Under the guidance of Lai Anna and escorted by a few attendants, the carriage slowly entered the gates of Snowfall City. Having grown accustomed to the endless whiteness along the way, Li Ta felt somewhat unsettled as Snowfall City gradually unfolded in her view. Even though the infinite white had prepared her mentally for this, she still couldn’t help but be greatly surprised when she actually set foot in Snowfall City.
The reality was far too different from what she had imagined. However, it was a pleasant difference.
The streets of Snowfall City were covered with a thin layer of snow, but one could still feel the rough stone bricks underneath. Walking on such roads, horse hooves and one’s own feet would not slip. The accumulated snow from previous days had been piled up in flower beds and patted into neat squares, making Li Ta feel as if she were walking through a corridor made of snow.
Blacksmith shops, restaurants, and grocery stalls—all the necessary facilities were available. Although the pedestrians on the streets could not compare with the Royal Capital, they were still numerous and continuous. It was completely different from the sparsely populated border fortress that Li Ta had imagined.
“First time in the Northlands, Miss Li Ta?”
Lai Anna on horseback slowed down to ride alongside the carriage Li Ta was driving.
“Yes.”
Li Ta looked at the freshly pulled out roasted sweet potatoes by the roadside and swallowed hard.
Lai Anna tightened the reins, then took two silver coins from her bosom and handed them to the vendor. The vendor immediately wrapped several roasted sweet potatoes in discarded paper and handed them over. Lai Anna first brought one to the front of the carriage and gave it to Saixiliya, then gave one to Li Ta, and each of the accompanying attendants also got one. Finally, Lai Anna kept the most misshapen one for herself.
Lai Anna crushed the sweet potato’s hardened outer shell, revealing the golden flesh. Seeing that Li Ta still hadn’t moved, she glanced sideways and asked, “Do you southerners need a spoon to eat sweet potatoes?”
“No, I don’t.”
Li Ta shook her head, imitated Lai Anna’s method of crushing the shell, and took a big bite. Li Ta hadn’t had anything hot for a long time. Although it didn’t do much to fill her stomach, a single bite of the scalding roasted sweet potato sent sweetness and a bit of uncleaned charcoal taste down her throat. Just that warmth gave Li Ta a much stronger sense of being alive.
“Do you think that we northerners are all savages living in houses made of rock and snow, wrapped in furs from head to toe?”
Lai Anna took a bite of the sweet roasted sweet potato, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. Clearly, she was referring to the “stereotype” many people held.
Li Ta shook her head and continued eating in small bites, letting the warmth dispel the cold from her body.
“Not really, but I’ve heard that many criminals are exiled to the Northlands to grow potatoes, so I thought the environment might be harsher.”
“Of course it’s harsh. Before the Northlands were developed, people would freeze to death in the snow every winter, and countless others were dragged off by Ice Plains Wolves or Snow Leopards. Further north, there are even Alien Ghosts.”
Lai Anna said.
“But to prevent future generations from continuing to beg for warmth and safety in the cold, the First Men built cities in the Northlands. Gradually, it became what you see now.”
Li Ta felt she couldn’t really contribute to this topic, so she pressed her lips together.
“Anyway, if northerners just stared at the white snow all day, they’d go insane.”
Lai Anna noticed that Li Ta had no chance to interject, so she hastily ended the topic.
“Alright, let me take you to find a place to stay first.”
The place Lai Anna found for them to stay was naturally the lord’s mansion. After tying up the horses, a servant lifted the carriage seat and took out Saixiliya’s luggage from the box under the seat, then transported it all to the guest room.
Next came bath time. Lai Anna said, “Coming out of the harsh winter, without the baptism of hot water, body and soul would be frozen stiff.”
Li Ta had to admit that Snowfall City’s bathing culture was the most prosperous she had ever seen, but the degree of openness was indeed a bit exaggerated. It seemed that in the hearts of northerners, being completely open and honest was the highest form of etiquette. Sharing a giant bath with others—Li Ta was indeed a bit uncomfortable, but watching Lai Anna strip naked first, she had no choice but to steel herself and soak in the huge hot spring pool together with the other.
