36 Encounters
The snow stopped, but the world did not become gentler.
The leaden sky, like a filthy, water-soaked rag, weighed heavily upon the human head. Sparse, pale light barely penetrated the clouds, falling upon the boundless snowfield, reflecting a dazzling, icy light. The snow was thigh-deep, its surface crusted with a hard crust of ice. Every step was accompanied by a crackling sound and the heaviness of struggling to pull away, echoing far into the deadly wilderness.
Su Lin was wrapped in thick, familiar-smelling fur, the last bit of warmth they'd brought from the valley. Even so, the biting cold still permeated his already frail body, causing him to tremble slightly. His face was a nearly transparent paleness, and tiny ice crystals clung to his long eyelashes, trembling slightly with his shallow breaths. He leaned almost entirely on Mu Lin, who supported him. Each step was incredibly difficult, as if he would lose all his strength at any moment.
Mu Lin's arms were as steady as a rock. He wore a simple, elegant blue cloth garment, covered by a thick fur coat. His long, silver-blue hair was tied back, a few strands falling by his cheeks, further framing his gentle features. A faint, moist vapor lingered around him, striving to create a small, relatively warm zone around Su Lin, dispelling the bone-chilling cold. His brow furrowed slightly, constantly monitoring Su Lin's condition.
"This awful weather! Even after the snow stopped, it's even colder than when it started!" A Yan, leading the way, couldn't help but curse. His fiery red short hair was like a flame that refused to die, standing out against the vast expanse of white. He wore only a sleeveless leather vest, revealing his muscular, bronze arms. He seemed to possess an extraordinary resistance to the cold. He swung his hatchet to chop away the dead, snow-covered branches blocking his path, and irritably turned his head. "Su Lin! Are you okay? If not, I'll carry you!" His eyes were filled with undisguised anxiety and worry, a fiery gaze that nearly burned Su Lin's pale cheeks.
Su Lin lifted his heavy eyelids, met A Yan's gaze, and forced a soothing, somewhat weak smile. His voice was as light as a feather: "It's... okay, I can hold on." He paused, and added with a hint of apology that was only slightly confused, "It's just... I'm a bit of a burden to everyone."
"Bullshit!" A Yan immediately retorted in a rough voice, but a trace of heartache flashed in his eyes, "Who said you were a burden? If you say that again, I will be angry with you!" As if to prove something, he swung the short axe even harder, clearing a wider road in front.
Lei Qing, walking at the forefront, was like a silent rock. He wore a dark gray combat uniform, his jacket tied at the waist, a tight-fitting vest outlining the broad, solid muscles of his back. Each step he took was extremely steady, using his sturdy physique to forge a path through the deep snow. He didn't look back, nor did he join in the conversation, but his hawk-like eyes, like the most sophisticated radar, constantly scanned the surroundings for possible dangers. Only occasionally, when he was sure the front was temporarily safe, would he glance back quickly, his cold gaze passing over Su Lin's pale face, and then he would pause imperceptibly for a moment, deep within him surging an unbreakable solemnity and a hint of pity that he had forcibly suppressed.
Xingchen followed silently at the end of the group. The boy seemed taller than before, but still thin and small, wrapped in a slightly loose coat of fur, like a vigilant wolf cub. Most of his attention was focused on Su Lin. His once timid eyes were now as sharp as obsidian in the snow, constantly scanning the flanks and rear. His small hands tightly grasped the dagger that Lei Qing had given him for self-defense, his knuckles slightly white from the pressure, as if ready to burst at any moment and tear apart any danger that dared to approach Su Lin.
The team marched forward in silence and difficulty for over an hour. Suddenly, without warning, Lei Qing stopped, raised his right arm, and clenched his fist!
Everyone froze in an instant, even their breathing subconsciously slowed down.
"There's something." Lei Qing's voice was very low, like a cold wind blowing across the ice, with a metallic texture.
Following his warning gaze, I saw seven or eight figures staggering to their feet a few dozen meters ahead, behind a few half-covered mounds of earth covered by snow—frozen mutants. Their skin was an unnatural bluish-purple, their movements stiff and slow, icicles dangling from their bodies. Their cloudy, lifeless eyes, upon detecting the presence of life, instantly locked onto them, and a low, hoarse growl emanated from their throats, a cry of thirst for flesh and blood.
