Chapter 284: Battle!
Qiu Ergou, who is a man, couldn't create the high-level Bodhisattva that Qiao Wan, who is a woman, had envisioned. However, he did make some improvements, such as stability and non-slip features, adding a wrist knife. As for the spiritual power cannon, that was still a work in progress.
Frustrated, Qiu Ergou exclaimed, "Even if I wanted to, I can't make it without the materials in this icy and snowy place!"
Qiao Wan asked, "Where can we get the materials?"
Reluctantly, Qiu Ergou muttered, "The closest place would be Masui City."
Worried that Qiu Ergou might come up with another unrealistic idea, someone quickly added, "I don't think you can go there, taoist friend. I heard there's a fight going on. The demon realm sent someone named Xue Yunchao, while the cultivation world seems to have dispatched..."
Someone else interrupted, saying, "Qi Feidao, right?"
Qiao Wan furrowed her brows, her voice becoming serious. She extended her hand and said, "The map."
Although the young girl had a fair complexion and didn't seem very threatening, her demeanor was calm. Her pink dress stood out amidst the icy and snowy surroundings, making her look beautiful and captivating.
Deng Saner. suddenly had a blurry vision and without thinking, passed the map to Qiao Wan. Surprisingly, even these fierce bandits seemed to have secretly admired and respected her.
Qiao Wan held the map in her hands and drew a circle on it. She pondered and said, "It seems like the Eastern Army in Qingzhou wants to cross the river from Masui City and join forces with Xiao Boyu from Chiyu County. Then they plan to attack Dragon Stone Path, passing through Wangjiang City. Our taoist friend, Qi Feidao, is responsible for guarding the crossing at Masui City."
Qiao Wan raised her eyes and asked, "Can't we take a different route?"
Deng Saner decisively vetoed the idea, saying, "No, we can only go through Masui City. Taoist friend, as you can see, this place is all snowy mountains. If we want to change routes..."
The man pointed his finger and said, "Then we'll have to climb the mountains."
Both suggestions were rejected. Qiao Wan scratched her head and asked, "Have you heard of Venerable One Miaofa?"
Qiu Ergou was taken aback and said, "Of course! Who doesn't know Venerable One Miaofa?"
With a strange expression on his face, he asked, "Are you planning to find Venerable One Miaofa?"
Qiao Wan was actually unsure about what to do. Although she heard that Venerable One Miaofa had a good relationship with the original person, she felt strange about traveling all the way to a stranger ORZ.
If she had enough ability to protect herself, Qiao Wan would prefer to rely on herself. The mountain may fall and people may run away, but relying on oneself is the safest. This is an unbreakable truth.
"Do you know where Venerable One Miaofa is in seclusion?" Deng Saner immediately laughed and said, "If the taoist friend wants to invite Venerable One out of seclusion, it's not possible without passing through Masui City."
Due to Venerable One Miaofa's renowned reputation, after the conflicts between the demon realm and the cultivation world, many people had the thought of "inviting Venerable One Miaofa out of seclusion." Deng Saner also directly considered Qiao Wan as a part of this group of people.
But inviting Venerable One Miaofa out of seclusion is not that easy.
Qiao Wan thought he was experienced, but it turns out he is still an innocent girl. In this world, people still have hope in those so-called powerful figures. This made Deng Saner unable to help but smile.
Of course, he never imagined that the person in front of him was actually an old acquaintance of Venerable One Miaofa.
So, no matter what, they could only go to Masui City, right?
Qiao Wan thought silently.
Qiu Ergou seemed to foresee something and immediately became alert, jumping up and waving his hand, saying, "If you want to go, go on your own. I'm not accompanying you."
It's just a joke. In the battlefield, there are no rules.
Qiu Ergou gritted his teeth and muttered, "I... I'm not going."
Qiao Wan didn't force their thoughts. She put her hands together on her knees, sat up straight, and said, "You don't have to go, but you have to take me to Masui City. I'll continue the rest of the journey on my own."
She knew nothing about the Northern Snowy Mountain. The group of bandits who were always robbing people would undoubtedly be the best guides.
Qiu Ergou immediately exploded, saying, "Why should we?"
Qiao Wan calmly said, "You guys destroyed the flying boat I made."
Qiu Ergou and Deng Saner couldn't argue.
"That's settled then." Qiao Wan lifted her clear eyes and decisively ended the conversation, "We will leave tomorrow."
Qiu Ergou was reluctant, but under her overpowering influence, he reluctantly gave in.
The next morning, the group set off.
At first, everything went smoothly, and they arrived in Xianyang before sunset. Xianyang was not far from Masui City, they estimated that they would arrive by mid-morning the next day.
"It's agreed," Qiu Ergou looked at Qiao Wan with his remaining eye, "Once we reach Masui City, we won't accompany you anymore."
As they approached the rough and crude snow-filled pass, the men's expressions became complicated. With only one eye left, Qiu Ergou stared blankly at the walled city under the setting sun.
A crimson sunset hung in the sky, melting the white snow into red waves. The setting sun sank behind the high walls.
Even Deng Saner seemed a bit sentimental.
Qiao Wan looked to the side and asked, "Are you troubled?"
Deng Saner sighed and waved his hand.
