In her dream, someone was gripping her ankle tightly.
When Yan Huanyue changed into her snow-blue robes and stepped out of the house, many flames had already ignited near the snowfield beneath Xuan Tian.
The process of inspecting the formations in the sea and then in the formations in the chasm took several days of confirmation and handover.
Today marks the first time we've entered the Earth-Splitting Abyss.
She strolled across the soft snow, blew her hands on them, and joined the last member of the inspection team as usual.
A moment later, another person stood behind her.
She turned around and saw Xue Jingnian in the dim light cast by the small window of the stone castle. He was also dressed in a snow-blue robe, with a red sash around his slender waist. He exuded nobility and his eyes were very bright.
"Good morning, Senior Sister Yan."
He exhaled a cold mist and gently called her name.
Yan Huanyue turned her head away expressionlessly.
Xue Jingnian's expression darkened slightly.
Xu Lan handed out a cloth bag to everyone. "Back then, countless corpses piled up under the natural barrier. Although we have collected them many times, some are inevitably missed. If you find the remains of our predecessors during your patrols, you must collect them properly."
The terrain of the Earth-Cracked Abyss is more complex than that of the seabed, and with the presence of cold forests, the arrangement of formations is even more complicated.
Yan Huanyue followed the group around to the north side of the mountain screen and continued to fall downwards.
The fissure in the ground was nearly a hundred feet deep. The temperature here was slightly warmer, and it was filled with layers upon layers of huge trees. When people walked under the trees, it was even more difficult to see the sun.
At noon, the sunlight shone on the trees, filtering through the layers of wood and creating faint rays of light that offered no warmth.
But it's still better than being in the sea, at least you can see the light.
The bottom of the natural barrier resembled an unfolded sheet of paper, with all the array formations and incantations engraved on the ground. A thick golden light pierced through the forest and disappeared into the air.
These are actually fewer than the seal script on the seabed, and easier to examine, but you have to go around and look closely.
Yan Huanyue lay prone on her longsword, floating on the rocky ground, holding a glass mirror in her hand, wandering around the forest, checking the part of the magic seals she was responsible for.
In the quiet, secluded forest, she could even find a small piece of human finger bone and a fragment of animal bone among the fallen leaves and weeds.
These were all ancestors of the human and demon races who participated in the great battle across the chasm. Yan Huanyue carefully put the small bones she encountered into her cloth bag.
Strangely, although the demons also suffered casualties back then, she didn't see any demon bones after a whole day of patrolling.
The demonic bones need to be dealt with using special methods, otherwise they will spread demonic energy everywhere. After being dealt with, the demonic energy can be suppressed. Perhaps that's why some method was used to completely remove the demonic bones here.
The sunlight quickly faded, and darkness gradually descended, causing the light of the seal script at the bottom of the chasm to shine slightly brighter.
After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly realized that someone had entered the area she had designated.
"Senior Sister Yan, it's time to go back today."
Upon hearing this, Yan Huanyue made a hand seal and floated into the air, then steadily landed on her longsword, looking at Xue Jingnian who was carrying a lantern.
He merely offered a reminder before leaping out of the woods on his longsword.
Yan Huanyue looked up and watched the faint lights of the lanterns streak across the sky. Then she flew out of the forest on her sword and took a detour back to Shanping South with the others.
The reason for taking the detour is that the continuous mountain range is too high and dangerous. If we were to cross the mountain range and then jump down, the journey would be quite long.
However, after a few more days, they can temporarily move to the snow-capped peak, and after the patrol of the Earth-Splitting Gorge is completed, they can move down to patrol the East China Sea.
During the meal, Xue Jingnian still sat to her left, appearing perfectly normal.
He was in a normal mood, and Yan Huanyue had no other thoughts, so her state was even more normal than his.
Thus, the two of them had a rare period since childhood when they could travel together without quarreling.
Yan Huanyue didn't spare a glance for the fellow disciple behind her. He had always treated her with the respect due to a fellow disciple, but she was too busy to care about him.
Because the source of the Dharma seals under the earth's fissure is engraved on the ground, people can only see the golden light a few feet above the ground. Therefore, one needs to brush away the fallen leaves on the ground to see the real Dharma seals.
On the tenth day of the patrol, Yan Huanyue brushed aside a fallen leaf and saw a golden bean. The bean was nested in the square hole of a copper coin with a red thread.
