The third day of the first lunar month, the weather was clear.

The warm winter sun shone on the Martial Arts Arena of Beifeng City.

Today's Cedar Forest was not as crowded as one might imagine.

The audience in the forest was mostly dressed in white outfits, clearly disciples of the Beifeng Sect.

Although the Martial Arts Arena was in the Outer City and visitors could come here for sightseeing, the Beifeng Sect had already sealed off the area.

Deng Yutang and Bai Manni were still led in by Hu Jiaojiao.

"Hu Sister, is that Senior Liao?" Bai Manni asked softly, looking towards the center of the field.

This field was the largest in the Martial Arts Arena.

Strictly speaking, it was a training field, not a sparring ground.

At different times each day, there were batches of nearly a thousand North Wind Disciples practicing swordplay on the field.

It was spacious enough to accommodate them all.

"Mm," Hu Jiaojiao replied with a complicated look in her eyes.

In the very center of the vast field stood a woman.

She was draped in a white robe, slightly over one meter sixty, clearly of mature age yet her hair was already grey.

Every so often a cold wind blew by, ruffling that slightly disheveled long white hair and revealing her rigid facial features.

Her gaze was indifferent, as if devoid of any human emotion.

There also stood a thin and long ring-pommel saber, plunged into the snow beside her.

Motionless, both her and the saber.

But the terrifying aura was enough to intimidate the entire field.

North Wind Believer—Liao Wushuang!

Far off in the Snow Forest, Bai Manni couldn't help but shiver, clutching Deng Yutang's arm tightly.

Today Beifeng City's temperature had warmed up, and there was even a warm sun hanging high.

Yet the white-haired woman in the center of the field seemed to defy nature itself, making that part of the world bitterly cold.

Deng Yutang's expression grew even worse.

How could such a cold-hearted person possibly hold back?

The corpses of the Evil Demons that died under that ring-pommel saber, perhaps they could pile up into a mountain.

To such people, killing someone was simply no big deal.

"You all stay here to watch the fight, don't wander around, or you'll be driven out," Hu Jiaojiao said. Then, seeing several figures in the distant forest, she quickly stepped away.

Deng Yutang hurriedly said, "My sister, she..."

Hu Jiaojiao paused for a moment: "Little Lu Ran is with her, don't worry."

Bai Manni rolled up her sleeves to reveal a ladies' wristwatch of considerable value on her wrist.

7:40 a.m.

This watch was a birthday gift from Deng Yutang to her.

Bai Manni always felt sweet inside whenever she looked at the time.

But at this moment, the precisely moving second hand felt like a countdown to death.

No more sweet affections of love, only fear, worry, resistance, and other emotions surged in her heart.

Bai Manni pulled down her sleeves to cover the wristwatch: "Lu..."

"What?" Deng Yutang looked down at his girlfriend.

Bai Manni buried her face in Deng Yutang's chest, her voice small and muffled, "Lu Ran is here."

"Mm." Deng Yutang replied in a low voice, nodding.

Last night, Lu Ran returned to the inn just to get his luggage and did not rest in the room.

Deng Yutang sent many messages but received no reply.

It was not until he made a phone call that he learned Lu Ran had spent the night at Deng Yuxiang's place.

Lu Ran,

This legendary figure who was unparalleled in Da Xia, his good brother...

He should be able to help his sister.

At this moment, Lu Ran had become Deng Yutang's only hope.

And the one Deng Yutang was incessantly concerned about was still at Deng Yuxiang's residence.

Inside the simple and tidy living room,

Deng Yuxiang stood in front of the floor-length mirror, meticulously adjusting her shirt collar.

Not far behind, Lu Ran sat on the sofa, quietly accompanying her.

The body of River Realm was indeed terrifying.

Deng Yuxiang had simply taken a hot bath, enjoyed some tea, and slept a night under Lu Ran's protection.

She restored her vitality.

Her lips were rosy again, and her face was radiant.

But in Lu Ran's eyes, she still hadn't returned to her best condition.

Three exchanges,

Three times utterly crushed, indeed that had taken a toll on this camellia flower.

"Tired?" Deng Yuxiang suddenly asked.

"Ah?" Lu Ran returned to his senses.

After adjusting her shirt collar, Deng Yuxiang shook her head slightly and ran her hand through her wavy long hair:

"You were sitting there all night, weren't you?"

"I wasn't just sitting idle; I've been bonding with Little Blazing Phoenix," Lu Ran picked up the Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd beside him.

Like Luoxian Mountain, Beifeng City was rich in Divine Power.

That night, Lu Ran used the Chi Feng Pattern Gourd to absorb a lot of energy.

Hmm, enough to just throw his head back and drink it down.

Deng Yuxiang bit her wristband and pulled it off lightly, then raised her hand to tie up her long hair, seemingly ready to make a high ponytail.

With each lift of her arms, her beautiful body lines were fully revealed.

Biting her wristband, she spoke with some ambiguity, "If you're tired, rest here.

After the fight, I will come back for you."

Lu Ran averted his gaze, not engaging her, instead weighing the exquisite gourd in his hand:

"Poor Little Blazing Phoenix, it has no sense of smell, can't smell the fragrance of camellia~"

The gold phoenix pattern on the Red Jade Gourd lit up momentarily.

It was unclear if it was expressing discontent or simply responding to its master.

