Chapter Forty-Five: A New Mission—Rescue the Snow Maiden Feixue

“Brothers, go get them, take down those two guys...” With the matter finally settled, Qin Xiaochuan and Zhang Yang both breathed a sigh of relief. Not only had they uncovered the truth, but they'd also dealt with the two imposters pretending to be them. If it weren't for Bai Ying and Feiyan, he might really have lost his life today. Thinking of this, he followed Bai Ying to Feiyan, who was sitting on a tree branch. Qin Xiaochuan grinned, “Thanks a lot, Feiyan!”

“Hmph!” Feiyan snorted at his gratitude, dropping down from the tree. “Listen up, Qin Xiaochuan. I don’t care if your body aches or whatever the reason is. I won’t let you lose to trash like that. It may have been by chance, but what does it make me, someone who once lost to you? Get your body back in shape and raise your spiritual power.”

“Haha... Sorry about that!” Qin Xiaochuan replied, embarrassed. Though Feiyan was lecturing him, in truth, it was another form of saving him. Perhaps this was Feiyan’s way of expressing concern, never showing emotion lightly.

“But still, that said, I owe you twice now! I’ll need your help with whatever comes next!” Seeing Feiyan turn her face away, Qin Xiaochuan reached out, seemingly wanting to shake her hand.

Feiyan extended her hand in return.

“What’s this?” Qin Xiaochuan was confused as Feiyan handed him a videotape. Had she recorded what she wanted to say? What a strange person.

“It looks like it’s your next mission from the Spirit Realm.”

“Damn...”

Holding the tape, Qin Xiaochuan thought for a moment. The video player was in his mother’s room; to watch it, he’d need a safe place. Ah, Zhang Yang had a player at his house—he remembered... Heh. With this in mind, Qin Xiaochuan turned to Zhang Yang, “I’ve got a videotape, want to go watch it at your place?”

“Really? What kind of movie?” Zhang Yang perked up at the mention of a tape. The two of them had watched plenty of films together in his little dark room.

“I don’t know yet, let’s find out. Can you play it?”

“Sure! I’ve watched almost all the tapes from the video rental lately, really needed something new. Come on, let’s go to my place.” He dragged Qin Xiaochuan along, clearly a movie buff. Qin Xiaochuan waved at Bai Ying as Zhang Yang pulled him away—seemed Zhang Yang just couldn’t wait.

“What’s this?” Once home, Zhang Yang quickly drew the curtains and popped the tape into the player. Five minutes passed, and the screen was still static. “Is it water-damaged? There’s nothing here.”

“Just wait, it’ll show something soon...”

Suddenly, the screen flickered, revealing the image of the Little King of Hell.

“Who’s this kid? Why’s he got a pacifier?” Zhang Yang was dumbfounded by the child on screen. What was Qin Xiaochuan showing him, and why did it involve children?

As Zhang Yang stared in shock, the Little King of Hell straightened up and began to introduce the mission.

“I am the Little King of Hell, head of the Spirit Realm’s Investigation Department. Only those with spiritual power can see and hear me, so rest assured and watch closely. Here is your next mission...”

“What? That brat is the Little King of Hell?”

Pointing at the screen, Zhang Yang turned to see Qin Xiaochuan stifling a laugh at his side. “What kind of show is this?”

“Nothing, just the Spirit Realm’s next mission. Watch carefully, hehe.” Hearing Zhang Yang also call the Little King a brat, Qin Xiaochuan couldn't help but laugh—he wasn’t the only one to say it, after all!

“This mission is to rescue a young girl—a girl from the Spirit Realm. Her name is Feixue, a member of the Ice Spirit Tribe. She’s currently imprisoned in a village called Madian in Xiguan County. The Ice Spirit Tribe has a unique ability: when they cry, their tears turn into Crystal Tears. These crystals fetch millions of dollars each on the human market.” The screen shifted to a balding middle-aged man, his face fierce, a cigar in his mouth—a truly sinister figure. “This man is Li Gang, forty-five years old, made his fortune trafficking Crystal Tears...”

