Chapter 204
After the matter of the Ghost-faced Spider was over, Qin Ran brought Li Shiyin, Tian Wenjin and Dong Zhongyuan out of the Steward Hall.
Qin Ran and Dong Zhongyuan said, "Thank you nephew for this matter!"
"Uncle, you're too kind." Dong Zhongyuan smiled and said.
Qin Ran was able to appear at the Steward Hall in time not because he had some kind of psychic connection with Li Shiyin and sensed that she was in danger. Nor was it because with his astounding wisdom he somehow calculated that Li Shiyin would have this disaster today. It was because Dong Zhongyuan went to Dan Peak in time to send word.
As for how Dong Zhongyuan got the information in the first place, that would not be delved into for now. Qin Ran had suspicions but was determined not to ask.
Qin Ran looked at the sky, it was nearing afternoon, so he extended an invitation to Dong Zhongyuan: "The evening comes, and snow is imminent. Can we share a cup of wine?"
"Hahaha..." This little uncle was really an interesting fellow, Dong Zhongyuan waved his paper fan and replied, "This kind of weather is perfect for warming wine and watching snow!"
"I heard earlier that martial brother is also one of the ten great geniuses of heaven..." Li Shiyin suddenly spoke up and asked, "May I ask which ranking is martial brother?"
Dong Zhongyuan's expression immediately became guarded, and he had a frightened look on his face: "Junior sister... you... you're not going to challenge me, are you?"
This appearance of his made Li Shiyin pause in surprise, then laugh: "How could martial brother say that? Martial brother just saved my life, how could I challenge martial brother?"
"Phew..." Dong Zhongyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and said to Li Shiyin, "Not to deceive you junior sister, martial brother is no good at fighting at all. Actually I'm not even ranked among the ten great geniuses of heaven, it's just some special circumstances that forced my name to be on the list, so I had no choice but to grit my teeth and just go along with it. Junior sister, don't challenge me in the future."
Li Shiyin blinked her big eyes and asked: "Which ranking?"
She wouldn't believe nonsense about not being good at fighting at all, because her master said things like that all the time too...
"Number... four." Dong Zhongyuan said embarrassedly.
Number four? Li Shiyin nodded, looking as if it met her expectations. Tian Wenjin also took another look at Dong Zhongyuan, she hadn't expected this seemingly unserious martial brother to actually be so incredible.
As for Qin Ran, hearing that "some special circumstances", he glanced over Dong Zhongyuan a couple more times, but knew that Dong Zhongyuan hadn't told a single lie.
As the few were speaking, they got up and flew towards Dan Peak.
Flying in the air, Dong Zhongyuan noticed something strange about Qin Ran. Qin Ran had his eyes closed, and was next to Li Shiyin with his hand resting on Li Shiyin's shoulder.
What kind of pose was this?
He couldn't resist asking aloud: "Uncle... what's going on with you?"
"Cough!" Qin Ran didn't dare open his eyes, only replying: "Feeling a bit uncomfortable."
"Pfft..." Li Shiyin covered her mouth beside him, but still laughed out loud.
Dong Zhongyuan looked strangely at this master and disciple pair, knowing there was some inside story, but didn't inquire further.
This made Dong Zhongyuan's heart thump, and he quickly focused his attention to seriously watch and learn.
But after watching for a while...
He smiled wryly to himself, this... what were they playing at!?
He could only turn his head to appreciate Tian Wenjin's charming beauty, and ask with a laugh: "Junior sister Tian, what level of cultivation are you at?"
"Late Foundation Establishment stage."
"It looks like you'll be forming your core soon. What techniques and methods does junior sister cultivate?"
"I cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Sword Technique'. My comprehension is of Merciless Sword Intent!" Tian Wenjin answered him.
"Merciless... Sword Intent, sword intent..." Dong Zhongyuan's mouth gaped, "Merciless?!" Then he didn't dare inquire further.
She had already comprehended Merciless Sword Intent, what more could he possibly ask?
After watching the chaotic mess of a chess game between Li Shiyin and Chasing the Wind for a while longer, he finally couldn't stand it and got up to walk out of the cabin.
Dong Zhongyuan slowly strolled through the snowy grounds of Dan Peak, appreciating the scenery and marveling at the changes and wonders Qin Ran had accomplished with Dan Peak.
As he walked, he came to the bank of the small river. The river had frozen over, with some fish swimming under the ice. He followed the river upstream, walking to the foot of the frozen waterfall. The waterfall had also frozen, becoming a fantastical tree-like ice formation.
He stood at the bank of the deep pool below the waterfall, craning his head up looking at the frozen waterfall, appreciating the fantastical handiwork of nature.
Suddenly, he sensed something, and his gaze shifted slightly towards the edge of the frozen waterfall...
"That is...?" His eyes widened, pupils contracting involuntarily, mouth gaping with drool trickling out uncontrollably.
What he saw at the edge of that frozen waterfall, amidst the dazzling scenery, was a glimpse of a world-shocking, peerless beauty in white turning and disappearing.
Graceful as a startled swan, smooth as a soaring dragon!
That fluttering sash like billowing clouds...
Dong Zhongyuan dared to swear that he had never seen such a woman before this moment, and feared he might never see such again... even though he hadn't even seen the face of that white figure clearly.
She must be a celestial fairy, river goddess - staring blankly at where that white figure had vanished, he was entranced.
"Hey! You over there, where are you from? What's your name?!" Suddenly, clear and crisp voices of a young girl rang out.
Only then did Dong Zhongyuan return to his senses, reluctantly drawing back his gaze towards the source of the voice.
He saw on the small bridge over the river, a young girl bundled up like a rice dumpling was pointing at him and yelling.
