Chapter Twelve: Defying Frost, Withstanding Snow; Strangers at First Light

This was a world of white, yet it did not bring with it the tranquility, purity, or flawless peace that white should have promised. Instead, the very air was thick with a chill, oppression, and a sense of lurking danger.

Yu Shang and Xiao Yin walked silently across the frigid snow, their thoughts hidden behind drawn expressions. They appeared to wander aimlessly, but every step was taken with calculated caution, wary of any ambush that might spring from the hush around them.

Behind them stretched a boundless plain, vanishing into the horizon. Before them, a range of bizarrely shaped mountains loomed, each different in form, yet all shrouded in heavy snow and bearing down with an oppressive force that chilled the heart.

On either side, snow-laden branches glittered in the cold wind; snowflakes drifted down, a scene of breathtaking beauty. Each delicate flake seemed to come alive, spinning and dancing in the air. The captivating sight drew the attention of both men, slowing their steps as they gazed upward.

But beneath this serene beauty lay a restless, unwilling spirit. It seemed the master of this little world was not keen on welcoming them. The snowflakes that moments before had danced lightly around them now transformed into deadly weapons, hurtling toward the pair like a thousand knives.

Sensing the danger, Yu Shang immediately summoned his blade to defend himself. The clash of steel filled the air with a storm of blade energy, fearsome and relentless. Beside him, Xiao Yin quickly erected a barrier, forming a protective shield that kept the razor-sharp snow at bay.

“These snowflakes can’t harm us, but we can’t keep this up forever. We need a plan!” Xiao Yin called out as he pushed back against the relentless storm.

“Let’s wait and see,” Yu Shang replied with a calm smile. “It seems our host merely wishes to test us. Why not humor him a while?”

Yet the snowflakes seemed endless, no matter how many they destroyed, more surged in from afar. They moved with uncanny intelligence and soul, shifting tactics with every moment. Sometimes they lined up in perfect formation, sealing Yu Shang and Xiao Yin in a tight column of ice; other times, they rushed the barrier in unison like soldiers in drill, seeking to break through. When the snowflakes scattered, it seemed a retreat, but it was a ruse—when the two men relaxed, the flakes converged in a sudden, explosive attack, aiming for their most vulnerable points.

“It’s time you showed yourself! How much longer do you intend to play this game?” Yu Shang’s patience had worn thin. He ceased his resistance, allowing the snow to beat against the barrier, and called out into the empty air.

A melodious, crystalline voice rang out from the horizon, bringing a hint of vitality to this desolate place. “Oh, you really don’t know how to appreciate romance! Don’t you think being enveloped in snow is a little poetic?”

“We’re not ones for such sentiment,” Xiao Yin replied coolly. “We’ve no old grudges or new feuds, yet you greet us with sword and snow, as if to take our lives. What’s the point?”

“Forgive my rudeness,” came the response. As they turned toward the voice, a woman in a rose-colored dress stepped forward, bowing gracefully before standing erect. When she raised her head, her beauty was dazzling: willow brows framed enchanting eyes, her lips as delicate as pearls, her smile irresistible. She raised a jade-like hand to her cheek in a shy gesture, evoking both charm and dignity. She was like a plum blossom standing proud in the snow—noble, lovely, gentle, yet full of spirit.

“That old monster certainly knows how to pick a guardian,” Xiao Yin muttered, unable to tear his gaze away. “If there’s a ranking of beauties in this world, she must be at the top.”

“The more beautiful the thing, the more dangerous,” Yu Shang replied coldly. “Keep your wits about you. Lose yourself in her, and you won’t live long enough to regret it.” His words carried a weight of sorrow, hinting at wounds that had never healed.

“Let the past stay in the past,” Xiao Yin broke the tension, flashing a teasing grin at the woman. “So, what trial do you have in store for us? And may I ask your name? Otherwise, I’ll have to keep calling you ‘little lady,’ and people might think I’m being improper.”

