Hu Xiaotian rapidly circulated his true qi through his meridians to drive out the bone-piercing chill. Seeing Gangbala flailing his arms wildly, he rushed over and punched him square in the face. The water's resistance greatly weakened the blow, but even so, it sent Gangbala sinking deeper. Hu Xiaotian followed with a kick. He showed no mercy when beating a drowning dog; nothing short of thrashing this Fan Monk would quell the hatred in his heart.
Gangbala continued sinking. Hu Xiaotian was about to pursue him when he felt a vibration overhead. Looking up, he heard a beak pecking at the ice. The Flying Owl must have seen him fall into the frozen lake and come to rescue him at any cost. A surge of gratitude filled his heart. He looked down for Gangbala again, but the fellow had already vanished from sight. Hu Xiaotian abandoned the idea of hunting down the Fan Monk and finishing him off. He quickly swam upward and found the hole through which they had fallen. In the bitter cold, a thin layer of ice had already formed over it. He broke it with a punch and climbed onto the ice, dripping wet.
The Flying Owl and the Snow Eagle had both landed on the lake. The Flying Owl was pecking hard at the ice, searching for its master. Xia Changming was the first to spot Hu Xiaotian. He cheered and hurried over.
Hu Xiaotian coughed. "I'm fine! Let's get out of here as quickly as possible."
Hu Xiaotian climbed onto the Flying Owl's back. The bird was overjoyed to see its master return safely.
By the time the Black Hu experts made their way around to the little lake at the foot of the cliff, the Flying Owl and the Snow Eagle had already