Night of Blessed Snow

Amidst the vast snowy mountains, Ti Ying, guided by her compass, and Ye Sha in the trial illusion, hid in a mountain cave. Seeing that her compass actually found the way, Ye Sha's eyes flickered, and he began to ponder. Where did this little cat get such a magical treasure? Was it left behind by some guest who once stayed in Mie Xue Valley? Where did those guests go? Were they all killed by this little cat?

Ye Sha turned his back to Ti Ying, squatted on the ground, and used a Fire Control Spell to start a fire. Ti Ying behind him bounced around, dusting off the snowflakes clinging to her shoulders and hair bun. A thin layer of snow had fallen on her, and entering the cave, she felt uncomfortably damp. Before, her Master always helped her dust off the snow. After taking Senior Brother as her disciple, Senior Brother should have taken care of her like that. But this young Senior Brother in the illusion didn't bother to care about her at all.

Ti Ying, with a hint of dissatisfaction, dusted off the snow while glaring at Ye Sha. She saw Ye Sha draw a few simple strokes, and a small flame appeared in his palm. He used the flame to light the pile of firewood, controlling the fire with great proficiency. Ti Ying clearly saw that the young Senior Brother didn't use spells but drew talismans. But he didn't need talisman paper; he just drew them casually in the air. Meanwhile, she needed all sorts of things to draw talismans: talisman paper, cinnabar, bamboo leaf brushes... when she became more powerful, she even needed to set up formations, or even use blood.

Ti Ying stared blankly at the young Ye Sha's back. She knew Senior Brother was more powerful than her, but because Senior Brother was older, she thought she would be like that when she grew up. But this Senior Brother in the illusion looked to be about her current age, yet he could do it so easily... Suspicion arose in Ti Ying's heart. Were all mortals so powerful, or was Jiang Xue He uniquely so?

Ye Sha finished lighting the fire. As soon as he turned around, he saw Ti Ying staring wide-eyed at him. He raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?" Did this little cat think glaring could kill him?

Ti Ying thought for a moment, then tugged at her skirt and moved closer to him. She hugged Ye Sha's arm, making him wary. When she pulled him to sit beside the rock wall, one of his hands remained in a defensive posture, ready to chant a spell and erupt at any moment. But then that hand was taken by Ti Ying. Her soft fingers touched his slender wrist. Ti Ying lowered her head and gently stroked it: there were no scars like on her Senior Brother's hands in reality, nor were his palms rough. The young man's hands were clean-boned, with long, slender fingers that, when slightly bent, showed beautiful blue veins. Exactly like her Second Senior Brother's hands.

Ye Sha softly asked: "What are you doing?"

Ti Ying looked up with wide, round eyes: "I'm touching your spiritual bones... to see how old you are now."

Ye Sha froze. Even with murderous intent towards this little cat, he was bewildered by her actions. Did cat demons have to choose their victims by age? Did she prefer the old or the young? The Senior Brother in the illusion didn't struggle. His clear eyes blinked, allowing her to touch his bones. Ti Ying's fingers rested on his meridians. If she wanted to kill him, this was the best opportunity. Ye Sha leaned against the rock wall, his body relaxed, a careless smile in his eyes.

He suddenly frowned. This little girl kept stroking his wrist repeatedly. The fleeting touches, like feathers, spread from his wrist along his blood and bones throughout the young man's body. Ye Sha was slightly tense and suddenly spoke: "Are you not finding the right spot?"

Ti Ying immediately glared at him: "Who said? I'm just not used to it!"

Ye Sha was touched to the point of trembling slightly. This foolish little cat! He wore the handsome face of Senior Brother when he was young, raised an eyebrow, and smiled at her. To her surprise, the young man leaned closer, his black hair brushing her palm. Ti Ying trembled. The young man slightly lifted his eyelids, his ink-jade pupils staring at her unblinkingly. He was so much like her Senior Brother in reality.

Ti Ying's heart pounded. Ye Sha took her fingers and placed them precisely on his meridians himself. He put his blood vessels into her hand, actively offering the killing knife. Ye Sha smiled alluringly: "This is my spiritual meridian."

The young man's breath brushed her face. The fire in the cave crackled, and Ti Ying's cheeks burned. She frantically lowered her head. After distinguishing carefully, she looked up at him blankly: "Senior Brother, you..."

Ye Sha narrowed his eyes: "Hmm?" Was she so eager to make a move?

Loss and curiosity flickered in Ti Ying's eyes. She whispered: "My spiritual bones tell me you are only fourteen years old." She said with conviction: "I am older than you. I'm almost fifteen... You should call me 'Elder Sister'."

How could Ye Sha call her that? He said nothing, only propped his chin and smiled at her. Ti Ying saw he had no such intention and let it go; she hadn't expected much anyway. She felt a pang of sadness: Jiang Xue He at fourteen already surpassed her in cultivation? Didn't Senior Brother say she was a chosen child? Is a chosen child this weak? Or is this illusion fake, intentionally trying to provoke her? Senior Brother isn't really that much stronger than her, is he?

Ye Sha waited for this little cat to make a move, but instead, she became teary-eyed. He leaned down, lifting her chin to observe: "Are you going to cry?" What was there to cry about just by touching spiritual bones?

Ti Ying pouted: "I'm not!" But her voice was soft, with a choked sob. She tried to hold it back, but tears were already welling up.

Seeing her like this, Ye Sha suddenly felt annoyed. What a troublesome little girl. He darkened his face: "Don't cry."

Ti Ying saw his serious expression and became even more heartbroken. Ye Sha sighed, softly: "Alright, don't cry anymore. Senior Brother was wrong, I apologize, okay?" He wanted to understand her emotions, but Ti Ying was very stubborn. She turned her face away: "I'm cold."

