C15 Danger!

Xiaoxue observed her new master with curiosity. She didn't harbor any particular sentiments about her surroundings; her disinterest in food and weapons wasn't the issue. Rather, a decade of life in this world had taught her a harsh lesson: surviving on her own was an insurmountable challenge. She needed someone to depend on.

In the past, Xiaoxue had relied on other masters, but to no avail. They either harbored ill intentions or were ill-fated, their lives cut short. She believed that a true master should be upright and honorable, and this new master seemed to embody those qualities. He had rescued her without compromising her dignity, provided her with warmth and sustenance, and asked for nothing in return—a stark contrast to her previous experiences.

A dependable master, Xiaoxue reasoned, should also be capable and responsible. Her former masters were sly and self-serving, exploiting their subordinates mercilessly. Despite their lack of real competence, they postured as lords, fleeing at the first sign of danger, indifferent to the fate of those under them. Yet, her new master, despite his limited combat abilities, had stood his ground against the snow rats. He had joined her in the fight, ultimately turning the tide with his weapon.

Setting aside his modest martial prowess, the new master's collection of exotic foods and an array of cold weapons in the shelter spoke volumes about his capabilities. Such treasures were beyond the reach of ordinary individuals. Xiaoxue hadn't yet had the opportunity to savor each delicacy, but their mere scent suggested immense value. That he would share these luxuries without a second thought was a testament to his generous spirit.

What touched Xiaoxue most profoundly was her master's unwavering trust in her. He had entrusted her with the shelter, brimming with wondrous treats, while he ventured outside to train. Was he not concerned that she might claim it all for herself? Even though he had cautiously probed her intentions upon his return, his gaze held not a hint of malice.

Xiaoxue chuckled to herself as she savored her noodles in small bites, relishing the deliciousness, particularly the soup. Its freshness was so intense it could make one scream. This was precisely why Xiaoxue couldn't bear to waste the broth, choosing instead to use it to cook the snow rat meat.

Watching her master squatting on the ground, tinkering with the pot of snow rat meat soup for quite some time, Xiaoxue sensed that something was amiss. She approached and inquired, "Master, are you..."

Zhao Zhe, feeling somewhat sheepish, hemmed and hawed, "This... is this really edible?"

Xiaoxue earnestly assured him, "Yes, everyone around here eats snow rat meat. However, they're becoming scarcer, making it quite a treat to have. In the underground city, a kilogram of snow rat meat can be traded for three to five days' worth of food."

Zhao Zhe, still a bit apprehensive, asked, "Are there any adverse effects after eating it?"

"No," Xiaoxue replied, shaking her head. "How about I eat some to show you?"

Zhao Zhe gestured dismissively. Having Xiaoxue eat it to prove it was safe would seem petty and distrustful of her loyalty. If Xiaoxue had any intention of poisoning him, she wouldn't need to resort to the meat; the noodles would be an easier target.

Resolved to try the aromatic snow rat soup, Zhao Zhe was about to take a sip when Xiaoxue signaled for silence. She swiftly picked up a weapon from the ground and stealthily positioned herself at the cave entrance, on high alert.

Zhao Zhe tensed up, aware that danger lurked in this world beyond the biting cold. He had learned this the hard way after a snow rat attack. Despite straining his ears, he detected no unusual sounds from the ground. Meanwhile, Xiaoxue had already emerged from the shelter, weapon in hand.

In the shelter, Zhao Zhe had an assortment of weapons at the ready. Xiaoxue had selected a kukri, a hefty Nepalese military knife that Chen Xiaomeng had procured for him. With a blade nearly a meter long, it was too heavy for Zhao Zhe to wield, but to his surprise, Xiaoxue found it to be her weapon of choice.

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Zhe drew his kukri and followed Xiaoxue out into the still-grey, snowy world. The snowfall wasn't as fierce as the day before, but the wind was persistent. Xiaoxue crouched by the entrance of the snow cave, her ears straining to catch the sound of the wind.

"What's happening?" Zhao Zhe inquired, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Master, it seems we have snow rats closing in on us... at least two," Xiaoxue explained. "Their steps in the snow are erratic and rapid. We need to block the entrance of the snow cave quickly."