Below the natural barrier, the temperature was pleasant, and due to the snowfall overhead, the ground was even somewhat damp and heavy.
In this situation, although the copper coin had a fine crack, it had no patina whatsoever. The red string had a somber, dark tone, and the gold bean showed no signs of dimming. It looked quite eerie.
Yan Huanyue took a closer look and found that the golden bean was shaped like a bell, with a tail ring. One side was engraved with a small lotus flower, and the other side was engraved with a small character for "life," somewhat similar to the silent longevity bell that hangs from a child's longevity lock.
She remembered that Xuanzhi's longevity lock had a similar longevity bell hanging from it, but his was complete.
Moreover, judging from the changes in the red rope, this thing that looks somewhat like a mystical object must have been left here a long time ago.
Yan Huanyue thought for a moment, then reached for a tree branch and flicked the copper coin away.
The Misty Sect disciple who was with her asked, "What?"
Yan Huanyue said, "It looks like something Xuanjiang used a long time ago."
The disciple said, "Oh, if that's the case, then try not to touch it. Bones can be stored away. Some magical artifacts have fallen here and are still ferocious. We don't know how much spiritual power they have. If anyone provokes them easily, they might lose their life."
This was something the Misty Sect had specifically told the Heavenly Evolution Sect about when they were teaching the taboos of crossing the Heavenly Barrier the day before they crossed it.
However, Yan Huanyue really didn't want to touch the copper coins with the red rope tied to them, because if she really fell into some kind of trap, it would probably be very troublesome to deal with.
However, it seems that things that are mysterious and mysterious can sometimes be troublesome even to see.
Yan Huanyue had nightmares for several days, unable to explain what was happening. Her memories of the dreams were vague; it seemed there was a child running in a cold forest by the sea, and then, for some reason, she suddenly fell into a chasm.
On a snowy night, the darkness that split the ground instantly swallowed him up.
It was just a dream, nothing strange about it.
However, when Yan Huanyue was on her twentieth day of inspection, she saw the copper coin that she had thrown away in the same spot ten days earlier.
She was able to confirm that it was the same coin because the tiny crack on the copper coin was exactly the same as the previous one.
Is it possible that the child never actually came to the chasm, but his life was taken by some mysterious being who fell into the chasm, which is why she dreamed of the child falling off the cliff?
Perhaps lingering resentment is locked onto this copper coin?
Yan Huanyue thought for a moment, put away the glass mirror, picked up a twig, dug out a small hole, put the copper coin with the longevity bell in it, covered it with a resentment-dispelling talisman, and buried it again.
The Misty Sect disciple laughed and said, "That's strange. How come you've encountered two of them? I've never seen this thing here before."
Now that the resentment had been resolved, Yan Huanyue didn't say anything more about how it was actually the same one, otherwise she would have to explain her recent dreams again.
After returning home, I never had any more dreams about children falling off cliffs.
On the thirtieth day, as she returned to her room and was about to undress and bathe, something clattered to the ground as she took off her shoes and socks. Looking down, she saw the copper coin lying quietly on the ground, probably brought back after she stepped on it.
No, it hid at her feet and followed her back.
Yan Huanyue's heart tightened immediately. She didn't care about whether it was strange or not. She picked up the thing with her plain handkerchief and took it to see Song Lingwei.
The snow-capped peaks are bitterly cold and windy, with the wind being much fiercer than on the ground.
As Yan Huanyue walked to Song Lingwei's palace, the barrier automatically dispelled upon seeing her.
Yan Huanyue entered the main hall without any hindrance. Seeing that no one was there, she called out, "Master's wife?"
Apart from the delicate fragrance wafting from the small incense burner, no one responded to her.
Yan Huanyue was a little puzzled. Where did her teacher's wife go so late?
She was about to go find the other elders in the sect when she faintly heard a faint cry of a crane amidst the biting wind and snow. It also sounded like the wind blowing through a window and the wind blowing through paper. It was extremely faint, and then it sounded like the wind blowing through people's clothes.
She took a few steps down the steps, only to see Song Lingwei walking towards her alone from a distance. Upon seeing her, Song Lingwei approached with a smile and said, "It's so late, Baoying, what brings you here?"
Yan Huanyue assumed she had gone to discuss matters with the elders, so she followed her inside, made her a cup of tea, and then showed her the copper coin, telling her about the three times she had encountered it in the past month.
