Cheng Gui Shuo said to Song Shu:
— Uncle, you want to get revenge on Niu You Dao, don't you? Shao Ping Bo also wants to settle accounts with him.
Song Shu angrily said:
— Do I look like an idiot? I violated the sect rules! How can I face them?
Cheng Gui Shuo: We're not going there to relax; we're going to get revenge. However, we'll have to endure humiliation! Shao Ping Bo also wants to kill Niu You Dao. Uncle just needs to avoid harming Shao Ping Bo and exposing himself to the Supreme Purity Sect. Shao Ping Bo can find a place for us.
— If he agrees, he can help us. He will ensure our safety with him. If Shao Ping Bo doesn't agree and won't keep us, then he'll simply let us go. He has no reason to kill us, let alone kill his enemy's enemies. What good would that do him? So, we should try.
Song Shu was silent for a moment, then nodded:
— You speak sense. I underestimated you before; only now do I see how far-sighted you are.
— Uncle flatters me. It's merely a necessity, not foresight. However, we will have to endure humiliation. — Cheng Gui Shuo smiled bitterly. He inwardly scoffed, not wanting to take such a risk himself.
Yet, there was nothing for it. He himself felt Niu You Dao's sword at his throat and feared him. Thus, he had no other choice.
Of course, if he were with Niu You Dao now, the benefits would be on his side.
Only, Cheng Gui Shuo couldn't just leave now. He was no longer his own master.
Song Shu looked at him and sighed inwardly, "Such loyal people exist!
Perhaps after seeing that Niu You Dao couldn't be killed several times, he now fears Niu You Dao. And until Niu You Dao dies, Cheng Gui Shuo won't rest easy!"
He raised a hand and patted Cheng Gui Shuo's shoulder:
— Don't worry. If the Song family rises again, the Song family will not forget you!
Cheng Gui Shuo thought to himself, "Rise again?! If they hadn't deliberately let you go, do you think you'd still be alive?"
...
Boundless snowy plains. In a snowy mountain, Niu You Dao and the others had been staying for several days. During the day, they didn't leave the cave, only emerging at night to gaze at the sky.
Black Peony and the others didn't understand what Lord Dao was planning this time. They had lingered in the village for about a month. But in the end, they didn't head to Qingshan County; instead, they began returning to the snowy region of the Ice and Snow Palace. Moreover, each of them carried firewood. Why? No one understood.
And because of this, they were all restless. It seemed to them that it was related to the Red Yang Fruit.
And if so, they were certainly not going to ask for the fruit, but to steal it. Otherwise, why would they resort to such tricks? This made them very worried. How much courage would it take to steal a Red Yang Fruit?
— Almost... After looking at the night sky, Yuan Gang returned and reported to Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao hummed. Black Peony and the others also came out of the cave and looked up at the sky.
They saw only black clouds and winter stars, with moonlight still piercing through the clouds.
Niu You Dao looked serious. He turned his head and said to Yuan Gang:
— You must be very careful in this matter. This is no child's play. If anything goes wrong, the operation is a failure. Are you sure?
Yuan Gang nodded: I'm 70% confident in success. If all goes smoothly, then 90%.
Niu You Dao spoke seriously:
— If something doesn't work out, if you're discovered, don't charge in head-on. Say that I ordered you to do it, that it was my plan. Let them find me, and I'll figure out a way to resolve it.
When he said this, Black Peony and the others immediately felt uneasy. They were now almost certain they had returned for the Red Yang Fruit.
Yuan Gang calmly replied: Understood.
Niu You Dao again seriously replied:
— Remember, if you are discovered, do not show your strength. Yield immediately and blame me. I will then find a way to negotiate.
Yuan Gang remained calm and replied:
— Lord Dao, I understand.
Niu You Dao nodded and looked at Black Peony and the others.
Black Peony tensed and finally couldn't help but ask:
— Lord Dao, are we after the Red Yang Fruit?
Niu You Dao was silent for a moment, then asked:
— Are you afraid?
Lei Zong Kang and Duan Hu exchanged bewildered glances. They didn't know how to answer.
Black Peony smiled bitterly:
— If we say we're not afraid, that would be a lie. But since Lord Dao is doing this, there must be a reason. I just wonder, is it too dangerous? Is it worth it?
