Chapter Thirty: The Daughter of the Snow Lord of the Northern Region

Early the next morning, Hua Feng rose before dawn, hastily bidding farewell to his roommates, Li Long, Wang Yue, and Yang Tian. He merely told them that he had to return home urgently, and thus hadn’t been able to notify them in advance before applying for discharge. Though everyone was regretful, there is no feast that does not end. They repeatedly urged Hua Feng not to forget his brothers, to come back and visit when he had the chance, and Hua Feng promised earnestly.

After meeting up with Yun Meng, Hua Feng took the bus towards their destination—Mount Dragon and Tiger. Before this, they had spent three days at home, visiting their parents, then set off again in haste.

By late September, the weather was growing colder. During a rest at an inn along the way, Hua Feng used the method his master had taught him to unlock part of Yun Meng’s latent potential. With the awakening of her power, Yun Meng felt that a portion of her memory, something that seemed innately hers, began to return.

That day, Yun Meng asked Hua Feng, her face puzzled, “I don’t know what’s happening. There’s a memory in my mind, and a voice so familiar it feels like kin. She told me about many inexplicable things, and taught me a technique called Snow Dance Phantom Step. She said this technique can only be used in times of dire peril, otherwise others will discover I am from the Northern Snow Clan. I don’t even know who she is! Ugh, it’s so frustrating!” Yun Meng looked helpless.

“Xiao Meng, don’t worry. According to the memories my master left me, that footwork was created by the Snow Sovereign of the Northern Domain. Rumors say this peerless Snow Sovereign once had a child, who later died young—and that child possessed the Sevenfold Absolute Physique,” Hua Feng said solemnly.

“You mean I’m the Snow Sovereign’s daughter? And I have this Sevenfold Absolute Physique?” Yun Meng asked in surprise.

“Exactly,” Hua Feng admitted.

“That’s impossible! I have parents!” Yun Meng protested.

“Calm down. Let me tell you a story.” Hua Feng paused, then began slowly, “This happened thousands of years ago. At that time, mankind was almost constantly at war. The wars destroyed people’s homes, countless families were torn apart. To unite the tribes quickly, Yan Huang invited many extraordinary clans to help. Among them was the Northern Snow Clan led by the Snow Sovereign and seven of her people. In defeating the Chi You, the eight of them shone brilliantly. None under Chi You’s command could stand against them. Their greatest weapon was a formation known as the Phantom Wind Array. When unleashed, strange phenomena would appear—the height of summer saw snowflakes swirling across the sky, yet those snowflakes were deadly. All eight mastered the Snow Dance Phantom Step, created by the Snow Sovereign… Later, this technique became the symbol of the clan’s noblest bloodline.

After Chi You’s defeat, the Snow Sovereign returned to the Northern Domain. During her half-year aiding Yan Huang, she fell in love with a girl from the Huang Emperor’s tribe. Not long after returning, she gave birth to a daughter. But the elders of her clan would not accept it; though the Snow Sovereign ruled the Northern Domain, giving birth to an outsider’s child before marriage broke their customs. The Snow Sovereign discovered the little girl possessed the Sevenfold Absolute Physique. Her potential was extraordinary, and outsiders coveted it—by absorbing the power of the Sevenfold Absolute Physique, not only would one gain immense combat strength, but also the opportunity for seven cycles of reincarnation, with each generation inheriting the accumulated power… Such advantages inevitably attracted those with sinister motives. To protect her child, the Snow Sovereign secretly sent her into the future. When time and space overlapped, her child would begin to grow.”

“The future? The Snow Sovereign was that powerful?” Yun Meng felt as though she were listening to a tale of magic.

“She truly sent her child to the future. To be Sovereign of the Northern Domain, traversing time and space was within her grasp. All this comes from the memories left by my master in the techniques he passed to me, prepared in advance to reveal your origins,” Hua Feng replied.

Yun Meng’s expression was one of utter shock.

“That’s the story. One day, we’ll encounter these legendary tales and people. I believe we’ll reach the pinnacle of power in this new age. The burden of history, the survival of humanity, still requires people like us to sacrifice and strive!” Hua Feng spoke solemnly. Feeling the anticipation in her gaze, a surge of chivalrous passion welled in his heart.

“There’s not much time left until the calamity four years from now! We must hurry. Four years from now, we’ll face a true war. Whether all life perishes or survives depends on the efforts of countless cultivators. Remember, our enemy is the Star Wheel, the organization reputed to be the strongest in the universe!” Hua Feng’s voice was earnest; though he had only recently learned these things, he spoke as though standing at his master’s lofty vantage point, recounting past and future alike.

“Don’t worry, Brother Hua Feng! The heirs of the Flying Dragon fear no challenge, right?” With that, she glanced at Hua Feng, who stood silently at her side. Their eyes met, stirring a ripple of innocent emotion—the subtle resonance of kindred spirits. In that moment, it seemed something had been entrusted between them.

“Xiao Meng, as long as I live, no one will harm you. I am your guardian, for all lifetimes, never to be parted.” Awkward and youthful, his declaration of love stumbled from his lips, but even if it seemed ethereal and elusive, they both believed in the promise, willing to protect it with their lives.

Yun Meng couldn’t help but laugh, “What’s with this sudden confession?” she teased, turning playfully to look at Hua Feng.

“Mm… Haha! Enough talk, let’s eat. All your favorites are here!” Hua Feng grinned, pointing at the dishes on the table: fish-flavored eggplant, pickled beef soup, Songshan spicy chicken, and a Hangzhou-style soy sauce duck.

“Yes… Let’s eat. After a day on the road, I’m starving,” Yun Meng responded.

Watching Yun Meng’s profile, Hua Feng said, “Don’t overthink it. Eating well comes first.” Then, the two gourmands feasted together, soon ending up full and sprawled on the bed amidst the clinking of cups and laughter.

Seeing Yun Meng’s smiling face, Hua Feng was happier than anyone.

Outside the window, the woods echoed with the “cu-cu, cu-cu” song of cuckoos. The two of them stood hand in hand, gazing at the setting sun. Silence enveloped all.

The daughter of the Snow Sovereign of the Northern Domain—so what? The greatest happiness was still having Hua Feng by her side, and Yun Meng knew her life was best held in her own hands. With these thoughts, she smiled and closed her eyes, nestling against Hua Feng’s shoulder, breathing in the fresh, sunlit scent of his bath soap. In that moment, it felt like everything—her world, her eternity.