It was now late at night, and the Black Terrace City seemed so vague in the darkness, with only a few torches swaying lonely.

Seeing such a desolate scene, Xia Xiao couldn't help but sigh. This Black Terrace City was once the largest city in the western part of the dynasty, with nights as bright as day. Who knew it would be so dead silent now?

In less than three months, it lost its prosperity and its original owner, and was occupied by southern merchants from other places.

"Let's go."

After going down this hill, they can enter the city.

Shu Shuang nodded repeatedly. Even though her face looked pale in the dark, she still took steps without hesitation. After a day of traveling from morning to night, she was almost exhausted, but she couldn't hold Xia Xiao back.

Suddenly, Shu Shuang leaned forward and lost her balance.

"careful!"

In the dark night, Xia Xiao grabbed Shu Shuang, making the latter feel safe in the crisis. But the two still fell to the ground and rolled down. Instantly, there was a sharp pain all over the body. The stones on the snowfield were frighteningly hard, and some had sharp corners.

Holding Shu Shuang tightly, Xia Xiao gritted his teeth and tried to stop with his feet, but failed. The day's journey had exhausted his energy and strength!

"ah!"

Shu Shuangjiao? Her body trembled and she screamed in pain, causing Xia Xiao to exert his strength. Damn it, it's just a gentle slope, stop right there!

They stretched out their feet and plowed a half-meter-long snow groove on the ground before they stopped.

"It's all right."

Xia Xiao's hands were so cold that they felt numb when he let go of Shu Shuang. There was also a warm current flowing, probably because his skin was cut by the stone and bleeding.

"sorry."

Shu Shuang felt that she had messed up, but Xia Xiao did not blame her. He just pulled her up and then? He held her wrist.

Xia Xiao walked in front of Shu Shuang, walking very slowly, constantly testing with his feet, moving stones to prevent Shu Shuang from stepping on empty space or tripping. This was due to Xia Xiao's deep desire to protect her. It seemed natural for a man to protect a woman, but Shu Shuang didn't think so. She felt that she had not fulfilled her responsibility.

The last section of the journey was also the most difficult one, because the weather was too cold and they were too tired. But soon, they arrived at the foot of Heitai City.

Because of the previous notice, the gate of Heitai City was opened for them, and a general and several soldiers were waiting for them.

Xia Xiao held the token and pulled Shu Shuang behind him. Even in the dark, he still felt that there was something wrong with the general walking in front of him. Even though he looked ordinary and showed no ill intentions, his eyes seemed to hide something. Was he misperceiving? Or maybe not!

"My lords, the rooms are ready. You can rest right away."

"Please lead the way."

Xia Xiao's voice was very cold, trying to suppress his weakness as much as possible. In an unknown environment, everyone would disguise themselves to achieve their goals.

Led by the soldiers, Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang walked towards the room, followed by Wang Ji and his personal guards.

Glancing behind him, although Wang Ji was just walking without saying a word, Xia Xiao still felt something was wrong. His intuition was not wrong, there was murderous intent hidden in the eyes of these people!

Walking into the room, there was hot water and food, Shu Shuang sat on the chair, exhausted. But Xia Xiao did not rest immediately, but locked the door, turned around and began to undress.

Xia Xiao moved very fast, which scared Shu Shuang. She stood there shyly. What...what was he doing?

“Hurry up!”

Xia Xiao didn't get the usual response, and only after seeing Shu Shuang did she understand her doubts.

"I just want to apply the medicine and recover."

Seeing that she had misunderstood, Shu Shuang lowered her head and hurried over.

What are you thinking about? Xia Xiao shook his head secretly.

When rolling down the hillside before, Xia Xiao protected Shu Shuang, but he himself was scratched. Although it was not serious, he had many scars all over his body.

In the candlelight, Shu Shuang discovered for the first time that Xia Xiao's body was covered with scars. On his back, abdomen, chest, legs, and arms. He was only fourteen years old, but he was like a veteran soldier who had been through many battles. His body had been repeatedly baptized by cruel wars and cold weapons.

“These injuries…”

"Many of them were left behind when we were in the imperial capital."

Xia Xiao spoke in a calm tone, but he would never forget the scene at that time.

That was the third year that he was labeled as a person who came from afar. If he failed to detect the fluctuation of his vitality, he would be beaten with a stick or whipped. This was Wang Chao's encouragement, but also his nightmare. His weak body was bearing pressure that it should not have to bear!

Biting her lip, Shu Shuang felt sad and tearful. She began to hate the guy who put the seal. If it weren't for him, Xia Xiao would have been able to practice as soon as he came to this world, and he would have been gifted. Then he wouldn't have suffered so much!

As she thought about it, she became distracted and tears dripped on Xia Xiao's shoulders.

The subtle touch made Xia Xiao turn his head.

"What's wrong?"

Shu Shuang wiped her tears and shook her head while applying medicine to Xia Xiao.

"There are many avalanches at the Snow Dragon Pass, and there are wild beasts roaming around at noon. We set out early in the morning to find it as soon as possible."

With his back to Shu Shuang, Xia Xiao slightly opened the window and looked at a snowy peak outside the city. The place covered by snow was tomorrow's target, and it was very likely that they would die there! But for his mother, he had to take the risk!

"It's changed."

Shu Shuang changed into dry clothes, hugged a blanket, and walked obediently to Xia Xiao.

We all have a tacit understanding! Xia Xiao smiled, took it, put it on the ground, sat cross-legged, and began to recover his vitality.

Shu Shuang did not extinguish the candles in the room, because Xia Xiao had told her that something would happen along the way. The later it happened, the more it showed that these people were patient and the more dangerous it would be!

It was so quiet tonight. There were no drunken soldiers shouting in the middle of the night like in Fujikawa Castle, and there was no sound of anyone moving around. Everything was deadly quiet. It seemed that Xia Xiao and Shu Shuang were the only two living people in this Black Terrace City.

After his vitality was almost restored, Xia Xiao opened his eyes and looked around the room carefully. The silence of the night would only expose their caution. It seemed that this time was not a simple matter. Frowning fiercely, Xia Xiao prayed inwardly that nothing would go wrong at the Snow Dragon Crossing, otherwise the chances of something going wrong would be too high!

The next morning, a soldier came to bring food to Xia Xiao and the others.

After knocking on the door, he said politely:

"My Lords, breakfast is here!"

After a long time without anyone answering, he tried pushing the door.

The wooden door creaked open, but there was no one inside. He dropped the plate in his hand, and the porridge was scattered all over the floor, but the soldier didn't care. He turned around and ran.

"General! General!"

In the room, Wang Ji held Zhu Heng's gold, feeling regretful. He couldn't earn so much gold in his lifetime, but it was a pity that Xia Xiao had a man from the First Church following him.

"What's the matter? What's all the fuss about?"

Wang Ji cursed, but the soldier who broke in said in panic:

"Xia Xiao is missing!"

"What?"

Wang Ji punched the table, breaking it into pieces. Since they were so fast, it seemed they had noticed something. They were really sharp!

Turning around and opening the window, the snow-capped peak where the Xuelong Pass is located is still the same as yesterday.

"Gather everyone and get fully armed! I'll take all this gold!"

The soldiers were stunned.

"General, last night you said..."

Wang Ji held up the knife, and greedy green light flashed in his eyes.

"The duck in the mouth can't fly away. The snow at the Xuelong Pass is already thick enough. If it doesn't fall, we will help it!"

The soldier took one look at the glittering gold and immediately went down to give orders.

"Xia Xiao, we have no grudge against each other, but I'm sorry!"

Holding a piece of gold, Wang Ji smiled sinisterly.