They departed in the guise of a merchant caravan. After passing through the city gates at night with the Ninth Prince’s command token, they split into three groups and headed off in different directions.

As for why three groups — in truth, two of them were made up of brothers dispatched by Xing Zizhou.

The three groups set out together. While drawing away watchful eyes wasn’t their primary aim, it would certainly help a little.

As for Feng Jiu’er’s own party, no matter how much they tried to guard against it, there was no stopping the eyes of those who were determined to watch. If that was the case, then they might as well appear openly before everyone’s gaze.

They chose to travel at night not to conceal anything, but simply because time was truly pressing.

Beyond that, the Ninth Prince was very much a man of action — departing that very same day was already moving at the fastest possible speed.

After all, before setting out, Feng Jiu’er still had a great many things to attend to.

For instance, preparing the medicinal prescriptions the Feng Family patriarch would need in the days ahead; then there were the medicines for Lanyue and the old manor master over at Tianxia First Manor, as well as the prescriptions that would be needed during the days of her absence.

After Feng Jiu’er’s martial arts were destroyed, she seemed to be at leisure — but in truth, she was anything but. She was kept constantly busy.

That the Ninth Imperial Uncle had thought to account for all of this on her behalf was already something remarkably rare for a man like him.

Even so, a single day — the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s temperament really was impatient.

Feng Jiu’er sat inside the carriage, leaning against the window and gazing out at the night scenery beyond.

The Ninth Imperial Uncle’s face would still float into her mind from time to time. Dwelling on it too deeply made her head ache somewhat — but somehow, not thinking of him felt even worse.

Xue Gu had brought Tuoba Keyan along as well, which naturally meant including the blood lingzhi mushroom he cradled in his arms.

Walking at the very front of the column were Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan. According to Xue Gu, Tuoba Keyan was truly a rare martial arts prodigy.

After his martial arts were completely destroyed, Xue Gu had begun teaching him a new cultivation method. Of course, compared to the legendary Feng’s Nirvana, there was simply no comparison — but at the very least, in the days ahead, if he ran into common bandits, he would have no trouble defending himself.

Bringing up the rear of the column were Long Eleven and Long Yi in disguise. That the Ninth Imperial Uncle had assigned those two to her side had genuinely surprised Feng Jiu’er.

Qiao Mu and Yanu traveled alongside Jiu’er — Jiu’er rode in the carriage while the two of them flanked her on horseback.

Then there were the people brought from Tianji Hall, giving the column a respectable size.

But Qiao Mu kept looking back repeatedly after they left the imperial capital.

Feng Jiu’er lifted the carriage curtain to look at the night scenery, and caught Qiao Mu’s unusual behavior. “Who are you waiting for?”

“Well…” Qiao Mu rode closer and lowered her voice. “Earlier I heard that Mu Mu was also coming…”

That news had set Qiao Mu’s heart considerably at ease. After all, Mu Mu’s martial arts were formidable — even Xue Gu might not necessarily be his match. Having such a powerful companion along always added a measure of confidence.

The Feng Clan was, in itself, a mysterious realm — and the Desolate Ruins were the most dangerous place within it.

Even someone like Qiao Mu felt the peril of the road ahead. Now that Mu Mu had not appeared, her heart felt even more unsettled.

Jiu’er smiled. “Having him along would be wonderful, of course — but he is currently the most capable general at the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s side. If he came here, the Ninth Imperial Uncle would be left one vital ally short.”

So in truth, Jiu’er had no wish for Mu Mu to accompany them to the Feng Clan.

She had a persistent, vague sense of unease about this journey — a feeling that many schemes and traps lay waiting for them, though she couldn’t yet untangle what they might be.

Her martial arts had never been weak in the first place, so why had the Veiled Lady insisted on destroying them, and then demanded she go and retrieve the Feng’s Nirvana? If she truly meant well by her, couldn’t she have let her first obtain the martial arts manual and then destroy her existing skills before training in the divine techniques?

In any case, she simply had an ill premonition she couldn’t quite reason through — she couldn’t yet decipher the Veiled Lady’s intentions.

What exactly was she scheming? Was this a deliberate attempt to draw her away?

But why? Why would she need to lure her away from the imperial capital?

What the relationship between Xue Gu and the Veiled Lady truly was — she still couldn’t puzzle it out. She simply trusted, purely and simply, that Xue Gu would not harm her.

But could the Veiled Lady have deceived even Xue Gu? Who could guarantee otherwise?

Qiao Mu couldn’t help glancing back one more time. The road behind them remained empty — no one was following.

She looked ahead at the road and sighed. “Perhaps you’re right. Mu Mu staying by the Ninth Prince’s side may be where he can do the most good.”

The Ninth Prince was currently in the imperial capital — and that, in truth, was also a very dangerous place.

The imperial capital looked calm on the surface, but beneath that calm, danger lurked everywhere.

Then there was the Ninth Prince’s stronghold, Phoenix City. Without the Ninth Prince there to hold it, if someone were to suddenly lead troops against it while the Ninth Prince was trapped in the imperial capital, Phoenix City would fall into crisis as well.

Of course, trapping the Ninth Prince in the imperial capital was no simple matter either.

And if someone truly dared to attack Phoenix City, the Ninth Prince could still make it back in time from here.

“Jiu’er, the inn we’re headed for isn’t far ahead. If you’re tired, rest for a bit — I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded. Qiao Mu spurred her horse forward to the front and exchanged some words with Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan.

Tuoba Keyan said a few words to Qiao Mu as well — Jiu’er caught a glimpse of them through the carriage curtain.

Fortunately, Qiao Mu was not as openly hostile toward Tuoba Keyan as Xiao Yingtao was. The two of them weren’t warm with each other now, but at least Qiao Mu wasn’t outright cold either.

It was at least some measure of progress.

Even so, Jiu’er still hadn’t been able to find out who had truly poisoned Feng Yi’nan — whether it had been an outsider’s doing, or someone within her own circle…

Jiu’er reined in her thoughts and closed her eyes.

The inn was not far ahead — barely more than half a shichen away. By the time they arrived, the night was at its deepest.

The rooms were already prepared. After a bath, it was essentially time for sleep.

Feng Jiu’er was just preparing to rest when, outside, it suddenly seemed as though a good number of people had arrived — and the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly grew heavy.

The inn attendant and the proprietor both went downstairs. Jiu’er stood by the window and eased it open just a crack.

Below, a group of people had arrived. Their attire was nothing out of the ordinary, but their bearing was unmistakably different.

Even now, with her martial arts completely gone, she could still sense it — every one of them was a highly skilled practitioner.

Perhaps not every single one could match someone like Qiao Mu, but as a whole, their defensive strength was absolutely formidable.

She suddenly had a thought and strode quickly toward the door.

Before she could even open it, a low, unhurried voice came from outside: “Have you undressed yet?”

“If I said I had — would you not come in?” Feng Jiu’er asked, a little exasperated.

“I’d still come in. But I could wait for you to put your clothes back on first.”

Mu Mu pushed the door open. Feng Jiu’er was not dressed in her most formal attire, but she was certainly not underdressed.

Fortunately, the season wasn’t particularly warm, so even dressed as she was, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

She looked at Mu Mu walking in with his pack and pursed her lips. “Did the Ninth Imperial Uncle send you?”