Chapter 9: Rebirth After the Catastrophe

The snowy expanse of daylight remains chillingly cold, making the campfire indispensable. Bai Mo warmed himself by the fire for an entire night, ravenously devouring the cooked meat, and his strength has now recovered to seventy percent: "That pack of wolves is too cunning, almost as if they have become sentient, nearly burying everyone alive. Fortunately, the young master is safe and sound"

Fei Kouer has always been casual, with rough and unadorned clothing. Compared to the elegance of Yin Shen and the refinement of Lu Lanshan, his demeanor is like that of mud compared to clouds; even Shang Wan appears to be more tidy and capable than he is. Perhaps it is due to his life as a thief that he resembles a solitary beast, instinctively avoiding crowds.

The palms are long and fair, with distinct joints, and the fingers are proportionate and beautiful

The stone crevice drew ever closer, and a torrent of cold air surged from behind his spine. The deafening roar of falling snow echoed in his ears, leaving him dizzy and disoriented, while his heart raced like a drum. Fei Kouer’s fingers were exceptionally cold, gripping his wrist with a painful intensity. Countless snowflakes brushed past his ears as the young man leaped with all his might, crashing through the ice formations and rolling into the stone crevice.

Zuo Qingci remarked: "This person is exceptionally agile and quick to seize opportunities, indeed possessing a certain level of skill."

With a crack, Carla broke a dry branch into two pieces and threw it into the fire. Fei Kouer, perhaps tired, spoke with a voice tinged with weariness: "Wen Siyuan said he cannot let you die, otherwise I would also die upon returning. The others can take care of themselves, they do not need me to save them"

A pile of fire was kindled in the cave, dispelling the darkness and bringing warmth. The thin smoke that curled upward seemed to be drawn by an invisible hand, dispersing from a snow crevice that had been dug through from another place. The wolf meat suspended over the flames was roasting, while Fei Kou'er sat cross-legged by the fire, a rolled-up wolf skin beside him, and Bai Mo lay unconscious on one side.

Before he could take out the snow-white handkerchief from his bosom, Fei Kouer had already declined, "No need."

Fei Kouer came to her senses from her silence and glanced at him: "I only found one, it was buried the shallowest, and the wolf dug it out of the snow"

He is never afraid of desire and ambition; where there is desire, there are weaknesses

No matter how fast Fei Kouer runs, she cannot match the speed of the millions of ice and snow cascading down. A chilling sensation envelops her from behind, pressing down like a heavy hammer on her back. This sudden weight causes Fei Kouer to momentarily falter, and just as the heavy snow is about to cover her, she unexpectedly slips a step, gaining a bit more speed. The accumulated snow rushes towards her like a towering wave.

Zuo Qingci felt very dizzy; for those unacquainted with martial arts, falling from mid-air is a terrifying experience. Even more unbearable was the icy wind rushing into his nostrils, nearly suffocating him. He had never felt such discomfort, yet he was acutely aware that there was no room for complaint. The deafening roar from behind fully demonstrated the consequences of any slight delay.

His face was shrouded in the shadow cast by him, and Fei Kou'er said nothing. With a strong tug at his side, Zuo Qingci realized that he had inadvertently pressed down on the other's clothing corner. He stood up to move aside, and before he could further explain, the other had already turned over, facing away to sleep, completely indifferent to him.

Regarded as a troublesome figure, the refined and exceptionally graceful Left Minister skipped over the topic: "I must thank Brother Luo; just now, the snow fell heavily. If it were not for Brother Luo's rescue, I would surely have lost my life."

After a brief pause, Zuo Qingci addressed the expressionless wooden face, his words and smile equally gentle, like an innocent and harmless spring breeze: "I apologize, I am concerned whether Brother Luo has any other hidden injuries, and I may have inadvertently disturbed you by being so forward."

This is probably the most straightforward remark the young master of the Hou residence has ever heard. Zuo Qingci smiled slightly, setting down the wolf leg: "Thank you for your concern. After all, I am a man and not injured. Since food is limited, I shall share both joys and hardships with Brother Luo."

