The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Jiang Chuan turned to look at the Nine-Colored Deer and asked, "Do you know where this is? How long will it take us to get to Heyang City?"

The nine-colored deer raised its head, sniffed the air, and said, "This should be the northern foothills of Cangling Mountain, about three days' journey from Heyang City."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuan frowned. He knew that if they couldn't leave this place as soon as possible, they would be trapped here once the heavy snow blocked the mountain pass.

“We must leave immediately; we can’t linger here any longer,” Jiang Chuan said decisively.

He carefully placed the green scales in his bosom, then climbed onto the nine-colored deer.

The nine-colored deer let out a cry and ran off forward.

Along the way, the cold wind howled and snow fell heavily. Jiang Chuan wrapped himself tightly in his clothes to ward off the cold.

Qinglin peeked out from his arms, curiously gazing at the outside world.

The nine-colored deer was extremely fast, but its speed was greatly affected by the vast snow.

Suddenly, the nine-colored deer stopped abruptly and let out an uneasy neigh.

Jiang Chuan was startled; he sensed that some danger was approaching from ahead.

He quickly drew his Huangshan sword and looked around warily.

Just then, a huge snow wolf leaped out of the snowdrift.

This snow wolf was enormous, more than a person tall, with fur as white as snow and eyes that gleamed with a ghostly green light.

The snow wolf, with its blood-red maw wide open, pounced on Jiang Chuan and the nine-colored deer.

Jiang Chuan swung his sword without hesitation, and a sword aura shot towards the snow wolf.

The snow wolf nimbly dodged the sword energy and pounced again.

Jiang Chuan was secretly amazed; the speed and agility of this snow wolf far exceeded his expectations.

"Looks like we've run into a tough opponent," Jiang Chuan muttered to himself.

He took a deep breath and unleashed the sword technique "All Trees Bloom in Spring." Countless cyan sword energies enveloped the snow wolf, which dodged left and right amidst the sword energy, but was still struck by several of them.

It let out a painful howl, its eyes gleaming with even greater ferocity.

The snow wolf seemed enraged by Jiang Chuan's attack. It howled to the sky and then charged at Jiang Chuan. Upon seeing this, Jiang Chuan immediately fused his Azure Wood Sword Qi and Pure Yang True Qi perfectly, channeling them into the Huangshan Sword.

At this moment, the Huangshan Sword was flashing with a blue and red light, radiating a powerful aura.

"Watch this!" Jiang Chuan shouted, unleashing a sharp sword aura.

The sword energy, carrying intense heat and vitality, struck the snow wolf directly in the chest. The snow wolf let out a miserable howl and fell heavily to the ground.

Jiang Chuan did not let his guard down; he knew that Snow Wolf might not be dead yet.

Sure enough, the snow wolf struggled to its feet, its eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.

Suddenly, it turned and fled into the distance.

Jiang Chuan watched the snow wolf's departing figure and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that although the snow wolf had escaped, it would likely return. They had to leave this place as soon as possible.
Jiang Chuan patted the Nine-Colored Deer's neck and said, "Let's go, let's speed up."

The nine-colored deer let out a cry and ran forward again.

After a difficult journey, Jiang Chuan and the Nine-Colored Deer finally arrived at a small town.

This small town is nestled at the foot of a snow-capped mountain and covered in snow, resembling a fairytale world.

Jiang Chuan looked at the small town before him, his heart filled with joy. He knew that they had finally escaped danger for the time being.

As Jiang Chuan entered the town, he found that the residents were all wearing thick cotton-padded clothes and had simple smiles on their faces.

He found an inn and planned to rest there for the night to replenish his energy.

The innkeeper was a middle-aged man who warmly welcomed Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan booked a room and then settled the Nine-Colored Deer in.

He sat in his room, looking at the heavy snow outside the window, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

"I wonder how far it is from here to Heyang City?" Jiang Chuan muttered to himself.

He knew he had to get to Heyang City as soon as possible; there were many things waiting for him to do there.

Just then, Qinglin emerged from his arms. It wriggled and climbed onto Jiang Chuan's shoulder, nuzzling his face affectionately. Looking at Qinglin, Jiang Chuan's worries instantly dissipated.

"Little guy, are you hungry?" Jiang Chuan said with a smile.

He took out some dry food and fed it to Qinglin.

The green scales happily ate their dry rations, occasionally letting out cheerful cries.

After dinner, Jiang Chuan lay down on the bed, ready to rest.

