Chapter 3: The City of Frost and the Recruitment of a Son-in-law

Teng Dao, with a face full of oil and red, shouted: "I, Teng Dao, am not afraid of you. Although your skills are high, having defeated the brothers of the Fire Shrimp Shop, Cold Spear Huo Dong, and Master Hong of the Rainbow Fist, I, Teng Dao, also possess some abilities. If it truly comes to blows, how could I be defeated? That kid insulted your sister, and I couldn't stand by idly, which is why I stepped in to seek justice for you. Unexpectedly, I fell for his underhanded trick."

No one knows the background of this person. Upon hearing the host's public invitation, everyone felt a sense of alarm, yet they could not go against her wishes

Pan Yan walked briskly into the city tower, seeking a stable to take shelter from the snow for a while. Fortunately, the weather was kind, and soon the snow stopped. After a little while longer, the sky cleared even more. The sunlight shone on the snow, creating a golden brilliance; the sky was as blue as the sea, and the wind carried a hint of frost. The freshness and grandeur of this city were immediately apparent. He inquired of someone and learned that this city was Shebo, a renowned large city located to the northeast.

Pan Yan smiled and said, "What a spectacle this martial arts competition for marriage is; which family's ugly monster has come to embarrass themselves again"

Pan Yan raised his eyes and stared blankly at the cloth bags on the backs of the horses, guessing that they must contain frozen meat and frozen fish. His heart itched with desire, and greed suddenly surged within him. With a strange cry, he suddenly lunged towards the horses' backs. The guards drew their swords and blocked his path, their movements swift and precise.

Lu Zhenying said: "Brother Taiyi, you have saved this Great Snow Ape, which can be considered as repaying our kindness. However, if you have no other matters to attend to, could you accompany us?"

Pan Yan smiled and said, "Then I shall also show some kindness and will not ask you to beg for food."

Pan Yan walked to the door and exchanged a few pleasantries with the guard. The tall guard, seeing him thin and pitiful, said: "This dreadful weather, anyone who encounters it is unfortunate. Everyone has their own inconveniences. Normally, when encountering a stranger, one must pay a toll to enter, but today, out of kindness, I will make an exception and waive your toll."

Zhang Qianfeng said: "Brother Tai, your martial arts are extraordinary, and you are indeed a person of great standing. Is it not shameful to beg like this?"

Lu Zhenying has been strict with himself since childhood. Reflecting on today's events, he thought: "I am much older than my younger brother, yet when faced with wind and snow, I feel disheartened and inadvertently speak out. Wouldn't everyone be cold-hearted towards me for such childish words and actions? I truly need to engage in self-reflection. Throughout this journey, I have encountered many strange beasts and unusual occurrences, with countless weather phenomena. The world is vast and seemingly infinite, and I cannot fathom how many dangers lie ahead. I must think deeply and be cautious in all matters, and above all, I must ensure my younger brother's safety."

He thought: "That fierce young man on the mountain said I am a master of the Tai family, haha, my skills might indeed be quite good. Tai family, Tai family, it seems I have encountered someone from the Tai family before. Since that is the case, I must go meet this Tai family and ask who I really am."

Panyandao: "Do you still have any provisions?"

Lu Zhenying was about to agree when Zhang Qianfeng said: "We are already overwhelmed and the road ahead is unclear, we cannot afford to give any more. If you wish to maintain your dignity, why not strive for self-sufficiency?"

He suspected that someone had framed him and buried him alive, but that person never anticipated that he would survive. He felt fear in his heart, was greatly confused about his future, yet was also immensely curious and wanted to uncover the truth about his origins

He was hungry, wandering around aimlessly, wanting to steal food, but when a cold wind blew, he felt ashamed and thought to himself: "If I steal the food of princes and princesses, it could be considered robbing the rich to help the poor. But stealing the rations of these poor commoners, what does that amount to? I should find some fat-headed, big-eared scoundrel and go to his house for a good feast."

Pan Yan nodded and said: "I have been hungry for several days, but I cannot get enough to eat. I implore you all for your kindness, please give me a little more."

Zhang Qianfeng said: "Even though the snow is soft on the ground, falling from this height of several hundred zhang, it is likely that one would not survive." After a bitter smile, he continued: "One often hears that people die for wealth, and birds perish for food. Now that I have encountered this person, I truly realize the vastness of the world, where there is no shortage of wonders."

