In Ten-Mile Maple Forest, when winter arrived, goose-feather snow fell as promised, and the entire world seemed to turn silver-white.
Before the wooden cottage, Guigui, dressed like a little cotton ball, played happily in the snow, covered from head to toe in flakes.
Ning Chen stood not far away, watching Guigui, his face full of gentleness.
At some unknown time, Xia Xiyao arrived at Ten-Mile Maple Forest. This time, however, she had brought no maidservants. The one accompanying her was unexpectedly the current Blood-clothed Marquis.
The Blood-clothed Marquis still wore a crimson, close-fitting battle suit that outlined her shapely figure. Coupled with her wild yet beautiful face, she was not inferior in the slightest to the Xia Dynasty's Ninth Princess, whose beauty could topple kingdoms.
"Marquis."
Upon arriving, the two bowed together.
"No need for such formality."
Ning Chen answered with a smile. "Why have you come at this time?"
In recent days, this Ninth Princess of Great Xia and the seven Martial Marquises had come by often. Thinking about it, if he were in their place, he too would come running over whenever he had the chance.
Why leave an elder's guidance unused? Had he not been the same back then?
"Marquis, there are some matters of martial cultivation that I cannot comprehend. I hope the Marquis can offer guidance," the Blood-clothed Marquis said respectfully.
"When you encounter a bottleneck, whether you persist to the end or change your approach, all that matters is believing in yourself. Any path can lead to the Dao. The key is to believe in your own path."
As he spoke, Ning Chen looked at Guigui, who had fallen in the snow ahead, and smiled. "Guigui, be careful."
"Got it, Daddy."
Guigui climbed back up and answered in her childish voice, then continued making