Chapter 328: Should've Said So Earlier, I'm Freezing, My Pose Was Wasted

The wind and snow of Kuhan Huangdi continue to howl, swirling up fine flakes that strike the face with a slight sting.

Shan Kui stands on a protruding rock, the tiny body wrapped in a thick beast‑skin cloak, lifts a hand and points far into TianQiong, speaking in a flat tone: "Hey, that's the Warrior Eagle King."

Huo La looks in the direction she pointed and sees, above the endless snowstorm, only a faint violet‑gold speck, flickering in the clouds, flying extremely high and far, so blurred that its outline is impossible to discern.

His mouth twitches, a wave of speechlessness—at this distance, in this snowstorm, let alone seeing the Warrior Eagle King's features, even telling whether it's a Pokémon is nearly impossible.

Beside them, Xiao Zhao cradles the soft Soroa, stretches his neck, squints at the violet‑gold speck in TianQiong, and after a long stare still can't make it out, then can't help asking: "Um… Shanbei Owner, could you make it come down a bit? It's so far we can't see it at all."

"Sigh." Shan Kui lets out a light sigh, voice faint and tinged with helplessness, "When it gets tired, it will naturally come down."

She pauses, then adds slowly: "The Warrior Eagle King is the only flying Pokémon King in Hisui, soaring in the sky year after year, closest to the heavens and thus most susceptible to Interdimensional Energy—actually, among all Pokémon Kings, it is the most heavily infected."

Huo La and Xiao Zhao are both startled, never expecting that the seemingly freely soaring Warrior Eagle King is in such a perilous situation.

"Its nest is atop the sheer cliffs of the icy snowfield, and it usually circles high in the air, rarely landing, so there haven't been major attacks and no one can approach it easily." Shan Kui's tone remains flat, yet carries a weight of seriousness.

Huo La regains composure, spreads his hands, voice tinged with helplessness: "... So we just wait? Wait for it to tire and come down, then figure out how to deal with the anomaly inside it?"

"No." Shan Kui shakes his head without hesitation, refusing outright, "When it gets tired, it only flies back to its own nest to rest; it won't land easily."

"If you want to eliminate the Interdimensional Energy inside it and obtain its Stone Tablet, you must ambush its nest before it returns there."

"Ah!" Xiao Zhao's eyes widen instantly, a shocked expression fixed on Shan Kui, his arms clutching Soroa tighter, "Shanbei Owner, you… you're saying we have to climb those sheer cliffs and ambush its nest? But those cliffs are so steep, plus the snowstorm—too dangerous!"

"Hmm." Shan Kui first nods, then shakes his head, patiently explaining, "The cliffs you mentioned host ordinary fledgling eagles and Warrior Eagle nests, not the Warrior Eagle King's."

Huo La furrows his brow, pressing: "Then where is the Warrior Eagle King's nest?"

Shan Kui lifts his head, eyes fixed on the snow‑capped Snow Peak shrouded in the storm, tone turning solemn and unyielding: "To reach the Warrior Eagle King's nest, you must pass through the Snow Peak Temple. And to enter the Snow Peak Temple, there is only one condition—defeat me!"

As the words finish, Shan Kui slowly removes his beast‑skin cloak, revealing a light combat outfit underneath; from his tiny frame erupts an aura not to be underestimated.

Huo La feels a chill, about to drop his casual battle stance, when the cold wind "whoosh" rushes into his collar, freezing him into a shiver; he instantly changes his tone, gritting his teeth: "Damn, this cursed weather is too cold; if we're going to fight, let's do it tomorrow!"

Shan Kui freezes, blinking repeatedly, clearly not expecting him to react that way.

Recovering, he immediately bends, picks up the beast‑skin cloak he just dropped, haphazardly wraps it back on, shrinks his neck, and mutters softly: "Should've said earlier, I'm freezing to death, and my pose was wasted."

Xiao Zhao, still holding Soroa, can't help letting out a "pfft" laugh; Soroa nuzzles her palm, emitting a soft, mushy Cry, instantly diffusing the previously tense atmosphere.

Huo La rubs his reddened, frozen hands, rolls his eyes: "What else? Fight while we're frozen? Even if we win we'll catch a cold. Let's rest a night; missing a day doesn't matter."

Shan Kui purses his lips, offers no rebuttal, simply tightens his cloak and shifts behind a wind‑sheltered rock: "Fine, then follow me back to camp, make do for a night, and we'll compare at sunrise tomorrow."

Having said that, she steps toward the camp first, her tiny figure swaying in the snowstorm, looking especially cute.

Huo La and Xiao Zhao exchange a glance, smile and follow; Soroa pokes its head from Xiao Zhao's arms, curiously surveying the icy landscape.

The Diamond Team camp in Kuhan Huangdi consists of several sturdy, warm cabins, shielding against the howling snow outside.

Inside, a pot of charcoal fire crackles, heating the whole room to a cozy warmth, dispelling the biting cold.

Huo La cradles a steaming cup of hot tea, the warmth traveling from his fingertips through his blood to his whole body; he gently sips, slowly exhaling a wisp of white vapor, and his frozen limbs finally relax, noticeably more comfortable, even his brows ease a bit.

Beside him, Xiao Zhao also holds a cup of hot tea, sipping daintily, his cheeks flushed pink from the steam, his gaze softening; the chill he felt outside now vanishes completely.

Soroa, nestled in his arms, curls up comfortably, its head resting on Xiao Zhao's arm, eyes half‑closed in a nap, its fluffy body melting Xiao Zhao's heart.

Shan Kui sheds the heavy beast‑skin cloak, revealing a light, pale‑colored combat outfit; his already slight frame now appears even more slender.

Xiao Zhao watches Shan Kui, hesitates for a while, then can't help speaking, voice tentative: "Shanbei Owner… you, how old are you this year?"

As soon as the words finish, Shan Kui's face instantly flares, brows knit, hands on hips, voice feigning indignation toward Xiao Zhao: "Hey! Didn't you know asking a woman's age is rude? You brat, how can you be so clueless!"

"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Xiao Zhao startles at her sudden anger, quickly sets down the tea cup, repeatedly gestures apologies, face full of guilt, "I didn't mean it, I was just… just a bit curious, sorry Shanbei Owner!"

Seeing Xiao Zhao's frantic apology, Shan Kui holds back for two seconds, then bursts into a "hahaha" laugh, eyebrows curving, the earlier indignation vanishing without a trace, tone lightening: "Just teasing you, look how scared you were! I'm twenty this year."

Xiao Zhao blinks, then realizes he's been tricked, cheeks reddening further, helplessly scratching his head, a smile flickering in his eyes.

Shan Kui continues, the smile gradually fading, tinged with melancholy; she extends a tiny finger, gently pokes her flat chest, voice tinged with grievance and confusion: "It's just… I don't know why, since I was fifteen I stopped developing, remaining childlike; no matter how much I eat I never grow tall or big."

She pokes again while speaking, a face of distress, both cute and funny.

Huo La: "......"

He pauses, hand holding the tea cup, mouth twitching, for a moment unsure what to say, silently sipping tea, pretending he heard nothing, his gaze drifting to the wind and snow outside the window, a face both helpless and amused.

Xiao Zhao can't help laughing, quickly comforting: "It's okay, Shanbei Owner, that's cute, and looking younger than your actual age is wonderful!"

Shan Kui pouts, an unhappy expression: "What's the use of being cute? Every time we go on a mission, people treat us like a child, no authority of a Field Master at all!"