Chapter 186: Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit

With Xue Luo’er’s natural beauty as a foundation, almost any setting would suit her. That made matters much easier. Niu Youdao no longer needed to worry about the portraits turning out poorly. Han Bing, who remained beside Xue Luo’er, glanced toward the grove from time to time. Only after Niu Youdao gave her a slight nod did she find an excuse to leave Xue Luo’er’s side.

Returning to the grove, Han Bing asked, “Well?”

Niu Youdao nodded.

“I have seen the Pavilion Master herself. I know roughly what kind of background will suit her, so the finished portraits should not disappoint her. Now all that remains is choosing the scenery.”

“Good.”

Han Bing was pleased to hear it.

She left the grove with them, called over the maid named Xiaorong again, and instructed her, “Accompany him while he selects the scenery. Apart from the core area, you may take him anywhere else he wishes to see.”

“Yes.”

Xiaorong accepted the order. Han Bing nodded and left.

With no one else around, Xiaorong asked, “Where would Mister like to look?”

“I have no fixed destination. We will walk around and see. If I encounter a suitable place, we can note it down. Tonight I will compare the possibilities and make the final selection.”

“Very well.”

Xiaorong extended a hand in invitation. They began wandering through the jade halls and towers. Whenever Niu Youdao came across a suitable location, he would point it out.

“Here. Here. Note this one down.”

Yuan Gang immediately took up brush and paper and recorded it, looking very much like an assistant. By the time they finished walking around, Niu Youdao had seen almost the entire lush green oasis apart from the core area. Afterward they left the greenery behind. Niu Youdao immediately pointed toward a towering snowy mountain behind the Ice and Snow Pavilion.

“Let us go to the summit of that mountain and have a look.”

“This...”

Xiaorong looked toward the mountain and hesitated.

“I am afraid that may not be very convenient.”

“Why?”

“Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruits grow on that mountain, so it is guarded and people are not casually allowed up.”

Xiaorong explained, “The mountain is also the lair of the Snow Fiends. Many Snow Fiends guard it. Without permission, they will not allow us to approach.”

Anyone who came to the Ice and Snow Pavilion had probably seen Snow Fiends along the way. They were monsters that lived in this world of ice and snow, with thick hide and flesh, sharp fangs and claws. They could run across snow as though it were flat ground, charge with astonishing speed, and possessed enormous strength. Whenever they saw living creatures, they chased and attacked. Ordinary people could never approach the Ice and Snow Pavilion at all.

Of course, these Snow Fiends could do little against cultivators capable of leaping and gliding through the air. But if a cultivator truly encountered a whole pack of them attacking at once, the situation would still be troublesome. Sooner or later one had to touch the ground, and these monsters possessed astonishing jumping power. They could spring into the air to tear prey down. Hearing this reminded Niu Youdao of something. How had Monkey entered the Ice and Snow Pavilion? More importantly, Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruits grew on that mountain.

That was precisely why Niu Youdao wanted to go up and look. His original plan had always centered on obtaining the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit.

If even the terms Jinzhou offered could not persuade the Ice and Snow Pavilion to give one up, Niu Youdao estimated that obtaining one through ordinary means would be equally difficult. Only after Shao Pingbo struck him from the shadows had he been forced to abandon any abnormal method.

If a Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit disappeared now, Shao Pingbo would never show mercy. He would immediately seize the opportunity and drive Niu Youdao toward death. Even so, that did not mean Niu Youdao had given up. Since he had already come, he still wanted to see whether any opportunity existed.

Forget painting ten portraits. Even if he were painting only one, he would still have found an excuse to come look. At the very least, seeing the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit with his own eyes would be worthwhile. Niu Youdao considered for a moment.

“That is a pity. From the summit of that snowy mountain, one should be able to overlook the entire Ice and Snow Pavilion. It might be the finest possible setting. Missing it would truly be unfortunate.”

Xiaorong hesitated after hearing that.

“How about the two gentlemen wait here? I will go ask the Chief Steward.”

Niu Youdao smiled. Women rarely refused beauty. She would almost certainly agree. He nodded cheerfully.

