After being chosen by the Ice Queen

A tense, stagnant atmosphere filled the room. Queen Feng Si's gaze fell on Gu Yan's wrists, which were red from being rubbed raw by the shackles, and then slowly moved to his face, which was trying to remain calm.

"Is it related to the answer to the drying up of the Mother-Child River?" Queen Feng Si's tone was unreadable. "Stranger, do you know that since the river's water level plummeted to a complete standstill three months ago, our people have exhausted the power of our priests, consulted countless scrolls, and traversed the entire riverbed, yet we have failed to find the cause. Panic grips the court and the people. You, a man of unknown identity, who descended from the heavens, are newcomers; what gives you the right to utter such arrogant words?"

Her questioning was reasonable. Gu Yan's palms were slightly sweaty; he knew that empty words were not convincing. On the contrary, they might make him seem like a madman or a spy. He had to offer something substantial, something only he knew or could perceive.

He took a deep breath, focused his mind, and actively activated his ability to detect the unseen. This time, his perception was no longer aimless; instead, he focused most of his attention on the direction of the Mother-Child River, especially the blank area that resonated with it.

He carefully controlled the scope of his ability to avoid overexertion. On the system panel, there were no specific values ​​after "Lin Xue's Gift: Cha You," but the mental fatigue he felt while using it was real.

"I may not be able to immediately explain the reason for the river's interruption," Gu Yan carefully chose his words, meeting the Queen's gaze with composure, "but I have a special method that allows me to perceive things that you might not be able to detect. Just now, I 'looked' at the Mother-Child River."

A fierce glint flashed in the high priest's eyes: "The Meditation Pavilion has runes that prevent detection, how could you...?"

"It's not about seeing with your eyes, nor is it about ordinary witchcraft probing," Gu said, trying to keep his tone calm. "It's about intuition. I sensed that somewhere in the now-dry riverbed, there exists a very special point."

It seemed to absorb all probing power; it was a blank slate, yet at the core of that blank space, something... was emitting a faint call.

Queen Feng Si's fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly. The High Priest stared intently at Gu Yan, seemingly trying to find any trace of lying on his face.

"Where?" the Queen asked, her voice lowered slightly.

Gu Yan recalled the location and reference points that Cha You had sensed: "After the river flows from west to east and turns into a crescent-shaped bend, there is a section of the south bank where the rock face is exceptionally smooth as a mirror. It is right below that smooth rock face, close to the current riverbed."

The High Priestess's expression instantly changed. She turned to the Queen, her voice incredulous: "Your Majesty! The Crescent Bay Mirror Wall he spoke of is the Wall of Divine Mercy mentioned in the first High Priest's notes, a legendary site connected to divine blessings! But the notes are incomplete, only mentioning its location, nothing more. Successive High Priests have carefully examined that wall, and apart from its unusually hard and smooth texture, they have never found anything amiss. He…"

The Queen raised her hand to stop the High Priest.

"What is the nature of that call? And what is its connection to the Mother River of my people?" the Queen pressed.

"I can't explain it clearly," Gu Yan shook his head, which was the truth. "The feeling was vague but very peculiar. And..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "That place might require specific people or conditions to open or enter; it seems to be waiting for something."

"Waiting for what..." The Queen's eyes flickered uncertainly. The drying up of the Zimu River was a matter of utmost importance, threatening the very foundation of the nation; not a single clue could be overlooked. Especially since the location mentioned by this stranger matched ancient records. But was he friend or foe? Was this premonition real? Or a trap set by spies from another country?

Silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire in the bronze stove.

After a long silence, Queen Feng Si seemed to have made up her mind. She looked at Gu Yan: "Gu Yan, your words are absurd. I cannot believe you based on this alone. But the matter of the Mother-Child River concerns the survival of our people, and every possibility needs to be verified."

She turned to the High Priest: "Remove his shackles, but restrict his movements with a spirit-suppressing lock. He must not leave the palace or the designated exploration area. Assign a team of elite Xuan Niao Guards, led by Yingluo, to monitor him closely around the clock. Without my or your order, no one may contact him privately, nor may he come into contact with anything that may endanger the safety of our race."

"Your Majesty, isn't this too risky?" the High Priest asked anxiously.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." The Queen's tone was resolute. "If what he says is true, it may be a glimmer of hope for our people. If it is false..." Her gaze swept over Gu Yan, carrying a hint of coldness. "The Xuan Bird Guards know what to do. Make preparations; I will personally go to the Mirror Wall of Crescent Bay tomorrow morning."

The Spirit-Suppressing Locks were more delicate silver metal rings, fastened to Gu Yan's ankles and wrists respectively. They weren't heavy, but when worn, a cool energy coursed through his body, making him vaguely feel that his connection to some deep level had been severed. Presumably, this was to prevent him from using unconventional means of escape.

The captain of the guard, named Yingluo, arrived quickly. She was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a tall and straight figure, and a beautiful but icy face. She wore dark blue soft armor, and a uniquely shaped scimitar hung at her waist. She only bowed to the Queen and the High Priest, and looked at Gu Yan as if he were an object. The four female guards she brought were equally silent and capable, with sharp eyes.

That evening, Gu Yan was moved to a secluded courtyard within the palace. Yingluo and two guards stood watch outside his room, while two others patrolled the courtyard.

Lying on the unfamiliar bed, Gu Yan was wide awake.

"Lin Xue... what kind of vortex have you thrown me into?" Gu Yan sighed silently, a mix of trepidation and excitement growing in his heart.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a small, streamlined group quietly left the palace. Besides Gu Yan, Yingluo who was guarding him, and two Xuan Bird Guards, Queen Feng Si only brought the High Priest and two other elderly priests carrying ritual implements. Everyone had changed into simple, easy-to-move clothing.

Riding in enclosed carriages pulled by docile, deer-like creatures, they traveled along a flat road towards the outskirts of the city.

Through the small ventilation window of the carriage, Gu Yan saw the capital of the Wudu Kingdom for the first time. The streets were clean, the houses were mostly stone and wood structures with an ancient style, and all the pedestrians were women. The entire city was shrouded in a lingering atmosphere of oppression.