Niu You Dao smiled:
— Don't worry. If anything happens, we will take full responsibility. Once we reach the destination, if we don't show up within two hours, you should immediately return to Qingshan County. Find Jin Wei (Yuan Fang). Tell Jin Wei everything that happened. Let him bear witness before the Prince. Then the Prince can take you in.
Black Peony timidly asked:
— Lord Dao, if something happens, what about you?
— Don't worry. I have a way out. I can take care of us and save our lives. The Ice and Snow Palace won't kill me!
Niu You Dao looked at Yuan Gang at this moment, as if trying to prove that he shouldn't charge in head-on. He would find a way out regardless.
Black Peony bit her lip at that moment: "Why are you so worried about something happening to Yuan Gang?"
Niu You Dao's words seemed to imply that she was still far inferior to Yuan Gang.
— Alright. The celestial phenomena are unstable, especially in this snowy region. It was hard to wait for them. If we delay, we could miss our window, and the sky will change. And who knows how long we'll have to wait for the next chance. — Niu You Dao waved his hand and said:
— Everyone, get ready to move out!
Several people returned deeper into the cave and took out stacks of firewood and kindling. Yuan Gang hoisted something like a large umbrella onto his back.
As soon as they left the cave, Niu You Dao immediately approached Yuan Gang and took the bag off his shoulders. He took the bag for himself and also instructed Black Peony and Duan Hu:
— Carry it.
Yuan Gang looked at Niu You Dao but didn't argue. This was not the time for arguments. He also knew that Niu You Dao was doing this to preserve his speed.
In the end, Niu You Dao led them. The group soared through the air. Black Peony and Duan Hu carried Yuan Gang, while Lei Zong Kang moved along the mountain peaks behind. Along the way, he stopped and built large snow walls on a mountaintop.
On the way, Duan Hu jumped down and stayed on one peak. Like Lei Zong Kang, he also built a snow wall.
Even further, Black Peony also stopped on a high mountain and built a wall. In the end, Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang stopped on one snowy mountain.
They surveyed their surroundings under the moonlight. They were looking in a single direction.
Niu You Dao pointed in one direction and asked:
— According to the map, the snowy mountain at the rear of the Ice and Snow Palace is 30 li from here. Can you find the mountain?
Yuan Gang: I should be able to. They'll light fires at night, so the direction will be visible.
Niu You Dao: Can you travel that far?
Yuan Gang: Previously, I've flown over 100 li at a suitable altitude. And here, in this snowy region with such wind, it's perfect. Under these conditions, I can fly much further.
Hearing him, Niu You Dao didn't ask any more questions. He also began building a tall wall on the mountaintop.
Yuan Gang then took out the *umbrella* and began arranging something. He took out poles and tied the *umbrella*. Then he placed a sturdy pole in the center. In the end, he had something like a Triangular Wing. He hoisted this Triangular Wing onto his shoulders and walked to a high point. The two people on the wall looked at each other. Yuan Gang tied his hat firmly, then ducked under the Triangular Wing and stood up. From this elevated spot, he ran and jumped off the mountaintop. At that moment, a gust of wind caught him, and he began to glide through the air. Niu You Dao watched him.
Yuan Gang flew a circle around this peak and, after confirming that the Triangular Wing was alright, headed in one direction. Gradually, he disappeared into the night sky.
Niu You Dao exhaled deeply. He went behind the snow walls and began lighting the kindling.
Very soon, a bonfire was lit, and the walls around it prevented the flames from spreading. The snow walls also protected the fire from the wind.
At the same time, Lei Zong Kang, Duan Hu, and Black Peony also lit bonfires and gradually added firewood.
High in the sky, the air temperature was very low. Steam rose from Yuan Gang's nose, and frost appeared on his hat and chest.
He could already see the lights of the Ice and Snow Palace. It turned out he had been flying slightly off course, so he immediately adjusted his direction and quickly approached the Ice and Snow Palace. Before this, he began gaining altitude.
He flew past the palace and immediately headed towards the snowy mountain at the rear of the palace. There, he gradually began to descend to match the mountain's peak.
When he matched the height, he didn't immediately descend onto the mountain. Instead, he circled around it at a certain distance.
A scent emanated from his body, which the snow demons on the mountain found terrifying. Sensing this
scent, the snow demons gradually began to descend from the mountain. They were afraid of this scent.
Under the moonlight, Yuan Gang saw his target and began to dive using the Triangular Wing. In this way, he descended into the mountain's hollow.