Junyan appeared warm and jade-like in the glow of the flames, while Zuo Qingci seemed very sincere, "It is probably due to the ice hanging, the injury on my wrist is quite inconvenient, Brother Luo, please allow me to exert my modest strength."

It is evident that for Fei Kouer, having saved a person was already the height of benevolence and righteousness. He spread out the wolf skin by the fire, lacking the interest to continue the conversation: "You have a fur coat, I have used the wolf skin. I will go look for people after dawn. You tend to the fire, and if wolves come, call me."

The cold sensation gradually faded away, and a certain smell roused him from his unconsciousness

Looking down for a moment, Fei Kouer set down the wolf meat, rolled up his blood-stained sleeves, and noted that the wound on his wrist was not deep; the blood had already dried. He fished out a medicine bottle from his satchel and bit off the cork, when suddenly a hand appeared before him

He placed another portion beside Bai Mo, and Fei Kou also began to eat. He gnawed on the bones left after the meat, tearing off every strand of remaining muscle, chewing longer than usual, like a camel slowly ruminating, extracting nutrients from the fragmented food. The remaining meat was set aside by him, and left Qingci sensitively noticed: "Are you worried about insufficient food, Brother Luo?"

Zuo Qingci had settled down, and he leaned in very close, even able to see his own hair suspended in mid-air, swaying gently with the breath of Fei Kouer.

The tremendous impact caused the two individuals to tumble several times. Zuo Qingci felt a heaviness in his chest, his consciousness somewhat blurred, and it seemed that he was lying on top of someone. He could feel the other person's damp neck and their disordered breathing and heartbeat. Endless ice and snow crashed onto the boulders, and the fractured ice shards from the edges fell to the ground. The entire world was shaking and trembling, and darkness suddenly descended.

Zuo Qingci seemed somewhat distracted: "Wolves are not any less intelligent than humans, especially in this environment; they are more familiar with the snow than we are"

Zuo Qingci paused for a moment, his narrowed eyes revealing no discernible meaning. After a while, he finally spoke: "So it turns out that Brother Wen has good intentions, showing compassion for my lack of martial skills"

The thick and warm fur coat prevented frostbite, yet it could not shield against the pain of being struck by snow. Bai Mo rubbed the bruise on her leg and asked the most heart-wrenching question at that moment: "Do you think the others are still alive?"

This issue has also been contemplated by Zuo Qingci: "It is said that the internal breathing technique of Zhengyang Palace has its unique aspects; even if buried in snow, one may not necessarily lose their life. Lu Lanshan possesses profound internal strength and should be able to endure longer. As for Shang Wan, it is somewhat unpredictable; everything depends on fate."

Fei Kouer glanced at him, threw down the bone, and wiped the grease off his fingers with snow, saying, "There is no need to force yourself; it will be very troublesome if you fall ill"

It seems that assistance is indeed unnecessary. The young man directly tore a piece of old cloth from his sleeve, covered it with medicinal powder, and applied it with smooth and practiced movements. Finally, he bit down on the cloth to tie it up, drawing it together. Perhaps due to his youth and undeveloped bones, his wrists are extremely thin, and after being tightly bound, he appears even more frail.

The aroma of grilled meat wafting through the air immediately induced a sense of hunger. Zuo Qingci propped himself up, feeling pain in his back. Upon pressing it, he discovered it was an injury caused by a falling snow block. He furrowed his brow slightly, checked on Bai Mo, who appeared to be unharmed, and then inquired, "Have you seen anyone else?"

He actually fell asleep, unceremoniously making Zuo Qingci keep vigil all night, regardless of the other person's status or willingness. Zuo Qingci was not angry; he sat quietly by the fire for a while, beginning to observe the person sleeping across from him.

At first glance, Fei Kouer appeared unremarkable in every aspect. He wore an old coat purchased from a shop assistant, which was cumbersome and oversized, stained with some indelible marks, looking shabby and disheveled, akin to a common laborer. However, the gaze of Zuo Qingci was not obscured by appearances; it lingered on the details scattered throughout.

