Kylin Eats Ice Cream Without Spitting Out the Stick

Chen Feng stepped into the Kunlun Mountains once again.

As he emerged from the mist that shrouded the mountain pass, his vision cleared, revealing a lush expanse of greenery—a stark contrast to the icy, snow-covered world outside.

Even the temperature had risen by several degrees, forcing Chen Feng to shed his down-free down jacket.

At the same moment,

the Yaochi (Jade Pool) began to glow once more.

The Mystic Tortoise and the Spirit Crane, previously resting with their eyes closed,

were startled awake by the pool's radiance.

They peered into the Everlasting Spring,

where the mountain’s soul and water’s essence had once again taken the form of Chen Feng.

This time, he was laden with bags, making his way deeper into the Kunlun Mountains.

The Mystic Tortoise chuckled softly.

"This human is quite interesting—returning so soon."

"In thousands of years, aside from Zhang Bowen, he’s the only one who’s entered Kunlun this many times."

The Spirit Crane also watched Chen Feng’s figure with keen interest.

By the time dawn broke,

the Spirit Crane flapped its wings and shot into the sky like an arrow.

At the summit of Jade Peak,

Gu Qianqian was unwrapping a snack while chatting with the Qilin.

"I counted the remaining snacks yesterday," she said.

"If I eat one pack a day, they’ll last me another month."

The Qilin gazed eagerly at the chocolate biscuit in her hand.

Suddenly, it raised its head, sensing the approaching Spirit Crane.

Noticing the arrival, Qianqian activated the Seven Absolute Zither technique, lightly plucking a string beside her.

The soundwave rippled outward,

instantly mapping the contours of everything atop Jade Peak into her mind through her ears.

The vibrations acted like her hands, brushing against every object in the vicinity.

The Spirit Crane, too, eyed the chocolate biscuit curiously,

noticing the Qilin’s apparent fascination with it.

"Spirit Crane," Gu Qianqian asked, "have you come to listen to me play the zither?"

The crane replied,

"Your master has entered Kunlun again."

Gu Qianqian immediately sprang to her feet, delighted.

"Really? That’s wonderful!"

"Master must have brought me more gifts!"

"Qilin, take me to the herb garden—I need to pick some medicinal plants for him!"

With that, the Qilin carried her away.

The Spirit Crane glanced at the biscuit left on the ground,

picked up a piece with its beak,

and crunched down.

A subtle roasted aroma and overwhelming sweetness filled its mouth.

Its eyes brightened in surprise.

"No wonder even the proud and picky Qilin is drawn to this."

Meanwhile, as Chen Feng hurried along the mountain path,

a streak of lightning flashed across the sky.

He knew it was Qianqian and the Qilin.

Yet he still couldn’t figure out

how they always knew of his arrival.

"Does the Qilin have some hidden ability?"

Soon, the Qilin landed on a clearing ahead of him,

opened its maw, and spat out Gu Qianqian.

Honestly,

Chen Feng had never quite gotten used to this entrance.

"Aren’t you afraid the Qilin might accidentally swallow you one day?"

The moment she emerged, Qianqian called out,

"Master! I didn’t expect you back so soon!"

"Did you bring me that icy popsicle?"

Chen Feng grinned.

"Of course I did!"

He set down his belongings and opened the large cooler filled with popsicles.

Gu Qianqian turned her head toward the sound,

but her brows furrowed slightly.

Her dull, sightless eyes seemed to dim with sorrow.

She could sense it—the small black spot on her master’s body had grown a little larger.

It reminded her of the same feeling

she’d had with her little companions in the valley before.

As time passes, the pure white that once symbolized kindness gradually begins to show dark spots.

These spots slowly expand.

In the end, one might become just like their parents—

half black, half white, like a yin-yang symbol.

Or like Zhang Bowen,

where darkness gains the upper hand.

Noticing Gu Qianqian suddenly zoning out,

Chen Feng asked curiously,

"Qianqian, what's wrong?"

Gu Qianqian didn’t hide it and replied directly,

"Master, the dark spots on you have grown larger."

"Do you harbor hatred in your heart?"

"I’m afraid you’ll end up like Zhang Bowen—consumed by resentment,"

"until the pure white of kindness is eroded by the darkness of malice,"

"and you become a bad person in the end."

Chen Feng was momentarily stunned.

His mind raced with thoughts.

Hatred?

He didn’t really feel any.

To Chen Feng,

there was no one in this world he truly hated.

Even Xiao Ruohan—at most, he merely disliked her.

As for the cruel Zhang Bowen, it wasn’t hatred, just anger.

He did hold some enmity toward the enemies of the Western Continent,

but by now, those people had likely perished in Kunlun Mountain.

Chen Feng knew Qianqian wouldn’t be mistaken.

This meant something within him had shifted,

even if he hadn’t noticed it himself.

Looking back on recent days,

the biggest change had come from his journey to Kunlun Mountain.

He had witnessed so many of his comrades fall.

And after returning,

Xiao Ruohan, that ungrateful wretch, kept provoking him.

Chen Feng realized his mindset had inevitably changed.

In the past, when he was weak,

he had been cautious in everything,

unable to even bring himself to kill those who sought his life.

But now, with greater strength

and the trials of Kunlun’s awakening behind him,

Chen Feng found himself less willing to tolerate things.

Mercy and patience felt meaningless.

When faced with conflict, he only wanted to cut through it swiftly—

decisive and ruthless.

He no longer felt any sympathy for his enemies.

Perhaps his youthful idealism had died.

His principles as a person had shifted along with his growing power.

Seeing her master lost in thought for so long,

Gu Qianqian quickly reassured him,

"Master, you don’t need to worry too much."

"I believe you’ll never become someone like Zhang Bowen."

Chen Feng snapped out of his reverie

and pushed the matter aside.

He unwrapped a milk pudding popsicle,

placed the wooden stick in Qianqian’s hand, and said,

"This is ice cream. Take small bites—it’s very cold!"

Even before tasting it, Gu Qianqian felt a chill.

Kunlun Mountain, isolated from the world, was eternally spring-like, rich with spiritual energy.

It had never seen snow.

The ancient clans there didn’t even know what snow was.

But they were familiar with ice.

In the Four Symbols Chasm, the Vermilion Bird Pond was always lined with ice sculptures.

Gu Qianqian took a careful bite.

Cold, creamy, and sweet.

"Wow!"

"There’s actually something this delicious in the world!"

"Qilin, try it!"

She held out the popsicle,

and the qilin unceremoniously swallowed it whole.

To the massive beast, a tiny milk pudding popsicle

was like a single sunflower seed—barely noticeable.

But it could still taste the icy, milky sweetness.

Chen Feng opened the insulated box again,

handing Gu Qianqian a cone.

Then he unwrapped a red bean chocolate one for himself

and offered it to the qilin.

Qilin hesitated for a brief moment before opening its mouth and swallowing the ice cream stick held in Chen Feng's hand.

It was then that Chen Feng noticed something peculiar.

Qilin didn't spit out the stick after eating the ice cream.