Chapter Sixty-Two: The Young Snow Wolf Displays Its Power (Prayers for Sichuan)

Snowflakes drifted gently into Su Fan’s palm, slowly melting into blood thick with the stench of iron. It was the blood of cultivators—Su Fan could still sense faint traces of spiritual energy within it.

His heart tightened. He looked again into the distance, this time unable to avert his gaze. The ground was beginning to tremble violently, the perpetual snow that blanketed the land now cascading downward in torrents.

Mobilizing his spiritual power, Su Fan swept his arm, dispersing the snow poised to fall upon Hong Ling. When it struck the ground, it transformed into crimson liquid. Su Fan retreated step by step, inching closer to Hong Ling.

Amid the relentless shaking, Hong Ling’s eyes fluttered open. She gazed at Su Fan, bewildered and lost.

He glanced at her and whispered, “It’s likely the Snow Wolf King.”

The Snow Wolf King—the tyrant of the Great Snow Mountain. Even Nascent Soul masters did not dare provoke it lightly.

Yet Hong Ling was unexpectedly calm. She merely stood silently before Su Fan. In these few days, the man before her had already shown her too much that was beyond belief. She found herself imagining that perhaps Su Fan could defeat the Snow Wolf King, and they could leave this place together.

But Su Fan’s mind was in turmoil. He summoned the Violet Moon Blade, moving slowly, searching for any possible means of escape.

But all around them, three sides were hemmed in by towering snowy ridges. Had they been able to fly, there might have been hope, but some strange force here suppressed flight, making escape nearly impossible.

The tremors grew more intense; snow poured endlessly from the peaks, blanketing the earth. Su Fan pulled Hong Ling along as they dodged the cascading masses.

Suddenly, the shaking ceased.

Su Fan fixed his gaze on the only exit. There, before them, appeared a crimson snow wolf the size of a small mountain.

Its aura rivaled that of the old man in red; its long fangs were terrifying, and its blood-red eyes glared straight at Su Fan.

There was a strange scent clinging to the Snow Wolf King—the scent of cultivators’ fresh blood. Its fangs were still stained with red, as though it had devoured many cultivators alive.

Yet now, Su Fan found a strange calm. He smiled faintly, then with a sudden gesture, summoned a snowy peak—condensed from the shattered soul of the mountain, the swirling snow had taken form as a mountain of ice and snow.

The Snow Wolf King threw back its head and howled, as if mocking Su Fan’s ignorance, ridiculing such a meager technique used against it. Indeed, the Mountain Soul Shatter was a low-level technique, one the Snow Wolf King could break with a mere breath. Seeing Su Fan use it only amused the beast further.

By his side, Hong Ling could only sigh helplessly. This technique’s power was truly limited, but still she watched Su Fan in silence.

Su Fan guided the snow peak, hurling it toward another peak beside the Snow Wolf King. The beast continued to look on in derision, as though enjoying the last feeble struggle of its prey.

But a moment later, the Snow Wolf King’s expression changed. It suddenly turned toward the peak, understanding at last—Su Fan intended to unleash an avalanche to bury him.

Yet realization came too late.

Su Fan uttered a single word: “Explode.”

A surge of immense spiritual power crashed toward the Snow Wolf King, but even more so toward the surrounding peaks.

The Snow Wolf King howled in mad fury. Born of the Great Snow Mountain, he understood better than any the terror of an avalanche.

As the Mountain Soul Shatter collapsed, the surrounding snow mountains began to quake. Then, like brittle wood splintering, massive snowfalls from all sides thundered down toward the Snow Wolf King.

Hong Ling was stunned. A cultivator at the Golden Core stage had outwitted a Nascent Soul-level Snow Wolf King.

The Snow Wolf King’s roars shook the heavens and earth, but the more it howled, the faster and heavier the snow fell. Su Fan formed a seal with his hands, pulling Hong Ling along as they slipped through cracks in the avalanche.

Their bodies were small compared to the wolf’s bulk—soon, they escaped, while the Snow Wolf King, trapped at the gap, was buried beneath the snow, unable to move.

Suddenly, Su Fan felt Hong Ling’s hand lighten—her cultivation had returned.

He smiled unconsciously, but their relief was short-lived. Behind them, snow billowed upward, and earth-shaking wolf howls arose—how many, Su Fan no longer cared to count.

With no time to look back, they could only flee for their lives. If the wolf pack caught up, Su Fan knew there would be no hope of survival.

Exhausted from repeated escapes and sudden dangers, their pace slowed, the wolves seemingly right behind them.

Suddenly, agony lanced through Su Fan’s back. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a swift snow wolf striking with its claws, ready to attack again.

