Snowflake Ice
"The woman who ended a legendary romance"—this was how the cultivation world had recently taken to referring to Xu Shulou.
She had slain Feng Jiuyou with her sword, shattering countless dreams in the process.
A familiar classmate was vividly recounting the rumors to her: "Anyway, ever since you killed Feng Jiuyou and Qi Wutong—"
"I didn’t kill Qi Wutong," Xu Shulou protested weakly in defense of her reputation.
"Oh, right," the classmate replied dismissively. "But regardless, after word spread that you defied the backlash and slew Feng Jiuyou with your sword, your name has become more infamous than ever. The tales about you in the cultivation world are growing increasingly outrageous."
The deaths of Feng Jiuyou and Qi Wutong were among the most sensational events in the cultivation world recently, especially the mystery surrounding the "true and false Qi Wutong," which had piqued everyone’s curiosity. Whispers and speculations ran rampant, with all manner of theories circulating. Yet, no matter which side people took, they all agreed on one thing—Xu Shulou was a terrifying figure!
This "terrifying" wasn’t entirely derogatory, though. It also carried a hint of admiration for her fearlessness in the face of backlash and her formidable strength.
One classmate suddenly mused aloud, "Do you think Feng Jiuyou’s love for Qi Wutong was genuine?"
"The love was real," Bai Roushuang chimed in. "But unfortunately, that love was worthless in the face of justice."
Xu Shulou smiled but didn’t dwell too much on the rumors. What was done was done, and she had no regrets. Lately, she had been wholly absorbed in studying the "Mortal World Sword Manual," diligently practicing her swordplay within the walls of Xuan Cang Academy. Teacher Xue had told her she could seek his guidance anytime she encountered difficulties.
However, during this time, she noticed one classmate behaving oddly—a male cultivator known as Twenty-Nine. Recently, he had taken to giving her flowers, rare delicacies, and frequently "bumping into" her on the paths. Whenever their eyes met, he would offer her a gentle, bashful smile.
One day, as she sat on the grass with her junior sister flipping through a book, Twenty-Nine approached and placed a food box in front of her, his smile warm and shy.
He left without another word, behaving like a lovestruck youth. Bai Roushuang rested her chin on her hand, watching his retreating figure with narrowed eyes.
Xu Shulou sensed her junior sister’s mood. "You don’t like him?"
"I’ve met his kind before in brothels—seasoned players who love pretending to be innocent to deceive young women," Bai Roushuang said with a smirk. "This ‘Twenty-Nine’ gives off the air of a flirt. Hardly the type to settle down."
After confirming the food box held no traps, Xu Shulou examined its contents: a serving of jade jelly. Unlike the mortal version made with melon and coconut milk, this cultivation-world delicacy contained actual powdered spirit jade, which did little for the taste but significantly inflated the price.
Xu Shulou had assumed all the gifts from Twenty-Nine were tokens of gratitude for her saving him in a minor secret realm. She found his courtesy excessive but, not wanting to waste food, picked up the jade spoon and took a bite of the expensive treat.
After just one taste, she found a note at the bottom of the bowl. Unfolding it, she read a line of poetry: "If we could be like the mandarin ducks, I would not envy the immortals; to die as one would be no regret."
Good heavens, so direct! Bai Roushuang gasped beside her. How bold—"no regret"? Careful, or my senior sister might grant your wish.
Xu Shulou wasn’t so oblivious as to miss the romantic intent. Realizing what Twenty-Nine was up to, she froze for a moment before chuckling softly.
Bai Roushuang tensed at her reaction. "Senior Sister, you—you’re not…"
"Not what?"
"You’re not actually falling for him, are you?"
Xu Shulou laughed. "Since when is it so easy to win my heart?"
She had grown up surrounded by love—familial, romantic, and the countless extravagant gestures from suitors vying for her attention. She lacked nothing when it came to affection.
That momentary pause wasn’t because she was moved; she had merely been reminded of the past.
She cherished everyone’s feelings, but such sentiments alone couldn’t sway her.
Xu Shulou looked at the note, then shattered it with a flick of spiritual energy, letting the fragments scatter in the wind.
"I’ll make things clear to him," she said.
"…" Bai Roushuang’s gaze followed the nearly invisible scraps of paper, wondering what kind of love could ever truly move her senior sister’s heart.
———
As time passed, Twenty-Nine grew restless. He had boasted to friends that a woman like Xu Shulou would surely respond to gentle persistence, but she proved impervious to both soft and hard approaches. No matter what he tried, her refusal remained the same: "Not interested. Don’t waste your time. Go chase a brighter future."
Gradually, his confidence waned. "She hasn’t fallen for me, but at least she hasn’t struck me down. Doesn’t that mean she doesn’t dislike me?"
"…" His friends could only pat his shoulder in silent sympathy.
In the end, he had to cease his efforts—Xu Shulou had gone into seclusion to focus on mastering the Mortal World Sword Art.
Cultivators in seclusion paid no heed to the passage of time. Xu Shulou’s retreat lasted over two months.
