty room.
Before him lay a piece of paper, like a cruel proverb:
Colorful clouds easily disperse, and glass is fragile; the finest things in this world are not lasting. Immortality is not eternal.
...
Three days later, on the morning.
Mei Zhiying and her group arrived at Xue Zou right on time. According to Zhaixing Pavilion, the Heavenly Snow Lotus would bloom in the northwest direction tonight.
Mei Zhiying held the compass, while Huo Yunfeng and Xi Ling looked worried and out of sorts. Mei Zhiying assumed they were concerned about the chaos in Xue Zou City.
Indeed, the snow-covered city was even more terrifying than the far north. The air here was exceptionally damp and cold, and there was a sense of oppressive tension everywhere.
Fortunately, everyone received the news that the Heavenly Snow Lotus was about to bloom. Most people who entered the city at this time were in a hurry and had no time to create chaos. This is why Mei Zhiying waited for three days in the far north before entering the snowy city.
The city of Xuezou is a melting pot of all sorts of people: some fleeing enemies, some committing murder and robbery, and some engaging in trade. But at this moment, almost everyone has come for the Heavenly Snow Lotus, so it's not hard to imagine what kind of fierce battle will take place tonight.
Mei Zhiying's idea was simple: to try her best to take advantage of the situation, and if she could get it, great; if not, she wouldn't risk her life.
Therefore, unlike the others who were on edge and suspicious of everything, the three of them were quite relaxed in the snow-covered city.
The compass was a good thing. Following its guidance, Mei Zhiying arrived in the northwest. Seeing a group of people gathered in front of her, she knew she had come to the right place.
The group split into five groups, each occupying a corner and sizing each other up, subtly enclosing a small lake in the center. When they saw Mei Zhiying and her group arrive, they all revealed hostile gazes.
Mei Zhiying stopped within a safe area, neither too close to the lake nor too far from the people in the inner circle.
Looking into the distance, she saw only a handful of lotus seeds and a lotus flower that was about to bloom in the small lake. With just one glance, Mei Zhiying was certain that it must be the Heavenly Snow Lotus.
The Heavenly Snow Lotus is in the center of the lake. Although it is called a lake, it can only be considered a pond. It is extremely small in the snow. If it weren't for the Heavenly Snow Lotus, probably no one would ever pay attention to it.
Mei Zhiying secretly observed the various groups of people and felt increasingly hopeless. She sighed, took out the bone whistle that Lin Youbie had given her, and put it in her mouth to blow it.
The bone whistle vibrated in her mouth, but no sound came out. Mei Zhiying was confused and even wondered if the bone whistle was broken. However, soon, a snow-white carrier pigeon flew over towards the setting sun.
"That's way too fast!!" Mei Zhiying was dumbfounded. "Even the carrier pigeons on Holy Mountain are this amazing!"
The carrier pigeon even thoughtfully brought paper and pen.
Mei Zhiying wrote: "We found the Heavenly Snow Lotus, but there were too many people around, making it extremely difficult to snatch it."
The carrier pigeon grabbed the rolled-up paper and quickly flew away again.
No one noticed this little incident. The sun completely sank below the horizon, night fell, and the snow lotus emitted a bright white light, attracting everyone's attention.
The snow lotus is about to bloom.
Even today, Huo Yunfeng is still deeply moved when he recalls the scene of the Heavenly Snow Lotus in full bloom.
Pure white lotus flowers bloom in a small pond, like beacons standing alone amidst blood, corrupted by the filth and greed of the Snow Walk City.
On a dark and windy night, murder and robbery are most likely to occur.
The moment the Heavenly Snow Lotus bloomed, countless people moved at once. They attacked each other, but their eyes were fixed on the Heavenly Snow Lotus, the flower that had blossomed with everyone's desires.
Soon, the pond turned into a pool of blood, but the snow lotus remained pure and elegant, swaying in the wind as if watching a novel performance.
Countless severed limbs and broken arms were piled up, sticky intestines and internal organs flowed out, and there was a chaotic and noisy laughter, screams, and shouts... This was nothing more than a hellish altar for demons on earth.
