Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

7: Chapter 7: The Guide in Black”Sha... sha sha...” The steady and rhythmic sound of footsteps crunched through the wailing wind and snow, like drumbeats striking a dying heart, approaching from afar. Each step fell with a peculiar sense of rhythm, as if treading on some invisible string, causing the trajectories of the surrounding wind and snow to pause subtly.

Lin Mo’s consciousness was stretched taut at the edge of the abyss of excruciating pain and exhaustion! The chaos dao body seed, like a startled hedgehog, instinctively curled up and retracted all of its aura. He exhausted his last shred of mental effort to condense his Perception into invisible tentacles, casting them toward the source of the footsteps.

Amidst the withered forest filled with snow, a figure slowly pierced through the grayish-white curtain of snow, his silhouette gradually becoming clear.

The newcomer was quite tall, wearing a deep azure cloth robe that was washed-out but exceptionally clean. The hem of the robe remained motionless in the cold wind, as if undisturbed by the wind and snow of heaven and earth. His hair and beard were completely white, yet not withered; instead, they possessed a warm, jade-like luster. His face was lean, with deep wrinkles like knife carvings, yet he showed no sign of aging. His eyes, in particular, were as deep as a night sky harboring an entire galaxy, ancient and wise. At this moment, they were calmly fixed upon the mother and her two children huddled together on the snowy ground, on the verge of death.

He carried no weapon, only leaning on a boxwood cane that appeared ordinary but was oily and lustrous throughout. The head of the cane had no carvings and was naturally curved, exuding a sense of returning to simplicity. The crude Wooden Spear that had just killed the Alpha Wolf with a single strike seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Nangong Xuan!

Lin Mo’s heart was instantly swept by a tidal wave of shock! This name struck his chaotic consciousness like a bolt of lightning! In the fragmented memories of the original host, among the blurry bits of information regarding the past of his mother Liu Qingxuan’s Family, there seemed to be a vague mention of a black-robed elder who had once received a favor from the Liu Family ancestors, possessed unfathomable cultivation, and traveled the world year-round! The characteristics matched perfectly! It was him! Why would he appear here?! Was it a coincidence? Or... Nangong Xuan’s gaze first swept over the corpse of the Alpha Wolf, which had gradually stopped twitching in a pool of blood, pausing for a moment on the crude Wooden Spear, a hint of realization flashing through his eyes. Immediately, his gaze fell upon Liu Qingxuan, Lin Mo, and the unconscious, weakly breathing little girl, all huddled together and soaked in blood and snow.

His gaze was very calm, devoid of pity or surprise, possessing only a profound depth that saw through everything. That gaze seemed capable of piercing through the flesh to look directly at the Origin. When his sight landed on Lin Mo, who was wrapped in a tattered quilt with only half of his pale little face exposed in Liu Qingxuan’s arms, Lin Mo felt as if he were naked and exposed in the freezing snow! That deep gaze seemed to penetrate his disguise, landing on the Chaos seed he was desperately hiding in the depths of his consciousness!

Lin Mo’s heart nearly stopped beating! He frantically suppressed the dao body seed, simulating an infant’s weakest heartbeat and breathing, even at the cost of inducing a wisp of backlash pain, causing his body to twitch uncontrollably and his little face to show an expression of agony.

Nangong Xuan’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. His deep gaze lingered on Lin Mo for two breaths, as if he had seen something extremely interesting yet extremely complex. Then, his gaze turned to Liu Qingxuan, pausing for a moment on her posture of desperately protecting the two children despite her exhaustion, and finally landed on the dying little girl covered in blood. When he clearly saw the silhouette of the little girl’s blood-stained face, a tiny ripple finally emerged in Nangong Xuan’s eyes, which were usually as calm as an ancient well, as if a stone had been cast into a tranquil lake.

He walked forward slowly, his footsteps silent, as if even the snow on the ground was unwilling to be disturbed. He did not immediately provide aid, but stood quietly, like a deity overlooking the Mortal world, possessing a sense of detachment that transcended the mundane. The wind and snow slid away three feet from his body, unable to touch him in the slightest.

Liu Qingxuan’s consciousness drifted in the dizziness caused by the cold and blood loss. She vaguely felt someone approaching, and a massive fear made her instinctively hold Lin Mo tighter while shielding the little girl with her body. She struggled to lift her head to see the newcomer, but her eyelids were as heavy as lead.

”Who...” A broken gasp escaped her throat, filled with endless vigilance and despair.

Nangong Xuan did not answer. He slowly crouched down, his movements natural and fluid, carrying an ancient rhythm. He extended two fingers, not touching her directly, but pressing them through the air an inch above the unconscious girl’s forehead. No light flashed from his fingertips, but Lin Mo’s extremely sharp Perception clearly ”captured” an extremely pure, gentle life aura, as vast as the warm spring sun, flowing silently from Nangong Xuan’s fingertips and softly covering the little girl’s entire body!

