The frost never stopped devouring the mountain until every creature and every leaf upon it had turned to ice.Life vanished from that place—or perhaps it merely slept, curled within its frozen heart.
Rumors soon began to spread:A witch lives atop that mountain.And with rumors came curiosity.And with curiosity came arrogance.
One after another, proud cultivators climbed the sacred mountain, eager to challenge the cold... and the witch said to be its source.But what a fool's journey it was.
The closer they came to the peak, the hungrier the frost became—greedy to swallow more lives.And because of human pride, the freeze spread.Time and space themselves felt locked in ice, reaching dangerously close to the villages surrounding the holy mountain.
When a few elite youths of the Heavenly Kingdom heard of the frost, they vowed to break its curse.They did not know that Huo Feng, the girl despised by heaven and feared by spirits, stood behind it all.
There were three young men… led by a girl even more reckless than they were—Mei Ling.Mei, once known as the most beautiful girl in the Heavenly Kingdom—or so it was before Huo Feng appeared—whispered temptation into their hearts, urging them to uncover the witch's secret and slay the avenging spirit.
They fell into the trap instantly.
As they neared the mountain, Mei attempted to break the barrier with a spell. She failed, again and again.
Her companion, Suo the Sorcerer, the strongest and handsomest disciple in the kingdom, laughed at her attempts.
With bold steps, he walked straight into the frost, as if in defiance.In the blink of an eye, the ice swallowed him whole.
Mei tried to pull him back—she too was frozen solid.
The remaining one trembled and panicked. In desperation, he sent a mental cry for help to two great teachers: Grandmaster Wu Xin, the Warlord… and his companion, Master Li.
The two appeared like lightning that split the heavens.
When they arrived, they stood still for a moment—captivated by the tragic beauty before them. A land where death and frost had painted a breathtaking scene.
They began chanting together—to revive life and quell the frost… to end the suffering.
Suddenly, a girl descended from the sky like a phantom, carrying an unconscious old man in her arms. She shielded him with her small diamond-like wings, while her larger ethereal wings beat violently, keeping everyone away.
But the two masters did not retreat. Especially Wu Xin.He seated himself calmly before the frost barrier, closed his eyes, and began casting a counter-spell.
In an instant, spears of lightning shot from his hands, piercing her large wings.
She winced—but did not fall.
She beat her wings harder, head bowed, unaware of how many stood against her.
Another lightning spear struck one of her smaller wings—she nearly dropped the old man.
The moment Master Li saw the old man's face, his expression changed.
"Wu Xin! Stop! That's the Furnace Elder—she's holding him hostage!"
Wu Xin froze. His eyes snapped open, recognizing both the girl… and the Elder in her arms.
He halted his incantation, cutting the flow of lightning.
The price of his hesitation? The frost seized him… and he too was turned to ice.
You might think he fell because he made a mistake—but no.
It was far simpler than that.
He surrendered… to her beauty.
Yes. In that critical moment, he let himself be wounded—just to keep looking at her.
And Huo Feng… she surrendered as well—just from hearing his name.
At that instant, her wings vanished, and with her, the frost receded.
She restored life to those she had taken… then collapsed.
Wu Xin broke free of the frost the moment she fell and flew towards her, catching her before she touched the ground.
Yes…The girl fell because of a single word she heard—Because of the longing she saw reflected in his eyes.
Only then did she understand…The difference between a gaze of longing that grants life…and a gaze of vengeance that brings death.