Chapter Four: Frost

“This technique was taught to me by my foster father. All methods for dealing with enemies are meant to take lives—how then can one distinguish between what is underhanded and what is righteous?”

“You do make a fair point. But just now you advised that young girl not to harm anyone, so why did you then turn around and use the Severed Meridian Death Touch on that bald man? Besides, you’ve always lived on that mountain—wasn’t this your first time taking a life? How can you be so calm?”

“A moment ago, I thought those people were merely fighting over a treasure, with no intent to truly harm anyone, so I told the girl not to hurt them. But once that man decided to kill me, I saw no reason to spare him. My foster father taught me not to kill recklessly or harm others wantonly. But if someone offends me, it’s best to kill them outright, lest endless trouble follow.”

On hearing this, Xiaoyuan couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. “To teach a child this way—your foster father is really…”

At that moment, seeing the group of men had left, the innkeeper finally stepped into the room. Upon seeing that Chi Yuan was unharmed, he said, “Young master, those were men of the martial world fighting just now. You were nearly caught up in their quarrel. I am truly sorry.”

“It’s nothing. I wish to rest now. You may leave.”

“Very well.” The innkeeper turned and exited the room.

“Why didn’t you ask him about the drugged incense?” Xiaoyuan asked.

Chi Yuan didn’t answer. Instead, he took a piece of peachwood from the Qiankun pouch, tapped on it lightly with his finger, and the wood transformed into his own likeness.

“Fortunately, I learned this art of transformation before. Though it wouldn’t fool a cultivator, it’s more than enough to trick the innkeeper.”

“What exactly are you planning?”

“Even if I questioned him, he’d never admit it. He’d probably just accuse me of slander. It’s better to wait and see—I’d like to know what medicine he’s selling in his gourd.” With that, Chi Yuan reignited the incense, extinguished the lamp, and hid behind the curtain, channeling his spiritual power to resist the poison from the incense.

Not long after, the sound of the door opening could be heard. Someone crept to the bedside and swiftly stabbed the figure on the bed with a dagger. There was a dull thud—the dagger struck its mark.

But the intruder was startled to find he had stabbed wood. He turned to flee, but had barely taken a few steps before a surge of spiritual energy struck him in the back, felling him instantly.

Chi Yuan lit the lamp and saw it was the innkeeper. He checked for breath; the man was already dead.

“Let’s go. I’ve already scouted the city—the guards are all ordinary folk. It won’t be hard to slip past them.”

After a while, Chi Yuan was already outside the city. Xiaoyuan emerged from the sword and asked, “What about the scroll?”

“I’d intended to return it to those people, but since they were rude first, they can hardly blame me.”

“Useless brat, was this really your first time killing someone? Why are you so calm, so unaffected?”

“If I hadn’t been prepared, it would be my corpse lying there now. Besides, judging by his practiced hand, it surely wasn’t his first time murdering for profit. Leaving him alive would only mean more innocent lives lost.”

With that, Chi Yuan glanced at Xiaoyuan. “Tell me, are people all like this?”

“Wu Ya once wandered the mortal world, passing from hand to hand. I have seen evil bandits who burn, kill, and rob for selfish gain, and scoundrels who murder their own fathers for an inheritance. But I have also seen wealthy merchants who gave away all they owned to relieve famine, scholars who would sacrifice themselves to save their fathers, and generals who fought and died to defend their homeland. They were mere mortals, unchosen by Wu Ya, yet in my eyes, they are as fine as any in this world. There are millions upon millions of people—how could a single word sum them all up? So I believe, most people are good at heart.”

“Thank you.”

Xiaoyuan parted her rosy lips, as if to speak, but hesitated and fell silent.

By now, daylight was breaking. The day before, the two had agreed to head for the location marked on the scroll—not only was it on the way to the far north, but Xiaoyuan also sensed something strange about the place and wanted to investigate.

“At this pace, we should arrive within half a day,” Xiaoyuan said, consulting the map.

“But it’s odd—the closer we get, the colder it becomes. This is the height of summer; it shouldn’t be like this.”

Xiaoyuan lowered her head in thought. “Indeed. But that must be the strangeness I mentioned to you before. Once we arrive, all will become clear.”

Chi Yuan replied with a sound and picked up his pace.

Soon, a majestic city appeared before them. The city was uncanny: where they stood, the sun shone brilliantly, but above the city walls, dark clouds gathered, and within the city, snowflakes as large as goose feathers drifted down. The vast city, blanketed in thick white snow, seemed even heavier. Just a foot ahead of them lay a clear boundary, yet even here the cold seeped through.

Chi Yuan shivered, pulled a cloak from the Qiankun pouch, and draped it over his shoulders. “It’s already this cold and we haven’t even entered the city. What a place.”

“I’m afraid that’s not all,” Xiaoyuan replied.

Chi Yuan turned to look at her. Her eyes were gently closed, her form ringed by a faint blue-gold light; spiritual energy surged around her, even lifting her hair to dance in the air. Extending a finger toward the city, she gathered piercing cold into her palm, merging it with her spiritual power.

“Resonance with the Divine Sword,” her voice sounded ethereal.

“Resonance?”

“Useless brat, you’ve stumbled onto a treasure.” Glancing at Chi Yuan’s puzzled face, Xiaoyuan drew back her aura and walked straight toward the city gate.

“Frost—here it is!”