Chapter 28: The Protagonist's Power Fantasy (27)

Hearing that Su Bai was heading to the Far North, Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing, claiming they hadn't left the sect for training in a long time, clamored to join her.

Coincidentally, their masters were more than happy to see their "pampered" disciples endure some hardship outside the sect. Furthermore, Elder Yaoguang was known for her caution; since she had permitted her only direct disciple to travel to the Far North, the journey was presumably safe enough.

Yun Zhu did not want to remain alone at the Wuji Sect. Before leaving her valley years ago, she had vowed to her master that she would spend five full years in the outside world, attaining the Dao of cultivation and sharpening her character before returning home in glory. Thus, she too insisted on following Su Bai.

Before departure, Elder Yaoguang shoved an entire Qiankun bag into Su Bai’s hands and gifted her a talisman containing a spell at the full strength of the Tribulation Transcendence realm, capable of saving her life in a critical moment.

When Su Bai showed her the flawless, ten-percent-purity Golden Core she had formed in the Sword Tomb, it nearly frightened the elder to death. That day, with Elder Ruogu present, Yaoguang had refrained from reacting, but the more she thought about it, the more lingering fear she felt. How could she have dared to form her core in the Sword Tomb without a guardian or adequate preparation? If the flawless Golden Core had attracted an ambush from the tomb’s demonic beasts, the one with a crippled dantian and ruined cultivation wouldn’t be that boy, Qin Yang, but her own precious, hard-won direct disciple.

After bidding farewell to their masters, the four gathered at the Wuji Sect gate and flew on their swords toward the Far North.

The further they traveled toward the northern reaches of the Guiyuan Continent, the more desolate the landscape became. The lush mountains and plains gave way to yellow-earthed Gobi deserts, and eventually, the bare, exposed spine of the earth was no longer covered in fine gravel, but in scattered patches of white snow.

Heading further north, the occasionally visible black rock was completely replaced by vast, snow-white expanses. Everywhere one looked, the world was wrapped in silver. Yue Nianxin tightened her robes on her sword, exhaling a plume of hot air that was instantly seized by the surrounding ice and snow, turning into a curling mist of white.

"So cold," Yue Nianxin shivered, her tongue trembling. "Why... is it... so cold?"

Shen Xing looked even colder, hugging his arms and trembling so violently he could hardly speak. "Y... you're at the peak of the Golden Core stage. By all logic... you shouldn't... how could you be... afraid of the cold...?"

Yun Zhu sat atop her flying artifact. As a pill cultivator, she was accustomed to being well-prepared for any journey. She sat wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, clutching a fire-attribute lava stone for warmth. Hearing their conversation, she scoffed, pulled two Soul-Nurturing and Spirit-Calming Pills from her pocket, and sent them over using a thread of spiritual energy.

"The Far North is the domain of Snow Demons. While they don't have high physical attack power, they excel at soul-based assaults. The cold here isn't just temperature; it’s a chill that corrodes the soul." Yun Zhu glanced at Su Bai, seeing her calm demeanor, yet couldn't help but remind her, "If you feel cold, don't force yourself. A Golden Core is barely qualified for the Far North, but it is far from enough. If your soul is corroded by the frost for too long, you will fall victim to cold poison."

Su Bai had intended to refuse, but seeing Yue Nianxin frantically winking at her—and recalling Yue’s claim that Yun Zhu was the easiest person to appease—she relented. If she offered pills, one should accept; refusing would only make Yun Zhu think she was being looked down upon. Su Bai had already made Yun Zhu sulk for a long time by rejecting her Enlightenment Pill earlier.

Su Bai paused and took the medicine. "Thank you."

Yun Zhu huffed. "Don't be so polite. I know you're talented, but I am also extremely talented in the way of alchemy! Forcing yourself to hold on with your divine sense is exhausting. These pills have no side effects; I specifically formulated them for this trip to ward off the chill. At the very least, when it comes to alchemy, you have to listen to me!"

Whenever she spoke of alchemy, she became radiant and lively, her face practically shouting, "Praise me!"

Su Bai swallowed the pill. Though she had just stepped into the Golden Core stage, her divine sense was truly at the Mahayana realm, and she felt little impact from the arctic chill. Furthermore, since she could already wield ice, she was not afraid of the cold.

The pill melted upon contact, filling her meridians with rich spiritual energy. As warmth flooded her body, Su Bai realized that the cold of the Far North was indeed sharp and ferocious. It was like a cultivator who had taken Bigu (fasting) pills for too long—even if they didn't need to eat, once they tasted a sweet and sour pork rib or a crispy chicken, they couldn't help but want another bite.