"Fuck! What a fucking bad luck!" Ah Yan spat, and instantly held the short axe across his chest. Scorching flames shot up from his palm, enveloping the axe blade. The surrounding air was slightly distorted by the high temperature. "Just right for warming me up!"
He made a move to charge, but Lei Qing raised his hand to stop him.
"Save your energy and fight quickly and decisively." Lei Qing spoke concisely, his eyes sweeping coldly across the seemingly peaceful snowfield around him, as if assessing whether there was a greater threat lurking.
Before he finished speaking, his figure shifted slightly, and the next moment, he shot out like a streak of blue lightning, darting low to the ground! The moment the hunting knife was unsheathed, the air crackled with a subtle arc of electricity! In a flash of the knife, the head of the mutant in the lead flew off its neck with a look of astonishment. Before the dark red blood could splatter, it was compressed and charred by the lightning that followed.
Seeing this, Ah Yan let out a low roar, no longer holding back. Several blazing fireballs slammed into the mutants like meteors, exploding with a bang! The scorching airwaves carried ice, snow, and shredded flesh everywhere, and the pungent smell of burning instantly filled the air. His fighting style was vigorous and full of violent power, forming a stark contrast to Lei Qing's precise and cold style.
Mu Lin didn't join the attack. He stood firmly in front of Su Lin, his hands slightly raised. A richer aquamarine light spread out from him, forming a flexible barrier that not only blocked any possible corpse poison and cold air but also slightly weakened the mental pressure brought by the mutant. He firmly protected Su Lin at the safest core of the barrier.
Su Lin, protected by Mu Lin, watched his companions fight to protect him, a deep sense of guilt and powerlessness welling up in his heart. He tried to concentrate, trying to mobilize the weak, almost imperceptible healing energy within his body, if only to dispel a trace of fatigue for his companions. But as soon as he concentrated, a strong feeling of dizziness hit him, his body swayed, and his face became even uglier.
"Don't move." Mu Lin didn't even turn his head, but his voice reached his ears clearly, with unquestionable gentle strength, "Save your energy, your ability is not used here." He tilted his head slightly and gave Su Lin a soothing look.
Xingchen, dagger tightly gripped, stood guard at Su Lin's side like a silent shadow. He didn't rush into the fight between Lei Qing and A Yan. Instead, his muscles tensed, his eyes like a precise scanner, constantly scanning the perimeter of the battle zone, guarding against any escapee who might breach the defenses and threaten Su Lin. His lips were pressed into a firm line, his expression focused and fierce, unlike that of a teenager.
The battle began suddenly and ended just as quickly. With the tacit cooperation of Lei Qing and A Yan, the seven or eight low-level mutants were quickly eliminated, leaving only a few charred or broken corpses, and the blood staining a small patch of snow red.
"Tsk, boring." A Yan shook off the non-existent blood on his hatchet, his mouth scornful, but his slightly rapid chestbeat still betrayed his exhaustion. He subconsciously glanced back at Su Lin to make sure he was alright.
Lei Qing sheathed his sword with a quick, decisive movement. But he didn't relax. Instead, his brow furrowed even tighter, his sharp gaze scanning the surrounding dead trees and snowy hills like a searchlight. "Something's wrong," he said in a deep voice, a subtle hint of alarm in his voice. "It's too quiet."
As if to confirm his ominous premonition, a subtle rustling sound, different from the sound of wind and snow, came from the depths of the dead forest with twisted branches on the left. The sound was very light, but it carried a creepy regularity.
Everyone's heart instantly rose to their throat.
Three figures in loose gray robes and hooded heads emerged silently from the withered woods, like ghosts peeling from the shadows. Their steps were slow and synchronized, seemingly unhindered by the thigh-deep snow. The wide hems of their robes brushed against the snow, leaving almost no trace. They moved straight and purposefully toward the group's location.
Return to the Dust Sect!
It was clearer than when they had glimpsed it from afar near the stone house before. The cold, sticky, and oppressive feeling mixed with a certain fishy-sweet smell surged in as they approached, like a real tide, making people's scalps numb and their stomachs churn.
