Chapter 122: The Aura of a Bandit

After walking for another ten miles, cold mist began to emanate from Xiao Mei’s frozen body. It grew increasingly dense until it formed a billowing cloud; from a distance, it looked as if Chu Feng were carrying a giant pot of boiling water on his back.

Ten miles later, liquid began to drip steadily from behind Chu Feng. Large amounts of thick ice had melted, trailing down into the snow. The layers of ice that had encased Xiao Mei, originally over a foot thick, had melted by more than half, significantly reducing her weight and softening the icy shell.

Though Xiao Mei still did not speak, Chu Feng noticed her complexion was far better than when she had been spitting blood earlier. Her face no longer trembled, and the white, freezing mist no longer spewed from her facial orifices.

Chu Feng continued his journey. Soon, they had covered dozens of miles more. As the ice turned to water and flowed away, thinning Xiao Mei’s frozen form, Chu Feng’s own body began to undergo changes. His entire frame was steaming with intense heat, and while large clouds of white vapor rose from him, his face was flushed crimson, as if scorched by flames. He felt a burning, searing heat deep within his chest.

At this point, both Chu Feng and Xiao Mei were emitting steam. However, Chu Feng radiated heat, while Xiao Mei’s icy form radiated cold. As the two distinct auras converged, the air above them grew thick with moisture, condensing into droplets and falling like a light, drizzling rain.

"Hm? My body is burning so intensely, my internal organs feel as if they are on fire, but when soaked in the cold aura from her body, it actually feels incredibly comfortable," Chu Feng marveled to himself.

This was no illusion. If his body held only the raging fire or the biting cold, it would be unbearable; yet, when the fire and ice merged, the sensation was deeply soothing. Chu Feng surmised that Xiao Mei was likely experiencing the same physiological state.

By now, the thick ice on Xiao Mei had melted away completely, and even the icy water on her clothes had been evaporated by the heat radiating from Chu Feng. Although the ice was gone, her body remained deathly cold and stiff, frozen in a rigid state, with her limbs fixed in their original posture, unable to stretch.

"Xiao Mei, how are you feeling now?" Chu Feng asked.

"Carry me, keep moving forward!" Xiao Mei’s tone remained icy, and she showed no desire for further conversation.

"Huh?"

Chu Feng sensed that, immediately after speaking, she pressed her body tightly against his back. Her skin was freezing and hard. Though Chu Feng did not experience any romantic thrill from the physical contact, a strange ripple stirred within him—deep down, he found himself quite willing to let her cling to him like this.

Chu Feng said nothing, but he pushed his back slightly further out to let her chest press even closer.

"I am no lecher, nor a man of base character, yet right now I find myself wanting to be even closer to her. It must be that her body craves my inner fire, and my body craves her inner cold; we are instinctively drawn to one another. Otherwise, even if I were willing to let her lean on me, this icy girl would certainly never agree to it!"

Despite the surging heat within him, Chu Feng’s mind remained sharp and clear, allowing him to discern the hidden mechanics at play.

Xiao Mei pressed against his back, tighter and tighter, until she eventually stopped using any effort of her own, letting her body hang completely on his. If an onlooker were to see this, they would surely assume it was a young wife lazily resting on her husband’s back, enjoying his tenderness.

Gradually, Chu Feng felt Xiao Mei’s body becoming softer and warmer.

"Wait!" Xiao Mei suddenly spoke.

"What is it?" Chu Feng stopped and asked.

"Change my position. Let my back rest against your chest," Xiao Mei said, and a faint blush instantly appeared on her frost-bitten face.

"Oh? Why?" Chu Feng asked curiously.

"Just do as I say!" Xiao Mei snapped coldly.

Hearing this, Chu Feng initially wanted to teach her a lesson, but seeing the flicker of regret on her face, he thought better of it. Why bother with a girl suffering so much from the cold?

Without further ado, he turned her around and cradled her against his chest. The posture was quite awkward; Xiao Mei faced forward, her back pressed against Chu Feng’s chest, her legs still fixed in a seated position. Chu Feng supported her with only his left arm, not needing his right hand for balance. It looked less like a romantic embrace and more like someone carrying a statue.

As Chu Feng expected, they hadn't gone far before Xiao Mei’s stiff back began to lean instinctively against his chest. When she was on his back, his warmth comforted her front; now, his chest warmed her back. Xiao Mei was basking in his presence, drawing out his inner heat, and Chu Feng lost nothing by it. His internal fire had been burning too strongly with nowhere to vent; the fusion with her coldness benefited them both.

Thus, as they continued, the two developed a tacit understanding, both aware of the other’s feelings and needs. Soon, Xiao Mei’s limbs grew flexible, and she was able to move her arms.

"Did you take some kind of medicinal pill earlier?" Xiao Mei asked suddenly as Chu Feng trekked through the wind and snow.

"No," Chu Feng shook his head.

