Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Beautiful Leaves

For the monsters in the north, the coldest season of the year had arrived.

For those monsters dwelling outside the cities, this signaled the onset of the harshest period, when many would have to hibernate to endure the bitter cold.

But for the inhabitants of "Miaoleni City," it was the most bustling time of the year!

Welcome to the largest city in the north, the blue crystal on the icefield—Miaoleni!

Miaoleni wasn't situated at the northernmost point of the world, but it enjoyed an enviable geographical advantage. Perched atop a volcano sealed by snowfields, the water that flowed within the city was hot springs. Amidst the frigid icefield, the rivers in Miaoleni remained boiling all year round. Viewed from above, the city appeared as a solitary blue gem amidst a sea of white!

Ji Huan no longer needed to inquire about the location of the city gates; all the monsters were heading in the same direction.

Since everyone had arrived via Nigadi, who couldn't carry a large number of riding beasts despite its colossal size, most monsters had to walk without mounts. Only a couple of them brought their riding beasts, as Nieye had mentioned:

"They're probably inexperienced, perhaps visiting for the first time."

Ji Huan soon understood why he said that. —

"Come, come, come! Would you like a Snowtread Mount, honored guest? Our beasts are incredibly docile and not at all sluggish in their pace..."

"Judging by your group, I highly recommend my mounts. They can comfortably carry up to thirty creatures of your size and build!"

No sooner had they taken a few steps when the sounds of boisterous sales pitches echoed from the side of the road. It turned out that local monsters from the city had ventured here to peddle their wares!

Their appearance caught everyone off guard. When the first monster leaped out of the snow, Wuteng's guards initially mistook them for bandits. It wasn't until they heard the promotional words spilling from the creature's mouth that they realized they were merely merchants.

Only then did the guards release their grip.

Ji Huan closely observed the monster who, from the moment he was freed, had been relentlessly promoting his snow mounts to them.

It was no wonder Wuteng's group hadn't noticed them earlier. These northern monsters were entirely white, dressed in furs that blended seamlessly with the snow. Moreover, the snowfall was so heavy that after standing in it for just a moment, they would be covered in a layer of snow.

In addition, these creatures possessed inherently pale pigmentation.

The particular beast energetically pitching to Ajin had silver-white hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. His irises held a faint blue tinge amidst the silver, and his skin was exceptionally fair, nearly as white as Ajin's.

Most of the other vendors around him appeared similar, sharing the same pale characteristics.

Aside from their lighter body fur, these creatures were abnormally tall!

Even a random peddler on the street was as tall as Abu, heavens forbid! In the West, Abu was considered tall, but apparently, in the North, he was merely of average height.

Hei Dan clung to Jiujiu's leg and looked up at the merchants with great curiosity. Seeing that the snow was about to cover the little monster's waist, Ji Huan quickly picked him up.

From a different angle, Hei Dan continued to stare curiously at the merchant.

The creature didn't seem to mind being openly scrutinized by the little monster; instead, it even smiled at him, revealing its sharp, white fangs.

Eventually, it was Hei Dan who felt a bit embarrassed. He opened his small mouth, revealing two tiny white teeth in a smile.

"Ajin, how many Tootos do you have at home?" Ajin was negotiating the details of the transaction with the merchant. Without hesitation, he chose the merchant who had initially approached them to promote his magical beast.

The creature's large riding beast couldn't accommodate Ajin, Mr. Nieye, and the others. However, the creature was quick-witted and promptly called over a companion who was still looking for work. After discussing with Ajin, he agreed to let Ajin use his Tooto as well.

Before their thighs were swallowed by the snow, Ji Huan climbed onto the back of the local specialty magical beast, the Tooto.

This was an exceptionally tall and sturdy magical beast. When not summoned by their owners, they rested in the snow, their fur blending almost perfectly with the surrounding white landscape, making them difficult to spot.

When their masters called for them, the creatures lazily rose from the snow, and before Ji Huan stood a line of colossal, snow-white-furred magical beasts.

They were incredibly docile, moving at a steady pace without haste.

The clever vendor, upon realizing that Ajin and his companions were the leaders of the group, promptly assigned them the most reliable and steadfast carriers. In addition, he placed exquisite fur blankets upon them. As Ji Huan climbed aboard, he promptly nestled Hei Dan inside. The little monster creature let out a contented sigh and instinctively tucked its tiny paws into the warmth.

For the guards, no such special arrangements were made, but the beasts' thick fur was more than adequate. The intelligent ones promptly buried their legs in the fur, and those beside them quickly followed suit, their feet warming up, spreading the heat throughout their bodies.

Following the procession of Nigadi, the snowfield once again teemed with Snow Domain Carriers, along with smaller riding beasts. However, from afar, it was the towering presence of the massive carriers that caught the eye.

Ji Huan initially thought it would take a long time, considering the slow pace of the pack beast and the heavy snowfall.

In reality, they arrived at the city gate within just ten minutes on the beast's back. The reason they couldn't see the gate earlier was simply due to the overwhelming snowfall.

Ji Huan: =-=

How could he shake off this feeling of having been tricked into spending unnecessarily...

Perceiving his thoughts, Ajin chuckled beside him. "With such heavy snow, how difficult would it be to walk on foot? Besides, it's not often that Black Egg gets to ride a magical beast and broaden his horizons." After saying this, he bent down to ask the little figure buried under the blanket, "Black Egg, was riding the pack beast fun?"