Fortunately, at this time there weren’t many people—only a few young women bathing little girls by the pool, and a few elderly ladies peacefully immersing themselves in the water. After a brief moment of shyness, the feeling of being enveloped by the hot water replaced Li Ta’s discomfort.
After washing Saixiliya’s body and enjoying a nice hot bath, the two changed into bathrobes and, led by Lai Anna, went to lie down in a warm stone chamber covered with medicinal herbs and pebbles.
“The medicinal herbs here, with the help of the temperature, can expel moisture and cold from the body through sweating. This is very beneficial for health. Otherwise, northerners running around in the snow all day would have frozen to death long ago.”
Lai Anna explained carefully.
Li Ta didn’t know how effective these herbs were on her, but she felt that if she stayed here, she might turn into a piece of smoked meat. However, after a while, Li Ta also thought the smell here was actually not bad, at least giving her a very healthy feeling.
After lying down for a while, Lai Anna spoke again.
“Your Highness, my elder brother Brandon is not here, so I can only host you in his stead.”
If it were Brandon, Li Ta would never allow a man to go through this whole “open and honest” routine, though such an offense would have been impossible from the start. But Lai Anna’s personal accompaniment was enough to show the importance Snowfall City placed on them and the warmth of the northerners.
“No, having Miss Lai Anna accompany us is more than enough.”
Saixiliya’s reply was a bit lazy.
“Although this setting may be a bit informal, in the hearts of us northerners, this time of being open and honest is more suitable for talking about things. If you don’t mind, please allow me to continue the previous topic.”
Lai Anna said again.
“Mm.”
Saixiliya replied.
“I am aware of the customs of the Northlands, so I will follow local practices.”
Earlier, on the Forest Snowfield, Lai Anna had asked a question.
“May I ask if you, like the Second Princess, have come for the matter of the Everfrost Wasteland?”
Saixiliya immediately showed confusion and gave a negative answer. Then Lai Anna seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief, did not continue the topic, but instead said that the snowfield was not a place for conversation, and instead invited Saixiliya to rest first in Snowfall City. It seemed that now they were going to talk about this matter.
“Your Highness the Fourth Princess, you also know that the Northlands have been tasked with resisting the Alien Ghosts since ancient times, but do you know what the Alien Ghosts actually are?”
Lai Anna was the first to ask.
“As far as I know, the Alien Ghosts are a race from the Everfrost Wasteland. Legend says they have undying bodies, the ability to turn people into Corpse Ghosts, and often appear accompanied by white frost. The records about Alien Ghosts are somewhat complicated and vary widely, so I certainly cannot give an accurate answer.”
“You are correct, but there are indeed some errors. Actually, defining the Alien Ghosts is not difficult.”
Lai Anna paused.
“Alien Ghosts are actually a collective term for the undead who have received some sort of blessing from the Everfrost Wasteland.”
“Collective term?”
Li Ta was puzzled and couldn’t help but ask back.
“That’s right. Just as Blood Demons, Abyss Lords, Sirens, and other races are collectively called the Demon Race, Alien Ghosts are also a collective term. Ice flows in their blood and soul, which is why they can survive in such harsh environments.”
Lai Anna continued.
“Although we talk about resisting the Alien Ghosts, in reality there have been no large-scale wars over the years. The reason is that the number of Alien Ghosts is actually small, and each one is extremely powerful. But in fact, that’s not all—there is another very important reason.”
“What is it?”
Li Ta’s curiosity was also piqued.
“That’s because the Alien Ghosts have no—or rather, we don’t yet know if they have—a true leader.”
Lai Anna replied.
“In the past, we always believed that the most likely ruler among the Alien Ghosts was the ‘Wild Hunt,’ but they rarely appear and never approach the Great Wall.”
“But then?”
“But now, a mysterious leader has appeared among the Alien Ghosts, and they have already launched several attacks on the Great Wall. Although the attacks have not been large in scale, they are definitely premeditated. Therefore, my brother is especially concerned and has personally gone to the Great Wall to assess the situation. The Second Princess has also gathered troops and headed to the Great Wall, preparing to reinforce the soldiers stationed there.”
As she spoke, Lai Anna’s tone was unprecedentedly grave.
“Therefore, Your Highness the Fourth Princess, if you have not come for the war beyond the Everfrost Wasteland, for your safety, I suggest you…”