“Good. We will wait.”

Xiaorong immediately flew back toward the oasis. Once she was gone, Niu Youdao glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then turned to Yuan Gang.

“You have seen the Snow Fiends, haven’t you?”

Yuan Gang nodded. “I encountered plenty on the way into this snowy region.”

“How did you get in?”

“I made myself skis and skied in.”

“I am not asking about that.”

Niu Youdao said, “Those Snow Fiends attack anyone they see. Did they not attack you?”

“They did, and they didn’t.”

Niu Youdao looked puzzled.

“What does that mean?”

“Before we came, Wei Duo warned me about them, so I prepared a spear in case I needed to deal with them.”

Yuan Gang continued, “After entering this region, the Snow Fiends I encountered really did rush at me and try to attack. But the moment they came close, they suddenly ran away again.”

“They looked afraid.”

“It seemed as though they were frightened by me, perhaps by my scent.”

“Afraid of you?”

Niu Youdao was stunned.

“Afraid of your scent?”

“That is only my judgment. I noticed every Snow Fiend downwind of me would avoid me and refuse to come close.”

“Did you put something on yourself to repel them?”

Niu Youdao knew Yuan Gang had undergone specialized training and understood certain unusual methods. When hiding or lying in ambush, for example, he knew ways of producing scents that could repel insects.

“No. I knew nothing about the Snow Fiends here, so I had no idea what scent could drive them away.”

Niu Youdao stared at him in surprise.

“Then what is going on?”

Yuan Gang shook his head.

“I do not know either. Wei Duo also thought it strange. If we see Snow Fiends again later, watch them and you will understand.”

Niu Youdao moved closer and sniffed him. Yuan Gang frowned and leaned away.

“I don’t have body odor.”

Niu Youdao sniffed carefully. He could not smell anything unusual. That only made the matter stranger.

What was going on?

After they waited for a while, Xiaorong returned. She carried a small jade case in her hands and was smiling.

“Sorry to keep the two gentlemen waiting. The Chief Steward has agreed to let us go up the mountain. Let us go.”

The group immediately headed toward the snowy peak. Niu Youdao gripped Yuan Gang’s arm and borrowed his strength as they leaped and glided forward. Before they even reached the foot of the mountain, Snow Fiends suddenly burst from the snow and attacked.

The creatures were covered in white fur the same color as the snow. Their bodies were as powerful as bears, yet shaped somewhat like giant apes. Their heads resembled wolves with long white manes. They possessed sharp fangs and claws, terrifying strength, and astonishing leaping ability. A single jump could carry them twenty or thirty feet into the air. The instant they revealed their aggression, a faint red light began glowing from their white eyes. It was strangely eerie.

With bodies the same color as the surrounding snow, they could hide beneath it and ambush travelers almost without warning.

Jingle-jingle-jingle!

Xiaorong had already opened the jade case. From within she took out a slightly translucent bell resembling ice jade and shook it in her hand. Its chime was clear and peculiar, seeming almost to penetrate straight into the heart. The moment the bell rang, the Snow Fiends quieted and began retreating. Guards occasionally appeared from caves along the mountain. Seeing the bell in Xiaorong’s hand, none came out to block them. That did not mean they were being left unobserved. Two cultivators flashed over and followed behind the group.

They continued climbing. Snow Fiends lying on the slopes or crawling out of caves moved aside one after another, a strangely wondrous sight. But Niu Youdao noticed something else. From time to time, he looked toward the Snow Fiends standing downwind.

Unlike those in other directions, which merely retreated, the ones downwind lowered their bodies and backed away while making low sounds in their throats. Their fear was unmistakable. This really was damned strange. Niu Youdao could not help turning to Yuan Gang, his eyes full of scrutiny. Yuan Gang gave a slight shrug. He had no idea what was happening either. The group reached the summit. The wind howled violently, leaving dark rock exposed in places where the accumulated snow had been partly stripped away.

The center of the summit resembled a basin, broken open in several places along the rim. Wind screamed through those gaps with a mournful howl. At the center of the basin, a plant grew from a crack in the stone. It stood roughly as tall as a person.

