The Festival Begins

The Meng Dao's answer was impeccable, leaving everyone speechless.

The good news is that no one died last night. Several people whose life force was severely drained recovered most of their strength after a brief period of extreme weakness, using their own offerings or items.

--The wounds inflicted by the ceremonial robes are disposable. The wounds on the Meng Dao could actually be healed by special means, but he was a ruthless person. Relying on his strong regenerative abilities, he stubbornly refused to receive treatment.

After exchanging information, the group put the severed limbs into bags, packed them into their backpacks, and then left the hotel.

The closer you get to the outside world, the more pronounced the atmosphere of the Snow Festival becomes.

As I pushed open the shop door, a fragrant aroma wafted over even before I could see anything on screen.

Yu Xing stood at the end of the line and glanced around. Light snow was falling from the sky, and the alley was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Overnight, Baibao Street had been transformed into a festive scene.

The townspeople passing by had beaming smiles on their faces and were dressed in red. The shop owners who had been selling pancakes and steamed buns were also wearing red ceremonial robes, and the food they made seemed to smell even better than before.

Gao Yiling's figure seemed to be right at the alley entrance.

The strategists exchanged glances and then took their steps, except for Yu Xing, who remained where she was after giving Zhang Yu a reassuring look.

Because compared to Gao Yiling, there were two other figures closer to him, already waiting for him in the alley.

One was Fang Xiao, dressed in Fenglong Uniform, and the other was... a blurry Doctor whose red robe and face were indistinct.

Fang Xiao leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his arrogant eyes full of smiles, patiently waiting for Yu Xing and her friends to "say goodbye."

The Doctor remained standing ramrod straight, a little further away from Fang Xiao, as quiet as a street lamp.

Without the predictor, Yu Xing's acting skills came naturally. She pursed her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Brother!"

"Did you sleep well last night?" Fang Xiao then straightened up and walked towards him.

Fang Xiao hadn't missed the doubts that flashed in the eyes of those "tourists" when they saw him, but fortunately, no one was so oblivious as to disturb his time with his brother.

"Not bad? Just a bit cold." Yu Xing knew that Fang Xiao's question must be related to the death of the divine tree last night. Fang Xiao himself probably didn't even realize that his subconscious was being influenced by the snake.

Fang Xiao looked at him upon hearing this and chuckled softly, "This is a bit thin, but... I thought people like us weren't afraid of the cold."

"Also, why are you wearing Yueyu Garment?"

The Yueyu Garment is for the younger generation. Just look at the Fenglong Uniform Fang Xiao is wearing. In his mind, as the controller of Nanshui Town, he should wear the most solemn and senior Fenglong Uniform.

He is like that, and his brother should be the same.

Yu Xing thought to herself that Zhang Yu had chosen this, but said aloud, "I'm still young, I don't want to be as old-fashioned as you, brother."

The Yueyu Garment is a short-sleeved shirt, adorned with the most accessories. Golden woven ropes and bells are scattered across the wrists, ankles, and front of the garment, jingling with every step.

But the sound of those bells was very soft, not enough to disturb others.

Overall, she looks really young, especially compared to the traditional Japanese style, making Yu Xing appear to be a whole generation Fang Xiao Fenglong Uniform.

Fang Xiao's eye twitched slightly, and he coughed lightly. "This is... a derivative rule."

A Doctor was nearby; he didn't say the word "book," but he believed his younger brother would understand what he was trying to say.

The rules regarding clothing are rules that have evolved on their own since the Nanshui Town was founded; they were not set by him.

Because of his high status, he had to wear Fenglong Uniform, as did his younger brother.

Otherwise, there will be certain rules and penalties.

But it's alright. With him around, he can easily help his brother avoid punishment with a little manipulation. It's not a big deal, it's just...

Fang Xiao turned her head and glanced at the Doctor.

"Little brother, are you feeling unwell? Why did I run into the Doctor earlier, and he said he was also here to see you?"

