After being chosen by the Ice Queen

Life in Qingyan Town continued on a surface of tranquility. Three days later, at noon, a sparse crowd suddenly appeared under the old locust tree at the east end of the town.

The arrival of one person shattered the peace of the small town.

He was a storyteller, carrying a satchel and holding a folding fan, looking somewhat travel-worn. He appeared under the locust tree at some point. He found a clean bluestone slab to sit on, cleared his throat, and without shouting, simply tapped the slab with the rib of his fan before beginning his story.

The voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange penetrating power, attracting the attention of several idle men and mischievous children nearby.

Gu Yan was walking past a blacksmith's shop, intending to examine the quality of ordinary iron in this world, when he heard a sound and stopped, his gaze falling on the old locust tree.

"...Speaking of the Dragon-Tiger Dynasty, its territory spans thousands of miles, a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. However, evil spirits lurk and ghosts abound. Fortunately, the imperial court has decreed that the Taoist immortals protect this region and bring peace. Today, I will tell you all a story from the past dynasty, concerning the Dragon-Tiger Token and two extraordinary individuals."

The storyteller was around fifty years old, with a gaunt face, deep wrinkles around his eyes, and eyes that were half-open, seemingly asleep, yet occasionally flashing with a sharp glint.

"In a certain year of the previous dynasty, strange phenomena frequently occurred throughout the land. A demonic star appeared in the northwest, indicating that a great demon was about to emerge. The Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain observed the celestial phenomena at night and spent forty-nine days gathering the essence of the five metals and the power of incense and vows from all over the land to forge the 81-faced Dragon-Tiger Token for suppressing demons. This token must be placed at eighty-one dragon vein nodes throughout the land and activated by the earth's energy to form a great net-like formation to suppress the demonic star and protect the dynasty's fortune for three hundred years."

Passersby couldn't help but stop and listen.

"However, although the token was successfully forged, escorting it became a problem. The eighty-one nodes were scattered all over the country, many of which were located in remote and dangerous places, where demons and monsters roamed. Ordinary soldiers, or even low-ranking imperial edict officers, could hardly guarantee its safety. Just then, two extraordinary individuals volunteered to take on the responsibility of escorting it. These two were Li Wu and Cha Wen, and were collectively known as the 'Li and Cha Officials'."

Gu Yan approached quietly, blending into the edge of the crowd.

"These two officials, Li and Cha, are shrouded in mystery, their origins unknown. All that is known is their unpredictable and cunning skills. Official Li wields a heavy, blunt sword, its power immense, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks; Official Cha uses a pair of Emei daggers, nimble as lightning, specifically designed to break through the weaknesses of demons. Together, they embark on the most difficult escort mission—crossing the swamp of ten thousand corpses, the wasteland of white bones, and the valley of soul-devouring desolation, to deliver the nine tokens to the Dragon-Suppressing Abyss, deep within the southern border..."

The storyteller spoke eloquently, vividly describing the perilous journey. He continued this tale for three days, and the number of onlookers grew day by day.

The rotting corpses in the swamp, the skeletal army roaming the wasteland, the soul-sucking vines in the valley… all sorts of demons and monsters were vanquished by Officer Richard. His narration was incredibly vivid, his tone rising and falling, sometimes tense and intense, sometimes soothing and low, captivating the audience. Even the shop assistants from several nearby stores couldn't help but peek out to listen.

Gu Yan listened to the story every day, feeling a sense of unease. The methods used by the two officials, Li and Cha, were quite different from what he knew of local martial artists or cultivators. Moreover... their mission was extremely purposeful; they hardly got involved in any local power struggles along the way, focusing solely on delivering the token.

Finally, as the story reached its climax, the crowd craned their necks, listening intently.

"Having endured eighty-one tribulations, Li and Cha finally arrived at Zhenlong Abyss. The abyss was shrouded in black mist, with faint dragon roars echoing from within; it was the place where an ancient evil dragon was suppressed, its malevolent aura soaring to the heavens. Following the secret method taught by the Celestial Master, the two placed the nine dragon and tiger tokens at nine points at the mouth of the abyss, activating the earth's energy. In an instant, nine golden rays shot into the sky, echoing the ancestral temple of Dragon Tiger Mountain, causing the heavens and earth to tremble!"

The storyteller's voice was loud and clear, and he snapped his fan shut, pointing it towards the sky as if the golden light was right in front of him.

A low gasp rippled through the crowd.

