I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script
Chapter 104

Playing in Snow and Ice

Winter had descended upon the mortal realm, the temperature plummeting. The Endless Sea had yet to freeze over, though mist curled over its surface, and the red maples along its banks had begun shedding their leaves, lending the scenery an even deeper sense of quiet solitude.

Xu Shulou drifted on a boat across the lake, watching her junior sister Bai Roushuang, who was obediently bent over a pill recipe scroll. "I may be going into seclusion again soon," she remarked.

She had gained some insights into the Life-Severing Sword Technique and planned to retreat in order to break through to its second level, "Slaughter." Moreover, her own cultivation realm seemed on the verge of advancement as well.

Bai Roushuang started, a pang of reluctance striking her heart. "This time, will it be two months... or five years?"

"Hard to say."

"Oh." Bai Roushuang said nothing more, though her disappointment was plain on her face.

Xu Shulou reached out and ruffled her hair. "Today, I’ll take you around. Let’s have a good day of fun."

Bai Roushuang brightened instantly. "Yes!"

Neither had a particular destination in mind. Once the boat reached shore, they wandered aimlessly along the bank. Bai Roushuang, sharp-eyed, spotted a familiar figure in the distance—the same male cultivator who had once tried to rob them was now soliciting customers again.

The man caught sight of her, froze for a moment, then abandoned the female cultivator he was haggling with and bolted.

"Stop right there!" Bai Roushuang immediately gave chase.

Xu Shulou watched her retreating figure with amusement before turning to the bewildered woman. "That man is a highwayman. If you’re in urgent need of a boat, I can lend you mine."

The woman blinked. "You carry a boat with you?"

"No, I took this one from that same robber."

...Just who was the real bandit here? The woman took an imperceptible step back.

Xu Shulou chuckled, setting the boat down by the shore before turning to leave. But the woman called after her, "Miss, might I ask—have you just returned from visiting Alchemist Dan?"

"I have, though I’ve no wisdom to share," Xu Shulou answered honestly. "All I can say is, if you’re seeking his pills for your own cultivation, don’t bother making the trip."

"..." The woman fell silent for a moment before asking, "Miss, how should I return this boat to you?"

"No need. Just tie it up here when you’re done, for the next traveler’s convenience."

Xu Shulou waved her off and strolled over to a nearby food stall, ordering two bowls of wontons and two bowls of fresh fish soup. The lakeside dwellings here specialized in dishes made from the lake’s bounty—fresh fish, shrimp, and the like. The wontons, stuffed with minced fish and shrimp, were simply seasoned but deliciously fragrant.

The stall owner worked briskly, accepting the copper coins before lifting the lid of his pot to drop in the pre-wrapped wontons.

By ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‍the time the rich aroma filled the air, Bai Roushuang had returned, looking triumphant. "I taught him a lesson! Gave him a good scare too—he won’t dare show his face here again!"

Just as the owner set down their bowls, Bai Roushuang straightened her posture proudly. "Suddenly, I feel like the hero who beheaded Hua Xiong before his wine grew cold."

Xu Shulou laughed, plucking a pair of bamboo chopsticks from the holder on the table. "Eat up."

"Mmm, these are good," Bai Roushuang said after tasting one, then propped her chin on her hand and grinned. "Shijie, you didn’t even follow me earlier. Does that mean you had complete faith in me?"

Xu Shulou nodded. "Your only weakness used to be slow reflexes in the heat of battle. But you’re sharp—excellent instincts. One might say you’ve got instincts where others have reflexes, and instincts where others have... more instincts."

Bai Roushuang narrowed her eyes. "Shijie, was that an insult?"

Xu Shulou laughed. "The important part is what comes next—you’ve been steadily overcoming that flaw. My confidence in you grows by the day."

She intended to offer more guidance before her seclusion, and Bai Roushuang, understanding her intent, listened attentively. The two exchanged tips on combat techniques between bites.

With business slow at the stall, the owner brought them two cups of warm wine. "Newly brewed this year—lotus leaf wine. A gift for you both."

"Thank you, sir."

Bai Roushuang stared at the wine, then suddenly remembered something. "Ah, Shijie! Back in the City of Nevernight, at that ‘Story-Brewed Wine’ shop, you left a trace of your spiritual energy. By now, the wine should be ready. When shall we go fetch it?"

Xu Shulou smiled faintly. "I can guess how that jar will taste. No need to retrieve it. Someday, after I ascend, if you miss me, you can drink it then."

"..." Bai Roushuang faltered. "Why does that sound like you’re... arranging your affairs?"

Before Xu Shulou could respond, she hastily shook her head. "No, no—ascension is a joyous thing! Forget I said anything!"

Xu Shulou patted her shoulder. "I only spoke idly. I’ll linger in this mortal world for a long while yet."

Bai Roushuang fiddled with her cup, hesitating. "Shijie... are you nearing the Transcendence Stage?"

Xu Shulou neither confirmed nor denied, merely smiling. "How did you guess?"

"You’ve always restrained your aura, never overwhelming others with your presence," Bai Roushuang murmured. "But that move you used in the Ten Thousand Insect Abyss... gave me a sense of it."

"I see."

"When we first met, you were likely at the early or middle Nascent Soul Stage. After five years in seclusion, you could face Wei Xuandao—that would place you at peak Nascent Soul," Bai Roushuang reasoned. "Beyond that lies Transcendence. Though I wonder if the Life-Severing Sword Manual played a role in bringing you to this threshold."

