At this moment in Fengyan City, the air in the audience hall was heavy as lead. Even the bronze lamps on the walls seemed afraid to let their flames flicker too high.
Tie Ye stood in the center of the hall, dressed in deep crimson battle robes, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was as hard as steel, and waves of Yao energy pulsed around him like invisible fire. When he spoke, his voice struck the stone floor like a hammer.
"You've been searching for three months and still haven't found her—what exactly are you all good for?"
His words boomed like thunder. The row of generals before him all bowed their heads, none daring to speak.
Yan Shuo, standing below, had sweat beading on his forehead. He forced himself to step forward and salute.
"We have sealed the city gates, inspected all inns and travel records, and sent agents among the civilians to investigate any irregularities… But that girl is extremely cunning. Her trail keeps breaking—she's very difficult to track…"
"Excuses!" Tie Ye cut him off coldly. He swept his arm outward, and a nearby weapons rack exploded into splinters. Fire Yao energy surged forward in a wave of heat.
"That Ge girl possesses extraordinary talent in weapon design. If she falls into someone else's hands, our military secrets will be exposed."
He took another step forward, eyes sharp as blades.
"Do you have any idea? If her repeating crossbow were refined just a little further, it could fire continuously and pierce armor. When that happens, not just my army—even the Yao capital itself would sleep uneasily!"
Yan Shuo bent even lower, his voice trembling.
"I understand… I only ask that Your Excellency grant us a little more time—"
"You have three days," Tie Ye said as he turned away, his voice freezing cold.
"If you still can't find Ge Zhiyao, prepare to be stripped of your position as Lord of Fengyan City."
With a snap of his sleeve, a blast of fiery pressure swept through the hall, leaving behind only the stench of scorched air and a silence no one dared break.
Meanwhile — At the Night Camp by the Carriage
Night had fallen deep. Lin Yaochen squatted beside a small fire near the carriage, sweat on his brow as he clumsily stirred a pot of porridge. He had dumped in everything he could find—some aging dried vegetables, a pinch of salt, and a chunk of taro he had carved into bizarre shapes. He cooked using half-remembered lessons from village aunties.
"Hmm… this should… be edible, right?"
He eyed the strange-colored, chaotic mixture, scooped up a spoonful, and tasted it. It was a bit too salty—but at least it went down.
"So this is your 'grand feast'?" Mozi drifted over and glanced into the pot, his tone unusually free of mockery.
Lin Yaochen straightened proudly, ladle in hand.
"This is my Special Supreme Vitality Porridge! When I cook, if it's not poisonous, that already counts as success!"
Mozi stared at him for a long moment, then spoke softly.
"You've changed."
"Huh?"
"You used to have people dress you, serve your meals, afraid of dirt, afraid of hardship, afraid of trouble… Now here you are, cooking in the wilderness by your own hands."
His voice was calm, but there was a hint of approval.
"Even if the porridge looks like a disaster scene."
"Hey! Is that praise or what?" Lin Yaochen scooped a bowl for Mozi, then carried another over to Ge Zhiyao.
"This one's for you. I only know how to make this… I'm not good at anything else yet. Just make do with it. Careful, it's hot."
"Thank you, Young Master Lin," Zhiyao said softly as she accepted it.
Lin Yaochen immediately frowned.
"Hey, don't call me 'Young Master'—it gives me goosebumps."
She looked at him in slight confusion.
"Then… how should I address you?"
"Just Yaochen, or… A-Yao, A-Chen, whatever you like." He waved it off casually. "I'm not used to people being so formal. It's awkward."
She studied him for a moment, then said faintly, "Alright… I'll call you A-Chen."
He nodded.
"Deal. Then I'll call you A-Yao, okay?"
She didn't answer right away, only took a sip of porridge. After a moment, she said quietly, "As you wish."
The tone was flat, but Lin Yaochen somehow felt that this "as you wish" wasn't dismissal—it carried a hint of acceptance… and trust.
He grinned.
"There's plenty left in the pot if you want more. Don't hold back."
Then he turned to serve himself.
