The ice powder snow fluttered.
In the projection, pure white snowflakes twinkled with brilliant light, and Jiang Yaqing yawned, tilting her head tiredly.
"What's up?"
A very familiar opening.
Their communication usually began like this, Jiang Yaqing and Chen Yu.
"Oh wow, why is it so noisy over there? Are you at war?" Jiang Yaqing, wearing a cloak, asked with a playful smile in her eyes, "What trouble are you causing now?"
???
The overwhelming sense of familiarity, along with the simple coat and the world of ice and snow behind her, made Chen Yu raise an eyebrow.
It seemed he had been overthinking things.
When Chen Yu saw the Ice Snow Emperor's announcement, he had actually wondered if Jiang Yaqing had obtained that inheritance. She spent all her time in that icy, snowy land, so it was somewhat possible.
Looking at her now, it probably wasn't her.
"Hey, are you mute? You were sending me messages like crazy late at night, and now you're playing dead?" Jiang Yaqing frowned unhappily. "I'm exhausted from mining all day, don't mess with me. Or rather, you're probably struggling to save yourself right now, like a clay Buddha crossing a river. Tell me, what help do you need from your sister?"
"Sister Qing, it's so good to hear your voice."
Chen Yu's eyes were filled with fawning smiles. "I won't say too many flattering words. You've worked hard, and my situation is quite urgent. I'm looking for you to ask if you know any capable people in the Batu Kingdom. They don't need to be too formidable, just someone with a bit of fame."
"Yes, I do."
Jiang Yaqing immediately grinned.
"Attox."
"Who is this..." Chen Yu muttered suspiciously. Jiang Yaqing, with a full smile, said, "The Chief of the Batu Free Federation. You could probably consider him the king."
Holy cow?!
Chen Yu's eyes widened like ox eyes as he stared at the projection on his wristband.
What was going on?
Jiang Yaqing had connections like this in the underground caves?
However, this shock didn't last long, and Chen Yu sighed with a helpless expression.
"Sister, are you kidding me?" Chen Yu frowned. "I'm telling you something serious, and you're talking nonsense. You know the King of Batu? Well... it's probably like you know him, but he doesn't know you, right?"
Unbelievable.
He almost believed it.
For a moment, Chen Yu was genuinely shocked by Jiang Yaqing's capabilities, but then he thought, why would she know the King of Batu Kingdom?
The most formidable person Chen Yu knew in the underground caves seemed to be Ilya.
And she was just a princess.
"Weren't you the one who started kidding me?" Jiang Yaqing spread her hands. "What were you thinking? We're both from outside. You ask if I know anyone from the Batu Kingdom, and a famous one at that. Where am I supposed to find them? If you're really bored this late at night, just entertain yourself, or go have some drinks."
"I just thought you had a lot of influence?"
"What exactly is your situation?" Jiang Yaqing in the projection tightened her clothes, sniffling. "The fighting sounds so fierce, and you're specifically asking me about my connections in Batu. You... no, wait, weren't you in the Tatu Kingdom? How is this related to Batu?"
"Alas, this matter cannot be explained clearly in a moment."
"Then mention me to them." Suddenly, Jiang Yaqing patted her chest, saying, "Just tell them your big sister is Jiang Yaqing, and she is the sworn sister of your Chief Attox. Anyone who dares to touch you is an enemy of Jiang Yaqing, and an enemy of your Chief. Just say that!"
"Here we go again." Chen Yu pouted. "If you can't help, just go to sleep."
"Why don't you believe me?!"
Jiang Yaqing's eyes were solemn as she puffed out her chest.
"What I'm saying is the truth."
"Ah... the truth!" Chen Yu responded lazily. "How can you be so ruthless? A king's sister? What, are you the Ice Snow Emperor? Even if you were the Ice Snow Emperor, the announcement only came out at noon, and the King of Batu Kingdom came to your place to become sworn siblings by evening."
"Yes."
"Go get some rest. You can have anything in your dreams. I'm really in a hurry. I'll contact you after I resolve this trouble. Goodbye."
The video call ended.
Jiang Yaqing, standing in the snow, stared at the disappeared projection, clenching her fists tightly.
"Damn it, he hung up on me again."
"Is that young man your friend?" A man with two curved horns on his head, dressed in a long black robe, walked out from the side.
He was the Chief of the Batu Free Federation.
Attox!
"Mmm~"
Jiang Yaqing nodded slightly and whispered to the person before her.
"He seems to be in some trouble, and it's trouble brought by your Batu people. Can you step in and resolve it? Consider it a favor I owe you."
"Such a small matter doesn't even qualify as a favor."
Attox smiled and shook his head. "It's just a small gesture, but there's a rather tricky problem. You need to tell me what trouble he's currently facing. However, I don't recommend doing this. If the person in the video can't even handle some minor figures in my federation, how can he stand by your side in the future?"
In fact, judging solely from this sentence, there was nothing wrong.
Attox was the ruler of the federation.
His vision was much higher than others, and those he approved of had to be comparable to him, just like Jiang Yaqing before him.
Not long ago, she was an unknown nobody.
But—
She had received the gift of the Ice Snow Emperor.
Although her strength was still weak at this moment, the energy she controlled behind her was enough to earn Attox's respect.
His words were also out of good intentions, thinking for Jiang Yaqing.
To survive in the underground caves, Jiang Yaqing needed allies who could fight alongside her, not a burden.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Yaqing suddenly looked up at him.
"Attox, I think I need to re-evaluate our relationship."
This sudden shift caught Attox by surprise.
"Why?"
"Could it be..."
Attox's eyes widened in shock at a possible realization, and Jiang Yaqing looked at him intently, whispering.
"The reason I chose to reach this position and bear the pressure of this position is for him." Jiang Yaqing did not hide anything, raising her hand to point at the distant ice mountain. "Do you think I like it here? I don't. It was because I didn't want to be a burden to him that I took this step. I don't care if he can stand by my side in the future. Even if he achieves nothing, I am willing to protect him for life. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Attox, standing in the snow, was filled with shock.
He could hardly believe that Jiang Yaqing would say such a thing.
"Also, he is not an incompetent person," Jiang Yaqing whispered sternly. "Aren't you going to war with the Tatu Kingdom? Your subordinates contacted an equipment merchant, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know who is behind that equipment merchant? It's him, Chen Batian."