"It's been so long, won't something happen to Fifth Gege?"
This was no longer the first time I looked towards the direction of the black ice. Each time, I hoped Fifth Gege would appear before my eyes. But after looking over a thousand times, Fifth Gege still hadn't shown up.
"It seems she won't be able to come out today."
Yawning, I moved the burning campfire to a different spot. The ground was roasted hot. The mountain air was damp at night. If I slept directly on the ground, I'd wake up with a crooked mouth and a stroke.
Stretching, I lay on the scorching hot ground, feeling as if I were on a heated brick bed in winter. I pondered what would happen if Fifth Gege couldn't seal Senior Black Robe. If she discovered I was an "ungrateful" person, would she suppress me on the spot?
Lost in these chaotic thoughts, I soon drifted into a hazy sleep.
"Achoo... Achoo... Achoo, why is it so cold!"
Glancing at my phone, I realized I had only slept for less than an hour. The campfire beside me was about to go out, and there was still plenty of firewood. Why was it extinguishing so quickly? Perhaps it was due to the heavy yin energy in the mountains.
I quickly added some small dry twigs on top, hoping the flames would grow larger. However, the flames didn't ignite; instead, they were extinguished?
"This is bad, the range of the black ice's freezing is expanding."
I had entered the black ice's range several times before. That bone-chilling cold was exceptionally clear. Looking at the pitch-black expanse, like a real small mountain-sized black ice mountain, I didn't know what was happening inside.
Could it be the commotion caused by Fifth Gege sealing Senior Black Robe? Then why hadn't Fifth Gege come out from inside?
Before the cold air fully surged over, I gathered the remaining firewood, retreated dozens of meters, cleared another spot, and started a fire.
This time, the fire burned quickly, and within a short while, it drove away the chill from my body.
"Looks like I won't be sleeping tonight."
Rubbing my hungry stomach, I sat on the ground and began to meditate. This way, I could both guard against the invasion of the cold air and prevent myself from feeling too hungry.
After only about two hours, the cold air attacked again. There was no choice but to move back again.
I didn't know how many times I moved that night. When the east showed the white of the fish's belly, I could no longer see the location of the black ice mountain. I roughly estimated in my mind that I had run about two li away.
I wondered if Fifth Gege had succeeded. Muttering about her crazy idea, my feet didn't slow down, and I quickly hurried towards the ice mountain.
It was better to know the result early. If she failed, I would have to find a way to leave this place. Otherwise, after starving for another two days, I wouldn't even have the strength to leave.
When I reached the first campfire, I looked up towards the position of the ice mountain. My heart rejoiced. Had Fifth Gege succeeded? Because from that spot, I could see the place where Fifth Gege had entered the ice mountain. Now the ice mountain had disappeared. It should mean either success or failure.
My heart simultaneously hoped for success in sealing Senior Black Robe, which would resolve the possibility of me being possessed. Yet, I also didn't want her to succeed, because sealing Senior Black Robe felt like a betrayal of his guidance to me.
With conflicted thoughts, I quickened my pace. Before I even reached Senior Black Robe's place of punishment, I saw a scene that almost made my jaw drop.
What was going on? Wasn't Fifth Gege going to seal Senior Black Robe?
Why were they now sitting face to face, with a low table placed between them, on which were a tea set and some unknown pastries? They seemed to be chatting very happily, as Senior Black Robe's hearty laughter could be heard from time to time.
"You... you guys, what's going on? Fifth Gege, you said..."
"What did I say? I'm having a great conversation with Senior Black Robe. Don't disturb us."
"Little girl, I must say, your tea-making skills are exceptional. Come have a cup too!" Saying that, he took a sip of tea and praised Fifth Gege's excellent craftsmanship.
"Forget the tea. I'm really hungry, it's more reliable to eat something." After speaking, I didn't stand on ceremony and grabbed a pastry that looked very good, stuffing it into my mouth.
A gust of fragrant wind blew past, and the pastry I was about to eat was snatched by Fifth Gege. She glared at me and said, "These are for Senior. What are you doing touching them?" After speaking, she put the pastry back in its place.
"If you don't want to eat, then don't eat. Why are you so fierce? Be careful you won't find a husband..."
"What did you say?" Fifth Gege's voice rose by eight octaves.
"N-nothing, I just said, when are we leaving here?" I didn't want to dwell on this issue. If Fifth Gege got serious, I would be the one to suffer.
Shifting the topic, I quickly asked her when we could leave. I was starving to death, having not eaten for a day and a night.
Fifth Gege seemed not to have heard my words. She looked at Senior Black Robe and asked, "Senior, can we leave?"
Senior Black Robe put down the teacup in his hand and said sternly, "You can leave, of course, but don't forget the agreement between us."
"Agreement? What agreement? You guys..."
Fifth Gege interrupted me and said, "Don't worry about it, Senior. I, Tang Xinyue, will keep my promises."
"Good! You can leave now!"
...
Walking on the way out, I kept asking Fifth Gege about the agreement with Senior Black Robe, why he no longer resided in my sea of consciousness, and if he had promised not to possess me anymore.
"Mhm!" Fifth Gege replied absentmindedly, looking preoccupied.
This was the first time I had seen Fifth Gege like this. Before, she was either cold or very cold, as if she was born with a cold demeanor. But today's change was too abnormal.
This was completely out of character for her.
I quickened my pace and blocked her path, looking at her calmly and asking, "Fifth Gege, what did you promise Senior Black Robe? I hope you answer me seriously."
Even if my brain was slow to react, I could tell that Fifth Gege had agreed to a condition that she couldn't refuse, otherwise, she wouldn't be looking so worried, with all her thoughts written on her face.
"I didn't promise anything. It's just that Senior saw my good aptitude and wanted to take me as his disciple."
"Wha... what? Take you as a disciple?" I dug into my ear, thinking I had misheard. "Didn't you go to seal Senior? How... how did you suddenly become his disciple?"
"That is the condition I agreed to."
"Isn't that great? Senior Black Robe is immensely powerful. If you follow him to cultivate, you will surely reach a higher level. Perhaps you could even become a Ghost Emperor?" Although this outcome was somewhat beyond my expectations, I was truly happy for Fifth Gege.
"If that's the case, you might not see me again..."
I laughed heartily and said indifferently, "Not see me? What are you kidding about? This is the internet age, we can video call! We can see each other whenever we want. Can you run off the earth?"
"You... you... you're making me so angry! You can find your own way from now on!" Saying that, she didn't wait for my reply, flashed, ascended into the air, and instantly disappeared.
I didn't understand Fifth Gege's meaning, but the path between humans and ghosts ultimately had no outcome...