Teacher Xue didn’t press her about her progress. He was patient, knowing this sword art chose its inheritors based not on talent alone, but on the purity of one’s heart.
It was only because Xu Shulou remembered a few questions for Teacher Xue that she emerged temporarily.
Yet upon leaving seclusion, she found Xuan Cang Academy eerily deserted. She searched the classrooms, dormitories, and dining hall, but not a single student was in sight.
The academy’s puppet servants, previously damaged by Chu Fu and the Xuanji Sect, had been repaired before her seclusion. But now, even they were gone—no one was left to prepare meals.
She wasn’t alarmed. After the Xuanji Sect incident, the teachers had heightened security. Calculating the timing, Xu Shulou guessed she had stumbled upon the academy’s latest examination. She just wondered what new challenge the teachers had devised this time.
She wandered leisurely through the mountains, admiring the grandeur of the empty buildings. After some time, she finally spotted a woman’s figure ahead. Calling out yielded no response. When she tapped the woman’s shoulder, the figure turned—revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs lunging for her.
———
"Where did that Class-C monster go? Should we keep chasing?" Bai Roushuang and several classmates flew past the school building, panting. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two women sitting beneath a nearby tree. One of them was leisurely eating snowflake ice from a bowl, her relaxed demeanor starkly out of place in the current atmosphere.
Bai Roushuang paused, but her classmates urged her on. "Hurry! We’re too close to the Snow Woman’s territory. It’s not safe to linger here."
Bai Roushuang didn’t move. Her classmates followed her gaze and were momentarily stunned. "Who is that? Sitting here eating like they’ve got a death wish?"
Bai Roushuang smiled, recognizing familiar mannerisms from the figure mostly hidden behind a large bowl. Delighted, she called out, "Senior Sister, you’ve come out of seclusion?"
Xu Shulou set down her bowl and waved cheerfully at the group. "Want some shaved ice?"
"Yes!" Bai Roushuang darted over like a swallow returning to its nest. The others exchanged glances but couldn’t resist the temptation and followed. Though autumn had arrived, the lingering summer heat—aptly nicknamed "autumn tiger"—was still oppressive. The mountains offered some relief, but after exhausting their spiritual energy and running until their throats were parched, a bowl of shaved ice was impossible to refuse.
Xu Shulou counted the group and turned to the woman beside her. "Five more bowls, please."
The woman obediently conjured ice shavings, carefully filling each large bowl.
An ice-based technique? the group wondered. How convenient.
Xu Shoulo looked up at Bai Roushuang and the others. "What flavors would you like? I’ve got mulberry juice, rose syrup, and milk—you can add any of them."
Bai Roushuang chose milk, and Xu Shulou retrieved a small bottle from her Qiankun Ring, pouring the creamy white liquid over the ice. The contrast of milk against the shimmering crystals was irresistibly tempting. The others quickly picked their flavors, thanking Xu Shulou sheepishly before devouring the treat.
"Are you all here for the academy’s trial?" Xu Shulou asked.
By now, the group had recognized her and knew about her recent seclusion, so they eagerly filled her in.
"Yes," one female cultivator explained between spoonfuls of mulberry ice. "This trial uses the academy as the battleground. The teachers released monsters classified into four ranks—Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding. Each monster subdued earns us points. There’s only one Jia-rank monster, but it’s worth a huge number of points. The Ding-rank ones are plentiful but give the fewest points." She took another blissful bite before continuing, "If multiple people take down a monster together, the points are split. The teachers used artifacts to ensure the monsters can’t leave the academy grounds, but we can’t either—stepping out means forfeiting."
Bai Roushuang added, "The trial’s been going for half a month now. At first, we were all running for our lives, but we’ve figured out some strategies. Most of the Yi, Bing, and Ding-rank monsters are gone now—only a handful remain. But that Jia-rank one… it’s too strong. No one can beat it, so we just avoid its territory and scatter the moment we spot it."
One classmate hesitantly asked, "Miss Xu, could I… have another bowl of shaved ice?"
"Of course." Xu Shulou’s food storage box, which kept ingredients fresh for three months, was nearing its limit, so finishing the milk was perfect timing. She helped herself to another bowl and gestured to the woman beside her, who obediently bent her head to conjure more ice.
The classmate beamed. "Thank you, Miss Xu! With you here, that Jia-rank monster doesn’t stand a chance!"
Xu Shulou chuckled. "Hard to say—I don’t even know what it is yet."
"It’s a snow woman," Bai Roushuang said, watching the woman diligently produce ice while Xu Shulou happily ate. They looked like a pair of cheerful friends, which made her curious. "By the way, Senior Sister, who’s this lady making the ice?"
Xu Shulou covered her face. "...She’s the snow woman. I didn’t realize she was the Jia-rank monster, but she’s quite handy for making shaved ice."
"?"
"!"
The group stared at the ice-making woman in stunned silence. How had they mistaken her expression for happiness earlier? That wasn’t joy—it was sheer, suppressed fury!
