Chapter 1 Going, Just Like That

Without hesitation, Ma Xiaoyao knew that there was an Eagle's Nest near Zhaoyuan Village.

Outside Zhaoyuan Village was Crane Child Mountain. Legend had it that someone had seen cranes and immortals in the mountain, hence the name Crane Child Mountain.

For children growing up at the foot of the mountain, the mountains were their most natural playground, offering not only plenty of fun but also being economical. With their own food and water, they could play all day long.

Therefore, Ma Xiaoyao was naturally familiar with Crane Child Mountain, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he knew it like the back of his hand, because every inch of the mountain had been imprinted with his footprints.

Leaving the dilapidated temple at the entrance of the village and heading west, one would come to a large river. It was now deep winter, and the river surface had long been covered with thick ice.

Across the river, the continuous and magnificent Crane Child Mountains rose abruptly.

There was a mountain col in Crane Child Mountain, named Eagle Beak Col because it resembled an eagle's beak. One side of Eagle Beak Col was a steep mountain slope, with a mountain road stretching several kilometers, winding tortuously to the top of the mountain.

On the other side of the mountain col was a precipitous cliff, with a cliff of hundreds of meters high standing like a masterpiece of nature.

And the Eagle's Nest that Ma Xiaoyao was looking for was built on this cliff.

Walking on the ice, the snow was still falling, and it was getting heavier and heavier. Looking at the Crane Child Mountain draped in a white coat by the heavy snow, Ma Xiaoyao couldn't help but sigh.

"It's really a case of when it rains, it pours. How could I run into such terrible weather!"

The mountain road was already difficult to walk, and with an extra layer of snow, the difficulty coefficient increased a lot. However, since he had already made up his mind, Ma Xiaoyao never thought of retreating.

"Master... add oil!" At this moment, a crisp voice came from Ma Xiaoyao's side.

Ma Xiaoyao turned his head and saw Xue Ji (Snow Princess) raising her small fist to cheer him on. This had become her signature move.

Ma Xiaoyao felt a warmth in his heart. Xue Ji's encouragement made him feel that he was not alone in the battle. At this moment, he really wanted to hug Xue Ji's petite body, but considering her ice and snow attribute, Ma Xiaoyao immediately dismissed the idea.

This terrible weather was already cold enough. Holding Xue Ji now was like holding another block of ice.

The Old Wine Ghost had been floating beside Ma Xiaoyao, with an unfathomable smile on his face.

Although Ma Xiaoyao knew that the Old Wine Ghost was by his side, he could not see him without the mobile phone camera.

It was ten o'clock at night, and the reason why Ma Xiaoyao chose to enter the mountain now instead of waiting until dawn was because Crane Child Mountain was too big.

If he waited until dawn to set off, he would probably not reach Eagle Beak Col until two or three o'clock in the afternoon. In winter, it gets dark early, and it would be completely dark around four o'clock. By then, it would be even more difficult for him to get down to the location of the Eagle's Nest.

But if he set off now, he would be able to reach Eagle Beak Col by dawn.

His idea was good, but as soon as Ma Xiaoyao entered the mountain, he began to complain incessantly. It was too cold.

The temperature was already low, but it was even colder in the mountains. The mountain wind howled, almost ignoring the thin clothes on Ma Xiaoyao's body.

This feeling made Ma Xiaoyao feel as if he was streaking in the snow.

Ma Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and quickened his pace. Speeding up would allow him to reach Eagle Beak Col earlier, and it would also generate more heat, allowing him to resist the cold.

In the vast mountains, Ma Xiaoyao trudged alone. The mountain wind whistled past, and snowflakes swirled and danced, but these were not romantic at all for Ma Xiaoyao at this moment. Instead, it was like a group of demons dancing wildly.

Two hours later, the young man's stubbornness supported Ma Xiaoyao to continue moving forward, but at this moment, he had reached the edge of being willing but unable. He felt that his feet were as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and he was about to lose consciousness.

"It's too damn cold!" Ma Xiaoyao cursed fiercely, but in his heart, he was thinking, persevere, just persevere for a while, and it will be fine. He had already completed a quarter of the journey.

"This silly boy, doing things entirely on a whim, without using his brain at all!" At this moment, the Old Wine Ghost shook his head and said, not knowing whether he was praising or scolding Ma Xiaoyao.

"Hmph!" Xue Ji, who was walking in front, turned her head and glared at the Old Wine Ghost in dissatisfaction, and said angrily: "Isn't it because you're greedy?"

The Old Wine Ghost awkwardly stroked his beard, and forcibly defended himself: "Hehe, I'm just trying to test him. So far, this little guy is doing pretty well!"

"Hmph." Xue Ji still snorted in dissatisfaction. She felt really sorry for Ma Xiaoyao's hard work, but she couldn't help him, so she had to turn her distress into dissatisfaction with the Old Wine Ghost.

The Old Wine Ghost seemed to realize that Ma Xiaoyao would definitely not last long if this continued, so he said with a smile, "You let him stop first, I have something to say to him."

After hearing the Old Wine Ghost's words, Xue Ji's eyes lit up, and then she pulled on the corner of Ma Xiaoyao's clothes and told him that the Old Wine Ghost had something to say to him.

Ma Xiaoyao was already on the verge of collapse at this moment, as if even his brain nerves had been frozen. After reacting for a few seconds, he tremblingly took out his mobile phone and pointed the camera at the location where the Old Wine Ghost was.

"What's the matter?"

No emotions could be heard from Ma Xiaoyao's tone, but the Old Wine Ghost could clearly feel that this kid was full of resentment!

Nonsense, who wouldn't be resentful if this happened to them!

"Cough cough." The Old Wine Ghost cleared his throat and said pretentiously: "Young man, how is it? Do you want to give up?"

Ma Xiaoyao's eyelids moved, as if he rolled his eyes at the Old Wine Ghost, and then answered the Old Wine Ghost's question with a gesture. He raised his middle finger at the Old Wine Ghost!

The Old Wine Ghost naturally understood what this universal gesture meant, and his old face immediately turned red, and he self-critically said: "Could it be that I really went too far?"

Ma Xiaoyao and Xue Ji nodded in unison.

"Okay." The Old Wine Ghost said with a smile: "I was wrong, it's all my fault. To express my apology, I want to give you a treasure."

As soon as he heard the word "treasure", Ma Xiaoyao's eyes lit up immediately. Several things immediately flashed through his mind: a charcoal brazier, a dog fur hat, a sheepskin coat, a hot water bottle, a warmer baby... In short, everything that could make him feel warm was a treasure now!

Then he saw the Old Wine Ghost rummaging through his tattered clothes. In Ma Xiaoyao's expectant gaze, the Old Wine Ghost finally took out an ancient book with a tattered cover from his clothes.

Ma Xiaoyao immediately felt very desperate. What's the use of a broken book? Did he want him to use it to make a fire to keep warm?