A bird the size of a half-human, entirely deep blue, its feathers possessing a watery texture, stood atop the peak, looking up at the sky, motionless like an ice sculpture.
The fierce wind howled.
At a certain mont, this bird was suddenly startled, and its watery feathers suddenly solidified into hard ice, emitting a bone-chilling aura.
It flapped its wings, intending to fly away from this place.
Whoosh!
A sharp sound sliced through the air, almost overwhelming the howl of the wind, swiftly penetrating the icy aura.
With a twang of the bowstring, an arrow precisely hit the bird’s heart.
Imdiately after, a figure leapt from the snow, lifting a curtain of snow. When the snow settled, she had seized the bird trying to escape.
Kalya showed a genuine smile on her face, ignoring the snow crumbs all over her, and lifted the flapping snowbird over her head, waving it triumphantly.
"Caught it! The Sun-gazing Bird!"
In the mist of intertwined snowflakes, Fan Wubing and Luo Qingyao erged.
Luo Qingyao gasped, saying, "Kalya, you’re too fast!" She had been in the snowy mountains too long and was starting to feel overwheld, needing to stay constantly by Fan Wubing’s side to benefit from the protection of his Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill.
But Kalya seed unaffected.
She walked over quickly, earnestly teaching Fan Wubing how to handle the Sun-gazing Bird, while incidentally sharing its story.
It is said that when eternal night first descended on the Snow Mountain, all living creatures yearned to see light.
So there was such a bird that stood on the highest peak at all tis, hoping that one day, when the light arrived, it could be the first to see it.
When Kalya told this story, her eyes sparkled.
Luo Qingyao asked, "Does Kalya want to leave the Snow Mountain?"
Kalya smiled lightly, "I just want to cure my brother’s illness." She sniffed, her hands red and chapped with frostbite.
Such frostbite is considered a scar left by the great path on the body, and almost every Snow Mountain person has it.
Having stayed deep within the Snow Mountain for too long, Kalya’s frostbite had beco sowhat severe. She occasionally gasped in pain.
Fan Wubing saw this and used so herbs to make her an ointnt for frostbite.
"Kalya, apply this on the frostbite."
Kalya, while packing her tools, laughed, "It’s useless. Don’t worry about ; once I return to the village and warm myself by the fire for a few days, I’ll be fine. Hiss—" The action was too sudden, tearing a piece of frostbite.
Luo Qingyao took the ointnt directly, grabbing her hand forcibly to apply it.
Kalya squinted her eyes without speaking.
After a while, she showed surprise in her eyes and couldn’t help but hum softly, glancing curiously at Fan Wubing. Although she didn’t say anything, in her heart, she wondered how this outsider could know so much...
After applying the ointnt to her hands and ears, Luo Qingyao asked, "Do you have any on your feet?"
Kalya quickly shook her head and waved her hands, "No need! Not on the feet!"
"Take off your shoes."
"No—"
"Listen!" Luo Qingyao glared at her.
Kalya pursed her lips and carefully took off her shoes, revealing her frostbitten feet. Due to years of running in the mountains, these feet were sowhat deford but very clean. She was still a girl, only bearing so heavy burdens on her shoulders.
It was only after becoming acquainted did they learn that her parents had perished in an avalanche, and she had since solely cared for her ailing brother.
This was probably the reason she cried at that ti.
After applying the ointnt, Luo Qingyao also helped massage Kalya’s feet to promote blood circulation and relieve congestion. Her actions were very gentle.
Kalya felt an indescribable sensation in her heart, making her nose sowhat sour. She carefully glanced at Fan Wubing, then at Luo Qingyao, wanting to ask when they planned to leave the Snow Mountain. If there wasn’t a rush, perhaps she could take them to so scenic spots for fun.
But in the end, she didn’t voice this thought.
Fan Wubing looked at Luo Qingyao, feeling that at this mont, she seed like an older sister, even though she had always been the one being cared for.
After a brief rest, Kalya crossed the Sun-gazing Bird off the plan, sniffed, and said:
"Everything’s been gathered."
Collecting everything ant the task was complete.
The task being complete ant a farewell.
At this ti, the wind stopped, the snow gradually dissipated, and the view beca very expansive. Sunlight pierced through the towering peaks of the Snow Mountain, its pure white light making one squint involuntarily.
Kalya suddenly stood up, quickly running to the edge of the cliff and looking across at the massive mountain peak, joyfully saying:
"Silver Horse Peak, it’s Silver Horse Peak!"
She excitedly shared with the two, "Silver Horse Peak is a place where the Ancient Immortal Tribe worships the Ancient Immortal and consoles living beings! Most of the ti, it’s covered by wind and snow, appearing no more than once a year! We just happened to encounter its appearance!"
"Worshiping the Ancient Immortal?" Fan Wubing was intrigued.
Kalya was truly delighted, speaking more than usual.
She smiled and said, "Legend has it, this Snow Mountain is where the immortals ascended. The ascent you’re familiar with from the outside world. Those immortals are what we call the Ancient Immortals. The Ancient Immortal Tribe got its na because they believed in the Ancient Immortals. After the Ancient Immortals ascended, they left behind many immortal traces. These traces fell between the mountains, nurturing countless living beings, including us. Therefore, we generally refer to ourselves as the children of the Ancient Immortals."
"The children of the Ancient Immortals..." Fan Wubing felt he had discovered a reason why the people of the Snow Mountain could cultivate in a unique way.
"Yes. Initially, there were no three major tribes in the Snow Mountain; everyone was a child of the Ancient Immortals. But over ti, people’s views gradually changed," Kalya said, "and thus they divided into three tribes. The Profound Fire Tribe believes in the original spark—Lord Xuanhuo, aiming to leave the Snow Mountain. The Ancient Immortal Tribe continues to believe in the Ancient Immortal, deeply loving this Snow Mountain, diligently guarding the Silver Horse Peak across generations, hoping the Snow Mountain no longer overturns."
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