"Even if this seclusion leads to a breakthrough, it would only be early Transcendence," Xu Shulou reassured her, noting the reluctance in her eyes. "Each step within the Transcendence Stage is arduous. Many cultivators spend centuries progressing from early Transcendence to facing the Heavenly Tribulation."

Bai Roushuang bought another flask of wine from the owner. "Shijie, a toast—may your seclusion bring a smooth ascent to early Transcendence."

She knew her sister’s talent would never consign her to centuries of stagnation. Yet however bittersweet, she offered her blessings wholeheartedly.

The topic stirred Xu Shulou’s own emotions—one day, she would have to part with her sect and loved ones. The thought weighed on her.

She thrived in company but did not fear walking the path to ascension alone. Still, farewells were never easy.

Yet Xu Shulou’s nature was ever untethered. With a lift of her brow, she cast aside the melancholy clinging to her heart and clinked cups with her sister. So what if parting lay ahead? In time, they might reunite beyond the heavens.

———

By the time they left the wonton stall, Bai Roushuang had regained her usual cheer, chattering away as she asked where they should go next.

Neither had any particular plans, so Xu Shulou took her junior sister into the air, spinning them in circles until Bai Roushuang—eyes shut—randomly pointed a direction. They descended where her finger led.

The spot was desolate. They crouched to watch squirrels preparing nests for winter, helped a scatterbrained one patch its tree hole with dry grass, accidentally roused a snake hibernating between rocks, and stumbled into a bear’s den—finally conceding this had been a terrible idea.

In the end, they headed north, seeking a city already locked in ice for miles around, where they could play in snow and skate upon frozen rivers.

At the peak of the snowy mountain outside the city, Bai Roushuang conjured a spherical spiritual barrier and prepared to slide down from the summit. Midway, she tripped and tumbled head over heels inside the barrier, leaving a human-shaped crater at the base of the mountain.

Protected by the barrier, she wasn’t hurt, though she did look rather disheveled. Xu Shulou burst into laughter beside her. Bai Roushuang glared. "Senior Sister, were you this clumsy the first time you tried this?"

"Not at all," Xu Shulou shook her head. By the time she had the leisure for such games, her control over spiritual energy had already reached a highly refined level. But she didn’t elaborate, simply teasing Bai Roushuang by brushing a finger against her own cheek. "Silly little thing."

Bai Roushuang, unwilling to concede, tried several more times until she could smoothly glide down the mountain. Then, side by side with her senior sister, she stretched out her arms, mimicking the flight of birds.

Once they’d had their fill of snowplay, the two headed to the outskirts of the city. The world was vast, with climates varying wildly—while boats still sailed the Endless Sea, the rivers here had frozen solid, attracting crowds of mortals at play.

They joined the spectators at an icebound game of kickball, cheering for their favored team amid the laughter and excitement. When their team won, its leader happily treated all supporters to roasted chestnuts from a nearby stall. Xu Shulou queued up for her share, only to spot a few who had cheered for the opposing team sneaking into the line.

Bai Roushuang’s attention was soon caught by people riding "ice beds"—not actual beds of ice, but wooden sleds pulled across the frozen surface for amusement, occasionally even used for transporting goods in winter. Some wealthy merchants had even built lavish, canopied versions, hosting elegant drinking parties atop the ice, reclining with wine amid the snow-laden scenery.

Noticing her junior sister’s fascination, Xu Shulou suggested, "What if I enlarge the Qiankun Dwelling and drag it across the ice with spiritual energy? That’d outshine any of these ice beds."

"You’d collapse the entire ice sheet!" Bai Roushuang laughed. "Why not just take out a regular bed to play with?"

"Good idea." Xu Shulou retrieved an intricately carved bed from her Qiankun ring, using her Frostpin Hairpin to coat its base with a layer of ice for smoother sliding. She gestured to Bai Roushuang. "Hop on. I’ll pull you."

Nearby onlookers eyed the hefty bed skeptically. "Miss, that thing looks heavy. Can you really manage it alone?"

"No problem."

Not only did Xu Shulou manage, but after a few laps, she even spun the bed like a top, quickly drawing envious gazes from the children nearby. Bai Roushuang couldn’t help lifting her chin, basking in the admiration.

True to their fair dynamic, after Xu Shulou had her fun spinning her junior sister, Bai Roushuang took over and spun her senior sister in turn.

Lying on the ice bed, Xu Shulou watched the sky whirl past, the joyous laughter of the crowd filling her ears as a soft smile touched her lips.

It was strange—cultivators could traverse heaven and earth, yet they still found delight in such simple, mortal pleasures.

———

After a full day of play, the two finally headed back to Xuan Cang Academy. Halfway up the mountain, Xu Shulou suddenly smacked her forehead. "Ah, I just remembered—I need to return to Dustless Island for something. Junior Sister, you go on ahead."

"Alright." Bai Roushuang, unsuspecting, stepped through the academy gates—only to immediately run into Master Zhou.

The master smiled at her. "Ah, perfect timing! You’re just in time for the academy’s minor examination."

Bai Roushuang nearly wept. No wonder her senior sister had "suddenly remembered" something.

Oh, Senior Sister, she lamented inwardly. When it comes to dodging exams, why must you leave your beloved junior sister behind?

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