One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

The mountain guardian said nothing more, only shook his head, lowered his head again, and stroked the wooden whistle in his hand, as if he had turned back into that silent stone.

The fire in the hearth gradually died down. The medicinal liquid in the earthenware pot also stopped boiling, emitting an even stronger, more bitter smell.

The wind in the valley, passing through the cracks, brings the damp, cold air of the distant mountains and forests, and the faint roars of beasts.

Inside the stone house, all was quiet.

Nie Lingfeng knew that this was probably all the direct information they could get from the mountain guardian. The rest they would have to explore and verify on their own.

He stood up and bowed respectfully to the mountain guardian once more: "Thank you for informing us, senior. This information is of utmost importance to us. We are preparing to investigate that abandoned altar. Is there anything else you require of us, senior?"

The mountain guardian slowly raised his head, looking at Nie Lingfeng, then at Chen Duo. A faint glimmer seemed to flicker in his dark pupils. He stretched out his withered finger, dipped it into some dark powder—like some kind of mineral powder—from the stone mortar beside him, and quickly drew a simple yet ancient symbol on the dry ground by the fire pit: a circle with a dot in the center, surrounded by simplified wavy lines representing mountains.

"Take...this mark..." The guardian's voice grew even deeper. "If...you can reach...the altar...in...the specific location...use your blood...or...fire...to activate this mark...perhaps...you can...see...something...that's hidden...or...get...a little...help..."

He paused again, then added almost inaudibly, "It might...attract...more...attention...be careful..."

Nie Lingfeng memorized the simple symbol and nodded, saying, "This junior has remembered it. Thank you, senior."

The mountain keeper waved his hand, said nothing more, and lowered his head again, as if he had returned to his ancient solitude and vigil.

Nie Lingfeng knew it was time to take his leave. He pulled Chen Duo up, took one last look at the mysterious mountain guardian and his simple stone house, turned around, and quietly left along the crack he had come from.

As they returned to the valley where the sunlight was slightly brighter, Chen Duo couldn't help but turn back and glance again at the crack hidden by the vines. She whispered to Nie Lingfeng, "That old man... he's so strange. Doesn't he get bored living here all by himself? The things he eats... they look so bitter." (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

Nie Lingfeng gently rubbed her hair, his heart heavy. The mountain guardian's solitary figure, fragmented narration, ancient covenant, and heavy vigil... all revealed the breathtaking past and uncertain future hidden beneath this land.

"Everyone has their own path and mission," Nie Lingfeng said softly, his gaze turning westward to the even more precipitous and mysterious mountains. "Let's go, Duoduo. Our journey still lies ahead."

He took Chen Duo's hand, and following the directions given by the mountain guardian, heading west along a tributary of the Nu River, he embarked on his journey once more.

The sunlight cast long, long shadows of the two people on the pebble beach of the river valley.

The ancient stone house halfway up the mountain, and the mountain keeper who had watched over it for countless years, once again disappeared into the folds of the mountains and time, as if they had never been disturbed.

Only the wooden whistle, warmed by his touch, and the ancient mark drawn by the hearth, soon to be blown away by the wind, silently spoke of an ancient covenant of protection and purification, severed for who knows how long. It seemed that because of the two young people who unexpectedly entered and a rekindled "phoenix flame," a faint new ripple had been stirred…

Leaving the mountain keeper's solitary stone hut halfway up the mountain, and stepping back into the valley bathed in sunlight carved by towering cliffs, the turmoil in Nie Lingfeng's heart caused by ancient secrets did not immediately subside. The Qilin, severely injured and asleep; the phoenix's flame, scattered and broken; the calamity from beyond the heavens; the distorted "Council"... these fragments of information, like heavy puzzle pieces, collided and combined repeatedly in his mind, attempting to piece together a corner of the terrifying truth buried by the long years.

But the path beneath his feet did not allow him to linger in the mists of history. The direction the mountain guardian pointed out was clear—following a tributary of the Nu River, continue westward, deep into the heart of the Savage Mountain, to find that polluted ancient altar.

The valley before us was carved out by this very tributary. The turbid, rushing water took on an ominous, dark yellow hue, a mixture of mud and some kind of mineral sediment, like the pus and blood flowing from a wounded python, roaring and surging between the jagged black rocks on both banks, producing a deafening roar. Water vapor, splashed up by the rapids, refracted into a hazy rainbow in the slightly slanting afternoon sunlight, yet also carried a thick, damp, chilly scent, a mixture of the fishy smell of water, rocks, and decaying vegetation. Where the river narrowed, the water was like an enraged beast, whipping up turbid waves taller than a person, crashing violently against the rock walls, shattering them into a cloud of white foam.

Walking along such a river is by no means easy. There is no established "path," only "shoals" of varying widths, covered with slippery pebbles and sharp rocks, formed by years of erosion and sedimentation by the river, and "rock steps" that are steep and jagged above, often blocked by landslides and fallen trees, barely enough to step on. Even more dangerous is that although the river appears turbulent, countless whirlpools and undercurrents lurk beneath the surface. If one were to fall in, even Nie Lingfeng could not guarantee a safe escape.