With that, Xiaoxue began to heap snow at the mouth of the cave. Zhao Zhe, recalling the peril of his previous encounter with a snow rat, felt a surge of anxiety. The thought of facing two simultaneously was daunting. Although he could escape using the Dimension Hopping Express, he couldn't take Xiaoxue back to Earth with him.

Before they could seal the entrance, the telltale crunching of collapsing snow reached their ears. By the time Zhao Zhe could discern the sounds clearly, it was a sign that the snow rats were perilously close.

"We're out of time, Master!" Xiaoxue exclaimed, pulling Zhao Zhe into the partially covered snow cave and throwing herself on top of him. She swung her kukri at the cave wall he had built, causing a cascade of snow to bury them both.

Zhao Zhe immediately felt the discomfort of the situation. Being pinned down by a girl was not a pleasant experience, especially for a man whose mind was often adrift in fantasies. Despite Xiaoxue's youthful frame, her body had curves in all the right places, which only added to his torment.

He attempted to wriggle free from beneath Xiaoxue, but after a slight movement, she stopped him. "Master, stay still. They're here—three of them. One is exceptionally large..."

Her voice was barely a whisper, and Zhao Zhe could sense the fear it carried. This realization rooted him to the spot. His first visit to the world of ice and snow had been filled with a different kind of dread, born from the unknown and the biting cold. But now, he faced a genuine life-or-death challenge. Having witnessed the ferocity of the snow rats firsthand, he understood all too well that this was no child's play, but a true test of survival.

Zhao Zhe remained motionless, though the snow hadn't entirely enveloped them both. Through the gaps, they could still make out the scene outside: three white-furred large rats, led by a colossal one, had halted their search and were sniffing around. If they weren't detecting the scent of humans, they were probably on the trail of the rat that had vanished the day before.

From his estimation, the trio of rats was about eleven or twelve meters from the entrance of the snow cave. Zhao Zhe could make out every single white hair on their bodies, their crystal-like eyes swirling chaotically, each pair of eyeballs alone worth a fortune. The thought made Zhao Zhe itch to rise and dispatch each with a swift blow of his knife.

But he dared not move, not in the slightest, for even the smallest of these rats was more robust than Zhao Zhe himself! And the giant among them—should it stand upright, even Brother Yao would likely find himself looking up at it. With its hefty build, an average human would be no match for its charge.

They had likely followed the scent of their kin all the way here, stopping as the aroma intensified. The pot of rat meat soup they had cooked earlier had been enticing even to Zhao Zhe, so it was no wonder the rats had picked up the scent.

Never before had Zhao Zhe felt such intense anxiety, not even during his last assassination attempt on the white-furred snow rats. As the three rats drew nearer, he suppressed his breath, fearing his heart might leap out of his chest with each gasp. The immense snow rat exerted an overwhelming pressure. Despite Xiaoxue's previous display of courage, Zhao Zhe knew she stood no chance against these formidable creatures. He could feel Xiaoxue's body quivering beside him. Though her grip on the kukri was firm, her shaking frame gave away her fear—she was terrified of the rats.

With a squeak, the snow rat edged forward, its sniffing and the crunch of snow underfoot sounding alarmingly close to Zhao Zhe, sending shivers down his spine. The rat's massive fangs, plunging into the snow, resembled less the teeth of a rodent and more those of an elephant with truncated tusks.

Xiaoxue clung tightly to Zhao Zhe's head, both of them desperately trying to keep still and avoid trembling. The layer of snow covering them was perilously thin, and any slight movement might shake it off, revealing their hiding spot without the need for the snow rat to sniff them out.

Huffing and puffing, a diminutive snow rat approached the entrance of the snow cave. Its limited intelligence hadn't yet penetrated the hastily constructed camouflage, but the scent in the area had piqued its curiosity. With its sharp teeth, it began to gnaw at the snow. The latest jab of its incisors came alarmingly close, stopping less than an inch from Zhao Zhe and Xiaoxue's faces.