Mei Zhiying stared blankly as blood stained the land, sky, and lakes crimson. She had underestimated human greed until she witnessed this hellish scene firsthand and realized how ironic it was.
Mei Zhiying vomited violently, her head throbbing as if it were about to split open, as if countless voices were arguing in her ears. Huo Yunfeng and Xi Ling were in no better shape; all three were pale and their limbs were so stiff they were about to twitch.
Everyone wanted to pluck the Heavenly Snow Lotus, but no one could get within a foot of it. The lotus rose from the mud unsullied, standing apart from the world, making it all the more laughable and ironic.
However, Mei Zhiying quickly regained her senses. She even grasped a glimmer of inspiration and realized that this might be the best time to take action.
She looked at Huo Yunfeng, who instantly understood Mei Zhiying's meaning. So Huo Yunfeng brought up the matter of "reporting the emperor's will" and pretended to be about to snatch the Heavenly Snow Lotus. He took the lead and attracted the attention of most people.
Meanwhile, Mei Zhiying used her fleeting presence to hide in a blind spot, waiting for Huo Yunfeng to finish attracting everyone's attention—
Now!
Mei Zhiying quickly plucked the Heavenly Snow Lotus, and in an instant, the Heavenly Snow Lotus burst forth with intense light, once again attracting everyone's attention!
Mei Zhiying broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to herself that Tian Xuelian was really too much of a rip-off!
However, he was now in a difficult situation. Everyone was bloodthirsty and wanted to attack him. Huo Yunfeng and he alone had no way to escape!
Mei Zhiying acted decisively, immediately abandoning the Heavenly Snow Lotus, secretly grabbing the last handful of lotus seeds, and letting the group of madmen chase after the Heavenly Snow Lotus.
Anyway, she had informed Lin Youbie of the difficulties beforehand, so it was understandable that she couldn't bring back the Heavenly Snow Lotus. Mei Zhiying comforted herself and quickly pulled Huo Yunfeng away from the trouble.
To everyone's surprise, Huo Yunfeng was even more anxious than she was. The two of them ran very fast, sandwiching Xi Ling between them, as if there were some raging flood or ferocious beast behind them.
Mei Zhiying, still out of breath, asked, "Why are you running so fast?"
Huo Yunfeng: "Because they're chasing a fake Heavenly Snow Lotus! The real one is with me!!"
Mei Zhiying: "What?!"
Upon hearing this, the three ran even faster, wishing they could run with their entire bodies moving.
Mei Zhiying: "When did you switch the body?!"
Speaking was too tiring, and Huo Yunfeng was exhausted and unable to answer Mei Zhiying's question, so he could only keep running.
Fortunately, the three of them were lucky. Several groups of people either hadn't managed to snatch it yet, or hadn't noticed the strangeness of the "Heavenly Snow Lotus," so none of them chased after them.
Huo Yunfeng only felt a little relieved after running out of the snow and reaching the front of the Star-Picking Pavilion. He explained breathlessly, "I changed it when you got rid of the Heavenly Snow Lotus. I've done all sorts of jobs before and know a little bit of craftsmanship, so I prepared a fake lotus in advance."
Huo Yunfeng: "Luckily, I'm a cut above the rest."
Before he could savor the joy of escaping death for long, an ice-blue sword pierced Huo Yunfeng's heart!
Huo Yunfeng's face, which still held a smug smile, twisted into shock and fear under the life-or-death crisis.
Everything happened too fast. In their most relaxed moment, Mei Zhiying and Xi Ling could only see a fleeting, icy blue afterimage.
With a clang, the sword pierced through the cotton-padded coat and struck the gold-embroidered robe, causing Huo Yunfeng's heart to feel as if it were about to explode from the pain.
Thank goodness I have the golden robe!
Huo Yunfeng reacted quickly. He drew his "Report to the Emperor's Will" sword and swung it at the newcomer. His heart pumped with hot blood, and the laurel wreath on his forearm was faintly burning.