The next morning, Jiang Chuan got up early. He went out of the inn and found that the snow outside had stopped.

The sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light.

Jiang Chuan took a deep breath of the fresh air, savoring the beautiful morning.

He returned to the inn, had breakfast, and then prepared to leave. He paid for his room and then left the town with the Nine-Colored Deer and the Azure Scales.

On his way out of the town, Jiang Chuan encountered an old man. The old man had white hair and a face full of wrinkles, but his eyes were very bright. When the old man saw Jiang Chuan, his expression was very surprised.

"Young man, you have a very special aura," the old man said with a smile.

Jiang Chuan was startled; he hadn't expected the old man to be able to see his extraordinary abilities. He politely said, "Sir, you flatter me."

The old man looked at Jiang Chuan and said, "You seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going?"

Jiang Chuan said, "I'm going to Heyang City."

After listening, the old man nodded and said, "Heyang City is still quite a distance from here, so be careful. There are many dangers along the way." Jiang Chuan said gratefully, "Thank you for the reminder, sir."

The old man looked at Jiang Chuan, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Young man, I have something here that might be useful to you."

After speaking, the old man took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and handed it to Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan took the brocade pouch, his heart filled with doubt. He opened the pouch and found a pill inside.

The pills emitted a faint fragrance that was pleasant to the senses.

"This is a heart-protecting pill that can protect your heart in critical moments," the old man said.

Jiang Chuan was deeply moved upon hearing this. He quickly said, "Grandpa, this is too precious, I cannot accept it."

The old man waved his hand and said, "Young man, please accept it. I see you as a promising person, and I hope this Heart-Protecting Pill can help you."

Seeing that the old man was determined, Jiang Chuan stopped refusing. He said gratefully, "Thank you, sir. I will definitely repay you if I have the opportunity in the future."

The old man smiled and said, "No need to be so polite, you should go now." Jiang Chuan bowed to the old man, then left with the Nine-Colored Deer and Qing Lin.

As Jiang Chuan braved hardships on his way to Heyang City, in the northern lands, heavy snow fell like goose feathers, adorning the entire world in a silvery white.

Wang Lang, the Grand Marshal of Yan, stood outside the camp in Taozhou, wearing a heavy black cloak. The golden python patterns embroidered on the cloak shimmered with a cold luster under the snow. His brows were furrowed as he looked at the swirling snow and his mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Inside the tent, the fire blazed fiercely, yet it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere that permeated the air.

The strategist Yuan Zhe, dressed in a gray robe, had a thin face but his eyes revealed wisdom and shrewdness. In his hand was an urgent order from Handan, which clearly stated that Wang Lang must break through Hulao Pass within seven days and then head south to Weicheng to quell the rebellion.

"Grand Marshal, this order from Handan is probably not what it seems," Yuan Zhe broke the silence, his voice deep and powerful.

Wang Lang sneered, "How could I not know? They just want to use me to put pressure on Mu Suifeng and force him to stop his attack on Weicheng. Hmph, do they think I'm just a pawn in their game?"

Yuan Zhe nodded slightly. “Your Excellency is wise. If we were to march hastily, the soldiers would suffer heavy casualties in this harsh snowy weather. Moreover, if we so easily obey Handan’s orders, Your Excellency’s prestige in the court would likely be damaged in the future.”

Wang Lang turned around and looked at Yuan Zhe. "What's your opinion?"

Yuan Zhe suggested, “My lord, we might as well delay the march. Weicheng is currently under siege by Mu Suifeng. With Mu Suifeng’s abilities, it’s only a matter of time before Weicheng falls. Once Weicheng is breached, He Zongtang’s forces will be severely damaged, and we can then reap the benefits.”

Wang Lang stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "That's true, but we also need a legitimate reason to delay. Although the snowy weather is good, we can't keep using it forever."

Yuan Zhe smiled slightly, "Don't worry, sir, there will naturally be a reason."

Meanwhile, at Hulao Pass, a figure was quietly leaving.

This person was Ye Xuan. He was agile and quick. If you looked closely, you could see that he exuded an extraordinary aura. This person was the Sword Emperor Xie Xuan in disguise.

As Mu Suifeng's mole planted at Hulao Pass, he shoulders an important mission: to go to Wang Lang's camp and make contact with Wang Lang.

Outside Wang Lang's military camp gate, Yuan Zhe was waiting quietly.

He knew that the person who had arrived today would have a significant impact on the entire situation. A short while later, a figure appeared in the snowstorm—it was Ye Xuan.

