Facing the man's question, Ling Shuang did not hesitate in the slightest. She answered decisively, "Of course it has meaning. We will survive this great calamity, and carry on living with the convictions of those who have already passed."
At her words, quite a few of the swaying figures in the group behind her steadied themselves somewhat. A few glimmers of hope also appeared in their murky, dim eyes.
"Good! I understand, Immortal Master!"
The leading man answered. A little color returned to his pale face, and his flagging vitality blossomed once more, erupting with a powerful energy that made him no longer feel the cold of the wind and snow around him.
"Fellow villagers, the Immortal Master said we can all survive. Hold on a little longer!"
"We've already made it this far. Hope lies right before our eyes—we absolutely cannot give up!"
"Don't rush. I'll help you walk. It's fine if we go slower; the Immortal Master will wait for us."
He returned to the group and began soothing everyone's emotions, constantly encouraging them. He even took the initiative to support several people whose strength was nearly spent, struggling to push them toward the front of the group.
About half an hour later, the group arrived before that valley.
Of the more than forty people Ling Shuang had saved, the overwhelming majority successfully reached this place. Yet when they looked down to the west, they did not see the leading man anywhere.
Only then did they realize that the middle-aged man's sudden surge of vigor had not been him forcing himself onward after being inspired by the Immortal Master. It had been his final flash of life before his vitality was extinguished.
"Big Sister Ling Shuang... Uncle Wang... is he dead?"
"Yes. When he spoke to me just