The next day
In those days, houses or even inns would have a trap door leading undergr
Not only had the sudden radiance astounded the four of them, but they were also immobilised for a few seconds, before being able to move again.Dongyue glanced at Xiyu, whose hand was still in his, and she coldly took her hand away from his big paw without saying a single word.
After being spun in the water from some time, making several swooshing sounds, the boat stabilised and came to a standstill. Xiyu opened her eyes and looked upwards at the sleeping Dongyue, who still had his arms curled around her. Her heart warmed, and a smile spread across her pale face, partially concealed by the sheer material of her veil. Perhaps, many Muxue women would have desired this man of Han descent. But she, Muxue Xiyu, had her doubts.
Xiyu's stares were cold and blatant, but yet held an intensity that impaled directly through the men's souls. Her skirts fluttered in the wind as she set forth adventurously towards the mountains. In front of them, thousands of icy steps proved challenging as a wrong step could send them plunging dangerously down the steep incline!
Hours before reaching Xuancang MountainsWhile her companions and Dongyue were asleep, Xiyu thought of her mother, Lady Peony’s words at the creek on the island. She was a little girl of no more than eight, then.
The Ice Temple in the Mountains“Trivia: It is a temple entirely made of ice, believed to be magically constructed from the creator’s deep cultivation. Muxue Yan erected the temple in loving memory of his beloved late wife, Ao Yun. His descendants believed this temple to have consisted of
Xiyu realised her emotions were taking over her and remembered to keep up her pretence of the icy-cold witch.“You… healed me,” she repeated coldly. “How did you do it, Young Master Zhan?”
(Hours later)"Young Master Zhan."
When she woke up again some hours later, Dongyue was asleep in the corner while curled in a ball. She didn’t know how torturous it was for a pampered young master like him to be subjected to such conditions of living like a servant since her life as a proprietress and a Muxue descendant was much of a struggle.