A one-sided massacre.
The blindfolded man's injuries grew worse, his entire body, save for the chest cradling the infant, bore no unblemished spot.
*Swoosh.*
Another sword thrust out, aiming for the blindfolded man's back.
If this sword strike landed, it would pierce both the man and the infant.
"Begone."
With his last breath, the blindfolded man shifted his body sideways.
Simultaneously, he flung the infant from his arms, sending it towards Chen Fan's position.
Chen Fan: "..."
"Waaah."
The infant wailed.
The blindfolded man, however, was directly pierced through the heart by the sword.
His breath ceased.
The moment the long sword pierced his heart, its intent had already annihilated everything within him.
*Thud.*
Chen Fan, with a helpless sigh, caught the falling infant.
If he hadn't, the infant would have fallen to its death.
The blindfolded man was dead, yet he still forced himself to turn his head, seeing Chen Fan catch the infant.
He had gambled, betting that Chen Fan wasn't so heartless as to not save an infant.
He had won his bet. Though he didn't know the final outcome, he could do no more. This was all he could manage.
*Boom.*
The blindfolded man's body exploded.
The enemies didn't even wish to leave him a whole corpse.
All eyes turned to Chen Fan, slowly closing in.
Little did they know how speechless Chen Fan was at that moment.
The infant in his arms was tiny and crying its lungs out.
Each cry was like a knife twisting in Chen Fan's heart, causing him sharp pangs.
What the hell was this?
He felt utterly disturbed.
But seeing the infant cry so pitifully, Chen Fan finally suppressed the annoyance in his heart and spoke softly, "Alright, stop crying."
He said it casually.
Who would have thought, the infant seemed to understand and actually stopped crying.
"Giggle."
The infant giggled.
Its fair, tender face bloomed like a flower, dispelling the annoyance in Chen Fan's heart as well. He smiled from the bottom of his heart.
He was infected by the infant's innocence.
"So cute."
Chen Fan lightly scraped the infant's face with his finger.
"Hehehe."
The infant giggled even more happily.
Accompanied by the infant's innocent laughter, Chen Fan's playful mood was stirred, and he began playing with the little one, lost in their own world.
"Friend."
Finally, someone interrupted their play: "Please return our young master."
Chen Fan looked up, meeting the speaker's gaze, a brilliant smile on his face. "This is your young master?"
"Yes."
The man in black nodded affirmatively. "The young master was abducted by villains, and we are here to rescue him."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"I don't think so."
"Hm?"
"Look."
Chen Fan felt it necessary to educate them on common sense. "The sword you just thrust towards the blindfolded man's back didn't consider your young master's life at all. In other words, you intended to kill both the young master and that man."
The man in black froze, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
But then, he suppressed the murderous intent and explained, "It was a moment's lapse in judgment. Moreover, I was certain that man wouldn't let the young master get hurt, hence the use of such a tactic."
If Chen Fan believed this explanation, he'd be an idiot.
Shaking his head, "I'm sorry, I cannot hand over the infant. However, since I've accepted the infant, I have also accepted this karma. Tell me your address, and I will personally deliver the infant."
"...Are you sure?"
"Mhm."
Of course, he was sure.
The men in black exchanged glances, seeing the joy in each other's eyes.
Then, they nodded, "Alright, then come back to Piao Xue Pavilion with us."
Piao Xue Pavilion?
Mhm, he had the address.
Chen Fan stood up. "Then there's no need to trouble you. Piao Xue Pavilion, is it? I'll deliver it myself."
At this moment, the men in black realized they had made a slip.
"Kill."
If you won't hand over the person, then die.
Over ten men in black immediately unleashed their sword techniques.
Sword light filled the air, forming a great array that descended, suppressing Chen Fan.
*Clang.*
The same sword chime, yet far more piercing.
A single sword strike tore through the sky, transforming into a radiant sun.
*Boom.*
All the descending sword lights shattered.
Sword intent scattered, annihilating everything.
"Ah..."
Shrill screams echoed incessantly.
Everyone was pierced through by the sword intent.
Whether these people deserved to die, Chen Fan couldn't care less.
Having chosen to act, they should have been prepared to be killed.
Death was the ultimate destination.
One sword, total annihilation.
"Little cutie, let's go home."
Chen Fan's childlike spirit was piqued as he teased the infant and walked away.
Where was Piao Xue Pavilion?
Oh, he needed to ask for directions again.
Honestly, he hadn't done anything upon arriving here except ask for directions.
This time, without any further incidents, he found a normal person and learned the direction and location of Piao Xue Pavilion.
Snow City.
The Immortal Realm was divided into five continents, governed by five Heavenly Emperors.
The ruler of the Eastern Continent was the Azure Emperor, who was said to have not emerged for hundreds of thousands of years.
This matter would be set aside for now.
Beneath the Eastern Continent, aside from Mount Kunlun where the Imperial Palace resided, the land was divided among various major powers, governing the entire Eastern Territory.
The Endless Fire Domain and Dragon Tiger Mountain were two such major powers that governed the world.
Piao Xue Pavilion, however, was a level lower, under the jurisdiction of Dragon Tiger Mountain, situated within Snow City and responsible for its governance.
Traveling northwards, as he felt the temperature drop, Chen Fan knew he was close.
Ahead, the land was covered in ice and snow, a vast expanse of white.
At the end of the ice and snow lay a city of frost, rising abruptly from the ground.
This city was entirely constructed from ice. The closer one got, the more intensely the cold was felt.
Towering ice walls stood firm, and the city gates were wide open.
Cultivators constantly emerged and entered the city.
This was a haven for ice and snow cultivators. Despite the cold, the place was far from deserted.
They moved through the wind and snow, cultivating at all times, enjoying the pleasure brought by the ice and snow.
*Crack.*
Two ice spears blocked Chen Fan. "Who goes there?"
"Hm?"
Chen Fan asked, puzzled, "Others enter and leave the city unhindered, why are you stopping me?"
The warrior clad in ice armor wore a cold expression. "All strangers entering the city must register before they are permitted entry."
Oh, registration.
"Certainly."
He wrote 'Han Ye' on the booklet handed to him by the warrior, then closed it and returned it.
The spears were moved aside, and Chen Fan walked in.
The warrior casually set the booklet aside. A cold gust of wind blew, stirring the registration book.
"Huh?"
The warrior, who had intended to place the book down properly, suddenly froze as he reached for it.
The position where the wind had flipped the pages, the neatly written characters 'Han Ye', caused the warrior's pupils to contract.
"What's wrong?" another warrior asked, looking over in confusion.
"Han, Han, Han..."
"Are you cold?"
"No..."
The registering warrior quickly picked up the booklet, handed it to his comrade, and pointed in the direction Chen Fan had gone. "Han Ye, his registered name is Han Ye."
"Holy crap."
This name caused both of them to shiver.
The most mysterious hermit of the Eastern Continent, Han Ye, had entered Snow City in person.
What for?
Was he on a mission?
Or... was he going to kill someone?