Chapter 450 – Power Seized, Momentum Gained, Paths Intertwined, the Soul Cultivation Begins - Part 2

Snow, Naran, and Meng Xingxian entered a tent.

Only once inside did some color return to Snow’s face. She cast a cold glance at Meng Xingxian, then turned her sharp eyes on Naran.

“What is it you’re trying to do?” she asked.

Naran glanced at Meng Xingxian, then calmly laid out his plans, every detail, every intention.

“...” Snow fell silent. Then she slowly shook her head and said, “Our people have always relied on the land to survive. Once we leave it, we become a force without roots, surrounded on all sides. You don’t understand the depths of the Nine Provinces of the Great Zhou. Even I only know fragments, things your father once spoke of. To raise your sword against such a behemoth... it’s not wise.”

Naran replied, steady and resolute, “Mother, when the time comes, I’ll have an unstoppable wolf cavalry, invincible in battle, unstoppable in conquest. What should I fear?”

Snow sighed. “Even the Lotus Cult’s ghost cavalry, as powerful as they were, are now trapped in the Jade Capital. And you think you’ll fare better?”

Meng Xingxian smiled. “Mother-in-law, with all due respect, don’t compare them to us. The ghost cavalry numbered only three thousand. When the time comes, our wolf cavalry will number well over ten thousand. Even split into small squads, we could wipe them out.”

Her eyes gleamed with confidence. “And if even the ghost cavalry could shake the world...imagine what the Nine Flames could do.”

“Could you leave us for a moment?” Snow suddenly said.

“...” Naran looked toward Meng Xingxian.

She smiled, warm and gracious. “Of course, Mother-in-law.”

She stepped out of the tent.

As soon as she left, Snow spun toward her son.

“You haven’t been deceived by her, have you?” she asked, eyes sharp with urgency.

Naran slowly shook his head. His voice was calm but resolute. “No. This is my decision, mine alone.”

“Where did she even come from?”

“Kabrol.”

“A woman walking out of the Sea of Slumber, how could you be so reckless?”

“She’s already carrying my child, your grandchild. Our tribe has only ever birthed Ice Folk, but she...she commands direwolves. The Khagan and Wolfmother were always meant to stand side by side, two wills bound as one. Only together can we bring lasting peace to our homeland.”

Snow’s voice turned sharp, accusing, “Your father once said the Wolfmother is connected to the Deathless Tomb. And it was your eldest sister who sealed that place. Now this new Wolfmother appears right after? Her motives are unclear, her heart dangerous!”

“Mother...” Naran suddenly lifted his head, eyes fixed on the woman before him. His voice was steady and resolute.

“No matter what happens, I’ll protect this land. I’ll protect you. I’ll protect Father. I’ll protect everyone...and the future too.” His words rang with sincerity, unyielding will and iron resolve. “This is the destiny I’ve chosen to bear.”

Snow’s tone softened slightly. “But that doesn’t mean you need to march on the Central Plains.”

Naran shook his head. “Mother, the world is a forest, where the strong devour the weak. The Central Plains are ruled by a twisted balance of Yin and Yang, full of monsters and tyrants.

“And we sit tucked away in this frozen corner, thinking the Evernight and our natural defenses are enough to keep out the storm. If I do nothing now, I’ll live to regret it in old age. Please, Mother, let go. Let me take the lead. I will guide our people to greatness.” His eyes shone with purpose.

Snow opened her mouth as if to object, but stopped herself. Her voice dropped to a soft sigh. “Your father...he’ll never agree.”

“I’ll convince him,” Naran replied.

Snow was silent for a long while. Finally, she said, slowly, “If your father doesn’t object...then I...I’ll accept it too.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Naran stepped back, knelt down, and bowed deeply to her, a full, resounding kowtow.

“You...” Snow let out another long sigh.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

White Deer Tribe encampment.

When Li Yuan returned, a crow swooped down and landed gently on the back of his hand. In a sweet, chirping voice, it called out, “Papa, Papa!”

Li Yuan chuckled and stroked the bird’s head.

The crow continued, “Naran brought a woman. That woman brought

lots

of scary two-headed direwolves. He wanted to bring me home for dinner, but I didn’t dare go back. Now he’s coming here, with that woman, and with Mama Snow.”

Li Yuan’s eyes flickered. He smiled faintly. “It’s all right. Anything strange on your side?”

The crow hesitated for a moment, then said, “Papa, there’s this old man in one of the coffins. He keeps trying to tempt me. He says if I practice the Heaven Soul cultivation technique, I can break through the limit of lifespan and reach the third rank, or something like that. But I ignored him.”

The crow then chirped and chattered, mimicking the old man’s coaxing voice, and repeated what he had said about the so-called sub-realm classifications.

“Yin Reborn Within Yang, Flesh Remade Anew.

Myriad Forms, Flesh and Blood Gate.

Then, Earth Immortal, Water Immortal, and Wind Immortal...”

Li Yuan murmured the words, brow furrowed. “You did the right thing. That one’s not to be trusted. I’ll look into it. Just keep him talking a little longer.”

"Alright, Papa." The crow chirped sweetly, then flapped its wings and flew off.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

A short while later.

A fierce wind began to howl outside the White Deer Tribe. From within the blizzard, shadows emerged, countless two-headed wolves moving like ghosts through the snowstorm.

