The Mountain’s Fury and Mysterious Saviors

Despite conversing for hours, Xia Yi and Bing Yingying failed to ascertain the true nature of the pink string.

Bing Yingying, having suffered a bloodline backlash since childhood, could recall precious little, rendering her unable to offer any insight.

While Xia Yi had indeed devoured the original story, the current predicament was entirely unprecedented, a deviation from the established narrative.

He had been utterly unaware of Bing Yingying’s profound background, one that unexpectedly implicated a legendary Soul Transformation stage grand cultivator.

Left with no other choice, Xia Yi decided to temporarily set aside the mystery of the pink string, as their immediate and most critical objective remained the arduous climb.

Following a day of much-needed recuperation, Xia Yi once more took Bing Yingying’s hand, embarking anew on their ascent.

This time, fortune appeared to favor Xia Yi and Bing Yingying.

For seven consecutive days, their arduous journey up the mountain unfolded with remarkable smoothness, entirely devoid of incident.

This unexpected tranquility sent a ripple of unease through Xia Yi, who knew they were now only two days’ journey from the summit.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that matters weren’t as straightforward as they seemed; indeed, as their proximity to the mountain’s peak increased, his sense of foreboding intensified with each passing moment.

As dusk descended on the seventh day, Xia Yi, occupied with preparations for the impending night, was abruptly startled by a colossal, resonant roar.

It echoed like the very heavens and earth were bellowing in unison.

At the very edge of Xia Yi’s vision, the colossal mountain face seemed to writhe to life, tearing itself free from the earth’s ancient embrace.

It was not mere snow, but a colossal, surging, boiling tide of white, crushing the very air with a thunderous roar as it bore down upon them, threatening to swallow them whole.

Avalanche!

The single, terrifying word ‘avalanche’ flashed through Xia Yi’s mind.

With no time for contemplation, a surge of adrenaline propelled Xia Yi towards Bing Yingying, his movements swift and desperate.

She was, at that very moment, meticulously carving out the ice shelter where they intended to spend the night.

Bing Yingying, too, had heard the terrifying, earth-shattering roar.

Yet, she remained oblivious to its grim implications, and as she turned to investigate…

The tumultuous white abyss was already upon them, and just as razor-sharp ice crystals threatened to pierce her eyes, Bing Yingying found herself enveloped in a strong, warm embrace.

However, in the final, terrifying instant before the white deluge consumed them, Bing Yingying instinctively twisted her body, placing Xia Yi behind her.

With her fragile form, she became a shield, bravely intercepting the furious onslaught of ice and snow for them both.

In the next breath, Xia Yi’s vision was violently ripped apart by a maelstrom of furious white and desolate grey, followed swiftly by an overwhelming, suffocating grip that seized his throat.

When all finally settled, only a profound, deathly silence lingered.

****

An indeterminate amount of time later, Bing Yingying became aware of a warm sensation as a viscous substance was gently introduced into her mouth, followed by a guiding pressure that helped her swallow it.

It was only when a faint warmth began to spread through her stomach that a flicker of strength returned, allowing her to pry open her eyelids.

As Bing Yingying fully regained consciousness, her eyes fluttered open just in time to see the familiar boy gently withdrawing from her lips.

“You’re awake!”

Xia Yi’s voice, filled with an unexpected surge of joy, reverberated through her, causing a dull ache to spread across her weakened body.

She found herself utterly devoid of the strength to speak.

“You rest well first; I’ll go get you some water.”

With those words, Xia Yi promptly departed.

Despite the searing pain that accompanied each struggling beat of her heart, Bing Yingying noticed the absence of the familiar, bone-chilling cold that usually permeated her very being.

Just as curiosity piqued her weakened mind, she became aware that she was, in fact, nestled within a surprisingly warm mountain cave.

Beneath her lay a plush, unknown animal hide, while her and Xia Yi’s garments were draped over her for warmth, and a comforting bonfire crackled nearby.

The flickering orange glow of the fire cast a warm, inviting light throughout the cave, imbuing the entire space with a sense of cozy comfort.

But weren’t they buried by an avalanche?

Why were she and Xia Yi in this cave?

Where was this place?

A torrent of questions flooded Bing Yingying’s mind, yet her body felt as though it had been repeatedly crushed by a monstrous multi-axle truck (TL Note: A Chinese term referring to a very large, heavy-duty truck, often implying extreme force or weight.), every bone reduced to dust.

Even the simplest thought proved an immense effort, let alone forming words.

Before long, Xia Yi returned to Bing Yingying’s side, carrying a stone bowl filled with warm water, which he meticulously helped her drink.