Its trunk and branches were dark red, almost black, twisted and vigorous like an ancient vine. Yet its leaves were pure white, translucent as ice jade. Nine oval fruits grew upon it, ranging from large to small. The smallest was about the size of a quail egg, the largest about the size of a chicken egg. The smaller the fruit, the whiter its color. The larger, the redder.

Snow-white became pale pink, pale pink became rosy red, and the largest fruit was a vivid scarlet. Faint red light seemed to flicker within its flesh. The sight was extraordinary.

Around the wind-sheltered edges of the basin lay pack after pack of Snow Fiends, perhaps more than a hundred in all. They had been calm while hearing the bell.

But the instant Yuan Gang arrived, with the basin lying directly downwind of him, Snow Fiends began waking in rapid succession. Low, uneasy panting rose everywhere. One after another, the creatures retreated through the openings in the basin.

“That is the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit, correct?”

Niu Youdao pointed at the plant and asked curiously.

“Yes.”

Xiaorong nodded. Once he had the answer, Niu Youdao did not ask anything more about it. Instead he began surveying the landscape around them. He walked to the side facing the Ice and Snow Pavilion and suddenly clapped his hands with a laugh.

“Xiaorong, come look.”

He pointed outward.

“There is lush greenery, jade halls and towers, snowy mountains and ravines, and the river below. What do you think of this scenery?”

Xiaorong came over, looked, and smiled with a nod.

“It really is beautiful.”

“Write it down. We absolutely have to use this spot.”

Niu Youdao waved toward Yuan Gang. The two cultivators who had followed them up to keep watch exchanged looks. They had no idea what these people were doing. Niu Youdao made another circuit of the summit and looked in the other directions as well. He shook his head from time to time, apparently dissatisfied with all of them. Then he prepared to descend. Before leaving, he pointed toward the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit again.

“I notice there is no one stationed directly on the summit. Aren’t you afraid someone might steal it?”

Xiaorong smiled.

“Between the terrain and the weather, it is difficult to station people permanently on the summit.”

“Apart from a few special uses, the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit is not much use to ordinary people. Who would take such a risk to steal it?”

“Besides, there are so many Snow Fiends on the mountain.”

“Even if someone rode a flying mount straight down from the sky, it would still be useless. Before they could even reach the summit, the Snow Fiends would sound the alarm. The guards below would rush up at once, and the Snow Fiends would obstruct the intruder.”

“The Ice and Snow Pavilion also has flying mounts of its own for pursuit. Where could a thief escape?”

“Unless the intruder were a Nascent Soul Realm expert. But someone at that level would have no reason to do such a thing.”

“That is true.”

Niu Youdao nodded and studied the surrounding terrain. He had been wondering whether they could take advantage of the Snow Fiends’ fear of Yuan Gang and have Yuan Gang sneak up here alone. Now it seemed unrealistic. Yuan Gang could not move across snow without leaving a trace. It would be difficult for him to approach the mountain without alerting the cultivators below. And the Snow Fiends merely feared him. Fear did not mean they would remain silent. The real problem was still that Shao Pingbo had wrecked the situation.

If a Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit disappeared, Niu Youdao would immediately become the first suspect and disaster would descend upon him. He could only abandon that idea and see whether some other method existed. After descending the mountain, they did not hurry back. If one was going to put on a performance, one had to carry it through to the end. They went around the surrounding snowfields and snowy peaks, examining one location after another. Only near dusk did they finally return.

They did not go back into the oasis of jade halls and towers. After parting from Xiaorong, Niu Youdao and Yuan Gang returned directly to Rainbow Inn.

The moment they entered the room, Yuan Gang waved at Black Peony and the others, who had followed in to ask how matters had gone.

“You all go out for a while.”

Niu Youdao, who had just lifted a cup of hot tea, glanced at him. The two men understood one another too well. He knew Yuan Gang had something to say. Niu Youdao nodded toward Black Peony and the others. They left. Once the door closed, Yuan Gang moved close and spoke softly into his ear.

“Master Dao, if you truly think it is necessary, I have a way to get the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit.”

[End of Chapter 186]