Departure

"Say, do you think we'll run into a real blizzard, Master?"

Emma looked deeply worried. She had never been optimistic about this trip.

Su Xuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. Uh, wasn't that a little inappropriate? They had not even set off yet, and she was already asking such unlucky questions.

Su Xuan patted Emma on the head and comforted her.

"It's nothing, Emma. Even if we really do run into danger, I'll still be here. You don't need to worry about safety. Since I'm here, I should be the one thinking about that."

Emma nodded. That was true.

"Master, then when are we leaving?"

Su Xuan stroked his chin, a faint glimmer flashing in his pale golden eyes.

"Tonight. I have a feeling tonight should be a good time. Go make some more preparations, Emma. You don't have to make absolutely certain that nothing can go wrong, but at least take every preparation you can to the limit."

"Mm, understood, Master."

Emma nodded, turned toward the door, and lightly stepped over the somewhat dilapidated threshold. Once she pulled the door shut, Su Xuan was the only one left in the shabby room.

Su Xuan propped up his chin and thought quietly. As the Saint Son of Spirit Hall, his status was extremely important. Moreover, he was the only lubricant preventing conflict between the allies and the higher-ups. If something happened to Su Xuan, Spirit Hall would not be far from ruin.

"Ah, this Extreme North really feels like it depends on luck..."

Su Xuan puffed out his cheeks and muttered. Blizzards were commonplace in the Extreme North, but even blizzards differed drastically in severity—for example, in just how violent they were.

Su Xuan stretched, walked over to the bookshelf, and quickly scanned it before picking out a book on the historical tales of the Extreme North. He pulled it out and flipped through a few pages. Since he had nothing else to do, he might as well read up on some legends. Maybe he would come across some useful knowledge.

"Wuwuwu, Xue'er, stop flying around."

Snow Girl paid no attention to Little Nanbei's objections and continued fluttering her wings as she flew about happily.

"Ababa."

"Ah."

Little Nanbei sighed and let Snow Girl do as she pleased. After all, she was not truly a child who understood nothing.

"Xue'er, remember not to leave Spirit Hall. Otherwise, Brother Xuan will definitely get angry later. When that happens, neither of us will get off easy."

"Ababa."

At the mention of Su Xuan's name, little Snow Girl visibly trembled. She was indeed close to Su Xuan, but she was still quite afraid of that "strict" older brother.

Seeing Snow Girl like this, Little Nanbei felt a little more reassured and softly sighed. Then, she brought over a small stool and sat beside the spot where little Snow Girl was playing. No matter what, she could not just leave her completely unattended. That would be irresponsible.

Having received Emma's teachings, Little Nanbei took responsibility very seriously. Thus, wherever little Snow Girl was, Little Nanbei could always be found nearby. After all, in Su Xuan's arrangements, Little Nanbei was little Snow Girl's older sister.

Naturally, an older sister should take care of her younger sister. So Little Nanbei hoped she could take good care of little Snow Girl. It was one of the few things she could do, and she had always wanted to do it well.

Brother Xuan worked so hard every day. Little Nanbei dearly wished she could share even a little of his burden.

"Mm, Brother Xuan, do I have to wear this?"

Cat Nanbei looked at the incomparably heavy cold-weather suit in front of her, the corner of her eye twitching. What was this thing?

"Little Nanbei, you've got it wrong. Emma got it wrong too. You won't be going on this operation."

"Ah?!"

Cat Nanbei pointed at her own chest and said dejectedly, "Is it because... I'm too weak?"

Seeing the adorable girl so upset made Su Xuan's heart ache a little. With his temperament, he could not bear to see girls sad—especially cute little sisters like Little Nanbei.

"Little Nanbei, don't be sad. You haven't gone uninvolved in this operation."

"You have to understand, the most crucial person in this operation is Xue'er. But without you, how could Xue'er have gotten from Spirit Hall to here? So even though you aren't taking part in this final step, that doesn't mean you haven't contributed. On the contrary, you've made the greatest contribution. Think about it—without you, would there have been any possibility of carrying out this operation?"

"Is... is that so?"

Cat Nanbei rubbed her slightly reddened, swollen eyes and froze. What he said... made it seem as though she really was amazing.

"That's right, Little Nanbei. You've already done the very best you can. There's no need to worry anymore. All you need to do is stay here and pray for us."

"Mm, Little Nanbei understands. I'll be good and pray for Brother Xuan."

Su Xuan stood and patted the head of the little girl, who only came up to his waist.

"Hahaha, now that's Brother Xuan's Little Nanbei."

"Ababa."

Snow Girl flew over, moved close to Little Nanbei's face, and rubbed against her hard in affection. Her mind was not yet mature, so her way of expressing herself was always so direct. Still, perhaps that was not such a bad trait.

"Master..."

Su Xuan waved a hand. Emma naturally withdrew, slipping into Su Xuan's shadow as her presence diminished to almost nothing.

"Get ready to depart, little Snow Girl."

Su Xuan grabbed little Snow Girl and placed her atop his head, then patted Little Nanbei's head.

"Stay home and be good."

"Mm, Little Nanbei understands."

Cat Nanbei nodded obediently.

A trace of golden light shone from Su Xuan's pale golden eyes. Extreme North, here I come.

The world was draped in silver, white as far as the eye could see, with sky and earth blending into one.

Wearing the heavy protective suit, Su Xuan felt as though his head was buzzing. It was fucking stuffy.

Su Xuan asked dully, "Emma, Emma, are you there?"

"Master, I'm here."

Emma was likewise wearing a heavy cold-weather suit.

"Does this thing have any ventilation? I feel like I'm about to suffocate."

Emma fell silent for a moment before answering bitterly, "It doesn't seem to, Master."

That completely stunned Su Xuan. No ventilation? Wouldn't he suffocate to death...?

Emma had felt a little unreliable these past few days... Su Xuan muttered to himself for a while, then sighed.

"Take it off, Emma. At this rate, we won't freeze to death—we'll suffocate first."

"Understood, Master."

The heavy cold-weather suit was terrifyingly weighty and incredibly thick.

After taking it off, Su Xuan found that his clothes were completely soaked.