By the time Yi Shuyuan emerged from the Mountain and River State Map, the snowy peak melted by the Heaven-Turning Furnace had been covered in ice and snow again. As far as the eye could see, Great Cang Snow Mountain had regained its former tranquility.
Of course, in some parts of Cang Mountain, the ice and snow had begun to melt, and plants were putting out new shoots. It was simply that Yi Shuyuan stood within the zone of year-round snow.
"Whew, those fellows really did leave without fuss. I thought some of them would stay here waiting for us!"
Hui Mian said this from Yi Shuyuan's shoulder. He could understand Dragonkind's excitement at seeing the Dragon-Transformation Pill, but it seemed they still cared about saving face after all. They would not linger shamelessly when Mr. Yi clearly had no intention of parting with the pill.
"They are the Four Seas Dragon Lords, after all. Did you think they were street ruffians?"
As he spoke, Yi Shuyuan rose on the wind, carrying Hui Mian farther and farther from Cang Mountain. Passing over a stretch of mountains, he looked down and saw that the ice and snow had also melted where the ancient-road waystation that once brought nightmares had stood.
When he passed Broad South Mountain, Huang Hongchuan and Old Pine were on a hilltop watching the winds flow across the sky. Yi Shuyuan descended to exchange a few pleasantries and apologize for the commotion some time earlier.
The apology seemed unnecessary, however. Living so close, Huang Hongchuan and Old Pine already knew what had happened, and news of the pill refinement on Cang Mountain had inevitably spread.
A day later, Yi Shuyuan and Hui Mian returned to the banks of the E River.
In the demon realm, the Start