Mo Fan caught Little Flame Fairy in his arms, wearing a baffled expression.
Fortunately, Little Snow Girl hadn't used her true power—otherwise, Little Flame Fairy would've been seriously injured.
"Ahem, ice and fire don't mix well. Hurry and put Little Flame Fairy back in the contract space," Mu Nianbing said calmly.
He could tell that Little Flame Fairy was curious about Little Snow Girl, but the latter clearly didn't feel the same way.
Mo Fan sighed helplessly and returned his sulking Little Flame Fairy to the contract space.
"Brother Bing, where did you find her? She seems way stronger than Little Flame Fairy!" Mo Fan asked, his curiosity overflowing.
Even if Little Snow Girl's bloodline was superior, she clearly wasn't suited for a Fire Mage like him.
When choosing a contracted creature, compatibility mattered more than raw strength.
With proper training, Little Flame Fairy could greatly enhance his Fire Element abilities.
"Get lost. Stop poking around in your godfather's business," Mu Nianbing said flatly.
Hearing that word again, Mo Fan froze. Just hearing godfather now made his whole body itch in discomfort.
"Have you found the guide yet?" Mu Nianbing asked.
"Yeah, but the fee's a bit high. Brother Bing, can we maybe split the cost?" Mo Fan said, rubbing his hands together sheepishly.
Mu Nianbing ignored him and turned back toward his room.
As the saying goes—When Heaven bestows a great task upon someone, it first makes their heart suffer, their body weary, and their wallet empty…
This was all part of Mo Fan's growth, right?
Mo Fan looked at Mu Nianbing's retreating back and tilted his head up at a 45-degree angle.
Whoever came up with 'cultivation loans' is a damn devil!
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, Mu Nianbing accompanied Mo Fan to meet their hired guide.
At the Outer South Gate, they found a rather distinct-looking group among the bustling crowd.
Mu Nianbing's gaze quickly landed on a veiled woman standing at the center.
Even though her face was hidden behind black silk, her elegant posture and refined aura made her impossible to ignore.
"Is this the 'expert' you mentioned yesterday? He doesn't look like much," the short guide said as he approached, eyeing Mu Nianbing up and down.
Upon seeing his handsome, almost refined face, the guide instantly assumed he was useless.
Before anyone could respond, Little Snow Girl shot out from Mu Nianbing's collar and glared daggers at the man.
In the next instant, a frosty aura surged, and the short man's legs froze solid from the knees down.
"H-Hey! Stop, stop! I can't feel my legs!" he yelped in panic.
"Alright, that's enough," Mu Nianbing said, gently retrieving Little Snow Girl. "If you keep freezing him, he really won't be able to walk."
The Little Snow Girl crossed her arms, muttering a dissatisfied "Aiya~," clearly thinking he'd deserved worse.
Asharuya, who had been observing quietly, now showed a hint of interest in her eyes.
The petite ice creature on Mu Nianbing's shoulder radiated an impressive, almost sacred power. What kind of man could contract a being like that?
Having been frozen once, the short man was far more respectful now. Clearly, this wasn't someone he could afford to offend.
"Now that everyone's here, let's not waste time," one of Asharuya's attendants said politely.
Without further delay, the group followed the short guide out of the city and began their journey toward Yangyang Village.
A short while later, the guide cautiously approached Mu Nianbing again.
"Brother, about earlier… I was rude. Please forgive me."
Mu Nianbing waved it off. "Don't worry about it. Just lead the way."
If he got hung up over something that trivial, life would be exhausting. Besides, Little Snow Girl had already handled it well enough.
The short man nodded gratefully and walked faster to stay ahead of the group.
Just then, a gentle breeze carried a light floral scent.
Mu Nianbing glanced sideways and caught a glimpse of Asharuya's profile beneath the black veil.
Even that partial view was breathtaking.
Asharuya noticed his gaze and smiled faintly, showing neither offense nor surprise.
"Excuse me," she said softly, her tone like a bell's chime. "May I see your contracted creature?"
Mu Nianbing met her eyes for a moment, then signaled Little Snow Girl with a nod.
Understanding immediately, Little Snow Girl floated into Asharuya's arms.
Most women couldn't resist cute creatures, and Little Snow Girl's charm was unmatched.
Even Asharuya, the saintly beauty of the Parthenon Temple, couldn't help but be enchanted.
Cradling the icy being gently, Asharuya's gemstone-like eyes sparkled with wonder. "Does she have a name?"
"Just call her Little Snow Girl," Mu Nianbing replied casually. Any other name would have sounded strange.
"Little Snow Girl… what a perfect name," Asharuya said with a small smile.
Her attendants exchanged glances, wide-eyed. None of them had ever seen the Saint show such warmth before.
In their hearts, they were both envious and jealous of Mu Nianbing.
Why does this guy get to impress the Saint like that?
The journey continued peacefully. With Little Snow Girl as a convenient topic, Mu Nianbing and Asharuya ended up chatting quite a bit.
Though she never revealed her identity, her insights were calm and wise, reflecting the depth of someone used to observing the world from above.
As dusk approached, the group stopped to rest. To avoid attracting the undead, the short man distributed gray garlic from his pack.
Mu Nianbing didn't fear the undead, but to keep up appearances, he also took a bite.
Mo Fan hesitated at the foul stench, but seeing Mu Nianbing eat it, he reluctantly swallowed his too.
Moments later, pale skeletons began clawing their way out of the soil around them.
But thanks to the gray garlic's odor, the undead simply shambled past without paying any attention.
"I didn't expect this stuff to work so well! Give me a few more," Mo Fan said eagerly.
"Forget it. Gray garlic's worth more than gold in these parts," the guide said.
Mo Fan grumbled, but he couldn't argue. Ten million for a safe journey didn't seem so bad now.
"Can you two stop talking? It stinks like hell," Mu Nianbing complained.
"You're not any better!" Mo Fan retorted, pinching his nose.
"Hm?" Mu Nianbing frowned, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Mo Fan immediately hunched his shoulders, shrinking back.
Right… maybe I should keep my mouth shut this time.
...
Author's Note:
Versatile Mage: Heir of the Frozen Throne — Part 1 is now fully completed and available on my Patreon!
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🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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