Watching the young girl reveal a rare, dazed expression on her sword, Yue Nianxin covered her mouth and laughed. "How is it? Does Zhuzhu's pill taste like berries?"

Shen Xing added with a smile, "It does taste like berries. It's rare to find an alchemist who puts such effort into the flavor of their pills."

The fragrance lingering on her tongue was sweet and tart, like biting into a freshly picked, juicy berry. Even someone as composed as the girl standing on her Guwu Sword couldn't help but subconsciously smack her lips. It was a very distant, yet familiar taste.

Having never seen Su Bai like this, Yue Nianxin exclaimed in surprise, "Junior Sister, you actually smacked your lips! This is the first time I've seen you take interest in anything other than your sword!"

Su Bai: ...

A faint red flush crept up behind the girl's ears, but the biting wind at such high altitude quickly blew it away.

"It is quite delicious." She suppressed the panic of being seen through and resumed her usual stoic, mature-for-her-age demeanor.

Yun Zhu lifted her chin triumphantly. Of course it was! People outside begged her for pills, and she rarely agreed to refine them.

"However..." Su Bai continued, ruining the moment, "While the cold is piercing, attempting to use one's divine sense rather than pills to resist it is far more beneficial for the path of cultivation."

Yun Zhu’s smile froze. She knew this person wouldn't say anything pleasant!

The four flew for about half an hour. The girl in the lead suddenly slowed her sword, keeping it perfectly aligned with Yun Zhu’s flying artifact. She stared straight ahead, as if doing so unintentionally.

Yun Zhu turned her head away, still sulking over Su Bai’s critique of her pills. She deliberately held her pouch of medicine high and gave another pill to Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing, ignoring Su Bai.

Su Bai stood on her sword with her hands behind her back, looking straight ahead. Another half-hour passed. No matter how Yun Zhu maneuvered her artifact to speed up or slow down, the girl on the sword clung to her like glue. Yet, her expression remained as calm as still water.

"Hmm..." After a long time, Su Bai leaned closer to Yun Zhu and said casually, "Do you have any more of those sugar pills?"

Yun Zhu glared at her fiercely. "No!"

Su Bai: "...Alright."

After another incense stick of flight, the girl standing on her sword straightened her back, cleared her throat with a fist to her mouth, and said, "Actually, taking pills occasionally isn't bad." Mostly, the candy was just tasty.

Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing, who had been watching the show, finally burst into laughter at Su Bai’s eager yet embarrassed expression. Yun Zhu was also amused by Su Bai’s reaction. She pulled a few pills from her bag and tossed one to Su Bai. Just as she was about to toss one to Shen Xing and Yue Nianxin, the spirit-wrapped pills were blocked midway by a stronger wave of spiritual energy.

"Hey!" Yun Zhu grew anxious.

Su Bai shook her head, the two pills landing in her palm. "They have already taken two, which is enough to ward off the cold. Besides, if they just rely on pills to get through this journey, it won't be good for them."

"Then why can you eat them?" Yun Zhu, who never let Su Bai get the last word, retorted indignantly.

Su Bai tucked the pills into her pouch without changing her expression. "I am different from them."

Seeing Yun Zhu staring at her, demanding an explanation, Su Bai slowly admitted, "I just want to eat the candy."

She had been to places colder than this in her previous life, and her divine sense had refined significantly since leaving the Sword Tomb; she no longer needed the cold to temper her soul. Moreover, as she popped another pill into her mouth, she remembered. This taste was exactly the same as the hawthorn flakes Sister Liu had bought for her when she was eight years old.

***

After seven days of travel, the four finally reached the edge of the Far North.

Before them lay vast, endless snow. Between heaven and earth, there was only the whistling sound of the wind. Several snow-capped mountains loomed at the edge of the sky, blocking the view further ahead.

Su Bai put away her Guwu Sword and narrowed her eyes. "Finally here."

Yue Nianxin rubbed her hands together and breathed into her palms. "I’ve never seen a Snow Demon in all my life."

Shen Xing shook the snow off his clothes. "Snow Demons are formed from snow and can take any shape. They excel at illusions. To prevent intruders, the edge of the Far North is filled with countless illusions set by their clan."

Yun Zhu was eager to try. "What’s the difference between their illusions and ordinary ones?" Since she had decided to let go of Qin Yang, she figured she wouldn't develop any more inner demons.

