Worry and fury flashed across Chong Zhao’s face. “How dare they harm A-Shuo! I’ll tear this mountain apart and slaughter those scoundrels! Miss Fu Ling, you’re injured—I’ll have someone escort you back to the city to avoid any harm during the fight.”
Fu Ling’s eyes glinted. “Very well, but before you go up the mountain, you must be cautious…”
“Of what?” Concerned for her, Chong Zhao leaned closer. “Miss Fu Ling, are you sure you’re alright…”
In that moment, Fu Ling turned and blew a puff of smoke into his eyes. His clear gaze slowly became clouded.
“The mountain is treacherous, so it’s best if I accompany you inside,” she said, her voice a gentle murmur, eyes fixed on him. “It would be wise to split into fifteen groups and search separately for the bandit camp. What do you think?”
“Sounds… good…” Chong Zhao replied slowly, then turned to his men. “As ordered, split up and enter the mountain!”
“Yes, sir!” The guards, unaware of Chong Zhao’s dazed state, efficiently split up and slipped into the forest. Soon, only Chong Zhao’s personal guards from the capital remained with him.
Several purple shadows darted after the retreating guards, quickly vanishing into the forest.
“Let’s go, Young Master Chong.” Fu Ling gave a sly smile, patting Chong Zhao’s horse and leading the remaining group leisurely into the mountain.
Meanwhile, in the Prime Minister’s residence in the capital...
The teacup in Chong Tai’s hand fell to the floor with a loud crash as he shouted in anger, “What did you say? That ungrateful boy diverted the Chong family’s guards stationed in Wei City?”
The steward trembled, keeping his head low. “The staff at the manor said that the young master took your personal seal. They dared not defy him.”
“Outrageous!” Chong Tai rose with a sweep of his sleeve. “Go, go personally to Wei City and bring that brat back!”
“But, Master, the young master went to search for Miss Bai. If he returns without finding her, it may be hard to answer to General Bai…”
Chong Tai froze, then let out a long sigh. “One after another, causing nothing but trouble! I’ll draft a letter. You go to Wei City and enlist Prefect Zhao’s help to bring both of them back safely.”
“Yes, my lord.” The steward turned to leave, but Chong Tai’s voice stopped him.
“Remember, keep this matter discreet. Letting it leak out would make the Chong and Bai families a laughingstock in the capital!”
“Understood!”
* * *
“So, where are you from, Brother Xiao Bai?” Mu Fan asked.
Under the ancient trees, sunlight filtered lazily through the leaves, casting a tranquil and secluded atmosphere over Mu Fan and Bai Shuo as they walked through the forest.
“Oh, I’m from a little village near Wei City,” Bai Shuo replied, casually twirling a branch in her hand, inventing her story as she went along. “It’s been a tough year, so my father sent me south to find work and earn some silver to support the family.”
“Is that so?” Mu Fan’s lips curved faintly as he strolled at a leisurely pace.
Bai Shuo hadn’t heard his response clearly and, looking back, saw the young man smiling at her. “By the way, if this is your first time away from home, I suppose you’ve never been to Mount Mu Xiao before?”
Bai Shuo rubbed her arms. “This place is so creepy I wouldn’t come here even if someone invited me.”
“Did you happen to encounter anything strange when you were captured and brought up the mountain yesterday?”
“Strange?” Bai Shuo stopped in her tracks, looking steadily at Mu Fan. He folded his arms across his chest, lips pursed slightly, as if waiting for her answer.
“Well, there is something strange!”
Mu Fan’s brows lifted slightly, and he stepped closer. “Oh? What was it?”
“It was you!” Bai Shuo grinned. “Yesterday, I was knocked out and brought up the mountain. When I woke up in the woodshed, I saw you. Then I was chased by bandits, and when I lost my way and fainted, I woke up and saw you again. Wouldn’t you say you’re the strange one?”
Mu Fan was speechless, his mouth twitching slightly.
Seeing his exasperated look, Bai Shuo chuckled and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Alright, alright, I’m just kidding. I didn’t see anything strange in the mountains, but I did come across something odd outside. Yesterday, I found a donkey in the countryside. I fed it well and was hoping it would take me south, but that disloyal donkey abandoned me the moment the bandits attacked! I even wasted two pounds of hay on it! Tell me, Brother Mu, is it right for a donkey to be so lacking in loyalty?”
Bai Shuo’s frustration flared at the memory of the donkey, but she noticed Mu Fan had suddenly stopped walking.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, puzzled.
“That… is that it?” Mu Fan tilted his chin forward.
Bai Shuo turned around and came face to face with a pair of big, dark, innocent eyes. The creature was chewing on two stalks of half-eaten hay.
The “disloyal” donkey could never have imagined such a swift reunion. With a trembling snort, it rolled its tongue to swallow the remaining hay, then, in a flash, turned and bolted without looking back.
“You—! Rotten donkey, stop right there!” Bai Shuo’s eyes blazed with fury. Forgetting all about the bandit camp, she charged after it with all her might.
Meanwhile, in the forest, wolves and bandits alike were racing toward Bai Shuo’s direction.
Outside the mountain, Fu Ling and Chong Zhao stood at a spot where, though the barrier was invisible to ordinary mortals, Fu Ling knew they were now at the true entrance to Mount Mu Xiao.
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