TGCFNM -Chapter 270 Ascending the Snow Mountain

After most of the people had gathered in the plaza, Yuan Luo temporarily stepped away, taking his junior brothers to go around and remind everyone one by one.

By the time Yuan Luo returned, Xie Yubai had also appeared. After exchanging a few polite words with the heads of the major sects, he wore a proper smile, made a courteous gesture of invitation, and then led the way forward.

From the Tianjian Sect up to the snow mountain, there was still a long stretch of road to walk. Fortunately, everyone present practiced martial arts, so it didn’t feel particularly exhausting.

Which only made the complaints of Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin stand out even more in the otherwise quiet crowd.

“No idea how much farther we have to go…” Wan Sanjin muttered after looking into the distance.

Chu Ling sighed. “Probably still a long way. After all, look—everyone’s smiling so kindly right now.” Once they reached the entrance to the treasure vault, those smiling tigers would likely change their expressions in an instant.

Wan Sanjin actually took a careful look. It was true.

As she walked, Chu Ling couldn’t help sighing inwardly: Back in Huaxia, a place like this would’ve had a cable car long ago—carry you straight up effortlessly. Yet here, they actually had to rely on their own two legs to climb.

Just then, Wan Sanjin tugged at Chu Ling’s sleeve and whispered, “Climbing is already this tiring, and some people are still putting on a show, trying to build connections everywhere.”

Chu Ling didn’t even need to look to know it had to be Zhang Zhenfeng. It seemed her verdict had forced the Lishui Sect to accept the outcome, so Zhang Zhenfeng was probably looking for a way out for himself.

“Let him jump around a little longer,” Chu Ling replied.

Wan Sanjin withdrew his hand in satisfaction. They could deal with him after the treasure vault was opened.

Chu Ling casually tilted her head and glanced at Ghost Scholar.

He shook his head. “Didn’t find him.”

Bai Su’s expression was grave. Earlier, she had carefully examined the faces of all five hundred people who had received invitations. Even if someone had altered their appearance, she would have noticed something amiss.

But not a single one of them was Bai Zhuoxing. It was as if Bai Zhuoxing had never come to the Tianjian Sect at all.

Yet Bai Su was absolutely certain: Bai Zhuoxing would definitely use this extremely cold environment to remove the Blood Gu. And Gui Wushuang had been tightly guarded within Yungong all this time—his only opportunity was when the divine hall was opened this time.

But where exactly was he?

Chu Ling lifted her gaze toward Xie Yubai not far ahead. Xie Yubai had long since received news about Bai Zhuoxing, so he must have conducted investigations. Yet there wasn’t the slightest sign of anything unusual on his face. That meant he hadn’t discovered Bai Zhuoxing among these people either. Could it be that Bai Zhuoxing had gone up the mountain alone ahead of everyone else?

Chu Ling suddenly quickened her pace and called out from the front, “Yuan Luo.”

Yuan Luo turned back. “Lord Chu?”

“Is the path up the mountain guarded by your Tianjian Sect?” Chu Ling asked.

Yuan Luo nodded. “Is there a problem?”

“Is it possible that someone could bypass the guards and secretly enter the snow mountain ahead of time?” Chu Ling asked.

Yuan Luo shook his head firmly. “Lord Chu, that’s impossible. Besides the disciples, elders are stationed at the entrance to the snow mountain.”

Chu Ling gave a soft hum and fell into thought.

Seeing people passing them on both sides, Yuan Luo slowed his pace and said to Chu Ling, “For the Tianjian Sect, the snow mountain is something we must guard. Whether it’s the medicinal herbs on the mountain or the hidden treasure site, they are extremely important to us. So generally, two elders are stationed at the entrance.”

Chu Ling looked up at him. “So Bai Zhuoxing can’t slip into the treasure site.”

Yuan Luo lowered his voice. “There are people staying behind in the sect to investigate, and my master will absolutely not allow anyone to sabotage the opening of the treasure vault at a time like this.”

Chu Ling raised her brow slightly. That, she believed. After all, the Tianjian Sect had spent who knew how many years searching for this hidden treasure site.

“And this time, even the Seventh Elder has come out of seclusion, just to personally guard this place and ensure that no one disturbs it,” Yuan Luo said, unable to hide his excitement.

After so many years, the treasury could finally be opened!

Chu Ling clicked her tongue inwardly. If the Heavenly Sword Sect ever found out that the so-called opening time of the divine hall amounted to nothing more than the time it took her to finish a bowl of soup, they would probably die of anger.

“It’s snowing!” Wan Sanjin exclaimed in surprise.

Chu Ling looked up. Sparse snowflakes drifted down slowly, landing on her face and shoulders. The icy chill spread across her skin, clearing her mind instantly.

A cold wind swept past, and the temperature plummeted.

Yuan Luo smiled at them. “We’ve entered the snow mountain. This is the unique spectacle of our Heavenly Sword Sect. At the foot of the mountain, Heavenly Sword City basks in bright sunshine. Midway up, the sect is shrouded in mist. And at the summit, the snow mountain lies blanketed in ice and snow, with flurries filling the sky.”

Chu Ling looked at him. “Didn’t your sect think to prepare padded coats or something?”

Yuan Luo: “…We’re all martial artists. That shouldn’t be necessary.”

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “Do you know why the people entering the snow mountain don’t change their expressions?”

Yuan Luo ventured a guess. “Because martial artists don’t fear the cold?”

“Wrong!” Wan Sanjin waved a hand. “It’s because they’re frozen stiff. Or maybe they’re pretending—too embarrassed to admit it.”

Yuan Luo pressed his lips into a thin line.

Wan Sanjin tucked his hands into his sleeves and leaned closer. “My Wan family has padded coats. If you want five hundred of them, I can give you a discount. After all, we’re friends.”

Yuan Luo forced a smile. “That won’t be necessary.”

Wan Sanjin looked regretful and began catching snowflakes with his hands.

Chu Ling shrank her neck into her collar and gazed at the endless stretch of white before them. She knew they were getting closer and closer to the summit—and the divine hall Ling Da had mentioned was right at the top.

The nearer they drew to the snow mountain, the more devout and excited Ling Da looked. He was finally going home.

“Snow Ghost.” Ling Da poked Chu Ling. “My remains are over there.”

Following the direction he pointed, Chu Ling saw that at some point a coffin had appeared at the summit. It was clearly placed there in advance—set off to the side, conspicuous and impossible to miss.

The group ahead had also stopped beside the coffin. Yuan Luo led a few men to lift it, following behind Xie Yubai as they continued forward.

Ling Da tried to follow, but Chu Ling instinctively grabbed him.

Bai Su caught Chu Ling’s hand. “Let Ling Da go.”

Chu Ling released her grip and watched as Ling Da hurried to his coffin, carefully examining the people around it.

Bai Su said, “The summit of the snow mountain is Ling Da’s home. He knows it better than we do.”

Ghost Scholar lowered his voice. “It seems the one who took Ling Da’s remains was the Heavenly Sword Sect. And the Dark Street belongs to them as well.”

Chu Ling folded her arms and muttered, “They took someone’s bones, put them in a coffin, then carried it up here? What for—burying him in snow for peace?”

“They must be after something,” Ghost Scholar said.

Chu Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly as she asked in a low voice, “What does the Heavenly Sword Sect want?”

Bai Su tilted her head toward Chu Ling. “No matter what the Heavenly Sword Sect is hiding, as long as it doesn’t harm the common people or Great Zhou, then it remains a matter of martial world disputes. There’s no need to worry too much.”

Chu Ling nodded to show she understood.