Chapter 66: Search for the Prideful Jade Beauty, Seeking the Frost Lotus Temple. Braids and Blushes, the Very Sincere Manly Woman.
Beyond the Dragon's Peak Mountains Range sprawls the vast expanse leading to the Hēi Lóng Mountains. A land draped in perpetual snow, it is the serene yet inhospitable abode reserved for the prayers of nuns and female cultivators. Ancient pine forests punctuated the icy landscapes, and an cool stillness held the atmosphere.
Dripping in white hooded cloaks infused with fire spiritual Qi, Yang Wei and Wu Fengtian braved the biting cold.
They paused.
Their legs sunk into the snow.
Yang Wei spoke through the chilly air, asking, "Where are we now?" Frosty breath escaped his lips.
Wu Fengtian, rubbing his palms together, pointed at the towering snow-covered peaks dominating the landscape.
"Frozen Peaks. It's a sacred ground. Legends even speak of dragons that once roamed these frozen heights."
Curious, Yang Wei asked, "True?"
Wu Fengtian shrugged, "Probably. In the martial world, legends often have a kernel of truth."
"I see."
They pressed forward.
The blizzard howled, pushing against them.
Wu Fengtian, battling the fierce wind, grumbled, "This blizzard won't cut us any slack."
Yang Wei, mirroring his sentiment, sighed in agreement.
Yang Wei halted again, eyes fixed on the snow-draped mountains.
Everything was covered in white.
My multilayer barrier has ice-resistance through a combination of thermal insulation and anti-freezing particles. I should be okay, but I can't say the same about Fengtian. So, I'll just make quick work of this blizzard...
With a casual wave, he banished the blizzard in one fell swoop.
Coolly pulling back his hood, he exhaled a burst of cold air, saying, "Let's keep going."
Wu Fengtian, oblivious to the meteorological magic show, remarked, "Looks like the Heavens are on our side."
"Eh, sure..."
They kept on moving.
Shooting the breeze, Wu Fengtian tossed the question to Yang Wei, "So, are we trekking to the Frost Lotus Temple just for some jade-like beauty?"
Yang Wei nodded and deadpanned, "Yes."
Whistling and awkwardly looking sideways, Wu Fengtian replied, "Well, I don't know, it feels like we're just being jobless."
"If it's for a jade beauty, it's worth it. But truth be told, you're right. We're indeed jobless."
I couldn't push my cultivation to the 7th level of the Mortal Realm, and all the resources Mu Lin gave me are pretty much gone. It'd be smart to patch things up with her to get back those privileges—killing two birds with one stone. If that doesn't work, I'll have to ask Mu Zhong...
Reaching the mountain peak, they took in the view of secluded monasteries scattered like confetti.
With obviously no clear agenda, Yang Wei questioned, "So, is the temple around here?"
Appointed as the map guy for this adventure, Wu Fengtian pulled out the blueprint from his cloak, reading, "No, a bit further down. These are the Monasteries of Isolation – like cave abodes but think grander and more secluded."
Casually, Yang Wei created a dragon sword with a small motion of the hand. "If the temple's a hike away, let's fly the rest." Stepping onto his dragon sword, he soared across the snowy landscapes.
Wu Fengtian unsheathed his jian and did the same.
After 40 minutes of flying, the Frost Lotus Temple appeared on the horizon. Nestled at the foothills, it practically screamed spiritual devotion .
Yang Wei played it suave. With arms behind his back, he soared on his dragon sword, cloak fluttering dramatically.
Wu Fengtian managed to catch up and immediately suggested, "Let's head for that bridge." He pointed at a significantly long bridge spanning a seemingly bottomless chasm – a whopping two kilometers.
Yang Wei rubbed his chin and commented, "That's an unnecessarily long. We could fly over it faster and head straight for the temple."
"Bahahaha!" Wu Fengtian laughed, then he patted Yang Wei on the back. "I mentioned earlier, it's sacred grounds. Only women are allowed on that bridge. The reason it's so long is because the chasm is huge, and you know the Northern Ravages – more monsters than humans. So, you can imagine how many bloodthirsty beasts are down there. But worry not, I've got a genius plan to get us in without a hitch."
"Somehow that worries me..."
"Bahaha! You put too little faith in me Senior Brother!"
And for a good reason, Yang Wei thought.
A few minutes later, at the bridge's starting point, Yang Wei let out a dramatic sigh, giving Wu Fengtian a side-eye. "I refuse to believe you talked me into this," he grumbled.
Being the mastermind behind this brilliant plan, Wu Fengtian reassured him, "Don't worry, it's foolproof."
They dropped their cloak hoods, revealing their braided hair adorned with pink ribbons. Yang Wei might've leaned more toward femininity, but truth be told, they didn't exactly scream "ladies." Yet, if you didn't squint too hard, they might just pull it off.
As they strolled across the bridge, Wu Fengtian whipped out a folding fan, covering part of his face to up the feminine vibes. He even threw in an embarrassed blush and a girly giggle, earning a swift head slap from Yang Wei.
"Stick to looking the part, but don't go any further," Yang Wei warned. "One more giggle, and I'm using your kneecaps as decorations."
Wu Fengtian, now wisely quiet, mumbled, "Sorry about that, Senior Brother."
"Good."
After walking for about five minutes, two other women approached. One in a black cloak with golden trims, the other in blue with equally golden flair – fancy cloaks, suggesting importance.
The two manly women prepared for their grand debut.
"Fengtian..."
"Yes, Senior Brother," he whispered back.
"Remember, this is our first encounter with a 'fellow' temple woman, so make sure to get it right."
"Yes Sir!"
Wu Fengtian got serious and adjusted his posture for maximum womanliness.
As for Yang Wei, he slouched those broad shoulders and dialed down his usual prideful swagger for a more modest stroll.
Yang Wei and Wu Fengtian kept walking, and as they got closer, Wu Fengtian's heart raced faster, fearing they might get caught. Yang Wei, on the other hand, walked calmly, resisting the urge to tuck his arms behind his back or itch his nose.
As they approached the women, Wu Fengtian's heart felt like it would explode with fear.
Finally, they passed the two women, and the woman in the black cloak with golden trims twitched her nose, as if catching a scent.
She paused, turned back, and said, "Stop right there. I know that smell."
Wu Fengtian felt like convulsing, then collapsing at that very moment.
The woman pulled down her hood, and as Yang Wei stopped and turned to see who it was, their eyes met.
Lingxi?! Yang Wei shouted in his thoughts.
The woman under the hood was Mu Lingxi.
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