The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, a thin mist clung to the trees lining both sides of the road.
Lin Yaochen rubbed his sleepy eyes and forced himself to stay alert as he drove the carriage—swerving left, wobbling right, lurching along the gravel path like a drunk crab.
Mozi, sitting beside him, finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Kid, focus. If you keep weaving like that, sooner or later you're going to dump us into a ravine!"
Lin Yaochen shot him a glare and huffed.
"Don't go too far! You made me meditate till midnight, and now you're forcing me to drive before dawn. That's exploitation!"
"Exploitation?" Mozi snorted. "You've got the nerve to say that? I told you to meditate, not to snore. Your snoring was so loud even the birds flew off. I thought some mountain beast was howling in the dark."
Lin Yaochen nearly rolled his eyes.
"That was harmonizing my qi—when the qi flows smoothly, it resonates!"
"Tch. Typical spoiled young master—always finding excuses for laziness." Mozi wore a look that said, I saw through you ages ago.
Listening to their bickering—back and forth, teasing and roasting—Ge Zhiyao felt her tense nerves loosen, just a little.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. A rare softness flickered in her eyes—
These past days, her heart had never truly settled.
She'd been like an overdrawn bowstring, stretched to the breaking point. Any rustle could mean an ambush. She ate as if racing time itself, slept sitting against walls with a hidden weapon in hand, never daring to sink into real rest.
Because she knew—
if she was caught, then her father and her clan would have no hope left at all.
But now, seated in this rattling carriage, with a boy's ill-timed complaints in her ear and a spirit beast's icy retorts in reply… she found herself slipping into a long-forgotten illusion—
That she wasn't fighting alone anymore.
That fragile sense of safety rose quietly within her, so subtle she didn't even notice it. Only her lips moved faintly, as if something unspoken had almost surfaced.
She lowered her gaze. In her palm was the weapon schematic her mother had left behind. The paper corners were worn, the creases soft from countless foldings—yet it still carried a familiar scent, a lingering warmth.
Just give me a little more time… I will save you. I swear it.
She made the vow silently—half to the past, half to the future.
Then she carefully folded the blueprint and tucked it back into her clothes.
The carriage rolled onward, wheels crunching over stone in a steady rhythm.
Leaning against the carriage wall, for the first time on this long road of escape… she closed her eyes.
And allowed herself to feel, if only briefly, what peace might be like.
As the sky brightened, a cluster of low rooftops appeared ahead—chimney smoke curling into the pale morning air.
"That's… a town?" Lin Yaochen's eyes lit up. His energy returned instantly.
Mozi nodded toward the distance.
"Liuchuan Town. A mid-route stop for merchants. Crowded, noisy, full of information—perfect for switching gear and shaking off a tail."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Lin Yaochen snapped the reins, and the carriage picked up speed.
When they entered Liuchuan Town, the day had only just broken. The morning mist still lingered, but the streets were already coming alive—wooden doors creaking open, vendors calling out as they set up their stalls.
Liuchuan wasn't as grand or fortified as Fengyan City, but it was full of everyday life. The houses were low and the bricks aged, yet the streets were neat and clean.
"First, the carriage," Mozi said, scanning the area. He pointed toward a narrow lane near the town's edge. "Go around from there. There's a stable yard—I've been here before."
"Oh? Look at you, Mr. Photographic Memory," Lin Yaochen joked as he steered the carriage into the lane.
Sure enough, at the end of the alley stood a small carriage yard. A weathered wooden sign read: Carriage & Horses. The owner was an old man with a white beard, feeding sturdy horses at a trough.
"Looking to change horses? Or handle the carriage?" the old man asked warmly as they approached.
"Both," Lin Yaochen replied, unexpectedly concise. He handed over several Yao coins. "The more ordinary-looking, the better. Sturdy. Long-range."
The old man's eyes gleamed. He bowed repeatedly.
"Of course, of course! We've got just the thing. I'll bring a few options out for you to choose!"
Before long, he led out a gray wooden carriage—solidly built, but scuffed and plain. Thick cloth had been wrapped around the wheels for extra grip. The horses were a pair of chestnut mounts—smaller in frame, but sharp-eyed and enduring.
"This one," Mozi said with a nod.
