Snowflakes flew thick and fast as master and disciple spent a quiet New Year's Eve.
After eating their New Year's Eve dinner, Wang Xian made a wish.
When darkness fell, he held the fireworks his master had bought down the mountain and watched brilliant blossoms of fire bloom across Kunlun Snow Mountain.
This was Wang Xian's happiest moment.
He forgot the chilling Sword Qi that Granny Hundred Flowers had used to injure him.
He also forgot that the two women from the East Sea had gone to the Sword Sect on North Slope, and wondered whether they would come looking for trouble with his master after a few days.
The scene stirred old feelings, and the Old Daoist said with a smile, "Next year, I'll have your senior sister stay at the Daoist temple for New Year's. I'll buy more fireworks for the two of you."
Wang Xian chuckled. "Rest assured, Master. When spring comes, I'll go to the Sword Sect to find Martial Uncle and make sure he returns your Spirit Stones."
The Old Daoist was speechless for a moment.
After a while, Wang Xian set off another firework.
Only then did he smile faintly. "When autumn comes, I'll take you up the mountain to gather some spirit herbs. We'll bring them down to the market and sell them."
Wang Xian replied, "Rest assured, Master. From now on, Senior Sister and I will earn money to support you!"
The Old Daoist laughed heartily. "Good. I'll wait for that day."
The third day of the New Year, during the hour of the Snake.
The Old Daoist recited the Dao Scripture before the Three Pure Ones, while Wang Xian stood beneath the snow-covered pine and practiced cutting through the snow against the wind.
One Sword No Trace swept out, and his sword strokes gradually took on an airy, unrestrained elegance.
Before his master had even finished reciting one scroll of the Dao Scripture, Wang Xian could not help crying out, "Master, the two women from the East Sea are here again!"
In his spiritual perception, the two women now wore fur coats over their shoulders and were still dozens of yards from the mountain gate.
Wang Xian could not help turning his head and shouting, "Master, should I hide?"
After being wounded by the old granny from Hundred Flowers Valley, Wang Xian had become a little more cautious.
If I can't afford to provoke them, I can hide, can't I?
The Old Daoist set down the Dao Scripture in his hands and smiled. "You don't need to concern yourself with them. Your master is here."
Then he asked the two women outside the mountain gate, "Since the two of you have been to the Sword Sect, you shouldn't have come back to trouble me again."
While grumbling, he waved his hand and activated the mountain-protecting formation, allowing the two women to drift gracefully inside.
Seeing his master let them in, Wang Xian could not be bothered to look again at the two women walking through the snow.
Having witnessed Granny Hundred Flowers' viciousness, he had lost all interest in visiting guests.
Dongfang Nishang of the Sword Sect treated him well because she was his Martial Uncle, not an outsider.
The fragrance of a pot of clear tea brought Nangong Feiyan and Nangong Zhilan to the temple.
"Daoist Brother, what happened to that enormous pit?"
Nangong Feiyan's brows drew together slightly as she pointed at the deep pit outside the main hall, where the snow and mud were gradually melting. "When I came last time, this place was still flat."
The Old Daoist sighed. "That mad old woman from Hundred Flowers Valley came looking for the Divine Sword. When she failed to find it, she not only injured my disciple but also fought me tooth and nail..."
Like Wang Xian, the Old Daoist had never had much of a relationship with Granny Hundred Flowers.
"No wonder the two of them still looked so aggrieved when they came to the Sword Sect."
Nangong Zhilan sighed softly and said, "They have already left the Sword Sect. They shouldn't come looking for trouble again."
"Granny Hundred Flowers actually injured your youngest disciple?"
A hint of astonishment rose across Nangong Feiyan's face. "She never mentioned it. As a transcendent expert, how could she attack a junior?"
"Would she have the face to mention it?"
The Old Daoist replied coldly, "That chilling aura of hers is still inside my disciple and hasn't been completely expelled. Do you want to examine him again?"
Nangong Feiyan shook her head.
After pondering for a moment, she said, "I came to see you because of something else."
"What is it?"
