Old Ginger Was Still the Spicier!

Kong Jiao took a clear look at the newcomer's face, and his cheek twitched uncontrollably. Then he said with considerable disdain, "What are you doing here?!"

"Gathering herbs. I signed up for Frostmoon Altar's Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi collection assignment too," Zhou Tingyu replied with feigned seriousness.

Hearing Zhou Tingyu's answer, Kong Jiao immediately covered his forehead with one hand and laughed bitterly.

Perhaps because Zhou Tingyu was so petite, he had not spotted her right away.

Now that Zhou Tingyu had caught him, Kong Jiao had no choice but to glare at her threateningly to avoid trouble. "What are you joining the fun for?! You're so weak that if someone butchered you and tossed you into a pit, no one would ever find you."

"That's exactly why this weak junior sister came to ask powerful Senior Brother Kong Jiao to protect her." Zhou Tingyu seized the opening, widening her dark, round eyes and putting on a pitiful expression.

Kong Jiao knew Zhou Tingyu far too well and rejected her without the slightest courtesy. "I refuse!"

Zhou Tingyu had clearly been frightened by Kong Jiao's talk of being butchered. Seeing how firm his attitude was, apprehension appeared on her pretty face. She grabbed his arm and pleaded, "Among all these people, you're the only one I know, Senior Brother Kong. If you won't take me, they definitely won't either. If I die at Frostmoon Altar, no one will drink with you and Senior Brother Shangguan anymore."

"Cut it out!" Kong Jiao lifted his eyelids, unmoved.

Zhou Tingyu was best at wearing people down through soft persistence. If he agreed to her this time, she would probably have him wrapped around her finger from now on.

"Let go! Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things!" Having made up his mind, Kong Jiao pretended not to hear her. He tensed his arm, intending to shove Zhou Tingyu away in one motion.

Yet she was surprisingly strong and refused to let go.

"You, Kong Jiao! You don't care one bit about the bond between fellow disciples anymore! Do you remember who spoke up for you and helped you secure that position at the Miscellaneous Books Pavilion? If this young lady hadn't given you a push, do you think you could have gotten a post there on your own?"

Kong Jiao's head grew twice as large at her words. Just as he and Zhou Tingyu were tugging back and forth—

A withered, hunched old man sidled over with a mischievous grin. In an ambiguous tone, he looked at the pair, who were practically pressed together, and said, "Forgive my intrusion. I hope I haven't disturbed the two of you in your elegant pleasures."

Kong Jiao sized up the old man.

He was at the fourth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm and looked over sixty. He would probably never break through to the fifth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm in this lifetime.

There were plenty of disciples with poor aptitude like this in the Cangwu Sect.

But one must never underestimate such seasoned old hands. Though their cultivation was not high, anyone who had survived in the Cangwu Sect for so many years had some skill to them.

Kong Jiao immediately forced a smile. "What guidance does this senior brother have for me?"

As for Zhou Tingyu, she paid no mind to the old man's ambiguous tone. She continued clinging tightly to Kong Jiao, her dark eyes curiously fixed on the old man as well.

"This old man has visited Frostmoon Altar several times and knows the place rather well."

"I wonder whether Junior Brother would be interested in joining forces with me. We could watch out for each other."

So the old man had come looking for companions. After speaking, he smiled with narrowed, cloudy eyes at Kong Jiao, waiting for his answer.

He had sought out Kong Jiao because he had witnessed the entire battle between Kong Jiao and Jiang Kui two months ago.

Back then, Kong Jiao's complete victory over Jiang Kui at the third level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm had astonished him.

And now, Kong Jiao had even broken through to the fourth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm. He was plainly a powerful teammate—how could the old man possibly let him slip away?

Kong Jiao had initially wanted to refuse, but when he saw Zhou Tingyu clinging to him like sticky taffy, the words of rejection never left his mouth.

When he had entered the Cangwu Sect, Zhou Tingyu really had helped him.

Setting Shangguan Yuzhou aside, Zhou Tingyu had indeed been the first person to show him goodwill after he entered the Cangwu Sect.

Since she insisted on going to Frostmoon Altar, Kong Jiao had no way around it. He could not truly leave her to fend for herself.

If he went alone, he would have to search for opportunities, gather herbs, and protect Zhou Tingyu all at once. It would certainly be troublesome.

If he had a helper familiar with Frostmoon Altar's environment and not lacking in strength, that truly would be the best choice.

After considering it briefly, Kong Jiao made his decision.

"Fine, but I have one condition."

As he spoke, he pointed at Zhou Tingyu, who was nearly hanging from his body. "She comes with us."

At that, Zhou Tingyu's eyes curved into crescents.

She immediately said to the old man, "Don't underestimate me. I cultivate the Spring Renewal Formula, and I'm very good at healing illnesses and saving lives. If you get injured, I can treat you. I'm also quite good at finding spirit herbs."

