The north wind howls, and downy snow dances in the wind.

    Above the high mountains, two figures tread through the snow, one in front and one behind, leaving rows of footprints of unequal sizes.

    "Brother, you need to move faster."

    The young girl ahead turned her head and looked back at the giant, whose height was over a zhang.

    A mess of fluffy noodle-like long hair, a fierce and menacing facial expression, and a primitive large sword slung over his back.

    "Master has been on his journey for so long, if we don't hurry up, we won't be able to catch up."

    Zhao Qingling's face showed an anxious expression.

    After capturing the Sworn Moon Alliance's patriarch position, she brought her eldest brother Zhao Hu along with her all the way south to find Chen Mo. However, when they arrived at the capital, they heard that he had already departed for Miao State.

    To follow the young master, Zhao Qingling set out on a journey again with Zhao Hu.

    Traveling westward, they climbed over the high mountains along the border of Central State, and unconsciously found themselves in this snowy mountain range.

    However, at this crucial moment, she lost her way.

    After being transformed into a beast, Zhao Hu's brain was not very sharp, and he couldn't even speak clearly. Let alone recognizing the way; he could only obediently follow Zhao Qingling.

    The brother and sister duo wandered in this snowy mountain range for one day and night, but they still couldn't find the right path, and they didn't even see any human shadows.

    Zhao Qingling raised an eyebrow, her face grew slightly grim. At that moment, her brother's massive frame stiffened beside her, and his head suddenly turned in a certain direction, staring blankly at something unmoving.

    "What's wrong?"

    Zhao Qingling curiously asked, glancing at the direction that Zhao Hu was looking, she saw a weak figure walking in the wind and snow.

    "There is someone…"

    Zhao Qingling's watery eyes blinked, and her expression lit up suddenly. "Brother, we can't let him go. We can ask him for... directions."

    Zhao Qingling's words weren't even finished when Zhao Hu suddenly shook with a fierce roar, like a wild beast. Then he rushed out in a flash.

    Within a few breaths, Zhao Hu had already rushed to the man in front of him, and he raised his massive fist high, then suddenly brought it down with full force on the man.

    "What is this thing?"

    This sudden scene startled the woman in the wind and snow, and she unconsciously retreated two steps, then raised her hand to counterattack.

    Just as she was about to strike, Zhao Qingling's warning voice echoed, "Brother, stop. We are not here to fight her but to ask for directions."

    Hearing her words, Zhao Hu immediately stopped his actions, and the woman who was frightened also heaved a sigh of relief. She looked up at Zhao Hu and exclaimed in surprise, "How did you get here?"

    "Hey? You're... Dream Girl?"

    Zhao Qingling hurriedly ran from behind Zhao Hu to catch up, seeing the stunned woman, she recognized her identity at a glance. It was Qiu Ruo Meng, who had accompanied Chen Mo in Yongzhou before.

    Qiu Ruo Meng's expression was one of surprise. She stared at the two for a moment, knowing Zhao Hu wasn't very bright, and turned her gaze to Zhao Qingling, "Miss Zhao, how did you two end up here?"

    "I remember Chen Gentleman didn't let you guys stay in the North Border of Yu State."

    "This..."

    Zhao Qingling awkwardly scratched her head, "Master did say that, but we haven't seen Master for a long time, so..."

    "Right, Dream Girl, you shouldn't be in Jiugan City. How did you end up here?"

    "Hmm..."

    Qiu Ruo Meng stammered, unable to give a clear explanation at first.

    It wouldn't be appropriate to tell Zhao Qingling that she was following Chen Mo.

    Zhao Qingling, who had been alive for many years, was not a fool. She immediately guessed some things, "Are you also here to follow the young master?"

    "Well, sort of."

    Qiu Ruo Meng was startled, then she helplessly smiled.

    "Why... Oh~I understand."

    Zhao Qingling's eyebrows arched, and she smiled faintly with a curve on her lips.

    What are you understanding... Qiu Ruo Meng widened her eyes, full of curiosity, "Miss Zhao, you didn't misunderstand something, did you?"

