Chapter 284: 293 The Eve

A snow-white crane flew over their heads, elegant as a dance; the black feathers on its wings and tail were like the train of a dance costume, adding to its mysterious bearing.

Yet, in the end, it was merely a bird, no more than a drop in the ocean compared to the vast, azure void. If not for the crane's cry, no one would have noticed such a slender, snow-white shadow sweeping across the sky.

However, upon hearing the cry, the group no longer had the heart to look at this shadow.

Listening to the cry, Black Widow instantly ceased all distracting thoughts, her mind gradually emptying, falling back into that floating, ethereal state from the blizzard earlier; her feet seemed to be walking forward, but her mind could not distinguish her body's movements at all, only instinctively following the sound, step by step.

And was she the only one to fall into such a state?

Suddenly, the cry stopped.

Black Widow snapped awake, her vision cleared, the scenery re-entering her eyes, and then she turned deathly pale, nearly crying out in shock.

Just a few steps ahead lay a ten-thousand-foot cliff!

A moment more, and she would have followed the sound and plunged headlong into the abyss of the Snow Mountain; at that point, no matter how high one's martial arts were, it would be a dead end!

Even with Black Widow's deep cunning, she was frightened out of her wits, forcing herself to keep her composure as she retreated step by step, only sitting down slowly once she reached a safe place, panting repeatedly, her heart filled with lingering fear.

Looking to the side, the others had also escaped death, all of them pale and trembling, cold sweat pouring out; hardly any of them could even stand.

At this moment, that Li Laosan jumped up, picked up a stone, and threw it into the sky; because there was nothing above, it could only trace an arc and fall to the bottom of the valley, and he shouted loudly: "Damn beast, you're trying to kill me!"

Black Widow frowned and was about to speak when the middle-aged man leading them scolded first: "You fool, will you shut your mouth?! Don't you know it already showed mercy?"

Most of the group had actually realized it—if this white crane truly had the ability to bewitch minds, it could have just let everyone fall to their deaths earlier. The reason it stopped was that the other party possessed the virtue of cherishing life.

In the pugilistic world, if one side has the ability to kill you but doesn't act, this is called a "grace of not killing," a favor that requires repayment.

Li Laosan was instantly silenced, and the middle-aged man said: "A crane... I heard that Zhuoyu Villa keeps cranes; was that just now a method of Zhuoyu Villa?"

Black Widow was slightly dejected and said: "Perhaps?"

The middle-aged man sighed: "The other party raised their hand and didn't let us all fall to our deaths, but the warning was delivered. If we don't turn back and keep walking forward, that would truly be throwing ourselves into the gates of hell."

The group nodded one after another. When they first ascended the mountain, everyone was full of ambition, feeling that they could cross the mountains as if flying, and that once they entered Zhuoyu Villa in a moment, they could seize the sword, perform meritorious service, and achieve a bright future. But after walking through the wind and snow for these two days, suffering endlessly, their ambition had worn away quite a bit, and with today's scare, they immediately beat a retreat.

Li Laosan slapped his thigh and said: "But even if we want to go back, how do we go back? We've already lost our way, lured onto a crooked path by it. Without someone to point the way, won't we just be trapped in Da Xue Shan and die? At that point, it would be better to just fall down and die quickly."

As he was speaking, an object drifted down from the sky; the middle-aged man was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, catching it in one go, feeling a slight vibration—it was a small navigation compass, its needle, no matter how it turned, always pointing in one direction.

The way down the mountain!

The middle-aged man felt a surge of joy, and turning it over, he saw a few vermilion characters on the back: "Those who advance shall die."

This was a clear and unmistakable warning; some of the group were awestruck, while others were unconvinced in their hearts, their rebellious pugilistic spirit flaring up—even knowing they couldn't win, they still refused to submit.

Black Widow's brows locked together, and she heard Li Laosan whisper: "Lady. Lady Yin, what do you think?"

Black Widow's heart stirred, and she said: "What else could I think?"

Li Laosan said: "If you, Lady, still want to go up the mountain, I, Li Laosan, will risk my life to ensure you get up there; I won't even frown if I have to climb a mountain of blades or descend into a sea of fire."

Black Widow sighed, and the middle-aged man shouted: "Li Laosan, you greedy fool, if you want to go up the mountain, go yourself; don't use this delicate young lady as a raft. I ask you, you want to climb a mountain of blades and descend into a vat of oil, but do you even know where the mountain of blades is?"

Li Laosan retorted unconvincingly: "Just walk in the opposite direction of the needle. They sent the needle, but instead, they gave me a reverse guide. The path forward must be in that direction—"

He pointed with his hand.

The group looked where he pointed, only to see snow mountain after snow mountain, unable to distinguish east, west, south, or north.

Suddenly, a muffled sound.

It was like a thunderclap from beyond the nine heavens, or like ten thousand horses galloping. That dull, non-piercing sound felt like a great hammer, striking heavily upon everyone's chests.

Everyone watched, almost wide-eyed, as the snow on one side of a mountain over there slid down, all the way to the foot of the mountain. After the snow fell, the entire peak seemed to have been shaved off.

The falling snow reflected a dazzling white light in the Sunlight, stinging their eyes until everything was a blur of white, and they couldn't help but shed tears.

"That is..."

"An avalanche."

Everyone went quiet. Before the power of nature, there was only horror and silence; the fear was so extreme that they couldn't even scream.

