The air was still heavy with lingering traces of battle, the faint crackle of ice and lightning echoing through the bamboo forest.
Lei Xinyi let out a slow breath, lowering her hand as the last remnants of Void Qi faded. The Demon Cultivators had been wiped out without her breaking a sweat.
Bai Xueqing stood a few feet away, her icy blue eyes locked onto Lei Xinyi with an unreadable expression.
The silence stretched between them before Bai Xueqing finally spoke.
"You are… unusual."
Lei Xinyi smirked. "I get that a lot."
Bai Xueqing studied her carefully. "Your techniques… I have never seen them before."
Xiao Hei, still perched on Lei Xinyi's shoulder, puffed up her tiny chest. "Of course! Mama is special!"
Lei Xinyi chuckled, scratching behind Xiao Hei's ears. "You're not wrong."
Bai Xueqing narrowed her eyes slightly, then sighed. "You saved me."
Lei Xinyi arched an eyebrow. That was the closest thing to gratitude she would ever get from the Frost Fairy.
"Not that you needed it," Lei Xinyi said casually. "You were holding your own."
Bai Xueqing didn't deny it. Instead, she glanced at the dissipating traces of Lei Xinyi's void abilities. "Are you affiliated with any sect?"
Lei Xinyi hesitated. This was a crucial moment.
She could make up a fake background, or she could use this chance to get closer to Bai Xueqing.
"No," she answered honestly. "I just arrived in this region."
Bai Xueqing tapped her slender fingers against her wrist, thinking. "I see."
A moment later, she stepped forward. "Then come with me."
Lei Xinyi blinked. "Huh?"
"I want to see more of your abilities," Bai Xueqing said, her tone matter-of-fact. "You intrigue me."
Xiao Hei wiggled in excitement. "Mama made a friend!"
Lei Xinyi exhaled. Well, that was fast.
But she wasn't about to turn down the opportunity to travel with one of the strongest heroines in the game.
She grinned. "Alright, Ice Fairy. Lead the way."
Bai Xueqing led Lei Xinyi and Xiao Hei through the winding bamboo forest.
Despite her cold demeanor, Bai Xueqing moved gracefully, her steps light yet purposeful. Every now and then, she would glance at Lei Xinyi, as if studying her.
Lei Xinyi stretched her arms. "So, where exactly are we going?"
"The nearest town," Bai Xueqing answered. "You are new to this region. You need to understand how things work."
Lei Xinyi hummed in agreement. She had knowledge from the game, but experiencing the world firsthand was different.
More importantly, this was a chance to establish herself.
And she wasn't about to waste it.
As they walked, Lei Xinyi felt a faint presence in the distance. It wasn't malicious, but it was watching them.
Her eyes flickered toward a thick patch of trees. Bai Xueqing must have sensed it too, because she subtly adjusted her position, her hand hovering over her sword.
Lei Xinyi smirked. "We have company."
A rustle in the trees. Then—
A young girl in ragged robes stumbled forward, her face pale, her arms clutching her stomach as if in pain. She had delicate features, but her body was covered in dirt and bruises. Her black hair was unkempt, and her amber eyes were filled with wariness.
She looked no older than fourteen.
Xiao Hei's ears perked up. "Mama, she looks hurt!"
The girl flinched at Xiao Hei's voice, her gaze darting between them. She hesitated before forcing herself to speak. "P-please… help me…"
Lei Xinyi raised an eyebrow.
She was definitely not an ordinary beggar.
Bai Xueqing was silent, but her gaze sharpened. "Who are you?"
The girl trembled. "I… I ran away. They're after me…"
Lei Xinyi exchanged a glance with Bai Xueqing.
"Who's after you?" Lei Xinyi asked.
Before the girl could answer—
A thunderous roar erupted from the trees, and five figures cloaked in black armor emerged from the forest.
"Found you," the lead man sneered. "Now be a good girl and come back."
The girl shrank back in fear, but Lei Xinyi stepped forward, placing herself between the girl and the men.
Her golden eyes gleamed. "She doesn't seem too interested in going with you."
The man's sneer deepened. "This has nothing to do with you."
Lei Xinyi smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh? That's where you're wrong."
Xiao Hei crackled with lightning. "Mama, can I eat them?"
Bai Xueqing sighed. "You're too violent."
Lei Xinyi smirked. "No such thing."
The air tensed.
Then—
The men attacked.
Lei Xinyi moved like a phantom, vanishing in an instant. Her foot connected with the nearest enemy's chest, sending him flying into a tree.
Bai Xueqing, meanwhile, summoned an ice lotus, sending a flurry of frost daggers toward their enemies.
The battle had begun.