Chapter Twenty: The Frostmoon Forest

Dugu Ling set out at dawn, and by the time the sun was just rising, he had already entered the Cold Moon Forest deep within Cold Moon Mountain.

As far as the eye could see, the forest stretched endlessly, its towering trees reaching forty or fifty meters into the sky. Even the hanging branches were at least as thick as a person’s waist. Dugu Ling carried a hulking, pitch-black hammer on his back. He checked his pockets once more: provisions, water, compass, clothes, and tinderbox. “Good,” he murmured after the final inspection.

Just then, a sudden rustling came from the thicket behind him. “Who’s there?” Dugu Ling called out.

Because of its rich resources, Cold Moon Forest often attracted treasure seekers from surrounding villages. People made a living by selling items found within the forest. Such people were known as mercenaries.

Let me clarify: mercenaries are not exclusive to tales of fantasy—there are mercenaries in cultivation worlds as well. They don’t wield battle aura, but immortal arts. However, given the scale of Cold Moon Forest, it would hardly draw the truly formidable mercenaries. At best, it might attract those of Upper or High Immortal rank.

Dugu Ling called out loudly. Human greed being what it is, the forest often became the scene of mercenaries killing each other for treasure. Dugu Ling could not afford to be careless.

“Come out now, or don’t blame me for being harsh!” he demanded sternly, one hand reaching behind him to grip the massive iron hammer.

“It’s me.” A slender figure slowly emerged from the underbrush.

“What? It’s you?” Dugu Ling exclaimed in surprise.

It was none other than Yuan Tiansi’s daughter—Yuan Shanshan.

At that moment, she was dressed in a neat pink outfit, her wrists and ankles tightly wrapped in cloth, hair firmly tied back, a greatsword strapped to her back—a picture of an adorable young warrior woman.

“Shanshan, what are you doing here? Luckily, you haven’t entered the forest yet. You must go back—this place is too dangerous.” Dugu Ling urged her anxiously.

“No, I won’t,” she replied, and in the next instant, Yuan Shanshan—so quiet a moment before—suddenly burst into tears, running to Dugu Ling and throwing her arms around him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Through her sobs, she cried, “Ling, why did you leave the smithy without a word? Why did you come here without telling me? Do you know, from the very first moment I saw you, I fell deeply for you? Your mesmerizing white hair, your mature and handsome face—they drew me in.”

“Yes, I admit it. From the day I met you, I was lost, hopelessly in love. These past eleven months with you have been the happiest days of my life.”

“I know I wasn’t good before—willful, mischievous, unruly, proud. Nobody liked me. But I really care for you. For your sake, I’ve worked so hard to change myself every single day. Do you see that?”

“You’re about to leave. I’m certain that with your abilities, you’ll have no trouble passing the Hidden Immortal Pavilion’s test, while I may remain an ordinary person. We might become people from two different worlds.”

“But I don’t want to give up. My mother died when I was young, but before she passed, she told me, ‘Happiness is something you must seize for yourself.’”

“These past months, I’ve listened to everything you’ve said, done all you asked, and tried so hard to become someone you might like,” Yuan Shanshan cried out.

“But all this time, you’ve shown me no hint of feeling. Dugu Ling, I don’t believe you haven’t noticed all I’ve done for you! Why, even as you leave, do you slip away without a word? Why?” she demanded through her tears.

“This time, I followed you to find out how you truly feel. I want to say it to you, loudly, in person—Dugu Ling, I love you. Do you love me?” Yuan Shanshan lifted her head, her once bright eyes now red and swollen, searching for his answer.

Dugu Ling gazed at her tear-streaked face, recalling every moment of their eleven months together. To say he felt nothing for Shanshan would be a lie—no one is made of stone.

But he knew now was not the time for romance. Besides, Old Man Yuan had taken him as a disciple. In truth, he was only four or five years older than Shanshan, but by seniority, he was her uncle. For her uncle and niece to be together—wouldn’t that be... Dugu Ling dared not finish the thought.

Was Yuan Shanshan unattractive? Not at all. Though not a peerless beauty, she was certainly charming in her own right. For a country boy like Dugu Ling, to win the favor of a young lady like her was a stroke of luck beyond imagination.

“Ling, I know what you’re thinking. I’m grown up now. If you truly care for me, I don’t care that you’re my uncle or anything else. I like you, that’s all. Let’s run away together, start over in a new city where no one knows us, where there’s no gossip or judgment,” Yuan Shanshan pleaded, clutching his arm as she wept.

Dugu Ling sighed softly and said, “Foolish girl, how could I be so selfish? What of your father? Your grandfather? Could you truly leave them behind?”

She tried to protest, but he cut her off, gently prying her hands from his arm and looking her in the eyes. “Shanshan, you’re too young to know what love is. You rely on me because you like me, but that’s not love. Someday, when you understand what love truly means, you’ll realize how childish you are now.”

“Go home, quickly. If darkness falls, it will be dangerous. Didn’t you say you’d always listen to me? If you don’t go back right now, I’ll be angry,” Dugu Ling said.

“Very well spoken.” Suddenly, a voice came from the grass where Yuan Shanshan had been hiding. It was her father, Yuan Tiansi.

That morning, when Yuan Tiansi learned from the servants that his daughter was missing, he immediately guessed she’d gone after Dugu Ling. He hurried after her, for when his wife died, Shanshan became his dearest treasure. Though he trusted Dugu Ling, he still worried for his daughter’s safety in the perilous Cold Moon Forest.

Through the night, he’d rushed to catch up, arriving just in time to witness this scene. Listening to Dugu Ling’s words, he was deeply moved. This young man remained humble in the face of adversity, level-headed when confronted with matters of the heart, and possessed a steady, resolute spirit. Surely, he would become a remarkable figure in the future.

Yet, seeing his daughter so devoted, Yuan Tiansi couldn’t help but wish Dugu Ling would be less detached. Over the past months, he had witnessed everything Dugu Ling had done. As a father, he had even considered entrusting his daughter to him.

But now, it seemed that wish might never come true. He stepped forward and said, “Come, Shanshan, let’s go home. Your Uncle Dugu has important matters to attend to in the mountains.” He placed extra emphasis on the word “Uncle,” hoping to help his daughter relinquish her feelings.

Dugu Ling glanced at Yuan Tiansi. He had known the man was there all along, but the words he’d spoken were not for Yuan Tiansi’s ears—they were heartfelt and true. Dugu Ling was not one to compromise his principles for anyone or anything. He would always be true to himself; that was his way.

He looked at Yuan Shanshan, saying nothing. He didn’t know what to say—perhaps, at this moment, silence was the best answer.

Yuan Shanshan looked back at Dugu Ling, then walked toward her father, turning to look back with every few steps.

As she finally left with Yuan Tiansi, Yuan Shanshan looked back one last time, making a secret vow in her heart. You say I don’t understand love? I’ll prove to you that my feelings are real. I’m not as childish as you think. With that, she left with her father.

Watching their figures disappear into the distance, Dugu Ling let out a long sigh. Turning to face the Cold Moon Mountains before him, he shouted silently in his heart: Cold Moon Forest, here I come!

P.S.: The protagonist is about to encounter the most important thing in his life. Aren’t you excited? Add this to your favorites now! Maybe there’ll be three chapters today. Hehe.