Chapter 1162 - 306: Poison Mist Seals the Gates, Heroes Tremble; Buddha’s Light Illuminates the Sword, Dispelling Demonic Smoke (Part 3)

Early the next morning, the mist had not yet cleared, and the Birch Forest of Snow Wolf Castle was already wrapped in silver frost.

Gugela leaned against the carved wooden door, watching Shi Feiyang fasten his dark cloak tightly. Ba Qianqiu suddenly pounced out from behind her, clinging tightly to Shi Feiyang’s pant leg with his chubby little hands, "Daddy, don’t go!" His childish cries frightened the crows from the branches.

Shi Feiyang knelt halfway, warming the frost on the child’s eyelashes with the warmth of his palm. "Be good, Qianqiu. Wait until you can sculpt a complete wolf head from snow, and Daddy will come back." As he spoke, he pulled out a little wooden horse from his bosom, its mane intricately carved — a piece he had hurriedly completed last night by candlelight.

The child broke into a smile through tears, yet still refused to let go, drool wetting his pant leg.

Gugela turned her face away, not wanting her husband to see her reddening eyes.

But when Shi Feiyang gently tilted her chin with his fingers, her tears fell uncontrollably.

"Look, how did my prairie pearl turn into such a crybaby?" Shi Feiyang wiped away her tears with his thumb, his fingertip brushing the scar behind her ear, left there while protecting him. "This scar, I think every day about how to repay you."

"Repay?" Gugela suddenly grabbed his hand, pressing it to her chest, "If you keep us in your heart, Qianqiu and me, you repay it forever and ever."

She stood on tiptoe, the scent of pine mixed with a metallic tang assaulting Shi Feiyang’s nose. "If you dare to forget your return date, I’ll take Qianqiu across Jiangnan, and bring back every piece of your soul hidden in some tender place."

Shi Feiyang fiercely pulled her into his embrace, listening to her pounding heartbeat: "When the edelweiss blooms, I’ll set a banquet ten miles long in the Birch Forest. I’ll exchange the old daughter’s red wine from Cao Bang for you to dance a complete prairie swirling dance."

He bent down to kiss away her tears on her eyelashes, tasting a saltiness colder than snow.

In the distance came the sound of Shi Xiong’s urging hooves.

Gugela suddenly pushed him away, pulling the wolf tooth pendant from her neck and stuffing it into his palm: "Take this, as if I’m biting your heart."

The northern wind whipped with grit against the arrow tower of Snow Wolf Castle. Shi Feiyang stuffed the last piece of milk curd into Ba Qianqiu’s hand when he suddenly heard the soft chime of a copper bell at the eaves. A gray shadow landed like a night owl. The "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen’s dark outfit was dusted with northern border frost and snow, the eagle-shaped ornament at his waist still trembling: "Grand Squad Leader, Hetao Mongolian Camp has a secret pact with Bozhou rebels, endangering the safety of the Imperial Court’s hundred thousand troops."

Gugela’s silver ornaments suddenly tinkled, and she instinctively shielded her child behind her: "Hero Xie, do you know the details?"

Before she finished, Shi Feiyang had already pressed her trembling hand, the Bright Jade Technique quietly circulating under his dark attire: "Since it’s something life-threatening, there must be heavy guards. Brother Xie, with your supreme lightness technique, would you be willing to join me on this journey?"

Xie Wen knelt on one knee, the scabbard at his waist clashing with the green bricks with a clear sound: "I am willing to lead the way!"

As he spoke, he had already picked up Shi Xiong, using the "Feixu Qingyan Technique" to step on the snow and leave.

Shi Feiyang looked back at his wife and child. Gugela’s moon-white cloak flapped in the wind, like a stubborn white poppy on the snow plain.

He lightly touched his toe on the eaves, deploying the Supreme Lightness Technique, his figure merging into the night as a faint shadow.

The ox-skin lanterns of Hetao Camp swayed in the wind and snow, like ghostly green flames.

The northern wind cut like a knife, stinging faces painfully.

Shi Feiyang and Xie Wen, hidden by the darkness, raced across the rolling snow plains.

Xie Wen used the "Feixu Qingyan Technique", his form as light as a swallow, Shi Xiong cradled in his arms, only hearing the howling wind at his ears.

Shi Feiyang unfurled the "Supreme Lightness Technique", his robes fluttering as he passed, leaving only faint footprints quickly covered by wind and snow.

The Hetao Mongolian Camp loomed before them, dozens of yurts neatly arranged, surrounded by bright torches, patrolling soldiers pacing back and forth, their footsteps and the clashing of weapons extraordinarily clear in the silent night.

Shi Feiyang crept along the ground, edging closer in the shadows, Xie Wen following closely, drawing the iron blade from his waist, its surface reflecting a chilling gleam.

"Be cautious, five steps a post, ten steps a watch, the defense is even tighter than anticipated." Shi Feiyang whispered, his gaze sweeping eagle-eyed around. Xie Wen nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with caution and courage.

They held their breath, waiting for the patrol to pass. Shi Feiyang unleashed a move from the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique", "Cangsong Welcoming Guest", his palm wind silently sweeping towards two guards. Before they realized, they collapsed limply, without even a grunt.

Xie Wen and Shi Xiong swiftly advanced, dragging the bodies into the shadows, their movements slick and swift.

They continued deeper, when suddenly a noise of footsteps reached them from ahead.

Shi Feiyang’s eyes hardened, pulling Xie Wen into the shadow of a yurt. A troop of cavalry galloped past, hooves striking the snow with waves of snow spraying up.

Once the cavalry passed, Shi Feiyang frowned deeply: "Such frequent patrols, they must suspect something. We must hurry."

Finally, they arrived outside Baiqiu’s tent. Shi Feiyang peeked through the seams of the yurt, seeing Baiqiu and Zhu Li Rabbit sitting around a fire, a sheepskin scroll spread open on the table, covered in dense writing.

Baiqiu held a wine pouch, taking a big swig and laughed gruffly: "When the Imperial Court’s army steps into the ambush, they’re sure to meet their doom without return!"

Zhu Li Rabbit’s glance was sinister, echoing: "If this plan succeeds, we’ll join forces with Yang Yinglong of Bozhou to become the overlords of the world! The prosperity of the Central Plains will be ours to own."

Shi Feiyang’s heart sank, just about to act, when he suddenly heard a strange noise behind him.

He whirled around, seeing three Mongolian samurai approaching silently, scimitars glistening menacingly in the firelight.