"Then did you eat or drink anything?"

"Yes, good meat and good wine!" Chu Feng nodded.

"What meat? What wine? Do you have it on you? Bring it out and let me see," Xiao Mei’s tone carried a clear note of command.

Chu Feng no longer cared about her haughty demeanor. If he had, he would have walked away the moment she spoke her first word.

"It is this wine skin," Chu Feng said, pulling out the Snow Scorpion Fire Wine and handing it to her.

Xiao Mei took the wine skin and opened the stopper to peer inside. Within, many snow scorpions, each the length of a finger, were soaked at the bottom like translucent ice crystals. As the liquid swirled, it seemed to flicker with an inner flame.

"No wonder your internal heat is so intense; it is because of this fire wine! This wine must have been cellared for over a hundred and twenty years. It is truly fine liquor!" Xiao Mei observed, offering several comments in succession.

"I didn't expect you to be such a connoisseur, being able to identify the vintage!" Chu Feng was surprised.

"The snow scorpions soaked in this fire wine were plentiful before the great blizzard a hundred and twenty years ago, but they went extinct shortly after. Furthermore, these scorpions must be added to the wine immediately after capture. This confirms the wine is at least a hundred and twenty years old," Xiao Mei explained.

"Impressive. You are quite clever!" Chu Feng nodded with satisfaction. He felt even more grateful to the Tang siblings of the Twilight Snow Manor; to have offered him such a valuable gift after only a brief acquaintance was a true mark of friendship.

*Gulp, gulp!*

Just then, Xiao Mei tilted her head back and took a deep drink from the wine skin.

"Hey! Miss, why are you drinking that? Stop, I didn't say you could!" Chu Feng hurriedly tried to stop her.

Xiao Mei ignored him, taking several large swallows before lowering the wine skin and letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Are you that stingy about a few sips of wine? You are such a miser! I will pay you back later. I want this entire skin of fire wine!" she declared with great bravado.

"Heh! Xiao Mei, I find you have the spirit of a bandit! You want to buy this wine, but I never said I was selling! You drink my wine without a word, yet call me a miser?" Chu Feng was left speechless.

"Fine! That was my mistake! I will keep the wine for now and settle the debt with you later," Xiao Mei said, her tone brook no argument. "What about your meat? What kind of meat is it? Bring it out and let me see!"

"Heh, first you swipe my wine, now you’re eyeing my meat? I never took you for such a glutton!" Chu Feng shook his head.

"Say no more! I am not being greedy; my internal organs were invaded by the cold, and I need to eat something with strong heat to dispel the remaining chill," Xiao Mei replied.

"Very well, then! Don't forget the kindness I’ve shown you with this food and drink," Chu Feng reminded her as he pulled some meat from his storage pouch.

It was the leftover roasted meat from the Snow Mountain Ghost Ape’s private parts—a delicacy of the highest order. Chu Feng had intended to save it for himself, but to help Xiao Mei purge the residual cold, he decided to part with a few dozen pounds.

Seeing the large, glowing-red chunk of meat Chu Feng handed her, Xiao Mei’s icy expression remained, but her throat moved, and her appetite was instantly piqued. With her cultivation level at the seventh stage of the Body Refining Realm, she had a keen eye for quality; she could tell at a glance that this was exceptional food.

She took a deep breath of the savory aroma and took a large bite. Chu Feng already knew the taste of the roasted meat, so he didn't feel any envy as he watched her eat with relish.

"How is it?" Chu Feng asked with a smile.

"Mmm! What kind of meat is this? The flavor is so unique!" Xiao Mei asked, eating hungrily.

"Heh, for someone so knowledgeable, you don't know what this is?" Chu Feng couldn't help but smile.

"If you want to say it, say it. If not, be quiet! What is with that tone?" Xiao Mei shot him a cold look.

"Since you want to know, I won't keep you in suspense. But the origins of this meat might shock you!" Chu Feng smiled. "This is meat from a Snow Mountain Ghost Ape!"

"Hm? You managed to kill a Snow Mountain Ghost Ape? Not simple!" Xiao Mei looked at him with newfound respect, but then frowned. "Wait! This is meat from which part of the ape? How can it be so tender and fragrant?"

"Actually, this meat is... never mind, I won't say it, lest you get angry again." Chu Feng shook his head, hesitating.

"Just say it. I don't have that much temper to lose," Xiao Mei said while continuing to eat.

"I’ll tell you, but don't say anything unpleasant!"

"Speak!"

"Well, this is the meat from the lower part of the Snow Mountain Ghost Ape!" As he spoke, Chu Feng carefully watched her expression.

"Where? The lower part?" Xiao Mei repeated, curious. Suddenly, her expression shifted. A crimson flush surged across her snow-white face, and the look she directed at Chu Feng seemed to ignite with flames.

"You shameless brat! How dare you!" Xiao Mei cried out, flying into a sudden, furious rage.