One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

In the early morning on the back mountain of Longhu Mountain, Nie Lingfeng sat cross-legged on a blue stone under the waterfall, closing his eyes and circulating the mental cultivation method of the Wuqiu Yijue. The water flowed like a ribbon, and the sound of the water was like thunder, but his mind was clear and empty, as if he had merged with the breath of the waterfall, the mountain, and the world.

"Without desires or wants, in accordance with nature..."

He silently recited the incantation, feeling the flow of moisture in the air, the steady pulse of the earth beneath his feet, and the path of the wind passing through the treetops. A faint "power" was slowly gathering around him, like an invisible veil gently enveloping him.

This is the initial stage of "borrowing momentum"—without deliberately mobilizing internal energy or using martial arts, one can simply adapt to the environment and take advantage of the power of heaven and earth to put oneself in a state that is close to "natural".

In this state, his senses become extremely sharp, his reactions become faster, and even... his luck improves.

"Interesting." Nie Lingfeng's lips curled up slightly.

Just then—

"Ring ring ring ring!!!"

A piercing cell phone ringtone abruptly shattered the tranquility.

Nie Lingfeng frowned and woke up from his meditation. He took out his old Nokia phone from his pocket—a gift from Xu Si, who said it was a "company-issued communication tool," but it was really just a brick that could make calls and send text messages.

The words "Xu Si" flashed on the screen.

Nie Lingfeng pressed the answer button: "Fourth Brother."

"Xiao Feng!" Xu Si's voice sounded hurried on the other end of the phone, with a lot of background noise, like someone was driving. "How are you? Are you almost recovered?"

"Hmm, almost there." Nie Lingfeng stood up, patting the moisture off his Taoist robe. "I can control myself now, and I can hold a knife without any problems."

"That's good, that's good..." Xu Si visibly breathed a sigh of relief, then lowered his voice, "Xiao Feng, there's something I need to tell you."

"you say."

"The company... is preparing to take action against Chen Duo, a temporary worker in South China."

Nie Lingfeng's hand gripping the phone tightened suddenly.

Chen Duo.

The girl in the comic, dressed in Miao ethnic clothing, with vacant eyes, was raised from childhood as a vessel for Gu poison by the Medicine Immortal Society, and finally turned to ashes in the sunlight. She didn't understand what normality was, what choice was, or even... what "living" meant.

She just wanted to have the right to choose her own life, like an ordinary person.

Even if that choice is death.

"The company... wants to arrest her?" Nie Lingfeng's voice was calm, but the Qilin tattoo on his chest began to heat up slightly.

"It's not arrest, it's 'apprehension'," Xu Si said seriously. "Chen Duo killed Lao Liao, the head of the South China region, and defected. The company has issued a strict order: find her alive or dead. This is a collective action by temporary workers; temporary workers from all six regions across the country will participate under unified command. We must get rid of Chen Duo..."

Nie Lingfeng remained silent.

Xu Si on the other end of the phone seemed to sense something and quickly added, "But Xiao Feng, don't worry. Our main role in North China is to cooperate. My third brother and I mean that you go with Bao Bao, mainly to protect her and prevent her secret from being exposed. As for Chen Duo... arrest her if you can, but don't force it if you can't. Safety first."

Nie Lingfeng remained silent.

He could hear Xu Si's breathing on the other end of the phone; it was rapid and he sounded nervous.

He could imagine Xu Si's current feelings—wanting to complete the company's mission, not wanting Nie Lingfeng and Feng Baobao to be in danger, and even more afraid that... Nie Lingfeng, this "unstable factor," would get out of control during the mission.

"Fourth Brother," Nie Lingfeng spoke slowly, his voice soft, "what if... we can't apprehend him?"

"This..." Xu Si paused, "The company's requirement is to see the person alive or dead. But Xiao Feng, we're just cooperating; the main force is from East China and Northwest China. You just need to protect Bao Bao, and the rest... we'll see how things go."

"Play it by ear..." Nie Lingfeng repeated, then suddenly smiled, "In other words, if I want to protect Chen Duo, won't it put you and Third Brother in a difficult position?"

There was an instant silence on the other end of the phone.

Even the background noise seemed to disappear.

A long time passed, so long that Nie Lingfeng thought the call had ended, before Xu Si's voice rang out again, hoarse and dry, but very firm:

"Xiao Feng, do whatever you want to do. Your third brother and I... support you."

He paused, then said, word by word, "We'll handle things at the company."

Nie Lingfeng stood under the waterfall, holding his phone. The water vapor soaked his hair and his Taoist robe, but he was completely unaware.

"it is good."

He said only one word and then hung up the phone.

He tucked his phone back into his pocket and looked up at the waterfall.

The water was rapid and fierce, as if it would destroy everything.

But he felt very calm inside.

"Help her," he said softly. "This time, I'll help her."

It wasn't for any grand cause, nor for any form of redemption.

I just... feel sorry for her.

That girl has suffered so much.

She shouldn't have ended up like that.

That afternoon, Nie Lingfeng went to see the Old Celestial Master.

The old Celestial Master was in a cave on the back mountain, feeding Tian Jinzhong medicine—using Nie Lingfeng's blood mixed with some warming and nourishing herbs, dripping it little by little into Tian's mouth. Three months later, the granulation tissue on Tian's limbs had grown a bit more, already about an inch long, pink and tender, and occasionally twitching slightly.

