Chen Ping'an and his two companions navigated through the dangerous wind and snow as they continued their journey to the heartlands of the Stone Brush Nation.0

Many strategically critical cities with tall walls had already become wastelands devastated by the flames of war. On the other hand, most regional areas had been fortunate enough to escape the catastrophe of war. However, many people fleeing their homes had unfortunately been punished by the three bouts of heavy snow following the arrival of winter, resulting in many emaciated and frozen corpses being littered on the sides of the official roads. There were young men, women, children, and people of all genders and ages.0

Ma Duyi was a kind-hearted ghost, while Zeng Ye was a pure and down-to-earth young boy. Neither the ghost nor person appeared like true cultivators from Bamboo Scroll Lake, so when Chen Ping'an arrived at a prefectural city and said that he wanted to find a local to help him set up congee stalls and medicine shops and that they would continue their journey after this was done, both Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye were especially happy with his plan.0

After getting everyone's agreement, Chen Ping'an retrieved the jade tablet that signified his status as a guest elder of Cyan Gorge Island and hung it on the opposite waist to his saber and sword. He visited the local government office, and Ma Duyi wore a veiled hat to cover her appearance and even put on a thick coat in a very excessive display. She used it to conceal her lithe figure as a Fox Skin Beauty.0

They had already passed many prefectures and counties before this, and the further north they traveled and the closer to the central region of the Stone Brush Nation they ventured, the more destruction and death they witnessed. 0

They could already see more soldiers and...0