Chapter 417

Longjuan didn't pay attention to Luo En's words. She knew full well that Chuixue, that stubborn brat, would run off at the slightest provocation—once she cooled down, she'd come back on her own.

Thus, neither Luo En nor Longjuan bothered to look for Chuixue.

Night gradually fell, and only then did Luo En and Longjuan realize something was amiss.

"Longjuan, where's Chuixue?" Luo En asked casually.

Although Longjuan's anger had already faded, she always spoke to Luo En this way—cold and detached.

"She's always clinging to you like a shadow—why are you asking me?"

After speaking, Longjuan remained oblivious and vanished from Luo En's sight without another word.

Luo En sat alone, thinking—and the more he thought, the more wrong it felt. Chuixue had been gone since early afternoon, past dusk.

Luo En sprang to his feet, growing anxious, a dread rising in his chest.

"Longjuan, Longjuan—is Chuixue still not back?!" Luo En rushed over to ask.

Longjuan strolled out slowly, biting into an apple. "Nope. I haven't seen her."

"Damn it—Chuixue's in trouble!" Luo En muttered under his breath.

Hearing Chuixue was in trouble, Longjuan's apple suddenly lost its flavor—it slipped from her hand and fell.

"What did you say?? Chuixue is missing???" Longjuan's pupils dilated several times over.

Luo En didn't have time to answer—he turned and sprinted outside.

He didn't know Chuixue's condition—whether she was just playing hooky or truly in danger—so he had to search first.

Soon, Longjuan caught up to Luo En, and the two set out together.

But they searched the streets multiple times—no trace of her at all.

"Longjuan, what's the situation over here?!" Luo En panted.

Longjuan shook her head. "Nothing. I asked around—they saw Chuixue in that alley, but then she vanished."

"No good—I'll search over there again!" Longjuan turned to head another way.

Luo En grabbed her arm. "Stop. She's not here anymore."

"What? You're giving up? She's my sister—you don't have to look for her, fine!"

After speaking, Longjuan angrily wrenched free and continued searching alone.

At that moment, she saw Luo En as heartless and uncaring—for giving up so easily.

Longjuan scoured every corner within miles—but not a single shadow of Chuixue.

Given this, Luo En was right—Chuixue was no longer here. That meant she must have encountered danger.

On the other side, Chuixue was tied to a chair.

Chuixue's mind was a jumbled mess—she had no idea what had happened or what situation she was in.

Her eyes were covered; she could see nothing.

"Is anyone there? Help! Help! Is anyone around?!"

Chuixue screamed for hours—but outside, not a sound stirred.

After an unknown length of time, her throat hoarse and body exhausted, she fell silent and lay still on the chair.

Suddenly, a sound came from the door—Chuixue instantly tensed.

"Are you here to save me?!" Chuixue thought she'd found salvation—but it wasn't salvation at all. It was her captor.

The visitor didn't remove the blindfold—only came to feed her.

Seeing no sign of release, Chuixue began to panic.

"Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?!" Her voice cracked with tears.

The stranger glanced at her, speaking with surprising gentleness: "Be quiet. Eat. You're not free yet—but you will be, in time."

Hearing she wouldn't be freed, Chuixue immediately refused to cooperate—she twisted, resisted, and refused to eat.

Seeing she wouldn't yield to force, the stranger switched to persuasion.

After much coaxing, Chuixue grew hungry herself—and finally ate obediently.

After all, her principle was: never suffer unnecessarily.

If she starved herself now, she'd die before even escaping—too great a loss.

A dark shadow stood in the corner, observing all of this.

Kidnapping Chuixue was one of his goals.

Luo En was powerful—but his weakness was his friends. By capturing them, his weakness would naturally be exposed.

The shadow drifted to Chuixue's side, its ethereal voice entering her ears.

"You're Luo En's friend, aren't you? Does Luo En have weaknesses? Will he fall into my trap for you?"

Hearing the voice, Chuixue froze—its familiarity was uncanny, yet she was certain she'd heard it before.

And he intended to target Luo En—after much thought, Chuixue finally remembered one name.

The Cosmic God.

The Cosmic God had always sought to prove himself superior to Luo En—but Chuixue never imagined such a lofty, divine figure would resort to such low, despicable tactics.

Chuixue spat: "Pfft—you call yourself Cosmic God? You're a despicable, shameless worm."

She hurled every vile insult she knew.

But these words had no effect on the Cosmic God—he didn't even regard Chuixue as worthy of notice. He'd kidnapped her solely to lure Luo En.

"Go ahead and curse," the Cosmic God growled. "This time, I'll make Luo En suffer a total defeat." His voice faded slowly.

Feeling the presence gone, Chuixue slowly lowered her guard.

Luo En had sensed why Chuixue had vanished—but he wasn't yet certain.

Three days passed—finally, Luo En received a message: "If you wish to know what you seek, come to Maple Forest Mountain."

Luo En's expression changed; indeed, the thing he feared most had finally happened.

He never expected that this Cosmic God would toy with Chuixue's life just to prove he was stronger.

Long Juan noticed Luo En's strange expression and hurried over to ask: "What's wrong? Has Chuixue been found?"

"Tell me quickly—is that it?!"

Now that Chuixue's whereabouts were confirmed, Luo En became even more reluctant to speak.

But under Long Juan's forceful pressure, Luo En finally spoke.

Upon hearing they were going to Maple Forest Mountain, Long Juan immediately said she would come too.

Luo En said nothing, indicating his silent consent.

Although the letter specified that Luo En must go alone, an extra person could offer additional support; if they found Chuixue, he could hand her over to Long Juan, freeing himself of all worries.

The two quickly prepared to depart; before dawn the next day, they sneaked out.

To avoid being discovered by Banggu, they got up this early.

They did not use the main gate; instead, both climbed over the courtyard wall and jumped to the outside.

Suddenly, both felt a chill down their backs; they exchanged glances and slowly turned around.

"Ah!" Long Juan cried out.

Banggu, startled to have frightened Long Juan, hurried forward to shush her: "Shh! Shh! Shh! Keep it down—why make so much noise?!"

"How are you here?!" Long Juan shot back.

Luo En also said: "Go back. If the Monster Alliance sends someone to cause trouble, you're needed. We'll bring Chuixue back safely."

Banggu paid no attention, retorting: "Don't worry—I've already given instructions. They know what to do. Chuixue's disappearance is the real danger."

In the end, neither Long Juan nor Luo En could outargue Banggu, so they took all three of them.

Maple Forest Mountain was very far from their location; within its hills lay a peculiar place that granted boundless power to those destined for it.

Yet for those without such destiny, it could also mean death.

The three of them walked all day, aided by their own inner strength, to move so quickly.

The mountain's location differs from ordinary mountains.

It normally remains invisible; only when you find the correct direction and step into its vicinity does it slowly appear before your eyes, finally forming a true mountain.

They had now reached the approximate location; their current task was to find the entrance.

The entrance was extremely hard to find. To avoid wasting time, the three split up.

They agreed on a time: when it came, they would gather at the spot regardless of circumstances.

Banggu, being of the older generation, had heard of this mountain but had never entered it; thus, he had his own method of searching.

Long Juan was genuinely worried about her sister, so she searched with great effort—but this was her first time looking for a mountain, and she had no idea where to begin.