Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Lightness

The morning on the snow-covered mountain was no different from other places.

The starry sky that had covered the swordsman and the blade expert throughout the night began to fade, and a faint pale-blue light crept along the horizon.

Bai Zhengliu remained seated, looking out through the ventilation opening deliberately left in the snow cave.

This was their fourth day on the snow mountain. With the previous experience, Bai Zhengliu already knew that “judging direction” was meaningless. Even if they knew where east or north was, they still couldn’t escape this mountain.

But the sunrise still had to be seen.

The morning light fell upon the pure white snow, coating the thick layer in a thin layer of golden glow. Turning his head to glance at Mei Yinghan on his shoulder, ah, it seemed even Mei brother’s face had a faint golden hue.

Bai Zhengliu watched with a smile.

Even if the situation was perilous, so what? One’s mood still had to be good!

He studied Mei Yinghan carefully and, in private, silently counted how many times he was grateful to have come up the mountain with Mei brother. Otherwise, Mei brother would have had to face the current situation alone. Moreover, Bai Zhengliu was not one to be arrogant; to be trusted with Mei brother’s back, he had to be capable.

For Bai Zhengliu, things were simply like this.

If Mei Yinghan had only Zhou Liuer by his side, he would have had to put in all his effort and within two days be completely exhausted. If it had been only those two souls disguised as Yuhan and Hanshu, it would have been even worse. Without the Twenty-Eight Generals and Bai Zhengliu, how could he have detected the anomalies in the souls so quickly?

And if it really had been Yuhan and Hanshu… the situation would have been much better. But Mei brother was the “senior brother.” Caring for junior brothers and sisters was always part of his duty.

Luckily, it was me.

Bai Zhengliu thought.

The corner of his lips curved slightly; despite the harsh environment, his eyes remained bright and clear.

When Mei Yinghan opened his eyes, this was the scene before him.

He froze completely. There was no other reason—Bai Zhengliu was simply too close, so close that he temporarily lost his ability to think.

It was Bai Zhengliu who noticed Mei Yinghan’s inattentiveness, waving his hand in front of his eyes and calling out, “Mei brother? Still want to sleep?”

Mei Yinghan closed his eyes briefly and then opened them. This time, his gaze was clear.

He sat up calmly.

And he spoke in a composed voice: “No need.”Calmly… hmm? Why is Bai brother still smiling?

Mei Yinghan looked at Bai Zhengliu, puzzled.

Bai Zhengliu’s eyes curved in a smile as he said, “Mei brother, I’ve only ever seen your steady and reliable side before. But today… like this, it’s the first time.”

Mei Yinghan: “…” Very well, Bai brother said I’m “steady and reliable”—that’s a compliment.

But “like this today,” what does that mean?

He became even more puzzled. Bai Zhengliu noticed and widened his smile slightly, raising a hand to point at his own cheek.

“Red,” he said. “From here… to here.”

Meaning from the side of the cheek to the ear. The part that had been pressed against Bai Zhengliu’s shoulder earlier was all marked.

Bai Zhengliu, helping him regulate his mood in such a perilous situation, thought: Mei brother looking like this is rare and interesting!

Especially after hearing his words, Mei Yinghan instinctively raised his hand to touch his cheek. But as his fingertips really brushed against his skin, he withdrew his hand.

He seemed speechless for a long moment, then let out a soft “hm.”

Bai Zhengliu still smiled, thinking, “Ah, did I make Mei brother embarrassed?”

He didn’t realize that at this very moment, Mei Yinghan’s true thought was: “Red cheeks… interesting… isn’t this the Bai brother from last night?”

He still remembered the feeling of his hand on the young man’s shoulder. And when they were close, Bai Zhengliu’s breath on his neck.

Later, he noticed Bai Zhengliu’s changing breathing rate and realized the blade expert was about to wake. So he carefully helped Bai Zhengliu return to his original “sitting posture.” At that moment, Bai Zhengliu’s own cheeks were a soft shade of red.

Very cute.

Though so young, he was already a rising blade expert. When the Twenty-Eight Generals appeared, Bai brother’s sharp aura was overwhelming. Yet, when he closed his eyes to rest, he seemed gentle, adorable even. Especially since he trusted Mei Yinghan so completely—Mei Yinghan’s careful, light-handed movements were one thing, but Bai Zhengliu being completely unaware was another. Just thinking about it made Mei Yinghan’s heart swell, as if sweet honey were about to spill from inside.

No one spoke. The two of them silently met each other’s gaze.

After a long while, they finally laughed together.

After laughing for a bit, the blade expert and the swordsman regained their serious expressions.

Bai Zhengliu said, “I hope we can find some clues today.”Mei Yinghan nodded lightly.

Unfortunately, this day did not go as smoothly as Bai Zhengliu had hoped.

The two of them, carrying Zhou Liuer, left the snow cave and traveled for half a day, when suddenly they both stopped.

The snow beneath their feet was trembling, and in the distance, a “rumbling” sound seemed to approach.

