Chapter 2
Chapter 1 (Part 2) – Hunt of the Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per
Nian Bing slowly stood up. Though young, a severe coldness was contained within his eyes. A deep hatred ignited within his heart. "The Ice G.o.d’s PaG.o.da’s honor? Father was right. Though the Ice G.o.d’s PaG.o.da may appear righteous from the outside, they are nothing but trash. They want to get back the Ice and Snow G.o.ddess’s Stone? Dream on. Even if I die I still wouldn’t give it to you. This is the last thing my mom gave me. You can all go to h.e.l.l!" Without warning, two fists simultaneously flourished out, left red, right blue. These two rays of light, each with a distinct atmosphere, approached the three hooded Ice and Snow Priests. There were indeed fireball and waterball, two rank one spells, possible to cast without chanting an incantation. Ice and fire appeared simultaneously, a feat even Nian Bing himself didn’t think possible.
The light within Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per’s eyes flashed and quickly chanted simple phrases, a gentle formless wall of watered emerged. The fire and water collided becoming mist. Suddenly he thought to himself, No good. I have to think of another plan, but there isn’t enough time.
The young body fell from the summit. At the time he jumped from the precipice, there wasn’t any hesitation, but only a splash. The silhouette did not appear to enter the river, only the faint ripples from the splash. Nian Bing’s words still echoed within the three ice and snow priests’ ears. They finally understood the meaning of the words that even dead he wouldn’t hand over the Ice and Snow G.o.ddess’s Stone.
The Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per stepped forward to the edge of the precipice, with a soft sigh said, "What an unyielding child."
"Great Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per, how could this happen? He was only that old. How could he use two types of magic?" The left Ice and Snow Priest looked below at the rapid river water with awe.
Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per indifferently said, "That was not because of impressive magic power, but rather because he possessed Ice Master’s Ice and Snow G.o.ddess’s Stone. Furthermore it had been merged with the Heavenly Flame G.o.d’s stone. Although he still was unable to use those two divine treasures to its fullest potential, to be able to cast simple elementary spells, just this is not worthy of awe. However, ice and fire in harmony… how he is able to use both elementary fire and ice magic simultaneously without conflict, even this escapes me. It seems that child possessed extremely great talent."
The priest on the right said loudly, "It is a pity that we don’t have enough magic power to freeze the rapid river. Otherwise we would surely be able to obtain these two precious stones. Great Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per, What is to be done with our mission? First, it may be better off to search for his body."
Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per glance at him, the coldness in his eyes could make the whole priest’s body quiver, no longer does he dare say more.
"Remember, to practice magic you must first cultivate the mind. Without a tranquil mind, your magic ability will be unable to reach higher levels. I had failed this task and I will undertake all responsibility for this. Let us return. Oh Great Ice and Snow G.o.ddess! Please grant me your wrath, deliver us to the lost, holy sh.o.r.e." Not knowing how, an one meter magic staff had appeared in his hand. The staff’s body appeared to be a sparkling and translucent blue. He didn’t know how it was created. The staff’s head of eight claws collected magic power, like stars against the moon, ma.s.sed about the eight spirit like fingers, grabbing onto a precious stone.
The magic staff slowly levitated off the ground, the ice element in the air gradually grew berserk and the sky had also begun to darken. What is the Ice and Snow G.o.ddess’s Wrath? It is storm of ice and snow.
Ice and Snow Tempest. A rank six large scale ice spell, possessing an average attack power but encompa.s.ses an extremely wide area.
Snowflakes fell from the sky, causing the atmosphere’s temperature to rapidly decline. This is the Ice and Snow Priests’ favorite environment,
The two Ice and Snow Priests replied together at once. Their bodies enveloped with a faint blue radiance, and they took to the sky like a snowflake fluttering in the wind, floating towards the Ice G.o.d’s paG.o.da. The Ice and Snow Tempest best suited the Ice and Snow Priests’ short distance flights. Although they could not sustain flight like a wind mage, their short distance speed could slightly exceed that of wind mages.
His companions gone, the Ice and Snow Wors.h.i.+per cast one last icy gaze at the expansive Azure River and lightly sighed, "Everything happens because the Heavens will it. Ice Master, I will act on your behalf, but only this far." Because of his level of magic, when Nian Bing had escaped, he could have killed him. However, the virtuous thoughts that resided in his heart did not allow him to do so, giving the pitiful, orphaned child one last final opportunity at life.
……
Zha Ji walked from the peach blossom forest to the Azure River’s bank, and took a glance at the fis.h.i.+ng net in his hands, talking to himself, "~Improve, Improve my livelihood, eat my leafy greens everyday, it is always delicious, the body is always lacking nourishment. I’ll catch a few black carps and nourish this old body~"
A fresh, clean and somewhat damp air breathed through his nose, making him feel exceptionally refreshed. This year Zha Ji was already fifty seven years old and lived there for ten years. Regarding the surrounding environment, there was nothing he did not know.