"Fascinating!" Hei Dan replied promptly with vigor.

Isn't it because you yourself are curious about riding a pack beast and want to give it a try?

Silently glancing at Ajin, Ji Huan remained silent.

Though there was only a city gate separating the inside from the outside, it felt like entering a completely different season once one passed through it!

The temperature suddenly rose significantly!

Despite the rising temperature, strangely, large snowflakes continued to fall from the sky. They were soft and white, gently cascading down before melting upon contact with the ground. Ji Huan then noticed that the city's pavement was uneven. The melting snowwater swiftly flowed along the slopes towards the gutters on either side.

The water in those gutters trickled gently. Due to the perpetual snowfall, it remained surprisingly clean, resembling a natural stream.

Ji Huan stood there, slightly dazed. His mind wandered back to the ubiquitous streams in Badu Town.

The city's streets were spotlessly clean and not excessively damp. Promptly, he placed Hei Dan down.

Now that Hei Dan could run and jump, Ji Huan usually allowed him to frolic on the ground. Besides, Hei Dan was very well-behaved; he kept a closer watch on the adults in the house than they did on him! The moment the adults strayed too far, he would scamper back to cling to their legs.

Seeing Hei Dan firmly grasp his robe with his tiny paws, Ji Huan left him be and followed Boss Nieye as they walked forward together.

The city was now teeming with monsters, and almost every building along the way seemed to be an inn!

Many dwellings that appeared to be private homes also displayed signs for lodging, likely due to the overwhelming number of monsters from out of town visiting Miaoleni at this time of year. The hospitality industry had become the mainstay of the city's economy.

With so many monsters about, they all had to walk. Ji Huan's group could only follow behind Boss Nieye, slowly making their way through the crowd. Fortunately, the direction Nieye was heading seemed less crowded. After turning two corners, the number of monsters around them dwindled, until eventually, they were the only ones left.

Or...

The hunter named Black, whom they had encountered briefly before, was also on the same route. Traveling alone as a monster, he was walking ahead of them.

Just as Ji Huan noticed him, Black turned right and knocked on a large, closed door. In a flash, he vanished inside.

At that moment, Nieye spoke up, "We've arrived."

He pointed to the left, and Ji Huan saw another grand gate.

The head of Mr. Nieye's guards knocked on the door, which was promptly opened. After verifying their identities, Ji Huan and his companions were immediately allowed entry.

Inside, the scene was vastly different from the unassuming facade outside. It resembled a discreet yet luxurious hotel.

Mr. Nieye's assistant drew a letter from his breast pocket – the very invitation they had received. The receptionist at the front desk meticulously checked it before returning it to Mr. Nieye.

The letter was open, and as Nieye prepared to tuck it away, Ajin and Ji Huan, standing beside him, caught sight of an unusual emblem at the bottom of the letter.

There was a most peculiar symbol inscribed there.

It was an illustration depicting a monstrous creature with three heads. The central head was that of a beautiful person, while the left head was fiercely malevolent, and the right one chillingly cold.

Ajin's gaze flickered across the paper before he quickly looked away. Ji Huan also refrained from staring, and Mr. Nieye promptly folded the letter back into his inner jacket pocket.

" This inn has been arranged by the host for the guests, all of whom have been invited to participate in the hunt," Mr. Nieye explained as he led Ajin and the others into their room.

"Does it mean that different hosts have their own designated inns?" Ajin asked, nodding in understanding.

Mr. Nieye affirmed with a nod, "Exactly so. You've seen that hunter named Black, right? He turned into the inn on the right. That one belongs to another host."

"Tomorrow, you'll meet our honored guest. In the evening, someone will guide us to the hunting grounds. Until then, I won't interfere with your family affairs. It's rare for you to come up north, so even though time is limited, do enjoy the northern landscapes," Mr. Nieye said, preparing to take his leave. Before closing the door, he turned back and added, "Be sure to try the hot springs of Miaoleni. It's said to be the Devil's Spring!"

Upon hearing these four words, Ji Huan was momentarily stunned.

Ajin simply smiled and waved at Nieye, while Hei Dan politely waved his little paw.

Then—

After Mr. Nieye left and closed the door, the smile on Ajin's face gradually faded.

"There's indeed a secret here. We've only just arrived, and clues have already emerged."

Ji Huan looked up at him.

Ajin pointed to the door. "That emblem at the bottom of the invitation Nieye just showed...

"It's the crest of the Roim clan."

And the Roim clan was precisely the family of the "Devil's" fiancée, who had plotted against the "Devil" years ago!

Ji Huan gazed at Ajin, who returned his look with a tranquil, deep gaze into Ji Huan's eyes.

Silence enveloped the two of them.

Meanwhile, beneath their feet, the little monster felt a warmth. He hastily shed his outermost fur coat, neatly folding it, and then, unprompted, reached into his tiny satchel to pull out an old set of casual clothes to change into.

After finishing, the little monster, without disturbing the adults, located the TV remote and turned on the television.

Lowering the volume to a whisper, Hei Dan sprawled out on the sofa with his tiny legs crossed, engrossed in the show.

Suddenly,

"Ah! Beautiful leaves!"

He turned his head and called out to his Jiujiu loudly.