Li Yuan and Tang Nian traveled together.

No unexpected events occurred, and they encountered no oblivious bandits. After all, in such a snow-covered mountain wilderness where even human traces are rare, where would bandits come from?

On the mountain path,

the cold wind howled, buzzing against their eardrums;

the snow rushed like ocean currents, snowdrifts knee-deep, with footprints quickly covered by the wind and snow as soon as they were made.

As the path turned and twisted, it led to mysterious places.

After a long time, the father and daughter ascended to a peak where there was no way forward.

Tang Nian stopped in her tracks, as did the three massive Sixth Grade figures behind her, exuding a terrifying pressure.

The red-clothed woman placed her hands on her hips, naturally pulled out a gourd with a "pop," removed the stopper, and drank deeply, her cheeks gradually flushing, clearly indicating that this wine was not merely strong liquor but contained something else as well.

After all, no ordinary wine could redden the face of a Sixth Grade with just a few sips.

At this moment, Tang Nian didn’t need to say more, for Li Yuan himself witnessed the scene before him.

In the ravine below the sheer cliff, there was a bizarre Black Market composed of black and white. Snowflakes falling into that area appeared distorted, like an old-fashioned TV suddenly losing signal and displaying a screen full of static.

Within the Black Market, Li Yuan could vaguely see a Cyan Robe Vendor pushing a cart, and a frozen white figure in a very peculiar posture crawling with a crackling sound.

The white figure seemed to be constantly searching for a "resting place."

It buried itself in a large box, closed the lid, and then fell silent, while the box started to freeze over, showing a weird layer of ghostly blue frost with bizarre bone-like objects emerging at the corners.

"So this is how the Ice Coffin forms," Li Yuan thought to himself, unconcerned, since this was his family’s Ghost Realm...

Tang Nian mused, "It looks like a scantily dressed person seeking a coffin in the icy snow, and not finding one, turns any place that could cover it into a coffin."

"Very vivid," Li Yuan praised.

Tang Nian continued, "And because the Ice Coffin has buried an Evil Ghost, it possesses a terrifying curse."

She cast a seductive glance at Li Yuan and asked teasingly, "Father, want a drink?"

Li Yuan frowned, "Why are you using that expression with your father?"

Tang Nian whispered, "I put drugs in the wine, put everything in - Heart-Burning Flower, Guanyin Undressing Grass, Longan, Duanchang Wood, Heartless Flower... hehe, hiccup...

Dad, don’t blame me, the world of Puppetry is too dull, too cold, and the further I go, the more numb I feel.

I’m trapped in a maze, unable to see a way out.

And my own heart has started to grow numb, losing direction and the passion to move forward.

So... I need these things for a little stimulation."

Her pretty face blushed, she tilted her head, squinted her eyes, her red lips like fire, exhaling warm air with a seductive voice, "Isn’t it wonderful~~ a sip of wine and I have all the moods - joy, anger, sorrow, and even desires, and the passion to explore further, hehe."

Li Yuan snatched the gourd, "Can’t you have passion without this stuff?"

"No..."

Tang Nian’s red sleeves twirled, her arms outstretched like a large red butterfly, smiling as she murmured, "I’ve tried many times, this is the best way, hehe... Alright, Dad, Mom and little sister are down there, you go on your own.

Oh, on the other side of the mountain... the powerful Meat Field is starting to grow.

As Mom gets stronger, the Meat Field over there will also become more formidable, and by then we can cultivate strong Martial Artists."

With that, Tang Nian, like a madwoman, spun gracefully, her sleeves flying, releasing bell-like laughter as she leaped into the air, and below her, two Puppets suddenly sunk, and within moments transformed into an open palanquin with an umbrella, complete with a tiger-skin lounge chair, perfectly allowing Tang Nian to swirl in mid-air and land into it.

"Ah Da, Ah Er, lift~ the~ palanquin~ hahaha~~"

A shrill laugh echoed.

The red-clothed Demoness swung her long legs, nestling into the tiger skin, sitting under the umbrella, swaying...

But the palanquin didn’t move, Li Yuan held it back.

Tang Nian pulled out another gourd from somewhere, took big gulps, then said, "Dad, I’m not a good girl like Xiaozhao, never have been... you know me... let me be, I like it this way."

Li Yuan was about to speak again when Tang Nian’s dreamy eyes suddenly flickered with clarity and seriousness for a moment, "Dad, I’ve grown up, let me live my life my way, let me walk my chosen path, okay?"

"But can’t you stop drinking that wine?" Li Yuan asked.

Tang Nian replied, "Then I would live in unbearable pain."

"Where are you heading now?"

"Back to the little house where you went... Dad, you wouldn’t know, it looks broken from the outside, but underneath is a palace. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The palace is inhabited by the young ladies from major families who have taken me as their master. They have talent, and it’s not just about connections.

Do you want... me to find you a little wife? Hehehe..."

Smack!

A flick on the forehead came down instantly.

"Such impudence!"

"Ow, it hurts."

Tang Nian cried out mischievously, holding her head.

Li Yuan watched her demeanor, knowing she had drunk too much.

He had just taken a moment to sniff, and the medicinal effects in this wine gourd were indeed potent. Just the Heart-Burning Flower alone, several gulps and even he would faint.

Li Yuan said helplessly, "Drinking like this in front of me, it seems it’s become a habit, go back and rest well... drink less."

Tang Nian sweetly replied, "Alright, Dad~~"

With that, she lounged coquettishly against the tiger skin, ready to leave, when Li Yuan suddenly said, "I’ve been to your place before, if your disciples ask, just say I’m a friend from the Chuyun Commerce Association, and don’t say more."