His two hands shook and could barely grab fis.h.i.+ng net firmly. He raised his arms and cast the fis.h.i.+ng net, going out just a mere four to five meters. But with regards to the fish abundant Azure river, it is said that so long as one is patient, it is impossible to return empty handed. The fis.h.i.+ng net was fastened to his side, including a fis.h.i.+ng line that was tied to his wrist. Zha Ji sat down and rest against the large tree besides him. It was a blazing summer, cooling off in the shade of the tree was indeed the right choice.
Just after he sat down, the fis.h.i.+ng line attached to Zha Ji tugged unexpectedly ferociously. He opened his closed eyes and was flashed by the sun’s light. "My luck couldn’t possibly be this good. Ordinarily, only after waiting would you get a catch. My net’s ruined, this isn’t fis.h.!.+ Oh, my poor fis.h.i.+ng net!" When his gaze fell upon the river, what he saw was actually a log. The log wasn’t very big, only about a meter long and about as thick as a man’s leg. It was twisting his rather frail fis.h.i.+ng net. Not needing to see, he already knew that this would be the last time he used this fis.h.i.+ng net.
However, Zha Ji hadn’t lamented over his pathetic luck but discovered that on the log were a pair of two slim arms… That’s a person. There’s a person in the river! Daring not to be negligent, he tied the fis.h.i.+ng line to his leg and with large strides, walked away from the river. Relying on his leg’s strength, he finally brought the log with the person to sh.o.r.e.
"No……….." Nian Bing suddenly sat up, gasping large mouthfuls of air. His eyes revealed an indefinitely bewildered expression.
Bird’s chirp clearly transmitted to the center of his ear. Gentle rays of light shone on his body, producing a bit of heat. He vigorously shook his head. His mind calmed a bit. From the feeling of warmth from the sun, he knew that he still hadn’t died. His heartbeat gradually stabilized. He then looked around. Apparently he was in a small wooden room. His surroundings weren’t particularly decorative though the room had no lack of dust. It was obvious that the room wasn’t regularly cleaned.
"You’re awake," said an exhausted voice. The wooden door, that the tooth aching voice came from, opened and a person came in.
Nian Bing unconsciously cowered away, "Who, Who are you?"
"The person who saved your life." Zha Ji walked to the side of the bed and took a seat, putting a bowl down at the edge of the table. With a smile he looked at Nian Bing and through to himself, a handsome child..
His brain recalled everything that had happened the past few days. Nian Bing’s body faintly jolted, unconsciously put his hand on his bosom. The solid objects were still there. That made him feel relieved. He probingly asked, "It was you, sir, that saved me?" On one hand talking, on the other sizing up the old man in front of him. He looked to be sixty years old, his black head hair graying. His wrinkles displaying many years of hards.h.i.+p. His face wearing an amiable smile. A very common appearance.
Naturally, Zha Ji said, "Oh course. Otherwise who else would it be? Your luck is pretty good. You were unexpectedly to be able to persist, holding onto a log. Do you know how much energy it costed me to pull you to sh.o.r.e? This old man was so tired, he could’ve died. Little guy, why don’t you eat something? That log of yours ran into my fis.h.i.+ng net and ruined it. Right now, I can only give you vegetable congee.
Previously, he was frightened to the core. Nian Bing wasn’t aware of his body’s senses. Now that Zha Ji let him eat, his stomach had already fastly attached to his back. [TL Note: Means he’s really hungry.] At that time he entered the Azure river, the pain from his body slapping the water’s surface had nearly knocked him unconscious. Rus.h.i.+ng down the river for several hundred meters, he was miraculously able to latch onto a log. His strong desire to live had not allowed him to let go of the log. No doubt his luck was good, the Azure River is extremely wide with no protruding reefs but he happened to come across Zha Ji’s fis.h.i.+ng net, saving him.
He took a somewhat cautious glance at Zha Ji. This bowl didn’t have the scent of vegetable congee. When he saw the bowl’s interior, he couldn’t help but give it a blank stare. The white congee appeared very thick, it seemed to have a faint translucent l.u.s.ter. A piece of green vegetable protruded. Although wasn’t evenly distributed, green vegetables were scattered within the plain white congee. It appears that he is unexpectedly capable of sensing the living flavor coming from it. It was nearly absent. The whole bowl of congee had emitted a faint, sweet scent. This caused Nian Bing not to gobble it down. How could he know? At the time, such a common bowl of vegetable congee, at the continent’s culinary groups was lauded as jadeite tofu congee. By no means could any ordinary person be able to drink it. What crucial is not the ingredients, but rather the method of cooking.