Ye Sha was wary: "So what do you want?" He thought to himself, she's wearing such a thick cloak and still complains about being cold. Does she want him to waste spiritual energy to warm her, so she can take the opportunity to kill him? While he was still thinking, Ti Ying glared at him.

Ti Ying said: "You just hug me to warm me up, isn't that enough?" As she spoke, she formed a hand seal. Ye Sha immediately tensed, murderous intent clearly visible on his face. But Ti Ying's spell didn't fall on him but on herself.

A small, snow-white cat jumped into his arms, burrowed into his robe, and clung tightly to him. Ye Sha froze, the killing move he was about to unleash vanished. The backlash of spiritual energy made his face pale. He lowered his head to look at the little cat in his arms. Ti Ying blinked, somewhat shyly asking: "That night you protected me like this too, don't you remember? What were you trying to do?"

Ye Sha was silent for a long time. His fingers brushed through the soft fur, gently stroking its head as if to vent his anger. The little cat let out a cute purring sound. Ye Sha chuckled: "Little Junior Sister, why do you only have one tail?" He teased, grabbing its tail and twirling it. Ti Ying bristled, intending to claw him. Ye Sha laughed heartily, holding the cat up to examine it: "This useless cat probably won't survive tonight."

Ti Ying retorted: "Who says I'm useless? Isn't my compass good? I still rely on it to find demonic beasts..."

Ye Sha's eyes flickered. He smiled and hugged the cat, gently stroking it: "Alright, for your interestingness, I'll spare you tonight. No more killing."

Ti Ying had never thought he would kill her. When she touched his spiritual bones, even though she dared not invade his spiritual sea, the familiar feeling made her certain this was Jiang Xue He. It was strange, how did Senior Brother become like this, and even pretend not to know her? She curled up in his arms, letting him stroke her, and fell asleep.

She told herself that perhaps Tian Mu Tong had suppressed both their strengths to make the demonic beast hunt fair. Senior Brother was suppressed to fourteen years old and lost his memories. But even suppressed like this, he could still draw talismans freely without paper, which made her feel envious.

The next morning, Ye Sha woke up, feeling the warmth in his arms. He looked at the little cat sleeping soundly, completely defenseless. He sighed softly; this feeling was so strange. He had actually fallen asleep next to someone who could be a demon. Murderous intent rose again. He slowly reached for the cat's neck. Just a gentle squeeze would be enough. But as he was about to exert force, Ti Ying, in her dream, felt difficulty breathing, whimpering softly, her warm breath brushing his palm, making his fingers tremble.

The spell disappeared, and the cat in his arms returned to the form of a young girl. Her sweet fragrance touched his hand, and he felt the smooth skin of her neck... Ye Sha's heart pounded. As he was about to make a move, Ti Ying opened her eyes, her alluring, wet eyes looking at him, softly calling: "Senior Brother."

Ye Sha swallowed, a burning sensation spreading through his body. She hugged his waist, burying her head in his chest and muttering: "You smell better than Master. I like you."

Ye Sha was stunned: "Master?" Another person he had no memory of. Ti Ying got up and complained: "You kept squeezing my neck, giving me nightmares, hateful!"

Ye Sha quickly retracted his murderous intent, embarrassed: "I'm sorry."

Ti Ying was dazed for a moment, then smiled: "Alright, I won't blame you anymore... You really do smell good." She didn't notice the young man's flushed earlobes and took out her compass, intending to find demonic beasts. But she suddenly stopped, not wanting to waste her spiritual energy. She defiantly held out her hand to Ye Sha: "Give me spiritual energy!"

Ye Sha, who was distracted by the falling snow outside the cave, reached out and transferred spiritual energy to her. Ti Ying activated the compass, intentionally turning her back so he couldn't see. She cheered: "The compass is lit! Senior Brother, let's go."

Ye Sha turned back, catching her radiant smile, like apricot blossoms in the snow. He chuckled: "What are we looking for, little Junior Sister?"

Ti Ying hugged the compass tightly, softly asking: "What do you want to find?"

Ye Sha narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Just look for anything."

All day, the two traveled throughout Mie Xue Valley. Ti Ying's compass always led them to places with demonic beasts. She never made a move, only observed from the side. Every time Ye Sha finished killing a demonic beast, she would look at him with a disappointed expression, making him start to doubt himself. Was he killing too slowly? Or was his technique not elegant enough? Ye Sha was originally the most outstanding genius of Duan Sheng Dao, never having been looked down upon like this. He tried his best in every way, but Ti Ying was still unhappy.

Ti Ying was truly disappointed that no matter how many demonic beasts were killed, the number in Tian Mu Tong remained unchanged. She realized that the demonic beasts here were all fake. So who were the real demonic beasts? Could it be this beautiful young Senior Brother?

In the evening, when they rested in the cave, Ti Ying refused to share food with Ye Sha, making him laugh helplessly. He said he had already achieved Bigu (grain avoidance) and didn't need to eat, which made Ti Ying tear up again out of envy. He was fourteen and had achieved Bigu, while she hadn't. Ti Ying decided she had to kill this "demonic beast" because he kept provoking her.

Ye Sha roasted meat for her, deliberately asking about her Qiankun bag (Cosmic Bag). He teased her that she was so young and already had so many people giving her gifts, warning her to be careful not to be deceived. Ti Ying snorted coldly: "My Brother gave me things. He wouldn't harm me."

Ye Sha was silent. He wanted to cooperate with her to find his teammates, so he asked her name. Ti Ying angrily replied: "I am Ti Ying." She asked his name in return. Ye Sha was strangely silent for a moment, then replied: "Jiang Xue He."

Ti Ying smiled sweetly: "I forgot your name just now." Ye Sha looked at that smile, thinking to himself: One day, I will definitely kill you.