As soon as Han Xue uttered "Yes," an eerie stillness settled over the alley. The air felt heavier, and the warm breeze that had once caressed their faces turned chilling. The old man's eyes flickered with a strange light, a mix of triumph and something darker as if he had just sealed a long-awaited deal.

Han Xiao’s smile faded as he realized the gravity of the situation. The casual conversation had taken a turn into something far more sinister. He tightened his grip on the remaining gold coins in his hand, his instincts screaming that they had just stumbled into a trap.

Ji Ying's playful demeanor shifted instantly. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the old man, her mind racing to figure out what had just transpired. She had seen many strange things in her travels, but never had she encountered someone who could request such abstract concepts as if they were mere commodities.

The old man’s posture straightened ever so slightly, his frailty diminishing. He gave a deep, rattling sigh as if he had just received something that nourished him far more than the gold in his bowl. “Thank you, young Miss,” he rasped, his voice now tinged with a subtle strength that hadn’t been there before. “You have no idea what a great gift you’ve given me.”

Han Xiao’s eyes darted to Han Xue, who was still glaring at him, unaware of the potential danger she had just invited. He couldn’t afford to let this go any further. “Enough,” he said, his voice firm as he stepped in front of his sister. “We’ve been generous enough. Let’s go.”

Han Xue, still fuming, was about to argue when she caught the serious look in her brother’s eyes. For once, she held her tongue, though her confusion was clear.

Ji Ying moved to Han Xue’s side, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Let’s listen to your brother,” she said softly, her gaze never leaving the old man, who was now watching them with an unreadable expression.

As they turned to leave, the old man called after them, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of something far more ominous. “I’ll remember your kindness, young Miss. The Frigidness you’ve given me... it’s a rare and precious thing.”

Han Xiao spoke aloud, cutting through the tension. “I know all of you have given your alms just like my sister here. Seniors, please tell me what you’ve offered to end up in this poor state.”

The nearest beggar responded, “Fire!”

Then, as if in a chain reaction, each of them spoke out one at a time:

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“Mountain!”

“Wood!”

“Speed!”

“Mini Teleportation!”

“Dark Sky Disc!”

“Water!”

The over five hundred beggars, their voices trembling, recounted their lost abilities, tears rolling down their weathered faces. They had endured years of suffering, with no one to hear their plight, making this moment deeply emotional for them.

“Got it!” Without looking back, Han Xiao led the way out of the alley, his mind racing. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they had just crossed paths with something far beyond their understanding. As they walked, the bustling sounds of the city grew louder, drowning out the unsettling encounter, but the weight of the old man’s words lingered in the air, casting a shadow over their steps.

Ji Ying glanced at Han Xiao, a silent question in her eyes. He nodded slightly, indicating that he would explain later, but for now, they needed to get as far away from that alley as possible. Han Xue, still oblivious to the true nature of what had transpired, followed along, her thoughts already drifting to the next part of their journey.

As Han Xue checked herself for any changes, Ji Ying's concern was palpable. “Sister Xue'er, is everything alright with your skill?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Han Xue, still unaware of the full extent of what had transpired, responded innocently, “Nothing I’m aware of. Is something wrong?”

“No,” Ji Ying replied, though her eyes held a different story. She quickly turned to Han Xiao, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Brother Han, is she going to be alright? I believe you didn’t stop her earlier because you already planned this out.”

“What do you think?” Han Xiao's response came with a mischievous grin. “He-he, trying to steal Xue'er’s innate skill root? That old man is just courting death. Let’s get the hell out of here as far as possible.”

Without further delay, they quickened their pace, moving swiftly down the street. As they flickered along, Ji Ying couldn’t help but glance at Han Xue from time to time. Noticing this, Han Xiao sighed and reassured her, “Relax! Nothing is going to happen to my Xue'er. It’s just like taking away a mere drop from a vast, endless ocean of water. So, fret not.”

Though Han Xue remained silent, she wasn’t as clueless as she appeared. She had pieced together the situation, understanding the old man's intentions. However, she chose to follow her brother's lead, feeling a newfound comfort in trusting his judgment. That ugly old fart is so spiteful, she thought, but how dare he try to steal my ice law using my kindness? And what’s even more laughable is that he failed. He-he.

What Han Xue didn’t know was that the old man had indeed managed to steal a small portion of her frigid root spell. The amount was so insignificant that it went unnoticed by her, but the old man had succeeded in claiming a fragment of her power.

Meanwhile, as the trio made their escape, the old man was struggling with the portion of the frigid root spell he had stolen. The initial euphoria of acquiring such a powerful skill root quickly turned into terror as the frigid law, once dormant, began to surge uncontrollably within him.

“Hahaha, I really have harvested a good one this time,” he had laughed, but his celebration was short-lived. The power he had absorbed was like a wild tsunami, threatening to overwhelm him. The frigid law screeched as if it had finally been freed from the seals that had contained it within Princess Han Xue.

“Shit! This is beyond anything I have seen,” the old man muttered with a sinister grin, though his voice carried a hint of desperation. “As if I’ll let you do as you please.” He called upon all his root seals, attempting to tame and contain the untamed force within him. But it was a battle he was losing, as the frigidness began to spread uncontrollably, freezing everything in its path.

The first wave of frigid energy erupted from him, instantly freezing the beggars in the alleyway. He quickly used a skill to shut down the area around him, trying to contain the disaster and focus on subduing the rampaging power. But the situation was spiraling out of control, and the old man realized too late that he had bitten off far more than he could chew.