Song Ling glanced at it and said, "This is indeed a Xuanjiang item, but it's not a life-borrowing coin. It should be a killing weapon. Moreover, the longevity bell inside is not an evil object, so you don't need to worry. This thing seems to have a sense of recognizing its master."
"Recognize a master?"
Why acknowledge her when it doesn't matter who you acknowledge?
It was unclear whose it originally belonged to, and the red rope was filthy; Yan Huanyue didn't know how to use it, so she didn't really want it.
Song Lingwei used a magic spell to clean the dust off the copper coin and said, "Since it has come to you, if you don't want it, just put it away."
Yan Huanyue walked back through the wind and snow with the copper coins in her hand. The wind was fierce and stung her face.
She hadn't had time to put on her magic robes when she came out at night. The spiritual energy around her was blown away by the wind and snow on the snow-covered peak, which was mixed with the spiritual energy of the array. She felt so cold that her bones and flesh ached slightly, and she had the illusion that her skin was about to be torn apart.
If the copper coin hadn't recognized its owner, she wouldn't have had to suffer this tonight.
Thinking of this, she took out the copper coin, got up, flew to the end of the snow-capped peak, and threw it into the chasm without hesitation. It quickly fell into the dark snowstorm and disappeared without a trace.
"Senior Sister Yan."
Upon hearing this, Yan Huanyue frowned slightly.
An umbrella tilted over her head, shielding her from the wind and snow.
The umbrella kept the wind and snow at bay, and the temperature was just right, instantly enveloping her in warmth.
Yan Huanyue looked up and saw several umbrella ribs supporting the twilight-colored canopy. Each rib was engraved with runes and inlaid with a bright, glittering sun-gathering stone, giving off a faint glow under the umbrella.
It truly is something from a wealthy family.
Xue Jingnian, dressed in a red robe with cloud patterns, glanced curiously down the seemingly bottomless cliff and asked, "What did you throw down?"
Yan Huanyue said, "It's nothing, just some pebble that hurts your foot."
As he spoke, he stepped out from under his umbrella.
Xue Jingnian quickly followed, held the umbrella over her head, and said softly, "Your clothes are too thin, and you're not wearing your ceremonial robes. This Snow Peak is no ordinary place; you can't just walk around in a single layer of clothing in the middle of winter."
Yan Huanyue said, "Thank you, but it's not necessary."
Xue Jingnian, who had fallen behind, closed his eyes briefly, suppressing his usual arrogant and impulsive temper, and took a few more steps to catch up, advising, "The road is still long. You can't protect yourself with spiritual power while flying on your sword. Take the umbrella and go back."
Yan Huanyue said, "Thank you, but it's not necessary."
Xue Jingnian suddenly grabbed her hand and asked her with a puzzled look, "Why can't I?"
Yan Huanyue frowned and said, "I don't know what you're asking."
Xue Jingnian pursed his lips, looked down at the blue water-repelling bead on her neck, and said, "This was given to me by Yu Yi."
Yan Huanyue sneered, "Everyone who patrols the sea has received their share; they all belong to the Yu family."
Xue Jingnian said, "But this one of yours was given to you by Yu Yi."
"What's it to you?"
Xue Jingnian almost blurted out, "Junior Brother Pei is still in the sect. What is your relationship with Yu Yi? Why are you treating Junior Brother Pei like this?"
However, age and experience do indeed bring people some insights and inspiration.
Xue Jingnian suddenly remembered that when she was faced with the news of her engagement to Pei Xuanzhi, he had also tried to suppress her choice of Pei Xuanzhi by sympathizing with Senior Brother Yu.
But now that he's a bit older, he's past the proud and arrogant age of seventeen or eighteen, and he's begun to realize that doing this is pointless except to provoke the other party and put himself in opposition to Yan Huanyue.
When people reach a certain age or situation, they eventually need to truly face their own hearts, their own humility and weakness, without using others as a shield.
Perhaps only at a certain moment will the true feelings in one's heart break through all youthful ignorance and stubbornness, piercing to the bone, and then quietly overflowing.
"I'm sorry, I'm just... a little disappointed. I didn't know how to face you before, or how to face myself. I did a terrible job, I was rude, I was harsh, I..."
Words flowed from his heart, and a tear slid down his chin and fell into the snow.
Yan Huanyue paused in her steps on the snow.
She never imagined that Xue Jingnian would one day utter such words from his dog mouth.