Deng Yuxiang glanced at someone in the mirror.

Lu Ran looked back at her tall and graceful figure: "The fight is about to start, and you're telling me to sleep now?"

With an expressionless face, Deng Yuxiang continued tying her hair and spoke faintly, "I will come back."

Lu Ran shifted his gaze slightly, looking into the eyes of the woman in the floor-length mirror through reflection:

"Don't forget what I came here with."

Deng Yuxiang paused, "What?"

Lu Ran complained, "You don't remember that night on the terrace by Wu Lie River when we said goodbye?"

Deng Yuxiang grew silent, recalling that warm, breezy night.

She also remembered the eager young man who insisted on coming to watch the battle.

His earnest voice was still echoing in her ears:

"Before you challenge, let me know, I'll come and watch you!"

"If you win, I have to celebrate with you; if you lose, at least I can collect your body."

"We agreed; make sure to tell me in advance, okay!"

...

Thinking about it made Deng Yuxiang's expression soften and her lips curled up in a gentle smile.

Lu Ran nodded, "Looks like you remember."

Only the warm memories of the past could bring a slight smile to Deng Yuxiang at this time.

"Mm," Deng Yuxiang continued tying her hair.

"So, what did I come here with?" Lu Ran asked with a smile.

Deng Yuxiang finished her high ponytail, revealing her astonishing beauty.

She reached out to her side, and the Night-slaying Great Saber flew towards her.

"Snap!"

"You brought what," Deng Yuxiang said casually, firmly gripping the handle of the saber.

The camellia began to bloom fully, her aura rising and rising.

Both beautiful and heroic.

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders: "I came with that part of the sky above Wu Lie River that night.

With the crescent moon in the night sky.

With the flowing waters of the Wu Lie River...

I've come to see you with everything from our hometown."

Deng Yuxiang's face froze for a moment, then she looked at the young man in the mirror.

Lu Ran smiled brightly: "Hometown will surely bless you."

It definitely will, I promise.

Because in this land of ice and snow in the North Country, next to the Martial Arts Arena where a life-and-death battle will soon unfold...

I,

am the home.

Your hometown.

"Tap, tap..."

Deng Yuxiang took steps forward, the heels of her boots making soft sounds against the floor.

A complete, gentle smile finally appeared on her face.

Just like in the memories.

Her eyes were slightly moist, deeply moved.

The long suppressed life, the body and heart soaked by frost and snow, were quietly warming up.

Lu Ran nodded silently, thinking to himself that it was good.

Her eyes were brighter than before.

She regained some of her past elegance.

"Let's go," Deng Yuxiang said gently, placing the Night-slaying Great Saber aside.

Lu Ran immediately stood up.

Deng Yuxiang tightened the white down jacket on Lu Ran, her movements gentle as she zipped it up for him.

The suitcase beside quietly opened.

The Dawn Blade and Silent Night Blade, with their sheaths, flew and clung to Lu Ran's back.

Deng Yuxiang didn't care about the Divine Weapons, as she raised her hand and rubbed Lu Ran's head lightly.

Then, Lu Ran felt a gentle kiss land on his head.

"You're taller than me," Deng Yuxiang loosened her hand, allowing Lu Ran to look up.

Her gaze was equally gentle, looking at the young man before her, tall and valiant.

Lu Ran smiled proudly.

And Deng Yuxiang smiled as she picked up the Night-slaying Great Saber and walked outside: "Let's go!"

Lu Ran quickly grabbed a knitted scarf and hat and followed her.

Deng Yuxiang's residence was within the boundaries of the Martial Arts Arena, just outside were the Cedar Forests.

She dragged the long Night-slaying Great Saber through the forest.

With each step, her aura surged.

Lu Ran followed behind her, calmly tying his scarf, feeling the martial artist ahead of him growing stronger.

Along the way, one North Wind Disciple after another in white outfits appeared, with different expressions.

People watched the woman in her simple white shirt and tidy high ponytail walking resolutely towards life-and-death battle.

Their eyes and faces...

Some with respect, some excited, some adoring, some expectant.

There were also those who regretted silently, unable to bear to watch.

Regardless of what the North Wind Disciples felt inside, their actions were uniform, stepping aside to clear the path.

"Go for it, Senior Sister Deng!!"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from somewhere.

As if a chain reaction had been triggered in the entire Snow Forest, voices kept coming.

"Show them your spirit, Sister!"

"Take care, Senior Sister Deng!"

...

The closer they got to the field, the more North Wind Disciples there were, and the crowd dressed in white automatically parted ways.

Deng Yuxiang's gaze sharpened!

Her pace never faltering, she saw Liao Wushuang waiting in the center from afar.

Liao Wushuang turned to look, and seeing that stunning woman with an astounding aura, she was utterly astonished.

Three exchanges,

Three brutal suppressions.

This young girl had almost been crushed, left to sit alone in the forest, increasingly despondent.

But now...

Deng Yuxiang had "revived"?

Liao Wushuang narrowed her eyes slightly.

Looking at the once again brilliantly blooming, proud and beautiful woman.

How is this possible?

Liao Wushuang didn't know why Deng Yuxiang could suddenly regroup.

She was also unclear how this nearly broken great saber had solidified once more.

But Liao Wushuang was certain of one thing:

This young successor...

Absolutely must not be spared!

...

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