This insignificant little incident took root in Zhang Zicheng's heart. Due to his personal experiences, he was naturally sensitive to other people's emotions. Zhang Zicheng could clearly sense that Xue'er was extremely averse to the topic of his leaving.
Sometimes people subconsciously overlook many details. However, once a problem arises, they will carefully delve into the doubts in their memories.
Zhang Zicheng noticed that despite the heavy snow and strong winds outside, the cave had never been cold. Xue'er had been with him for three days straight and never once stepped out of the cave. Yet, the fruits seemed to be inexhaustible, and every time they were taken out, they were fresh. Coupled with what he had learned during their conversations, it was quite strange that a delicate girl who had lived on the snowy mountain since birth hadn't frozen to death or starved. Besides a miracle, there was only something eerie about it.
All these signs indicated that this cave, and even Xue'er herself, might not be normal. After all, she had saved him, so Zhang Zicheng didn't want to think the worst of her. He simply assumed that she was lonely and needed someone to accompany her.
At night, Zhang Zicheng quietly got up from the ground. His dislocated arm still ached unbearably, but he couldn't stay here any longer. Avoiding Xue'er, who was sleeping at the entrance, he tiptoed out of the cave.
The wind outside had stopped. Xue'er, who had previously been lying with her eyes closed and breathing steadily, suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing the figure gradually disappearing into the night, her face changed, and her eyes grew cold, a far cry from her gentle appearance on normal days.
Zhang Zicheng walked in the snow, choosing a random direction and just keeping going. He believed that as long as he walked forward, he would eventually get out. Before he knew it, he had walked a long way, and there was no sign of the snow-blocked road that Xue'er had mentioned. Zhang Zicheng even murmured to himself in his heart, trying his best not to think negatively.
"Zhang Zicheng! Zhang Zicheng!"
In a daze, Zhang Zicheng seemed to hear Zhao Li's voice. He stopped in his tracks and listened intently, but all he could hear was the faint sound of the wind.
Maybe it was just a hallucination, Zhang Zicheng thought.
He lifted his foot and continued walking forward. The clouds above were slowly drifting, gradually covering the moon. The moonlight was blocked, and the path ahead was plunged into darkness.
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind blew. It felt just like the wind when he had fallen off the mountain that day. Zhang Zicheng instinctively covered his eyes with his hands. Through the blur, he saw a white figure approaching him.
This time, Zhang Zicheng didn't close his eyes. As the figure got closer, the dark clouds suddenly dispersed, and the moonlight shone on the ground, illuminating his vision. The figure was none other than Xue'er.
The Xue'er in front of him was completely different from before. Her long hair was flying wildly in the strong wind, her feet were floating in mid-air, and beneath her was a whirlpool filled with pure white snow.
"Aren't you scared?" Xue'er asked coldly when she saw that Zhang Zicheng didn't show much of a reaction.
"I've already guessed it. After all, you saved me, so I probably don't need to be scared," Zhang Zicheng replied.
Zhang Zicheng had traveled far and wide over the years and had seen all sorts of things. Spirits were nothing new to him.
"Why are you leaving? Why won't you stay with me?" Xue'er demanded angrily.
"I've always intended to leave. I never thought of staying," Zhang Zicheng tried to reason with her.
"No, you can't leave!" Xue'er couldn't accept this outcome and shouted.
Then, Xue'er reached out her hand and lunged at Zhang Zicheng. He instinctively took a step back and, in his panic, tripped over something and fell to the ground.
A sharp pain shot through his arm. If he didn't have his arm set soon, it might be useless. Zhang Zicheng raised his hand to cover his aching arm. Thinking of the hallucination just now, he shouted in a desperate attempt, "Xiaolao San! Shen Weixun! Help me!"
Niannian and Shen Weixun, who were still searching for Zhang Zicheng on the mountain, heard this cry for help. Without hesitation, they found a less steep slope and ran down. They stumbled and rolled all the way to the foot of the mountain and saw Zhang Zicheng being dragged forward by the collar. Xue'er heard the noise behind her and suddenly turned around, shouting angrily, "Mind your own business! Get out of here."
"I'm trying to save my senior brother. How is that minding my own business!"
With that, Niannian rushed forward.
Xue'er let go of Zhang Zicheng and engaged Niannian in a fight.
Shen Weixun quickly ran over to check on Zhang Zicheng's condition. Seeing his limp and drooping arm, he was furious and even a bit disappointed.
"You're always so capable, but how could you break your arm so easily!"
"Big brother, I'm only human! I fell from such a great height. You should be grateful that it's just a broken arm," Zhang Zicheng said helplessly. He still couldn't figure out why he always broke his bones.
This was Xue'er's territory. Even Niannian couldn't gain an advantage on the snowy mountain. At most, they could only be evenly matched.
Shen Weixun had a guess about Xue'er's identity. He took out a fire talisman and threw it at her.
Feeling the scorching heat, Xue'er sensed the threat and took several steps back. Shen Weixun confirmed his guess and shouted to Niannian, "Niannian, use fire?"
Niannian immediately understood what his third senior brother meant. He took out one fire talisman after another and continuously threw them at Xue'er.
The talisman papers ignited her clothes, and Xue'er frantically patted at the flames on her body and fled in a hurry.
Xue'er covered her burned arm in great pain. Shen Weixun coldly threatened, "If you leave now, I'll spare you. If you don't, it'll be a fight to the death."
Xue'er looked at her blackened arm, glared at them resentfully, and then turned around and flew back towards the cave. As she left, she looked at Zhang Zicheng and said in a deep voice, "You've betrayed me, and you'll pay the price."
Xue'er was gone.
Niannian and Shen Weixun carried Zhang Zicheng on their backs to a cave and bandaged his wounds.
From Shen Weixun, Zhang Zicheng learned about Xue'er's identity.
The Snow Woman, an elf of the snowy mountain. Legend had it that the Snow Woman had a beautiful appearance and a kind and gentle personality. She often lured men into the snowy mountain and induced them to make promises. If they broke their oaths, she would mercilessly take their lives.
Zhang Zicheng carefully recalled the days he had spent with Xue'er. It seemed that she had indeed asked him from time to time if he could stay with her forever, but Zhang Zicheng had too many concerns and had never given her an answer.
Shen Weixun said that the Snow Woman had been accompanied by snow and cold since birth and could never leave these two things. Otherwise, she would melt like a snowman.
Zhang Zicheng put his hand into his pocket and suddenly felt something soft. He took it out and saw that it was a lucky charm. Xue'er had given it to him, saying that it would protect him and keep him safe and healthy.
Maybe she was just too lonely?
But trying to force someone to stay just because she was lonely was a bit crazy!