Chapter Forty-Two: Tip of the Iceberg

The snowfall grew heavier and heavier.

At first, it was just snowflakes, falling like someone sprinkling sugar in the air.

Before long, it turned into clumps, clusters, resembling goose feathers or shredded cotton balls tumbling from the sky.

Snowflakes danced and swirled, landing on streets, alleys, rivers, distant mountains...

In no time, everything was blanketed in a glistening white.

The white covered the earth, layer upon layer of snow piled up, making it difficult for pedestrians to move forward.

Trees along the road occasionally shook their bodies, shaking off the snow onto the ground, but as soon as some fell, more came down.

The cold wind swept in, lifting a flurry of snow. It was snowing even harder now!

Pedestrians on the road hurriedly rushed back home, but on a patch of open ground beyond the mountain, two small figures were still struggling forward, undeterred by the fierce winds and snow.

The biting wind mercilessly slapped their frozen cheeks. The blue veil and white cloth intertwined in the raging wind, rampant and unrestrained.

The girl took two steps ahead, standing tall in the raging wind, raising her hand to shield her brow as she looked ahead.

Her azure veil fluttered and danced in the cold wind, like an elf born in the snow, yet she didn't seem as cold as the snow...

"We should be almost there."

The girl's clear voice rang out, amidst the howling wind, sounding so surreal that it felt dreamlike, until it echoed again, convincing them it was real.

"As Yewuchen said, we should be there after crossing this mountain."

Nan Xianyi stepped forward to stand beside her, teasing.

"If you're looking for someone, you're a bit aloof, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Iceberg! Not just high, but cold too! Haha!"

Zisang glanced at Nan Xianyi as if he were an idiot.

Zisang took off her embroidered robe and patiently tied it around Nan Xianyi.

"Since it's cold, you should wear more. You're just a mortal, unlike us demons, with your fragile body. How can you talk about moving mountains and seas?"

Nan Xianyi's eyes showed a hint of melancholy, but he still forced a smile.

"Is the difference between us humans and demons... that big?"

Or perhaps... is the distance between us also that vast, so vast that I can't see or touch it?

Zisang couldn't grasp the truth in his words and snorted back at him.

"A drop in the ocean, a moment's time. You're making trouble out of nothing again, wasting more time in your life."

It was the first time Nan Xianyi had seen Zisang speak so philosophically, and it was quite surprising.

Nan Xianyi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Stop talking like this in the future. It's really weird."

"This is what my father taught me. If you want me to stop, go talk to him first and then come back to tell me."

Zisang said indignantly.

Everyone has a temper. What, you think you're giving me face! All you do is make fun of me all day long.

Luckily, I'm in a good mood lately, so I won't pursue it with you. Otherwise, I'll slap you so hard you won't know which way is up.

As they circled around the back of the mountain, they came to a suspension bridge connecting the two mountains. With every gust of wind, it swayed back and forth.

Nan Xianyi exhaled a warm breath, thinking: How is this bridge meant for people to cross!

He wasn't afraid, of course, but he worried about Zisang. How could her petite frame withstand such turbulence? And on a snowy day like this, with ice forming on the bridge, what if she slipped?

Originally, flying on a sword was much faster, but there was too much snow, making it impossible to discern the direction. In the end, they had to choose to cross the two mountains on foot with their own abilities.