The old man had originally hesitated, since Zhou Tingyu's cultivation was not high. But after hearing her words, he still nodded. "The Spring Renewal Formula is indeed useful in certain situations. Fine!"

With the initial details of their cooperation settled, the three exchanged names.

"This old man's surname is Feng, given name An."

"So it's Senior Brother Feng An. This junior brother is Kong Jiao!"

"My name is Zhou Tingyu."

"Then we'll meet at dawn tomorrow. No one is to be absent."

The three of them formally established their alliance in less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

The next day, at dawn.

Since deep winter had arrived, the sky had not yet brightened at this hour.

The disciples guarding the mountain had already opened a gap in the Cangwu Sect's grand formation.

A group of people filed out of the Cangwu Sect's grand formation one after another.

Led by Zheng Gang, they hurried eastward.

Kong Jiao, Zhou Tingyu, and Feng An naturally stayed close together.

It was Zhou Tingyu's first time leaving the sect, and she remained curious about everything beyond it.

Walking through the snow, even the tedious journey felt interesting to her. She looked here and there along the way. If she had not feared getting lost after straying from the group, she probably would have run wild with excitement.

Kong Jiao did not stop her. Zheng Gang, the leader, was at the sixth level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm. If ordinary danger approached, he would surely notice it first.

Instead, Kong Jiao focused all his energy on drawing information from Feng An.

After all, the old man had visited Frostmoon Altar three times.

His understanding of that place was more detailed than Shangguan Yuzhou's.

The more intelligence Kong Jiao had, the more advantageous it would be for obtaining the opportunities there.

Thus, under Kong Jiao's deliberate guidance, Feng An intermittently described Frostmoon Altar's circumstances along the way.

"Frostmoon Altar is remote. A one-way trip alone takes two days. That's why sect assignments usually give a long deadline—one month for us to search for Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi. There's plenty of time."

"If it weren't for the Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi, I'm afraid no one would be willing to go there. It's unbelievably cold, especially after winter arrives. Dripping water freezes into ice."

"Oh, right. Besides being wary of cultivators from other sects, you must also watch out for some monsters that have gained some cultivation."

"There are always cold-loving beasts roaming around Frostmoon Altar. Unlike human cultivators, they don't know how to assess the situation and adapt. Once you provoke them, they won't stop until one side is dead."

Nothing major happened along the way.

By evening, when the last ray of sunlight vanished beyond the horizon, Zheng Gang ordered everyone to find an open space in the woods and set up camp.

"The outside world is nothing like our Cangwu Sect. The sect has a grand formation protecting it, keeping ghosts and monsters out. Outside, there's nothing like that, and danger can come easily—especially at night."

Feng An could also tell that Kong Jiao and Zhou Tingyu were leaving the sect for the first time. He explained every detail he understood, never hesitating to add a word or two.

The three of them sat with their backs against a huge boulder. The snow on the ground had been cleared away, and a bonfire blazed before them.

The flickering flames cast a warm yellow glow over Kong Jiao's face. Feeling the heat against his skin, he frowned slightly.

"Ghosts and monsters?"

Kong Jiao felt that, coming from Feng An's mouth, the phrase did not sound like a mere figure of speech.

The old man nodded faintly and lowered his voice. "In such desolate wilderness, nothing that comes out at night is good. But don't worry. Under normal circumstances, they aren't willing to provoke cultivators."

"But you still need to be careful."

"I've learned from you." Kong Jiao nodded silently.

Zhou Tingyu's initial excitement had long faded after a full day of travel.

Now, with her back against the boulder, she curled up her petite body and drowsed.

After hearing Feng An and Kong Jiao's conversation, a trace of fear appeared on her pretty face, and she symbolically edged a little closer to Kong Jiao.

Out in the wilderness, someone had to keep watch at night.

Zheng Gang specifically selected two people to guard the eastern and western sides of the camp.

Kong Jiao's group was fortunate; none of them had been chosen.

Yet when it was time to rest that night, Kong Jiao did not sleep. Instead, he sat cross-legged and cultivated.

Since entering the Cangwu Sect, he had not missed a single day of cultivation, no matter how exhausted he was.

Besides, he could not sleep in this environment. He had never placed his safety in someone else's hands.

Even with everyone standing watch, he still needed to remain alert.

Feng An did the same.

His eyes were narrowed to slits. He appeared to be asleep, yet he remained awake.

Both knew the other had not let down his guard, and neither mentioned it.

No wonder they say old ginger is still the spicier! Kong Jiao, who had taken all this in, nodded with great satisfaction.

Feng An's knowledge and caution throughout the journey greatly impressed Kong Jiao.

For the first time, Kong Jiao felt that agreeing to join forces with Feng An had been the right decision.