After being chosen by the Ice Queen

Chapter One: Undercurrents Along the Way

The caravan's guards resumed their journey, but the atmosphere was completely different from before the attack. The carriage traveled along the bumpy official road. Inside the carriage, Gu Yan closed his eyes and concentrated, seemingly resting, but in reality, his senses had been extended to their limit.

The leader, surnamed Wang, was a middle-aged, overweight man who was riding a skinny horse, following the carriage at a distance.

Su Wanqing sat opposite Gu Yan, her hands clasped tightly on her knees. The title "Holy Goddess" made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Gu...Gu Yan," she whispered, "where have we come to? What they said about the Holy Maiden, the Demon-Suppressing Pass, the demonic beasts...is it all true?"

"Judging from that dog demon just now, the existence of demonic beasts is beyond doubt. As for the others..." He looked through the gap in the carriage curtains at the distant mountain shadows that resembled lurking giant beasts; that was probably Black Wind Gorge.

"We need more information. We know nothing about this Dragon-Tiger Dynasty, or anything they claim to know about it."

He paused, then looked at Su Wanqing: "Think carefully, besides the resemblance, do you have any other feelings about that saintess?"

Su Wanqing shook her head blankly: "No, absolutely not. I am who I am, Su Wanqing. I've worked at a foreign trade company in Haicheng for five years. My biggest worries are KPIs and my mortgage. What saintess, what spiritual power—I feel none of it." She smiled bitterly, "Do I look like someone with spiritual power?"

Gu Yan seemed lost in thought. The effects of the coin of joy and sorrow were unpredictable and bizarre. It was a fact that Su Wanqing had been dragged into another world, and he didn't believe there wasn't a deeper causal connection behind it. That face that resembled the saintess was one way that causality was manifesting.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it. We'll first follow the caravan to Qingyan Town to settle down and get a basic understanding of the situation. Your resemblance to the Holy Maiden might not be a bad thing. At least for now, it provides us with a channel to gather intelligence."

"But what if they find out I'm not..." Su Wanqing worried.

"If you don't reveal any obvious flaws, they will tend to believe their own eyes and 'miracles'," Gu Yan interrupted her. "Speak less, observe more, and listen more. I will ask any questions about cultivation, power, or dynasties. You should remain silent, or... you can appropriately show some melancholy, which is in line with the image of a saintess who has returned after experiencing calamity."

Su Wanqing was taken aback, looking at Gu Yan, her panic subsiding somewhat. She nodded: "I understand."

The team leader, Wang, finally mustered his courage and gently knocked on the carriage wall: "Young Master, Miss, we'll reach Qingyan Town in half an hour. The town is simple, but the Yuelai Inn is quite clean. I've already sent someone ahead on horseback to arrange the best rooms. Is there anything else you two need?"

Gu Yan lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing half of her face. Team Leader Wang lowered his head, not daring to look directly at her.

"Thank you for your trouble, Leader Wang." Gu Yan's voice was calm. "My fellow disciple and I have lived in the mountains for a long time. This time, we were ordered by our master to come down the mountain for training. We know very little about the current situation of the world, the laws of the dynasty, and the local customs, and we almost caused a misunderstanding. I wonder if you could clear things up for us, Leader?"

Upon hearing this, Team Leader Wang felt relieved. It turned out that he was indeed a hermit cultivator who had come down from the mountains. No wonder he was so ignorant of worldly affairs, yet his strength was so great.

"Please ask, sir. I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"Was that dog demon just now no ordinary wild beast?" Gu Yan asked the first question.

"Young Master, you are wise!" Leader Wang's face showed lingering fear. "That was a powerful spirit that roamed the Black Wind Gorge area and has become increasingly rampant in recent years. Ordinary swords and blades are hard to harm it. Only martial artists who have cultivated internal strength and adults who carry imperial edicts can contend with it. As for you, Young Master, to kill it so easily, this is the first time I have ever seen one in all my years of traveling around."

"An imperial edict?"