A miracle occurred! The terrifying wound on the little girl’s left shoulder, which was deep enough to see the bone and had mangled flesh, saw its flowing blood rapidly slow and congeal at a speed visible to the naked eye! A faint trace of vitality emerged at the edges of the mangled flesh; although it did not heal immediately, the fatal bleeding was forcibly stopped! Her breath, which was so weak it had nearly ceased, became steady again as if injected with a clear spring; though still faint, it was no longer a candle flame that could be extinguished at any moment!

Liu Qingxuan vaguely felt the change in the little girl’s breath beside her, and a massive shock along with a sliver of weak hope broke through the Chaos of her consciousness. She struggled to open her heavy eyelids, and in her blurred vision, she only saw a lean elder with white hair and beard, wearing a deep azure cloth robe, crouching beside them.

”Senior... save... save the child...” She used her last bit of strength to utter a hoarse plea, her eyes filled with desperate supplication. She did not recognize Nangong Xuan, but the transcendent aura he exuded made her feel as if she had grasped her final lifeline.

Nangong Xuan’s gaze finally turned toward Liu Qingxuan. He still did not speak, but similarly extended two fingers and pressed them through the air above Liu Qingxuan’s forehead. That gentle and vast life aura flowed out once more, like an invisible warm current, instantly enveloping Liu Qingxuan’s freezing body!

Liu Qingxuan felt an indescribable warmth surge from her forehead, quickly flowing through her entire body! The bone-chilling cold, the deep-seated fatigue, and the dizziness from blood loss were washed away by the warm tide, instantly alleviating most of her symptoms! Her numb limbs regained sensation, and her heavy mind cleared significantly! She looked at the elder before her in shock, her immense gratitude nearly bringing her to tears!

Having finished this, Nangong Xuan slowly withdrew his fingers. His movements remained composed, as if he had only performed a trivial task. He did not look at Liu Qingxuan’s grateful eyes again, his gaze returning once more to Lin Mo in her arms.

Lin Mo kept his eyes tightly shut, his little face pale and his body trembling slightly from exhaustion and backlash, appearing as an extremely weak and terrified infant. However, he could clearly feel that as the vast and gentle life aura flowed through his mother’s body, an extremely tiny wisp of it was quietly drawn into his own body as if by a magnet! This aura was incredibly pure, far exceeding the inferior spirit stone fragment he had obtained from the sign-in, and was instantly captured and swallowed by the greedy chaos dao body seed in the depths of his consciousness!

Buzz! The Chaos seed emitted an extremely faint hum of joy that only Lin Mo could ”hear”! The Chaos halo, which had dimmed due to the forced outburst, brightened slightly at a speed visible to the naked eye! TheMysterious (mysterious), natural Dao-like fine patterns on the surface of the seed also seemed to become a tiny bit clearer! The excruciating pain from the backlash receded rapidly like melting snow! A faint warm current began to flow through his small body once more!

[Ding! Absorbed unknown high-level life energy! Chaos Dao Body (Seed) growth rate +0.1%! Current growth rate: 0.3%!] [Passive effect increased: Spiritual Qi affinity +1.5%, base physical strength +1.5%! Backlash state significantly alleviated!]

The cold System notification sounded in the depths of his consciousness! A tidal wave of shock surged in Lin Mo’s heart! Just the nourishment of a single wisp of aura had an effect far exceeding all his previous efforts! Just what Realm was this Nangong Xuan in?!

Nangong Xuan’s deep gaze lingered on Lin Mo for a full three breaths. His brow furrowed slightly, as if he were perceiving something extremely complex and difficult to understand. Then, he shook his head almost imperceptibly, an extremely deep and inexpressible emotion flashing through his eyes, appearing to be regret, or perhaps... a weightiness after gaining insight into the secrets of heaven?

He no longer focused on Lin Mo, slowly standing up and casting his gaze toward the depths of the snow-filled desolate forest. His voice was peaceful and aged, like a boulder that had endured the river of time, clearly reaching Liu Qingxuan’s ears: ”The wind and snow are too heavy; this place is not suitable for a long stay. Though the Wolf Pack has retreated, the scent of blood has not dissipated, and it may attract other vicious beasts.” His voice carried a strange soothing power, causing Liu Qingxuan’s panicked mind to calm down inexplicably.

”Senior...” Liu Qingxuan struggled to get up to bow and give thanks, but was held down by a gentle, invisible force, unable to rise.

Nangong Xuan’s gaze swept over the little girl who was still unconscious on the ground, then landed on Liu Qingxuan’s pale and haggard face, his tone flat and emotionless: ”Take this child and head thirty li east; there is a Mortal town called ’Black Stone’. There is a Charity house in the town that may provide shelter.”

