Li Ping'an cut a hole in the ice.
His blue robes snapped in the wind, but he did not feel cold.
Featherlike snowflakes covered his body.
Li Ping'an rubbed his nose and breathed out a plume of frosty air.
Thump!
"Done."
Li Ping'an untied the fishing line from his bamboo pole.
To be honest, he was truly thankful that he had asked Chunqiu and Xia Chan to get him this fishing line back at Huailu Academy.
There was no telling how many delicious meals this line had provided along the way.
It was still early. Li Ping'an rubbed his hands together.
He planned to catch a few fish and stew a pot of fish soup for a taste of something fresh.
Old Ox brought over a stone and brushed the snow off it for Li Ping'an.
Li Ping'an sat on the stone, imagining catching several big, fat fish.
"River god, river god, do Old Ox and me a favor."
Before long, a fish really did take the bait.
Li Ping'an smiled faintly.
"Lord River God, you really do honor us."
As he spoke, he slowly drew in the line, pulling out a lively perch.
Li Ping'an removed the hook and raised an eyebrow.
The silver scales of the large fish, over a foot long, glittered in the sunlight.
It was early morning, and the sun rose in the east.
The snow was like pear blossoms.
Huyan Zhuo stood at the other end of the frozen river, wearing a white cloak and short boots of black satin.
A gentle smile bloomed on his handsome, refined face as he watched Li Ping'an quietly.
"Caught another one alone."
Li Ping'an wiped his wet hands on Old Ox and wound the fishing line back around the bamboo pole.
"Just you?"
Huyan Zhuo said, "Aren't