Winter has arrived as scheduled.
Snowflakes fluttered down, gradually covering the mountains in white.
Jiang Bai and the others finally returned at this time.
Inside the sect's main hall, Bai Hao, Jiang Bai, the Grand Elder, Fan Ziming, and Zheng Long were all present.
“This year is a harsh winter. It’s only been a short time since winter started, and we’ve already seen many places suffering from snow disasters on our way back,” Jiang Bai said with a solemn expression. It was precisely because they encountered so many people suffering from snow disasters along the way that they were delayed until now to return.
"Have you prepared all the resources for the sect to get through the winter?" The Grand Elder looked at Fan Ziming, who immediately replied.
"Everything is almost ready. Bai Ge and I started preparing a month ago. However, because Bai Lu Town also needs to keep some resources for the winter, they can't provide us with enough resources for the winter all at once. Without purchasing food from outside, the sect's food supply is only enough for us to eat for a month," Fan Ziming said.
The resources of Luohai Sect are mostly purchased from Bailu Town, which in turn sources them from other places.
Normally, there would be enough food, but because the news spread that this year might be a harsh winter, everyone tacitly began to store food, and the amount of food available for the Falling Sea Sect was about half less than last year.
There's nothing we can do about it.
"A month should be enough. You can reduce the amount of food you eat, just one meal a day is fine," the elder said, looking at Bai Hao.
For cultivators, it's not just about eating only one meal a day; they can even go three days without eating. Moreover, once people enter a state of cultivation, they can meditate for two or three days without needing to eat at all.
When Fan Ziming said there was enough food for everyone to eat for a month, he was assuming everyone ate three meals a day. In reality, that month's worth of food could easily last for two or three months.
"Yes, I will be careful." Bai Hao, the head steward of the backyard, nodded.
Although it's winter, there's really no need to worry about food.
Ordinary people can be troubled by food, but it would be a joke if cultivators were to encounter difficulties because of food.
"The sect leader is still in seclusion and hasn't come out yet. When we returned from the ruins, the sect leader also said that perhaps in the near future, demonic beasts will once again wreak havoc on the continent. Although there is still no information about demonic beasts, we cannot let our guard down."
"So from today onwards, Zheng Long, you will lead the establishment of a 'vanguard team,' consisting of the ten strongest disciples of the sect, primarily responsible for daily patrols near the sect, just in case," the Grand Elder said solemnly.
With Su Yuewan absent, she, as the eldest elder, must shoulder the heavy responsibility.
"yes!"
Zheng Long was taciturn and only knew how to obey orders.
"Of course, the best thing would be to get through this winter smoothly."
...
After the discussion, everyone dispersed, while Bai Hao headed towards the back of the mountain.
He hadn't gone to check on the free-range poultry on the back hill since winter started, so he grabbed a bundle of rotten vegetable leaves from the kitchen and went up there.
Winter has arrived, and the vegetable garden on the back hill can no longer be used for growing vegetables, so it has to be abandoned. On the hillside, only the chicken coop remains, and the thatched roof is covered with a thick layer of snow.
Pheasants, which are rarely seen on ordinary days, mostly come to the shed at this time of year. Some even stand on tree trunks, their fiery red feathers like a ball of fire, making them particularly eye-catching in the snow.
"Hey, everyone's here! Long time no see! I brought you some vegetable leaves, please have some." Bai Hao said as he placed the vegetable leaves he had brought in front of the group of about ten pheasants.
They didn't seem very excited, and didn't even look at them directly. Only one or two came over, pecked at them a few times, and then walked away.
"It's not to my liking, huh? I'll bring something else next time," Bai Hao said with an awkward laugh.
He had been letting these pheasants roam free for two or three years, and hadn't visited them for some time. When he finally came, Bai Hao noticed that the pheasants had grown much larger, each one as robust as an ostrich, with vibrant plumage all over its body.
The chicken leg and wings were strong and powerful; Bai Hao could even see the bulging muscles, which looked very powerful. If someone were to grab it, it would definitely be a painful experience.
This is also why Bai Hao doesn't catch these chickens to eat, because they have unusually bad tempers.
Moreover, as their last remaining food supply, Bai Hao doesn't plan to harm them unless there's absolutely nothing else to eat.
"You guys keep eating, I'll go upstairs and check on Ah Jin."
With that, Bai Hao headed up the mountain.
Watching the departing figures, a rooster with a large, fiery red comb among the flock of chickens said calmly:
"He's still so stupid, actually making us eat vegetable leaves? And rotten ones at that?!"
Another hen said, "Well, this winter isn't going to be good. I can already feel the undercurrents; something big is about to happen."
"Hmph, no matter how big the problem, it won't change anything." The rooster snorted and went back to its coop to sleep...
Mountain top.
Although it's winter now, and snow is falling heavily with a thick layer of snow on the ground, leaving clear, bleeding footprints underfoot, the pools here haven't frozen over, and the waterfall still cascades down, its surface shrouded in a light mist.
"Xiao Jin, I'm here, where are you?"
Bai Hao mainly came to see Jin Lin, fearing that Jin Lin would freeze to death here this winter.
But he called out several times without receiving a response.
"Ah Jin, Little Jin, come out."
Normally, Jinlin would appear as soon as he called her name, but now she didn't respond even after he called her several times, making Bai Hao worry that she might be snatched away by a passing wild goose.
"Or has she already achieved great success?"
Bai Hao looked up at the waterfall, thought for a moment, then lightly touched the ground with his feet, about to leap up.
Suddenly, a young girl's figure slowly descended from the clouds above—
The girl, dressed in light gauze and barefoot with delicate, well-proportioned feet, slowly landed in front of Bai Hao. Her features were soft and beautiful, and she had a pair of small horns on her head, but they didn't look out of place at all. She was stunningly beautiful.
Bai Hao was momentarily stunned. Only when the girl slowly landed in front of him did he speak softly with a hint of doubt.
"Xiao Jin?"
"Ah Hao, it's me!"
The girl's aloofness lasted less than ten seconds before a bright, flower-like smile bloomed on her face, and she leaped and pounced on Bai Hao.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Bai Hao quickly steadied himself, forcibly pried the little gold clinging to him, and said...
"Are you really Xiao Jin? How did you turn into a human?"
Jin Lin has actually turned into a human?
So fast?
"Yes, I don't know how I was able to transform into human form, but I'm very happy because I've finally become human!"
The girl was so excited that she tried to pounce on Bai Hao again, but he stopped her in time.
"stop!"
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