One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Nie Lingfeng turned around, looked at the mountain guardian's eyes that seemed to see through everything, and slowly nodded.

"Yes. Once Chen Duo has recovered a bit more, we'll leave. First, we'll go to Jinghong to contact the 'Company' and obtain the necessary intelligence and supplies. Then... depending on the situation, we might continue investigating the 'Parliament's' leads in northern Myanmar, or we might find a place for Chen Duo to fully recover and regain control of her power."

The mountain guardian paused for a moment, then nodded: "A wise...choice. This valley...though secluded...is not...a place to linger. Your...karma...is too heavy...staying here...will only...bring...unnecessary...trouble...to this place."

He paused, then took out a small, more exquisite wooden whistle carved from some kind of black wood from his pocket and handed it to Nie Lingfeng.

"This... is better than the previous one. If... you encounter... trouble... that you can't solve... at the border... or... you need... help... blow it. As long as... in these mountains... perhaps... there will be... 'ears'... that can hear it."

Nie Lingfeng solemnly accepted it; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, carrying a faint, ancient aura similar to that of the mountain guardian. "Thank you, senior."

The mountain keeper waved his hand, lowered his head again, and said nothing more.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow of him, as if he had completely merged into this ancient valley.

Nie Lingfeng gripped the new wooden whistle tightly, feeling its heavy weight.

The road ahead remains shrouded in mist and fraught with danger.

But at least for now, in this brief and precious rest, he can take a breather, recharge his energy, and prepare for the next, more arduous journey.

He turned around and walked back to Chen Duo's shack.

Inside the shack, the girl was still sleeping peacefully, her small face appearing serene and beautiful in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Nie Lingfeng sat down beside her and gently took her slightly cool hand in his.

Outside the window, night was slowly falling over the valley.

Time, in this secluded valley, flows like a never-ending stream, seemingly slow and leisurely, yet relentlessly moving forward. In the blink of an eye, seven days have passed since the altar collapsed and Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo were brought here by the mountain guardian to recuperate.

Chen Duo's rapid recovery astonished both the experienced old pharmacist and the mountain guardian. The tenacious vitality and rebirth characteristics of the phoenix bloodline were fully displayed in her. After waking up on the third day and drinking her first mouthful of meat porridge, she "came back to life" at a speed visible to the naked eye, changing every day.

On the fourth day, with Nie Lingfeng's help, she slowly walked out of the hut and sat on a large rock by the stream, basking in the warm sun. She sipped the herbal soup, specially prepared by the pharmacist—still not very tasty, but supposedly more effective at "replenishing qi and blood, strengthening the body's foundation"—in small sips. She still frowned, her face contorted in pain, but she no longer resisted as much as on the first day. However, with each sip, she would wrinkle her nose and look at Nie Lingfeng with pleading eyes, as if silently protesting, "This medicine is so bitter, I want something sweet." Nie Lingfeng had to try different methods, using wild honey or sweet, juicy wild berries he had picked, to coax her into finishing the medicine. (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

On the fifth day, she was able to walk slowly on her own, though not far, and her steps were somewhat unsteady. But the sparkle in her emerald green eyes had mostly returned, becoming clear and bright again, filled with curiosity as she surveyed the small valley. She developed a strong interest in the various strangely shaped herbs that the old apothecary had laid out to dry on the wooden rack. She would always lean over, sniffing them with her little nose, and then ask questions that made the old woman both amused and exasperated: "Grandma, is this red thing that looks like a small mushroom sweet or spicy? And that black thing that looks like charcoal, can it burn?" The old woman would patiently explain in broken Chinese that this was for stopping bleeding, that was for removing dampness, that was poisonous and couldn't be eaten, and that had a strange smell when burned... Chen Duo listened, seemingly understanding but not quite, but her eyes sparkled, as if she were memorizing some remarkable knowledge.

On the sixth day, her appetite had fully returned. When Nie Lingfeng used the fresh wild rabbit hunted by the mountain guardian, along with mushrooms and herbs gathered from the valley, to stew a pot of fragrant, rich soup, Chen Duo's eyes were practically glued to the earthenware pot, and she kept swallowing her saliva. At mealtime, she ate until her face was flushed and her nose was sweating. Even her most treasured panda doll was temporarily neglected. Only when her little belly was round and full did she let out a small, satisfied burp. Then she looked at Nie Lingfeng shyly, a satisfied yet slightly embarrassed smile on her face. That sight made the mountain guardian and Jida, who were eating silently nearby, both smile almost imperceptibly.

