One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chen Duo initially just stood at the door watching, but then slowly walked in, trying to help like Nie Lingfeng. However, she clearly lacked these life skills, and her movements were clumsy and hesitant. Nie Lingfeng didn't rush her, but gently guided her to do some simple things, such as wrapping the trash she had cleaned up in a rag and taking it away a distance away, or wiping the table and bed with a damp cloth.

The entire process lasted nearly two hours. When the last hole in the roof was patched up and the first wisp of smoke carrying the fragrance of pine resin rose from the stove, the dilapidated wooden house had been transformed. Although still simple, it was full of the warmth of life.

Nie Lingfeng wiped the sweat from his brow, looked at the clean and tidy room and the kettle steaming on the stove, and nodded in satisfaction. He turned to look at Chen Duo.

The girl was still wearing those oversized clothes, her cuffs and trouser legs stained with mud and dust from helping out, and her face smudged with black marks. She was squatting by the stove, watching the leaping flames, her emerald eyes reflecting an orange-red light, her gaze focused, seemingly filled with a sense of wonder at "fire," something she had once strictly avoided.

"Alright," Nie Lingfeng said, "Let's leave it at that for now. We'll add more later. Now, change out of your clothes. I have a spare set here, it might be a bit big, but it's better than being dirty. And..."

He paused, then took out another set of clean, light gray ordinary cotton clothes and a pair of sturdy cloth shoes that looked a little smaller from his storage bag and handed them to her.

"Take off the protective suit. You don't need to wear it anymore."

Chen Duo took the clothes and shoes, looked down at them, then looked up at Nie Lingfeng, a hint of hesitation and... unease flashing clearly in her eyes for the first time. Taking off the protective suit was more than just changing clothes for her; it was like shedding an identity and a fixed safety pattern. That heavy, all-isolating white shell was her last barrier between herself and the outside world, with danger, and even with "normalcy."

"Don't worry," Nie Lingfeng understood her unease, his tone gentle yet firm, "With me here, I can handle the toxins that naturally seep out of your body at any time. It won't harm the surrounding environment, much less yourself. Wearing that is stuffy and hot, restricts movement, and most importantly—it constantly reminds you that you are 'different' from others. But now, you don't need that 'different' label anymore."

He pointed to the bright sunshine and fresh mountain forest outside the window: "Go feel the wind, feel the sunshine, feel the temperature. They won't hurt you; you should enjoy them."

Chen Duo stood quietly for a while, seemingly processing Nie Lingfeng's words and undergoing intense internal deliberation. Finally, she slowly nodded, picked up the new clothes and shoes, and walked to a relatively dark corner of the room, turning her back to Nie Lingfeng.

Nie Lingfeng turned around naturally, walked outside, and gently closed the repaired wooden door.

Outside, the sun shone brightly. A mountain breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, and the faint chirping of birds in the distance. Nie Lingfeng leaned against the wooden wall by the door, closing his eyes to rest, but his ears were keenly listening for any sounds coming from inside the house.

He could hear the subtle sounds of fabric rubbing together, the soft click of metal buckles being undone, the rustling of protective suits being carefully folded and placed, and then the sound of new clothes being put on. The whole process was slow, gentle, and carried an air of awkward caution.

About five or six minutes later, Chen Duo's very soft voice came from inside the door: "...It's done."

Nie Lingfeng pushed open the door and went in.

Light streamed in through the repaired cracks in the roof and the newly opened windows, illuminating the room. Chen Duo stood in the center of the room, wearing her light gray cotton clothes. The clothes were still a little loose on her, but much more fitted than her previous outfit, with the cuffs and trouser legs rolled up slightly. She stood barefoot on the floor—her new shoes didn't seem to be on yet, her ten toes curling nervously as she stepped onto the rough but clean wooden floor.

Her long hair, no longer carefully tied up or braided as before, was simply draped over her shoulders, black and smooth, the ends still slightly damp. Her skin, rarely exposed to sunlight, possessed a porcelain-like, almost translucent whiteness. Her face, usually mostly hidden by her protective cap, was now fully revealed—delicate features, a straight nose, pale pink lips, and a pointed chin. Most striking, however, were her eyes, a deep, clear, and seemingly empty emerald green.

