An Ning didn’t want to get the rope, but Jiang Xia, who was still shivering all over, was hugging a large tree for dear life.

"Y-y-you... If you don’t get it, I’ll... I’d rather freeze to death than go back."

’Nosy, childish, nagging pest.’

An Ning muttered to herself, turned, took a few steps, and grabbed the rope.

"No, you have to tie it to yourself. The best way is to loop it over your neck and under one arm."

"Let me tell you, I’m incredibly stubborn. If you don’t do it, I’ll go down myself."

"I’ve already gotten soaked once. I’m not afraid of a second time."

Jiang Xia started to ramble on.

Down below, An Ning looked up.

"Jiang Xia, do you realize you’re using your own safety to threaten someone who’s trying to help you?"

Up above, Jiang Xia shouted back, his lips trembling, "I know!"

"For my Da Huang’s sake, you can’t just watch me die, can you?"

Looking up from below, An Ning couldn’t help but laugh at him.

She slung the rope over her body, turned, and coolly headed down.

Above her, Jiang Xia breathed a sigh of relief and continued hugging the tree.

"I’ll do it, I’ll do it! Give me the rope."

An Guoming ran down, reaching to take the rope from Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia shook his head.

"No way. With a build like yours, I can’t risk it."

An Guoming was speechless. "I may not be up to it, but at least I’m not shivering."

Jiang Xia closed his eyes, his hands clasped tightly together, his limbs wrapped around a tree trunk.

"No! I don’t trust you! What if the sika deer gets hurt!"

For a moment, An Guoming felt like he was the outsider.

"That’s my own sister! It’s not like I’d let her get hurt!"

"You wouldn’t mean to, but a lack of strength can be a form of harm in itself."

No matter what An Guoming said, Jiang Xia refused to let go.

An Guoming had no choice but to stand next to Jiang Xia, keeping a close watch on An Ning down below.

In the gully, An Ning had already stepped onto the ice. Her movements were light as she walked inward, step by step.

Jiang Xia had hidden the item on a small island in the river—a little mound of earth, really.

An Ning carefully made her way to a small sandbar about a third of the way across the river and saw the package Jiang Xia had mentioned.

She picked up the package, strapped it to her body, and carefully stepped back onto the ice.

"Almost there. Easy does it, Sis."

An Guoming’s heart was in his throat as he watched.

’A hole in the ice... in the northern winter, it’s the number one killer.’

CRACK-CRACK—

"Sis—!"

"Run—!"

Jiang Xia screamed at the top of his lungs, his eyes bulging.

An Ning reacted even faster. She laid a path of spiritual power beneath her feet and started running for her life.

Just like a slow-motion scene in a movie, with every step An Ning took, the ice beneath her feet began to shatter.

The cracks behind her, like a man-eating monster, followed closely, just a step away.

"Sis—! Faster—!"

An Guoming scrambled down from the road to the spot closest to the ice, stretching out a hand and wishing it were several meters long.

An Ning ran with all her might. When she was just a few steps away, she leaped, flying through the air.

The ice under her feet shattered into pieces, sending icy water splashing everywhere.

An Guoming gripped the rope with one hand and reached for An Ning with the other.

Jiang Xia frantically pulled in the rope.

THUD!

An Ning landed on both feet and even had time to turn and steady An Guoming.

"Second Brother, thank goodness you didn’t rush out there."

While she was running on the ice, An Ning had been terrified that An Guoming would rush out in a panic and she’d have to save him, too.

An Guoming was still shaken.

"How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I’m fine."

An Ning stood up, spun around once, and stretched her arms and legs. She was completely unscathed.

An Guoming’s heart gradually settled back into his chest. He looked at the rope on An Ning.

"Good thing you wore the rope."

An Ning looked down. ’True enough,’ she thought.

’After all, no one else knew I have spiritual power. At a critical moment, this rope was a lifesaver.’

The two of them walked up from the gully. Jiang Xia, who had been pulling the rope, had already collapsed on the ground.

An Ning ran over in a few steps. Looking down at Jiang Xia’s open eyes, she felt half-relieved.

"Still alive."

"Why do I detect a hint of regret in your voice?"

Jiang Xia asked with a raised eyebrow. An Ning just clicked her tongue.

"You heard right."

An Ning reached out and bent down, about to help Jiang Xia up.

"I’ll do it, I’ll do it!"

Moving faster than he ever had in his life, An Guoming darted forward, squeezed himself between An Ning and Jiang Xia, and helped Jiang Xia up with a cheerful smile.

Jiang Xia didn’t find it odd. It was proper for men and women to maintain some distance.

An Ning just thought An Guoming was being a little weird, but she didn’t think anything else of it.

The three of them got back in the truck. Jiang Xia sat in the back again, with An Guoming driving and An Ning in the passenger seat.

The truck’s engine started, and they drove away.

An Ning gave the package she had retrieved to Jiang Xia.

"Your things."

"Thanks."

Jiang Xia took his package. It contained all the profits from his recent trip down south.

In other words, there was nothing in the package but money.

Inside the truck, it was dead silent.

None of the three spoke. Neither An Ning nor An Guoming asked Jiang Xia why or how he was there.

In the back, Jiang Xia was holding a bottle of liquor, taking small sips to warm himself up.

"You guys carry liquor with you when you drive?"

An Ning glanced back.

"You’re drinking the Wuliangye I bought for my uncle. It’s thirty-eight a bottle. Remember to pay me back."

"Heh, alright."

Jiang Xia agreed readily. ’That’s An Ning’s style, all right,’ he thought. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

In the back, Jiang Xia’s body finally started to warm up.

"I jumped from a train."

"I embarrassed some people with my business, got in the way of their profits, and ended up with a target on my back."

Although Jiang Xia didn’t go into detail, one could imagine the danger involved.

As soon as Jiang Xia started talking, An Guoming chimed in.

The two started chatting and found they got along very well.

Jiang Xia was worldly and well-connected—all things An Guoming lacked.

However, what An Guoming said also made Jiang Xia see him in a new light. ’Looks like the An family has another formidable member,’ he thought.

’Still, the only one who’s truly on my level is An Ning.’

As he thought about it, Jiang Xia genuinely couldn’t figure it out. ’How on earth did An Ning get so capable?’

For most of the drive, it was An Guoming and Jiang Xia who did the talking. They even stopped once to buy Jiang Xia a couple of fever reducers.

After taking the medicine, Jiang Xia dozed off drowsily in the back seat.

"We’re finally back."

"You don’t appreciate home until you leave. It feels so good to be back."

An Guoming drove the truck into Sanhe Town.

The brand-new truck attracted a lot of attention.

The truck quickly passed through town and headed towards Shili Gou.

"Stop for a second. I’m getting out."

Jiang Xia sat up and told An Guoming to stop the truck.

"Just come back with us. We’ll say we ran into you on the way and gave you a lift."

"No, it’s not far."

Jiang Xia still got out of the truck. He didn’t want to cause any malicious gossip because of his presence.