Bai Zhengliu only felt that something was wrong, but Mei Yinghan reacted quickly, his face changing: “Not good, avalanche!”

Bai Zhengliu’s pupils shrank. He had never encountered such a thing, but he had heard Tianshan disciples speak of it! Looking up, he saw a faint, ghostly white line moving toward them!

Bai Zhengliu gritted his teeth: “Ha, is this because we survived in that little cabin, so now it’s trying a new trick?!”

Mei Yinghan said sharply: “Run—Bai brother, don’t go downward, head to the side!”

Comparing speed with falling snow was meaningless. In this situation, the only way was to escape the area the thick snow was about to hit before it arrived.

But in the ordinary Tianshan, this might be possible—what about this Tianshan that they could never seem to leave?

Bai Zhengliu could not figure out the answer. All he could do was watch Mei Yinghan, carrying Zhou Liuer on his back, use his lightness skill to move ahead. Bai Zhengliu followed closely, stepping in wooden “shoes.”

The white line drew closer, the “rumbling” sound right beside their ears. Bai Zhengliu’s heartbeat grew faster and faster… Mei Yinghan’s white robes, blending with the falling snow, were now the only thing he could see.

Their martial arts were formidable. Intentionally increasing their speed, in an instant, they had run hundreds of meters.

But the snow line seemed endless, impossible to escape!

Seeing the collapsing snow right in front of them, Mei Yinghan’s hands, which were securing Zhou Liuer’s legs, tensed, veins rising on the backs of his hands.

Even at this moment, he remained calm, analyzing: “No—if this rumbling is meant to bury us, running sideways won’t work.”

Bai Zhengliu trusted his judgment and asked directly: “Mei brother, what should we do?”

Mei Yinghan’s gaze shifted to the accumulated snow now looming before them.

He said: “We have to pass over the collapsing snow.” For ordinary people, this would be impossible. But they were both exceptional young heroes of the current martial world. Even with one carrying an injured person and the other still burdened with the wooden “shoes,” their lightness skill had become as natural as breathing.

Mei Yinghan: “This is our only chance. Bai brother, are you ready?”

Bai Zhengliu: “Ready!”

Mei Yinghan: “Good, let’s go!”After saying this, the two no longer tried to escape to the sides, but charged directly toward the thick, wave-like snow!

Their toes touched the snow, then they leapt into the air like agile swallows. Their black hair fluttered in the wind, contrasting against the endless white around them, truly like two birds soaring over the snow-capped mountains.

The biting cold struck their faces, countless snowflakes pummeling their skin.

Bai Zhengliu saw nothing but blinding white. The snow blocked his vision, making it impossible to discern direction. At the same time, the deafening roar of the avalanche made it impossible to hear Mei Yinghan’s voice or know his location—

The vastness of heaven and earth, the might of the snow mountain, seemed to leave only him…

No!

Bai Zhengliu’s mind was clear.

He didn’t know where the sudden inspiration and courage came from. At this moment, he drew the Twenty-Eight Generals from his waist.

The swordsman’s thought was simple: “After all, this avalanche is just one manifestation of the Tianshan ghost’s terror, still under the control of the spirits here. If that’s the case, I can slash!”

Slash through this endless snow! Carve a clear path forward!

He gripped the sword with both hands, the flowing light along the blade merging with the whirling snow. Bai Zhengliu stepped on the snow, toes cutting through the wind, guiding the blade toward the snow pressing down upon him—

He heard the hum of the Twenty-Eight Generals.

The wind and snow parted before him, dissolving into the flowing light along the blade.

At the end of the light, Bai Zhengliu saw Mei Yinghan’s figure.

His heart suddenly brightened and steadied. Bai Zhengliu planted his feet, tightened his grip on the long sword, and pursued Mei Yinghan!

“Mei brother!” he called in his heart. “I’m right behind you!”

At this moment, if another pair of eyes looked at Bai Zhengliu in midair, they would likely witness an incredible scene.

The snow solidified inch by inch beneath his feet, forming a long path toward Mei Yinghan, and then dissipated after he passed, merging with the other swirling snowflakes around him.

Bai Zhengliu didn’t notice these details. He only felt light, as if an inexhaustible force of inner energy filled his dantian. This inner energy not only carried him smoothly to Mei Yinghan’s side, but also allowed him, upon noticing Mei Yinghan’s slightly troubled state, to decisively sheath his sword and take Zhou Liuer from Mei Yinghan’s back.

Beneath the vast snow, he couldn’t hear Mei Yinghan’s words—only saw him looking at him, astonished and worried.

Bai Zhengliu shook his head to indicate it was nothing. Then, he faced forward, eyes resolute, and continued along the path he had carved with his sword!Until they left the vast, boundless snow.

At the moment when the ground appeared clear and solid beneath his feet, Bai Zhengliu’s body wavered slightly—

A hand reached over from the side, steadying his arm.

Author’s note:

Little Bai, draw the qi into your body.