"So what do you have to say?" I asked calmly, my gaze fixed on her. "Are you registering your name or not? Cat got your tongue?"
Li Manman stood there, frozen. Her lips trembled, and for a moment, it looked like she might cry again.
I let out a soft laugh. "Looks like everything you said was just—"
"I will."
Her voice cut in suddenly.
Everyone looked at her.
She lifted her head slowly, forcing strength into her posture even though her eyes were still red. "I'll register my name."
A small wave of surprise went through the crowd.
Without waiting for permission, she turned and walked toward the Head Guard. He watched her approach with clear annoyance, then clicked his tongue.
"This again," he muttered.
One of the guards brought out the register. The Head Guard pointed at it.
"Write your name," he said bluntly. "But understand this clearly—once your name is written here, there is no turning back. You will suffer the same fate as the exiled. No exceptions."
Li Manman swallowed hard and nodded.
Her hands were shaking badly as she took the brush. The ink wobbled on the paper, but she still managed to write her name.
Li Manman.
The guard took the paper back and scoffed. "Your choice."
I watched the whole thing quietly, then smiled.
"Well," I said loudly, making sure she could hear, "since you've decided to be exiled too, make sure you can take care of yourself. Don't expect me to give you anything just because you chose to throw your life away for the Fu family."
Her eyes snapped toward me.
For just a second, the mask slipped. There was anger there. Real anger.
But she caught herself quickly and lowered her gaze again, returning to her pitiful expression.
As expected.
Not long after, another figure appeared from the side of the road.
Bai Ming.
She walked slowly, one leg dragging slightly behind the other, her face pale but her eyes sharp. She didn't look like someone who had just been beaten or dragged away. She just looked tired.
I narrowed my eyes.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Before I could think further, the Head Guard stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Enough delays!" he shouted. "The time is up. We move now!"
The guards began organizing the line immediately, pushing people into formation.
The exile had begun.
Everyone began to move.
Fu Teng took hold of the wooden wagon and started pulling, while Fu Tong quickly moved to help him steady it from the side. Master Fu sat carefully inside, his injured body supported with rolled cloths. Madame Fu walked close to the wagon, keeping an eye on him.
Fu Fei and Fu Li followed behind, each carrying their bundles, while Fu Sheng stayed near me with the twins.
The guards formed their positions fast. Some walked in front, clearing the way. Others stayed behind, watching closely to make sure no one tried to escape.
We passed through the outer road and entered the forest path.
The forest was wide and deep, but the path itself wasn't too bad. It was narrow, dusty, and uneven, but still walkable. The real problem was the mosquitoes. They swarmed around us nonstop, buzzing around our ears and biting any skin they could find.
Fu Li slapped at her neck. "Why are there so many mosquitoes here?"
Fu Jun started whining almost immediately. "Papa, it itches…"
Fu Sheng gently brushed his hair and tried to calm him. "Just walk properly. We'll rest soon."
Awwn he was such a good father..
Behind us, a few steps away, walked Fu Tian and his family.
Fu Fong, his parents, and Bai Ming stayed together, moving slower than the rest. Their voices were low, but not low enough.
Fu Tian leaned closer to his son and whispered, "You need to start talking to Su Long. Get on her good side."
Guan An, his wife, nodded quickly. "That useless wife of yours is finished now. She's no help to us at all. Su Long has all the supplies. You need to make sure she favors our side."
Fu Fong kept his eyes forward, his expression calm. "I know."
He glanced in my direction briefly, then looked away again.
"If I can get her alone," he continued quietly, "I'll talk to her."
Guan An scoffed. "That will be hard. That Fu Sheng hasn't left her side since we left the residence."
Fu Fong's eyes darkened slightly.
"Such an annoying dog," he muttered under his breath.
The guards up ahead suddenly stopped.
A huge tree had fallen across the path, its thick trunk blocking the narrow road completely. The Head Guard lifted his hand, signaling everyone to halt.
"Stay here," he ordered. "I'll take some men to see if we can find a way around."
The group came to a stop. People slowly sat down on rocks, on fallen logs, or right on the ground to rest their legs.
Fu Sheng lifted Fu Jin and Fu Jun without a word and carried them to the wagon, laying them beside their grandfather so they could rest. Master Fu shifted slightly to make space, his face softening when he saw the boys.
Fu Li scratched her arm again and frowned deeply. "My whole body is itching like crazy."
She rolled up her sleeve and revealed red bite marks all over her skin.
Then she turned toward me and froze.
My skin looked completely normal. No red spots. No scratching. Nothing.
Her eyes widened. "Y-you witch… how is it that you're not being bitten at all?"
Her question drew attention.
Fu Fei, Fu Teng, Fu Tong, Madame Fu, and even Fu Sheng all turned to look at me. Behind them, Fu Tian and his family also stared.
I smiled calmly and folded my arms.
"Well," I said lightly, "that's because I brought mosquito repellent."
Fu Teng blinked. Fu Tong blinked too.
They looked at each other.
"Huh?" they said at the same time. "What's that?"