"Prepare for battle!" Lei Qing's low shout was like an icicle hitting the ground, instantly breaking the stagnant atmosphere. Dangerous blue arcs of electricity once again emanated from his body. His hunting knife was fully unsheathed, the icy blade pointed at the attacker.
The irritation and disdain on Ah Yan's face were instantly replaced by ferocity. The flame on the hatchet blazed even more vigorously with a boom, illuminating his bronze face. He grinned, revealing an almost ferocious smile: "Just in time! I was worried I hadn't gotten enough movement!"
Mu Lin took a deep breath and pulled Su Lin closer to him. The aquamarine barrier glowed brighter and became more solid, resisting the pervasive spiritual erosion with all his might. His face paled slightly, clearly under immense pressure.
Xingchen's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of a dangerous needle. He no longer hid, but suddenly stepped forward from the end of the group, standing shoulder to shoulder with Mu Lin, completely shielding Su Lin from view. He held a dagger across his chest, his thin body emitting a ferocity belying his size. Like a young beast whose territory had been invaded, ready to fight to the death, he stared intently at the three uninvited guests.
The three gray-robed figures stopped less than twenty meters away, standing in a loose semi-arc. The shadows beneath their hoods were bottomless, as if three pairs of invisible eyes were observing them coldly, with an inhuman curiosity and greed. Ultimately, those unpleasant gazes were mostly focused on Su Lin, who was being carefully guarded and whose presence was the faintest.
No words, no warning, not even a hint of human emotion.
The taller, gray-robed figure in the center slowly raised his arm. His sleeve slipped, revealing a hand as dry and gray as old tree bark. The fingers were slender, and the nails were sharp. A short blade, as pale as if forged from the bones of some creature, silently appeared in his hand. The blade curved slightly, and seemed to be engraved with twisted, indistinct dark red lines.
As he raised the bone blade, the sickening mental oppression suddenly intensified several times! Like an invisible hammer, it slammed into everyone's heart!
Mu Lin groaned, his body swaying. The aqua-blue barrier began to fluctuate violently, and even tiny, spider-web-like cracks began to appear at the edges! He clenched his teeth, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but he still held on tightly.
A Yan roared angrily, trying to use violent fire energy to disperse the oppression. The flames exploded around him, but it was like hitting an invisible wall, unable to really reach the gray-robed man in the distance, and instead made his own breathing heavier.
Lei Qing's eyes sharpened, and lightning flashed beneath his feet, attempting to break through the suppression with his speed and attack the main body directly. However, as he moved, the two gray-robed men on his left and right simultaneously raised their arms, pointing bone blades at him. A stronger mental force, filled with chaos and whispers, wrapped around him like shackles, instantly slowing his movements, as if he were trapped in a sticky quagmire!
And at this moment, the gray-robed man who first raised the bone blade moved!
His target was extremely clear—Su Lin!
His speed was beyond belief. One moment he was twenty meters away, and the next, like a ghost, he had bypassed Lei Qing and A Yan in front of him. The pale bone blade, with a shrieking sound that tore through the air, pierced Su Lin's heart, who was protected by Mu Lin and Xing Chen behind him! That move was ruthless, precise, and determined to kill with one blow!
"Su Lin!" Mu Lin's eyes were bloodshot. He was trying his best to maintain his mental barrier which was on the verge of breaking. He couldn't pay any attention to anything else!
The chill of death, like an icicle, instantly pierced Su Lin's limbs and bones. He stared at the pale bone blade, rapidly enlarging in his pupils, his mind blank. His body was frozen in utter weakness and fear, unable to move. He wanted to do something: spatial abilities? Healing energy? But now, all of them were like stones sunk into the deep sea, unable to be summoned.
At this critical moment!
"Don't hurt him--!!"
A sharp shout, with the unique sharpness of a young boy, and even torn and distorted by extreme anger and fear, suddenly exploded like thunder out of the blue!
It's stardust!
This young man, who had been silently guarding Su Lin like a shadow, suddenly burst out with astonishing strength at this moment when everyone was suppressed and Su Lin's life was hanging by a thread! Without the slightest hesitation, his thin body was like a spring filled with power, suddenly crashing into the gray-robed man who was attacking Su Lin from the side!
