87.3

"Doesn't matter anymore," Aji said. "Let's think about how we can get out."

.....

Above the frozen lake under the moon, a silver haired man stood in silence. A few moments later, he leaned down and placed his hand on the ice. A blue glow emitted from his palm and illuminated far beneath the surface.

He did not move, but his gaze pierced through the water and landed on a figure at the bottom of the lake.

A woman sealed in ice. Her brows and lashes are perfectly preserved, as if she could wake any minute. Like being stabbed in the heart, Changyi abruptly dispersed the magic from his hand.

This was the first time he came to see Ji Yunhe since sealing her in ice. He closed his eyes and remained on his knee, as quiet as the mountains that surrounded him. After a layer of snow had gathered on his shoulders, he finally whispered, "Not you..."

It was unclear how much time had passed. Changyi stayed motionless like a stone statue, allowing the snow to slowly drift onto him and bury him. Then the sound of footsteps approached from a distance.

"Kongming."

"I went to the hall and didn't see you there, so I figured you would be here. And here you are."

Changyi finally stood up and the snow fell from his body. "I thought it's going to be some time before you return from the south."

"We've already treated the kids along the way affected by the frost poison, though none of them could completely recover." Kongming shook his head and sighed.

"Shunde really stirred up some public rage this time. More and more people are defecting to the north. It's shaking up the foundation of the country, likely the kingdom of Dacheng will soon fall. I thought the north was probably getting busier, so I came back."

Changyi nodded and walked with him across the icy lake. Kongming said, "On the way back, I heard some interesting news."

"What news?"

"Qing Ji, who left the north a while ago, actually went south to the Demon Valley."

"Demon Valley? Why?"

"Who knows," Kongming said.

"Most of the demon masters have joined the north, the rest are just roaming around. The Grand Master's house is short on manpower and cannot keep the situation under control. The Demon Valley is now just an empty framework. Qing Ji, as a demon, moved in under the public eye and settled there, heh..." Kongming laughed.

"Maybe she wants to study the formation that trapped her for so many years." Changyi pondered for a moment.

"What about the Grand Master? We lured him away from the capital with Qing Ji, so it's obvious he attaches great importance to her. Now with the news of Qing Ji residing inside the Demon Valley, why isn't he going after her?"

"Shunde's face isn't fully recovered yet, he's not going anywhere."

"His preferences are really odd."

"Who's isn't?" Kongming glanced at Changyi.

"I heard that even with the shortage of manpower here, you still assigned some people to keep an eye on the fox demon I sent back?" Changyi fell silent and did not say anything.

"Because he bears a slight resemblance to Ji Yunhe?" Changyi looked at Kongming.

"You also think so?"

"There aren't a lot of black fox demons around. Although I only saw him briefly, his gaze and demeanor really did remind me of her. Only that brainless Luo Jinsang wouldn't notice. But you do not need to think too much. I took his pulse, he only has demon power, no double pulse. Just an ordinary fox demon."

"He knows the art of transformation."

"The magic of changing one's appearance cannot disguise their internal flow of energy. Changyi, didn't you come here to confirm if she's still at the bottom of the lake?" Changyi took a deep breath and gazed into the distant mountains.

"Yes, she is dead."