Chapter 72

His handsome image contained the same haunting beauty as a spirit.

“The Spirit Gate has opened. Beyond it lies the desolate lands of Spirit Mountain. The Snow Yao could appear at any moment. If you enter now, you’re walking to your death.”

Amidst the raging blizzard, even the glow of the Fire Lotus Umbrella had been dimmed to near invisibility. In the faint flickering light, even the seasoned soldiers under the Qing Wang and General Baili’s command shivered from the cold, instinctively shrinking into themselves as if they wished to disappear entirely.

Yet the young man, clad in dark official robes with a thick cloak draped over his shoulders, stood there calmly. It was as if he were not in a wind-battered canyon but standing in the grand halls of the imperial court.

Ning Shiting’s voice was already hoarse, and even if he spoke, his words would be instantly swallowed by the howling wind.

He simply stood there, unmoving, determined to step into the Spirit Gate that had just been opened.

The commotion soon caught Baili Hongzhou’s attention. He had just stepped out of his command tent to inspect the surroundings and was in the middle of discussing the Snow Yao crisis with his strategist when a messenger arrived.

“General, that Ning Gongzi from the Qing Wang’s side is insisting on going in. Should we allow it or not? Was this part of the plan between General and the Wangye?”

“Ning Shiting?” Baili Hongzhou raised an eyebrow in surprise, glancing toward Qing Wang’s tent with a thoughtful expression.

He had no idea what Gu Feiyin had said to that seemingly obedient and docile Jiaoren inside the tent. Before stepping out, he had assumed that the Wangye was simply disciplining one of his attendants—after which, naturally, it would turn into a night of indulgence.

After all, on such a bitterly cold and lonely night, when they were too occupied guarding the restrictions of Spirit Mountian to leave their posts, it was only expected that the Wangye would have a warm companion in his tent.

And yet, it seemed the Qing Wang truly remained unmoved, despite the beauty in his arms.

Baili Hongzhou had already seen Ning Shiting once before when he came to retrieve Baili Tingshu. Even then, he had been momentarily stunned by such an unparalleled beauty. However, knowing that Ning Shiting was someone by the Qing Wang’s side, he hadn’t thought further on it.

“Now that I see this, the rumours that have spread through the court must be true,” Baili Hongzhou mused.

His strategist asked, “What insight has the general gained? I am eager to hear it.”

Baili Hongzhou chuckled, “Ning Shiting is a poisonous Jiaoren. That’s why the Qing Wang never touches him.”

The strategist said, “General, you are wise. However, if the rumours are true, should we reassess our cooperation with the Qing Wang’s manor? Given the circumstances, their situation may be even more precarious than ours. There’s no need for us to rush into earning merits to clear our name. We only need to ensure that we are not dragged down with them.”

“Besides, we can probe for more information in the court later to gauge the situation,” Baili Hongzhou replied. “For now, I’m more interested in what’s going on with Ning Shiting. I’ll go see him myself.”

The breathtakingly beautiful Jiaoren stood in the midst of the wind and snow. Hearing someone approach, he turned to look.

The firelight from the Fire Lotus Umbrella mixed with the dim glow of the snow, illuminating his eyes with striking clarity. Dressed in black from head to toe, even his cloak was dark, with only a thick silver fox fur trim encircling it, making his face appear even smaller and paler. His long silver-white hair was tied up high, secured with a meticulously crafted black jade crown.

His handsome image contained the same haunting beauty as a spirit.

Just his mere presence made people instinctively draw in a sharp breath. And when he turned back to look, his gaze was so captivating it could seize a person’s soul.

Gu Tingshuang hid inside his sleeve, listening to the sounds outside. With his spiritual sense extended, he could see the scene beyond. For no particular reason, he recalled the first few times he had met Ning Shiting.

Back then, he had even thought Ning Shiting had used soul-capturing magic on him.

Baili Hongzhou let his gaze roam openly over Ning Shiting before finally speaking at a leisurely pace, “What is Ning Gongzi planning to do?”

Ning Shiting replied, “Go in and save him. Ting Shu has no chance of survival against the Snow Yao.”

Baili Hongzhou raised an eyebrow. “No matter what, he is as good as dead. Either he dies, or your master dies.”

Ning Shiting’s expression did not waver in the slightest. “That is my concern. It has nothing to do with you, General.”

“Let me speak, take a step back. Ting Shu is my Didi. His life is in the hands of my Baili family, not yours, Ning Shiting.” His gaze carried a trace of pity, along with a hint of mockery. He chuckled, “I didn’t expect that in a few short years, Ning Gongzi would become this devoted to Ting Shu…”

“This matter, I will handle it,” Ning Shiting interrupted. “As for Ting Shu, I will personally come to claim him from you.”

He lifted his face slightly, revealing the delicate curve of his jawline.

His appearance was simply too beautiful—so deceptively so that it took Baili Hongzhou a moment to fully grasp the sharp edge hidden within his words.

When he looked up again, he saw that Ning Shiting’s eyes were filled with undisguised hostility and coldness.

