He Xia's expression was the usual. He intently studied Yaotian for a while before leisurely sighing, "After this incident, I know that Princess' love for me is true."

"Princess Consort!" Yaotian's tears could no longer be stopped. They poured out, not caring about the crowd. She pounced into He Xia's warm chest. In his embrace, Yaotian cried, "Yaotian released Bai Pingting and hence betrayed Prince Consort."

"Princess is wrong." He Xia softly stroked his wife in his arms, whispering, "Only the woman who know true love are able to feel jealousy. To let Pingting leave alive, He Xia is...very grateful to Princess."

Yaotian trembled slightly in He Xia's arms. Having his broad shoulders beside her gave her unlimited courage.

He Xia's voice was soft and warm. The flag of the Dong Lin's army was reflected in his eyes as they moved faraway.

If Pingting went, she would not stay in Yun Chang nor return to Dong Lin.

The only direction she would go was towards Bei Mo.

On the Songsen mountains, a snowstorm was soon to arrive.

Pingting and Zuiju's footsteps were sometimes deep, other times shallow in the snow. They kept moving upwards breathlessly.

"The snowstorm is coming."

"Could we get to the rocky area before then?"

Pingting considered it. "I'm afraid no."

Zuiju's heart sank and began to feel anxious. "Then what are we to do? We're in a forest in winter. Leafless trees are everywhere. The snow cannot be stopped anywhere, so we'll freeze to death." Her ten thin fingers were tightly clutched to their only bag.

They had managed to earn some money from giving medical help to a few people in the last few days. Apart from buying a regulation set of silver needles for doctors and food, they had spent the rest on warm clothing. However, even though they were wearing the thickest clothing they had, there was no chance of protecting them from lasting a snowstorm outside. Pingting raised her head, staring at the sky that had quickly been covered with heavy clouds. The snow had not begun. There was no trace of wind yet, but the shadows were brewing in the clouds.

"Zuiju, light the fire."

"Geez, why light the fire at such a time? When the wind and snow comes, fire is no use at all."

Pingting calmly replied, "Light the fire and boil water." A leisurely smile surfaced on her delicate face.

Zuiju wanted to say more, but seeing the smile in Pingting's lips made her helplessly swallow her words back down her throat. "Fine, I'll light the fire and boil water," she answered.

She took out the matches, a few dry branches from the forest and quickly set up a fire on the windless, snowy plains.

"Dig a hole in the snow."

The snow was very loose and the two dug with their hands, their knees touching the ground. In a short while, their hands had already reached the mud beneath the snow. The mud had absorbed much more heat and was much more difficult to dig through than the snow.

Zuiju frowned. "It's not deep again, let's dig a little more."

"No need," Zuiju replied. "Create a small tent with the twigs."

There was not much time left and the black clouds were swimming rapidly overhead, as if anxious to find an outlet to vent out of. A little tent had then been set up over the hole with twigs. Pingting had found many leaves and deftly scattered them over the shed.

Zuiju scrambled up to help her, her voice becoming more urgent. "This will fall with just one gust of wind. What's the point?"

After scattering enough leaves, Pingting opened up the bag and removed the two remaining clean spare clothing. She spread it over the shelter.

"Miss, what are you doing that for?"

"Bring me the water and pour it over this."

"It's not boiled yet," said Zuiju, hesitating.

Pingting was both annoyed and amused. "Melting the ice is enough. What do I need boiled water for?"

Zuiju looked at the little tent and then back at the pot of melted ice. Realisation suddenly dawned her, "Oh! Oh!" Understanding suddenly lighted up in her big eyes. "Yes, yes! I'll bring it over."

They poured the melted ice over the shelter, causing the clothes and the leaves that covered the shelter to absorb its moisture. Instantly, a thin layer of ice appeared on the outermost layer of clothing.

"How handy!" Zuiju happily began to laugh.

"Don't laugh so soon, the water isn't enough. Hurry up and get some more."

"Yes, yes, going now."

Moving back and forth, the fire kept melting the ice blocks.

Pot and pots kept on being poured onto the shelter. The ice on the outside became thicker and stronger.

Zuiju carried the pot, poured it over and finally asked, "Is this enough?" The water had been poured onto the top of the tent and it poured down every corner and had already been frozen into a layer ice before reaching the snowy ground.

"This snowstorm isn't light." Pingting studied the surging dark clouds overhead. "Melt a bit more."

Rumble...

There were a series of muffled thunder deeply embedded in the storm clouds. A long distance seemed to have been crossed before finally reaching the ground.

On the dreary snowy plains, perhaps there was a cold breeze. Perhaps not.

Pingting's expression suddenly changed. "Not enough time to melt more. Hurry up and hide in here. She grabbed Zuiju and the two through themselves into the little pre-made entrance. The two nested inside as there was very little room, tightly hugging onto each other.

"It's so warm inside." Even though they were a bit squashed, Zuiju's sigh was still comfortable.

The wind had already begun to howl.

Half of the shed was in the snow, while the other half had a brick-like roof made of ice. It should be strong enough to help them resist the snowstorm.

Pingting and Zuiju nervously listened to the scary sounds of movement outside.

Contrarily to the outside world, the inside of the shelter was extraordinarily quiet.

"We should be able to pass through the Songsen mountains right?"

Pingting remained silent. Only after a long time did she reply, "Yes, we should."

"Miss?"

"Hm."

"Are you thinking about something?"

"Yeah."

"Thinking about what?"

Pingting moved ever so slightly as slowly answered, "Zuiju, no matter how long the snowstorm goes outside, no matter how warm it is in here, we must never fall asleep. If the snow covers the entrance gap, and we've fallen asleep, then we will suffocate to death."

Zuiju was indeed sleepy from the very warm environment. This news startled her. She was instantly removed of her weariness. She replied, "Understood." She couldn't help sigh at this though.

The shelter was very quiet. Not to mention, the two were pressed tightly to each other, so Pingting obviously heard her sigh.

"What are you sighing for?" Pingting asked.

"Nothing much."

There was silence for a brief while. Pingting softly asked, "Are you thinking that if we do end up suffocating to death here, no one will ever know of our whereabouts forever?"

Zuiju couldn't help sighing again. "Miss Bai, why are you so clever?"

The corners of Pingting's mouth twitched. Out of it came a bitterly twisted smile.