Without the heavy protective suit, she appeared thin and fragile, yet strangely... real. Like a trembling new sprout finally struggling to emerge from beneath a thick layer of ice.

Nie Lingfeng looked at her, his eyes showing no unusual expression, only pure appreciation and a gentle smile.

"It looks great," he said sincerely. "It's so much cleaner this way."

Chen Duo lowered her head, looked at her clothes, then raised her hand, looking at her bare, slender, and pale wrist. Without the barrier of gloves, her skin was in direct contact with the cool air, bringing a strange yet distinct sensation. She moved her fingers uncomfortably, her fingertips tracing the texture of the cotton fabric.

She didn't speak, but Nie Lingfeng keenly noticed that the edge of her earlobe had turned an extremely subtle, almost invisible, pale pink.

"Come," Nie Lingfeng walked to the flat grass in front of the house, sat down cross-legged, and patted the spot next to him. "Sit here. Let's begin our first lesson."

Chen Duo hesitated for a moment, but still did as she was told and walked over, imitating Nie Lingfeng by sitting down about a foot away from him. Her posture was stiff, her back straight, and her hands were placed neatly on her knees, like a soldier waiting for instructions.

"Relax," Nie Lingfeng smiled. "This isn't a lesson, I'm just teaching you... a way to make yourself feel more comfortable."

He looked into Chen Duo's emerald eyes, his tone becoming serious: "What I'm going to teach you is called the 'Ice Heart Technique.' It's not a martial art for fighting and hurting people, but a method for calming the mind, focusing the spirit, and controlling emotions. The primal Gu poison in your body is directly related to your emotions and thoughts. The more tense, anxious, fearful, or angry you are, the more restless it will become, even trying to take over. Therefore, to truly control it, the first thing you must learn is to control your own 'heart.'"

He slowly closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and made his voice low, even, and with a peculiar rhythm:

"A pure heart remains unperturbed even when the sky falls."

The eight words, spoken clearly and slowly, seemed to carry a calming power.

"Though everything changes, one remains steadfast, with a tranquil mind and calm spirit."

"Untainted by dust and dirt, unstained by worldly appearances."

"The void is vast and empty, utterly devoid of anything."

He recited the words one by one without explanation, letting the peaceful verses echo through the mountain forest in the early morning. Chen Duo listened quietly, her emerald eyes fixed on him, as if trying to memorize the pronunciation and order of each word.

"Nothing arises from nothing; difficulty and ease complement each other."

"Forget about things and possessions, and you will become one with the primordial chaos."

"Heaven and earth are boundless, and all things are one."

"Falling petals and falling leaves, a humble and open mind."

"A thousand worries have just subsided from my heart."

"The frown fades, and the mind becomes clear and serene."

……

After reciting a short incantation of the Ice Heart Mantra, Nie Lingfeng slowly opened his eyes and looked at Chen Duo: "How much of it have you memorized?"

Chen Duo barely hesitated, opened her mouth, and began to repeat it in her flat, monotone voice:

"A heart as pure as ice remains undisturbed even when the sky collapses. Amidst countless changes, it remains steadfast, its spirit serene and tranquil. Untainted by worldly dust, unblemished by vulgarity..."

She repeated it very slowly, but she did not miss a single word, and even imitated seven or eight parts of the pauses and rhythm when Nie Lingfeng recited it.

A hint of surprise and admiration flashed in Nie Lingfeng's eyes. This girl's memory and concentration were indeed extraordinary.

"Very good." He nodded. "Now, close your eyes and repeat after me. This time, don't just memorize, try to feel it. Imagine yourself as a piece of ice, a pure and flawless piece of ice at the very bottom of a deep pool. The surrounding water, light, sounds... everything is changing, but this piece of ice always maintains its own 'stillness' and 'clarity'. Slowly, this piece of ice begins to melt, not destroyed by external forces, but naturally and gently, turning into the clearest and calmest flowing water..."

Nie Lingfeng's voice carried a strange guiding quality. Chen Duo closed her eyes as instructed and, following his rhythm, recited the Ice Heart Mantra again.

