What Else Could It Be

The view returns to Great Xia.

The Wind and Snow Boat finally docked.

The massive paddle wheels slowly stopped turning, and the splashed water froze into ice shards the moment it touched the frozen soil on the shore.

This place was truly not fit for human habitation.

He glanced back at the woman behind him, who was lifting her skirt and gracefully stepping across the gangplank, feeling a bit of wariness in his heart.

Miss Jiang Yu.

Li Fan rubbed his cold, red hands together, putting on the amiable smile typical of a businessman, and approached her. Just now in the cabin, thanks to your help in smoothing things over, Miss. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known how to get past Master Lin.

These words were half true and half false.

If it really came to blows, he felt his chances of winning weren't small, but his grand plans for the future would be completely ruined.

The origins of this Miss Jiang Yu standing before him were a mystery.

Even though she was clearly just a minor cultivator at the Qi Condensation realm, she could face Lin Shuangxue, a Golden Core realm expert, without changing her expression or skipping a heartbeat, even casually admiring the snow as if nothing was wrong.

The most crucial point was that she had seen a whole room full of...

Those were array materials enough to blow the entire Northern Mang Provincial Governor's Manor sky-high. Yet, she didn't ask a single unnecessary question, and even when Lin Shuangxue made things difficult, she casually diverted the topic with just a few words.

This was very strange.

Jiang Yu stopped walking, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Li Fan's face.

It was just a small effort.

Her voice was very pleasant to the ear, like jade beads falling onto a plate, but her attitude revealed an aloofness that kept people a thousand miles away.

Boss Li doesn't need to test me.

Jiang Yu tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze turning toward the distant, grayish city walls.

What you have stored in that cabin...

What does it have to do with me?

Even if you plan to assassinate the Provincial Governor, that is your own business.

Li Fan's mouth twitched.

Good heavens.

This girl looked delicate and weak, but she spoke even more wildly than he did.

You must be joking, Miss. I am just a dutiful businessman. Li Fan laughed it off, not daring to delve deeper into the conversation.

The more you say, the more mistakes you make.

Since the other party didn't intend to get to the bottom of it, he was happy to play dumb. The most pressing matter was to quickly get this batch of goods into the city and then transport them to the Heavenly Lake.

Time waits for no man.

The seniors on the other side were still fighting desperately. If he dropped the ball here, he would truly become a sinner for all eternity.

The two of them, one after the other, followed the flow of people toward the city gates.

This port in Northern Mang was not large. Because of the harsh weather, there weren't many merchant ships coming and going; most were cargo ships transporting coal and grain.

But at this moment, the city gate was completely blocked.

A group of coolies wearing tattered padded jackets were shrinking their necks, waiting in line for inspection in the biting wind. Each of them was freezing, their noses running, yet they didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.

At the very front of the line, however, a noisy argument could be heard.

It seems there's some kind of problem.

Jiang Yu stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowing slightly.

Li Fan's heart skipped a beat as he pretended to stand on his tiptoes to look inside.

He saw an extremely luxurious carriage parked right in the center of the city gate.

The entire carriage was crafted from warm jade, actually emitting a faint heat in this world of ice and snow. The creatures pulling it were no ordinary horses, but two exotic beasts covered in green scales, the hot air blowing from their nostrils melting the snow on the ground.

Around the carriage stood several guards dressed in brocade robes, each with their noses in the air and faces full of impatience.

Blocking their way on the opposite side was a registration official as skinny as a monkey.

The registration official wore a washed-out official uniform, clutching a credential token in his hand. His lips were purple from the cold, and he was bitterly explaining something to the brocade-robed guards.

Immortal Masters, my lords!

The registration official sniffled, raising the credential token above his head, his voice trembling. You are all exalted figures, please do not make things difficult for this lowly one. Entering Northern Mang requires a credential; this is an absolute rule set by the higher-ups. I am just a gatekeeper, I don't have the guts to let you through privately!

Behind him, the two rows of soldiers responsible for guarding the city also tightened their grips on their long spears, bracing themselves to block the carriage.

Although their calves were cramping and cold sweat was dripping down their foreheads, not a single one of them took half a step back.

Li Fan clicked his tongue in wonder as he watched.

This Northern Mang really was a strange place.

A group of mortal soldiers who hadn't even reached the Foundation Establishment realm actually dared to stop a cultivator's convoy that clearly had a massive background?

Rules?

Beside the carriage, a sinister-looking old man sneered.

With his hands behind his back, his chilling gaze swept over the registration official, as if looking at an ant that didn't know the meaning of death.

My Young Master has traveled all the way here from the Central Tang Province. Whether it was the major sects or those few sacred grounds, when was his path ever not completely unobstructed? When was he not welcomed with open arms?

The old man took a step forward, faintly releasing his oppressive aura, pressing down on the registration official so hard that he couldn't even straighten his back.

What?

Are the rules of this godforsaken, bitterly cold wasteland supposed to be stricter than those of the sacred grounds in the Central Tang Province?

These words were truly vicious.

The surrounding coolies and commoners watching the scene were frightened into retreating, terrified that mortals would suffer when immortals fought.

Li Fan frowned as he listened from behind.

This old man put on quite the overbearing airs.

From the Central Tang Province?

It seemed he was used to throwing his weight around normally, and coming to Northern Mang, he still wanted to put on the same act.

He was just pondering whether to take a detour or think of another way to sneak in.

When he heard that monkey-skinny registration official suddenly speak up.

Well... well, what else would they be?