Chapter 41

The Jiaoren was carefully applying medicine to the frostbitten paw of one of the magically shrunken white wolves in his lap. One arm circled the wolf's front paws, holding it steady, while the other hand gently applied the ointment.

The wind and snow were slightly less severe the next day and were no longer so fierce that they could knock down buildings flat.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, people split into groups, heading to their respective places to retrieve the everyday necessities and reserve grains and vegetables they hadn't had the chance to collect before. Except for the few who were in the know, no one realised that a large group of ancient white wolves was living above them.

Outside, the wind still howled, but once accustomed to the noise, it could be considered a form of quiet.

The snow was dazzlingly bright, its light streaming through the windows, making it seem like broad daylight, even though it was only half an hour past sunrise.

Ning Shiting planned to go out too.

He lightly pressed his fingers against the window, feeling the cold, hard ice crystals being blown by the wind and snow against the window. Summoning Hulu and Lingjiao, he instructed them softly, "Have our estate's Spirit Elementalists prepare. They'll be accompanying me outside shortly."

Hulu hesitated. "Gongzi, even though the wind and snow have lessened a bit today, it’s still dangerous. The group that went out this morning were all men, with a Fire Tamer leading the way, and that's how they managed to bring everything back. Why not wait another day or two?"

Ning Shiting tilted his head and smiled. "Who said I need a Fire Tamer? Call for the Water Elementalists within our estate. We won't go far, just a little experiment within the estate grounds."

Hulu was momentarily stunned, full of suspicion, but seeing Ning Shiting's expression, he trusted him. "Very well, Gongzi, we will prepare this for you."

Ning Shiting wasn't really accustomed to having people serve him so closely. With Ting Shu not around, he had been handling all the little details, like what clothes to wear, himself.

He bundled himself up a little more warmly and glanced at the wolves he had tucked away in the side room before heading out. Most of them were still curled up, sound asleep in a big furry heap.

Figuring he could make the trip quick, he planned to feed the wolves when he got back. The Qing Wang’s manor had always maintained a Menagerie of a Hundred Beasts, so finding enough food for sixty or seventy wolves wasn't a challenge. However, given the current situation, he couldn’t alert too many people.

The Water Elementalists, having been called, were waiting by the door, nervously awaiting his instructions.

They whispered to each other, "Did Gongzi really call us? We're all Water Elementalists, right?"

"Yes, I don't know why. Such heavy snow and cold weather—I wouldn't dare use my magic at all. This should be a job for the Fire Elementalists, so why us?"

When the door opened, their murmurs fell silent, and they all greeted Ning Shiting respectfully.

Wrapped in a thick cloak and holding a Fire Lotus Parasol, Ning Shiting nodded and smiled, "Thank you all for your efforts today. We’ll just make a run around the manor."

Hulu handed each of them a Fire Lotus Umbrella to clear a path through the snow and wind.

The group prepared to set off, while the Water Elementalists, still puzzled, looked at Ning Shiting with confusion.

Ning Shiting said, "I know you all have questions. This method came to me only yesterday. Recently, the snow yao of the Western Continent have been rampaging, and the snowstorms have been relentless. We’ve been using fire magic to counteract the yaos' disruptions, but it’s had little effect. On second thought, we might have been looking in the wrong direction. The snow yao are powerful, their spiritual energy immense. Even a thousand Fire Elementalists and fire qilins might not solve this problem. I think we could try using water to clear a path."

"Using water to clear a path?" The Water Elementalists thought they had misheard.

Ning Shiting whispered something to Hulu, who then brought out a cup.

Otherwise, being ordinary in appearance, its unique markings indicated it was a Biluo “Blue Sky” Cup.

This was a celestial artefact, one of a kind based on the principle of "infinity." Similar to the infinite book Ning Shiting was searching for, this Biluo Cup provided an endless supply of water, even though it appeared as just an ordinary cup.

When celestial beings went into secluded cultivation, they often carried such a cup. Though it only provided water, and the taste was quite ordinary, it was a highly practical tool.

Ning Shiting took the Biluo Cup and a folding fan from his sleeve. Holding the cup at the base with his fingertips, he pressed it against the open fan and poured out water for everyone to see.

The water spread evenly over the fan's surface, creating an arc before spilling downward.

Despite the freezing temperature, the water solidified almost instantly, forming a fan-shaped sheet of ice before them, resembling a crystal-clear dome.

While the Water Elementalists were still trying to comprehend, Hulu was quick to explain, "Using water to counter water and ice to ward off ice—we were going about it the wrong way before. Melting ice and snow with fire not only consumes a lot of energy but also, once the magic stops, the melted water refreezes. Instead, we could build ice walls to block the wind and snow, providing a lasting solution."

Ning Shiting smiled and said, "Exactly. But with the current shortage of manpower, I’m not sure how far we can get. So, I’ll need your help to try this out."

.𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟.

Gu Tingshuang had barely slept the previous night, so when he finally drifted off, it was almost noon before he woke up.

These past few days had worn him out, and he appeared somewhat listless.

Hulu came over to help him dress and wash, and as usual, Gu Tingshuang asked, "Where is he?"

By now, Hulu was very used to this question. "Gongzi is outside, feeding the wolves."

"Feeding the wolves? With so many of them, let them find their own food. Spoiling them like this will only make them more dependent." Gu Tingshuang said. "No need to involve so many people. My wolves are mine, the people of this estate are my father's."

