Chapter 71

In the dead of winter, thick, goose-feather snowflakes swirled through the air, draping the entire village in a blanket of silver. The three of them trudged forward, their feet sinking into the deep snow as they made their way slowly toward the west end of the village. The bitter north wind roared like a beast, whipping fine ice crystals against their faces, stinging like countless sharp needles. Wei Manni couldn't help but shiver, hurriedly pulling her scarf up until only her lively eyes—currently filled with complaint—remained visible. "This ghastly weather," she muttered, "it’s enough to freeze a person into an icicle." Rounding a stack of firewood, they heard a fierce, cacophonous barking echoing from afar. Jiang Rou narrowed her eyes and peered ahead. Outside the wall of an earthen house, surrounded by a waist-high wooden fence, stood three large dogs with coats as glossy as black satin. They were clawing at the railing and barking frantically, as if they intended to tear everything in sight to pieces. The dogs were massive, their bodies ink-black save for a striking patch of white on their chests, like bright stars in the night. Ice crystals hung from their pointed ears, glinting in the weak sunlight.