“What an ugly bastard...”

“Yeah, he looks like trouble...”

“He’s the one imprisoning Feixue. Profiting from Crystal Tears, he’s hired a group of monsters disguised as humans for muscle. Some of them are formidable, so don’t take them lightly, Xiaochuan!” The scene shifted again, showing a girl surrounded by talismans, clearly under house arrest.

“This girl is Feixue, the one you must rescue...”

Looking at the girl on screen, Zhang Yang felt a jolt, standing up abruptly. “Xiaochuan! Let’s go to Madian Village! Let’s save her!”

“What? Zhang Yang? Are you serious, right now?”

“Yes, I’ve decided. For her, I’d risk my life. If you keep rambling, I’ll go alone.” With that, Zhang Yang ran out, shouting to his sister in the kitchen, “Sis! Sis! Give me some money, I want to travel to Madian Village!”

“Madian Village? Isn’t that in Xiguan County, right nearby? What kind of trip are you planning?”

Watching the lovestruck Zhang Yang, Qin Xiaochuan propped his chin and kept watching...

Xiguan County’s Madian Village was once barren land. Ten years ago, a man arrived and began developing tourism. Soon, it became a sprawling scenic area covering thousands of acres. That investor was Li Gang, whom Qin Xiaochuan had seen on the tape. Li Gang trafficked Crystal Tears on the black market, amassing a fortune, which he laundered through tourism development. Over the years, he also bribed monsters to capture many from the Ice Spirit Tribe, Feixue among them. At that moment, Li Gang, dressed in a flashy suit and surrounded by bodyguards, entered the room where the Snow Maiden was confined.

As he entered, he questioned her guards, “So, has Feixue cried these past two days?”

The guard bowed respectfully. “Boss Li, the Snow Maiden hasn’t spoken. No matter how much we beat her, she won’t cry. Compared to when she first arrived, even torture doesn’t work anymore. It’s as if she’s dead inside—the pain no longer frightens her!”

“Useless. Luckily, I brought in two experts. Come on, Brothers Sikong, it’s your turn now...” The gatekeeper glanced behind Li Gang and saw a tall, thin man wearing sunglasses, with a small figure perched on his shoulder. These must be the Sikong brothers Li Gang referred to.

“You’re so lucky...” The imprisoned Feixue watched the chirping birds outside her window and whispered, “I’m not so fortunate—I don’t even have the right to reach out...” She stretched her hand to the sealed windowsill, but a surge of electricity forced her arm back. Her pale skin now bore burn marks. Clearly, Li Gang had filled the room with sealing talismans to prevent her escape.

Seeing Feixue’s injured arm, the birds outside fluttered in and landed on her shoulder, chirping as if to comfort her. Hearing their calls, Feixue’s mood improved. She picked up one bird, holding it in her palm and communicating gently—as if she could connect with animals on a spiritual level, or perhaps simply confide her feelings to them. As Feixue communed with the birds, the door swung open. Li Gang stormed in with the Sikong brothers. He was determined to get some Crystal Tears from her—otherwise, those who paid him up front would never let him go. Wiping sweat from his brow, Li Gang gestured to the brothers, “I’ll leave the rest to you two...”

“Quick, go!” Seeing Li Gang enter with his men, Feixue shooed the birds off her shoulder, afraid he’d harm her little friends again. Though their time together was short, she regarded them as her only companions in this lonely prison; only they could occasionally keep her company through the window.

Sikong Lang, the tall brother, approached. He pinched Feixue’s emotionless face, examining her, then released her, and with a flick of his arm, slashed her cheek—a line of blood trickled down. But as the guard had said, physical pain no longer affected her. Feixue, seated, seemed indifferent to the wound, turning her head aside. Just then, the birds outside saw her injured and began hopping anxiously on the windowsill.

Watching the frantic birds, Sikong Lang called to the small figure on his shoulder, “Big brother!”

Understanding his brother, the small man extended both hands. His ten fingers stretched out like licorice, reaching through the window and wrapping around one of the birds, pulling it inside.