Chapter 99: This Is a Secret Trap

"It seems your body really isn't adapted for this kind of environment. Let's hurry and leave, or you'll freeze to death. I don't have any extra clothes," Lin Shuang said, her expression clouded with worry.

Xi Yan nodded, wiped his nose, and the two moved forward in the skiing area.

As they walked, Xi Yan noticed that Yuan had somehow already changed clothes; she was now wearing a pale yellow winter dress, her hair styled into two adorable buns, bouncing along beside Xi Yan. Seeing Yuan, warmth spread in Xi Yan's heart.

This time, none of the three felt eager to ski—the snow kept getting heavier, making each step harder. The blizzard seemed to focus solely on them; in areas they didn’t pass through, the snowfall was light and there was no wind.

"This won't do—the wind is too strong. If we keep going, we’ll freeze. I can't hold out much longer. Let’s take shelter over there," Lin Shuang said with difficulty.

"Alright," Xi Yan shouted loudly; the wind was so fierce, he had to raise his voice.

Although Yuan was just a card, she was still affected by the environment. At that moment, her face was flushed red from the cold, and she was shivering.

The three made their way to a small house on the road—the entrance to the ski area. They had only walked about a hundred steps, but the blizzard had grown so intense it seemed determined to tear them apart.

The moment they entered the small house, the storm that had been raging around them suddenly ceased, as if nothing had happened at all.

But how could it not have? Xi Yan’s legs were still numb from the cold, his hands red from gripping the cloak.

"This area is so strange," Lin Shuang said, glancing around the room.

Inside was a sign, with a path leading to the ski trail behind it. Lin Shuang pointed at the wooden sign and said to Xi Yan, "Look at this."

She walked over to the sign, Xi Yan close behind. The house was warm, and Xi Yan began to recover, as did Yuan.

Standing before the sign, Xi Yan read it carefully and was left speechless.

"Notice:
Due to an increasing number of guests, the blizzard will intensify. Players wishing for calm passage must go through here.
We wish all players a pleasant experience~"

Pleasant, my foot! Xi Yan couldn’t help but curse inwardly. "What kind of notice is this? It’s basically a threat!"

"No wonder the blizzard outside followed us—it’s because of this," Lin Shuang said angrily, though she had no solution.

"It seems this area is designed to force you to ski, to make you use their entertainment facilities," she said, defeated.

"Let’s rest for a bit and see if there’s another way," Xi Yan said, sitting down by the fire.

Lin Shuang nodded and sat with Yuan near Xi Yan, warming themselves. But Yuan soon got up and started wandering around the room.

The house was small, with only one door and a passage—the door they’d just entered, and the passage leading to the ski trails. There were six chairs and a fire pit in the center. Aside from that, nothing else—the house was an igloo built from snow.

"Brother, I think we have no choice but to play along…" Yuan returned from the passage to Xi Yan’s side.

"Why?" Xi Yan asked.

Yuan shrugged and pointed to the passage. "There’s another sign inside."

"Another sign?" Xi Yan frowned.

"Yes, it’s hidden. It says if you leave through the door after entering, the blizzard outside will be ten times stronger than when you came in…" Yuan’s little face scrunched up in anger.

Xi Yan pressed his lips together and walked over to the passage, but he didn’t see the sign Yuan mentioned. She followed him, and when he couldn’t find it, she pointed out its location.

It was right above the entrance, where no one would notice—a deliberate trap.

"Brother, look up."

With Yuan’s help, Xi Yan saw the small wooden sign overhead, bearing exactly the warning she’d described.

Lin Shuang joined them, and seeing the two looking up, she looked as well, reading the sign’s contents.

"This is deliberately malicious," Lin Shuang said helplessly.

Xi Yan nodded and looked at the passage ahead. "Let’s play. See what kind of traps are hidden here."

"Brother, I feel like this place is very safe. There shouldn’t be any problem," Yuan tugged at Xi Yan’s sleeve.

"Oh? Then… I’ll try skiing first. You two wait for me."

Xi Yan had a vague idea of the danger lurking here, but he wasn’t certain.

After speaking, Xi Yan entered the passage. Yuan wanted to stop him but was too late, so she hurried after him, and together they entered the ski area.

Although it was snowing, the snowfall was light and didn’t hinder movement. The temperature wasn’t cold either.

Xi Yan gritted his teeth. "They really are forcing us to play. Yuan, go back—I’m worried something might happen…"

"Brother, I can't die, you don’t need to worry about me. I want to protect you!"

Seeing Yuan’s earnest eyes, Xi Yan couldn’t refuse. She was right—she couldn’t die. But Xi Yan didn’t want Yuan to protect him.

Xi Yan wanted to protect Yuan.

"Yuan, come on. Let’s see what’s odd about this place," Xi Yan smiled gently.

"Okay!" Yuan nodded obediently.

They went over to where the gear was kept, only to find there was no protective equipment, just ski boards.

Xi Yan donned the "equipment" silently and entered the ski area. Yuan did the same. They were ready to ski.

Lin Shuang stood at the passage entrance, watching the two. Seeing they had no protective gear, she thought Xi Yan simply refused to wear any.

The ski area was vast and long, its end hidden from view. Tall wire fencing surrounded it, separating it from the snowy path where the blizzard had raged.

"Yuan, are you ready?" Xi Yan asked.

"Yes."

"Let’s go!"

Xi Yan and Yuan slid downhill. Xi Yan had skied before, so he had some experience.

They sped down, at first smoothly, with nothing strange happening except for the length of the trail.

After a minute or two, rocks began to appear along the path, and the terrain became uneven, with the rocks often positioned in blind spots.