Naran, Meng Xingxian, and Snow were approaching from afar.

Li Yuan was already waiting at the gate. His gaze swept calmly over the woman beside Naran, someone he had never seen before.

She wore a flowing silver veil, her eyes deep and unreadable, her belly faintly swollen. Her bearing was graceful, commanding. A 320~650 hovered over her head.

The two-headed direwolves surrounding her, however, mostly hovered around 1,100.

The numbers were telling. Hers placed her solidly in the sixth rank. The direwolves? Fifth rank.

However, a sixth rank cultivator shouldn’t be able to command so many fifth rank two-headed direwolves.

Then again, if that sixth rank woman were dressed as the Wolfmother, perhaps things were different.

As Li Yuan studied her, Meng Xingxian gave a polite bow and said softly, “Father-in-law.”

Li Yuan gave her a brief glance, then turned to Naran. “Naran, I’d like to have a private word with your wife. Do you mind?”

Before Naran could answer, Meng Xingxian turned her head and smiled, “Husband, let me accompany Father-in-law for a bit. I’m sure he has things he wants to say.”

Only then did Naran nod.

Li Yuan’s eyes flicked briefly toward Snow. Her expression was dark, her gaze filled with resignation and helplessness. Then he looked past her, at the massive pack of two-headed direwolves in the distance, and made his decision.

He turned and walked away from the camp.

Meng Xingxian followed. The two of them walked farther and farther until the camp was behind them, lost in the sweeping snowfields.

Li Yuan broke the silence first.

“Naran is lucky to have met a clever girl like you.”

“Huh?”Meng Xingxian didn’t expect this kind greeting. All the words she had carefully prepared vanished.

Li Yuan sighed. “Snow and I are old now. The days of our glory are gone. The future of the tribe belongs to the young. But Naran...he’s reckless. Too impulsive. Alone, he’s bound to get himself into trouble. But with you by his side... I’m at ease.”

“...” Meng Xingxian blinked.

“The first time I saw you, I knew you were a good girl. Be good to Naran. Take care of the child in your belly. That child...is our bond now. When he or she is born, you’ll be that child’s mother, and I’ll be their grandfather. That makes us family.”

A gentle smile crept onto Li Yuan’s face.

Meng Xingxian asked cautiously, “You...really mean that, Father-in-law?”

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow. “What else? Do you think I’m just caving to my daughter-in-law’s terrifying power over a direwolf army? That I’m only saying sweet things to keep from getting eaten?”

Meng Xingxian shook her head quickly. “No! I’ve heard your stories, Father-in-law. You’re not that kind of man.”

Li Yuan laughed. “Good. Then let’s head back.”

He turned and actually began to walk back the way they came.

But Meng Xingxian suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Li Yuan halted as well.

She looked at him and said, “Father-in-law...you still don’t know what we’re trying to do, do you?”

Li Yuan smiled faintly. “No matter what it is, whatever you and Naran have planned, his mother and I will support you. So go ahead. Be bold. Don't ever worry about us old folks holding you back.”

Meng Xingxian said with a hint of amusement, “You really are full of surprises... No wonder you once united all of Nine Flames. Every word you’ve spoken today, none of it was what I expected.”

Li Yuan’s white hair danced in the wind, like the mane of an aging lion. He smiled and said, “The glory of the first Khagan is long past. But you, you’ll be part of our family now. Wherever you came from, wherever you're headed...just be a good wife to Naran.”

Meng Xingxian nodded slowly.“Family, is it? I understand. Then let me say this too, if you and Naran’s mother don’t stand in our way, I will truly treat you both as my own.”

Li Yuan laughed. “This old man may be past his prime, but I can still swing a blade. If the time comes, I’ll fight beside you and Naran.”

Meng Xingxian broke into a smile as well. “You really are a rare one, Father-in-law.”

The two shared a look, and for the first time, the air between them felt light and easy.

Li Yuan glanced at her with genuine concern. “Come on, let’s get back. The cold’s no good for the child.”

“Mhm.” Meng Xingxian nodded.

Soon, they returned to the encampment.

Li Yuan reached out and took Snow’s hand gently.

“Let the children lead the way now. We may no longer be able to see the path clearly, but the future belongs to them.”

Snow looked at her husband, then let out a long, helpless sigh.

“All right, then.”

Shortly after, she passed the Ancient Sun Canon and other tribal authorities into the hands of this once-unfamiliar Wolfmother.

Naran, for his part, sought out Tang Nian and began discussing ways to expand relations between the Western Extremes and Cloudpeak Province, to increase their population and strengthen the tribe.

It seemed everything was finally settling into place.

Snow took off her

Yeke Khatun

’

s

robes and ceremonial mask. She began spending time with Jing Shuixiang making sweets. And with some gentle prodding from Li Yuan, she even started cooking nourishing meals for her daughter-in-law to help with the pregnancy.

Meals were shared. Conversations grew longer. Smiles came easier.

The once-fractured family began to feel whole again.

Naran was overjoyed. Things had turned out far better than he’d ever hoped. And at the heart of it all was his father. He clenched his fists quietly, moved by the realization.

If the roles were reversed,

he thought,

I don’t know if I could’ve trusted me the way Father did. Or trusted Meng Xingxian. But he did. Then let me carry this hope into the future. Father...I won’t let you down.