Zhiyao smiled faintly and continued eating.
It had been a long time since she'd had food this warm… and even longer since someone had cooked for her.
This crude, messy porridge made something warm stir in her chest.
The firelight flickered beside the carriage. Night winds whispered through the camp. Between the heat of the food and a single "A-Chen," the distance between the three of them quietly shrank.
After they finished, Mozi suddenly pricked up his ears and stared into the dark mountain road.
"Do you feel it?" he asked.
Zhiyao nodded, her voice low and cold.
"Someone has started watching us."
Lin Yaochen was still packing supplies.
"Huh? Are we in danger?"
Mozi didn't look at him.
"Our route out of the city is too close to Gold Yao Valley. This isn't a path ordinary travelers take."
"It might be the Shadow Pavilion," Zhiyao said quietly. "Their informant lines… use traces like this to track people."
"What's the Shadow Pavilion?" Lin Yaochen asked.
"One of the largest intelligence organizations in the Yao Realm," she replied. "They work for nobles, specialize in infiltration, assassination, and surveillance."
A trace of deep wariness entered her tone.
"Their leader is Gu Ying. She can conceal her presence so completely that she kills without being noticed."
Lin Yaochen swallowed.
"That scary? Then… why would she be watching us?"
"Our reported carriage route heads toward Gold Yao Valley," Mozi said. "That alone is enough to make an information broker investigate."
"So what do we do? Are they after you or me?" Lin Yaochen pointed between Zhiyao and himself.
Zhiyao looked at him calmly.
"Me. But since you're traveling with me, you've been pulled in as well."
Mozi added quietly,
"Gu Ying won't act immediately. She observes first, confirms identities. The more she knows about us, the more dangerous it becomes."
"Then should we disguise ourselves? Like in dramas, where people use face-changing tricks?"
Zhiyao shot him a look.
"You think anyone can just use disguise techniques? They require materials, skill, knowledge of facial structure and scent masking. Can you do any of that?"
Lin Yaochen laughed awkwardly.
"Uh… I've seen it. Never learned it."
Mozi snorted.
"With that face of yours, disguise or not, you're still conspicuous."
"What's wrong with my face? I'm handsome!" Lin Yaochen protested.
"Maybe that Gu Ying lady will fall for me—"
Zhiyao ignored him, tapping her fingers against the carriage frame, frowning.
"We don't need to change faces. We need to change our trail."
"Our trail?"
"She'll check travel records, stops, who we've met." Zhiyao spoke slowly but clearly.
"We can't keep following the same route. Even the carriage has to change."
Mozi nodded.
"I can swap the carriage's spirit-tag so it can't be tracked—but we must leave the main road and take a side path."
"Then what?" Lin Yaochen asked.
"Find a small town. Change horses, clothes, maybe even the carriage," Zhiyao said.
"Cut off every way Gu Ying's informants can track us. Otherwise, we'll be exposed before reaching Gold Yao Valley."
"When do we move?" Lin Yaochen asked.
"Not tonight," Mozi said gravely.
"Her informants might still be nearby. We need to give them the illusion that we've noticed nothing, so we can counter them."
"Shadow Pavilion agents never give up once they mark a target," Zhiyao added softly.
Lin Yaochen inhaled sharply.
"With you talking like that, how am I supposed to sleep?"
"Then don't sleep—come meditate," Mozi said calmly, motioning to him.
"You've got to be kidding me! I drove all day—finally get a break and you tell me to meditate? Do you have any humanity at all?"
"I'm a spirit beast," Mozi replied serenely.
"So… no."
"…!" Lin Yaochen fumed.
"Fine! I'll meditate! A real man doesn't argue with beasts!"
But once he sat down, he obediently closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.
Because deep down, he knew—
what lay ahead would only grow more dangerous.
If he didn't become stronger, he would only ever be someone protected… not someone who could protect others.
Outside the carriage, night deepened.
Wind tugged at the camp curtains. Stars hid behind thick clouds.
Only the firelight flickered—
like the uncertain future quietly burning in their hearts.