"It’s like the difference between an ordinary person holding a sword and a dedicated sword cultivator, or an amateur and a master alchemist," Shen Xing explained. "The cold of the Far North erodes the soul, and combined with the illusions, many treasure-seekers who lack enough protective medicine often perish here silently, becoming the tools the Snow Demons use to weave new illusions."

"Since the illusions can't be avoided, let's go." Su Bai stepped forward.

The four walked through the snow. Yun Zhu walked in the middle. As they moved, she suddenly felt drowsy. Perhaps due to the pill, she felt a warm, cozy sensation, like curling up by a fireplace in winter. Her eyelids grew heavy.

As she walked, Yun Zhu suddenly noticed the ice and snow beneath her feet had melted. She looked down in a daze. Her embroidered shoes, decorated with pink fur balls, were stepping on a bluestone path. Did she wear these today?

"Zhuzhu!" A male voice called out. Yun Zhu looked up to see Qin Yang standing before her. He looked lean and heroic, his eyes filled with warmth as he looked at the girl beside him. "This is my childhood friend, Jiaojiao. You two will surely become great friends."

The girl blinked her long lashes, her phoenix eyes shy and innocent, looking as soft and fragile as a spider’s silk. She smiled sweetly. "Sister Yun Zhu! Thank you for taking care of Brother Qin for so long. Nice to meet you."

Yun Zhu felt her mind was a chaotic mess. The girl in front of her seemed wrong. She shouldn't be here. Qin Yang shouldn't be at the peak of the Heart-Activation stage. Who was that girl she couldn't remember?

Seeing Yun Zhu remain silent, the girl bit her lip and looked at Qin Yang for help, her voice filled with grievance: "Brother Qin..."

A voice in Yun Zhu’s head told her to hate this fragile, parasitic girl. Why? Because she was foolish, cowardly, and had no will of her own. She cultivated the sword only because Qin Yang did. She was inferior in every way, yet she relied on being Qin Yang’s childhood sweetheart to pester him for sword tips daily—despite not being skilled in the sword.

"She isn't skilled in the sword?" Yun Zhu’s head throbbed. A name was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't say it.

Yun Zhu looked at Jiaojiao with critical eyes. She scoffed and turned her head away, mocking: "You're talking to me, why are you looking at Junior Brother Qin? As if I’m bullying you."

Qin Yang frowned and pulled Yun Zhu’s arm. "Jiaojiao has no malice toward you."

The more he tried to smooth things over, the angrier Yun Zhu became. She knew she was in the wrong for interfering in their engagement, but having been pampered her whole life, she refused to bow down. This girl was so innocent, making her own malice look vile. She knew she had already lost.

Yun Zhu felt her consciousness separating from her body, like a ghost watching herself do terrible things. Day after day, her attitude toward Jiaojiao worsened. Jiaojiao fought for nothing, but the more she yielded, the more Qin Yang favored her.

Yun Zhu realized: he always pitied the weak. But she could not be weak. She couldn't shed her thorns to show him a soft belly like Jiaojiao. She thought he loved her unique talent and ambition, but he only loved her when she hid her claws and depended on his protection.

Was she supposed to compete at being weak? She didn't believe such a docile person existed; it had to be a disguise! Yun Zhu grew angrier, unable to understand why someone could be so fragile, and why she herself couldn't remain indifferent.

She watched herself frame the girl, leading her into a beast's lair, wanting to see the mask shatter. She wanted to see the "parasite" cry and tremble in fear, finally tearing off her fake kindness. But when the girl was rescued by Qin Yang, covered in blood and broken bones, she still begged Qin Yang not to kill Yun Zhu.

"Sister Yun Zhu doesn't deserve to die. It’s my fault for not leaving sooner." She was still so kind.

Yun Zhu felt lost. "Why don't you fight back?"

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her mind. She remembered a pair of cold, piercing eyes—eyes that shared Jiaojiao’s features but were filled with a sharp, unyielding sword aura. In her memory, there was another girl who had taught her sword techniques, telling her: "Yun Zhu, you must become stronger. Only then are you worthy of being my opponent."

Everything was wrong! Yun Zhu woke up with a start. As her thoughts shifted, the past flashed before her. She was back at the moment of their first meeting. Yun Zhu reached out and grabbed the girl’s soft hand. "Jiaojiao," she said, "teach me how to practice the sword."

***

Amidst the swirling snow, the voices of Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing faded. Su Bai stopped and turned around. The world was nothing but white. She looked down and saw her swords, her Qiankun bag, and her dragon bracelet were all gone.

"Hey." Su Bai frowned. The voice was her own, yet she hadn't spoken.

From the swirling snow ahead, a female cultivator who looked exactly like her walked out.