As a soothing warmth spread through her stomach, Bing Yingying found herself succumbing to an overwhelming drowsiness.

Observing the profound weariness etched in her eyes, Xia Yi spoke softly:

“It’s okay. We’re safe here. Rest assured and sleep.”

Lulled by Xia Yi’s reassuring words, Bing Yingying drifted back into a deep slumber.

****

Only after Bing Yingying had truly fallen into a peaceful sleep did Xia Yi finally allow himself to exhale, a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

The memory of being swept away by the avalanche still sent shivers down Xia Yi’s spine; he knew that without Bing Yingying’s desperate, life-sacrificing protection, draining her spiritual energy entirely, they would undoubtedly have perished in the icy depths.

As for their miraculous appearance in this cave, it was thanks to the intervention of two snow wolves.

Indeed, it was two snow wolves that had guided them to this secluded sanctuary.

Xia Yi himself had been unconscious; upon regaining his senses, he found himself already within the cave’s confines.

Astonishingly, the two snow wolves had not only pulled them from the jaws of the avalanche but had also, with remarkable intelligence, brought a bowl of mystical spring water and carefully administered it to both of them.

Even amidst the lethal, freezing temperatures, that miraculous spring water had retained a comforting warmth.

The moment Xia Yi had consumed it, he felt his body, ravaged and broken by the avalanche, begin to mend at an astonishing, almost unbelievable pace.

This rapid healing was precisely why Bing Yingying had managed to awaken after a mere three days.

Even the sustenance Xia Yi had provided Bing Yingying consisted of items the two snow wolves had procured—primarily medicinal herbs and spiritual fruits renowned for their healing properties.

All their personal belongings, including Xia Yi’s spiritual sword and Bing Yingying’s scythe, had been irrevocably lost in the devastating avalanche.

It was only yesterday that Xia Yi had finally regained enough strength to rise from his makeshift bed and move about.

He had contemplated attempting communication with the snow wolves, yet they had not made an appearance today, and with the constant need to attend to Bing Yingying, he was unable to venture far.

For a brief period, Xia Yi found himself with an unexpected lull, utterly devoid of tasks.

Thankfully, this quiet interlude did not persist for long; before a moment had passed, sounds emanated from beyond the cave entrance.

Two majestic snow wolves, their sleek bodies as large as adult tigers and their fur an immaculate white, emerged into view at the cave’s opening.

Each of them carried sustenance in their jaws: one clutched a piece of unidentified meat, while the other bore a collection of medicinal herbs known for their healing properties.

Xia Yi had initially assumed the snow wolves would simply deposit their offerings and depart, just as they had on previous occasions.

This time, however, the two snow wolves, still clutching their provisions, entered the cave.

Under Xia Yi’s bewildered gaze, they carefully placed the food and herbs at his feet before retreating to a secluded corner and settling down.

“You guys are…”

Before Xia Yi could complete his question, another colossal roar reverberated through the air.

This deafening clamor, akin to the very heavens and earth roaring, was hauntingly familiar to Xia Yi.

It was the sound of an avalanche.

A sudden realization dawned upon Xia Yi: the two snow wolves had sought refuge within the cave to escape the impending avalanche.

Enduring the cacophony and violent tremors, they waited for what felt like an eternity before the avalanche finally began to subside.

After another cautious wait, and seemingly assured of their safety, the two snow wolves finally rose and padded towards the cave entrance.

“Wait. Can you take me out to see?”

At Xia Yi’s words, the two snow wolves paused.

One of them, with an almost uncanny intelligence, raised a paw to indicate the still-slumbering Bing Yingying, then gestured towards the spiritual medicine on the ground, shaking its head in clear refusal.

“You mean, you’ll take us out after she gets better. Right?”

The snow wolf nodded once, then, without a backward glance, padded out of the cave, its companion dissolving into the vast expanse of white snow immediately behind it.

“What exactly is this place…”

A peripheral forest that suppressed cultivation, an inexplicable pink string, a snow-capped mountain linked to a Soul Transformation stage grand cultivator, and now, two remarkably intelligent snow wolves.

These bewildering elements made Xia Yi feel, for a moment, as though all his extensive reading of the original novel had been utterly in vain.

Every turn seemed to present either a desperate plight or an incredible opportunity.

How could Zhen Aoyu, that ‘punk’ (TL Note: A derogatory Chinese slang term, roughly equivalent to ‘punk’ or ‘idiot’.) from the original story, have completely overlooked all of this?

It was a similar sensation to his experience at the bottom of the Starlight Pool; he had always sensed something amiss, yet he could never quite articulate what it was.