Xiao Li Eats Ice

Night fell, and the Li residence was brightly lit, with the clinking of cups and the hum of conversation filling the air.

Many of the influential figures who held sway over the Earthly City had gathered around a young man, eager to catch his eye—even if only to secure a fleeting connection.

These martial nobles, though far stronger than the common folk of the human cities, were no different in essence.

Their power, wealth, and status were deeply intertwined with the Celestial Clan.

From the very beginning, their thoughts had been fixed on how to place their bets early, ensuring their families' continued prosperity should the Twelfth Ascendant rise as the new emperor of the Celestial City.

They supported the Celestial Clan, but they also backed Mo City.

No matter which side emerged victorious, they would remain the dominant forces of the Earthly City.

And now, a figure had appeared—one who held a high position in Mo City yet moved effortlessly among the Celestial Clan.

"Nephew Li, I held you in my arms when you were a child—you even peed on my face! The sheer force of it told me you were no ordinary boy."

"Nephew Li, the Jiang family has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with yours through thick and thin. Now that you’re soaring to great heights, you mustn’t forget this old uncle!"

"We may be distant relatives, but why not make our bond even closer starting today?"

"Hmph, so what if you have daughters? My Cheng family has six! Nephew Li, take whichever you fancy—or take them all if you wish!"

"Daughters aren’t special. Nephew Li, do you fancy another man’s wife? I suffered a hidden injury before my wedding—never even consummated the marriage. If you don’t mind..."

"......?"

The conversation was spiraling into absurdity.

Li Mo, who had just raised his cup, coughed and stood up, unwilling to let these family heads continue. Things were already escalating—even clay figurines were being dragged into the mix.

If this kept up, who knew where it would end?

With an air of solemn authority, Li Mo firmly rejected all their offers, steering the gathering back to its intended purpose.

The Celestial City’s military exercises required the Earthly City’s cooperation.

Well, so did Mo City’s rebellion plans.

It had to be said—Little Li had a talent for this. He had the family heads utterly spellbound.

"By the way, Nephew Li, isn’t this a military exercise? Why is there a surrender drill?" asked the family head who had earlier offered his wife.

Li Mo explained, "To act... er, to conduct a full-scale exercise, we must account for all scenarios. Even if Mo City’s chances of victory are slim, they’re not zero."

"If Mo City does ascend to the throne, we must minimize our losses."

"Hedging your bets—isn’t that something you’re all quite familiar with?"

Three sentences, and the family heads had an epiphany.

Right. This wasn’t so different from hedging their bets.

Nephew Li’s foresight was impeccable—no wonder he had thrived undercover in Mo City for so long, not only avoiding exposure but rising to prominence.

They even thanked him.

"A single word from Nephew Li is worth ten years of study!"

"We’ll cooperate, absolutely! War isn’t my forte, but surrendering? I’m an expert."

"Say no more. The noble families of the Earthly City will follow the Li family’s lead. With Nephew Li’s meticulous planning, even if we don’t gain much, at least our lives and fortunes are secure."

"Truth be told, if we unite, our combined strength is formidable. The problem was always our inability to work together. But with Nephew Li guiding us, I believe we can achieve something great!"

"Oh, Nephew Li, are you sure you don’t want a wife?"

Old Li, munching on melon seeds, looked like he had something to say but couldn’t find the words.

If he stayed silent any longer, he’d practically be the same generation as his son.

Damn it—some family heads were already proposing sworn brotherhood, with Li Mo as the elder brother!

Others invited him for all-night discussions, claiming it was to "deepen bonds."

Li Mo declined. He suspected it was just another ploy to foist a wife on him.

So he announced he was returning to Mo City that very night—someone was coming to fetch him.

Those familiar with undercover work knew it was a high-risk profession, especially for double agents.

Thus, the one sent to retrieve him was Mo City’s strongest.

"Does the Ice Block even know where the Li residence is?"

After bidding farewell to his father and being escorted to the gates by the family heads, Li Mo suddenly remembered.

He had forgotten to tell Ying Bing the address.

Fortunately, his worry proved unnecessary.

Before long, a figure emerged from the dimly lit streets, weaving through the bustling crowd while leading a horse.

The woman’s demeanor was cool and detached, her attire modeled after Mo City’s wandering swordsmen—like a lone, aloof heroine of the martial world, effortlessly striking.

She stopped before Li Mo, leading the horse, and said softly, "Let’s go home."

Under the cover of night, she arrived with a horse, embodying the free-spirited wanderer Li Mo had imagined—yet her words called him home.

Meeting her gentle gaze, Li Mo’s heart skipped a beat.

"Are you taking me back on horseback?"

"You’re taking me."

"Huh?"

"I don’t know how to ride."

Li Mo’s brain short-circuited. If she couldn’t ride, how had she gotten to the Earthly City?

As if sensing his confusion, Ying Bing lowered her eyes and said, "I bought it."

"Then get on first. I’ll teach you."

Li Mo swung onto the horse and pulled Ying Bing up after him.

She settled into his lap, her eyes narrowing with quiet delight.

"By the way, earlier I heard something about ‘making bonds even closer.’ How, exactly?"

"Oh, they wanted to swear brotherhood or adopt me as their godfather or something."

At that, the family heads who had proposed marriage alliances or sworn kinship fell silent.

For a moment, they were at a loss for words. They didn’t recognize Ying Bing either, only marveling at her ethereal beauty.

So Li Mo had already found himself a swordswoman in Mo City? And one who couldn’t even ride a horse?

Watching that moonlit, ice-cold beauty melt into Li Mo’s arms like water reflecting the moon...

The family heads assumed she probably knew nothing of martial arts.

"Let’s go. Riding’s easy."

Li Mo nudged the horse’s flanks, and they galloped down the carriage road.

Instead of heading straight for the city gates, he took a detour through the Earthly City’s scenic routes, planning to circle around a few times.

Truth be told, this was his first time sharing a horse with the Ice Block, enjoying the view as they rode.

In the past, they’d always traveled by carriage or somersault cloud.

Horses were troublesome—uncomfortable, jolting with every step. Without martial training, a single trip could leave your bones rattled.

Well, Li Mo had trained now, so the bumps didn’t bother him.

But the jostling brought a new problem.

At first, Ying Bing sat quietly in his lap, but soon she noticed something amiss. She tried shifting forward on the saddle, only to slide back with every bounce.

"Li Mo."

"Yeah?"

"Something bad is hitting me."