The Old Daoist froze. "Aside from the Divine Sword, what else could my shabby Daoist temple have that would make people covet it?"
At those words, even Wang Xian, who was practicing his sword beneath the snow-covered pine, pricked up his ears.
After all, it would not be long before he went to the Sword Sect as well.
Even if he did not participate in that competition, he could go and make up the numbers. With so many prodigies gathered together, it would surely be lively.
Nangong Feiyan let out a long, quiet sigh. "Because of Bai Youyue!"
Nangong Feiyan had originally been somewhat aloof, and her beauty was in no way inferior to Dongfang Nishang's. But the moment she spoke that name, the air around her grew even colder.
Even her voice carried a trace of chill.
The Old Daoist's brows furrowed at once, but he looked toward Nangong Zhilan.
Nangong Zhilan shook her head. "I didn't see her. It was an elder of the Sword Sect who had just returned from down the mountain. He saw her figure from afar."
The Old Daoist shook his head and said, "The Devil Abyss has not appeared in the world for a long time. Why has she come to Kunlun at this moment?"
"Could it be that she also saw that beam of divine light last year and, moved by it, came to Kunlun in search of the Divine Sword?"
Nangong Feiyan took a small sip of tea, then waved toward the hall entrance.
"Little Daoist, come in and let me examine the chilling aura in your body!"
"Then come inside!"
The Old Daoist called out to Wang Xian, who had been listening intently, "Your Martial Uncle from the East Sea isn't that evil woman from Hundred Flowers Valley. Don't be afraid."
"Oh!"
After hearing his master, Wang Xian put away his wooden sword and stepped into the main hall.
After Nangong Feiyan held Wang Xian's small hand and examined it again and again, a layer of frost gradually appeared across her face.
She said coldly, "Junior Sister, who would have thought Granny Hundred Flowers could be so vicious..."
"Huh?"
Nangong Zhilan was stunned as well. "What kind of status does she have? How could she attack a child?"
At this point, Nangong Feiyan suddenly stopped.
The Old Daoist had only heard half of it. When she did not continue, he could not help asking, "What is it?"
Nangong Feiyan looked embarrassed and smiled bitterly. "There's actually a trace of cold poison within Granny Hundred Flowers' chilling force. I—I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about it either..."
The Old Daoist was dumbfounded.
Wang Xian, however, did not take it to heart. He shook his head. "It's fine. Master said I should slowly refine this trace of cold poison."
The Old Daoist coughed dryly and said, "My disciple has thick skin and a great life. If he ever offends either of you from the East Sea, please show him mercy."
Nangong Feiyan lowered Wang Xian's small hand and sighed.
She said, "This is a kind of chilling poison. He can cultivate a yang-oriented cultivation method and slowly drive it out."
The Old Daoist nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.
Then he brought up the matter from earlier and asked, "My Junior Sister knows that woman has appeared in Kunlun?"
Nangong Feiyan nodded. "The demonic fiend from the Devil Sect has shown herself in Kunlun, yet Junior Sister Dongfang has not taken it to heart. It seems that her mind is wholly focused on cultivation."
Nangong Zhilan said coldly, "That may not be so. If Kunlun's disciples or elders were in trouble, she probably wouldn't be able to stand by and do nothing, would she?"
Seeing his master discuss serious matters while he seemed unable to help, Wang Xian yawned.
Then he asked, "Master, will the two seniors be staying the night? I'll go dig up some winter bamboo shoots!"
"The two of them?"
The Old Daoist smiled faintly. "I truly don't have the Divine Sword in my hands. Otherwise, the woman from Hundred Flowers Valley wouldn't have gone mad."
Nangong Feiyan thought for a moment before replying, "Then we'll impose on you for two more days."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xian immediately slipped out of the main hall and headed toward the rear mountain.
Wang Xian strolled through the mountain carrying a small hoe.
He wondered whether the experts from the East Sea might give him a pleasant surprise, just like his Martial Uncle had.
Just as he was about to plunge headfirst into the bamboo grove...
Without warning, a large hand slapped down on his shoulder from behind.
A deep, muffled voice barked, "Boy, who are you?"
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