From morning until afternoon, he could not find a single person resembling a wealthy gentleman. He arrived at a square and was suddenly greeted by a sea of people, bustling with extraordinary liveliness, as if there were a grand event taking place. He said, "Excuse me, excuse me, please let me through, let me through." He slipped through the gaps, as smooth as an eel.

On the winding path: "We should reason with reason; there is no need to insult others. The more one insults, the more one becomes like a bald donkey."

Pan Yan felt warmth all over his body, and the pain suddenly disappeared. Lying quietly on the ground, he thought to himself: "Who am I? Why am I here? How did I end up in the Tai family's grand tomb? What is my relation to the Tai family?"

Then the thing would crush him, tearing out his intestines and the food within them, and throwing them far away.

The serpent-like figure rose to its feet, shifting its toes and employing lightness skills, evading the snowflakes like a madman. With such agile and graceful movements, it truly managed to dodge the fierce winds, conserving considerable energy while dashing through the snow, and was not buried by the heavy snowfall.

This sect, known as Qianfeng, belongs to the illustrious Wanxian, which is one of the most powerful sects in the present age. The individuals within the sect are all elites of the world; unless one has achieved mastery in both internal and external skills and has a profound understanding of Daoist teachings, one would never be granted entry. Once admitted, one can consume elixirs and cultivate immortal techniques, thereby forging a divine body and immortal bones, claiming a lifespan of three hundred years and the ability to heal from severe injuries. Consequently, they often regard themselves as immortals, subduing demons and punishing evildoers, performing countless acts of kindness, and gaining widespread fame, earning the admiration of the world. Once admitted, one can consume elixirs and cultivate immortal techniques, thereby forging a divine body and immortal bones, claiming a lifespan of three hundred years and the ability to heal from severe injuries. Consequently, they often regard themselves as immortals, subduing demons and punishing evildoers, performing countless acts of kindness, and gaining widespread fame, earning the admiration of the world.

Traveling at this pace for several hours, having traversed a long journey, I beheld a grand city ahead. The city walls, covered in frost and snow, appeared grayish-white, shrouded in mist like wandering spirits. The walls were exceedingly high and wide, solid and cold, exuding an air of arrogance.

With a crouch, Pan Yan embraced the bag, his figure swaying as he narrowly evaded Zhang Qianfeng's brilliant move. Zhang Qianfeng was even more astonished, only to see Pan Yan step into thin air, letting out a loud cry as he rolled straight down the slope, his body bouncing and tumbling, and before long, he disappeared from sight.

The snake-like creature rolled down the snowy slope, suddenly crashing its rear against a rock, flying several dozen zhang before landing heavily in a snow pit. It was in so much pain that it could not cry out. Rummaging through its belongings, it took out a cloth bag, disregarding its injuries, revealed its hard teeth, and bit into a piece of frozen meat. With a slip of its tongue, it swallowed it whole. After a few gasps, it took more to eat, and in the blink of an eye, the once full bag of frozen provisions was completely emptied.

Zhang Qianfeng appears to be merely in his twenties, yet in reality, he is over sixty years old. However, due to his cultivation and self-discipline, although his experiences have increased, his mind remains exceptionally lively, unlike the lifelessness often seen in the elderly, yet he possesses a steadiness and composure that surpasses that of youth. He thinks meticulously and envisions far-reaching possibilities. At this moment, encountering Pan Yan in the midst of the heavy snow in the Lianshan mountains, and learning that this person is a distant relative of the Tai family, he cannot help but become vigilant and cautious.

Lu Yangming exclaimed, "Is he still alive?" His expression was one of great concern

The tall man wore an expression of indignation, turning his head to look back and seeing Pan Yan behind him, doubled over with laughter. He wanted to step down, but the spectators in the audience all shouted in derision, saying: "You, the horse rider, have become increasingly unreasonable. Now that you are on the arena, do you really think you can escape?"

Zhang Qianfeng reflected on the extraordinary agility displayed when he leaped off the cliff, a skill that truly exceeded expectations. Despite his meticulous calculations, he had not anticipated that the side of the cliff would reveal a flaw in his own technique. He thought to himself: "This person has not retaliated from beginning to end, but judging by his ethereal palm technique descending from the air, it is evident that he is extremely difficult to deal with. If he were to die, it would resolve my concerns. However, if he survives, I wonder what further intentions he may have."