Yuan Zhe stepped forward and bowed slightly, "You must be Ye Xuan, the patrol commander of Hulao Pass."

Ye Xuan looked sharply at Yuan Zhe, "It is I, and you are?"

Yuan Zhe said frankly, "I am Yuan Zhe, the strategist of Grand Marshal Wang Lang. I am here today to wait for Commander Ye because I have important matters to discuss."

Ye Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Yuan Zhe to come to greet him personally, and to reveal his identity so directly. "Military Advisor Yuan, what is it? Please speak frankly."

Yuan Zhe looked around and, seeing that no one was approaching, said in a low voice, "Commander Ye, I know the purpose of your visit is simply to ensure that my Grand Marshal will not pose a threat to Lord Mu Suifeng's plans. But I have a suggestion that I hope you will consider."

Ye Xuan frowned slightly. "Oh? Tell me about it."

Yuan Zhe took a deep breath. "Commander Ye, instead of killing my Grand Marshal, let's make an alliance. I can guarantee that my Grand Marshal's army will slow down its southward advance, giving Lord Mu Suifeng enough time to resolve the Weicheng matter."

Ye Xuan was startled. He hadn't expected Yuan Zhe to be so bold as to make such a suggestion directly. "Military Advisor Yuan, are you openly betraying the Yan Kingdom?"

Yuan Zhe quickly waved his hand, "Commander Ye misunderstands. I am doing this for the sake of the overall situation of Yan. The current situation in the Yan court is complicated, with various forces fighting each other. If Yan is severely weakened by this war, it will not benefit anyone. Moreover, my Grand Marshal is also concerned about the people of Yan and does not want them to die in vain in this freezing weather."

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Xuan had to admit that Yuan Zhe's words made some sense.

Moreover, his purpose in coming here was not to take action lightly, but to ascertain Wang Lang's intentions. "Military Advisor Yuan, I can consider your suggestion, but I need a satisfactory answer."

Yuan Zhe was overjoyed. "Commander Ye, please rest assured. As long as you agree to let my Grand Marshal go, we will definitely keep our promise. Moreover, I have another message to tell you, Commander Ye."

Ye Xuan looked at Yuan Zhe, "What news?"

Yuan Zhe lowered his voice, "Yu Youwei in Heyang City has also been plotting something recently. She seems to be colluding with certain forces in the Southern Region, which may also affect Lord Mu Suifeng's plans."

Ye Xuan was shocked; he hadn't expected Yu Youwei to be involved in this conflict. "Strategist Yuan, are you telling the truth?"

Yuan Zhe nodded solemnly, "It's absolutely true. I also learned of this news by chance. I originally intended to inform the Grand Marshal, but now it seems that this news might be more useful to Commander Ye."

Ye Xuan pondered to himself, knowing that the relationship was far more complex than he had imagined.

"Alright, I can let Wang Lang go for now and enter the military camp to await your reply. But if you dare to play any tricks, you will bear the consequences."

Yuan Zhe quickly replied, "Commander Ye, rest assured, we will never break our promise."

Led by Yuan Zhe, Ye Xuan entered Wang Lang's military camp. Inside the tent, Wang Lang was slightly wary upon seeing Ye Xuan enter, but quickly regained his composure.

"Commander Ye, I've long admired your name," Wang Lang said casually.

Ye Xuan cupped his hands slightly, "You're too kind, Grand Marshal. I've come today to discuss some matters with you."

Wang Lang glanced at Yuan Zhe, who nodded slightly. Wang Lang understood that Yuan Zhe had already spoken with Ye Xuan. "Commander Ye, please speak frankly if you have anything to say."

Ye Xuan then repeated Yuan Zhe's suggestion, and then looked at Wang Lang, "Grand Marshal, what do you think?"

After a moment of silence, Wang Lang said, "Commander Ye, I also do not wish to be enemies with Lord Mu Suifeng. This trip south was ordered to do so. Since Military Advisor Yuan has already reached an alliance with you, I will naturally abide by it. But I also hope that Commander Ye can put in a good word for me in front of Lord Mu Suifeng."

Ye Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the mission was temporarily completed. "Rest assured, Grand Marshal, as long as you keep your promise, I will report the truth to Lord Mu Suifeng."

The snowstorm outside the tent showed no signs of stopping, but the atmosphere inside had eased considerably. The three discussed some details and finally reached an agreement.

After Ye Xuan left, Wang Lang looked at Yuan Zhe and asked, "Do you really think we can achieve a long-term cooperation with them?" (End of Chapter)