Su Fan’s eyes flashed cold. He swung the Violet Moon Blade—instantly, the wolf’s head fell to the ground.

But as he wielded the blade, another wolf leapt upon him from behind. A crushing blow struck his back, and Su Fan coughed blood.

Seeing this, Hong Ling hurriedly threw her sickle. It flashed through the air in a crimson arc, and as it returned to her hand, the wolf attacking Su Fan collapsed, blood spraying.

They fled onward, but more and more wolves assailed them. Su Fan was struck repeatedly. At first he could still resist, but as their numbers grew, he could no longer hold them off.

Hong Ling, having just regained her power, was even weaker—both knew that at this rate, they were doomed.

Su Fan sighed inwardly. There was only one choice left—one must stay behind to lure the wolves, giving the other a chance to escape.

He glanced at Hong Ling, remembering her aid when he faced the yellow-robed elder. Decision made.

Still, Hong Ling fought, helping drive back the wolves.

Suddenly, Hong Ling struck Su Fan, who cried out, “Don’t!”

But it was too late—using Su Fan’s momentum, Hong Ling flung herself into the midst of the wolf pack.

The wolves halted, slowly surrounding her. Her slender figure whirled the crimson sickle, blood staining her emerald gauze skirt—a single blossom among green leaves.

The wolves pressed closer, shrinking her circle of movement.

Bowing her delicate brows, Hong Ling sighed softly, “Father targets Su Fan so ruthlessly—it must be his doing. Perhaps it truly was Father who killed Uncle Master in yellow, since only Su Fan and I were present. No wonder he seeks Su Fan’s life.

“But today, I’ll pay Father’s debts. Su Fan is a good man—he saved me many times. I must repay him.”

Having whispered thus, she withdrew her sickle, ready to face death.

Closing her eyes, she felt the reek of blood closing in.

Suddenly, a wolf’s howl split the air. Hong Ling’s eyes snapped open—it was not the cry of triumph, but of pain.

A youth in purple stood a short distance away amid the wolves, his robe splattered with blood. He held the Violet Moon Blade, now buried in a wolf’s chest. As he withdrew it, blood spurted onto his face, but he paid it no mind—turning, he slew another wolf in a single stroke.

His goal was the red-garbed girl at the heart of the pack.

Tears welled in Hong Ling’s eyes, and she screamed, “Su Fan, go! Run!”

But Su Fan replied quietly, “I won’t leave you.”

As he spoke, another wolf fell at his feet. Gradually, he drew closer to Hong Ling.

He seized her hand—the wolves, stunned by his slaughter, shrank back, momentarily too fearful to approach. For such a domineering pack to feel fear was no small thing.

Su Fan drew Hong Ling gently and said, “I once knew a girl. We parted ways on a snowy mountain just like this.”

Hong Ling nodded silently. Su Fan smiled, then fell silent, an expression of desolation and grief on his face.

Hand in hand, they walked step by step out of the circle of wolves, who parted to let them pass.

Once clear, they quickly took some pills to recover, then hurried on.

The wolves, shocked by Su Fan’s display, were momentarily subdued, but the awe would soon pass, and pursuit would resume.

Sure enough, before long, furious howls thundered behind them.

They raced forward. Su Fan took out a map scroll, but could not tell where they were. There was nothing for it but to keep moving.

To lose one’s way on the Great Snow Mountain was courting death. The outer areas were dangerous enough, but deeper within, there was no end to the wolves and the avalanches that followed.

Avalanches in the inner ranges were different—once caught, no one could escape.

They stepped carefully, wary of hidden snow traps that could swallow a person whole.

The cold grew ever fiercer. Even Hong Ling felt the chill invading her bones.

Their pace slowed until they finally stopped—just a short distance ahead lay three crimson snow wolves.

Three Snow Wolf Kings.

Su Fan could only hope they had not noticed him.

But such hopes were always in vain. The three wolves approached at a leisurely pace. Hong Ling coughed twice in resignation.

Without hesitation, Su Fan grabbed Hong Ling and flew backward, not caring if they triggered another avalanche.

The three Snow Wolf Kings followed at a lazy pace, seemingly in no hurry to catch them.

Unnoticed, dawn had broken. Ten yards ahead, Su Fan spotted a lake.

Perhaps they had finally escaped the Great Snow Mountain—the wolves had stopped pursuing, remaining where they were.

Su Fan and Hong Ling, gasping for breath, made their way toward the lake. As they drew near, the water’s surface grew clear.

Snow blanketed the shores; plum trees grew along the bank. Even from a distance, the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms drifted on the air.

Su Fan felt his mind grow clear, his spirit refreshed. The crimson blossoms against the white snow were strikingly beautiful.

He stood transfixed by the sight.