He wasn't trying to block the deadly bone blade—that was beyond his ability. He was using his body as a weapon, as a shield! His movements were as fast as lightning, and his target was clear—the wrist of the gray-robed man holding the bone blade!
"Bang!"
A dull thud was heard.
The stardust slammed into the gray-robed man's arm like a cannonball, the immense force causing his forward thrust to deflect violently! The bone blade brushed past Su Lin's sleeve, slicing through the thick fur with a swish. The cold blade even touched the skin of Su Lin's arm, sending a piercing chill through him, yet narrowly avoiding his vitals!
At the same time, Stardust's empty left hand, tightly grasping the dagger, with all his strength and ferocity, fiercely and accurately stabbed the outer thigh of the gray-robed man that was not covered by the robe!
“Ugh—!”
The gray-robed man let out a hoarse, twisted, and inhuman roar of pain! He had clearly never expected this ever-ignored, weak little bug to unleash such a fearless attack! His wrist was bruised from the impact, and the sharp sting in his thigh completely distorted his movements!
All this happened in a flash!
"Stardust!" Su Lin watched the young man clinging to the gray-robed man like a frantic young animal. His heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, nearly stopping. A surge of emotion—a mixture of shock, fear, and a surge of heartache and anger—overwhelmed his stiffness. He instinctively reached out, wanting to grab Stardust.
The gray-robed man felt pain, and a red light flickered violently in the shadows beneath his hood. His other, dry hand suddenly lifted up, his five fingers forming claws. With a gust of fishy air, he fiercely grabbed at Xingchen's head! If this grip had been successful, Xingchen's skull would have shattered instantly!
"court death!!!"
Lei Qing and A Yan's roars erupted almost at the same time!
Stardust's reckless obstruction bought the two of them a precious moment! The mental suppression against them was briefly loosened due to the gray-robed man's injury and distraction!
Thunder erupted from Lei Qing's body, like a thunder beast freed from its shackles. His hunting knife, with its all-shattering fury, transformed into a blue afterimage, barely visible to the naked eye, as it slashed straight at the gray-robed figure's neck, whose portals had been wide open due to the interference of the stardust! Even before the knife reached him, the fierce lightning had already made the air smell of burning!
Ah Yan's eyes burned crimson, pouring all his fury and rage into this single blow! He abandoned his ranged fireballs and lunged forward. The flames on his short axe condensed into a nearly white, blazing light. Like a falling star, he struck the gray-robed man's head with a vengeance determined to perish together! He would never allow anyone to harm the person he swore to protect in front of him!
“Puff!”
“Crack!”
The dull sound of the sharp blade cutting into the decayed body and the crisp sound of bones breaking rang out almost simultaneously!
The gray-robed man, tightly entangled by Stardust, ultimately failed to dodge the deadly, enraged combined blows from Lei Qing and A Yan! Lei Qing's hunting knife, wielding the violent force of lightning, nearly severed his neck completely, arcs of electricity dancing across the charred surface! A Yan's flaming hatchet was even more brutal, splitting his head in half. Blazing flames instantly surged in, incinerating everything within it to ash!
The gray-robed man's body twitched violently, and the hand that was grabbing Xingchen's hair loosened weakly. The cold aura surrounding his body receded like a tide, and he fell straight back, hitting the snow with a "thump", and there was no sound anymore.
Xingchen stumbled and fell to the cold snow, panting heavily, his face splattered with warm, dark red blood that stank strangely. His hand, gripping the dagger, was still shaking uncontrollably, his knuckles cracked and bleeding. But his obsidian eyes shone with a terrifying brilliance, fixed on the rapidly fading corpse. There was no fear in them, only an almost feral, post-battle ferocity and the calmness of knowing their target had been eliminated.
The other two gray-robed men saw their companions killed instantly, and from beneath their hoods, a sharp, piercing scream, like countless nails scraping against glass, emanated! They abandoned their mental suppression and, like two bolts of gray lightning, madly pounced upon Lei Qing and A Yan. Their bone blades swung, leaving behind pale afterimages. Their attack was even more fierce and reckless than before!
But without the cooperation of their companions, they were doomed to fail when facing Lei Qing and A Yan, who had broken free from their suppression.
