1094 By The Lake I (2/2)

The indifference on her face finally gave away to irritation and finally to frustration.

With a smack, she dropped her hand on the abacus, messing up the barely formed pattern. Her messy hair fluttered around her cheeks. ”We will meet,” she said.

After a brief silence, Ning Que asked, ”Is there a chance?”

”No,” Sangsang replied shortly.

He had asked what was the probability of defeating the Abbey Dean if both of them joined forces.

Sangsang's answer was very clear and concise. There was no chance at all.

This time Ning Que was silent for a long time. ”Is there an alternative route?”

”No,” answered Sangsang.

After hearing the word ”no” twice in a row, Ning Que did not doubt her judgment. He dismounted from the horse without hesitation, tugged on the reins and led them into the mountains. ”Let's try to hide first.”

Hearing his solution, Sangsang raised her eyebrows, displeased.

I am Haotian! How could I hide because of a mere human? Not to mention that the human used to be her pet dog. In fact, she had been hiding in the Snow Sea for a long time, but at that time she was able to remain steadfast. Now, it was difficult to do so, but she did not want to appear weak in front of Ning Que or show that she needed his protection.

Her hand rested on her stomach by instinct and she remained silent.

Ning Que did not know that at such a moment, she was still thinking of those nonsense. He quickly led the horse into the mountains until they came across a freezing lake surrounded by pine trees.

”Here.”

From here, they could see Helan City, which was actually quite a distance from here. In contrast, this place could hardly be seen from the outside world.

Sangsang waved her leather sewn sleeve. A light flashed by in a blink of an eye followed by a breath of nature that appeared and then disappeared.

Ning Que did not sense anything unusual, but he knew that she had opened up her own world. This cold lake, himself, the big black horse and the indigo lion, they were all in this world.

It wasn't long before he saw the evidence.

The snow by the lake started to melt, the temperature rose gradually, and grass began to sprout in the mud.

Heavy snow and frost suddenly fell on Tianqi mountain.

Ning Que looked at the outside world and was amazed. The blizzard outside was raging, but it was as warm as spring here.

He thought for a moment and drew out his iron knife. He chopped down some trees cleanly with his inhuman strength and built a shack by the lake without taking much time.

The hut was simple and crude, but it smelled faintly of wood which could calm the mind.

Sangsang rested a hand on her stomach, quietly watching him work from the side.

”Let's become one by hiding in this place?”

Looking at the hut, she deadpanned, ”We can't hide forever, it's no solace.”

”Merely stealing moments in a busy life.” Ning Que continued, ”A moment hidden is another moment alive...Well, let's stop with the poems. I taught you them when you were a child. Besides, you need to rest now.”

He helped her into the hut and placed her on the soft bedding. He leaned down against her bulging belly, trying to hear what was going on inside. Just as he bent down, something could be heard moving outside the hut instead.

A green-clothed Taoist had appeared opposite the cold lake. His face was covered with frost, his clothes frozen with snow, and he did not know how long and how many places he had searched in the world. He peered over at the opposite end of the cold lake and did not leave even when he could not see anything.

Ning Que lifted his head and looked at him for a moment. Then he lowered his head and continued to lean on Sangsang's belly. He paid no attention to the things that happened outside. Instead he was exceptionally focused on detecting any movement within Sangsang.

Sangsang did not pay attention to him. She looked across the lake and suddenly said, ”I really want to kill him.”

Ning Que heard the barest sign of fetal movement and was ecstatic about it. ”You can't kill him now, don't think about it,” he replied.

Sangsang said coldly, ”It's because I can't kill him, that's why I want to kill him.”

Ning Que stopped in his tracks, thinking that it was indeed the truth. Back then, she could have killed pretty much anyone without effort, without even thinking about it.

He sat up and held her in his arms, looking at the Abbey Dean across the cold lake. He remained silent as if he was watching a false world in the mirror, or a play, or a painting.

It seemed absurd, interesting yet peaceful. In fact, the world he and Sangsang were currently in was the fake one, and this fake world could not be maintained all the time. There would come a time when it would be broken.

When Sangsang could not sustain the world. It was probably the moment he and she left this world.