Using a small wooden stick made by Fusu, Ting picked up a piece of apple from the ceramic tray adorned with exquisite paintings of flame birds that she had placed on Noah’s body.

  — And where’s Aunt Ling? Did you two argue again, is that why this place is like this?

  — Again...? — Fusu frowned — That happened while he was healing you, and the extent of the impact was greater than just this patch of forest. — he explained — Because of it, Ling ended up suffering a crack in her Golden Core.

  — Golden Core?! Aunt Ling managed to form her core?

  He nodded, averting his gaze. The way Ting simply climbed on top of Noah, either resting her hands on his still body or using him as a table for her food, made him a bit uncomfortable, worried. He wondered how he would react if he woke up in such a state, and the way he’d appeared before said it wouldn’t be calmly.

  He sighed.

  — How long will you keep acting this way? What will you do if he wakes up?

  She looked at Noah, only to see him unchanged.

  — I’ll apologize? — she smiled, yet didn’t take her hands off him, let alone the tray. It was at the perfect height for her to grab her apples with little effort, the ideal spot. She wouldn’t give it up so easily — But is Aunt Ling really all right? If her core cracked, that means it hadn’t fully stabilized. Isn’t that dangerous? Especially with the odd way the Qi here behaves... Is this normal?

  — No, it’s also his fault.

  — The abundance too? If that’s true, wouldn’t he be a walking Qi source? — She smiled again before popping another apple slice in her mouth.

  — Actually, that is something natural to this place, I think. At least it was already like this when we arrived a few days ago. — Noticing they were running out, Fusu took another apple and began peeling it with a small silver knife — And your aunt’s going to be all right, she’s just repairing and stabilizing her core now... She should finish soon, so don’t worry so much. Everything will be fine.

  — Okay...

  Ting turned to the window, enjoying the cold breeze while the sound of the wind and the knife cutting fruit was all that filled the room. Despite her imagination, she could see nothing but trees and smoke ahead, making her wonder.

  — Where are we this time...? We’ve already left the Meiyang mountain area, I suppose. Otherwise, those women would’ve been surrounding this place by now... — Ting felt a chill down her spine — At least now we don’t have to listen to the moans of those shameless hedonists anymore... — she muttered, more to herself than to Fusu.

  He gave a free, liberating smile, the first in a long time. But it soon faded. He looked at the trees and beyond, gazing at the endless reflective sea of sand, and sighed.

  — We’re outside the empire, south of Tieshancheng.

  — South?! — her eyebrows shot up as she climbed further onto Noah, nearly toppling the tray with the apples, but Fusu caught it — Is-Isn't that near the Forest of Demonic Beasts?! Why would you come to a place like this?

  As he put the tray back, Fusu looked away. That too was a question he’d mulled over for some time. Why did they come here? Why did they take such a risk?

  — I don’t know... I just... I just felt it would be better.

  Yes, I felt it, and look what happened... He looked at Noah. An incredible coincidence, don’t you think...? But, honestly... I don’t think I’d dare refuse it, no matter how false it turned out to be.

  — You don’t know...? — Ting gaped, but said nothing. Many things were on her mind, but none that mattered at the moment — I see...

  She looked out the window.

  So we’re really far away...

  She sighed deeply, but quietly and slowly.

  Far from home, from people, and from everything else.

  All she’d thought she could eventually reach seemed now farther than ever. Yet even so, she should smile for being able to see them someday. And that’s what Ting did, even if in a subdued way.

  The strong wind revealed that the trunks ahead were nothing but dust, bits of them mixing with the smoke that rose skyward and circled them, like a foggy veil impairing vision.

  It was different in the city, where over time, the smoke disappeared along with the traumatizing stench, after the burnt wood had been discarded and the bodies buried. The work had to continue steadily, step by step. Groups were soon formed, whether to check affected areas to see if anything usable remained, to check on the frozen zones and clear the icy streets, to resume building the new housing that couldn't stall, or to take on a job many were quick to refuse, the one with the least physical strain but the hardest mental toll, since no one could bear seeing the ever-growing pile of bodies anymore.

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  The presence of the unknown creature had certainly been traumatic, but even so, human failures were what struck them the hardest under such conditions.

  — Aaaaaaaahh! — a horrified scream echoed from the northwest.

  Undric rushed over, running across the thin yet sturdy ice layer, arriving before any other group member. He tried to help the woman at first but froze at the scene ahead. These weren’t just frozen corpses.

  A mother with many exposed wounds held a weeping child in her arms, the child’s small hands clutching a little crystal that shone even though encased in ice. Lying nearby were four men, one still gripping a bloodied dagger.

  Was it luck that the creature arrived then? Undric thought not. He’d have considered it lucky only if those bastards alone had died in such a miserable situation.

  Squatting down, he took the woman and child in his arms to bury them. As for the others, he didn’t care. It wasn’t worth the effort, so maybe it was better to throw them outside the gates and let the beasts finish the job. Which they did, with little guilt.