Lei Qing's eyes were as cold as ten thousand years of ice. The hunting knife in his hand turned into blue electric lights that took his life. Every swing was precise and deadly, forcing the gray-robed man who pounced on him to retreat again and again. The bone blade and the hunting knife collided, making a sharp sound and sending sparks flying.
A Yan fought with a life-or-death attitude. He roared, flames swirling around him, his hatchet dancing wildly, completely disregarding defense, each strike aimed squarely at the opponent's vital points. His ferocious aura completely overwhelmed the other gray-robed man. The flames scorched his robe, revealing a body covered in a similarly grayish-white, keratinized skin beneath. Clearly, this skin couldn't fully withstand A Yan's intensely focused flames.
Mu Lin's pressure eased, and he immediately turned most of his attention to Su Lin and Xingchen. He quickly stepped forward, first letting a gentle stream of water brush over Su Lin's torn sleeve. Confirming that it was only the fur that had been cut, leaving only a shallow white mark on the skin and no blood, he breathed a sigh of relief. He then squatted down, supporting the gasping Xingchen. A gentle blue light shone from his palm as he pressed it against the laceration on the boy's palm. Cool energy surged in, quickly stopping the bleeding and relieving the pain and weakness.
"Well done, Xingchen." Mu Lin's voice trembled slightly, a mixture of fear and genuine approval. He stared into the boy's still fierce eyes, feeling indescribably shocked. The courage and determination this child displayed at the crucial moment far exceeded his imagination.
When Xingchen heard Mu Lin's words, the fierceness in his eyes slowly subsided. He raised his head and the first person he looked at was Su Lin. His voice was still a little hoarse and breathless: "Brother Su Lin...are you okay?"
Su Lin had already shaken off his momentary stiffness. He stumbled over to Xingchen's side, ignoring the blood on the ground as he embraced the boy tightly. His arms were clenched tightly, his body still trembling slightly, and his voice was choked with sobs, barely able to form complete words: "It's...it's okay...Xingchen, thank you...thank you..." He repeated it over and over, feeling the boy's warm body temperature and rapid heartbeat in his arms, an indescribable fear and gratitude filling his chest. It was almost, just this close. This child he regarded as his own brother was going to die to save him...
A Yan's side also saw a decisive victory. Despite a bone blade slashing his left shoulder, leaving a deep wound visible to the bone, he roared and slammed his hatchet into his opponent's chest. Blazing flames erupted from within, transforming the gray-robed figure into a blazing torch!
Almost at the same time, Lei Qing also used an exquisite thrust, and his hunting knife pierced the heart of the last gray-robed man. The violent sharp knife instantly destroyed all life in his body.
The battle finally ended.
The snowy plains were once again utterly silent, but the thick smell of blood, burnt flesh, and a strange, sweet, and fishy air filled the air, making it even more nauseating than before. Three bodies, each in a different shape, lay on the pristine white snow, their dark red, charred black, and grayish-white interwoven into a cruel and eerie scene.
A Yan leaned on his short axe, breathing heavily, and the wound on his left shoulder was bleeding profusely, but he didn't care. He just cast his eyes on Su Lin and saw that he was protected by Xingchen and was safe. Then he gritted his teeth and cursed: "Fuck! That's fucking awesome!"
Lei Qing sheathed his sword, his movements still steady, but his slightly rapid breathing and the beads of sweat on his forehead showed that he hadn't been relaxed just yet. He walked over to Su Lin and Xingchen, first taking a deep look at Xingchen, who was tightly held in Su Lin's arms, and then his gaze fell on Su Lin.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice still flat, but the hand hanging by his side, stained with a little blood, curled up almost imperceptibly.
Su Lin raised his head, his eyes still red. He shook his head and said in a nasal voice: "I'm fine, Xingchen..."
"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious." Lei Qing interrupted him, turned his gaze to Xingchen, was silent for a moment, then reached out his hand, not patting, but pressing Xingchen's shoulder forcefully and solemnly.
"Very good," he uttered these two words, deep and powerful. This was his highest and most direct recognition of Xingchen.
Xingchen's body stiffened slightly under his palm, and then, his obsidian eyes suddenly shone with an incomparably bright, almost scorching light. He nodded vigorously, all the pain and fatigue seemed to disappear in that moment.
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