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As long as there was enough spiritual power to support him, Tian Rong would not feel tired. They ran towards the north and moving quickly for an entire day.
The closer they got to the north, the chillier it got. When the sun set, big snowflakes drifted through the sky, the whole world became a vast expanse of pure white. Tian Rong’s amber body seemed to be the only colour.
“Where are we running to?” Jiang Chao Ge said with a shiver, so cold his face was deathly pale.
Tian Rong stopped, “Don’t know.” He shook off the three people on his back and leapt up a big bare tree that reached towards the sky with several steps, looking out into the distance, “There’s a city ahead.”
“Lets go see. If I don’t warm myself by the fire soon, I’ll have to amputated.”
“What’s amputated?”
Yu Ren Shu and Zhi Xuan asked in unison.
Zhi Xuan gave Yu Ren Shu a glare. Yu Ren Shu was unable to make head or tail of it.
“It’s when one of the four limbs has become useless for some reason, and there’s no choice but to cut it off. For example, if I continue to freeze like this, my arms and legs will become useless.”
Yu Ren Shu gave a soft snort, “Fragile Other World Person.”
Jiang Chao Ge saw that he too was so cold his lips were cracking and did not feel like mocking him, “Hurry let’s go. I just want to eat a warm meal right now.”
They once again climbed onto Tian Rong’s back and ran towards the not far off city.
It was a somewhat desolate city and was sparsely populated. Matched with the bleak snowscape, it seemed especially miserable.
Tian Rong transformed back into the form of a human and also specially turned his hair black. Four people walked towards an inn with the lights lit.
The door only opened after Jiang Chao Ge knocked on it for a long time. An old man looked them up and down holding an oil lamp. When he saw Tian Rong, he said shocked: “Sir, you’re wearing so little, aren’t you afraid of being frozen to death…..aiya, sir you actually allow your child to wear so little! Hurry, come in!”
Jiang Chao Ge looked at the drowsy Zhi Xuan in his arms, and didn’t know how to answer for a moment.
They entered the house, the heat of the fireplace directly faced them. Jiang Chao Ge could already feel his numb body gradually regaining some feeling. He felt stabbing pains in his hands and feet as if he was being pricked by needles. He wasn’t joking about what he said before. If he continued to freeze, his limbs reallt could’ve become useless.
This inn was very old fashioned. The tables and chairs were worn out. Who knows when the floor was last swept, assailing the nose with a peculiar smell.
Yu Ren Shu frowned, “This town only has this inn?”
The old man said: “Not only this one, but mine is the best.”
Yu Ren Shu frowned even more severely.
“Are you going to eat?”
“Yes. Bring some of whatever’s good.”
“Alright, please sit and wait for a while.”
The four people sat in the creaking chairs near the fire, fantasising about hot soup and hot dishes. No matter how dirty it was in here, it had to be better than the world of ice and snow outside.
After they rested for a while, a seventeen to eighteen year old girl walked out from the kitchen, holding big bowls in both hands. She put it on the table, then stared at them fixedly, her gaze making people feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Jiang Chao Ge used his eyes to ask her what she wanted.
The girl was quiet for a while, then lifted her hand to point at them, “You guys are not human.”
Zhi Xuan turned his head to glare at her, making her shoulders shrink in fright.
Yu Ren Shu said: “How do you know?”
“I know.”
“You have spiritual awareness?” Yu Ren Shu said: “Why didn’t you go to martial institute?”
The girl shook her head, “What’s a martial institute?”
The old man also followed out, putting noodle soup on the table, “Ai, how can we have money to send her to a martial institute.”
“Why don’t you find a noble to borrow money from?”
“The able people in this town have all moved away. Don’t mention nobles, you can’t even find a wealthy family in a three hundred metre radius. We can’t afford long journeys and can only make do here.”
“Why did this town become so desolate?”
A bit of fear appeared on the old man’s face, “On Dan Shun Mountain not far from here, lives a group of man eating Ear Mice often coming down the mountain to wreck havoc. Really too powerful. A lot of spirit weapon users went up the mountain and didn’t come back down. Gradually, less and less people dared go up. The people in the town were afraid and eventually all moved away.”
“What are Ear Mice?”
Yu Ren Shu said: “Its a type of rat with the head of a rabbit and the ears of a deer, wings an tail joined together. It can fly at a low altitude. One is not very powerful, but if there’s a lot….”
The old man nodded his head and said: “There’s a lot. The whole mountain is full of them. When it’s winter, they also don’t hibernate. There is a shortage of food on the mountain so they go down the mountain to eat people.”
“There’s no one to take care of it? Why don’t you go find Qi Clan?”
“This place is precisely the divide between the centre and the north. It’s also a half useless town. Whichever clan it’s protected by don’t want to care about it.” The old man shook his head, “I don’t know when we will also be eaten.” After he finished speaking, he lead his granddaughter away.