Leaving behind the Left Minister and the newly awakened Bai Mo, Fei Kou'er set out alone to search for someone

Such a situation and the presence of the books were unexpected, leading to a moment of silence where no one spoke

Such a response did not surprise Bai Mo, as they had been companions for several months. He felt a bit regretful: "Those few have long been devoted to the young master, yet they have gone missing. The most troublesome one, however, remains safe and sound. Truly a seasoned thief, with exceptional skills in escaping danger"

Daylight has arrived, and the crevices outside remain icy. Large flakes of snow fall from the sky, and the quiet valley resembles a pure white dream. The violent avalanche leaves no trace behind.

Without changing his expression, he withdrew his gaze from the other party's wrist. Zuo Qingci accepted the cooked meat that was handed to him, expressed his gratitude, and began to taste it. The wolf meat was coarse, but it was well-roasted, with a moderate saltiness and fragrance, providing an unexpected delight for someone who had been subsisting on dry rations for several days. Zuo Qingci was surprised by his own appetite.

Recalling the avalanche, the lingering fear remains: "Indeed, the power of nature is unpredictable. If others unfortunately meet with disaster, what shall we do?"

Zuo Qing's tone was very indifferent, cold as if from a different path: "It is best if they are still alive, it can save some trouble; if they are unfortunate enough to die, it does not matter, when I reach the land of the Tocharians, I will think of another way"

After standing for a moment, Lord Qingci returned to the other side of the fire, gazing at the figure lying across from him, his expression growing solemn.

Zuo Qingci observed his every move and said, "Brother Luo, why do you say such words?"

The fire burned quietly, the hazy smoke gently wafting. Zuo Qingci approached silently, reaching towards Fei Kouer’s wrist. At the moment of touching the other’s sleeve, the sleeping person suddenly opened their eyes

In terms of stature, Fei Kou'er is not tall for a man, with a slender build that barely reaches his ears. This individual seems to spend most of his time with his head lowered, even in sleep. The thief's hair is always wrapped in coarse cloth, with only a few fine strands scattered at the nape of his neck, which is long and delicate, appearing somewhat fragile. The fingers that protrude from his sleeves are slender, agile, and strong, with the imprints left on his wrist serving as sufficient evidence of this.

The wall ridge that rises abruptly in the southeast is an enormous elongated boulder, collapsed onto several smaller rocks, with one half jutting out into the air, creating a gap between the earth and the sky. Surrounding it are a few pine trees, covered with a light layer of snow, and the edges of the boulder are draped with layers of icicles, forming a natural shelter.

After carrying a pile of dry branches from the corner and throwing them beside the bonfire, Fei Kou'er said after a while: "I do not wish to die"

Zuo Qingci glanced at the half wolf leg in his hand, and Fei Kouer seemed to know what he was thinking: "You are useless, you need to eat more."

Opening his eyes, Zuo Qingci was not in a hurry to get up. He glanced around and discovered that he was in a crevice beneath a massive rock. This stone crevice was over ten zhang high, surrounded by ice and snow. On the west side, a snow path had been dug out leading outward, and the entrance was dark, suggesting that night had already fallen.

After speaking, Fei Kouer inspected the doneness of the roasted meat, removing the cooked meat from the fire. In the midst of these actions, Zuo Qingci noticed that the other party's left wrist was torn, with faint traces of blood: "Brother Luo, are you injured?"

"My methods are utterly useless against him, which is indeed strange." As his gaze swept over the wolf skin left by Fei Kou'er, Luo Qingci murmured softly, his tone laced with a hint of sharp, cold mockery: "But it doesn't matter; everyone has their weaknesses. I shall see what he truly desires."

Shen Manqing and Yin Changge come from prestigious and upright families, bound by their sect and moral obligations; Lu Lanshan values righteousness and keeps his promises, which has earned him a reputation as a chivalrous figure but also brings its own constraints; Shang Wanshan is cold-blooded yet values his life, but it is not difficult for him to gain control if he seeks to associate with the powerful; only Fei Kouer ... ...

Fei Kouer was very focused: "Wolves avoid people and are difficult to catch. The provisions are already gone, and we must save some meat."

Bai Mo, despite his dislike for thieves, had to admit this point, saying with a hint of resentment: "Fortunately, this scoundrel still knows his limits and protected the young master."