  The hammering of nails echoed tirelessly through the city. The shattering of the ice rang out with heavy, relentless blows, seemingly endless; it took three days after they awoke to clear even a small portion, a trivial amount compared to what remained. So they set it aside to focus on more pressing chores, even if the colder temperatures from the ice could pose a future problem. After all, food and shelter were the immediate concerns.

  Thus time went on, but the fear from the north took advantage of the heavy silence, rooting itself in their fragile hearts. Many couldn’t sleep or even rest, for their minds never settled. The terror of the presence was already deeply ingrained in their hearts and thoughts, drowning them in torment.

  And so the door opened and, hesitantly, Ting saw the outside of the house in all its splendor. Only a few more steps and she could touch it. Her feet trembled and wouldn’t stop. Descending the stairs, she let them touch the grass barefoot, yearning to feel it directly beneath her.

  This is amazing...

  Through her movements, she could feel the life surrounding her. The plants’ breathing caressed her skin via the energy they emanated. Her conclusion came quickly.

  To be alive is incredible! Something she hadn’t considered saying for a long time. Words that once felt foreign now seemed the only way to describe what resonated in her being.

  — Had enough already? — Fusu asked, watching her from the porch — Now come put on some shoes before you hurt your feet.

  She looked back at him but didn’t answer. Instead, she turned away and let herself fall, feeling the grass cushion her landing, though not as comfortably as the pillow Fusu floated under her.

  Sighing, he snapped his fingers, making the sky clear.

  Ting stretched out her palm, as if she were trying to hold the sun in her hand. She could do it. If she had time, she could go even farther. That was what she believed. Lack of time was all that held her back, and now that it no longer restrained her, was there anything that could stop her under such a beautiful sky? The warmth of the yellow giant wrapped in blue warmed her body while its brightness dazzled her vision. Closing her eyes, she just enjoyed the sensation it gave her. A happiness unfettered by time.

  Like a small, light leaf, the breeze carried her along with the changing temperature. The cold made her imagine she was surrounded by clouds and birds, soaring freely in the highest skies. Yet the warmth carried her further, toward something so dazzling and beautiful that it could light up an entire world and yet still be overshadowed by a sudden darkness.

  Rubbing her eyes without much excitement, Ting glanced at the newcomer. The dark eyes made her immediately sit up to embrace the woman before her.

  — Aunt Ling! — she jumped into the firm arms that held her easily.

  After brushing Ting’s hair aside, Ling kissed her forehead and held her for a while longer. She smiled.

  — You know, Ting'er, you’re not the little girl I could hold in my arms for hours anymore. It’s hard to do that these days. — she joked.

  —...Are you saying I got fatter? — there was no answer — Auntie!

  Ting leapt away, crossing her arms. When she peeked back, she saw Ling already sitting on the grass with the pillow in her lap. Ling patted the soft, pale surface, inviting her. Ting lay down at once, turning so only her hair was visible.

  — Are you upset? — Ling began running her fingers through Ting’s hair, stroking them gently and affectionately —...How are you feeling? Has anything changed now that the Frostflame is gone?

  — Lighter... — Turning to her, Ting met her gaze with a smile — I feel lighter now. Aunt, do you think that’s related?

  — Hmm, certainly. The Frostflame is no longer weighing on your body, so that’s natural, I suppose.

  — And you, aunt, are you okay? — Ting slipped her hand under Ling’s clothes, touching near her navel — Uncle Fusu said your Golden Core was cracked, did you fix it?

  — Hmm, almost... — Sensing the movement under her clothes, Ling tugged Ting’s ear — But don’t use that as an excuse to tickle me, young lady.

  — A-Ah! Ah! I stopped, I stopped! You’ll make me deaf like that, aunt... — she turned, covering her ear so it wouldn’t be caught again.

  Ling hesitated a moment, thoughtful. Her hands could barely approach the crimson hair. She sighed. Setting her hesitation aside, she touched the strands and held Ting’s hand.

  — And how do you feel about everything else, Ting'er...? — she asked, raising her head so their eyes wouldn’t meet — About...

  Ting noticed her intent with a brief look, then resumed staring at random spots ahead, switching between the emptiness of smoke and the gentle swaying of grass that should have been frozen but lacked the necessary hardness, and finally closed her eyes to enjoy the caress.

  — I don’t know... I think I’ll wait to meet him before making up a false image in my mind.

  — A false image... I see... That’s a wise decision. — Ling smiled — And if you don’t like him, don’t worry. Tell me, and I’ll take care of it.

  Silence came, heavy, and was soon carried away by the wind.

  Ting turned.

  — There shouldn’t be any problem, right? — she winked, showing a smug smile — I’m pretty enough that he must’ve fallen in love at first sight, don’t you think?

  When the shock faded, Ling smiled.

  — Yes, definitely. — she brushed aside stray strands covering Ting’s face — If he didn’t fall in love at first sight, that boy must be insane.

  — Right? I’m sure that’s the only reason he decided to heal me, he must be so hopelessly in love that he couldn’t do otherwise.

  — Yes, he-!

  The barrier flickered and the smoke was swept to the sides.