Snow's Embrace: Chapter 2

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Retranslation

For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived alone on the mountain. Besides a large leopard called “Big Hua” and a few large that I named “Little A,” “Little Hua B,” and “Little Hua C,” I didn’t have any other companions.

Living on the mountain was so quiet and peaceful that it was kind of boring. I decided to subdue another—no, that’s not right, befriend another companion.

So, I strapped on a bow and arrow to defend myself and rode Big Hua through the mountain to try my luck. Unexpectedly, next to a mountain boulder, I discovered a little Bai Ze, a sacred beast of legend which understood all things and supernatural beings. Even in the faraway Eastern Sea, it was difficult to meet such an auspicious beast!

The little Bai Ze seemed to have hurt a leg. I just so happened to have brought some medication with me, but it was very cautious. When it saw me approach, it ran away even faster than Big Hua could have.

Just like that, Big Hua carried me chasing after it. I don’t know how far we ran, completely unaware that I had intruded into some other place…

When I got my bearings back, the mountain forest—which had been warm and sunny with gentle winds just a moment ago—was already blanketed in gleaming white snow. The little Bai Ze that I had been chasing also vanished without a trace.

MC: (What’s going on…)

I jumped off Big Hua’s back and raised my head to look. All that remained of the sun was just a faint white shadow. Snow and ice piled on top of branches, giving off a cold, dim glow.

MC: (If I keep chasing it, I’ll most likely get lost. I need to some markers.)

I imprinted my on an arrow and shot it towards a tree on the side. The arrow pierced the sky, a cold wind rising.

Suddenly, through the forest, I heard the sound of a bell ringing, the ding ding dong dong stirring up the silence of the surrounding area.

A hand grasped the shaft of the arrow I had just fired. The arrowhead instantly glazed over with a layer of ice crystals.

Following that hand upwards, I gazed into a pair of eyes that were clear, cold, and deeply still.

Zayne: Who are you?

MC: I…

Below, the little Bai Ze affectionately poked his head out from beside Zayne’s foot and stuck his tongue out at me.

MC: Apologies. I didn’t know it had an owner.

The man walked out of the forest, his entire body shrouded in an aura of . He looked at the arrow in his hand, not saying a word.

I looked from the little Bai Ze’s hurt leg to the arrow I had shot, then at the cold expression on Zayne's face, and suddenly understood—

MC: You’ve misunderstood! I definitely shot the arrow, but it wasn’t used to hunt. Your little Bai Ze was injured, and I just so happen to have medicine on me…

MC: The power imprinted on this arrow, is it yours?

MC: You can sense it?

His expression remained cold and different, but the ice crystals on the arrowhead gradually disappeared.

Zayne: In the future, don’t come near this place.

The arrow was tossed back into my quiver. Without looking back, that man walked towards the depths of the frost and snow.

MC: (He can feel my spiritual energy, but unlike the people below the mountain, he doesn’t treat me like an aberration to be chased away…)

As I thought of this, I couldn’t help but chase after him.

MC: Wait, wait. Could you answer one question? Are you also someone whose body carries spiritual energy? Like me.

Zayne: If you continue to walk forward, you’ll be able to descend the mountain.

I stopped in my tracks, watching as he walked further and further away, and then followed after him once more.

MC: Who said I want to descend the mountain?

I merely followed him for a few more steps, and it was as though I had passed through a wall of transparent mist.

Before me was a massive, towering flower tree standing amidst the mountain forest, its lush blossomed into a snow white sea. Beneath the sunlight, it was as luminous as a misty cloud.

What a beautiful tree…

I looked around in astonishment in all four directions, only to see that ripples had begun in the deep pools of his eyes.

Zayne: You can see it?

MC: Of course. There are even small flowers blossoming up there. You can’t see it?

Thinking back to the sudden rise of wind and snow just now, as well as the way the auspicious beast Bai Ze remained by his side, I made a guess.

MC: I understand now. Ancient books say, this is a nameless mountain, “there is a god hidden here, one must not enter with improper intentions.”

MC: The god hidden here, I think that’s talking about you, right?

Zayne: How are you so certain that I am a , and not a mountain spirit or wild monster who eats people?

MC: Well, it’s been such a long time and you haven’t eaten me, so clearly you aren’t hungry.

Zayne: …

MC: If you really are a Divine Immortal, can I ask you for something?

His expression remains tranquil and indifferent as he walks to the table beneath the flower tree, sits down, and pours two cups of tea.

Zayne: You can ask, but I might not be able to do it.

MC: But you might? It’s just, do you have a way to remove the spiritual energy from my body?

As I spoke, I went over and sat across from him. He pushed one of the teacups in front of me.

MC: I don’t want to always be chased around, and don’t always want to always hide by myself on the mountain. It’s so boring.

MC: Why are there people who chase you?

MC: One year, I sensed that the was about to turn over, so I ran down the mountain to tell the villagers.

MC: Afterwards, a lot of people died. And after that, a lot of people came to the mountain to capture me, saying I was a , a .

MC: Perhaps everyone is afraid of me.

He suddenly lifted his hand and his fingertip lightly tapped the space between my brows. In a split second, a delicate coldness flowed into my .

MC: What are you doing?

MC: You aren’t a yaoguai… but you also aren’t a normal person.

Zayne: The spiritual energy you carry is decreed by the . I have no authority to remove it.

MC: Then can you tell me how to control it? I can always sense things I don’t want to sense. It’s so annoying.

Zayne: …

MC: If you don’t say anything, I’ll assume you’ve agreed, okay?

MC: I won’t waste your time teaching me. In return, I’ll give your little Bai Ze medicine?

MC: Three, two—mm? Mm!

My mouth suddenly became as tightly shut as a clamshell. I stared at him in disbelief, while he casually withdrew his hand as if it were nothing.

Zayne: Has anyone ever said you’re a little noisy?

MC: —?!

Zayne: Looks like no one has.

This was my first encounter with Zayne.

A meeting that truly couldn’t be called pleasant.

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