Passing the cave for a short while led to a dead end. There, Han Jiangxue pried open a piece of ice, revealing an opening just large enough for one person to pass through. The tunnel was deep, its destination unknown.
"Su Fan gege, hurry!"
Han Jiangxue waved to Su Fan, signaling him to come quickly.
Su Fan walked over and, at Han Jiangxue's direction, crawled into the opening.
The opening was a bit small, and Su Fan felt somewhat cramped inside, but he could manage to crawl.
Han Jiangxue followed him in and then sealed the entrance with another piece of ice.
"Su Fan gege, crawl forward."
She then urged Su Fan to move ahead.
Su Fan had no choice but to comply; he couldn't even turn around in this place.
After crawling for a distance, he reached another dead end.
The path ahead was blocked by a block of ice.
With his previous experience, Su Fan gently moved the ice block, revealing a cave leading outside.
Su Fan emerged from the opening, feeling instantly relieved.
The passage had been too narrow; he couldn't even stretch his limbs.
Han Jiangxue emerged from the passage shortly after and sealed it with ice once more.
"Is this how you always get out?"
Su Fan realized that it wasn't easy for people here to leave, as evidenced by the guards at the other entrance. Han Jiangxue, however, had somehow found this hidden passage, allowing her to bypass the guarded cave and exit the interior of the ice mountain.
"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get out. To leave, one must apply to the Queen and get her permission,"
Han Jiangxue nodded, not hiding anything from Su Fan.
Su Fan nodded slightly.
"Su Fan gege, this is my home. Come with me."
Han Jiangxue excitedly grabbed Su Fan and ran ahead.
Not far ahead stood an ice house, which was Han Jiangxue's home.
All the buildings here were constructed from ice. The temperature remained below freezing year-round, but it was slightly warmer than the outside, around minus twenty to thirty degrees Celsius.
"Daddy, I'm back!"
Han Jiangxue shouted into the house as soon as she arrived.
"You little brat, where have you been running off to again!"
A burly middle-aged man emerged from the ice house. He wore only a leather coat and a fur hat.
The moment the man saw Su Fan, his eyes sharpened, and a chill emanated from them.
Su Fan's attire instantly told him that this person was from the outside world.
"Who are you? How did you get in?"
The middle-aged man asked Su Fan with a wary expression.
"Daddy, Su Fan gege is my friend."
Before Su Fan could speak, Han Jiangxue quickly intervened to vouch for him.
Hearing Han Jiangxue's words, the middle-aged man's expression worsened.
"You ran off again? How many times have I told you not to wander off! You never listen!"
The middle-aged man was very displeased with Han Jiangxue.
Han Jiangxue looked at her father with a hint of grievance.
Seeing his daughter's gaze, the middle-aged man's heart softened instantly.
"Fine, come in."
Perhaps it was because of Han Jiangxue, but the middle-aged man allowed Su Fan into the room.
His gaze towards Su Fan, however, remained unfriendly.
"Uncle, I am Su Fan. Please forgive my intrusion."
Su Fan wasn't here for revenge and saw no need to create further animosity. He introduced himself proactively.
"Han Zhongjun, what is your purpose?"
Han Zhongjun, however, was still suspicious of Su Fan. The ice plains were vast; without a purpose, how could he have found the Ice City?
"Uncle Han, I truly arrived here by accident. I met Han Jiangxue on the mountain, and we hit it off immediately. Han Jiangxue invited me to her home as a guest. I truly have no other intentions."
Su Fan explained to Han Zhongjun.
Han Zhongjun did not believe Su Fan's words.
"Yes, Su Fan gege even treated me to delicious hot pot!"
Han Jiangxue nodded, saying excitedly.
The thought of hot pot made her mouth water.
"What hot pot?"
Han Zhongjun looked at Han Jiangxue with confusion.
She dared to eat things from strangers? Had she forgotten all his warnings? He sighed.
Han Zhongjun sighed, feeling that raising his daughter was too difficult.
"Uncle Han, I have hot pot seasoning here. Let's try it together."
Su Fan generously took out all the ingredients needed for hot pot, laying out a table full of food.
Han Zhongjun was slightly surprised to see Su Fan conjure so many things out of thin air but didn't pay it much mind.
People around the Queen also possessed similar abilities.
Su Fan skillfully lit a fire, boiled water, added the seasoning, and prepared dipping sauces for them.
As soon as Han Zhongjun took a bite, he was astonished.
"What is this delicacy? Why is the meat so delicious!"
Han Zhongjun was shocked.
"I've never eaten anything so delicious, even in the outside world!"
In his youth, Han Zhongjun had ventured beyond the ice plains and seen lush green vegetables, towering trees, delicious ingredients, and a vibrant life.
But he had never tasted such exquisite food.
Simple slices of meat possessed such a rich flavor.
"There's also lettuce, Uncle. Try some."
Su Fan offered it to Han Zhongjun.
He noticed that the people here didn't seem to eat many vegetables, and vegetables held more appeal for them than meat.
Han Zhongjun took a bite of the lettuce, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Sweet and juicy, what divine food was this? He felt his life was complete.
Su Fan thought Han Zhongjun's reaction might be a bit excessive. Was it necessary?
Su Fan looked at Han Zhongjun with confusion.
He couldn't understand Han Zhongjun's emotions.
However, he could imagine how surprising it would be to suddenly taste fresh vegetables after living in a place where they were rarely available. He assumed Han Zhongjun was experiencing just that.
The three of them ate hot pot and chatted, and the atmosphere in the room became lively. Su Fan and Han Zhongjun's relationship also eased, and the temperature in the room rose.
*Drip!*
A drop of water fell into the hot pot.
Han Zhongjun looked at the ceiling in confusion, his expression changing drastically.
"Holy cow! The ceiling is melting!"
Because of the hot pot, the temperature had risen too high, and the rising steam caused the ice bricks of the ceiling to melt. If he had noticed any later, the roof might have caved in.
"Quick, quick, let's move it to the courtyard to eat!"
Su Fan thought Han Zhongjun would stop there, but he was surprised when he started moving the table outside to continue eating.
It was evident how much the hot pot had captivated him.
Su Fan helplessly helped move everything to the courtyard.
Han Zhongjun finally stopped after contentedly finishing all the ingredients.
"Excellent, excellent. You're a good lad."
Han Zhongjun said to Su Fan, patting his bulging stomach with satisfaction.
The hot pot had completely won over Han Zhongjun.
"Hehe, I'm glad you liked it, Uncle. I only brought a little food, otherwise, I would have let Uncle try other delicacies."
Su Fan said obsequiously.
"Uncle, can you tell me about this place?"