The warm eaves of the umbrella tilted over, and the bickering, fighting, and harsh words between them of the past vanished for a moment. It seemed that the person standing behind her now was the same chubby little baby who used to drool and insist on following her around.
Yan Huanyue sighed, "Alright, why bring this up? I've hit you quite a bit too, you know, you're just young. Thank you, but I really don't need that umbrella. I can go back by myself. You should go and get some rest too."
As he spoke, he braved the wind and snow to return to the hut. He poured himself a cup of hot water, sat down in a chair, took off his shoes and socks, and was about to take a bath when something fell to the ground with a clatter.
Yan Huanyue's heart sank.
Looking up, I saw the copper coin, which had been thrown across the chasm, lying quietly on the ground, covered in snow and mud.
Could it be that the wind at the precipice was too strong, and it didn't actually fall down, but was blown up instead?
She turned the shoe over and sure enough, she saw the outline of a copper coin on the snow on the sole.
He followed her back by clinging to her feet again.
But when she stepped on it, she didn't feel anything at all.
Truly wicked...
Yan Huanyue felt somewhat helpless. Since she couldn't throw it away, she could only follow her teacher's wife's advice.
She picked it up, washed it, and put it in her treasure pouch before taking a bath.
In her dream, someone was gripping her ankle tightly. She couldn't feel the weight, only the cold, sticky sensation of the grip.
She looked back and saw nothing but darkness behind her. As she ran, she desperately tried to shake off the cold, sticky feeling on her ankle.
Suddenly, someone pounced on her from the darkness behind her and hugged her, a cold, damp sensation pressing tightly against her back.
Yan Huanyue suddenly woke up.
She realized she had rolled the blanket up to her chest, exposing her entire back, her nightgown rolled up, and one bare leg slipped into the gap in the wooden railing at the foot of the bed.
No wonder.
She pulled her leg out, got up, changed into her ritual robes, washed up, and then went out to inspect the magic array at the chasm.
Lately, she has been having many dreams, so in her spare time she prepares some calming incense. She doesn't need it when she meditates and cultivates her spirit all night. Occasionally, she lights it before going to bed at night.
From then on, she slept well and didn't have many strange dreams.
Aside from occasionally dreaming of Pei Xuanzhi, it wasn't strange; she just missed him. Dreaming of him actually brought her some peace of mind.
However... sometimes, the things he does in his dreams are truly difficult to talk about.
But it's nothing, just an occasional quiet diversion during the daily, silent patrols; it's not like I'm dreaming about someone else.
It would be better if he never told her how outrageous his behavior was portrayed in her dreams.
However, she didn't know why she had portrayed him that way in her dream; it was strange.
Time passed slowly, and by the time they reached the East China Sea, it was already March. When Yan Huanyue moved from her private room on the snow-capped peak back to the six-person quarters at the camp, the north was still shrouded in wind and snow.
As the handover time drew near, not only did the Tianyan Sect begin sending people with a large amount of supplies on spirit boats, but the Snow Wolf Clan, which had been responsible for patrolling the area since the beginning of the year, also arrived on spirit boats with its members and supplies.
When Yan Huanyue returned from the sea, she saw many familiar faces. Xue Jingnian pulled her aside to share his experience of living in the north with his fellow disciples. After chatting for a while, she asked, "How is Xuanzhi? Did he ask anyone to deliver a message?"
Xue Jingnian was silent for a moment, then asked with a smile, "Yes, how is Junior Brother Pei?"
Luo Yuan, Pei Xuanzhi's former chess friend who had given him a chessboard when he was under house arrest, said:
"Sigh, he probably caught a cold in winter. He hasn't gotten better on and off since, and he hasn't been to the library much. When I left, Junior Brother Pei had just been taken to Changqing Hall by the Sect Leader. Before this trip, no letters came out of Changqing Hall."
Yan Huanyue's heart clenched immediately. However, Xuanzhi's health had never been good, but it was much better than before. With the sect leader there, a few colds were nothing to worry about. She would only need to help him prepare the medicine when she returned.
By the end of May, after the handover was completed, the Misty Sect began to withdraw in succession, while the people of the Heavenly Evolution Sect arrived by boat.
The spirit boats all stopped on the flat ground in the middle of the cold forest on the snow-capped peaks, and people and things were disembarked there first.
When the last boat of people arrived, Yan Huanyue still had no news from Pei Xuanzhi. She only heard that he had been staying in Changqing Palace and no longer went to the library to read books or play chess. No one knew what his current situation was.
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