"With the tokens arriving, the nodes of the grand formation were completed, and the light of the demonic star dimmed instantly. Officials Li and Cha, having successfully completed their mission, stood before the Dragon Suppression Abyss. Just then, a strange golden light suddenly descended from the sky, neither sun nor moon, neither thunder nor lightning, enveloping the two of them. Within the golden light, Officials Li and Cha exchanged a smile, bowed towards the direction of Dragon Tiger Mountain, and their figures gradually faded within the golden light until they disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed."

The story ends abruptly.

There was a moment of silence under the locust tree, followed by a buzzing commotion.

"That's it? That's all?"

"What was that golden light? Was it a divine guidance?"

Where did Officers Richard and his comrade go?

"This story... seems a bit disjointed?"

The storyteller picked up his worn-out teapot, took a sip, and, facing the crowd's questions, simply stroked his sparse beard, squinted, and smiled, "Strange people and wondrous events, coming and going without a trace. Perhaps they have achieved perfect merit and were taken to the upper realm. Or perhaps they used some kind of escape technique to leave quietly. The reasons are unknown to this old man. As for the story, just enjoy the excitement."

The crowd felt the ending was rushed and was somewhat dissatisfied, but the story itself was enough to leave them wanting more. A few coins and pieces of silver were tossed into the storyteller's broken bowl. The storyteller didn't look at them much, bowed in thanks, packed his things, and got up to leave.

Gu Yan stood there, a slight ripple in his heart.

Boundary Walker.

The way Richard and Cha acted in this story is too much like the World Walkers on a mission.

If the guess is true, then how could this storyteller know such details? Even the scene when the Realm Walker returned? He is definitely not an ordinary street performer.

Just as he was plotting how to secretly contact the storyteller, a slightly hurried sound of horses' hooves came from the direction of the town entrance.

Before long, three fast horses, guided by several patrolling soldiers, arrived directly in front of the Yuelai Inn. The leader, dressed in a blue official robe with simple cloud patterns embroidered on the chest, was much more formal than Zhao Tie's leather armor. He had a serious face and sharp eyes, and appeared to be about forty years old. Behind him were two Taoist priests, one old and one young. The older man wore an apricot-yellow Taoist robe, held a whisk, and had a serene expression. The younger Taoist wore a gray robe, carried a long, narrow yellow cloth bundle, and had a respectful expression.

Zhao Tie had already received the news and hurried over from the patrol post. He clasped his hands in a salute to the leading official, saying, "Zhao Tie, the junior officer of Qingyan Town, respectfully welcomes Commander Chen! Respectfully welcomes the two immortal masters!"

Chen Yuan, a seventh-rank imperial banner officer, nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as he swept across the second floor of the inn, and said in a deep voice, "Zhao Xiaoqi, where is he?"

"It's upstairs. I've already ordered people to keep watch over it, and I haven't dared to disturb it," Zhao Tie replied in a low voice.

"Lead the way, let's see that young lady first." Commander Chen dismounted and said politely to the old Taoist priest behind him, "Master Xuanming, thank you for your trouble."

The old Taoist priest Xuanming flicked his whisk and said calmly, "It's my duty." His voice was not loud, but it had an air of otherworldly refinement about it.

The group went straight to the second floor of the inn. Zhao Tie personally went up and knocked on Su Wanqing's door.

Inside the room, Su Wanqing had already heard the commotion, her heart pounding like a drum. She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and opened the door.

Outside the door, General Chen, Taoist Master Xuanming, the young Taoist priest, and Zhao Tie all had their eyes fixed on her face.

Even with their vast experience and composure, Commander Chen and Daoist Xuanming couldn't hide their shock when they saw Su Wanqing's face. It was too similar! She was practically a carbon copy of the portrait of the saintess treasured in the palace.

Master Xuanming's eyes narrowed, and his whisk moved without wind as his spiritual sense swept over Su Wanqing. Su Wanqing felt a chill run through her body, as if she had been seen through.

"A mortal body, without the foundation for cultivation, and without evil spirits," Master Xuanming said slowly as he withdrew his spiritual sense.

Commander Chen said in a deep voice, "Miss Su, I am Chen Yuan, Commander Chen of Qingzhou Prefecture. This is Master Xuanming of the Longhu Mountain branch. Your appearance is strikingly similar to the deceased Holy Maiden. This matter is of great importance and must be verified according to the law. Please move to the quiet room downstairs and cooperate with the Master in conducting a spiritual inquiry to determine the truth."

"I...I understand." Su Wanqing forced herself to remain calm. She remembered Gu Yan's words and secretly cheered herself up. What if...what if she really was?