Chapter 118: The Icy Night

In the far reaches of the Southern Border, customs and traditions diverge greatly from those of the Central Plains. Despite its remote location, years of interaction with the Central Plains have not been entirely absent. The pelts, ores, and other local specialties produced in the Southern Border have always enjoyed a high reputation in the Central Plains, drawing many merchants to engage in trade.

Over time, under the influence of these merchants, inns, which were once nonexistent, began to appear in the busiest towns of the Southern Border. One such inn, named “Heavenly Water Inn,” is where Ghost Li and Little White now find themselves.

As they enter the inn, it is evident that the furnishings and decor are heavily influenced by Central Plain culture. However, the owner and staff are all local Zhuang people, who are the most populous ethnic group in the Southern Border. The Zhuang, while relatively wealthy and deeply influenced by the Central Plains, have gradually begun to adopt agriculture and commerce, unlike other tribes that still primarily rely on hunting.

Despite this, the Zhuang people are generally peaceful and less aggressive, making them less dominant compared to the smaller Miao population, who are more combative.

Ghost Li and Little White sat down, and an attendant, who looked like a Zhuang native, came over to greet them. The sky was growing dark, and there were few guests in the inn. The attendant, though clearly a Zhuang, spoke surprisingly fluently.

“Two honored guests, what would you like to eat? Our inn also has clean rooms at very reasonable prices, renowned far and wide.”

Ghost Li nodded and said, “Keep two clean rooms for us. We’ll stay for one night.”

The attendant smiled and nodded, then asked, “Honored guests, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Would you like to order some food?”

Ghost Li wasn’t particularly hungry, but seeing Little White, he decided to order something. “Well, bring us two bowls of rice, and a few…”

“Uh!” Little White interjected with a smile. “Do you have ‘Stewed Yellow Sparrows’ here?”

Ghost Li looked at Little White, surprised, and the attendant was also taken aback. He glanced at Little White and said, “Have you been to our Southern Border before, miss? This is indeed one of our signature dishes.”

Little White’s smile grew, her eyes twinkling as if recalling something. “Yes, and do you have ‘Three-Segment Snake Intestines,’ ‘Roasted Bear Tail,’ ‘Grilled Autumn Leaves,’ ‘Five Small Insects,’ and ‘Heartless Fruit’…?”

Her eyes sparkled, and she began to list the dishes rapidly, each name more exotic and bizarre than the last. These dishes were utterly unheard of in the Central Plains.

Ghost Li was stunned, and the attendant’s smile turned into an awkward expression. Even the innkeeper, who was counting money in the distance, walked over.

After listing nearly thirty dish names, Little White paused and turned to the innkeeper and the attendant. “Do you have these dishes here?”

The innkeeper and the attendant exchanged glances. After a moment, the innkeeper chuckled nervously. “Miss, you are indeed well-traveled. The dishes you mentioned are all famous local specialties, but some of the ingredients are hard to find. Apart from Stewed Yellow Sparrows, we only have Heartless Fruit and Roasted Bear Tail. I’m truly sorry.”

A hint of disappointment crossed Little White’s face, but she quickly smiled. “Then let’s start with these three dishes.”

The innkeeper and the attendant quickly agreed and went to prepare the dishes. Little White’s eyes twinkled as she turned to Ghost Li, who was watching her. She smiled sweetly. “After all these centuries, I suddenly feel a strong desire to taste these old flavors. Have you ever tried these dishes when you were here?”

Ghost Li shook his head. His previous visit to the Southern Border had been driven by the need to find the Dark Witch Clan to save Bi Yao; he had no interest in culinary pleasures. This time, if not for the special circumstances of avoiding the Burnt Incense Valley’s pursuit, he wouldn’t have stayed in a town. Little White, being a woman (though a thousand-year-old fox spirit), couldn’t be expected to spend nights in the wilderness.

He fell silent for a moment, then asked, “I can guess what Stewed Yellow Sparrows are, but what is Heartless Fruit?”