Yu Ren Shu said with dissatisfaction: “This is the protector Clan of this area neglecting their duty. I will definitely….” He paused halfway, remembering that he wasn’t a third prince anymore, but was a wanted criminal, his expression suddenly turned gloomy.
Jiang Chao Ge slurped some noodles, “We are only passing by, don’t think too much about it. We can just leave them some money when we leave and allow them to move away.”
“What about other people in the town?”
Jiang Chao Ge asked in reply: “Unless you can take them all away?”
Yu Ren Shu lowered his eyes and began to bury his head and eat. Just as he took the first bite, his expression changed, “What is it? Humans eat this?”
Jiang Chao Ge said with ridicule: “Finicky Third Highness.”
Yu Ren Shu’s face turned red and began to eat with vigour.
After Jiang Chao Ge finished eating, he went to buy a pot of alcohol from the old man for Zhi Xuan. Zhi Xuan only gave it one sniff and was about to smash the alcohol pot.
Jiang Chao Ge snatched it away, “Don’t waste it. It can warm you up.”
“What’s this trash alcohol? I want good alcohol.”
Yu Ren Shu said: “About 100 more kilometres to the north of Dan Xun Mountain, you can enter the biggest city in the north——Qiu Ru City. There will be good alcohol there.”
Zhi Xuan used to his head to bump Jiang Chao Ge’s chest forcefully, face full of fury.
Jiang Chao Ge said all smiles: “I will definitely buy you good alcohol when we get to Qiu Ru City.”
After the two finished eating, their bodies had also warmed up considerably and they planned to go upstairs to bed. At that moment, there was knocking at the front door. The old man went to open the door whilst yawning, muttering under his breath: “Strange, usually there’s no one for at least half a month.”
They became vigilant and each turned their gaze towards the door.
A short and slight person walked in. His whole body was bundled within a fur cloak and he wore a thick felt hat. His face was enclosed in a scarf, only revealing a pair of sharp eyes. That pair of eyes appeared very young.
He shook off the thick snow on his body, gaze sweeping across the inn. His eyes stopped for a moment on their bodies then moved away, directly walking to a table at the side and sitting down.
Jiang Chao Ge and Yu Ren Shu’s eyes met, both not daring to relax. They could both feel that this person had spiritual power.
That person removed his cloak, felt hat and unwound his scarf. It was actually a thirteen to fourteen year old pretty youth with a head of flame red hair and azure blue eyes. The cold and warm colour actually worked strangely well together. His face was as fair as porcelain, eyebrows slanting upwards, seeming somewhat imposing and fierce.
Tian Rong wrinkled his nose and sniffed with all his might. Then he glanced at Zhi Xuan. Zhi Xuan also seemed to be pondering something.
The old man walked to the side of the youth, “Sir, do you want to eat or stay?”
“Both.” The youth’s voice had not yet broken and was clear and delicate.
“Please wait for a moment.” The old man walked into the kitchen while muttering that it was quite strange today.
The youth turned his face and looked coldly at them, “What are you looking at me for?”
Jiang Chao Ge had drunk and eaten his fill and was momentarily quite content: “Why are you running around in such a remote place alone?”
The youth gave a soft snort and did not answer him, removing the knapsack on his back and taking out a pot of alcohol, swallowing a gulp of alcohol to warm up.
Zhi Xuan’s eyes widened into circles and said impolitely: “Give me your alcohol.”
The youth frowned and glanced at Zhi Xuan, “What’s a child drinking alcohol for.”
Zhi Xuan said sternly: “Ignorant person, give me the alcohol!”
Jiang Chao Ge pressed Zhi Xuan back in his chair and fished out a silver coin from his clothes, “Little Brother, how about I buy the alcohol in your hands?” He saw that the youth’s clothes were old, he shouldn’t be from a prosperous family.
The youth glanced at the silver coin, re sealed the alcohol pot and threw it over. Jiang Chao Ge caught it with a hand and threw the silver coin over.
Zhi Xuan poured the alcohol in a cup, gulping down a big mouthful and wiping his mouth in satisfaction, “This alcohol isn’t bad. I’ve never had it before. Oi, where did you buy it?”
“It’s Que Shen Alcohol, made using the methods of my old home. It can’t be bought.” The youth paused, a hint of sadness in his azure blue eyes, “My old home is at the southern most part and is very far from here.”
“Then why did you come to such a faraway place?”
The youth said lightly: “It has nothing to do with you.”
“What rare beast is your spirit weapon?” Tian Rong said: “This scent is very familiar.”
The youth’s expression changed, suddenly standing up, gaze sweeping across the faces of the four people, “You are a rare beast….. you are….. Prince Shu!”
Yu Ren Shu’s eyes narrowed, hand tightening around the handle of Tian Rong Jian.
Jiang Chao Ge frowned and glanced at Tian Rong, “Why don’t you just paste ‘Yu Ren Shu’ those three words on his head?” There were very few people on Tian Ling continent that owned a Heaven grade spirit weapon. There were even fewer like Yu Ren Shu who was handsome and known by everyone. Further linking the form of his weapon together and it wouldn’t be hard to guess who he was if one had half the brain.
