Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

On a winter morning, the wind was biting and icy, piercing the bone marrow. Yet, despite the freezing temperature, the weather was exceptionally clear and bright. Li Ruoyue slowly awoke in the faint, gentle glow of dawn. She blearily rose from her warm bed, donned a thick cotton coat, and strolled out into the courtyard.

At this moment, the sun was slowly rising from the east, its light gradually spreading across the earth, bringing a touch of warmth and hope to this cold world. Li Ruoyue stood quietly in the center of the courtyard, watching the red sun slowly climb higher, its golden sunlight gently covering the earth like a layer of gauze.

Today's sky was unusually azure, cloudless, like a vast sapphire, immaculately clean and spotless by the water. This pure, deep blue was refreshing, yet also highlighted the dryness and chill of the air outside. The chill felt like countless tiny ice needles, constantly pricking our skin and causing us to shiver uncontrollably.

Miss Li Zhu also hurried to the yard. Seeing Li Ruoyue already standing there, she hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Miss, it's so cold today. Do we still want to go out?" Li Ruoyue nodded without hesitation and answered firmly, "Of course we should go out!" Just as the two were talking, the other two accompanying personnel also came out one after another. They stood aside silently, waiting for Li Ruoyue to give the order to set off.

Seeing that all the soldiers were up and ready, Li Ruoye turned to Captain Qin and said, "Captain Qin, everyone, get ready. After you've eaten something to replenish your energy, we'll quickly head to the next safe house." Captain Qin nodded slightly in agreement. Then everyone bustled around, preparing for the next leg of the journey.

In the early morning, sunlight filtered through the shabby windows of the government office, casting patches of light and shadow on the ground. Li Ruoyue, Captain Qin, and the other team members gathered around a simple wooden table, where several bowls of steaming breakfast were placed. Although the breakfast was simple, it exuded a tempting aroma.

The wild vegetables and mushrooms in the bowls were meticulously cooked, blending with the multi-grain porridge, creating a simple yet warm atmosphere. Everyone picked up their bowls and chopsticks and began to dig in with hearty mouthfuls. The warm food slid down their throats and into their stomachs, sending a warm current through their bodies, bringing a feeling of immense comfort and satisfying hunger.

After a short while, everyone quickly finished their meal. They quickly stood up, cleared away their dishes, and prepared to head to the next safe house. Li Ruoyue and Captain Qin mounted their horses, and the others followed closely behind. The clatter of horse hooves shattered the morning tranquility.

The group galloped along the road, the trees on either side standing silently like rows of loyal guards. As the horses advanced, the trees retreated, as if to see them off. At this moment, a cold wind blew through the air, like sharp icicles, piercing the people's faces.

However, for Li Ruoyue, the cold wouldn't deter her. Having trained in martial arts with her master since childhood, she had never been overly pampered. Whether it was the mundane chores of life or the arduous training, she insisted on doing everything herself. So, faced with the biting wind, Li Ruoyue simply frowned slightly, wrapped her cloak tightly around her, and rode on. So did Luzhu beside her. They encouraged each other, braving the chill together. Despite the fierce wind, Li Ruoyue, Luzhu, and the others firmly believed that as long as they persevered, they would reach the next safe house.

Li Ruoyue and her companions stared intently at the map in their hands, their eyes eager and focused. Before long, they had successfully reached the outskirts of the village. A cold wind howled past, making everyone shiver, but they didn't stop.

In the distance, a relatively large house appeared before them. It stood alone, like a beacon of light in the wilderness. Wisps of smoke curled from the chimney, slowly drifting through the air, bringing with them a faint scent of fireworks. The smoke seemed to possess a life of its own, dancing gently and spreading into the distance.

Despite the distance, the warmth and tranquility emanating from the house seemed to penetrate the space and reach people's hearts. From a distance, the house looked like a quiet painting, peaceful and beautiful, which made people yearn for it.

Li Ruoyue pointed at the large house emitting green smoke, then turned to Daoist Master Qin and shouted, "Daoist Master Qin, look! I think that must be the safe house we're looking for! If we just quicken our pace, we'll be there soon! Once we're inside, we can warm up."

