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Lin Xiao exhaled a long breath. The closer they came to the frozen lands, the colder it grew.
Even as he spoke, the white mist of his breath hung clearly in the air.
âThis⊠is going to be troublesome.â
âYou seem to know a lot about this Leng Hantian?â Zhang Nu frowned. To him, nothing was more important than saving Ling Xi. Even if it meant passing through fire and blades, he would do itâbecause only that could bring her back!
But Lin Xiaoâs hesitation frustrated him. They hadnât even entered the frozen lands yet, and already he was saying it would be difficult. What would happen once they truly faced danger? Would he shrink back then, too?
âYou may not know, but Leng Hantianâs influence once swept across the entire black market. Anything placed there, if he so much as showed interest, no one else dared touch. He once entered the frozen lands alone and defeated a snow beast with nothing but his own strength. Thatâs the kind of man he isânot one to be provoked. If we enter his city, thereâs no guarantee weâll ever walk out again.â
If that was true, then who would save Ling Xi? Zhang Nu knew Lin Xiaoâs words werenât without merit. But his desperation to save Ling Xi wouldnât allow him to retreat.
âIf youâre afraid, then go back! Iâll go alone!â He stormed forward, but Lin Xiao immediately pulled him back.
âDonât be reckless! Iâm talking this through with you. I want to save Ling Xi tooâIâve come this far with you, how could I abandon you now? More importantly, Ling Xi is still waiting for us to save her!â
They had been through much together. Lin Xiao wasnât the kind to turn his back on that. He would enter the city no matter the danger. But that didnât mean they should rush in unprepared.
âThen what do you mean?â Zhang Nuâs frustration boiled over. âYou know how much Ling Xi means to meâI canât just sit here!â
âI know!â Lin Xiao raised his voice, trying to cool Zhang Nuâs hot head. âBut we need a plan. If we charge in blindly, itâll only end badly.â
âWhat plan is there to make right now?â
âListen first. Once weâre inside, we split upâdonât let people see weâre together. If trouble arises, then we act as one. You focus on asking about the Fragrant Snowbloom. Iâll gather information on Leng Hantian.â
It was a sound strategy. And since Zhang Nu was desperate for any chance, he reluctantly accepted. âFine. Letâs head down the mountain.â
âGood. If you hear anything about the herb, signal me immediately.â
âUnderstood.â Zhang Nu nodded and hurried down the slope.
Watching his companionâs back, Lin Xiao couldnât shake his unease. Zhang Nuâs urgency might cause more harm than good. But with no better choice, this was the only path left.
âŠ
Soon, Lin Xiao arrived at the city gates, but Zhang Nu was nowhere in sight.
âHalt! Who are you?â
Of course, the gates were guarded. Lin Xiao wondered how Zhang Nu had managed to gain entry so easily, while for him, it looked anything but simple.
ââŠâ His mind raced for a plausible excuse, but before he could speak, the guards cut him off.
âHesitating like thatâyouâre clearly up to no good! Seize him!â
Lin Xiao was stunned. He hadnât even stepped through the gate, and already they wanted to arrest him?
âWait, wait! I came here to negotiate a trade with your city lord! If you seize me now, who will conduct that trade? Wouldnât that be your lordâs loss?â
Quick thinkingâhe threw out Leng Hantianâs name. Surely the guards wouldnât dare if their lord was invoked.
âCity lord? A trade? Donât spout nonsense! If that were true, why would you be here in Cold City?â
âCold City?â Lin Xiao froze.
Hadnât the old man just told them this was called Imperial City? How was it that after a single trip down the mountain, the name of the city had changed?