Chapter 108: The Endless Snowstorm

The Tang siblings and the servants and stewards of the Dusky Snow Manor rode off on their great deer, leaving only Chu Feng and three others, including Bai Naizhao, standing alone on the snow-covered ground.

Bai Naizhao remained motionless, like a statue.

Chu Feng approached him and glanced at his face, seeing it dark and rigid as stone, his eyes burning with anger.

“Chu Feng, have you finished your wine?” Bai Naizhao suddenly asked.

“Yes, it’s all gone. Although, there are still two bags left here!” Chu Feng smiled. “Why aren’t you leaving?”

“Now you’re urging me! When we were drinking earlier, why didn’t you think about pressing on? The whole point of setting out early was to travel during the lull in the blizzard in the Wuhansnow Mountains. But instead, you started drinking here! If someone from a manor offers you wine, would you just drink it without a second thought? What’s more important—drinking or getting on the road?”

Bai Naizhao seemed to have been restraining himself and now unleashed a torrent of criticism at Chu Feng, each word sounding reasonable.

“Heh! Bai Naizhao, you’re just blaming the wine because you can’t get any!” Chu Feng shook his head with a smile. “Of course, I’m delaying our progress, but I’ll make up for it. Besides, the Tang siblings didn’t mean to insult you—they simply didn’t realize you were standing right there!”

Chu Feng was right. The Tang siblings were only fifth stage in Body Refinement, with limited perception, and they were several dozen paces away. They never suspected the still figure standing there was Bai Naizhao, the very person they were discussing.

“The Tang siblings didn’t mean to insult me? Do they have to insult me right in front of me, knowing full well I’m standing here, to count as intentional?” Bai Naizhao retorted.

“That’s your concern!” Chu Feng smiled and shook his head. “We can’t demand people say good things about us, nor can we stop them from speaking ill. Whether they speak well or badly depends entirely on their own hearts.”

“Chu Feng, I won’t stoop to your level! When this mission is done, I’ll settle the score with you over the Broken Cloud Roc!” Bai Naizhao snapped angrily.

“Don’t even think about that yet! If this mission succeeds, I’ll owe neither the Nine Profound Sect nor you anything. Why would you want to settle scores with me then?” Chu Feng countered.

Chu Feng’s purpose in venturing deep into the Wuhansnow Mountains to the Wuhansnow Tribe was to create the Ice Shell Golden Pearls, a solution to the injury suffered by the Broken Cloud Roc. If he succeeded, the debts incurred from harming the Broken Cloud Roc would be largely wiped clean.

“Hmph!”

Bai Naizhao snorted coldly and strode ahead without further argument.

Ah Yan and Ah Ying, clearly fearful of Bai Naizhao, dared not interrupt the quarrel or try to calm him while Chu Feng and Bai Naizhao exchanged words.

The four formed a single file and continued their journey through the snow mountains.

Bai Naizhao, as the guide, naturally led at the front. Ah Yan and Ah Ying walked in the middle, while Chu Feng brought up the rear, alert for any unforeseen dangers.

In such vast snowfields, any unexpected incident—be it an appearance of a snow beast or an avalanche—could be a nightmare.

Proceeding cautiously, Bai Naizhao stopped every half-mile to carefully observe the wind direction and terrain, even scooping up snow for inspection. His wary approach ensured every step was deliberate.

From here to the Wuhansnow Tribe lay about 1,500 miles.

For a warrior at Chu Feng’s level, traversing three to five thousand miles a day was typical over normal mountainous terrain—barely half a day’s effort. But the Wuhansnow Mountains were different: bitterly cold, thick with snow, battered by fierce winds, and visibility greatly impaired. To avoid triggering avalanches or other hazards, progress had to be slow and measured.

The dangers of the Wuhansnow Mountains boiled down to two threats.

One was myriad elusive snow beasts; the other was the ever-present risk of avalanches or seismic tremors beneath the snow.

Either danger was deadly and demanded utmost caution.

The biting winds swept through the rolling peaks, lifting swirling snow like curtains that obscured the travelers’ view.

Unnoticed, they had already covered over a hundred miles, crossing two smaller snowy summits.

Before them now loomed a towering snow mountain, its peak lost to sight.

The saying “Looking at the mountain and running the horse to death” was apt—what seemed so near from the boundary marker at Dusky Snow Manor was actually over a hundred miles away to traverse.

Suddenly, Bai Naizhao halted.

“This mountain is our unavoidable path, fraught with danger! Keep a distance of three to five paces between each of us. When climbing, step lightly—if you misstep or a snow beast springs out, do not panic or scream. Handle the creature yourself and keep moving!”

Bai Naizhao’s gaze fixed on the mountain as he spoke to himself.

Chu Feng noticed that Bai Naizhao rarely looked others in the eye when speaking, always gazing elsewhere, as if his words were meant for himself.

“Leader Bai, what kinds of snow beasts might suddenly attack us when we cross this mountain?” Ah Ying quickly asked.

“Leader Bai, you mentioned before that the Snow Mountain Serpent Eagle is a formidable creature here. Is it still active in these mountains?” Ah Yan also inquired.

Ah Yan and Ah Ying were stewards from the Beast Taming Hall, assistants to Bai Naizhao, and specialists in the Ice Shadow Mother Shell. However, neither had traversed the snow mountains before, so their experience was about the same as Chu Feng’s.

“There are two main snow beasts that might suddenly strike: the Shadowless Snow Mouse and the Shadowless Snow Serpent. Both are pure white, hiding beneath thick snow. Unless a warrior has ninth-stage Body Refinement perception, they cannot detect them—they leave no trace. They can leap out in an instant to attack or create snow traps ahead of travelers,” Bai Naizhao explained.

“As for the Snow Mountain Serpent Eagle, it’s even more vicious. Once it detects a warrior’s presence, it attacks immediately. Sometimes it attacks directly; if the warrior is hard to overcome, it will flap its wings to trigger avalanches, then burrow into the snow to feast on the corpse. Whether alive or dead, the Serpent Eagle will not let travelers pass unscathed!”

“Ah?”

Hearing this, Ah Yan and Ah Ying paled in fright.

They had accompanied the mission partly to assist Bai Naizhao and partly drawn by the reward from the Nine Profound Sect—making a round trip to the Wuhansnow Tribe would earn them 300 points of sect contribution.

But now it seemed that these 300 points would not come easily.

Chu Feng also reckoned that the 300,000 travel fee promised by the Gao brothers would require significant risk to obtain.

“Is everyone clear? If not, ask now! When we cross the mountain, silence is imperative—any needless chatter could draw out the Shadowless Snow Mice or Serpents!” Bai Naizhao warned sternly.

“I have no questions,” Chu Feng shook his head.

Seeing Ah Yan and Ah Ying remain silent as well, Bai Naizhao ordered, “Move out!”