Chapter 80: Heavy Snow Seals the Mountains

After some shopping, the next day, Feng Zi and the others left Yuanping County and continued south toward Yangquan City.

At first, only a few snowflakes drifted from the sky; Feng Zi did not pay attention, thinking they were just a few drops of rain.

By the time the three of them realized what was happening, the time had already reached that evening.

Snowflakes as dense as goose feathers fell suddenly, as if intending to trap the three of them in the mountains.

"Looking at the weather... this snow should last for several days. Are we trapped in the mountains?"

Feng Zi stood at the top of a tree, gazing at the thick, solid overcast clouds in the sky, and said helplessly to Qing Lin and Lu Zhiruo, who were standing under the tree.

Watching Feng Zi jump nimbly from the treetop, Lu Zhiruo suggested, "Since we cannot continue forward, why not return to Yuanping County first?"

"That is somewhat difficult; I personally do not advise doing so." Feng Zi crouched under the tree and began rummaging through his pack:

"First, it is already evening, and it will be dark before long. The risk of traveling by night is too great.

"Second, this snow is simply too heavy. If we really turn back, it won't be long before the snow seals the mountains, and we will still be trapped."

His analysis was logical and well-founded, so Lu Zhiruo had no choice but to abandon her suggestion: "Then what should we do?"

"Wait a moment..." Feng Zi continued rummaging through his pack and replied casually.

Before long, he found two axes wrapped up tightly and handed them to the two of them:

"Take these. We will go cut down a few trees and build a small hut right here on the mountain peak to shelter us from the wind and rain."

With the addition of Qing Lin and Lu Zhiruo, Feng Zi was able to carry more supplies that he previously could not have brought along.

"Just pile the cut trees on the mountain peak, right?" Hearing this, Qing Lin simply took an axe and went to cut trees without a word.

She never questioned Feng Zi's decisions.

Lu Zhiruo took the other axe but asked doubtfully:

"There are only three of us; can we really build a small hut? Why do I feel like this idea is even less reliable?"

"Am I the kind of person who is unreliable?" Feng Zi shouldered his pack, smiled, and raised an eyebrow as he asked:

"Rest assured, with the strength of the three of us, if we put in a little effort, it will be quite easy to build a simple hut before dark."

Having said that, he turned around and began to "smash" the trees with his bare hands.

By using this method, he could also practice his own cultivation technique in the process; it could be considered killing two birds with one stone.

Seeing this, Lu Zhiruo had no choice but to join the ranks of tree-cutters: "Fine, I have never built a small hut before; it is a brand-new experience as well."

The facts were indeed as Feng Zi had said; relying on their solid strength, the progress of the three was quite fast:

In less than an hour, a hut that was not exactly crude stood on the mountain peak.

Feng Zi even had the extra thought to pile up stones in the center of the hut to create a large fireplace that burned firewood and connected to the outdoors.

Looking around this not-so-small wooden hut, Lu Zhiruo remarked with emotion, "It actually looks quite decent."

Hearing this evaluation, Feng Zi also touched his nose with a bit of pride and laughed: "How about that? Didn't I tell you?"

Just as the two were admiring the fruits of their labor, Qing Lin, who was trying to light the bonfire beside the stone platform, suddenly called out:

"Feng Zi, Feng Zi, the firewood is too damp, the fire starter won't catch!"

Hearing this call, Feng Zi hurried over.

"It really is... the wood is too damp..." He weighed the firewood Qing Lin handed him a few times and understood this small difficulty:

The trees had become very damp under the soaking of the accumulated snow; the few sparks from the fire starter were simply unable to ignite the firewood.

"Is there any other way?" Lu Zhiruo also crowded over and asked curiously.

Regarding this question, the other party was not very anxious—they already had a hut to shelter from the wind and rain, so they were not too worried about the issue of keeping warm.

Hearing this question, Feng Zi smiled and shook his head: "As long as your thinking doesn't slide, there are always more solutions than difficulties."

In fact, he really had thought of a way, only he had not tested it before:

He remembered very clearly that the *Chongming Sword* recorded many profound applications of "techniques."

Although Feng Zi could not use a single "technique," what if he tried to draw a portion of his Qi and Blood Power out of his body? Would it produce a similar, low-tier effect?

No sooner said than done!

Feng Zi sank his focus into his body, his will merging with the Qi and Blood Power surging through his meridians.

Before long, a cluster of intense sparks truly emerged quietly from his fingertips!

"It really worked!" Seeing this scene, Feng Zi was filled with joy.

But he did not forget the task at hand and hurriedly lit the firewood under the fireplace.

Seeing this, Lu Zhiruo was dumbfounded: "Is this right? A Martial Artist can actually do this trick? How did you do it?"

Regarding this question, Feng Zi did not know how to answer either—

He could hardly say that he had thought of this point, then went to try it out, and then succeeded, could he?

Although this reason was true, it seemed to have no essential difference from "I reckon so," and Feng Zi truly could not bring himself to say it.

After all, Feng Zi knew deep down that the path he was walking was already completely different from that of an ordinary Martial Artist; even if he told the truth, it had no reference value.

After thinking it over, he decided to play it off vaguely: "Yeah... how did I do it? I just did it as a matter of course, didn't I?"

Hearing this answer, Lu Zhiruo also understood that Feng Zi did not want to tell the truth, and she did not press him: "Fine, then let's just assume that's the case."

And while the two of them were exchanging questions and answers, Qing Lin sat by the hearth, staring blankly at the leaping firelight.

The next moment, a cluster of sparks quietly emerged from her fingertips as well: "Feng Zi, look, I did it too!"

Seeing this scene, both Feng Zi and Lu Zhiruo stared with wide, blank eyes—

Feng Zi certainly understood that he had already stepped onto his own path of cultivation; among Martial Artists, he could be considered an outlier.

But it seemed... no matter what he did, Qing Lin always learned it very quickly!

And when Lu Zhiruo saw this scene, she could not keep a straight face:

In front of these two people who did not act according to common sense, she, a Martial Master, felt out of place for being too normal.

Of course, Feng Zi did not know what Lu Zhiruo was thinking.

As the furnace fire gradually dispelled the chill in the room, he also stood up and walked toward the door with his weapon:

"It is late now; the two of you should stay inside the room and look out for each other, while I go hunt some prey nearby."

Hearing Feng Zi's arrangement, Qing Lin looked at him with worry: "Is it alright? Do you want me to go out with you?"

"No need, there is no danger in the mountains, I will be back very soon." Feng Zi smiled and waved his hand upon hearing this:

"After I leave, remember to bolt the door—do not open it under any circumstances unless I am the one knocking."

Although in his perception there was no danger in this mountain, Feng Zi still gave a few earnest instructions.

Of course, the main purpose was to teach Qing Lin some common sense.