At first, her voice remained flat, and her body stiff. But by the third recitation, Nie Lingfeng could sense a subtle change in the "qi" surrounding her. The primal Gu poison aura, which had always been subtly restless, carrying a chilling and corrosive quality, seemed to be gently caressed by an invisible hand, slowly calming and subsiding, no longer so aggressive. Her own breathing, initially slightly rapid, gradually became long and steady, the rise and fall of her chest almost imperceptible.

Her brows relaxed almost imperceptibly. Her shoulders, which had been tense, also relaxed slightly.

Nie Lingfeng did not disturb her, but simply sat quietly to the side, watching and observing.

The sunlight gradually shifted, and the shadows of the trees shifted. The birdsong in the woods seemed to become even more melodious.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Duo slowly opened her eyes.

Those emerald green eyes seemed clearer than before, less empty than usual, and with a hint of "awake" light. She looked at Nie Lingfeng, her eyes carrying a trace of beginner's confusion and... a very faint, indescribable ease.

"It feels... a little different," she said softly, seemingly unsure how to describe it.

"What's different?" Nie Lingfeng asked gently.

"It seems... less noisy inside my body." Chen Duo thought for a moment and used a somewhat childlike analogy, "Before, there were always a lot of 'voices' making noise and trying to escape. Now... they've quieted down a bit."

Nie Lingfeng smiled. The analogy was apt. The erosion and influence of the original Gu poison on its host was nothing more than endless "noise" and "impulse."

"Very good," he said. "This is the beginning of 'stillness.' From now on, every morning at sunrise and around sunset, sit here in meditation, reciting the Ice Heart Mantra silently, for at least an hour, just like you did just now. Do this for seven days and make it a habit. After seven days, I will teach you the next step."

Chen Duo nodded seriously, firmly memorizing the time concepts of "early morning," "evening," "one hour," and "seven days."

"And then?" she asked, seemingly anticipating the "next step."

"Then," Nie Lingfeng stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his clothes, and smiled with a touch of everyday life, "we'll eat."

The fire in the stove was stoked up again, and the iron pot was filled with water drawn from the mountain spring behind the house. Nie Lingfeng took out the prepared marching rations from his Qiankun bag—compressed biscuits, dried meat, dehydrated vegetables, and some edible mushrooms and wild vegetables that he had picked along the way.

He threw all the food into the pot, added a little salt, and slowly simmered it. The aroma of the food rose with the steam, gradually filling the wooden house.

Chen Duo had already put on her new shoes and sat at the repaired table, her chin resting on her hands, quietly watching Nie Lingfeng's busy figure. Her gaze fell on the simmering food, her nostrils flaring slightly, seemingly curious about the unfamiliar cooking process and aroma.

Just as the food was about to be cooked, Nie Lingfeng, with his back to Chen Duo, discreetly took out a long, silver needle, as thin as a cow's hair, from his pocket. He pinched the end of the needle with his fingertips and swiftly pricked the pad of his left index finger.

A drop of bright red blood, with a strange orange-red luster and seemingly containing slowly rotating golden sand, instantly seeped out.

Nie Lingfeng flicked his finger, and the drop of blood fell precisely into the boiling soup pot.

"laugh--"

A very faint sound, almost drowned out by the boiling noise. The moment the blood droplet entered the soup, it did not dissolve immediately, but rather, like a red-hot charcoal particle, lingered in the soup for a moment before slowly dissolving and spreading.

A miraculous change occurred.

The originally murky, discolored soup, centered on the spot where the drop of blood dissolved, quickly spread into a soft golden hue. This golden hue, as if alive, rapidly spread throughout the entire pot of soup, turning it a clear and warm pale gold. At the same time, an even richer, more enticing aroma, a blend of the original fragrance of the food and an indescribable, strange fragrance, like the essence of sunlight and life, suddenly rose up and filled the entire wooden house.

Chen Duo's nose twitched, and her emerald green eyes widened slightly as she stared intently at the pot of soup that had suddenly become "different".

"What is this?" she asked, her voice filled with obvious curiosity.