It's too much of an eyesore.

Yu Xing then turned her gaze to the red mosaic.

Whether it's because the Snow Festival inherently repels the power of other evil gods, the Doctor's blurriness today is the most severe in history, which means that the Doctor's power has also reached its lowest point at this time.

Before he could speak, the Doctor said, "I'm sorry, actually I was just curious about your brother. Although today is a day of celebration, I still have to go to the Fang Mansion to treat Master Fang, so I thought I'd drop by to see him."

Fang Xiao, who was usually quite polite to Doctor, became somewhat interested upon hearing this. "Curious about my brother? Curious about what?"

Yu Xing also wanted to know what he could be curious about.

He and the Doctor should have already reached an agreement and made a deal. The Doctor only needs to stay at the Fang Mansion today; why bother coming to find him?

If it attracts the attention of the Snake Woman behind the scenes...

Unless, of course, the Doctor has something he absolutely needs to tell him beforehand.

With the special effects blurred, it was hard to pinpoint the Doctor's mouth, but thankfully the voice remained clear. "When I saw your brother at the Fang Mansion last time, I could tell he didn't look well. Didn't you notice his skin was too pale and bloodless?"

"Such external symptoms usually indicate anemia, depression, and may even include muscle twitching and palpitations at night. If this continues, it could lead to serious problems."

He spoke with certainty, but after Fang Xiao began to carefully observe Yu Xing's expression, he changed the subject. "I originally wanted to take a look at your brother before the tour group left, but it seems there's plenty of time later. I've disturbed your enjoyment of the trip, so let's find another time later—"

"No, his health is more important." Fang Xiao's expression turned serious. "It was my negligence; I didn't pay enough attention to his health. How about this, Doctor, you can stay at the Fang Mansion tonight. My brother and I will come back to find you after we've finished shopping."

Yu Xing promptly feigned helplessness and indifference. "It's an old problem, no need to see a doctor."

"Didn't you hear the Doctor say that this could cause problems if it continues?" Fang Xiao shook his head in disagreement. His eyes were deep, as if he was also thinking about how likely it was that someone with special abilities would be overwhelmed by anemia. But then he thought that perhaps it was precisely because of those special abilities that his body was weaker than that of an ordinary person.

Having received the promise of staying overnight at the Fang Mansion, the Doctor nodded politely and turned to leave.

Fang Xiao and Yu Xing's brotherly shopping trip has officially begun.

The Snow Festival is a festival for the entire Nanshui Town. Not only Baibao Street, but all places in the town are decorated with festive decorations. Moreover, outside Baibao Street, the townspeople who originally wore modern clothes have also changed into red clothes, creating an absurd sense of time and space intersecting.

Based on Yu Xing's sense of direction, he could tell that Fang Xiao was leading him towards the altar.

It seems that the distorted perception that was previously shaken by Yu Xing has become stable again. The only difference is probably that...

He went from being someone to be used to someone the Snake Woman wanted to cooperate with.

Along the way, Fang Xiao bought Yu Xing all sorts of food and interesting little trinkets. If Yu Xing hadn't stopped him, Fang Xiao probably would have bought even the rattles by the roadside.

"I'm not three years old. Even when I left Nanshui Town, I wouldn't have played with this kind of thing." Yu Xing was both amused and exasperated. It had been far too long since he had been treated like a child.

"Sigh, I wanted to buy you this to play with when you were little." Fang Xiao reluctantly put down the rattle drum, muttering regretfully.

The townspeople around them, who were "smiling," were even more enthusiastic than they were in front of others. Fang Xiao might not have noticed it because he was used to it, but in Yu Xing's eyes, their smiles were so exaggerated that they were enough to trigger the Uncanny Valley effect in humans.

It was as if a horde of red-clad demons surrounded him.

Suddenly, a snowflake the size of a goose feather drifted down from the sky.