Master of Nine Stars

Chapter 574: Chapter 349: Banner

On the first floor of Gao Lingwei’s home.

“Sorry, Aunt Cheng, we’re out of time,” Rong Taotao said, his words muffled as he continuously stuffed spring rolls from a plate on the dining table into his mouth.

Gao Lingwei, beside him, clearly had no appetite. She gazed at her mother in a daze, wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin.

‘In just three short days, is that nightmare finally coming true?’

Cheng Yuan’s gaze shifted back and forth between Rong Taotao, who was wolfing down his food, and the silent Gao Lingwei. She reached out and gently patted Gao Lingwei’s arm. “Always listen to your captain’s orders. Don’t be willful. Stay with Taotao, and whatever you do, don’t fall behind…”

With a conflicted expression, Gao Lingwei stepped forward and gently pulled her mother into an embrace. She lowered her head, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder and taking a deep breath, as if to commit her mother’s scent to memory.

“Go. Shoulder your responsibilities and complete your mission,” Gao Qingchen’s voice drifted over from the living room sofa.

Gao Lingwei turned to look, only to see her father’s eyes glued to the television, not glancing in her direction.

At the same time, a query from Snake came through the Invisible Headphones Rong Taotao was wearing.

Rong Taotao grabbed a steaming hot bean bun and said, “Let’s go, Da Wei.”

“Put on your hat. You just took a shower, and your hair isn’t dry yet,” Cheng Yuan said urgently, pulling away from Gao Lingwei’s embrace and heading for the bedroom.

Rong Taotao went over to the coat rack, took down a white down jacket, and draped it over Gao Lingwei’s shoulders. He whispered, “Songbai Town is already safe, and your parents have specialists from the Snow Burning Army protecting them. It’s very safe here, so don’t worry.”

Seeing Gao Lingwei standing there, unresponsive, Rong Taotao clamped the bean bun between his teeth, moved around in front of her, and started guiding her arm into the jacket sleeve.

He mumbled, “If something really happens outside the wall, we’ll be the ones solving the problem, resolving the crisis. That’s how we truly protect Aunt Ch—”

Rong Taotao stopped mid-sentence as Cheng Yuan returned with a white cotton-padded hat and placed it on her daughter’s head.

Gao Lingwei composed herself. With Rong Taotao helping her into her jacket and her mother putting on her hat, she felt like a little girl being doted on.

Clearly, Gao Lingwei was not that kind of person, nor did she want to be.

She took a few steps back and finished getting dressed herself. “I’m leaving, Mom, Dad.”

“Go on, then. Take care of yourself. If anything comes up, discuss it with Taotao,” Cheng Yuan said, her face filled with worry.

“Don’t worry, Auntie,” Rong Taotao said as he guided Gao Lingwei out the door. He glanced back and called out, “We’re off, Uncle! I’ll come by again soon!”

“Alright.” From the living room, Gao Qingchen replied without turning his head, his eyes still on the TV…

Once outside the apartment building, Gao Lingwei summoned Hu Bugui. They both vaulted onto its back. With a squeeze of her legs against its flanks, Hu Bugui shot forward.

With a clatter of hooves, the Snow Night Shock sped down the main street, its speed astonishing as it galloped to the East.

At the entrance to Songbai Town, they saw Snake mounted on her own Snow Night Shock, waiting silently for them just outside the checkpoint.

Snake seemed to be someone who never took a holiday. She had arrived in Songbai Town before the New Year to command various squads in suppressing bandits. Now, on the third day of the New Year, even though the joint operation between the Snow Burning Army and the Soul Police was over, there was likely still a lot of follow-up work to do.

Seeing the two youngsters arrive, Snake gave a nod to the soldiers at the checkpoint, then immediately turned her mount and rode out of town.

As expected, the guards at the checkpoint, having been acknowledged by Snake, didn’t stop Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei to verify their identities, simply watching as they departed.

“Auntie She, what’s the situation at the Three Passes?” Gao Lingwei, who had been silent for the whole ride, finally asked.

“Not good,” Snake replied, her expression grim. “The blizzard came on suddenly and is only intensifying. According to the Snow Burning soldiers stationed at the third wall, Wan’an Pass, this storm has only just begun. It won’t be over anytime soon.”

As she spoke, Snake glanced back at the two of them. She seemed to be carefully considering their status and their current roles before adding, “The intensity of this blizzard is a whole level higher than the one a year and a half ago.”

Gao Lingwei’s bad feeling had finally become reality. Her brows knitted together. “What’s our mission?”

Snake said, “A blizzard of this magnitude means the Poachers will be running rampant. It’s the best cover they could ask for.”

“As members of the Twelfth Squad, we’re always busiest whenever a blizzard hits. It’s when we have to patrol constantly around the Wall and be on standby at all times.”

“However, the Qian Organization was just dismantled, and besides…”

Rong Taotao prompted, “And besides what?”

“Xiaowei… hmm, Xu Dog is different,” Snake said. “My orders for summoning you two back weren’t just to bring you to Hundred Corps Pass. There should be a follow-up assignment, but I don’t know the specifics yet.”

Hearing this, Gao Lingwei didn’t ask any more questions.

And as they journeyed north, the blizzard only grew stronger…

Several hours later, the trio arrived at Hundred Corps Pass.

When the trio had set out, the sun was setting over Songbai Town. But now, Hundred Corps Pass was pitch-black, engulfed in a raging blizzard that showed no signs of stopping.

Perhaps it was simply due to the time. After all, they had been riding for a full two hours. The sun had set long ago; it was only natural that the world would be dark.