Captain Qin looked in the direction Li Ruoyue pointed, thought for a moment, and nodded, agreeing with her. He turned to the tired-looking soldiers behind him and shouted encouragement, "Brothers, keep going! Our destination isn't far away! Once we get there, we'll have hot water to drink and a good rest!"

Hearing Captain Qin's inspiring words, the soldiers' previously heavy steps suddenly became lighter. Supporting each other, they marched forward with resolute steps, their hearts filled with a longing for warmth and safety.

Before long, they arrived near the safe house. Before they even entered, they saw several young men hurried out of the house. The one walking in front was a sturdy man who looked to be in his prime. He walked quickly towards Li Ruoyue and the others and said, "Sir, it's so cold, why are you here? I wonder if there is anything you want to tell me?" Upon hearing this, Captain Qin hurried forward to explain, "This is Doctor Li next to me. I'm here to check if anyone is sick or not.

"At this time, the middle-aged man in the crowd stepped forward and introduced himself: "Hello, Doctor Li, I am the village chief of this village. My surname is Zhou, you can just call me Village Chief Zhou. Most people in our village have the surname Zhou, and they are more or less related to each other. However, there are also a few families from outside, but after all, the majority are still relatives from our own clan." After that, Village Chief Zhou warmly invited everyone to go into the house.

The group followed closely behind Village Chief Zhou and slowly entered the safe house. As soon as they entered, a warm breeze blew in, gently caressing Li Ruoyue and the others like a mother's warm embrace, instantly dispelling the slight chill brought on by their long journey and making everyone feel a surge of warmth flowing through their bodies.

The heat seemed to have a magical power, melting away the cold and fatigue they had accumulated along the way. Although the chill brought by the long journey had not yet completely dissipated, it was now almost gone under the heat wave of the safe house.

Needless to say, the warm breeze alone made it clear that this safe house was incredibly cozy. Li Ruoyue and the others stepped inside, and instantly felt countless gazes directed at them. These gazes came from the people inside, their expressions slightly gloomy, yet the curiosity and attention revealed in those eyes was unconcealable. Those eyes constantly scrutinized Li Ruoyue and her group's every move, as if trying to penetrate their innermost secrets through superficial appearances.

Li Ruoyue gathered herself and began to look around. She noticed that although the room was packed with people, there wasn't a nauseating odor. Instead, the air was filled with a light, fresh scent, clearly indicating that the place was well-maintained. Looking at the people inside, though thin, each one gleamed with a resilient glint in their eyes, appearing exceptionally energetic.

Li Ruoyue nodded secretly, and couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration for Village Chief Zhou. It seemed that he managed this place quite well. Maintaining such a relatively clean, orderly, and vibrant living place in such a difficult environment was truly not easy.

Li Ruoyue looked at Village Chief Zhou with a smile and said sincerely: "Village Chief Zhou, you have managed our place in such an orderly manner! Look at the surroundings, so neat and tidy, so spotless, it makes people feel refreshed!" As she spoke, she looked around, her eyes full of admiration.

After hearing this, Village Chief Zhou quickly waved his hand and responded modestly: "Oh, Miss Li, you are too kind. How can you say it so well! I just think that only by maintaining a clean and sanitary environment can we avoid people getting sick as much as possible. After all, diseases come from the mouth. If the environment is not good, various bacteria and viruses will easily breed and spread, and then it will be us ordinary people who will suffer. So I thought about arranging some people to clean up every day, so that everyone can live more comfortably. But I really didn't think too much about it at the beginning. I simply didn't want a whole family to smell those messy and smelly smells all day long. Just think about it, if people are surrounded by those strange smells all day long, how uncomfortable they will be!" At this point, Village Chief Zhou shook his head helplessly.

Then he continued, "Don't worry if you laugh at me, I am indeed a bit of a mysophobia. I can't stand dirty things and messy scenes. My wife always nags me about this, saying that I am too particular. But after hearing what you said today, I am completely relieved! It seems that my habit of cleanliness is not only right, but also good for everyone's health! I have to stick to it in the future and strive to make our village more and more livable." After saying this, Village Chief Zhou laughed heartily.