After a long day's journey along the Great Western Road toward the Jade Ribbon Immortal Passage, they had reached the final stretch: the valley that bounded the Northern Domain, known as the Green Gate of the North—the Jade Whispering Woods.
It lay directly north of the last bend in the Great Western Road, right where maps warned "Here Be Snow." To ordinary travellers, it appeared as nothing more than a thick, endless pine forest climbing gently uphill and vanishing into mountain mist.
On that day, they were about to enter the true entrance of the Northern Domain, but fate seemed intent on testing them. A large number of sect cultivators waited ahead, manning a checkpoint.
Fifty white-robed cultivators stood in neat rows across the road, golden sun embroidered on every chest. Behind them, a long line of merchant and sect carriages waited obediently. Disciples moved from vehicle to vehicle, polite but thorough, checking tokens and faces.
Xue Wuya, riding at the very front on a midnight-black spirit stallion, raised one gauntleted hand. The Marshal dismounted without a sound and walked back along the line until he reached the Duan twins' carriage.
For context, Xue Wuya was a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator, one step from Void Refining. He served as the highest military commander of the entire Northern Domain, directly under the Palace Lord, though everyone knew the armies answered to him first.
He concealed his imposing personality with practiced ease, acting composed toward the sect cultivators under his command. Yu Xiao knew nothing of this, but the Duan siblings understood it perfectly.
"General," Han-Yun murmured as Xue Wuya drew near.
"Peril lies ahead," the Marshal replied, his gaze fixed on the distance. "These are Western Domain sect cultivators, loyal to Zhou Yan. Conceal her—at once."
Han-Yun's composure shattered; panic flashed across his features. He slipped inside the carriage without leaving. Yu Xiao was still lost in slumber.
"Lady Yu… My Lady," he whispered urgently, tapping her shoulder with frantic care.
Yu Xiao opened one eye, peering at Han-Yun through heavy lids. She let out a soft grunt, stretched languidly, and let her eyes drift shut once more. "Han-Yun, show mercy," she murmured drowsily. "A weary soul seeks only repose."
Yet Han-Yun persisted.
"Awaken, my Lady."
When she merely turned away, he crouched lower and spoke with grave earnestness.
"Cultivators from Zhou Yan's sect stand before us. You must conceal yourself."
Yu Xiao's eyes flew open. She bolted upright.
"What did you say?" she breathed, lips parting in astonishment.
In that instant, Han-Qing slipped inside, his expression etched with unease.
"We are vastly outnumbered," he said anxiously. "How shall we shield Lady Yu?"
The twins peered through the narrow window slit, and Yu Xiao swiftly joined them. From afar, she beheld clusters of Western Domain sect cultivators, while others drew near the carriages, their intent unmistakably that of hunters seeking prey.
"So many carriages," she whispered, a mixture of wonder and dread in her voice. "I never imagined even valleys could suffer traffic jams. Are those stern law-enforcement uncles? Does the immortal realm truly have traffic wardens of its own?"
The twins could only stare at her in stunned silence.
At that moment, voices rose from the third carriage in line. Theirs was the seventh.
Xue Wuya parted the carriage curtain and leaned in.
"Han-Yun."
Duan Han-Yun inclined toward him at once.
"Yes, General!"
"We shall exchange places. Take the reins."
Duan Han-Yun slipped out without delay, and Xue Wuya entered the carriage.
Yu Xiao's eyes widened at the sight of him. She hastily shifted to the seat beside Han-Qing.
Xue Wuya drew all the window curtains closed, casting the interior into sombre dimness.
Yu Xiao clutched Han-Qing's arm and whispered, "Who is this man?" Curiosity laced her hushed tone.
Duan Han-Qing bowed his head respectfully.
"Marshal Xue," he said softly, pausing for emphasis. "Commander of the Nine Frost Armies—eighty-one thousand elite cultivators forged into nine unbreakable legions."
Yu Xiao's lips formed a silent 'o' of wonder.
A shout echoed from the sixth carriage. They were next. A chill crept up Yu Xiao's spine, coiling cold fingers around her nape; gooseflesh rose beneath her robes.
Xue Wuya glanced through the slit, beheld the approaching Western Domain cultivators, and turned back to Yu Xiao.
With graceful precision, he traced a sigil in the air, veiling the bedding and sleeping items from sight. Then, with another swift gesture, he directed his power toward her.
"Forgive my presumption, Your Highness," he intoned gravely.
A crystalline, translucent light bloomed in his palm and enveloped Yu Xiao.