This little Jiaoren was intriguing—obedient within, yet sharp as claws and fangs when facing outsiders.

Baili Hongzhou burst into laughter. “Just you? You’re a mortal, aren’t you? No spiritual roots, no immortal abilities at all. First, if you manage to save him, how do you plan to explain it to the Wangye? Second, do you really think you can come out of there alive?”

With that, he clapped his hands and raised his voice, ordering the soldiers guarding the spirit gate, “Let Ning Gongzi in! I’ll be waiting right here, Ning Gongzi. Don’t disappoint me.”

The spirit gate, which had just closed, reopened. The moment it did, a powerful surge of spiritual energy, dense and nearly suffocating like killing intent, forced everyone back a few steps.

Ning Shiting did not hesitate. Without even looking back, he rushed straight in, his dark figure vanishing from sight in an instant.

A long wind howled through the canyon. Though the snowfall had yet to reach its peak, the bitter cold was already making it difficult to breathe.

Each breath in felt like swallowing shards of ice, and even exhaling carried a faint metallic taste of blood.

For an ordinary person, it would be nearly impossible to walk alone in such conditions. As Ning Shiting moved forward, he carefully navigated behind massive boulders, avoiding gusts strong enough to sweep a person away. His feet had long since gone numb from the cold, but he could still sense through the pressure beneath him—he was not stepping on solid ground.

After so many days of snowfall, the land of Spirit Mountain had been buried several metres deep. The accumulated snow, repeatedly compacted, had formed the surface he now walked upon. The snow conjured by the Snow Yao was different—soft and weightless, behaving more like quicksand than ordinary snow. No matter how deep it settled, it never fully compressed or became packed. Worse yet, wherever the Snow Yao passed, they left behind eternal black ice—the very thing that had once trapped Ning Shiting in his past life, pushing him to the brink of death.

Every step he took was perilous.

By the time he had been inside for nearly half a stick of incense, he had moved no more than a few dozen feet from the canyon entrance.

Just as he paused to catch his breath, his sleeve suddenly trembled violently. A small silver-white wolf darted out from inside.

“Yinbing?”

Ning Shiting thought that Gu Tingshuang had been suffocating in his sleeve for too long, but the moment the silver-white wolf cub leapt out, it grew—

Larger than the last time in the Civil Hall. Gu Tingshuang, controlling the ancient white wolf’s body, rapidly expanded, growing more than ten times its original size before stopping right in front of Ning Shiting.

Ning Shiting raised his head to look at him.

Ever since realising that the little wolf’s body now housed Gu Tingshuang’s consciousness, Ning Shiting had become acutely aware of how different they were.

They were both wolves, yet just a single glance revealed who was who. The little wolf’s eyes were innocent and lively, carrying the pure and instinctive spirit of a beast. But Gu Tingshuang’s gaze was deep as still water, marked by his unique calm and wisdom beyond his years.

Ning Shiting didn’t understand what Gu Tingshuang was trying to do. He tilted his face up and reached out a hand toward him. “The little wolf looks very good like this.”

The ancient white wolves were a naturally beautiful species—sleek and powerful with elegant lines, their silver-white fur gleaming, their narrow eyes sharp, and their slender snouts graceful. Every feature of theirs exuded excellence.

Yet, when Gu Tingshuang took on the form of the white wolf, he seemed even colder than usual. The magnificent white wolf lowered its head, molten gold eyes filled with an innate majesty. At this moment, as it dipped its head, it seemed as though it would touch Ning Shiting’s outstretched fingers—but at the last moment, it shifted away, avoiding him entirely.

Then, the great wolf took a few steps back, standing firmly in front of Ning Shiting.

It was a defensive stance—four paws firmly planted on the ground, sharp eyes locked onto him, refusing to let him take another step forward.

Gu Tingshuang wouldn’t let him go in any deeper.

Because he knew that Baili Hongzhou had not been wrong.

Ning Shiting was just a physically frail Jiaoren with no immortal abilities. If he entered this place, there would be no way out but death.

The moment Ning Shiting met the gaze of the enormous white wolf before him, he felt his consciousness being invaded.

That burning gold issued an order with an irresistible authority. In that instant, it was as if a young voice, belonging to someone not even present, whispered to him: "I will find the Ice Mayfly for you. Go back, Ning Shiting."

For just a fleeting moment, their consciousnesses intertwined. Then, Gu Tingshuang withdrew from Ning Shiting’s mind. He knew Ning Shiting would understand his meaning.

But Ning Shiting shook his head.

He reached out, intending to stroke the little wolf’s head as he usually did—but this time, he failed.

Before him, the divine white wolf lowered its head, pressing its thick, furry muzzle close to him. The warm breath of the beast turned into white mist in the cold air, carrying a clean, fresh scent.

Ning Shiting stood on his toes, his cheek nearly touching the soft fur of the wolf’s face. In a gentle voice, he said, “It doesn’t matter. Change back—I want to show you something.”

From his sleeve, he pulled out a small medicine bottle.

Gu Tingshuang leaned in to sniff it but couldn’t detect any scent. Though sceptical, he still transformed back to his original size and approached Ning Shiting.

