Chapter 116

Li Qingxuan sat firmly on the broad back of the Black Goat, his posture as stable as a mountain, as if he could not feel this extreme cold.

He took out a blanket and pulled Huang Rong into his embrace, both of them wrapped tightly in the blanket.

The cold wind swept over, stirring his bangs, revealing those deep-pool-like eyes; his gaze pierced the misty fog, pointing straight north of the Low Hill—where Wu Laoqi said Ye Xiao's main base was located.

The Black Goat's heavy hooves echoed across the open frozen ground; each strike made the earth tremble slightly and also struck Huang Rong's taut nerves.

The blanket blocked some of the chill, but the deep, bone-piercing cold still clung like a shadow; she leaned against Li Qingxuan's embrace, feeling his steady heartbeat and the warmth radiating from his body—the sole comfort in this icy Snowfield.

Her fingertips, through the fabric, unconsciously rubbed the flying dagger; that icy touch kept her constantly alert.

After a while, Li Qingxuan's low voice sounded in her ear, carrying chest resonance: "We should be there soon."

His gaze fixed like a torch, as if able to pierce the wind and snow ahead: "Wu Laoqi wasn't lying; there are traces of trees cut down around, their camp shouldn't be far."

Huang Rong gave a slight nod, her sharp gaze likewise scanning the surroundings; the wilderness was dead silent, only wind and hoof sounds intertwined, yet that added an eerie feeling.

She noticed the Black Goat's breathing growing more rapid, heavy exhalations spewing two long streams of white mist; its massive head lowered slightly, revealing an instinctive wariness.

"This beast also senses it." Huang Rong whispered, her voice sounding somewhat fleeting in the wind.

"Yeah, it's more sensitive than we are." Li Qingxuan unconsciously tightened his arm around her, "Ye Xiao's metal control… Sister Rong, when we get closer, your flying daggers and concealed weapons…"

"It's fine." Huang Rong interrupted him, tone cold and confident: "I can wipe out his lackeys with just a dagger. As for you, dealing with him shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"With the Thunder Pattern Spear in hand, shattering armor and splitting metal is but a moment." Li Qingxuan's lips curled into a cold arc, showing absolute confidence in his strength: "As long as we find him, the rest is just cleaning up trash."

He paused, his voice dropping lower, carrying an undeniable resolve: "Once we go in, I'll lead the attack, you'll support. His specially-abled underlings are yours to handle. Quick battle, quick decision, leave no survivors."

"Exactly to my liking." Huang Rong's eyes flashed with cold light; her fingertip's flying dagger turned lightly in her sleeve, as if eager to drink blood. She slightly turned her head, looking at Li Qingxuan's cold, hard jawline: "Those dozens of bandits, even if they rush together, would still be a hassle."

Li Qingxuan gave a soft snort, full of disdain: "A rabble—swept by thunder, they'll turn to dust. You just need to watch those 'biting' rats." His words carried a domineering killing intent.

Just then, the Black Goat ahead suddenly halted its steps, letting out a low, threatening "Moo—".

Its massive body sank slightly, front hooves uneasily pawing the frozen ground; its thick neck turned left-forward, its cloudy eyes fixed firmly on a patch of sparse shrubs blown thin by the wind.

Both instantly became alert.

"There's something!" Huang Rong's voice dropped to a whisper, her body in Li Qingxuan's arms instantly straightening, like a leopard poised to strike.

Her gaze followed the Black Goat's line of sight, her Spirit sense spreading out like a tide.

The shrubs swayed in the wind, appearing ordinary, but in the gap of the leaves' tremor, an extremely faint energy ripple, almost blending with the environment, like a stone tossed into calm water, was precisely captured by her!

"There are two people hidden in the bushes ahead… very well concealed." Huang Rong said softly.

Li Qingxuan's gaze suddenly sharpened like a hawk's, his deep-pool-like pupils seeming to have tiny arcs of electricity jumping.

He did not act immediately; the arm holding Huang Rong was steady as a rock, while his surrounding calm aura subtly shifted, like low pressure before a storm, permeating an invisible pressure.

He slightly turned his head, his lips nearly brushing her ear, warm breath carrying an unquestionable command: "Restrain your breath, prepare… to strike."

The instant his words fell, Li Qingxuan's left arm jerked the Rein hard, while his right hand shot out like lightning toward the Thunder Pattern Spear slanted at the saddle side!

The spear shaft hummed; fine blue-purple arcs suddenly surged across the icy shaft, emitting a faint yet heart‑pounding crackle, instantly illuminating his stern profile and the icy killing intent flashing in Huang Rong's eyes in his embrace.

The bushes ahead violently shook, two blurred figures almost merging with the shadows shot out like startled vipers, lunging respectively at the Black Goat and Li Qingxuan!

They moved with astonishing speed, silently, as if wielding invisible blades, wrapped in a chilling deathly aura.

The Black Goat bellowed in fury, head thrashing, its iron‑hard horns wrapped in wind, slamming hard into the incoming black shadow!

At the same moment, Li Qingxuan's Thunder Pattern Spear in his hand turned into a piercing bolt of lightning that tore through the dim world!

The spear tip pointed precisely at the other black shadow lunging at him!

And Huang Rong, at the instant Li Qingxuan's words fell, her body slipped out of the blanket like light smoke, landing lightly on the icy frozen ground beside the Black Goat.

She didn't even glance at the shadow lunging at Li Qingxuan; all her focus locked onto the enemy rushing at the Black Goat.

At the moment that black shadow was about to strike the horns, Huang Rong flicked her wrist—

"Swish! Swish!"

Two azure‑blue cold lights tore through the air, swift to the extreme, soundless, like a life‑taking Poison Fang, precisely aiming at that black shadow's eyes!

As the flying dagger left her hand, she tapped her foot, her form becoming like a ghost close behind, the Short Dagger drawn, drawing a chilling arc, straight for the opponent's throat!

The battle erupted instantly in the wilderness's cold wind, without any warning!

The two azure‑blue cold lights precisely struck the black shadow's eyes!

The black shadow hadn't expected this lethal attack; in a flinch, its body stalled and it dodged sideways.

But Huang Rong's flying dagger was too fast and tricky; even as he strained to evade, one ray of cold light still "puffed" into his left shoulder near the neck!

The intense pain made the black shadow emit a low, muffled howl, its movements instantly distorted.

Almost at the same instant, the Black Goat's massive horns, like a battering ram, wrapped in terrifying force, boomed and slammed hard into his chest and abdomen!

The sound of breaking bones was clearly audible; the black shadow flew back like a torn sack, crashing into the frozen ground several zhang away, kicking up snow mist and ice shards, twitching twice before lying still.

And the black shadow lunging at Li Qingxuan, faced with that sky‑rending, destruction‑filled piercing lightning, finally showed a look of horror in its eyes!

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