Hulu replied, "Everyone has gone back now, Dianxia. You can go out and see for yourself."

"They’ve all gone back?"

Gu Tingshuang was a little surprised.

Yesterday, he had disregarded medical advice and used his spiritual powers. After detecting a hint of Ning Shiting's subtle emotions, he had immediately withdrawn, knowing he couldn’t continue using his spiritual sense in his current state.

This dulled his sensitivity to outside sounds compared to before.

With Hulu's words, Gu Tingshuang realised how unusually quiet it seemed today.

Everyone had been crowded into one place these past few days, and though they took care not to disturb Ning Shiting and him, the comings and goings, the conversations and movements, inevitably made noise.

Gu Tingshuang was naturally sensitive to the presence of people; he could hear someone breathing from three floors down. The noise over the past few days had been constant, but seeing that Ning Shiting didn’t seem bothered, he endured it.

Now, that noise was gone, and upon closer attention, even the sound of the wind and snow seemed much quieter.

"Has the snow stopped?" he asked.

Hulu said, "It's still falling, Dianxia."

Gu Tingshuang didn’t ask further. After finishing washing up, he dismissed Hulu and wheeled himself to the door.

Ning Shiting was in the study.

He was sitting in his usual spot by the window, the warm yellow glow of the brazier at his feet. The Jiaoren was carefully applying medicine to the frostbitten paw of one of the magically shrunken white wolves in his lap. One arm circled the wolf's front paws, holding it steady, while the other hand gently applied the ointment.

Besides the one in his lap, the only other wolf Gu Tingshuang kept in the Qing Wang’s residence was perched on Ning Shiting’s shoulder, licking its newly grown golden fur.

A circle of white wolves surrounded the brazier, curled up at Ning Shiting’s feet, warming themselves.

As soon as Gu Tingshuang approached, the white wolves perked up and stood, turning their heads to look at him.

Gu Tingshuang almost lost his breath.

Something about this scene felt off.

He was supposed to be their alpha, yet these white-furred beasts were all so close to Ning Shiting?

He knew wolves too well to think a few instances of kindness or small favors could win them over. The wolves now showed complete dependence, trust, and even a hint of submission toward Ning Shiting.

Gu Tingshuang forgot his original purpose and asked coldly, "What are you doing?"

"Applying medicine to their wounds, bathing them, and cleaning their teeth. Your lieutenant had an ulcer under its jaw, so I bandaged it. You don't mind, do you, ba?"

Ning Shiting looked up at him with a calm and gentle expression.

… Lieutenant?

Gu Tingshuang glanced over at the golden-backed wolf wrapped up and saw it stand and raise its head to greet him.

"…"

Gu Tingshuang held back his irritation.

Ning Shiting, seemingly unaware of his displeasure, continued quietly tending to the white wolves. After a moment, he seemed to remember something and said, "Yinbing, everyone has been sent back to their respective places, but your residence is closest to Spirit Mountain and has been severely damaged by the wind and snow. For now, stay here with me, or if there's another place you prefer, I can have it prepared."

Gu Tingshuang was momentarily surprised and only then remembered why he had come out.

He ignored Ning Shiting and simply wheeled himself over to the window. The white wolf by his side seemed to know what he intended to do, leaping up to unlatch the window. The window swung open, and a blast of cold wind hit him in the face.

Outside, there was no longer the overwhelming snowstorm. When he looked up, he saw a thick layer of ice covering the sky, blocking the wind and snow, which explained the quiet warmth inside.

The Qing Wang’s residence had indeed become a fortress encased in ice.

The water elementalists, who had been troubled by their inability to contribute to the solution of the snowstorm problem for the past few days, now worked with renewed vigour, completing their task swiftly and efficiently. Ning Shiting's only concern now was that when the ice and snow eventually melted, the thinning ice layer might fall and injure someone. However, that was a worry for another day.

Gu Tingshuang immediately understood what Ning Shiting had done and asked, "You came up with this? Not bad, quite clever."

Ning Shiting's eyes curved into a smile as he looked at him.

That smile made Gu Tingshuang look away.

"Since you have this method, you’d better implement it quickly. Although the Immortal Chief’s Mansion is probably still using fire elementalists to control the snowstorm, the fact remains that the Qing’ Wang's residence hasn't made any effort for two or three days. No doubt the court is busy drafting impeachment memorials against you."

Ning Shiting replied, "Not really. They’re mainly criticising the Qing Wang. It's a small matter if my subordinates fail to do their job. In other words, if I don't handle things well, the one who gets blamed the most will still be the Qing Wang."

"…"

This time, Gu Tingshuang truly had nothing to say.

Seeing his silence, Ning Shiting blinked. Normally a person of calm and restraint, he now showed a rare hint of playfulness and mischief.

He spoke so openly about matters detrimental to Gu Feiyin. Despite Gu Tingshuang's numerous past transgressions, Ning Shiting still trusted him like this, even lowering his guard entirely in front of him.

“If you're planning to kill my father, at least put on a show. If word of this gets out and my father finds out, then…”

Gu Tingshuang was about to say something more when he suddenly realised something was wrong. But he couldn't stop himself from finishing his sentence, “... then not even I can protect you.”

“I know.”

Ning Shiting looked at him, and Gu Tingshuang inadvertently met his gaze.

Then, quickly tore his eyes away again.