The world lurched. She gazed upward—why did Han-Qing and Xue Wuya now loom like titans? Her eyes widened in horror. She lifted her arms, touched her tiny form. Heavens—she had dwindled to the size of a thirty-millilitre vial. Far too small!
"What sorcery is this?" she demanded, her voice a shrill whisper of disbelief.
The clamour drew alongside their carriage.
"Routine inspection," a voice announced with feigned courtesy. "Open the door."
Yu Xiao started, then scrambled desperately into the hem of Han-Qing's robe, seeking refuge.
Xue Wuya remained motionless, his icy demeanour conveying all that words could not.
A white-robed cultivator with a thin moustache parted the black silk curtain.
His smile faltered. "Marshal Xue—" he began, then faltered entirely.
The Marshal's deadly stare rendered the man visibly shaken.
"Is my carriage denied passage through the Green Gate?" Xue Wuya inquired, his voice soft yet devoid of warmth.
The man offered no reply, merely casting a wary glance at Han-Qing.
Within the folds of Han-Qing's hem, Yu Xiao felt the air grow stifling, as though the temperature had soared to forty degrees. Sweat beaded on her brow; she lifted her miniature arms to wipe it away with her sleeve.
"So unbearably hot," she whispered, nearly suffocating in the sweltering confines.
The earlier chill upon her back had yielded to rivers of perspiration.
Han-Qing resembled a man teetering on the edge of composure, striving valiantly to maintain his poise amid Yu Xiao's hidden presence. He held his silence as the inspector lingered.
After three agonising heartbeats, the cultivator withdrew.
The convoy advanced.
Yet Yu Xiao could endure the heat no longer. A sudden, resounding sneeze escaped her, echoing within the carriage. Her eyes flew wide; she clapped a hand over her mouth.
Han-Qing betrayed only the faintest twitch, while Xue Wuya regarded him with stark astonishment.
The inspector caught the sound and commanded the convoy to halt once more. The black silk curtain swayed ominously.
Xue Wuya gave Han-Qing a subtle nod, signalling him to play the part. Han-Qing feigned two convincing sneezes and delicately brushed his nose.
Satisfied with the ruse, the inspector drew the curtain closed and rapped lightly on the carriage wall.
The convoy proceeded, at last clearing the checkpoint. They had prevailed.
Deep exhalations of relief escaped both Han-Qing and Xue Wuya.
"Your Highness, the danger has passed," Xue Wuya announced.
Yu Xiao cautiously emerged from beneath Han-Qing's hem, slipping free with a faint, weary whistle as she wiped away lingering sweat.
"Merciful heavens, that was stifling!" she gasped, gulping for air. "I truly believed I was trapped in a microwave oven!"
At her words, Han-Qing crouched in bewilderment while Xue Wuya's brows furrowed deeply.
"A… microwave oven?" Han-Qing echoed, curiosity mingling with confusion. "Pray tell, my Lady, what manner of thing is that?"
Xue Wuya's eyes narrowed in puzzled intrigue.
"A microwave oven—from my former world," she explained. Xue Wuya tilted his head, listening intently. "It is a kitchen appliance we use to heat food swiftly and with great efficiency," she continued, leaving the two men adrift in bemused wonder.
"Appliance? Microwave oven?" Han-Qing repeated, as though tasting foreign incantations. "Do such words hail from the heavens themselves?"
Yu Xiao narrowed her eyes at him, then let her hand drift to her forehead and slide downward in quiet exasperation.
"I nearly forgot," she mused inwardly. "This realm of cultivation knows nothing of microwave ovens or modern appliances. No wonder they seem so utterly bewildered."
A sudden crystalline light enveloped Yu Xiao, restoring her to full size. Shock rippled through her; she patted herself in delighted verification.
"I'm restored!" she cried joyfully, gazing at her hands. "You have returned me to myself!" she exclaimed to Xue Wuya with unrestrained happiness.
"It was done solely for your protection, Your Highness," Xue Wuya replied, a faint curve softening his lips. "Yet the checkpoint lies behind us now. We enter the Northern Domain proper. You are safe."
Yu Xiao's smile bloomed warm and genuine.
"Thank you," she said with heartfelt gratitude, her shoulders sagging in relief. "But that was perilously close. We nearly fell because of me," she added, her brow furrowing in remorse.
A tender emotion settled over the carriage. Xue Wuya regarded her with a closed-lip smile that held quiet reassurance.
"It matters not, Your Highness," he said gently. "You stand under my protection. In one more hour, we shall reach the inner court. Rest easy, I beseech you."
In that moment, Yu Xiao inclined her head in a graceful bow of respect.
"And for that, I am forever in your debt, Marshal Xue."