"Indeed. The world is now ruled by the Dragon-Tiger Dynasty. His Majesty received the mandate of Heaven, assisted by the Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, and appointed officials and issued edicts using the energy of the Dragon and Tiger. Those who bear the edicts are the edict officials, protected by the energy of the Dragon and Tiger, and have a natural ability to restrain demons and ghosts. They are the mainstay of our human race in fighting against monsters." Team Leader Wang explained, "In our Qingzhou territory, each town has a junior officer in charge. Zhao Xiaoqi of Qingyan Town is a capable official."

Dragon and Tiger Dynasty, Imperial Edict, Dragon and Tiger Aura... Gu Yan quickly memorized them.

"Besides the imperial edict officer, are there any other paths to cultivation?" Gu Yan continued to ask.

"Yes, yes," Team Leader Wang nodded. "Among all the Taoist sects in the world, Longhu Mountain is the most revered. Maoshan, Quanzhen, and others are also famous sects, each with highly accomplished Taoist masters who are skilled in capturing demons and monsters and possess great supernatural powers. In addition, there are martial artists in the Jianghu who hone their skills and cultivate internal and external strength. If they can break through to the Innate Realm, they can also be called Grandmasters and are not afraid of ordinary demons. Then there are... some rogue cultivators and eccentric individuals, some of whom have encountered fortuitous successors and whose methods are unpredictable."

Finally, he glanced at Gu Yan cautiously, clearly placing Gu Yan in the last category.

"How strong are the demon race? Are such monsters commonplace?"

"To be honest, young master, in recent years, the chaos caused by demonic beasts has become increasingly frequent. Places like Black Wind Gorge, where spirits gather, exist everywhere. There are even legends that in those deep mountains and forests, in vast swamps and oceans, there are powerful demons whose intelligence rivals that of humans, who have already taken human form. They have even formed demonic forces, such as the Qingqiu Fox Clan, the Four Seas Dragon Palace, and the ferocious beasts of the Northern Wilderness, etc. However, they generally do not come into contact with mortals and have their own territories. Alas, in this world, life is not easy for ordinary people." He sighed, then quickly added, "Of course, with the Dragon Tiger Dynasty and all the immortal masters here, the overall situation is still stable."

"Regarding...the Holy Maiden," Gu Yan steered the conversation towards Su Wanqing, noticing that Team Leader Wang trembled slightly, "you seem to know a great deal about her?"

Team Leader Wang quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "This humble one dares not speak ill of the Holy Maiden! However, ten years ago, the Holy Maiden Lin Qingyin, in order to protect all living beings, faced thousands of demon tides alone at the Demon-Suppressing Pass in the Northern Border, and ultimately perished. This is a major event known throughout the country."

"The Holy Maiden is compassionate and compassionate, possesses boundless magical power, and is deeply loved by all people. I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of her holy countenance from afar when I was a merchant in the capital years ago, and I still remember it vividly." His voice choked slightly. "When I first saw this young lady, I was truly... truly too shocked. I hope you and the young lady will forgive my lapse in composure! It's just that there are people in this world who look so alike... truly unbelievable."

Although he said that, the excitement in his eyes showed that he regarded Su Wanqing as a miracle of the saintess's return.

Gu Yan remained noncommittal, simply saying, "The world is vast and full of wonders. Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

Team leader Wang repeatedly agreed, but in his heart he didn't think so.

As they talked, the official road gradually widened, and the outline of a town built against the mountain appeared in the distance. Surrounded by bluish-gray stone walls, the town gate wasn't particularly tall, but the figures of armed soldiers could be vaguely seen. It was nearing dusk, and sparse lights were already twinkling within the town.

"Young master, young lady, we've arrived at Qingyan Town." Leader Wang's voice was filled with relief, yet tinged with tension. Bringing these two into the town would quickly spread the news, and what would happen next was entirely beyond his control.

The caravan slowly made its way towards the town gate. The guards at the gate sharply scanned the caravan, lingering for a moment, especially on their carriage.