Volume One: The Most Heartless Phoenix Tree Blossoms Chapter Six: The Cave Dwelling

On a snowy night, the world seemed even colder beneath the moonlight. Only the jingling bells of the pack beasts echoed through the mountain valley. The group, each restrained atop a different beast, remained outwardly silent, but their secret voice transmissions burned with heated discussion.

Jingmu Han spoke angrily, "That snow demon’s cultivation is so shallow, yet she dares to stir up trouble here. I don’t even think she’s worth crossing swords with, yet she had the nerve to harass Yuan Shang. Once we get to the bottom of this, I’ll skin that fox alive."

Yun’er, her own cultivation still weak, could only hear their secret voices but was unable to join in. She fretted anxiously inside her net, humming in distress.

Old Jiao, meanwhile, was full of schadenfreude and remarked leisurely, "Seeing you all so jealous, I’m really in no hurry to kill this little fox. Who knows! When we reach the lair, perhaps this little enchantress will share a wedding chamber with our Lord Yuan. In that case, we might as well forget about going to Southern Flame Continent. We could just indulge ourselves here, you and I as her two right-hand protectors, little Yun’er as a bridesmaid. When the baby’s born next year, we’ll return to Cloud Palace for a grand banquet..."

"You old beast!" Zhuo Hua fumed, "I brought you along for this journey and you dare speak like that? Do you still respect me as your Lord Yuan or not? Watch out, or I’ll call down the thunder of the nine heavens and strike your Dragon King’s Temple!"

Amid their laughter and banter, they soon arrived at the cave-dwelling. The cave lay deep in the snowy mountains, a place rarely touched even by beasts, let alone people. From the outside, it appeared unremarkable, its entrance obscured by dead branches and withered leaves. Yet, after following a winding, narrow path, the interior suddenly opened up.

The ceiling of the cave soared overhead, the torchlight barely illuminating the space two or three fathoms above before darkness swallowed the rest. Only a few sparkling gems reflected the flickering flames.

They walked through this broad cavern for about as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea, then came to a stretch of underground river. The water wasn’t deep, just enough to reach the beasts’ knees. They urged the animals through, water splashing quietly. After roughly half a stick of incense, they saw ahead a pier-like platform bathed in bright light. A crowd of demons dragged and pulled them inside.

Though this so-called cave-dwelling could not be called exquisite, it was cleverly built to suit its surroundings, nestled by mountain and water. It lacked the grandeur of red walls and yellow tiles, but there were delicate bridges over flowing streams, a sign its master had some taste. The farther they walked, the more something felt off to Zhuo Hua. He seemed to have been in such a place before, yet could not recall when. The memory hovered at the edge of his mind, shrouded in confusion.

A sudden crash snapped Zhuo Hua from his thoughts. Old Jiao had kicked over a little demon, who now rolled on the ground clutching his belly.

"You blind fool, you dare trip up your Grandpa Jiao? You should weigh your own strength before acting," Old Jiao snarled. The other demons raised their clubs, ready to retaliate, but the snow demon waved them back.

She smiled sweetly and said, "Enough, let it go. After being jolted on those beasts’ backs all day, it’s only natural they’re a bit resentful. Take the pale-faced gentleman to my chamber; hold the rest here for now. Hahaha..." With that, she turned and left.

Without further ado, the little demons dragged Zhuo Hua to a side room.

By now, the net had been removed from Zhuo Hua, but his hands were still tied behind his back. He raised his eyes to survey the chamber, that nagging sense of déjà vu returning. On either side of the entrance stood large verdant plants, lush and dripping with vitality. A blue-and-white porcelain vase, stately and elegant, rested atop a flower stand.

A screen painted with green mountains and rivers, made from yellow rosewood, caught his eye. Two large red lanterns hung from the rafters, casting a hazy glow over the entire room. Behind the screen, pale lavender curtains drifted in and out of sight. Zhuo Hua’s heart jolted. This was unmistakably the scenery of the Xuanhuang Void!

The soft creak of a door interrupted his thoughts. Turning, Zhuo Hua saw the snow demon entering. She had shed her gold-embroidered white coat, now clad only in a sheer, pale red robe that fluttered as she approached. Suddenly, she seemed to trip, falling straight into Zhuo Hua’s arms.

“Oh dear, young master, I was so busy gazing at you that I forgot to watch my step. Pardon my rudeness,” she cooed, covering her mouth with a laugh.

She wore a thin gown, her makeup subtle, exuding waves of fragrance that were both intoxicating and distracting. Yet, the one who truly stirred Zhuo Hua’s heart was another—Lanling.

Her attire, the setting—all of it roused a deep longing in Zhuo Hua for Lanling.

"Miss, please have some self-respect. You and I are strangers, and now your captive. You may kill me, but you must not humiliate me," Zhuo Hua said, shifting away to keep his distance.

The snow demon only laughed. "From your clothes, I can tell you’re from a noble family, yet you’re so aloof. I like you very much. Why not share a wedding chamber with me tonight? From now on, you and I can live together in this cave-dwelling. Wouldn’t that be a delight?"

Feigning displeasure, Zhuo Hua replied, "You claim to favor me, yet I do not even know who you are. If not for your schemes, I would not have fallen into this state. You show no sincerity—how could I possibly yield myself to you and live in this beast’s lair?"

The snow demon giggled behind her hand. "Oh my, it seems you are truly angry, blaming me for your fate. Very well, I shall tell you my story."

Zhuo Hua felt a secret joy. "That would be best. If you treat me with sincerity, I will not disregard you."

With a bright smile, the snow demon moved behind Zhuo Hua, untied him, and drew him to sit on a blue-and-white embroidered stool. The landscape painted on the stool was not of this void, but resembled the Jinwu Void.

"I was once a spirit fox of these frigid northern lands. Many years ago, I met an immortal in the mountains. She saw my intelligence and took me as her disciple, hoping to help me ascend. But before I could overcome my first tribulation, my master disappeared, leaving only a letter and this stone table. She said that without her guidance, I could never become a true immortal, only a demon. Still, out of our bond, she left me this Gathering Immortal Platform to help fend off other tribulation masters. After she left, I continued living in this Xuanhuang Cave, calling myself Lady Snow and making a living off the land."

As she finished, her gaze dimmed, tinged with longing and sadness.

Zhuo Hua gazed at the Gathering Immortal Platform, sorrow welling in his heart. He whispered, "So this was the last place you stayed before leaving this world?"