On the morning of the seventh day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the thin mist above the valley and shone upon the stream and the hut, Chen Duo was already awake. She tiptoed out of the hut, not wanting to wake Nie Lingfeng, who was still recovering. She walked alone to the stream, knelt down, scooped up the cool water, and carefully washed her face. Water droplets slid down her cheeks, which had regained their rosy glow, glistening in the morning light. Looking at her clear reflection in the water, her emerald eyes blinked, and then she extended her right index finger, her mind subtly shifting.

"puff."

A small, warm, pure, beautiful golden-red flame, no bigger than a thumb yet remarkably stable and solid, quietly ignited at her fingertips, dancing silently and radiating a comforting heat. The air around the flame distorted slightly, yet no heat escaped, demonstrating her precise control over it.

Unlike the previous Phoenix True Fire, which, though pure, always carried a hint of "wildness" and "impatience," requiring her to exert considerable effort to control, this flame was now more restrained, docile, and at her beck and call. It was as if, after this life-or-death outburst and exhaustion, the untamed Phoenix True Fire within her had truly achieved a deeper resonance and harmony with her, its "master." She knew that with a single thought, this flame could instantly become blazing and violent, capable of burning metal and eroding iron; or it could remain warm and quiet, like a most loyal companion.

"My 'fire'... seems... different." Chen Duo murmured to herself, her emerald eyes reflecting the golden-red flames dancing on her fingertips, a mixture of curiosity and certainty in them. She could feel the connection between herself and the core of the Phoenix True Fire within her body was closer and clearer than ever before. Although the core was still small, it was like refined gold that had been forged a thousand times, more resilient and solid, and the power it contained seemed purer and deeper. Moreover, she seemed to be able to faintly "hear" a very weak yet rhythmic pulsation, like a heartbeat, emanating from the depths of the flame's core. Each pulsation gave her a warm resonance originating from the depths of her bloodline.

This was not a simple restoration of strength, but a qualitative leap and transformation. It was the result of a near-death experience, the tempering of will, the resonance of power with Nie Lingfeng, and the abundant and pure natural vitality of the valley.

"Feeling good?"

A gentle voice sounded behind her. Chen Duo turned around and saw that Nie Lingfeng had been standing behind her at some point, smiling as he watched the flame at her fingertips. Although his face was still a little pale and his eyes were tired, his spirits were obviously much better, and the calm and dignified aura around him seemed to have become more restrained and profound.

"Mmm!" Chen Duo nodded vigorously, the flame at her fingertips going out with a "poof." She turned around, looking up at Nie Lingfeng with her small face, her emerald eyes full of seriousness and a hint of pride. "It's so obedient now! It lights up when you tell it to, and it warms up when you tell it to, unlike before, when it would sometimes suddenly 'pop' out and cause trouble." (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

Nie Lingfeng smiled and ruffled her hair. "That's good. It seems this ordeal wasn't entirely without its benefits." He paused, looking at Chen Duo's revitalized face, feeling gratified, but even more so, a heavy sense of responsibility. The faster Chen Duo progressed, the greater her potential, which also meant her future path might be more turbulent, requiring stronger guidance and protection. "However, the stronger the power, the more important it is to know how to use it. Later, we'll practice control again. By the way, I have something new to teach you, and... I also need to ask you."

"Something new?" Chen Duo tilted her head curiously.

"Hmm, about your 'fire,' and... a few other things we brought out this time." Nie Lingfeng's gaze fell on the largest shack where the mountain guardian lived. The mountain guardian seemed to sense their gaze, and his hunched figure emerged from the shack, nodding to them and gesturing for them to come over.

The shack was much more spacious and simpler than Chen Duo's, containing only a stone bed, a few wooden stools, and some animal hides, bone tools, and dried herbs hanging on the walls. A faint scent, similar to that of the mountain guardian, mingled with the aroma of herbs, earth, and the passage of time, filled the air. Jida was not there; he must have gone hunting or on patrol. The old woman, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, was cooking breakfast in a clay pot, the aroma of grains and tubers filling the air.

The mountain guardian sat cross-legged on the largest wooden stump, gesturing for Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo, who had followed him in, to sit on the stump opposite him. He didn't speak, but simply watched them quietly with his dark pupils, as if assessing their recovery status, or perhaps waiting for something.