Nie Lingfeng heightened his senses to the limit, carefully discerning the barely passable path ahead while remaining vigilant against potential threats from the river, the cliff face, or the dense canopy overhead. He chose to walk on the relatively "higher" rock steps closer to the cliff, which, although more rugged, at least kept him further away from the dangerous river. Chen Duo followed closely behind him, her small hands gripping the belt around his waist. Her emerald eyes surveyed the treacherous surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, especially the roaring river, which filled her with obvious awe. She instinctively kept her distance from the riverbank, her small, quick steps light and swift, like a wary little mountain cat gliding along the cliff face. (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

"Nie Lingfeng, this water... it's fierce," Chen Duo whispered, her voice almost drowned out by the roar of the river. "It's much fiercer than the stream water we drank before. There... it sounds like something is crying inside."

Nie Lingfeng's heart stirred slightly. Chen Duo's spiritual sense could always detect subtle auras that were difficult for ordinary people to perceive. He focused his senses and, sure enough, besides the violent water vapor of the river itself, beneath the roar, there seemed to be an extremely faint yet intensely painful, resentful, and unwilling spirit, like countless souls drowning in the water, unable to be reborn forever! This was different from the chaotic and corrosive "field" in the "Malaria Mother Forest," it was colder and more desperate, as if the river itself had swallowed and imprisoned the souls of countless living beings.

Could it be that this tributary of the Nu River was also affected by the pollution caused by that "disaster" back then? Or, over the long years, has it swallowed up too many lives that died tragically?

"This river isn't clean, stay away from it," Nie Lingfeng whispered, while the dark golden Qilin power within his body circulated slightly, and a calm and heavy aura enveloped him and Chen Duo, slightly separating the cold and resentful spirit remnants.

The two trudged along the riverbank for about two hours. The sun was already setting, casting distorted shadows of themselves and the steep cliffs across the rushing river. The light in the valley began to dim, and the damp chill of the river wind grew increasingly biting. Chen Duo's breathing became rapid, and fatigue showed on her small face. The continuous journey and high stress had taken a toll on her.

Nie Lingfeng glanced at the sky, then at the seemingly endless and even more treacherous river valley ahead, and decided to find a relatively safe place to rest and spend the night. Traveling in the dark in such a dangerous environment was tantamount to suicide.

His gaze swept across the area, and he quickly spotted a relatively flat, dry, and elevated pebble beach below a small natural niche formed by an inward-curving rock wall to his right. This area was less likely to be submerged by a sudden rise in the river. A large, protruding rock above the niche provided shelter from the rain (although the sky was clear at the moment, mountain weather is unpredictable), and several large rocks on the side offered protection from the river winds and his view.

"We'll rest there tonight." Nie Lingfeng pointed to the pebble beach, then pulled Chen Duo along, carefully climbing down the rock steps and walking over.

They cleared a small area and laid out a waterproof tarpaulin. Nie Lingfeng let Chen Duo sit down and rest, while he quickly checked the surrounding area to make sure there were no nests of poisonous snakes or insects, nor any obvious signs of large wild animals. Then, he took out the dried meat and tubers that Azanji had given him from his backpack, and he and Chen Duo ate a simple meal with some cold water, which served as their dinner.

"Nie Lingfeng, how much longer do we have to walk before we reach that 'altar'?" Chen Duo asked softly, munching on a piece of hard jerky, her emerald eyes gazing at the setting sun gradually swallowed by the mountain shadows in the west.

"According to the mountain guardian, there's still a long way to go, and it gets more difficult the deeper we go." Nie Lingfeng swallowed his food and took a sip of water. "I'll get a good rest tonight and set off at dawn tomorrow. If all goes well, we might arrive in the next day or the day after."

"Oh." Chen Duo nodded, asking no more questions. She silently finished the last bit of dried meat, then hugged her knees, looking at the small campfire in front of her that Nie Lingfeng had just lit with dry branches and the flammable grass soaked in special oil that he carried with him. The leaping firelight reflected on her fair but tired face, casting two warm, dancing points of light in her emerald green eyes.

The campfire dispelled the damp chill and twilight of the riverbank, bringing a rare warmth and sense of security characteristic of human civilization. The crackling sparks, mingled with the unique fragrance of burning pine branches, temporarily overwhelmed the chill brought by the river and the faint resentment in the air.

Nie Lingfeng also sat down against a rock, closed his eyes, and while regulating his breathing to recover his strength, continued to try to communicate with the "Qilin Star Body" within his body. Having gained experience from the Azanji safe house and traversing the "Malaria Forest" during the day, his guidance and resonance with the Qilin's power became smoother and more natural. A gentle, mellow dark gold energy flowed slowly through his meridians with his breath and intention, not only replenishing his energy but also continuously and subtly strengthening and consolidating his physical foundation. It also seemed to deepen his connection with the heavy, yet wounded, land beneath his feet. He could even faintly sense an extremely weak yet incredibly heavy "pulse" emanating from beneath the rushing river, from the deep riverbed and the depths of the earth, a pulse mixed with pain and resilience, as if the land itself was also enduring and resisting some deeply rooted "illness."