After the matter of the Ghost-faced Spider was over, Qin Ran brought Li Shiyin, Tian Wenjin and Dong Zhongyuan out of the Steward Hall.
Qin Ran and Dong Zhongyuan said, "Thank you nephew for this matter!"
"Uncle, you're too kind." Dong Zhongyuan smiled and said.
Qin Ran was able to appear at the Steward Hall in time not because he had some kind of psychic connection with Li Shiyin and sensed that she was in danger. Nor was it because with his astounding wisdom he somehow calculated that Li Shiyin would have this disaster today. It was because Dong Zhongyuan went to Dan Peak in time to send word.
As for how Dong Zhongyuan got the information in the first place, that would not be delved into for now. Qin Ran had suspicions but was determined not to ask.
Qin Ran looked at the sky, it was nearing afternoon, so he extended an invitation to Dong Zhongyuan: "The evening comes, and snow is imminent. Can we share a cup of wine?"
"Hahaha..." This little uncle was really an interesting fellow, Dong Zhongyuan waved his paper fan and replied, "This kind of weather is perfect for warming wine and watching snow!"
"I heard earlier that martial brother is also one of the ten great geniuses of heaven..." Li Shiyin suddenly spoke up and asked, "May I ask which ranking is martial brother?"
Dong Zhongyuan's expression immediately became guarded, and he had a frightened look on his face: "Junior sister... you... you're not going to challenge me, are you?"
This appearance of his made Li Shiyin pause in surprise, then laugh: "How could martial brother say that? Martial brother just saved my life, how could I challenge martial brother?"
"Phew..." Dong Zhongyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and said to Li Shiyin, "Not to deceive you junior sister, martial brother is no good at fighting at all. Actually I'm not even ranked among the ten great geniuses of heaven, it's just some special circumstances that forced my name to be on the list, so I had no choice but to grit my teeth and just go along with it. Junior sister, don't challenge me in the future."
Li Shiyin blinked her big eyes and asked: "Which ranking?"
She wouldn't believe nonsense about not being good at fighting at all, because her master said things like that all the time too...
"Number... four." Dong Zhongyuan said embarrassedly.
Number four? Li Shiyin nodded, looking as if it met her expectations. Tian Wenjin also took another look at Dong Zhongyuan, she hadn't expected this seemingly unserious martial brother to actually be so incredible.
As for Qin Ran, hearing that "some special circumstances", he glanced over Dong Zhongyuan a couple more times, but knew that Dong Zhongyuan hadn't told a single lie.
As the few were speaking, they got up and flew towards Dan Peak.
Flying in the air, Dong Zhongyuan noticed something strange about Qin Ran. Qin Ran had his eyes closed, and was next to Li Shiyin with his hand resting on Li Shiyin's shoulder.
What kind of pose was this?
He couldn't resist asking aloud: "Uncle... what's going on with you?"
"Cough!" Qin Ran didn't dare open his eyes, only replying: "Feeling a bit uncomfortable."
"Pfft..." Li Shiyin covered her mouth beside him, but still laughed out loud.
Dong Zhongyuan looked strangely at this master and disciple pair, knowing there was some inside story, but didn't inquire further.
The few people quickly landed outside the protective array of Dan Peak, Qin Ran opened a passage in the array, and led them inside Dan Peak.
Once inside Dan Peak, Dong Zhongyuan looked all around and exclaimed in astonishment: "Uncle, you've developed this Dan Peak extremely well, it's like a utopia!"
With mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, log cabins, waterfalls, it was a microcosm that contained everything needed, and Dong Zhongyuan was very shocked.
"You flatter me!" Qin Ran smiled humbly, but his eyes still showed some pride.
The current appearance of Dan Peak was indeed built brick by brick with the hands and feet of him... and Li Shiyin, this master and disciple pair. Thinking of this, he involuntarily looked towards Li Shiyin, and then discovered his silly disciple was also looking at him...
His heart inadvertently fluttered, not knowing if his silly disciple looked his way because she heard Dong Zhongyuan's words, or if her attention was on him the whole time.
Just as the few people entered the array, a white blur suddenly scampered out of the snowy ground towards them.
That white blur had a fierce aura, making Dong Zhongyuan silently ready his magic power to be on guard. As the white blur drew near, circling around Qin Ran and Li Shiyin, he finally could see clearly that it was a white tiger, that rumored Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger of Dan Peak.
"This Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger is so intimate with people..." he thought to himself.
A ferocious beast like the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger, even raised from childhood, should still have quite a proud disposition.
"Dad!" Chasing the Wind rubbed his big head against Qin Ran's arm, his tiger eyes looking at that newcomer to Dan Peak as he asked: "Who is he?"