But he couldn't care less about that now. Huo Yunfeng gritted his teeth, and the blood-red sword "Report to the Emperor" clashed with the ice-blue sword. Huo Yunfeng finally saw the sword's owner clearly.
—It's Ning Hanxue!
Ning Hanxue still had a smile on her lips, but her eyes were as cold as ice. Just a few days ago she was praising Huo Yunfeng for being cute, but today she wanted to kill him. How unreasonable!
"Unfortunately, I also have a skill." Ning Hanxue lightly deflected the force, retreating repeatedly, leaving behind words with a slight smile, as if she were toying with the three of them, and quickly left.
Huo Yunfeng touched his empty sleeve, his face grim.
Mei Zhiying couldn't accept it. To be a pawn in someone else's game, and to be manipulated like a puppet, she rushed towards the Star-Picking Pavilion, wishing she could burn it to the ground.
Huo Yunfeng chased after her, and before entering the building, he inexplicably glanced back. Ning Hanshuang was still staring blankly at the wooden sign, as if her sister's fight with them had been nothing but a wisp of air.
The Zhaixing Pavilion was already deserted, and the only living person in the entire pavilion was Ning Hanshuang, who was standing blankly at the door.
Mei Zhiying was so angry she almost vomited blood. She gritted her teeth in hatred and glared at Ning Hanshuang, saying, "Your sister has gone too far!"
Ning Hanshuang remained silent.
Mei Zhiying: "In exchange, you'll come back with us! As a hostage!!"
Ning Hanshuang tilted her head, as if she couldn't understand what Mei Zhiying was saying.
Even though the Heavenly Snow Lotus is no longer in their hands, the far north is not a place to stay for long.
Those desperate criminals didn't see Ning Hanxue steal the Heavenly Snow Lotus. If they blame it on Mei Zhiying and her group, they won't be able to leave even if they want to.
So Mei Zhiying decided to hurry back, and the three of them, along with Ning Hanshuang, began their return journey.
Huo Yunfeng had been observing Ning Hanshuang. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but after leaving the far north, she began to come alive and gradually became more like a human being.
Of course, if you let Mei Zhiying come and see, she would only say, "She's still the same cold and aloof person, nothing has changed."
Mei Zhiying and Huo Yunfeng had no idea what Ning Hanxue wanted to do with the Heavenly Snow Lotus. They initially thought she was going to treat her sister's illness, but they had been out of the city for quite some time and hadn't seen a single person.
Mei Zhiying angrily said to Ning Hanshuang, "Your sister doesn't want you anymore!"
Ning Hanshuang's expression was cold: "She is not my sister. I don't have a sister."
Mei Zhiying was even angrier when she heard this. She wondered if Ning Hanshuang was acting out of spite. If she was, that would be fine, but if not, then she had been completely fooled by that damned woman!
Unlike Mei Zhiying, who was angry the whole way, Xi Ling was unusually silent.
From the moment he left the Star-Picking Pavilion, he was filled with worry. Logically, he should have breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that the woman was a fraud, but a taut string still hung tightly over him. Whenever he saw Huo Yunfeng and Ning Hanshuang, he had a suffocating feeling.
Fortunately, the trip wasn't entirely fruitless. Mei Zhiying managed to gather some lotus seeds, and upon careful counting, she found three intact ones, which should be useful.
Mei Zhiying planned to "make amends" by bringing the three lotus seeds to Lin Youbie, hoping they might be useful to Xie Yun.
With a storm brewing, Mei Zhiying was exhausted and soon fell asleep.
Xi Ling rolled up the carriage curtain and looked at the dark sky, her pupils reflecting the rolling dark clouds.
Huo Yunfeng gripped his forearm tightly, enduring the excruciating pain.
Ning Hanshuang stared intently at Huo Yunfeng, the small pattern between her eyebrows resembling a whirlpool.
Xi Ling looked back, but the far north was no longer visible. He then remembered the proverb on that piece of paper.
Immortality is not immortality.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