The guard laughed heartily and said, "So it's just a beggar. But those who come to ask for money, you may leave, you may leave."

The howling wind and snow is quite deafening, yet it has a soothing effect that lulls one to sleep. After a while, as everyone is lost in their thoughts, fatigue sets in, and they each drift into a deep slumber

The burly man was enraged and swiped at the serpent. The serpent executed a mysterious step, spun around, and with a push on the man's back, he lost his balance and fell onto the stage. Just then, a handsome young man stood up from the chair in the opposite corner, his face filled with joy, and said: "After waiting for so long, finally someone has the courage to come up."

If he were confident, he would not be so fearful; he always feels that there is something lurking in the shadows, sinister and malicious, intending to harm him

Then Teng Dao said loudly: "If I were to come up by myself, there would naturally be nothing to say, but it is that little thief who forces me to come up, how can I be convinced in my heart"

The young man, dressed in a white outfit adorned with gold, flicked the corner of his garment, exuding a heroic demeanor and displaying agile movements, truly a remarkable young hero. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "What did this person say?"

In this way, Pan Yan had walked through the crowd, and before him stood a square arena, approximately six zhang in length and width, with wooden carved banners at each corner, fluttering in the wind, inscribed with the words "Brave Champion of the Serpent, Martial Arts Contest for Marriage"

Pan Yan angrily said: "I initially thought you were just weary travelers, having only consumed twenty frozen buns from you. Now that I see you are descendants of the monarch and nobility, if I do not ask for some better offerings, would that not be a sign of disrespect towards the two of you"

She recalled her mother, who was suffering in their homeland, and wondered whether she was enduring pain at that moment. Upon reaching this thought, her eyes brimmed with tears, yet she gritted her teeth and persevered, not allowing anyone to notice.

Although the two siblings of the Lu family felt regretful, there was nothing they could do to reverse the situation. They had traveled a long distance and brought plenty of provisions. Even though a bag of food was taken by the snake, they still had ample supplies. They immediately made a fire to grill their food, and after a hearty meal, everyone found a place to wrap themselves in their cotton coats and quilts to rest.

Lu Yangming smiled and said, "Could it be that big brother, you are still hungry?"

Pan Yan frowned and said: "No matter what, just a little more will do."

Although he had such thoughts, he realized that he must have enemies in the Tai family; otherwise, he would not have fallen to such a state. He recalled this unknown adversary and could not help but feel fearful, thinking to himself: "Caution can steer a ship for a thousand years. I must quietly make arrangements to approach the Tai family, to avoid further torment. If I encounter that villain again, this time I would surely meet my death"

The winding body technique resembles a spirit snake, with feet trembling and body moving, instantly darting past. Zhang Qianfeng shouted, "Stop right there!" One hand reached out in a feigned grasp, employing his skill of "Yin Run Yang Sheng" in grappling. Once this move was executed, the internal energy spread out like a large fishing net, sweeping down to ensnare, making it difficult for birds within a radius of ten feet to flap their wings and fly.

Suddenly, a very plump child appeared ahead, holding a steamed bun and candy in his hands. The child was completely absorbed, with no awareness of anything else, and walked straight ahead. With a deft move, he snatched the child's food and turned to leave. The child cried out loudly, seeking his parents to complain, but the thief, feeling quite pleased with himself, had already eaten it and walked far away.

He was talking to himself, but someone nearby overheard him and immediately became displeased. A tall, strong, and partially bald man shouted, "You little brat know nothing and dare to speak such nonsense here"

The handsome young man had eyes like springs, flowing and winding. Upon seeing him, delicate and elegant, seemingly fragile and unable to withstand the wind, he smiled gently and said: "At your size, how could anyone else push you up here"

Teng Dao said: "He insulted your sister, calling her an ugly monster, saying she won't be able to get married, and that's why she came out to embarrass herself."

Zhang Qianfeng waved his sleeve, and a fierce wind swept through, causing the coiling figure to step back a few paces. Zhang Qianfeng then said, "If there is no food to feed you, if you are willing to come along, after a few hours, when we start our meal, you will not be left out."