After a while, someone said: "Let's go back."

The others nodded one after another: "Let's go back..."

Then they each turned around.

Someone asked quietly: "Was the avalanche just now in the direction we were heading? The others, those not led away by the crane, like those Loose Practitioners, have they already..."

No one answered, only Li Laosan muttered: "It must be the work of Zhuoyu Villa, killing so many people in one go, truly vicious." Yet, he followed the group down the mountain.

Black Widow licked her lips lightly—she had frowned just now because she was in a bit of a dilemma: if Zhuoyu Villa was personally expelling those who came up the mountain, wouldn't the poison she had planted be useless?

Calculating the time, it would have taken another half a day to take effect.

Then hadn't she come for nothing?

After going down the mountain, should she provide the antidote to these survivors?

She felt conflicted, somewhat relieved, and also somewhat dejected.

She had been full of ambition to deal with some enemies for Azhao, but she hadn't expected that she wouldn't need to act at all.

The various methods of that flying crane in the sky—how could she have ever imagined them?

That little child from back then has grown up now.

Although the tension on and off the mountain was pulled tight, as if a thousand arrows would be fired at any moment, time would not stop for anyone. The days still passed one by one.

In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the start of the Sword Casting Conference.

The hearts of those inside and outside were increasingly restless, as if overgrown with weeds, and the air was filled with a scorching scent.

Not to mention those preparing to make a move, even Yun Xiyan, who had been guarding the water's edge for the past two days and was busy throwing people out, was feeling a bit anxious. On one hand, although she used her sword and fists to fiercely throw back those who were poking their heads around, the next wave of people would arrive quickly, one after another, endless and impossible to throw them all away; they were not afraid at all.

Moreover, as the date approached, more and more guests arrived at the foot of the mountain. Although there were some familiar faces, such as the disciples of famous sects like Ju Tianxuan and Chu Shanxia whom she had seen at the Talisman gathering, friends like the One Hundred and Eight Springs, and her own people like the Deng family of Deng Chong, there were more strangers she had never met before, many of whom looked ill-intentioned at first glance. Her skills as a novice Sword Guest were already becoming insufficient.

Every time she returned to the Reception Hall, Yun Xiyan saw more people; it was gradually becoming overcrowded, shoulder to shoulder, giving her the feeling of being in a bustling market. Walking on the road, those who brushed past her were all suspected enemies. This made her already anxious heart even more tense.

Another point was that, up to now, she had not discovered any signs of successful Sword Casting.

One must know that Sword Casting is a major project, and the final day before success has omens; although it is not like the storytellers blow it up to be "gods and ghosts weeping, heaven and earth shocked," there will be more or less strange phenomena, such as those with Inspiration nearby, especially Sword Guests, who might be able to feel the birth of the sword.

Right now, at any rate, Yun Xiyan had no feeling whatsoever.

This made her feel a bit apprehensive; she was working hard here, and if Zhuoyu Villa itself were to fail, wouldn't that be too unjust?

After thinking it over, she quietly went to Ask Xing Ji.

Xing Ji was still riding his Bi'an, strolling leisurely on the water's surface, so he was easy to find. After hearing Yun Xiyan's worries, he said decisively: "Don't worry, it's fine. The Sword Casting will definitely succeed, and it will happen tomorrow."

Yun Xiyan disagreed, saying: "You tell me not to worry, but I see that you are also full of anxiety."

Xing Ji countered: "I'm anxious? How so?"

Yun Xiyan said without hesitation: "That's right. Don't think I can't tell; your mood has been off these past two days. Although your expression is still as nonchalant as ever, you are actually heavy-hearted, which means you have something on your mind. Is it because you have inside information that Brother Tang has run into trouble?"

Xing Ji laughed: "Don't talk nonsense. If he ran into trouble, why would I be worried? What I'm worried about is that I have run into trouble."

Yun Xiyan was puzzled and wanted to press further, but Xing Ji had already said: "So tonight, I plan to go out and have some fun. You should go play too; it will all be over tomorrow."

Yun Xiyan said: "Then the job of guarding the gate..."

Xing Ji said: "Someone is taking care of it, look—"

Just then, a small boat drifted over the water's surface, with a short, thin old man sitting on it. Yun Xiyan exclaimed in surprise: "Isn't that the one from the Reception Hall..."

Xing Ji said: "It is indeed that old fellow. Originally, guarding the water surface should have been his responsibility, but since we did all his work, he has enjoyed a few days of leisure for nothing. Let's go have fun and let him guard the final night."

This night was the eve of the Sword Casting.

This night, hearts were restless, and undercurrents were surging.

This night, the originally scheduled BaiyushenghuiDapaishui was postponed, which made people see the Host's unease.

This night, all the guests at the Reception Hall arrived, and the uninvited guests who had obtained invitations by swapping identities gathered according to their agreement, preparing for the next step of their plan.

This night, Shi Chunqing, who had been waiting for an opportunity, called everyone up, organized the team, and climbed up Jiugao Mountain along a small path that only he knew.

This night, the final major event regarding Zhuoyu Villa in Jichun City kicked off in Di Ku; it was an auction for the legendary qualification to test the new sword. The idlers remaining in Jichun City who lacked the qualifications or ability to attend the main event all crowded in, and even those Martial Artists who had been blasted down from the Snow Mountain and refused to give up squeezed in as well. Jichun City nearly became a city that never sleeps.

After the dark night, comes the dawn!