Little White explained, “It’s a unique fruit from the Southern Border, green on the outside, white and tender on the inside, but with a black core. It’s deep-fried in oil, and the taste is exceptionally delicious.”

Ghost Li frowned and asked, “What about ‘Roasted Bear Tail’? Is it the tail of a black bear? I’ve heard of bear paws and bear bile, but not bear tails.”

Little White smiled. “This is not an ordinary bear. There’s a special species here called the ‘Long-Tailed Bear.’ It’s much smaller than the black or white bears we know, but its meat is much more delicious. Its long tail, especially, is the most prized part and is quite famous in the Southern Border.”

Ghost Li was silent, and Little White, looking at him, said, “Strange, you usually don’t care about much, but you seem interested in these dishes. Why is that?”

Ghost Li was taken aback and fell silent. He had grown up on the Bamboo Peak of the Azure Ethereal Conclave and had started cooking at a young age. He had a natural talent and interest in cooking. If he had been born into a normal family, he might have become a renowned chef. But now…

He sighed softly, feeling a sudden lack of interest in anything. Little White watched him with a gentle, curious look, her eyes shimmering.

Only Xiao Hui, the little monkey, was still restless, looking around and making soft noises, as if expecting something.

As the night deepened, the bustling Heavenly Water Fort grew quiet. The Heavenly Water Inn had two floors, with guest rooms on the second floor. Ghost Li noticed that only he and Little White were staying tonight. Though the inn was popular, the current chaos in the world kept many Central Plain merchants away. The local people, too, rarely stayed in inns.

Little White’s room was next to Ghost Li’s, separated by a thin wooden wall. He could faintly hear laughter and playful noises from her room. Xiao Hui had run over to play with Little White, though he still slept with Ghost Li every night. Little White seemed to have a special bond with the little monkey, and Xiao Hui often sought her company.

Ghost Li lay in his room, feeling a bit uncomfortable after so long without staying in an inn. As the night deepened, he found himself unable to sleep, feeling restless. He stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open and gazing out.

Unlike during the day, the night sky over the Southern Border was clearing, with a sliver of moonlight peeking through the gaps in the clouds.

The moonlight, like frost and snow, fell gently on him. The world was silent, with only the faint chirping of insects in the dark corners of the streets.

The night was dark and desolate. From the window, he could see the vast mountains and the deep, starlit sky.

In the lonely night, memories flooded back. Once a boy from a remote village, he had been swept up in the tumult of life, drifting along with the tide. Looking back, he realized he was alone.

How lonely life is…

Under the moon, the man remained silent.

A distant sound, like a sharp whistle, cut through the air.

Ghost Li looked up, his brows furrowing. A light streaked across the sky like a meteor, passing over Heavenly Water Fort and heading west. Behind it, three more lights followed in hot pursuit.

With his keen eye, Ghost Li recognized that these lights were cultivators flying through the sky. The four lights chased each other through the night, the lead light unable to shake off the followers.

After a moment, the leading light seemed to make a decision, descending toward the southwest of Heavenly Water Fort. The trailing lights followed suit.

Ghost Li pondered for a moment, feeling uneasy. He waved his hand, turning into a beam of azure light, and flew toward the landing spot.

As he shrank into the distance, the window of the room next to him creaked open. Little White, holding Xiao Hui, gazed in the direction Ghost Li had flown. Soon, Ghost Li disappeared into the darkness.

Little White’s face was calm, her eyes shining with an unusual light.

Ghost Li flew silently, soon finding that the lights had landed in the ruins of the old Heavenly Water Fort. As he entered the fort, a low, muffled cry echoed, followed by a familiar, alluring laugh.

Ghost Li frowned, recognizing the voice as Jin Ping’er.

He hesitated, then hid in the shadows, moving forward cautiously. The streets, once busy, were now desolate and in ruins.

The sky had cleared, and the moonlight illuminated the abandoned fort. Jin Ping’er stood in the center of the street, smiling, facing a young, furious man—Li Xun, a disciple of the Burnt Incense Valley.

Behind him, another disciple lay injured, his clothes torn, and a deep wound on his chest, groaning weakly.

