Chapter 145: Please Save Her
As Xiang Yu continued absorbing the ice energy, the sound of cracking reverberated through the ice. The noise thundered loudly in his ears, since he was completely encased within the crystalline structure, the sound traveled much easily. Each fracture sounded like, well, ice cracking. But it was amplified to the levels of huge icebergs breaking in the ocean.
He understood why the ice’s condition was deteriorating. The ice itself wasn’t particularly special—merely a physical manifestation of the concentrated yin energy that had created it. As he absorbed this energy, the structure lost what was holding it together. He estimated that the yin concentration had diminished to such a degree that activating his divine ability now would easily shatter it.
Though slightly disappointed that his unexpected cultivation windfall hadn’t lasted longer, Xiang Yu decided to extract every last particle of energy before the ice collapsed completely. He intensified his absorption, feeling the remaining yin power flow into his body.
More cracks formed, spreading across the ice’s surface as the sustaining energy continued to thin. The fissures multiplied exponentially, their symphony growing louder with each passing second. Finally, when the last remnants of yin energy dissipated, the ice lost all stability and shattered into countless glittering fragments that exploded outward in every direction.
Freedom at last. But the first sensation Xiang Yu registered wasn’t relief—it was something soft pressing against his back. His expression instantly darkened as recognition dawned. If this was what he suspected, he might be in serious trouble. Without hesitation, he activated his movement technique, vanishing from the girl’s embrace in a blur of motion. Leaving only empty air where he had stood moments before.
Only after putting considerable distance between himself and Xiuying did Xiang Yu finally relax. That had been dangerously close, he thought to himself. Fortunately, Li Yao wasn’t present—otherwise, he might not have survived the encounter at all.
Taking stock of his surroundings, he realized he had instinctively moved to where his master, martial aunt, and Meiling stood watching him with peculiar expressions.
"Umm..." Xiang Yu scratched his cheek awkwardly, unsure how to address their stares. "Is there something on my face?" he asked.
"You brat, do you know how worried we were about you?" Elder Guo spoke, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
Xiang Yu realized that the situation was indeed different from their perspective. While he had been comfortably absorbing energy inside his icy chamber, they had believed him to be in mortal danger.
"Sorry for making you worry," Xiang Yu replied sincerely.
"Hahaha, it’s no problem at all. I always knew you weren’t that weak," Elder Guo laughed heartily, but his jubilation was cut short by a sharp twinge of pain. Glancing sideways, he encountered Elder Huang’s stern expression and quickly released his grip on Xiang Yu.
"Grand Elder, you shouldn’t scare us like that," he amended formally, his tone shifting to match the public persona they maintained for appearances’ sake.
Elder Huang could only sigh at this. Her attention shifted to where Meiling had been standing, only to find the spot empty. Confusion crossed her face until she heard Meiling’s voice from the other side.
"Xiuying, are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere? Should I take you to a doctor?" Meiling fired questions in rapid succession, her words tumbling over each other with evident concern.
Xiuying seemed oblivious to the interrogation, her attention fixed entirely on her own hands as though seeing them for the first time. She slowly raised her gaze to meet Meiling’s worried eyes.
"Sister Mei Mei," she said softly, her voice filled with wonder.
"What is it? Tell me quickly! Do you feel uncomfortable somewhere?" Meiling pressed, anxiety sharpening her tone.
Instead of answering, Xiuying simply placed her hands on Meiling’s face, her touch gentle.
"What are you doing?" Meiling asked, confusion replacing worry.
Xiuying’s face blossomed into a radiant smile. "I can touch Sister Mei Mei. Xiuying is not cold anymore," she declared with childlike joy.
Meiling’s expression froze as she finally registered what had just happened. Xiuying had indeed touched her directly—with no gloves, no protective barriers—and nothing had happened. Not only was Meiling unharmed, but Xiuying’s hands were actually warm against her skin.
How was that even possible?
...
"Sister Mei Mei, is something wrong?" Xiuying asked, her innocent eyes searching Meiling’s face for answers.
Meiling finally snapped out of her stupor and forced a reassuring smile. "No, everything is alright," she replied softly, gently removing Xiuying’s hands from her face. As she did so, she noticed delicate frost patterns already forming where the girl’s fingers had touched her skin. Though Xiuying had indeed warmed up momentarily, her temperature was already plummeting back to its dangerous levels.
Still, even that fleeting moment of normalcy represented an unprecedented breakthrough. In all their years managing Xiuying’s condition, nothing had ever disrupted the Winter Curse’s grip—not even temporarily. This meant that there was still hope.
The sun’s interference couldn’t explain the phenomenon—if solar yang energy could counteract Xiuying’s condition, they would have discovered this long ago. No, something else had neutralized the overwhelming yin energy, something extraordinary.
Her gaze shifted toward Xiang Yu, studying him intently. Despite being trapped in ice saturated with lethal levels of yin energy, he had emerged completely unharmed—not a single frostbite mark or sign of qi deviation. Most cultivators would have suffered catastrophic damage to their meridians from such exposure, yet he appeared perfectly normal.
"It must be him," she thought, certainty solidifying in her mind. "He somehow neutralized the yin energy."
Meiling retrieved a pair of gloves from her spatial ring and helped Xiuying put them on. Although they looked just like normal gloves, they were actually high level spiritual treasures used to contain the ice. But even with such a treasure, they still couldn’t guarantee safety when her condition relapsed. "Don’t forget them again," she reminded.
Rising to her feet with, Meiling approached Xiang Yu with measured steps. Elder Huang immediately positioned herself protectively before the Grand Elder, her stance shifting subtly into a combat-ready posture.
"What do you want?" Elder Huang demanded, spiritual energy gathering at her fingertips, ready to activate the sect’s defensive formations at the slightest provocation.
But instead of attacking, Meiling utilized her Golden Core speed to sidestep Elder Huang entirely. Before anyone could react, she had already dropped to her knees before Xiang Yu, her forehead nearly touching the ground.
"Senior," she pleaded, her voice stripped of all its previous arrogance, "please save Xiuying."