While the two women spoke, the Secret Guards arrived with the prepared food.
Out in the wilderness, they naturally couldn’t expect gourmet delicacies. However, an occasional meal of light porridge and side dishes paired with fresh wild game had its own unique, rustic charm.
After finishing their meal, the group did not rush forward recklessly. Instead, they set up camp and began mapping the surrounding terrain into a ledger to prepare for any eventualities.
At the same time, more than half of the Secret Guards were dispatched to scout the path ahead, aiming to minimize any potential risks. If a scouting guard was injured, an Imperial Physician was on hand to treat them. Those who were unhurt would then rotate out, replacing their injured comrades to continue clearing the path and eliminating dangers.
Through this coordinated effort, the group advanced toward the center of the island both quickly and safely. In just a few days, they covered over a hundred miles.
This pace shattered any previous records for traversing the island. After all, most who braved this place were mere treasure hunters; at best, they might hire a few skilled martial artists from the world of mercenaries. Such ragtag groups couldn’t compare to the professionalism of the Empress’s elite. What might be a life-threatening ordeal for others was, for them, simply a matter of deploying a few more Secret Guards.
However, they soon encountered a genuine obstacle.
That day, after lunch, the scouts returned with a report. A few dozen miles ahead lay the snow mountain they had glimpsed ever since they first stepped onto the island.
The snow mountain was part of a continuous range where the temperature was extremely low and edible resources were scarce. During their time on the island so far, they had survived by hunting game to supplement their rations. If there was no game to be found, the supplies they had brought with them wouldn’t be enough to sustain the entire group until they crossed to the other side.
This problem was neither truly massive nor insignificant. After a brief consultation, Luo Wushuang and Shangguan Liqian decided to remain in their current location for a few days. They would hunt as much game as possible and prepare thoroughly before attempting the crossing.
This halt lasted seven or eight days. Thanks to the Secret Guards’ tireless efforts from dawn until dusk, they managed to secure a significant amount of meat. After spending another two days processing the mountain of game, the group finally set off again.
The mountain was buried in deep snow; with every step, one’s legs would sink up to the calves. Consequently, their progress slowed significantly. Fortunately, their food preparations were sufficient, so they didn’t have to worry about traveling on empty stomachs.
At night, they dug out snow caves for rest. While a snow cave was hardly as comfortable as a tent, it was warm enough to serve as a shelter for the night.
Braving the blizzards, the group trekked through the mountain range for over a month. They overcame countless hardships until, finally…
A scouting guard returned with excellent news. At their current speed, they would be out of the snow mountain in about a day and a half.
Upon hearing this heartening news, everyone’s flagging spirits surged. They summoned a final burst of energy and reached the foot of the mountain just as dusk fell.
The group had barely descended from the heights when the distant, haunting howls of wolves echoed through the air. Knowing the danger had not yet passed, the exhausted party fell back on their training, efficiently setting up camp and lighting bonfires to ward off the packs and other predators.
By the time everything was settled, it was already midnight.
After ordering the Secret Guards to rest in shifts and remain vigilant, Luo Wushuang called for a basin of hot water. She began to gently wipe her sister’s frozen hands and feet.
No matter how warm their winter clothing was, it couldn’t completely block out the bone-chilling cold and the relentless assault of the mountain blizzards. In just over a month, Shangguan Liqian—who lacked internal energy to protect her body—had grown significantly thinner. Her hands and feet were covered in painful frostbite.
As Luo Wushuang applied medicinal salve to her sister, her tears began to fall uncontrollably.
“Why are you crying again?” Shangguan Liqian reached out with a red, swollen hand to wipe the tears from Luo Wushuang’s face, coaxing her softly. “It doesn’t hurt. It will be better in a few days.”
Luo Wushuang shook her head. Grasping her sister’s raw, red hand, she spoke with a choked voice. “Sister has suffered so much.”
Shangguan Liqian shook her head; she didn’t truly feel she had it that hard. There were no roads on the mountain, and every step meant sinking into the drifts, making the wheelchair useless. She had been carried by the Secret Guards the entire way. Compared to the others, she really couldn’t complain about suffering.
Even at night when she slept, she could feel a warm current circulating through her body. At first, she thought it was just an illusion, but she soon realized that Luo Wushuang was using her internal energy to alleviate her discomfort. She had told Wushuang many times not to do it, but the girl would agree verbally only to go right back to her old ways once night fell.
Thinking about how Wushuang had to manage the trek and use her energy to protect her at the same time, Shangguan Liqian felt a pang of heartache. This silly girl always ignores her own well-being…
Luo Wushuang didn’t care what her sister thought. In her heart, she felt that her sister had endured an immense amount of misery on this journey. The mere thought of the hardships Liqian faced on that mountain made her heart ache. If it weren’t for her lingering desire to maintain her dignity in front of her sister, she probably would have pulled her into a hug and wailed out loud by now.
At the very least, the snow mountain was finally behind them.
