Since that New Year, Qinghe County has sold more firecrackers than any other county each year because the townsfolk say the Ying family has been haunted by a year beast.
Some adults would scare the kids by saying, “If you don’t behave, the year beast will come and eat you!”
Zou Yongfeng was clearly one of those scared kids. He looked around and whispered, “A few months ago, I passed by the Ying family’s old house and saw a really big shadow.”
“It looked a bit like the year beast that the grown-ups warned us about when we were little. As New Year approached, our family hurriedly moved out.”
“Year beast?”
Ke Mo frowned, feeling the small hand in his palm getting colder. He rubbed it gently, but it wouldn’t warm up no matter what.
Feeling chilly, Ke Mo shivered slightly.
When he glanced over, he found Ying Bing’s gaze was a bit unfocused, her complexion pale without a hint of color.
Distant memories suddenly attacked Ke Mo.
It was the Little Ice Chunk.
When she first came to the Ke Mansion as a child, she would lock herself in her room all day, only coming out for meals. If she ever heard a loud noise, fear would flash in her eyes, the same look she had now.
Not just cold, but also holding a hint of emptiness.
During that time, the Ke Mansion felt especially cold, even the snow melted later than in other places.
“Ice Chunk, let’s go home.”
“Hmm… okay.”
Ke Mo waved goodbye to Zou Yongfeng and his family, happily chatting about how the neighbor’s kid had a baby and was inviting them over for a full-month celebration, before he turned with Ying Bing towards their home.
Looking back, they saw the riverbank of Qinghe, where a desolate ruin stood, cold and lifeless, completely contrasting with the New Year’s spirit.
…
Once home, Ying Bing had dinner and retreated to her room, not coming out again. Although she gently told Ke Mo that she was fine and just needed to rest, he couldn’t help but sink into thought while eating.
What on earth happened to the Ying family back then?
She was silent, and he didn’t say much either.
This scene puzzled Gu Xueqin.
“Son, what’s wrong with you two?”
Ke Mo shook his head. “Nothing, we ran into Yongfeng today.”
“Did he say he saw something at the Ying family’s old house?” Ke Dalong chimed in.
“Dad, you know?”
“Your dad is just a sheriff; he reported to the county office that day, reeking of booze. Must’ve been drunk.”
Ke Dalong snorted. “That Yongfeng’s a lunatic. I took people to check it out, and there wasn’t even a ghost there.”
Was Yongfeng just seeing things because he was drunk? But that didn’t quite explain the urgency to move…
In fact, this afternoon, Ke Mo had already used his Heavenly Fate Insight to peek into Yongfeng’s recent activities and found nothing unusual.
He didn’t bother asking his dad if he saw anything that day; after all, Ke Dalong had mentioned it several times over dinner. Plus, by the time he took someone over, it was too late.
The only one who really saw something was still Ice Chunk.
Ke Mo glanced at the opposite room, where there wasn’t even a flicker of candlelight, let alone a glimmer of light.
Is Ice Chunk not cultivating?
…
In the middle of the night.
In the pitch-black room, the door opened quietly.
A little rascal, who had been sneaking around for days, tiptoed inside.
Once he entered, he saw Ying Bing lying on the bed, her sleeping face not peaceful at all, her dark brows tightly knitted together.
Sweat beaded on her forehead, hair sticking to her snowy neck.
She… was having nightmares?
He activated his Heavenly Fate Insight.
【Name: Ying Bing】
【Age: 17】
【Constitution: Taiyin Moon Phoenix Body.】
【Realm: Five Apertures of Guan Shen.】
【Destiny: Red (Imperial bone, destiny of mystical ice, divine nature of autumn water, with a phoenix-like appearance).】
【Evaluation: Numerous calamities in fate, always turning misfortune into fortune; at this moment, her feathers are yet to be plumped, waiting for the winds and clouds to shift, destined to soar high in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, a phoenix transcending the six realms and eight desolations.】
【Recent Encounter: Tormented by nightmares.】
Ke Mo tried releasing the calming light of the Taiyin moon to settle her troubled mind, but it couldn’t soothe the tight lines on her brow.
“What to do now?”
Suddenly, Little Li furrowed his brows, recalling that the Phoenix Song at Tianze’s second layer aligned with spiritual meanings, merging minds.
Ice Chunk had once used this method to help him break through.
What if he tried it now?
Could he enter Ice Chunk’s dreams?
But that would mean they both had to share the nightmare; if she couldn’t wake up, he wouldn’t be able to either…
“Amid all hardships, we are bound to life and d*ath…”
Li Mo muttered, grasping her icy little hand.
Phoenix Song at Tianze, activate!
In the next moment, he fell asleep in an instant, collapsing into Ice Chunk’s embrace, but he didn’t have the mind to enjoy this softness and fragrance; he was already breathing evenly.
Li Mo regained consciousness, sensing the smell of firecrackers in the air.
He opened his eyes and saw the surroundings, momentarily stunned.
A grand ancestral hall, where the blue stone steps led down to the rushing Qingshui River, bustling with people.
The sky seemed to drift with ash, coating everything in a layer of dull, snow-like flakes.
This was a place long gone, reduced to ashes—the Ying family estate’s ancestral hall.
“Hey kid, who are you?”
The old doorman asked.
“I am…”
Li Mo looked at his youthful hands, mumbling.
“I am Li Mo, son of the county sheriff…”
“What are you here for?”
“I’m here… to find… find Ice Chunk… find Ying Bing!”
The bewilderment in Li Mo’s eyes faded; he now remembered everything!
The doorman, not thinking too much, assumed this was just the sheriff’s kid visiting to find playmates for the New Year.
“Alright, you can go in. Miss Bing doesn’t know where she’s gone off to. You can look for her yourself.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Little Li nodded obediently and entered the Ying family ancestral hall.
To have a manor on the edge of the city showed they were a prominent family; even their ancestral hall was quite grandiose.
At that moment, a banquet was set up outside the hall, chatter and laughter filling the air, oh so lively, but everything was draped in a dull gray haze, giving it an air of emptiness.
Li Mo searched with his eyes but didn’t find Little Ice Chunk.
Instead, he spotted a couple at the main table, chatting with those beside them.
“Uncle Ying, Auntie, Happy New Year!”
Li Mo went ahead to greet them.
This was Ying Bing’s aunt and uncle.
“Are you the child of Li Ge?”
Ying Xuliang dropped his gaze, cheered up with a smile as he pulled out a red envelope from his pocket:
“Happy New Year! Where are Li Ge and his wife?”
“They’re at home. I came to find Sister Bing to play.”
Li Mo’s voice was clear, sounding quite endearing.
Beside Ying Xuliang, a woman with delicate features mentioned, “Bing’er is unwell. When she gets better, I’ll bring her to visit again.”
It seemed that this year, Ice Chunk’s condition first started showing signs—it made her endure extreme cold every day.
Li Mo thought for a moment and replied, “Then I’ll go in and see Sister Bing, okay? I promise I won’t disturb her.”
An old scholar, looking like a teacher nearby, immediately shot back, “You… you little scamp, you’re definitely up to no good, aren’t you?”
“?”
Li Mo was taken aback, staring at the source of the voice.
This teacher, from a few days ago, he had scribbled over this man’s face while he napped…
Who would’ve thought that the lost memories could still bite him.
…
PS: Seeking some love, muah!
