About winter.
About snowfall.
In the eyes of different people, it holds different meanings.
Scholars compose poems and lyrics about the wind and snow, noble families see snow as an auspicious sign, and there are those who adore the snowy scenery, sipping tea and admiring the snow as it falls.
But for the people living near the border, for the displaced who have lost their homes,
snow means suffering.
The world is eerily silent, all sounds buried under layers of snow and wind. The only thing audible is the howling wind that chills the body to the bone.
Thin clothing and frail bodies force them to huddle together for warmth, barely resisting the biting cold.
The light, drifting snowflakes slowly accumulate,
gradually forming an unignorable weight.
The only good news is that under the leadership of Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue, the displaced group is getting closer to the passage. By tomorrow, they should arrive safely.
If nothing goes wrong, tonight will be their final ordeal.
Shivering, the displaced cling to each other, wrapping themselves in the fur, scales, and armor of fallen demons, or anything else they can find to shield their bodies from the cold.
Amidst the roaring snowstorm,
only Xu Xi, Wu Yingxue, and a few martial artists with protective qi remain unscathed.
"Sir, do you know how to treat illnesses?"
"I know a little, not much."
"But you said earlier that the Great Qian is sick, that everyone is sick, and that you can cure it. Isn't such a disease difficult to treat?"
"Not difficult. Just make those who have eaten too much eat less, and those who are starving eat more. The illness will disappear on its own."
A small campfire flickers with faint light.
The fire, sheltered by a large rock and protected by Xu Xi's protective qi, withstands the cold wind, providing precious light in the night.
Xu Xi sits on the left, the girl on the right.
The two are the strongest among the group.
While chatting by the fire, they also remain vigilant against potential dangers.
After hearing Xu Xi's answer about "curing the illness," the girl ponders, finding the logic simple yet strangely profound.
"Hmm... Sir, your words are truly wise."
"Unlike me, I can't do anything."
The girl suddenly sighs.
Leaning back on her arms, she looks dejected.
Xu Xi smiles, reaching over to the fire to take a piece of charred demon meat, chewing it slowly.
This is his dinner for the night.
Dry, bland, rough, and hard to chew.
But it's the only sustenance available tonight.
"It's alright," Xu Xi swallows the chewed demon meat and looks at Wu Yingxue.
"Yingxue, you have your strengths. You don't have to be like me."
"But... aside from martial arts, I can't do anything."
"That can't be true. Think harder."
In the dim night, the campfire appears both bright and tiny, casting a reddish glow on the girl's hair.
Xu Xi gently encourages her.
So, the girl furrows her brows in thought and tentatively says, "Aside from martial arts, I might... know how to recite poetry?"
Xu Xi: "?"
Now it's Xu Xi who's at a loss.
It's not that he looks down on Wu Yingxue, but her demeanor simply doesn't align with the image of a poet.
Could she be hiding her talents?
With a serious attitude, Xu Xi decides to first assess Wu Yingxue's poetic skills.
"Huh? You want to hear it?"
"Um, I, well..."
"Maybe... let's just forget it..."
Sparks fly, and dry branches crackle in the fire.
Under the flickering flames, the surroundings become hazy, further highlighting the girl's awkwardness and discomfort.
But she's bold and finally musters the courage to recite:
"Horse, you have four legs!"
"Human, you have two thighs!"
"I, I..."
Her voice suddenly drops to a whisper.
The atmosphere abruptly turns silent.
Even the wind, snow, and crackling fire seem to quiet down, leaving only the lingering awkwardness.
After a moment,
the two of them tacitly switch topics.
Both Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue unanimously decide to ignore the poetry incident.
After all, her level was a bit too... avant-garde.
...
Time passes.
The cold wind remains harsh, but it's blocked by their qi, unable to penetrate their bodies.
An invisible protective barrier extends outward, offering some shelter to the displaced.
Honestly,
the feeling is peculiar.
In this icy, snowy world, where the wind and snow never cease, the repetitive scenery creates a sense of time standing still.
"This winter will be tough..."
Xu Xi silently chews the demon meat, pondering his next steps.
At the same time,
he shares some insights on transcending from the Postnatal to the Innate realm, offering guidance to the girl.
Wu Yingxue has been at the Blood Exchange stage for a long time, only lacking that small yet crucial moment of breakthrough.
It might happen during battle,
or perhaps upon waking up.
She's just one step away from becoming an Innate Martial Artist.
"Here, take this," Xu Xi hands her two bottles of True Qi Pills.
They were part of the rent Wu Yingxue had paid earlier. Xu Xi had planned to use them himself, but unexpected events led him to break through to the Innate realm sooner than anticipated.
Naturally, these pills, meant for breaking through to the Innate realm, are no longer useful to him.
So, he gives them to Wu Yingxue.
"Huh?"
The girl looks surprised. She never expected to receive pills from Xu Xi, especially since she was still paying rent in installments.
"Are you serious?"
She hesitates before asking.
"Yes, take them."
Xu Xi holds the pill bottles, passing them over the fire and placing them in the girl's palm.
"...Thank you."
Wu Yingxue is stunned for a moment before quickly thanking Xu Xi.
She's not one to be overly sentimental.
She knows she truly needs the True Qi Pills to help her break through to the Innate realm sooner.
"Sir, you're such a good person," she smiles as she evaluates Xu Xi.
And also a big fool.
A fool who always thinks of others.
The girl looks down at the pill bottles in her hand.
The bottles are smooth, with a typical narrow-top, wide-bottom design. In the faint light of the fire, they reflect other things.
Her own face, the flickering flames, the thick layer of white snow.
And the blurred figure of the man sitting across from her.
All of it,
distorted and mingled by the dancing firelight.
"So nice..."
A soft voice murmurs, though it's unclear what she's praising.
[On the night before reaching the passage, you have a conversation with Wu Yingxue]
[You discover that the girl can recite poetry and are greatly shocked]
[After hearing her poem, you silently decide not to bring it up again]
[Considering future battles and the threat of demon hordes, you give her the True Qi Pills you no longer need, helping her break through to the Innate realm]
[Wu Yingxue seems very happy]
[That night, she sleeps clutching the two pill bottles and her dragon-patterned spear, unwilling to let go for even a moment]
[The next morning, her joy hasn't diminished in the slightest. She calls out to you with a bright smile, following you closely, claiming she wants to protect you, even though you don't really need her protection]
[Until you reach the passage]
[The tragic scene there slowly erases her smile]