226: intelligence

At dawn the next day, the team set off on schedule.

The squad under Su Feng's command lived up to their reputation as the elite of the Eagle Clan. The six warriors cooperated seamlessly: two scouted ahead at high altitude, two guarded the flanks, and the remaining two, along with Su Feng, were responsible for carrying Bai Yao, who could not fly, and the weakened Xing Che.

Su Feng personally carried Bai Yao. The silver-gray giant eagle he transformed into was more robust than the other warriors, with a wingspan of three zhang, flying steadily and powerfully.

Bai Yao was settled into a specially made leather saddle on his back, secured with tough animal sinew ropes, and surrounded by a faint cyan spiritual energy shield to ward off the high-altitude cold and strong winds.

Xing Che was carried by another strong Eagle Clan warrior.

His face was still pale, but after a night's rest and treatment with Eagle Clan herbs, his spirits had improved considerably. At the moment, he was seizing the time to close his eyes and meditate, repairing his damaged soul.

The team swept past continuous snow peaks and frozen river valleys.

From high above, the vastness and harshness of the Northern Territory were fully visible. Bai Yao tightly gripped the handles on the edge of the saddle, initially somewhat nervous, but soon captivated by Su Feng's steady flight rhythm and the magnificent, unfamiliar scenery below.

"Look over there,"

Su Feng's voice clearly reached Bai Yao's ears, "that silver ribbon-like river is the 'Weeping Cold River,' originating from glaciers deep in the ice plains and flowing through most of the Wolf Clan's territory.

Frostfang City is built at the bend of its upper reaches, backed by 'Broken Blade Peak,' making it easy to defend and hard to attack."

Bai Yao looked in the direction he indicated and indeed saw a winding, massive ice river reflecting dazzling light under the sun.

Further away, the outline of a majestic black city was faintly visible, backed by a steep, rugged peak that looked as if it had been chopped by axes.

"We are not going to the front of Frostfang City."

Su Feng adjusted direction, gliding toward a valley southeast of the city, "That is 'Gray Rock Outpost,' one of the border liaison points agreed upon by the Wolf Clan and Eagle Clan, relatively safe.

We will rest there and, by the way... have something to show you."

About an hour later, the team landed on a relatively flat rock platform in the valley.

There were several simple but sturdy stone houses here, clearly a permanent outpost.

A middle-aged Eagle Clan warrior stationed there came forward, briefly conversed with Su Feng, then arranged for everyone to enter the largest stone house to rest and warm up.

Su Feng took out a roll of rather ancient map made from some flexible leather from his personal leather pouch and spread it out on the only rough wooden table in the room.

"Come and look."

He called Bai Yao and Xing Che over.

The map was drawn with extreme precision, marking mountains, rivers, forests, swamps, animal migration routes, and even wind directions and blizzard-prone areas in different seasons.

Its level of detail far exceeded any map Bai Yao had seen in the Tribe or among the Fox Clan.

"This is a detailed map of the Northern Territory, earned with the blood and lives of generations of Eagle Clan patrols."

Su Feng's finger traced the area of Frostfang City and its surroundings on the map, his expression serious, "Now, tell me about the person you are looking for, the Wolf Clan's young master, right?"

Bai Yao nodded, her heart tightening.

Su Feng's finger tapped heavily on Frostfang City's location: "Half a year ago, Lin returned to the Northern Territory, suppressing several uncles who opposed his succession with thunderous means and smoothly ascended to the position of clan leader. At that time, though taciturn, he acted decisively, with sharp eyes, truly possessing the bearing of a king."

His finger moved to the area of the City Lord's Mansion, "But less than a month after his succession, he married that Fox Clan woman who saved his life, Moon Glass."

"The wedding was sudden. It is said that after Lin woke from a relapse of an old injury that left him unconscious for several days, he insisted on marrying her. Many old Wolf Clan ministers opposed at the time, believing the Fox woman of unknown origin was unworthy of being the Wolf Clan's queen.

But Lin overruled all objections, even marginalizing the two elders who opposed most fiercely."

Su Feng's voice lowered, "Since then, Lin has lived in seclusion, almost never handling government affairs personally. All directives, seemingly from his hand, but the actual decision-maker... appears to be Moon Glass."

Xing Che stared at the map, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes: "How does Moon Glass control government affairs? As an outsider woman, how can she command respect in the exclusive Wolf Clan?"

"That is precisely the key."

Su Feng picked up a small charcoal pencil from beside the map, drawing several circles around the City Lord's Mansion,

"Moon Glass does not appear herself, but through Lin, she promoted a group of newcomers. These people are either beastmen who were originally unappreciated or wanderers who came to the Northern Territory with ambiguous backgrounds. They are placed in key positions, while the original Wolf Clan core members are transferred, sidelined, or even..."

He paused, "died unexpectedly."

Bai Yao felt a chill crawl up her spine: "Lin... can't he see it? Does he just let Moon Glass do this?"

"That's the problem."

