Qiao Mu had been staring at the diagram Feng Jiu’er had drawn. After a while, she raised her eyes to look at the woman across from her.

“If that is the case, then we cannot find the person playing the flute, can we? The forest is so vast, and there are so many mountains on all sides — is this not like searching for a needle in the ocean?”

“Not necessarily.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head and replied, “If the flute sound were to ring out again and we had enough time, it may still be possible.”

“Only the terrain is far too vast, and we must also hold our defensive line. Finding the source would be extremely difficult.”

“The venomous creatures have temporarily retreated — they must be preparing for a second assault.” Feng Jiang came in from the outer perimeter and looked at Feng Jiu’er. “Jiu’er, if the brothers’ conditions are stable, we must make haste and set out.”

“It is now certain that there is a secret organization breeding venomous creatures in this hidden location. I believe they will not let us leave easily, for fear that word would get out.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “If the creatures were merely breeding on their own here, that would be one thing — but this is clearly not the case.”

She turned her head toward Zhan Qingcheng, and her voice rang out again.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, the three brothers who were poisoned will need their companions’ care. It is time for us to set out.”

“Very well.” Zhan Qingcheng nodded and rose to his feet.

At that, the others who had been sitting together all stood.

Catching Zhan Qingcheng’s gaze, Long Yi immediately ran forward.

“Your Highness, are we setting out?” Long Yi asked.

“Long Yi, have the other brothers help support the three injured ones as we move forward.” Feng Jiu’er’s voice rang out. “All three were injured in the legs — remind them that the injured leg should be kept as still as possible. Understood?”

“Yes, Miss Jiu’er.” Long Yi nodded.

Seeing that Zhan Qingcheng had no further instructions, Long Yi turned and quickly departed.

Feng Jiu’er also glanced at Zhan Qingcheng, and seeing no objection from him, turned to look at Long Eleven standing nearby.

Long Eleven received the signal and strode toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Miss Jiu’er, what are your instructions?”

“Long Eleven, I am entrusting my father to you and Xue Gu. Please take good care of him.”

Turning to look at Feng Li and Xue Gu, Feng Jiu’er added, “Xue Gu, escort my father out together with Long Eleven.”

“If you encounter danger, send up a signal flare at once, and we will come as quickly as we can.”

“Understood.” Xue Gu nodded in response. “We will see him safely to the ship.”

She would bring him back — regardless of whether her mistress loved or resented him, he was still someone who belonged to her mistress.

“Miss Jiu’er, put your mind at ease. Who would dare not fight to the death to protect our commander’s father-in-law?” Long Eleven said with a grin.

His gaze swept briefly over Zhan Qingcheng, his smile never wavering.

“Good.” Feeling the pleased mood of the man beside her, Feng Jiu’er’s own spirits lifted. “Then I leave my father in your hands.”

“No problem.” Long Eleven gave Feng Jiu’er a reassuring look.

Not daring to look at Zhan Qingcheng again, he turned and took up his post behind Feng Li.

“Jiu’er, do not underestimate the enemy!” Though Feng Li did not oppose his precious daughter’s decisions, he could not help feeling worried.

“Father, I know. Do not worry — I will not let anything happen to me.” Feng Jiu’er went to him and took his hand, raising her eyes to meet his gaze.

“Don’t forget our agreement — from now on… a family of three.”

Those words — “a family of three” — Feng Jiu’er did not say aloud. She only mouthed them silently.

She knew her father would understand what she meant.

“Mm.” Feng Li reached out his other large hand and gave the back of Feng Jiu’er’s hand a gentle pat. “Father will be waiting for you.”

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at Feng Li, biting her lips as she nodded again and again, saying nothing more.

In less than a quarter-hour, the group had assembled and set out.

When Feng Jiu’er and Mu Mu departed, Zhan Qingcheng also followed behind them.

She stopped and turned to look at the person behind her, her crescent brows furrowing slightly.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, did we not agree that you would remain with the others? Mu Mu and I were only going to take a look — was that not the arrangement?”

Zhan Qingcheng stood on the treetops, his long hair drifting across his handsome face, breathtakingly beautiful.

“I gave no such agreement.” His indifferent voice carried over.

With that single sentence dropped, Zhan Qingcheng continued forward, leaving Feng Jiu’er and Mu Mu behind in an instant.

“Mu Mu, his body has not yet recovered — what should we do?” Watching his retreating figure, Feng Jiu’er’s expression grew anxious.

She should have known he would never agree to let her and Mu Mu leave alone, but the situation was urgent — what choice did she have?

Rather than sit and wait for defeat, it was better to take the initiative.

“Let him go. He knows his own body.” Mu Mu glanced at Feng Jiu’er and stepped forward to follow.

The two of them were alike in this way — Feng Jiu’er could fret all she liked and it would do no good.

Ninth Imperial Uncle’s condition had improved somewhat. It was unclear whether the abbess had treated his injuries before, but his internal wounds were still serious. How could she not worry?

The three of them moved through the forest together, none speaking further.

They came to a fork in the path. Feng Jiu’er continued straight ahead while Zhan Qingcheng and Mu Mu each chose a direction, one to the left and one to the right.

Half an hour later, the melancholy sound of a flute rose again through the forest.

Everyone within the forest immediately went on guard. By this time, Xue Gu and Long Eleven had already guided Feng Li through more than half of the forest.

The second battle between the humans and the venomous creatures erupted.

The difference this time was that alongside the previous swarms of venomous creatures, there were now two enormous, grotesquely shaped venomous beasts.

“Are these what you spoke of — the venomous beasts?” Qiao Mu turned to look at Feng Jiang behind her.

Having already begun slaughtering in full, her eyes now held nothing but unquenchable flame — not a trace of fear remained.

In a battle against venomous creatures, the most ideal formation was two people fighting back-to-back. In this way, they could protect themselves while also protecting each other.

“They have finally come.” Feng Jiang eyed the venomous beasts, excitement flickering in his gaze. “This time, I am determined to bring them down!”

In years past, the venomous creatures had been numerous and unrelenting. Fighting alone, Feng Jiang had grown exhausted over time, and the venomous beasts had seized the opportunity to strike him by surprise — that was how he had been left with that scar.

“Good. I will fight alongside you.” Qiao Mu nodded.

A single sweep of her silver spear sent a heap of furry carcasses flying.

Looking at those dark, motionless bodies, Qiao Mu curved her lips ever so slightly, her eyes carrying their customary coldness.

“Precisely what I intend!” Feng Jiang nodded.

The two of them carved a bloody path through the swarms of dark venomous creatures, advancing toward the two venomous beasts that were attacking the brothers.

The creatures grew more and more numerous, seemingly emboldened with every moment under the direction of the flute.

The venomous beasts were large — their size was truly comparable to Xue Gu’s snow lotus beast — except that the snow lotus beast was pure white, while the venomous beasts were covered all over in long black fur.

Save for their two pairs of claws and a row of fangs, which were white, the beasts were pitch-black from head to tail.

The two venomous beasts appeared cumbersome, yet their movements were anything but. Even when knocked down, they could rise again swiftly and continue to fight.

Their claws and fangs were their only weapons — yet they were enough to send cold chills down one’s spine.

Those razor-sharp claws glinted with an icy light. These were the creatures that had left the scar across Feng Jiang’s waist all those years ago.