"Elder Celestial Master," Nie Lingfeng bowed, "this junior is about to descend the mountain."

The old master put down the medicine bowl and turned to look at him: "Have you recovered?"

"Alright." Nie Lingfeng nodded. "My mental state is stable, my demonic nature is under control, and my combat power... has recovered to 80%."

"Eighty percent..." The old master stroked his beard, a hint of approval in his eyes. "That's enough. With eighty percent of your strength, there aren't many people in this world who can stop you."

He paused, then asked, "What are we going down the mountain for?"

"Chu Lan needs some help," Nie Lingfeng said. "The company has a task involving temporary workers, and both Chu Lan and Bao Bao are going. I'll go and keep an eye on things."

"A collective action by temporary workers..." The old master's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is it for that girl from South China named Chen Duo?"

Nie Lingfeng was taken aback: "The Old Celestial Master knows?"

"I know a little bit about it." The old master sighed. "That girl... is also a tragic figure. The mess the Medicine Immortal Society made, the company cleaned up the mess, and in the end, a child has to bear the consequences."

He looked at Nie Lingfeng and said, "Do whatever you want. But remember, after you go down the mountain, you can't stop cultivating your mind. Take it one step at a time, and don't be impatient."

"I understand."

"Also," the old master patted his shoulder, his eyes gentle yet sharp, "I'll trouble you to take good care of Chu Lan. He's impulsive and thoughtful, but not a bad person at heart. Please bear with him."

"Of course."

The old celestial master looked at him for a long time, then slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but every word carrying immense weight:

"Young friend Nie, remember this. After you leave the mountain, as long as you don't harm the country, the people, or do anything immoral... do whatever you want. If the sky falls, Longhu Mountain will protect you."

Nie Lingfeng was startled and looked up at the old Celestial Master.

The old man had white hair and beard, and wore a simple Taoist robe, but standing there, he was like a mountain—steady, substantial, and unshakeable.

"Thank you...Master Celestial." Nie Lingfeng bowed deeply.

The old master waved his hand: "Go ahead. Come back soon."

Nie Lingfeng returned to his room and began packing his luggage.

There's not much to pack. A few changes of clothes, some dry food, three volumes of scriptures, and... the Snow Drinking Knife.

He stuffed everything into his Qiankun Bag—this three-cubic-meter spatial artifact, now one of his most practical pieces of equipment. The Snow Drinking Knife wouldn't leak out; the scriptures wouldn't get damp; and the dried rations wouldn't spoil.

Simply perfect.

After tidying up, he walked to the mirror and looked at himself.

Her long, gray hair had reached her shoulders. The black at the roots spread into the middle of her hair, creating a strange gradient from black to gray to white, like an ink wash painting, giving her an indescribable sense of vicissitude.

"It's time to cut it." He muttered to himself, taking out a pair of scissors from his storage bag—he didn't know when they were put there, probably by Xu Si.

He looked in the mirror, snip, snip, and cut his long hair to shoulder length. Then he casually tied it into a low ponytail, which made him look much neater.

Looking in the mirror again, hmm, much better looking.

Although the hair color is still a bit strange, at least it doesn't look sloppy anymore.

"Set off."

He slung his bag over his shoulder (which was actually empty), walked out of the room, and closed the door.

Turn around and head down the mountain.

On the mountain path, Nie Lingfeng took out his phone and sent Xu Si a text message:

"We've descended the mountain. Mission location?"

A few minutes later, Xu Si replied:

"In your province, near Liupanshui, there's a place called Biyou Village. Bao Bao and Chu Lan have already met up with the other temporary workers and are heading there. You can just go there directly. Contact me when you arrive, and I'll send you the exact coordinates."

Biyou Village.

Nie Lingfeng's eyes narrowed.

Sure enough, it's here.

In the comic, the place where Chen Duo last appears is Ma Xianhong's "New Jie Sect" headquarters, the location of the Body Cultivation Furnace, and also... Chen Duo's chosen final "home".

"Biyou Village..." he murmured, put away his phone, and quickened his pace.

When he reached the foot of the mountain, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for the airport.

On the way, he bought a ticket for the next available flight to Guiyang. The flight was scheduled to depart at 8 p.m., and he would arrive in Guiyang around 11 p.m. Then he would have to transfer to a bus to Liupanshui, and finally to Biyou Village... It would probably be dawn by then.

"I'll make it." He looked at the scenery rushing past the window and calculated the time in his mind.

Chen Duo should have just arrived at Biyou Village, and the temporary workers are also heading there. According to the comic's progression, they will gather on the outskirts of Biyou Village, formulate a plan, and then finally enter the village.

He had plenty of time to get there before anything started.

Then...do what he's supposed to do.

The plane took off and soared into the sky.

Nie Lingfeng leaned against the porthole, looking at the city lights below getting smaller and smaller, at the dark night sky outside the window, and at the navigation lights flashing on the wings.

He touched the yin-yang jade pendant on his chest.

The jade pendant was warm and smooth, with a slight coolness that gradually calmed his restless heart.

"Chen Duo, I'm here," he said softly, his voice as light as a sigh.

The plane streaked across the night sky like a shooting star, speeding off in the southwest.

In that direction, deep in the mountains, a girl dressed in Miao ethnic clothing sat on a stone at the village entrance, gazing at the starry sky with vacant eyes.