As everyone sat down to rest, he sat on the ground quietly, unwilling to talk.
Not only Deng Saner, but the fierce bandits who had been making lewd jokes all along the way remained silent.
Qiu Ergou blinked his eyes wearily and said, "Let's rest here and continue our journey tomorrow."
After witnessing the power of this place, Qiao Wan wasn't in a hurry to continue the journey.
In the northern snowy mountains, the temperature dropped to tens of degrees below zero at night, making it deadly to travel.
When night came, Qiu Ergou took out a small portable shelter and gave it to her.
This thing was very convenient. Just stick it into the snow and it becomes a place to sleep, like a simple tent. It was said to be commonly used by soldiers in the northern region.
After sleeping for several nights, Qiao Wan realized that it was indeed a wise decision for Qiu Ergou and the others to escort her to Masui City.
Qiao Wan saw Qiu Ergou preparing to go inside and hesitated for a moment. "Wait, don't rush to sleep," she said.
Qiao Wan, confused, looked at his poker face. Qiu Ergou covered his face and said, "I have something to tell you."
Is he being silly? After going through all this, he's starting to develop feelings. But now that they're about to part ways, he seems a bit reluctant to leave?
Qiu Ergou called out to Qiao Wan, specifically to give her some advice for when they reach Masui City.
"Keeping warm is the most important thing," he said earnestly as they sat by the campfire. "Let me tell you, there are people who have frozen their arms and legs in this place. For example, these fingers—" He raised his hand and continued, "They can freeze completely and when you try to move them, bam, they just break off. It gets so cold that they die!"
"It's only when they reach a warm place and pour hot water on them that they regain sensation," Qiu Ergou frowned. "The screams, you can't bear to listen to them."
And another thing, you should be smart when you arrive in Masui City. I don't need to say more, you understand.
Make sure to hide the storage bag and keep the food hidden from others. Speaking of which.hesitated for a moment, as if he had made a decision. He turned around and angrily shouted, "Where's Lao San? Bring me the storage bag."
Reluctantly, he reached into the storage bag and pulled out several thick, solid biscuits. He stuffed them into Qiao Wan's hand and Qiu Ergou looked away.
He was afraid that if he looked for a moment longer, he wouldn't be able to bear it.
"You already know how to eat these. Soak them in hot water to eat, it will keep you full and warm."
This act of kindness from the bandit made Qiao Wan feel a bit bewildered.
Should she accept? It would be rude not to. But if she does accept, it would seem too overly dramatic.
She really needed these supplies. After thinking for a moment, Qiao Wan accepted and pressed her lips together, solemnly expressing her thanks.
After giving her a few more things and giving some instructions, Qiu Ergou told her to go back to sleep.
As Qiao Wan watched the figure of Qiu Ergou walking away, she regretted so much that she wanted to slap herself.
Oh no, she had made a terrible mistake.
During the night, Qiao Wan lay in her makeshift bed, tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Qiu Ergou and the others with expressions of struggle, regret, and disappointment as they watched the city fall into darkness.
After spending so many days with them, Qiao Wan began to notice that these people were different from the real bandits.
The real bandits wouldn't have treated her, a lone woman, with such care. If it was out of fear of her power, they could have easily taken the opportunity to harm or even kill her, but they didn't.
Just as she was finally drifting off to sleep, she was startled by the sound of swords clashing nearby.
Having spent a long time in the world of cultivation, she was no longer the helpless college student she once was. At least now, she had become more vigilant and alert.
Sensing something was wrong, Qiao Wan immediately sat up and quietly peeked outside through a small hole in the wall.
She could only see a faint flickering light. A group of soldiers from the cultivation realm, dressed in tattered clothes and looking desperate, were holding torches. They were shouting angrily while glancing back into the darkness.
"Damn it!!"
"Today, I will fight you all!!"
The light from the torches illuminated the pure white snowy ground, stained with splatters of blood. Not far away, a group of demon cultivators, easily recognizable by their attire, had surrounded this small team.
The commotion reached the front of the fortress, and the lights on the city walls started to turn on one by one, gradually getting brighter. However, the soldiers guarding the city remained still, silently observing the activity outside the walls.
Qiu Ergou and the others were clearly awakened by the noise. Seeing the scene, their faces turned pale with anger.
Quickly hiding their small peeking hole, they gestured to each other and quietly gathered together while both sides were distracted.
Just at that moment, the leading cultivator suddenly tilted the torch, and the dim yellow light clearly shone on Qiu Ergou and Qiao Wan 's faces.
The cultivator was taken aback, then startled, and shouted, "Qiu Ergou ?! How dare you show up, you rascal?!"
Qiu Ergou 's eyes met the cultivator's, and immediately turned pale as ash. "Li Hongyuan ..."
The torch tilted again, and the cultivator angrily said, "Deng Saner ! Qian Yu!..."
Qiao Wan was surprised. They knew each other?!
Ignoring the fact that they were surrounded by enemy soldiers, Li Hongyuan walked towards Qiu Ergou with a stern face and heavy steps that made his boots creak on the snowy ground. He grabbed Qiu Ergou's collar and forcefully threw him to the ground. Li Hongyuan's gaze seemed to devour him with anger.
"You coward! Useless piece of trash?! Didn't you run away? Why've you come back now?!"
