Chapter Fifteen: I Am Han Mo — Half an Hour

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After emerging, Little Dumpling hurriedly pulled out her Eight Treasures Map and circled the Snow Edge Mountain, a place of extreme cold and frost, lest she forget it later.

Wasting no time, she immediately drew out the Pale Jade Sword, enlarged and lengthened it, then swiftly descended from the Nine Heavens, heading toward Snow Edge Mountain.

Snow Edge Mountain lay in a remote area, to the northeast on the Eight Treasures Map. Its vast hellish expanse was bitterly cold and one of the few habitats of the demon clans.

Rumor had it that the serpent demons dwelled there. The snake clan was known for their cunning and ruthlessness; encountering one meant either death or having your skin shed.

Little Dumpling rubbed her hands and descended Snow Edge Mountain, marveling at the strange and rare treasures—precious flowers and unique trees—that she saw there.

What puzzled her was that these special sights were unlike anything she had ever seen in hell, and throughout her descent, she had a persistent feeling of being watched.

Yet whenever she turned around, there was nothing to be seen.

Shaking her head to dismiss the thought, she resolved to find her friend, the Sin Immortal, deliver the Blood Spirit Pearl Flower, then find a Snow Lotus Pearl Flower and return as quickly as possible.

“Hissss—hissss—” An eerie, chilling sound came from behind.

Little Dumpling froze instantly, her body stiffening. What was this sound?

“Hissss—” The sound grew closer.

“Hissss—” It seemed right beside her ear.

She slowly turned around and suddenly opened her mouth wide, screaming, “Ahhh!!”

“A snake!! A snake…”

“Father! There’s a snake!!”

Before her appeared a massive, glossy black serpent with blood-red eyes like burning embers, flicking a long, poisonous tongue. Its body towered dozens of meters above her, exuding a thick aura of cold menace that sent a chill deep into one’s bones.

It looked down on the tiny pink dumpling before it as if she were an insignificant ant—frail and defenseless.

A fierce killing intent flashed in its eyes as it glared at her, demanding coldly, “Who are you to trespass in my domain?”

“W-w-w... please don’t kill me...” Little Dumpling sat back on the ground in fright, tears welling at the corners of her eyes, looking pitifully at the speaking serpent. “I’m just passing through, not meaning to intrude. Once I find Han Mo, I’ll leave immediately.”

“Who are you looking for?” The serpent suddenly withdrew all its murderous aura, replaced by shock and puzzlement.

It clearly did not recognize this weak, weeping little pink dumpling.

Seeing its momentary distraction, Little Dumpling hurriedly raised her small hand. “I’m looking for Han Mo. I’m delivering the Blood Spirit Pearl on behalf of an Immortal punished in hell, to find his friend, Han Mo.”

“Immortal? Could it be Bai Yan?” The serpent pondered, recalling that only Bai Yan had been demoted to the tenth layer of hell as punishment by some self-righteous celestial immortal for the Blood Spirit Pearl.

So it did know him! Little Dumpling’s heart leapt with joy as she clapped her hands and stood up. “Yes, that Immortal’s surname is Bai, but I don’t know if it’s Bai Yan or Bai Radish.”

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“...”

“In any case, I’m here to deliver the Blood Spirit Pearl to Han Mo. Do you know him?”

Indeed, it was the Blood Spirit Pearl Flower.

It seemed the flower was truly in the hands of Yu Heng.

Little Dumpling glanced at the giant serpent, who suddenly changed expression as if flipping a switch. It rapidly transformed from the tall, imposing black snake into a tall, slender, and aloof immortal standing before her.

“You—you—” Was it beast or man?

“I am Han Mo.” He looked at her coldly, his tall, graceful figure towering over her like a father—majestic and indifferent.

“You’re an immortal?” Little Dumpling stopped crying, her voice still trembling, staring at him in surprise.

So this was the shape-shifting they had always spoken of—like her own magic, able to transform into anything at will, except his was tied to his essence.

His true form was a serpent, so he could become a snake. When he wished to be human, he could switch back anytime.

“Where is it?” Han Mo didn’t want to waste words; he just wanted his belonging back.

“Oh, right, the pearl flower.” Little Dumpling quickly realized, bowed her head, and pulled a precious Blood Spirit Pearl Flower from her spatial pouch at her waist.

“Here.”

She lifted her head and extended the flower toward him.

Han Mo raised his right hand, summoned his magic, and took the Blood Spirit Pearl Flower gently from her small hands.

Without a word, he turned and strode off without hesitation.

“Hey, wait, Big Snake!” Little Dumpling suddenly realized he was leaving.

How could this be?

He got the item and just wanted to leave? No way!

“What did you call me?” He indeed stopped, not moving, but slightly turned his body, his gaze cold and grim as he looked at her.

“No, no, no—Han, Han Mo. You’re Han Mo.” Little Dumpling hurriedly corrected herself, afraid to call him Big Snake, fearing she might get beaten. After all, even when she called ‘Father’, no one paid attention; if she were bullied, her father wouldn’t even know.

She cautiously spoke, “Can I ask you something?”

He lifted his foot to leave. “No time. Ask someone else.”

“No, no...” Little Dumpling ran up to block him, stretching out her small hands.

Since he was in human form now, not the huge snake, he wasn’t so terrifying.

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“I just want to ask, I don’t know anyone else here on Snow Edge Mountain.”

“What does it have to do with me?” Han Mo clearly did not want to bother with her. What could a tiny dumpling know?

Little Dumpling persisted, “I want to know where the Snow Lotus Pearl Flower grows on Snow Edge Mountain. I want to pick one.”

“Snow Lotus Pearl Flower?” Han Mo hesitated briefly, then cast a slow, cold gaze at her. “What do you want it for?”

“I—I have uses...” Her voice dropped.

“What uses?”

“I...” How could she explain? Her heart essence was damaged; she needed the Snow Lotus Pearl Flower to save her life.

Seeing she was reluctant to say more, Han Mo did not press further. He coldly turned and started to leave, saying, “The Snow Lotus Pearl Flower blooms at the foot of Snow Edge Mountain at midnight. There’s still half an hour to midnight. If you descend now, you might still see it.”

“Half an hour? Only half an hour? What if I can’t get there in time?”

“Then come back tomorrow.” His voice faded away.

Little Dumpling hurried after him, pleading, “No, I can’t wait until tomorrow. My father will worry.”

“Who is your father?”

“My father is, of course, the King of Hell, Lord Yan.”

“Oh?” Han Mo stopped, coldly glancing down at her and curling his lips into a cruel smile. “So you’re the ones who trapped Bai Yan?”

This...

Little Dumpling froze, taking a few steps back and waving her hands, smiling nervously. “N-no, not us. How could it be us?”

“Not you? Then who?”

“It was… it was Lord Yu Heng who punished him, a celestial immortal from the heavens.”

“Heh, what immortals? Just a bunch of hypocrites.” Han Mo left Snow Edge Mountain as suddenly as he had appeared.

Little Dumpling stood frozen, looking at the silent, dark forest around her, shrinking her neck in fear.

Then she bolted up the mountain, shouting, “Ahhh, Han Mo, don’t go...”