Their original carriage was taken in by the old man.
After a brief rest, the three headed toward the town center.
The center of Liuchuan bustled with life—cloth sellers, tea stalls, vendors carrying shoulder poles hawking snacks, workshops for leather goods and straw sandals. The crowd was lively, warm, and loud.
Lin Yaochen rolled up his sleeves and shopped with enthusiasm. In no time he had picked out a few sets of plain clothing.
"Quick, quick—change outfits."
He changed into a dark-gray short robe, cloth wrapped at the waist, and a new pair of slip-resistant cowhide boots.
Ge Zhiyao chose a simple light-brown long shirt, tied her hair up, and secured it with a plain cloth band. Practical, understated, clean.
Under the morning light, her brows and eyes looked especially clear. No cosmetics, no ornamentation—yet she carried a quiet elegance and a restrained, unmistakable sharpness.
"Is there an inn here?" Lin Yaochen sniffed himself with a face full of disgust. "I want a bath. These clothes are new, but I swear I'm about to ferment."
Zhiyao turned her head slightly. She didn't speak—but her eyes clearly said: Agreed.
Mozi thought for a moment as he walked ahead.
"There's a small inn in the center called Willow Breeze Lodge. Not expensive, and the water's clean."
"Done. Let's check that one first." Lin Yaochen decided instantly.
Willow Breeze Lodge was easy to find—a two-story wooden building with a modest exterior, a few pots of greenery by the door, and small stone lanterns. The curtain fluttered lightly in the wind.
The innkeeper was a lean middle-aged man. The moment he saw them, he came out smiling.
"Rooms? Our place is clean and quiet. We have private rooms upstairs, and hot bathing water."
"We're staying. Upstairs, private rooms—open them fast," Lin Yaochen said, dashing to the counter like his life depended on it.
"One room each, or…?" the innkeeper began, his eyes flicking between Lin Yaochen and Zhiyao.
"Two rooms," Lin Yaochen said, pointing at Mozi. "Me and him in one. She gets her own."
After the check-in, they went upstairs.
"Our rooms are right next to yours," Lin Yaochen said at Zhiyao's door, his voice bright. "Rest first. Later we'll go eat together."
"Alright. I'll lie down for a bit," Zhiyao replied gently, then pushed the door open and went inside.
Only after hearing her answer did Lin Yaochen finally relax. He turned away with the faintest upward curve of his lips.
The moment the door shut, Zhiyao leaned against it and quietly let out a breath.
This kind of temporary steadiness… she hadn't felt it in a long time.
She looked down at the fresh, simple clothes on her body—so plain they almost resembled her former life. Yet the eyes that had endured pain and sharpened into steel could not truly relax.
The instant Lin Yaochen got to his room, he was eager to bathe. As he untied the small cloth pouch at his waist—where he kept the Yao Disc—the Disc suddenly flared with crimson light.
He froze, then yanked it out.
"Mozi! The Disc is glowing!"
Hearing his shout, Mozi turned. The moment he saw the red light pulsing inside the Disc, his expression changed. He strode over quickly.
"When did it start?" he asked, eyes locked on the flickering glow.
"Just now—when I took it off," Lin Yaochen said, clutching the Disc, tense. Then he added hurriedly, "It glowed before too—faint gold—so we headed for Gold Yao Valley. But this time it's red… does that mean the Fire Yao person is nearby?"
Mozi fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"It means the Disc is sensing something in the area—something resonating strongly with Yao energy. And this resonance is fire-aligned."
Lin Yaochen stared.
"So… there's a Yao person in this town?"
"Very likely a Fire Yao," Mozi said, his tone turning serious.
"The Disc reacts differently to each attribute. Fire responds as crimson light."
Lin Yaochen's nerves and excitement tangled together as he looked down at the Disc.
"Then what do we do? Do we go find him now?"
"Not yet," Mozi said quietly. "Don't make it obvious. When Zhiyao wakes, we'll go eat at a tavern together…" His gaze sharpened.
"If there truly is a Fire Yao here, the most likely place to find them—"
He paused deliberately.
"—is the kitchen."
Lin Yaochen blinked.
"…You're saying this person might be a cook?"
Mozi nodded.
"If it's him, the Disc will lead us."