"It can talk!" Dong Zhongyuan's jaw dropped wide in shock.
"A fellow disciple of our sect, Dong Zhongyuan..." Qin Ran formally introduced for Chasing the Wind, "You should call him martial brother."
As the saying goes, "tiger's gaze like lighting", Chasing the Wind looked Dong Zhongyuan up and down with his vertical black-gold pupils, actually quite intimidating.
After hearing Qin Ran's introduction, very reluctantly he called out: "Martial brother." Chasing the Wind felt this guy was no good, giving off a frivolous air.
"His name is Chasing the Wind, a cub of the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger." Qin Ran also smilingly introduced to Dong Zhongyuan.
"Greetings martial brother Chasing the Wind." Dong Zhongyuan had thousands of complex emotions, but still had a smile on as he greeted Chasing the Wind.
Chasing the Wind raised his proud neck, glancing at him out of the corner of his eyes, then walked forward with a domineering heroic spirit, just short of snorting at him.
"Ah, yes yes..." Seeing Chasing the Wind's attitude, Dong Zhongyuan felt more at ease inside. The tiger race should have this kind of looking down on others.
The group arrived at the log cabin, exchanged some pleasantries, then Dong Zhongyuan sat down on a long bench in the living room while Qin Ran ducked into the kitchen to prepare wine and dishes.
At this time in the living room were four people: Li Shiyin, Tian Wenjin, Chasing the Wind, and Dong Zhongyuan. Li Shiyin was not one to entertain guests, especially male guests. She quickly brought over a chess set and pulled over Chasing the Wind to play a few games.
Although Dong Zhongyuan was outgoing and sociable, when at someone else's home he still restrained himself, even with a beauty like Tian Wenjin sitting beside him on the bench. He inwardly applauded himself for his fortitude.
Li Shiyin and Chasing the Wind set up the black and white chess pieces, sitting at opposite ends of the tea table, both with the posture of chess masters eagerly awaiting an opponent.
Before placing each piece, they would ponder deeply; when placing each piece, they would do so vigorously; after placing each piece, they would sigh in astonishment and loudly praise what a good move.
This made Dong Zhongyuan's heart thump, and he quickly focused his attention to seriously watch and learn.
But after watching for a while...
He smiled wryly to himself, this... what were they playing at!?
He could only turn his head to appreciate Tian Wenjin's charming beauty, and ask with a laugh: "Junior sister Tian, what level of cultivation are you at?"
"Late Foundation Establishment stage."
"It looks like you'll be forming your core soon. What techniques and methods does junior sister cultivate?"
"I cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Sword Technique'. My comprehension is of Merciless Sword Intent!" Tian Wenjin answered him.
"Merciless... Sword Intent, sword intent..." Dong Zhongyuan's mouth gaped, "Merciless?!" Then he didn't dare inquire further.
She had already comprehended Merciless Sword Intent, what more could he possibly ask?
After watching the chaotic mess of a chess game between Li Shiyin and Chasing the Wind for a while longer, he finally couldn't stand it and got up to walk out of the cabin.
Dong Zhongyuan slowly strolled through the snowy grounds of Dan Peak, appreciating the scenery and marveling at the changes and wonders Qin Ran had accomplished with Dan Peak.
As he walked, he came to the bank of the small river. The river had frozen over, with some fish swimming under the ice. He followed the river upstream, walking to the foot of the frozen waterfall. The waterfall had also frozen, becoming a fantastical tree-like ice formation.
He stood at the bank of the deep pool below the waterfall, craning his head up looking at the frozen waterfall, appreciating the fantastical handiwork of nature.
Suddenly, he sensed something, and his gaze shifted slightly towards the edge of the frozen waterfall...
"That is...?" His eyes widened, pupils contracting involuntarily, mouth gaping with drool trickling out uncontrollably.
What he saw at the edge of that frozen waterfall, amidst the dazzling scenery, was a glimpse of a world-shocking, peerless beauty in white turning and disappearing.
Graceful as a startled swan, smooth as a soaring dragon!
That fluttering sash like billowing clouds...
Dong Zhongyuan dared to swear that he had never seen such a woman before this moment, and feared he might never see such again... even though he hadn't even seen the face of that white figure clearly.
She must be a celestial fairy, river goddess - staring blankly at where that white figure had vanished, he was entranced.
"Hey! You over there, where are you from? What's your name?!" Suddenly, clear and crisp voices of a young girl rang out.
Only then did Dong Zhongyuan return to his senses, reluctantly drawing back his gaze towards the source of the voice.
He saw on the small bridge over the river, a young girl bundled up like a rice dumpling was pointing at him and yelling.