Black Stone Town?! Liu Qingxuan’s heart jolted! This was exactly the place designated on the Liu Family’s Exile Order! This mysterious Senior... was also pointing there? Was it a coincidence? Or... Before she could think further, Nangong Xuan’s gaze turned once more toward a certain direction in the desolate forest, his eyes seemingly piercing through the heavy snow to see further. His aged voice took on a hint of imperceptible depth: ”The road ahead is bumpy; take care of yourself. The arising and passing of fate are all destined.” He spoke the last few words very softly, as if to himself, or as if delivering a prophetic sigh.

As his words fell, he did not stay any longer. His deep azure sleeves brushed lightly in the wind and snow, and his figure faded and disappeared silently, like ink blending into a snowscape. He left no trace, as if he had never appeared. Only the corpse of the Alpha Wolf on the ground, the revived little girl, and Liu Qingxuan, who had regained some of her strength, proved that the miracle-like assistance just now was not a hallucination.

The wind and snow continued to swirl and howl above the desolate forest, but the suffocating crisis of death seemed to have quietly dissipated with Nangong Xuan’s departure.

Holding Lin Mo, Liu Qingxuan stared blankly in the direction Nangong Xuan had disappeared, her heart filled with the relief of surviving a disaster, infinite gratitude toward the mysterious Senior, and a deeper sense of confusion and unease. Black Stone Town... was that truly a path to life?

”Wu...” In her arms, Lin Mo let out a weak whimper, his little face rubbing against his mother’s cheek as if to remind her.

Liu Qingxuan snapped back to her senses! That was right! Now was not the time to daze! The Senior had pointed out the direction! She had to leave this place as soon as possible! She looked down at the unconscious little girl beside her. The blood on the child’s face had been partially cleared by Nangong Xuan’s power, revealing an exceptionally delicate yet bloodless little face. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly like the wings of an injured butterfly.

Liu Qingxuan’s heart instantly softened. This poor child... was she also abandoned by this cold world, just like her? She struggled to sit up, feeling that although her body was still weak, the strength supporting her to live was more abundant than ever. She carefully opened her bundle, tore off the relatively clean lining of her inner garment, and clumsily yet as gently as possible bandaged the hideous wound on the little girl’s left shoulder. She was powerless to help with the fracture in the right arm, so she could only temporarily secure it with cloth strips and branches.

After completing this, she laboriously placed the little girl on her back, tying her tightly with the torn cloth strips to ensure she would not slip off. Then, she picked up Lin Mo again, shielding him tightly in her arms and wrapping him well with the tattered quilt. She identified the direction—East!

The wind and snow seemed to have lessened slightly. Carrying the unconscious little girl on her back and holding Lin Mo, Liu Qingxuan walked step by step, with difficulty yet determination, toward the east, toward that town of Black Stone with its uncertain future. Each step left a deep imprint in the thick snow, only to be quickly covered by new snow.

Lin Mo nestled in his mother’s warm embrace, his consciousness clearer than ever before. After absorbing that wisp of Nangong Xuan’s life aura, the chaos dao body seed had not only lost its backlash but had become even more solid and active than before! The 0.3% growth rate allowed his Perception range to expand to about ten zhang, and his control over his own subtle power also improved by a fraction.

He ”watched” his mother’s back as she trudged through the snow, and looked at the little girl on his mother’s back whose breath was weak but steady, his heart surging with complex emotions. The crisis was temporarily resolved, but a greater challenge lay ahead. Black Stone Town... the place where the Liu Family had exiled them... would it be the end? What did Nangong Xuan’s appearance and his words ”the arising and passing of fate are all destined” portend?

In the wind and snow, three Souls abandoned by fate huddled closely together, leaving a trail of small yet resilient footprints leading toward the unknown across the vast white wilderness.

And just after the figures of Liu Qingxuan and her two children gradually disappeared into the snowy depths of the east, at the edge of the desolate forest, beneath the shadow of a gnarled ancient tree, space rippled slightly like water. The figure that had been trailing behind them, watching like a venomous snake—a sinister-looking man wearing the clothing of a low-level Liu Family Guard—slowly revealed himself.

His face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with lingering fear and shock, and his body was still trembling slightly. Just at the moment Nangong Xuan appeared, an invisible pressure, as heavy as a mountain, had instantly enveloped him! It had made it impossible for him to even move a finger, as if he were nailed into the shadows! It was only long after the black-robed elder had departed that the pressure slowly dissipated.

”Who... who was that?” The Guard’s voice trembled as he looked toward the snow-covered road to the east, his eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty. ”How can there be such a... monster by Liu Qingxuan’s side? That aura... it’s even more terrifying than the Old Clan Leader... no, even more terrifying than the Old Ancestor!” He hesitated for a moment before finally gritting his teeth and turning toward the Liu Family’s ancestral land, fleeing frantically like a stray dog! He had to report these strange occurrences immediately! Liu Qingxuan and her ’useless’ son were likely not that simple!

The wind and snow wailed, covering all traces of departure and hidden undercurrents. The gears of fate turned on the blood-stained snow of the desolate forest, tightly intertwining three originally unrelated trajectories and pushing them toward the town of Black Stone at the end of the wind and snow.