Bat Prince, roaming the heavens

The wheels rumbled, crushing the ice and snow on the ground, but they could not crush the loneliness between heaven and earth.

The carriage was covered with thick mattresses, and in the corner was a charcoal stove that Ding Baiyun had just bought. The fire was burning brightly, dispelling most of the chill in the carriage.

Yuan Suiyun leaned against the carriage wall, his black cloak already off, casually draped to the side.

His eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady, as if he were asleep.

Just as Ding Baiyun, who was rushing to catch a glimpse of the carriage, turned his head again to steal a glance, Yuan Suiyun suddenly spoke up: "How can you be sure of my identity?"

Ding Baiyun seemed extremely certain of his identity, without the slightest doubt, which was unusual.

Ding Baiyun seemed taken aback, and almost dropped the reins from his hand.

She was silent for a moment before whispering, "There is a portrait in Uncle Feng's study."

"Portrait?" Yuan Suiyun raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Yes."

Yuan Suiyun was slightly taken aback, then couldn't help but chuckle: "I didn't expect Ding Feng to have a portrait of me."

"It was drawn by Uncle Feng himself," Ding Baiyun answered honestly.

"It seems he's put a lot of effort into his paintings over the years, they really do resemble mine so much?" Yuan Suiyun said with his eyes closed, his slender fingers tapping lightly on his knees, quite curious.

Ding Baiyun opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

The person in the portrait looked almost exactly like the young man in front of him.

—The same black robe, the same appearance, the same temperament.

Especially those eyes, which were clearly depicted in the portrait, gray and empty, desolate.

She had never seen eyes like those before, but the moment she saw Yuan Suiyun, she knew that he was the person in the painting.

"Very similar." That was all she said in the end.

"Besides, to be able to notice my unusual behavior just by my voice, your martial arts skills must be unfathomable." After thinking for a moment, she added cautiously.

"You are quite thoughtful and intelligent," Yuan Suiyun praised, then fell silent.

The tireless wheels rolled forward, crushing layer after layer of snow, making a teeth-grinding "crunch, crunch" sound.

Ding Baiyun sat on the carriage shaft, gazing at the snowflakes dancing in the sky ahead, his heart churning with countless questions like boiling water.

Why did this young master disappear for over twenty years? Why did he suddenly reappear beyond the Great Wall? Why does he not only not age, but instead become even younger? And why did he go to Baoding?

But she didn't ask.

There are some things that you shouldn't ask, so it's best not to say a word.

The carriage traveled for about half an hour, and the wind and snow gradually subsided, but the sky remained gloomy.

Ding Baiyun was idly cracking her whip when suddenly her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she let out a soft "Eh."

It turned out that she saw a very lonely and thin figure standing in the middle of the snow ahead, slowly walking against the cold wind.

He was a young man, dressed in thin clothes, who stood out starkly in the cold wind.

He had no horse, no carriage, and seemed to have no burden at all. He walked step by step in the snow, as if the blizzard had nothing to do with him.

Inside the carriage, Yuan Suiyun also heard the boy's footsteps.

In this vast snowfield where one step is deep and the other shallow, the boy's steps were not disordered at all, but rather carried an almost cruel monotony and mechanical quality.

"Could it be Ah Fei?"

Yuan Suiyun's mind raced for a moment, then she spoke calmly, "Miss Ding, may I ask this young hero if he needs a ride?"

Ding Baiyun was taken aback. Although she was somewhat surprised that Yuan Suiyun would feel pity for a down-on-his-luck boy who looked like a beggar, she did not ask any further questions.

She immediately leaned out and called out, "Young hero, the snow is heavy and the road is long. My master invites you to get in the carriage and travel with us."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ding Baiyun blushed deeply, inwardly finding it strange.

How come she says this so naturally, making it seem as if she really is this young master's personal maid?

She, the apple of the eye of the prestigious Ding family of Hebei, the eldest daughter of a prominent family known in the martial arts world as "White Cloud Fairy," was now being ordered around so naturally.

What's even more terrifying is that she couldn't even muster a single thought of resentment or disobedience deep down.

However, the lone boy walking ahead didn't even glance at the beautiful Ding Baiyun, nor did he stop walking, as if he hadn't heard her speak at all.

A hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashed across Ding Baiyun's face; no one had ever dared to so blatantly ignore her words.

Before she could even throw a tantrum, Yuan Suiyun's calm voice came from inside the carriage: "No need to ask anymore, let's go."

Ding Baiyun bit her pale lips, but ultimately said nothing, and gently shook the reins.

The spirited horse galloped past, and the luxurious carriage, carrying a wave of heat, brushed past the proud young man.

The snow dust kicked up by the wheels splashed like rain, landing on the thin hem of his clothes.

Even so, he still didn't look up, and didn't even blink.

After the carriage had traveled several dozen steps, Ding Baiyun finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and, as if possessed, turned around to take a look.

The boy's figure grew smaller and smaller in the wind and snow, but his posture remained upright.

He's as tough as iron.

"Does the young master know this person?" Ding Baiyun turned his head and asked softly through the carriage curtain.

"Does he have a sword?" Yuan Suiyun asked in return.

Ding Baiyun thought of the "sword" at the boy's waist and couldn't help but scoff: "Is that even a sword? I think it's just a piece of iron."

Her words were not an exaggeration, because the boy's sword had neither a blade nor a guard, nor even a hilt.

It's just two pieces of cork nailed on, and that's it for the hilt. Calling it a sword is giving it far too much credit.

But Yuan Suiyun knew very well that it was a sword, and an extremely terrifying one at that.

Because the one who held it was Ah Fei!

"Miss Ding, do you know that in this martial world... there are two kinds of people who are most eager to make a name for themselves as quickly as possible with their own hands?" Yuan Suiyun did not reveal A Fei's identity, but instead smiled and asked a strange question that seemed completely unrelated.

Ding Baiyun didn't understand the deeper meaning of Yuan Suiyun's question, but he felt there must be something fishy about it, so he fell into thought.

Yuan Suiyun didn't urge her, but waited quietly for her answer with a meaningful smile.

After a long silence, Ding Baiyun cautiously and tentatively answered in a low voice, "Men and women?"

Inside the carriage, Yuan Suiyun's smile froze instantly.

After a long silence, Yuan Suiyun finally sighed, "I never imagined that Miss Ding would have such a talent for dry humor."

Ding Baiyun didn't know what dry humor meant, and she didn't dare to ask, but it was clear that her answer was not what Yuan Suiyun wanted.

Therefore, she had no choice but to humbly ask for guidance: "Please enlighten me, sir."

"One type is the person who has nothing, and the other type is the person who has everything."

"Does the young master mean that he is the kind of person who has nothing?" Ding Baiyun knew that Yuan Suiyun's words must be related to the boy just now.

Yes and no.

Yuan Suiyun paused for a moment.

"He was a man who should have had everything, but now he has nothing."