Chapter 121: Jet Streams from the Seven Orifices

Upon hearing the cold and elegant woman’s words, Chu Feng shook his head.

“Miss, it’s not that I’m petty, but you’re simply too domineering! You must understand, it’s you who needs me right now, not the other way around! Every time you speak, it’s either to scold me or to speak coldly—have you ever shown me even a shred of respect? I see you as a young lady, and knowing you suffer from this chilling affliction, I’ve refrained from taking offense. But if you treat me like a servant, then—well, I won’t harm you; I’ll just consider this trip a gift. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Chu Feng’s words were sincere, not pretentious.

Because he had a younger sister, Xin Lian, Chu Feng naturally felt a protective affection towards women younger than himself, whether warriors or commoners. So, despite her frosty demeanor, he had tolerated her cold remarks.

However, his patience had its limits, and this woman had crossed his line.

Having finished speaking, Chu Feng turned and strode away without looking back.

“You!”

Startled by his sudden departure, the cold woman immediately called out, “You’re just going to leave like this? After traveling such a long distance for me? What about the twenty thousand gold coins? Don’t you want them?”

“Heh, it’s not that I’m boasting, but I really don’t care much for that twenty thousand gold! Especially if I have to endure being scolded like a servant—it makes that money feel like it’s burning hot!”

Chu Feng quickened his pace without glancing back.

“You!”

Watching him walk swiftly away, growing more distant with each step, the woman’s expression turned anxious. Suddenly, she shouted, “Young master! It’s me... it’s my fault! Come back, let’s talk this through!”

Chu Feng had already walked several dozen paces when he heard her desperate call. He stopped, turned, and looked at her.

Amidst the swirling snow, the woman sat alone like an ice sculpture. Snowflakes drifted down onto her head, and her eyes, cold yet filled with a pleading sorrow, looked towards him. She truly appeared pitiful.

“Young master! Please come back!” she called again.

“Alright.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Feng returned. Though she addressed him twice as “young master,” her expression remained icy, void of warmth or kindness.

Shaking his head, Chu Feng said, “Miss, I don’t think there’s any deep grudge between us, right? Neither of us owes the other anything. So why the cold face and harsh words? Why can’t you face others with a smile?”

“Hmph! You want me to smile at you in my current state?” the cold woman retorted angrily.

“Exactly. You’re clearly in pain and it’s hard to smile, but that’s not because of me—I’m here to help you ease your suffering! If you can’t smile, at least don’t speak so harshly, right?” Chu Feng replied.

“I’ve always been this way!” she said coldly.

“Is that so? Miss, if you keep being this overbearing, I’ll leave again. And if I walk away this time, no matter how loudly you call, I won’t come back!” Chu Feng said firmly.

He truly couldn’t understand. Some women were born with a naturally cold and beautiful demeanor, but a little chill now and then was one thing. Now that she needed him, yet treated him as if he owed her something—it was unbearable for him.

“That’s fine! Then carry me on your back and continue on the journey. You don’t have to pay me any attention, and I won’t speak to you either. When we reach the Cold Snow Tribe, I will give you the twenty thousand gold,” the cold woman said.

“Heh.”

Hearing this, Chu Feng laughed. “I say, miss, you’re not only icy in appearance but also quite insincere! Just now, when you were leaning on my back, you absorbed my body’s warmth, using my fire to melt the ice encasing you. You took such a great advantage, and yet you pretend it’s nothing?”

At this, the cold woman’s pale face flushed red, as if caught stealing and caught in the act. “What... what proof do you have?”

“The proof is on you! Look at these water droplets. When you were on my back, the ice around you melted quickly, and the cold turned into water. Now that I’ve put you down, there’s no cold air or water dripping from you!” Chu Feng said earnestly.

In truth, while speaking with her earlier, Chu Feng had been closely observing the ice layer on her body.

“Hmph!”

The woman merely snorted coldly. Since Chu Feng had seen through her, she had nothing more to say.

“Alright! Make a request. Help me melt this layer of ice on my body!” she said straightforwardly.

Seeing her directness, Chu Feng smiled and nodded. “Before I make my request, answer me one question: Who are you? And what is your status in the Cold Snow Tribe?”

“Why do you want to know? What’s it to you?” she asked irritably.

“Of course it concerns me! If you’re a nobody, I have no reason to make demands. But if you have some status, things get complicated—I might ask for an exorbitant price, or I might ask for nothing at all and consider you a friend!” Chu Feng said seriously. “So you must tell me the truth.”

The woman thought for a moment, then said, “I’m an officer of the Cold Snow Tribe’s female clan.”

“Your name?”

“Xiao Mei.”

“Xiao Mei?” Chu Feng was taken aback and shook his head. “No, that name doesn’t fit your icy demeanor. You’re lying.”

“Believe it or not! And if I said my name was Frost, would you believe that?” She shook her head slightly, clearly unimpressed with Chu Feng’s intelligence.

“Alright, I’ll take your word for it. You say you’re an officer of the female clan? How does that rank compared to the Four Great Skilled Women?”

“How many questions is that now?” Xiao Mei asked coldly.

“Miss, you need me right now. Isn’t it a bit impatient to get annoyed over two questions? If you answer honestly, I won’t make things difficult,” Chu Feng’s tone cooled.

“I’m a direct subordinate of the Four Great Skilled Women. In the female clan, my rank is neither high nor low,” Xiao Mei said, locking eyes with him.

“Hmm. Then among the Four Great Skilled Women, who is the easiest to deal with? The one nicknamed ‘Tofu Heart’?” Chu Feng asked again.

He inquired in preparation for dealings upon arrival at the Cold Snow Tribe. With Bai Naizhao missing, there was no one to introduce him. Chu Feng would have to negotiate alone with the tribe’s administrators and naturally wanted to find the most approachable of the Four Great Skilled Women.

Chu Feng had traveled thousands of miles from the Thunder Martial Hall, determined to fulfill the Nine Profound Sect’s mission: to create the Ice Shell Golden Pearl for the Cold Snow Tribe. Success would bring him honor, a new ally, and no regrets.

However, Xiao Mei remained silent, her clear eyes fixed on Chu Feng’s face. Her bright red lips moved slightly as if wanting to speak, yet she struggled to find the words.

“Xiao Mei, what’s wrong?”

Chu Feng’s heart stirred, noticing her lips tremble violently.

Suddenly, a popping sound escaped her mouth, like a breath exploding inside.

Then, streams of thick, white, frost-like breath shot out simultaneously from her lips, both nostrils, and ears. The powerful gusts even blew away the thick snow before her.

Even her icy eyes emitted two streams of white breath.

These streams were not only forceful but intensely cold.

“White cold breath from all seven orifices?”

Startled, Chu Feng quickly asked, “Xiao Mei, what’s happening? Should I carry you now?”

Despite the white breath flowing from all orifices, Xiao Mei remained silent. Suddenly, she coughed violently, expelling bright red blood mixed with the white mist.

The blood stained the pure snow a vivid red—striking and alarming.

“This is bad! The cold within her is attacking her internal organs. We mustn’t let it destroy her!”

Panicked, Chu Feng had no choice but to pick up her icy body.

As he lifted her, he felt her become even colder.

“Xiao Mei, how are you?” Chu Feng asked anxiously.

Her face was like a block of ice, expressionless. A faint chill emanated from her cold, beautiful face. She said nothing, only staring ahead with cold eyes.

Chu Feng refrained from pressing further. Every so often, he glanced at her eyes to gauge her direction, following her silent guidance.

As he hurried onward, he closely monitored the changes in her icy form.