Ning Shiting tilted the bottle and let a bit of the liquid fall into his other hand.

Gu Tingshuang could now see it clearly—inside the bottle was a transparent, oil-like liquid, colourless and odourless. At the same time, Ning Shiting removed his gloves, revealing hands that immediately turned red, as if they had been soaked in hot water.

With a hoarse chuckle, Ning Shiting said, “Fire Dragon Saliva—it can melt the thousand-year ice created by Snow Yao. If you rub it on your fur, it’ll protect you from the cold and from the Snow Yao.”

With that, he pulled the little wolf closer and began rubbing the liquid into its fur. The substance was highly effective—just two handfuls of Fire Dragon Saliva were enough to coat the wolf’s entire coat, leaving it gleaming with a slick shine.

Soon, Gu Tingshuang felt an intense heat rising from within, almost to the point of discomfort. “Where did you get this?” he asked.

“The Su family sent it to us,” Ning Shiting replied with a soft smile.

It was from the last time Su Yue’s men had tried to melt the ice prison he had been trapped in, hoping to bury him under the collapsing snow. Fire Dragon Saliva didn’t dissipate or evaporate. Afterwards, Ning Shiting deliberately sent people to collect it—enough to fill more than two large bottles.

"What about you?" Gu Tingshuang lifted his head to look at him, flicking his tail as he made a “gulu gulu” rumbling sound. 

Ning Shiting couldn’t understand the language of wolves, yet somehow, as if by instinct, he grasped his meaning. He told him, “I’ll use this too. The Snow Yao’s domain is not a dead end for a Jiaoren, even without any powers. The Snow Yao’s snow is soft and light—a Jiaoren can move through it freely.”

That was also the reason he had been able to fight the Snow Yao to a draw in his past life.

Gu Tingshuang was still processing what Ning Shiting meant when, in the next moment, he was completely stunned.

Ning Shiting, right in front of him, unfastened his cloak—and then started undressing.

First, the outer layers, peeling them off one by one like the skin of a fruit. Then, the inner garments—

Ning Shiting knelt on the ground and suddenly became aware of the fluffy little wolf pup beside him, staring at him intently. His face flushed slightly as he reached out and gently tugged a tuft of fur on the pup’s neck, urging it to turn away as he said: "Little wolf, don’t look... Dianxia, you shouldn't look either."

His front lapels loosened, revealing the beautiful, frozen-white skin beneath.

Gu Tingshuang was utterly dumbfounded.

But his frozen expression, in Ning Shiting’s eyes, meant something else entirely. He assumed this Shizi had found yet another reason to be displeased, stubbornly staring at him. Ning Shiting could even imagine his tone: "I insist on looking. Jiaoren, what the hell are you doing?"(1)

Ning Shiting hesitated briefly but took his silence as tacit permission, lowering his head to continue undoing the buttons.

Until… everything was fully taken off.

It was at that moment that Gu Tingshuang realised—Ning Shiting had already shifted back into his fishtail form.

It was an exquisitely beautiful tail, its curves smooth and elegant. That day in the hot spring, Gu Tingshuang had been too dazed from his fall to take a good look, but this time, he saw it clearly.

"You really are a Jiaoren," he thought.

Then he immediately felt that was a ridiculous realisation—what else could a Jiaoren be if not a Jiaoren? Ning Shiting had always had a tail, had always loved bathing, and even insisted on using water charcoal when warming himself by the fire.

His tail was a pale, translucent blue, nearly see-through, with razor-sharp edges at the tip. The entire thing gleamed like it had been sculpted from flawless crystal.

And yet, it was soft.

Now that Ning Shiting had regained his fish tail, sitting in the snow became an awkward task—his waist dipped into the ground, curving into an almost boneless arc. His silver-white hair, now loosened from its crown, spilt over his shoulders, shimmering with faint blue hues that echoed the iridescence of his scales. That divine glow made him seem ethereal, almost godlike. Yet, at the same time, the faint blush that bloomed across his skin drew him back into the mortal world.

An impossible balance of cold elegance and lush beauty.

A being this stunning should not exist in this world.

Even though all Ning Shiting was doing was rubbing Fire Dragon Saliva onto his body. Within Gu Tingshuang’s spiritual consciousness, the little wolf’s thoughts began to twist uncomfortably.

It wanted to refute its head wolf’s previous belief—that the White Wolf God Clan was the most powerful and majestic species and that Jiaoren would surely bow before their noble, kingly presence—because clearly, the fish was the most beautiful.

The little wolf felt slightly wronged, slightly dejected, suddenly seeing itself as a rather rough and unrefined white wolf.

But at that moment, it noticed something astonishing—For the first time, its head wolf did not ruthlessly suppress those thoughts of the greatest disrespect.

Because its head wolf was utterly mesmerised.

Foot Notes:

1. He actually says, “你又搞什么鬼” (Nǐ yòu gǎo shénme guǐ), which is more literally “You’re setting up what ghosts?” This is a bit like “what the hell/fuck” or “what nonsense are you getting up to?”