Su Feng's gaze sharpened, "According to reports from our spies in the city, Lin's condition... is very abnormal. He rarely appears in public, and when he does occasionally, his eyes are vacant, his reactions sluggish, almost never communicating with old subordinates.

Toward Moon Glass, he shows a... strange dependence and obedience. Several times when old ministers requested an audience, Moon Glass received them on his behalf, with Lin just sitting aside like a silent statue."

"Gu poison."

Xing Che uttered two words in a low voice, his tone certain, "And a powerful Gu technique that can affect the mind and distort emotions. Combined with her identity, it is highly likely to be something like 'Heart-Devouring Gu.'"

Su Feng nodded: "I suspected as much. Our Eagle Clan does not know much about forbidden witchcraft, but Lin's symptoms cannot be explained by ordinary illness, injury, or mental trauma."

He looked at Bai Yao, "You must be mentally prepared. Even if we find an opportunity to see Lin, he may no longer be the person you knew."

Bai Yao clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

The pain kept her alert: "No matter what, I must see him with my own eyes and confirm his condition. Moreover, Xing Che said that Heart-Devouring Gu is not unsolvable."

"What is needed?" Su Feng asked directly.

Xing Che took over, explaining the required items one by one.

"You have the heart's blood, the Gu caster..."

Su Feng looked toward Frostfang City, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "As for the polar snow lotus..."

His finger moved to the northernmost part of the map, an area marked deep blue with symbols of icebergs and storms, the Ice Abyss Precipice, the legendary place where snow lotuses grow.

But that is a forbidden zone for life, with extreme environments and powerful native Ice Beasts guarding it. Moreover, the snow lotus blooms only once every thousand years, with an extremely short flowering period, making it rare and hard to find."

"No matter how difficult, we must go."

Su Feng looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his golden pupils—admiration, worry, perhaps something else.

He was silent for a moment, then traced a winding route on the map: "If you decide to go to the Ice Abyss, this route is relatively safe.

He looked at Bai Yao: "Now, tell me your plan. After reaching Gray Rock Outpost, what next? Frostfang City is now heavily guarded, especially against unfamiliar faces and the Fox Clan."

Bai Yao looked at Xing Che. Xing Che nodded slightly, saying to Su Feng: "We plan to disguise our identities and infiltrate Frostfang City. Bai Yao can pose as a wandering physician or herbal medicine apprentice, I..."

He hesitated slightly, "I need to temporarily change my appearance with medicine, disguising as her sickly companion. We need a reasonable reason to enter the city and a temporary place to stay inside."

Su Feng pondered, his finger unconsciously tapping Frostfang City on the map:

"Wandering physician... that identity is feasible. Recently, there has indeed been a cold epidemic spreading in and around Frostfang City. The City Lord's Mansion posted notices recruiting those skilled in medicine.

I can arrange for you to enter the city from the west gate as wandering physicians from the south, skilled in treating fevers. The guard captain there has some friendship with me; with some arrangements, the inspection won't be too strict."

He paused, looking at Xing Che: "As for your disguises... the Eagle Clan has a phantom shape feather powder, taken from a rare bird species. With a simple incantation, it can change hair color, eye color, and subtle facial features for twelve hours.

Though it cannot fool true experts, it is more than enough to deal with ordinary guards. I can provide some."

"That is excellent."

Xing Che thanked sincerely, "phantom shape feather powder is precious. This favor, Xing Che will remember."

"No need for thanks."

Su Feng waved his hand, his gaze returning to the map, his expression turning grave,

"But you must understand that once you enter Frostfang City, it will be difficult for me to provide direct assistance. Though the Eagle Clan and Wolf Clan have an alliance, openly intervening in each other's internal affairs is a major taboo. I can only offer limited intelligence support and assistance outside the city."

He pointed to several spots on the map within Frostfang City: "In the city, this Sewer behind the Shop Alley has a breach that can barely allow a person through, serving as an alternative escape route.

The owner of Gray Claw Tavern is a veteran Wolf Clan soldier, upright and loyal to Lin and his father, and might be persuaded to serve as a contact point.

But be careful, Moon Glass's spies are everywhere, especially in places with complex crowds like Markets and taverns."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping between Xing Che and Bai Yao, finally settling on Bai Yao's face,

"That's all the intelligence. The road ahead is perilous, with nine deaths for one life. If you regret it now, there is still time. I can send someone to take you back."

Bai Yao did not hesitate in the slightest. She looked at the black mark representing Frostfang City on the map, as if she could see through it to the figure imprisoned in the cold palace.

"I do not regret it."

Xing Che grasped her cold hand, silently conveying support.

Su Feng looked at the two, especially the flame in Bai Yao's eyes that had not extinguished even in desperate straits, and finally, slowly nodded.

"Good."

He carefully rolled up the map and handed it to Bai Yao, "Take this map with you. Remember the routes and locations I marked."

He turned and walked toward the door. Before lifting the heavy animal hide curtain, he paused, not looking back,

"Tomorrow morning, I will take you to a point ten li outside Frostfang City. After that... the road is up to you."