She laughed, bell-like and unforgettable. “My name is Yanxue Su. But you may call me Xue Su.”

“As for a trial,” she continued, “you two must be tired after dealing with my less hospitable predecessors. Why not rest in my humble abode for a while?” With a casual gesture, a resplendent yet unpretentious villa appeared ahead.

“Sounds good to me. What do you think?” Xiao Yin winked at Yu Shang, who nodded, and they walked forward.

Pushing open the vermilion doors, they entered a courtyard bursting with plum blossoms. Passing through, they came upon a stream strewn with petals, spanned by a white jade bridge. The carvings on the bridge were so lifelike they seemed to move. Beyond lay the main hall for receiving guests. As Yu Shang reached to part a gauzy blue curtain, he was halted by the haunting music drifting from within.

The melody was full of sorrow and despair, as if lamenting the world’s endless tales of love and loss. With every note, memories surged before Yu Shang’s eyes: childhood sweethearts, a perfect match of talent and beauty, a pair fated to be together—only to be torn asunder on their wedding day. The pain forced Yu Shang to close his eyes, struggling to compose himself before finally entering the hall.

Inside, a veiled woman played the zither. Yu Shang was momentarily stunned.

Xiao Yin, entering behind him, cried out, “It’s her!”

“Who?” Xue Su asked, curious.

The veiled woman, seeing Xue Su, rose, nodded slightly, and retreated with her zither toward the back garden. Snapping out of his daze, Yu Shang tried to follow, but Xue Su blocked his path.

“Please, sir, have a seat.” She motioned for Yu Shang to sit, and by the time he looked back, the woman had vanished.

“Xue Su, who was that playing the zither?” Xiao Yin asked, glancing at Yu Shang.

“She? To be honest, I don’t know her well. I rescued her one day—she was gravely wounded, barely alive. When she recovered, she refused to speak of her past, so I didn’t press her.” Xue Su explained softly. “But… where is your friend?”

Unable to contain himself, Yu Shang rushed toward the back garden, her words echoing in his mind: “I rescued her from outside… she was so badly hurt…”

“Ying’er, is it you?” he asked gently, afraid to disturb the woman who sat alone with her zither.

“You’ve mistaken me!” The woman flinched, answering in panic before trying to flee.

“Forgive me!” Yu Shang seized her, pulling away her veil. An ethereal, stunning face appeared before him.

“It really is you, Ying’er!” Yu Shang embraced her tightly.

“Let me go! Let me go!” she wept, struggling but not truly wishing to leave the warmth of his arms. Torn by her emotions, she sobbed, “Why?”

“I’m sorry. I never truly wanted to harm you!” Yu Shang pushed her away. In the instant they separated, he gathered his energy and struck her. With a scream, the woman vanished into mist.

Xiao Yin and Xue Su, arriving just then, gasped in shock.

“What’s going on?!” Xiao Yin exclaimed. He knew Yu Shang had not truly intended to harm Ying’er in the past—it had been the sudden surge of power from unlocking a hidden force that made him lose control. But what did this mean now?

“Haha, Xue Su, your little game was clever indeed. I almost fell for it. But you helped me say what I’ve long held in my heart,” Yu Shang said, finally free of his burdens.

“How did you realize it was all an illusion?” Xue Su asked in bewilderment.

Yu Shang merely smiled, remaining silent. No one knew that in the moment he embraced the false Ying’er, he had seen the flaw—he could never forget the mark left on Ying’er’s neck when she once shielded him from a fatal blow.

Relieved, Xiao Yin said, “Since your plot failed, does that mean it’s time we get serious?”

Xue Su laughed. “I have no interest in fighting, and how could a delicate woman like me possibly match the two of you? Very well, I concede.” She recited an incantation, and the Gate of Illusion appeared before them.

What new fate awaits Yu Shang and Xiao Yin as they step through the Gate of Illusion? Have they finally reached Youmingdu? The answer awaits in the next chapter.