But Ghost Li’s attention was drawn to the fourth person. Standing on the roof of a dilapidated building, a woman in white robes, a long sword on her back, stood gracefully in the wind. Her pale skin, illuminated by the moonlight, made her appear ethereally beautiful.

Could it be that the night and the moonlight were so beautiful because of her?

Lu Xueqi!

In the darkness, he gazed at the woman, untouched by the world’s trials. Ten years had passed, yet she seemed unmarred.

“Evil woman!” Li Xun’s handsome face twisted with rage.

He and Lu Xueqi had blocked Jin Ping’er, but when they landed, Jin Ping’er had used a mind-altering technique to bewitch and then injure the Burnt Incense Valley disciple. Only Li Xun’s intervention had saved his life.

“What have you done with my sister Yan Hong? Hand her over now!”

Jin Ping’er smiled, her eyes darting briefly to the dark corner where Ghost Li was hiding. “You said she is your sister, not mine. How would I know?”

“Spit!” Li Xun, clearly concerned, shouted, “If not for Elder Shangguan’s sharp eye, we would still be deceived. You killed our fellow disciples, and you will pay for it. Hand over Sister Yan Hong now!”

“I’m so scared!” Jin Ping’er mockingly clutched her heart, her face full of amusement. “You’re supposed to be the righteous ones. How can you bully a weak woman like me?”

A cold snort came from Lu Xueqi behind her.

Li Xun glared at Jin Ping’er, his face darkening. “Evil woman, if you don’t surrender, I won’t be merciful…”

Before he could finish, Jin Ping’er laughed, and a purple light flared from her sleeve. Li Xun tensed, knowing Jin Ping’er’s cunning and the sharpness of her weapon. The earlier attack had revealed her strength, and he knew she was no easy opponent.

But Li Xun was proud and confident, determined not to show weakness, especially in front of Lu Xueqi, who had captured his heart ten years ago.

Just as he prepared to fight, Jin Ping’er feigned an attack, suddenly dashing past him to attack Lu Xueqi.

In a flash, the purple light approached, and Lu Xueqi’s face turned to ice. The divine sword Tianya flashed, a blue light bursting forth. Li Xun, watching from behind, felt a surge of urgency and pursued.

Jin Ping’er, however, used the clash to retreat, slipping back under Li Xun’s guard. Li Xun, startled, couldn’t stop in time, and Lu Xueqi, blocked by Li Xun, had to hold back.

They both saw Jin Ping’er heading back to where Li Xun had stood, where the injured disciple lay, panic-stricken. Li Xun, regretting his momentary distraction, roared and pursued.

Lu Xueqi followed, and in a heartbeat, Jin Ping’er reached the disciple. With a swift kick, she sent him flying backward. Li Xun caught him, his hands covered in blood.

Jin Ping’er’s kick had killed the young disciple.

Li Xun’s eyes blazed with fury, and in that moment, Lu Xueqi surged past him, pursuing Jin Ping’er. As Jin Ping’er’s shadow passed the dark corner, she whispered urgently, “Help me stop the girl.”

From the darkness, a scoff was heard, and a figure stirred, unwilling to get involved.

But in that instant, Jin Ping’er shouted, “Seven Li Dong!”

The words struck Ghost Li like lightning, freezing him in place. Jin Ping’er’s face held a mysterious smile as she darted past him.

Seconds later, Lu Xueqi, in her white robes, appeared. Who was she thinking of in that fleeting moment?

An azure light rose, and Lu Xueqi’s icy demeanor softened with a mix of confusion, surprise, and anger.

Clang!

Tianya and the Bloodsucking Sword clashed, their blue and red lights intertwining, their echoes fading into the night.

Li Xun rushed past Lu Xueqi, chasing Jin Ping’er, his gaze lingering on the man and woman standing silently, their eyes locked.

The distant laughter of Jin Ping’er, soft and mocking, filled the air. Ghost Li listened, silent.

The moonlight bathed the desolate mountain, the silent streets.

Before him, a woman in white, her sword gleaming, her eyes fixed on someone unknown.