The Exit

The howling wind carried snowflakes sharp as gravel, lashing against Li Guanglong’s face. He clutched the arm of the soldier beside him, his knuckles whitening from the strain.

His black battle robe was already soaked through with snow, the icy fabric plastered to his skin, and the chill seeped into his bones through every pore.

Looking up, he could barely make out the faint outlines of his companions in the white blur. The soldier who had been swept away earlier by the gale hadn’t even managed a cry for help before vanishing completely into the storm, leaving behind only faint traces quickly buried by snow.

“This way!” Murong Xue’s voice was broken to pieces by the gale. He pulled a fur bundle from his chest --- a gift from Batu --- clutching it tight while his other hand groped for a protruding ice rock. “There’s an ice cave here! We can take shelter for now!”

Relief surged through Li Guanglong. He quickly called for the surviving soldiers to follow.

Supporting each other, they staggered forward, every step a battle. The snow reached their thighs, and a single misstep sent them sinking into loose drifts, needing the combined effort of their comrades to pull them free.

Wanchong’s lone arm was gripped tightly by a soldier, his wound leaking blood that stained his cloak and froze into dark crimson shards. Every step made sweat bead on his brow from pain, but he gritted his teeth and endured, still warning others to watch their footing.

At last, they reached the ice cave. It was small, barely enough for a dozen people.

Li Guanglong crawled in first, then turned to pull the soldiers in one by one. Just as the last man slipped inside, a massive clump of snow crashed down, sealing most of the entrance, leaving only a narrow gap for air.

Inside, the air was warmer. Everyone collapsed onto the ground, panting hard.

Murong Xue carefully unwrapped the fur bundle. Inside, besides some dried meat and herbs for warding off the cold, was a map drawn on animal hide.

The map’s route was marked in red pigment, beginning at Snowfang Valley and ending at a place labeled “New Realm.”

Strange symbols dotted the path, as though marking dangers.

“This must be the way out of the frozen world.” Murong Xue pointed to ‘New Realm’, his eyes alight with excitement. “Batu didn’t lie to us after all!”

Li Guanglong leaned closer. Along the route were warnings: Ice Crevasse Zone, Snow Fox Dens, and even a massive beast drawn in black pigment, labeled Ice Flood Dragon’s Lair.

His brows furrowed --- the road ahead was far from safe.

They rested in the cave for two hours. As the blizzard waned, Murong Xue distributed dried meat and brewed a warming decoction from herbs. After drinking, warmth returned to their bodies, and fatigue lifted somewhat.

“We must set out now,” Li Guanglong said, brushing snow off as he stood, eyes firm. “While the storm is calm, we need to cross the crevasse zone ahead.”

The others rose, following Murong Xue out of the cave.

The storm had eased. Though the sky was still gloomy, they could at least see the road ahead.

Following the map’s guidance, they marched toward the ice crevasse zone.

After about an hour, the ground split open before them into a labyrinth of fissures. The cracks were vast and bottomless, gaping black maws breathing icy winds that howled like ghosts.

Only narrow ice bridges spanned the void, their slick surfaces threatening death with a single slip.

“Careful, one by one --- hold tight to the rope.” Murong Xue pulled a rope from his pack, fixing one end to a nearby ice rock and handing the other to Li Guanglong.

Taking the lead, Li Guanglong stepped onto the bridge.

It was narrow, only enough for one person. Each step made the ice creak ominously, as if ready to break.

Holding his breath, eyes locked forward, he inched along. The soldiers followed, gripping the rope with all their strength.

Suddenly, one in the middle slipped, tilting toward the abyss.

“Help!” the soldier cried.

Li Guanglong’s heart clenched. He spun around to grab him, but it was already too late.

Luckily, another soldier reacted swiftly, seizing his arm. Together, they hauled him back to safety. The man collapsed onto the bridge, face pale, trembling too hard to stand.

After a grueling struggle, they all made it across. Relief washed over the group.

The journey grew smoother after that. They skirted the snow fox dens and gave wide berth to the flood dragon’s lair. Guided by the map, they pressed on across the frozen wasteland for three days and nights.

They lived on Batu’s dried meat and melted snow, trudging forward by day against the wind, and camping in sheltered spots by night. Exhaustion etched deep into their faces, armor caked in ice, yet none complained. They all knew: endure this, and they would finally leave the frozen world.

On the third evening, Murong Xue suddenly stopped, pointing ahead with a trembling hand. His voice broke with excitement:

“Look! That’s the mysterious passage marked on the map!” - Ton

 

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