    "Huh, Dream Girl, don't worry. I know. Master's charm is indeed great; he's handsome and gentle. You liking him isn't anything to be ashamed of. Back in the day, I also... ahem, but, you don't have to follow him all the way here to this place, either."

    Zhao Qingling smiled and said.

    She was truly misunderstood... Qiu Ruo Meng frowned slightly inwardly and was about to explain, "It's not what you think..."

    Zhao Qingling waved her hand lightly. "There's no need to explain to me. Explanation is just covering up. If you don't like the young master, then why did you follow him?"

    "Hmm..."

    "See? You just like my young master"

    "I..."

    "Alright, alright, don't worry. I won't tell the young master. Hey, which young girl doesn't have romantic dreams? I understand, I understand"

    "You..."

    Zhao Qingling spoke very quickly. Qiu Ruo Meng wanted to explain, but she couldn't find a chance. Even if she did, she didn't know how to explain.

    Saying she came to track Chen Mo? That would be worse, making her seem like a lovesick woman who couldn't get what she wanted.

    "Well, we've been traveling for a while now, but we haven't seen Master at all. Dream Girl, do you know where Master has gone?"

    Zhao Qingling's tone changed, turning curious.

    Qiu Ruo Meng didn't bother to explain anymore since it couldn't be clarified.

    "I too have been traveling along the way, but lost track... ahem, couldn't find him anymore."

    "Well, since we haven't found him anywhere, we might as well head straight for Miao State."

    Zhao Qingling thought for a moment. Since Miao State was to the west, as long as they continued westward, crossed Central State, and arrived in Miao State, they would naturally find someone.

    "That won't do."

    Qiu Ruo Meng shook her head gently, "Central State is too vast, and with your two people's speed, it may take a month to reach Miao State."

    "How could that be?"

    Zhao Qingling furrowed her brow slightly, took out a map of the Nine States from her bosom, and pointed to the small circle within the large circle, "Among the Nine States, Central State is the smallest, though it covers the longest distance. But it should still be faster than the other states. We only took a few days to cross Yu State; how could it take a month to get here in Central State?"

    Qiu Ruo Meng laughed softly, "Were you buying the map when you bought the Central State map separately?"

    Zhao Qingling nodded.

    "That's right. Central State is different from the other eight states. Although it's surrounded by the other eight states and appears smaller than any of them, in reality, it's actually larger than the combined area of the other eight states."

    Qiu Ruo Meng pointed to the outer circle of the map, "In reality, Central State extends to this point, but because of some restrictions, it's compressed into the small circle within."

    Zhao Qingling stared in confusion, tilting her head awkwardly. She had never heard of these things.

    Qiu Ruo Meng sighed and smiled helplessly, "When you came to Central State over the mountains, did you notice anything unusual?"

    Zhao Qingling pondered carefully, "There seems to be a natural barrier between Yu State and Central State, like some kind of boundary."

    "That's right. This so-called boundary is some kind of rule, and Central State can be considered a secret realm. Once you cross the boundary, it becomes another world."

    "Secret realm, have you ever been there?"

    Zhao Qingling nodded slightly, the so-called secret realm is the world beyond the rules. Sometimes, a narrow cave can be just that, but as soon as you step inside, it becomes another world.

    "I guess, by the time you cross Central State, Master has already returned."

    "Why is that?"

    Zhao Qingling was puzzled. She and Zhao Hu were traveling the same way, but Zhao Hu was a second-class warrior, with much faster footwork than Chen Mo. She didn't believe she couldn't catch up with him.

    "If we are to cross over, going south from Yu State to Qing State and taking a detour outside is much closer than crossing Central State. However, Master Chen didn't choose Qing State but Central State because there is a transfer formation within Central State that can transfer from this area to the nearest place in Miao State."

    Qiu Ruo Meng had lived in Central State for many years, and she knew about it much more than Zhao Qingling.

    Zhao Qingling's eyes brightened, "Where can we find the transfer formation?"

    Qiu Ruo Meng thought for a moment and then spoke seriously, "The nearest place is the Cangxue Town. I reckon Master Chen is also there in the Cangxue Town."