11: Frozen Secret 1

Outside the Tianhan Mountain Range, a blizzard raged.

Han Yue pulled her cloak tighter, her silver hair covered in fine ice crystals. Each step she took left a clear imprint in the deep snow, but it was quickly erased by the fierce wind. A chill emanated from the ice coffin in her storage ring; even through the spatial barrier, she could feel the astonishingly low temperature.

"Just a little longer..." she murmured to herself, her emerald-like eyes showing both fatigue and determination.

Three days ago, after splitting up with Hu Jia, she deliberately left traces to draw away most of the pursuers. She had thought she could reach the agreed-upon location smoothly but encountered an Ice River Valley patrol team halfway. A fierce battle left her with serious internal injuries, and now she could only rely on walking to cross this deadly snowfield.

"Cough..." Han Yue suddenly bent over, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood that bloomed like a striking red plum on the snow. She wiped her mouth and took out the last of her healing medicine from her bosom, swallowing it.

Just then, the howl of snow wolves echoed from a distance. Han Yue's expression tightened—these third-tier Demonic Beasts usually appeared in packs, and she was in no condition to deal with them now.

She quickly scanned her surroundings and found a snow-half-buried cave not far away. Just as she was about to head there for temporary shelter, a sound of rushing air suddenly came from behind her!

"Whoosh!"

An ice arrow grazed her cheek, exploding on the snow in front of her. Han Yue abruptly turned around, only to see five white-robed figures approaching through the snow, the Ice River Valley emblem on their chests gleaming in the wind and snow.

"Young Miss of the Han Family," the leading man sneered, "Hand over the ice coffin, and we can give you a quick death."

Han Yue said nothing, her Moonlight Longsword quietly appearing in her hand. The silver light flowing along the blade was much dimmer than usual but still sharp.

"Stubborn!" The man waved his hand, "Form the array!"

The five quickly spread out, forming the same hand seals. The moisture in the air instantly condensed, turning into countless ice needles suspended around Han Yue.

"Ice River Thousand Needle Array!"

With a sharp shout, a sky full of ice needles shot forth like a downpour! Han Yue swung her sword to parry, her sword light weaving an impenetrable net. However, due to her injuries, several ice needles still pierced through her defense, leaving bloody marks on her arms and legs.

"Pfft!" Another mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, and Han Yue's vision began to blur. She knelt on one knee, using her sword to support her body to keep herself from falling.

"It's over." The man stepped forward, an ice blade condensing in his palm. "Don't worry, we'll take good 'care' of the boy in that ice coffin..."

Just as the ice blade was about to strike down, an unexpected change occurred!

"Boom—"

A crimson pillar of fire descended from the sky, accurately hitting the man directly on his head! He didn't even have time to scream before turning into ashes. The other four were greatly shocked. Before they could react, four more pillars of fire accurately fell!

In the blink of an eye, all five Ice River Valley Disciples were annihilated!

Han Yue struggled to look up, only to see a red figure stepping through the air. It was a beautiful woman in red, with a flame pattern between her brows, and a suffocatingly scorching aura emanating from her body.

"Are you alright?" The woman landed beside Han Yue, her voice clear and cool with concern.

Han Yue cautiously took half a step back: "You are..."

"Tang Huo'er." The woman said concisely, "I was entrusted by someone to find you all."

"Entrusted by whom?"

Tang Huo'er didn't answer directly but looked at the storage ring on Han Yue's hand: "Is the fellow in the ice coffin named Xiao Bing?"

Seeing Han Yue's expression become even more wary, Tang Huo'er shook her head helplessly: "It was Hu Jia, that girl, who contacted me. She said you were being pursued by the Ice River Valley and the Soul Hall and needed help."