Tian Rong also realised that he had revealed information and scratched his head, awkwardly turning his head way.
Zhi Xuan rolled his eyes, “It really is a very familiar scent. A somewhat hateful scent…..”
Jiang Chao Ge lowered his voice and whispered: “It can’t be a Divine grade spirit weapon?”
Zhi Xuan said: “Impossible. I’ve memorised all their scents.”
The youth suddenly said angrily: “You’re not allowed to come out!”
He had scarcely finished speaking when the spirit weapon he’d wrapped in layers and layers of cloth began to emit a white light. A slender figure with blue clothes and hair appeared within the inn.
That figure gradually became clear. It was actually a strange man with beautiful features. The colour of those blue clothes and hair were extremely light, verging on white yet one could persistently make out a bit of blue. His pupils were crimson like fire, the outer corners of his eyes also had a few veins of red, pointing upwards towards his temples, seductively charming to no end. Like the youth, he also had a cold and warm colour combined, yet he was so beautiful he made people afraid.
That pair of strange crimson eyes curved slightly, actually smiling. His voice was cool and bright and pleasant to the ears. He was obviously a male yet his voice was as charming as that of a female, “I thought it was something big, so it turns out it’s a Zheng.”
Tian Rong said on guard: “Blue Nine Tailed Fox!”
Zhi Xuan also revealed an understanding expression, “I hate these annoying fox types the most.” He tore Jiang Chao Ge’s face away, “You look at me, don’t look at him. He can bewitch people.”
Jiang Chao Ge said in surprise: “Bewitch people?” He couldn’t help but still want to look at that Blue Nine Tailed Fox. Those features really were extremely strange and truly had the ability to bring calamity to the country and the people.
Zhi Xuan once again pulled his face away, “Annoying foxes know how to bewitch people the most. You’re not allowed to look.”
That Blue Nine Tailed Fox arched his eyebrows slightly, “What is this child? I really can’t make out the scent.”
The youth annoyedly: “Don’t come out as you please.”
The Blue Nine Tailed Fox laughed, “Isn’t that because I’m afraid you’ll get bullied?”
Bright red flushed the youth’s face, seeming as if he felt he’d been disgraced, “No one is bullying me. You go back.”
“No.” The Blue Nine Tailed Fox blinked his eyes and looked at Tian Rong, “This Zheng is really pretty. I like him.”
Tian Rong said with disgust: “Don’t come near me.”
Yu Ren Shu said: “I know who you are. The one that owns the Heaven grade spirit weapon Zui You Halberd醉幽戟 from a foreign race—— Long Xiang. You are a fugitive!”
Long Xiang gave a cold snort, “No worse than you, Prince Shu. Right now you are also a fugitive and one with a particularly high monetary reward of five hundred gold coins, at least ten times more than me.”
Jiang Chao Ge said with a laugh: “You are actually so valuable.”
Zui You said all smiles: “Since we are both fugitives, there’s no need to have swords drawn and bows bent in such a way. Let’s drink together.”
Jiang Chao Ge heard Zui You’s voice and couldn’t help but want to look at him. Looking at him, he couldn’t help but want to stare into his eyes and look more carefully, more……
With a ‘pa!’ Zhi Xuan ruthlessly gave Jiang Chao Ge a slap.
Jiang Chao Ge awoke from his stupor and thought about his trance just now, cold sweat suddenly rising across his whole body.
Zhi Xuan said angrily: “Are you a idiot?! I already said you can’t look at him.”
Yu Ren Shu also didnt dare look at Zui You again.
At that moment, the boss of the inn came out carrying a bowl of noodles. Seeing that there was an extra person out of nowhere and that they obviously did not look human, he was temporarily scared stupid.
Zui You licked his lips, a pair of red eyes emitting a faint light and said in a soft voice: “Uncle, you didn’t see anything. Go back and sleep.”
The old man’s eyes gradually lost their focus, becoming extremely empty. He put the noodles on the table mechanically and quietly left.
Long Xiang pulled Zui You and forced him to sit in a chair, “You either return to the halberd, or don’t talk and don’t look at people.”
Zui You smiled and embraced his neck, “Ok then. I’ll only look at you.”
Long Xiang pushed him away, “Keep your hands to yourself!”
Zui You’s seductive eyes curved in a smile, “Little Xiang is still so shy. Really interesting.”
Yu Ren Shu said: “I’ll mind my business and you’ll mind yours. Forget everything today when you go out the door. Otherwise don’t go out that door.”
Long Xiang shot a cold glance at him and didn’t comment, only burying his head and swallowing a mouthful of soup, no longer looking at them.
Jiang Chao Ge said: “Lets go upstairs to rest.”
Zui You propped his chin, looking at them with a genial smile, seductive eyes captivating like silk.