Chương 19: Ice and Snow, Old Friends Arrive
The frigid winds and snow lashed against the frail body of the middle-aged woman, whose muddled mind grasped desperately at Xiao Mu Yu's pant leg, murmuring incoherently.
For this unfortunate woman, the burdens of life felt unbearably heavy, the harshness of reality cruel. Having lost too much blood, her consciousness was fading, perhaps to the point where she could no longer even recognize the owner of the pant leg she clung to. Yet, as a mother, an instinct drove her to exert every ounce of strength to hold on to the only object her blurred vision could discern—a desperate grasp for hope.
Observing the woman's delirious actions with cold indifference, Xiao Mu Yu's eyes remained icy, the chill within them impenetrable. Could even this harrowing scene of human suffering fail to stir any emotion in him?
"Ah, I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to let this wretched woman soil your garments," the obsequious man dragging the pitiful woman to the doorstep finally noticed Xiao Mu Yu's presence and hastily pushed open the crooked door.
Without mercy, he kicked the bloodied woman aside, then turned to Xiao Mu Yu with a degrading bow, plastering a nauseatingly sycophantic smile upon his face. "You must be the guest that Aya mentioned?"
"Yes, that is correct." Xiao Mu Yu nodded apathetically, his expression unwavering, as if oblivious to the man's brutality.
"Um… may I inquire, what was the agreed price for this night's stay?" the man asked, grinning with a merchant's eagerness, looking up at the detached figure before him.
"We discussed half a silver coin for the night. We'll settle the payment upon departure. Is there a problem?" Xiao Mu Yu's tone was devoid of emotion, as cold as the biting snow itself.
"Oh, not at all… I was merely wondering if you could cover the cost in advance?" the man asked, a fawning smile on his face. "You see… I'm in need of some funds for an urgent matter at the moment."
Casting a fearful glance at the tattered sword slung across Xiao Mu Yu's back, Aya's father swallowed hard and stammered, "Of course, I'm not pressuring you, it's just… I've been a bit tight on cash lately…"
Under the unfeeling gaze of Xiao Mu Yu, the obsequious man visibly faltered, his words trailing off in confusion.
Coldly regarding the sycophantic middle-aged man, Xiao Mu Yu spoke with a dispassionate tone, "I understand. Will this suffice?"
He produced ten silver coins from his pouch and handed them to the man before him. "I'll remain until the snow ceases. This should be adequate, correct?"
Stunned for a moment, the sycophantic man's face broke into a wide grin as he accepted the coins. "Yes, yes, this is more than enough! Thank you so much, sir! You truly are a good person!"
Standing silently at the doorway, Xiao Mu Yu watched as the man, gleeful at his newfound fortune, exited the shabby abode without a glance at his unconscious wife, puffed up with arrogance until he vanished from view.
"…"
(Hahaha... Oh, young human, someone has called you a good person! You truly are a great benefactor! Hahaha...)
"…"
(Alright, let's change the topic. Where do you think this dapper middle-aged fellow is headed? Three choices: one, the gambling den; two, the gambling den; three, the gambling den. What do you think, young human?)
"…"
(Okay, okay, if you're not interested in that topic, let's shift gears again. Are you really not going to look after the little fox?)
Turning away with indifference, Xiao Mu Yu entered his room without acknowledging the unconscious woman slumped in the corner. His gaze was frigid, "What do you think?"
(Hahaha... I doubt you'll neglect that little creature. But why not take action now? If you want to retrieve the little fox, you must save that girl first, right? Will the fox return with you if you don't rescue the girl? So why not strike while those ruffians are away from their base? Otherwise, rescuing her after they return will be far more troublesome.)
"…" Stepping into the darkness, Xiao Mu Yu replied coolly, "There's no rush. Did you not hear the count say he would return at night? The girl and the little fox are safe for now. No need to hurry…"
His voice remained indifferent as he closed the door behind him. In the dimly lit room, only the poor, unconscious mother remained curled alone in the corner, abandoned and unnoticed.
The wind and snow intensified.
The frigid wind and snow lashed against the towering yet somewhat dilapidated city gate, while the ground was blanketed in deep drifts of snow. From the vantage point of the sentry, the world beyond the gate appeared as a chilling expanse of stark white.
A few soldiers huddled together in the guardhouse, warming themselves by the fire, grumbling about the wretched weather that compelled them to stand watch.
"Old Li, it's your turn to take the post. Hurry up." The wooden door of the guardhouse creaked open, and a fierce gust of wind and snow surged inside. A soldier, his shoulders and cap heavy with snow, quickly shook off the accumulation and hurriedly closed the door behind him, seeking refuge in the slightly warmer interior.
"Alright, alright," a middle-aged soldier groaned, reluctantly rising to his feet. He shuffled to the corner of the room, retrieving a cloak and hat from the wall and donning them with evident reluctance. "I'll go now."
Old Li shuffled out into the bitter cold, dragging his feet as he left the shelter of warmth behind. In such frigid weather, standing guard outside was nothing short of torment.
As the door shut behind him, the jovial banter of his comrades faded away, leaving Old Li to peer around with a hunched neck. All he could see was a uniform expanse of white; the heavy snow obscured the path entirely, creating an illusion of a world dressed in silvery splendor.
However, the blizzard roared, blocking visibility beyond several paces, rendering everything beyond a blur.
A few snowflakes drifted down into Old Li's collar, sending a chill coursing through him and raising goosebumps on his skin. He shivered and trudged to the front of the gate, seeking a sheltered spot from the biting wind and snow.
His spear leaned haphazardly against the wall as he crouched down, trying to shield himself from the cold gusts. Yet, some rogue flakes slipped through, crashing against him with icy ferocity.
"What a wretched day; who would dare venture outside?" Complaining, Old Li's gaze shifted to the direction where the road should be, now buried beneath a thick layer of snow.
Yet, as if mocking his sentiments, a figure began to materialize through the fierce storm, laughing silently at the old soldier's words.
"Eh? In this frigid weather, with such heavy snow, is there really someone unafraid of death daring to leave the city?" Old Li stared in disbelief.
"Whoosh…"
The howling wind and snow roared, and as the figure approached, it gradually came into clearer view, fully revealing itself to Old Li.
Golden hair shone like the warm morning sun of spring, clean and fresh. The handsome young face bore the traces of travel, while his sky-blue eyes—clear as aquamarine—were adorned with a mysterious red triangular mark.
What astonished Old Li most was that this young man, braving the harsh storm, was clad only in a thin, light brown leather outfit typically worn by the youths of Tianxin City in the summer heat!
"Excuse me, is this Tianxin City, where Miss Freya is hosting her concert?" The boy's warm, sunny smile seemed to dissipate the winter's chill, as he inquired cheerfully.
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