According to what Aunt Xue had said, Jian Yi might really have headed toward the Southern Savage Lands.

Going from Crow-Wood City to the Southern Savage Lands, there was a good chance one would pass through Black Gorge Valley — an area Zhao Yusheng was indeed familiar with.

Composing herself, Feng Jiu’er looked at Zhao Yusheng and nodded.

“Send word first to the brothers at Zhao Family Stockade, have them keep an eye out for any sign of Jian Yi. We’ll get ready to set off.”

“Alright.” Zhao Yusheng nodded lightly, seeming to be in good spirits. “Jiu’er, I’ll go get things ready then.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand. “Go on.”

Zhao Yusheng nodded and turned to leave.

Xiao Yingtao and Qiao Mu came riding over from the other direction.

“Jiu’er, where are you and Zhao Yusheng headed?” Xiao Yingtao’s voice carried over.

Feng Jiu’er turned back, her gaze settling on Qiao Mu.

“Why aren’t you resting a bit longer?”

“I’m fine. If I sleep any more I’ll turn useless.” Qiao Mu looked at her and shrugged.

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu really is fine. Yesterday when the enemy set fire to the camp, she even saved quite a few of the wounded brothers. Don’t worry.” Xiao Yingtao said softly.

“By the way, Jiu’er, I just heard you and Zhao Yusheng talking — where are you going?”

“To find Jian Yi. The messenger bird came back, and Zhao Yusheng says it should know where he is.” Feng Jiu’er composed herself and let out a soft sigh.

So many days had passed already — she truly had no idea how that fellow was doing.

To protect her and the others, he had been willing to sacrifice himself — there weren’t many assassins like that left in this world.

So she had to find him and bring him back, and see him restored to full health.

“Has this battle really died down?” Xiao Yingtao frowned slightly.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go find Jian Yi — they’d all been brothers together, and if something had happened to him, it would weigh on her too.

“The Ninth Imperial Uncle said the Eighth Prince’s and the Crown Prince’s troops have both been driven out. On Mu Mu’s side, good news should come within the next couple of days — for now, this stage is more or less over.”

“He has no intention of pressing the attack for now, though there’s no telling whether His Majesty might still have designs against the Ninth Imperial Uncle.”

Pressing her lips together, Feng Jiu’er looked up at the sky.

Night was about to fall — she wondered where that cold, quiet yet lovable assassin would sleep tonight.

Winter nights, even in the south, were so cold — how was he holding up, really?

“Jiu’er, since that’s the case, let’s go find Jian Yi first. Alone and badly wounded like that — it’s just too pitiful.”

Xiao Yingtao understood Feng Jiu’er’s feelings — even she, who wasn’t as close to Jian Yi, would occasionally think back to the days they’d all spent fooling around together.

“Jian Yi has always been a man of few words, but without him, our family always feels like something is missing.” Xiao Yingtao said quietly, pressing her lips together.

“Jiu’er, why don’t I come along to find Jian Yi too? If it’s only you and Zhao Yusheng going, I’m afraid that…”

Glancing around, Xiao Yingtao lowered her voice.

“If it’s just you and Zhao Yusheng going together, I don’t think the Ninth Prince would agree.”

“That fellow’s face turns sour every time he sees you with the Ninth Prince — he still thinks of you as his wife.”

“Qiao Mu said it too — he just won’t change his ways!”

Meeting Xiao Yingtao’s gaze, Feng Jiu’er frowned slightly. “Never mind him! If you can get your own matters sorted out, come along with me.”

“One more person can’t hurt. The sooner we find Jian Yi, the sooner we can get back to everything else we need to do.”

She’d hinted at it, even spelled it out plainly several times, but Zhao Yusheng was still just as stubborn — there was nothing Feng Jiu’er could do about it.

Perhaps once she was actually married, he would finally give up.

Thinking back to what Zhan Qingcheng had said, Feng Jiu’er felt a touch of sweetness in her heart, yet for some reason she couldn’t help feeling things wouldn’t go so smoothly.

Was it because she still hadn’t seen her mother come back? Even Feng Jiu’er wasn’t sure.

“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded lightly. “When is Jiu’er planning to set off? I’ll be sure to take care of whatever you’ve assigned me beforehand.”

“We’ll set off early tomorrow morning. As long as Jian Yi hasn’t entered the Southern Savage Lands yet, it shouldn’t take us too long to get there.” Feng Jiu’er replied softly.

“Go on, I still have some things to deal with.”

“Alright.” Xiao Yingtao nodded, turned her horse, and rode off.

Qiao Mu glanced at Feng Jiu’er, who walked over and took hold of her horse’s reins.

One rode on horseback while the other walked across the grass, heading off in another direction together.

…

Early the next morning, Zhan Qingcheng set off back to Phoenix City, and Feng Jiu’er set off as well.

She left the brothers temporarily in Aunt Xue’s care, taking only Xiao Yingtao, Zhao Yusheng, and a few men from Zhao Family Stockade with her.

Following the messenger bird, they traveled south the whole way, leaving Desert City, entering Crow-Wood City, and finally setting foot in Black Gorge Valley.

The sky had darkened. All around there was nothing but forest after forest, the cold wind howling, and suddenly they lost sight of the messenger bird.

Feng Jiu’er pulled on the reins and slowed her pace.

Zhao Yusheng and Xiao Yingtao quickly came up beside her.

“Jiu’er, we’ve been pushing hard for days now — how about we get a proper rest tonight?” Zhao Yusheng asked, turning his head to look at the person beside him.

Feng Jiu’er, who had been scanning the surroundings, took a deep breath and drew her gaze back.

“Zhao Yusheng, I can’t find the messenger bird. Could it have worn itself out?”

Zhao Yusheng knit his brows lightly and nodded. “Even a bird gets tired, let alone people.”

“Let’s camp here for tonight. If we keep pushing forward, the mountain bandits will start showing up more, and if we’re worn out, it won’t be easy to deal with them.”

“I’ve already mobilized the brothers at Zhao Family Stockade to search. Jian Yi shouldn’t have been able to leave Black Gorge Valley — don’t worry.”

“As long as he’s still in Black Gorge Valley, finding him shouldn’t be too hard.”

Glancing back, and then at Xiao Yingtao beside her — who had grown noticeably thinner from days of roughing it out in the open — Feng Jiu’er nodded.

“Alright, find a suitable spot to camp. We won’t travel any further tonight.”

“Mm.” Zhao Yusheng nodded and turned to wave his hand.

A few of the brothers found a spot near a small stream to set up camp.

After days of nonstop travel, never mind washing up — they’d barely even had enough water to drink.

The moment they stopped, Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao headed straight for the riverbank.

Even though it was winter, the two of them couldn’t be bothered to care and carefully waded into the water.

With internal energy protecting her body, Feng Jiu’er fared all right, but Xiao Yingtao soon couldn’t bear it any longer.

After soaking for just a bit, she hurriedly climbed out of the river and ran back.

“Jiu’er, I’ll head back first. Be careful on your own.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and picked up a towel to keep washing.

In such an open place, even at night, the two of them could hardly bare themselves.

A quick wash and then changing into fresh clothes back at camp was a pleasure in its own right.

Zhao Yusheng stood guard not far off; even knowing things were fine over there, he didn’t come over to disturb her.

Soaking in cold water in the dead of winter — Feng Jiu’er couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but at least it was bearable.

After soaking for a while, just as she was about to climb ashore, she suddenly caught sight of a flash of white on the other side.

With a whoosh, she leapt up out of the water, darting toward the opposite bank.