“Let’s go.” The captain stared at Feng Jiu’er, frowning slightly. “Bring Big Blade back!”

“Yes.” Two men dismounted and helped the fallen burly man up.

“Remember to take my words back.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the opposing captain, still cupping her hands politely in farewell.

The tall, dark, burly man waved his hand and turned to head back.

His men hurriedly turned their horses around and rode back toward the mountains.

Before long, the only thing those standing there could see were the distant torches disappearing into the ravine.

“Jiu’er.” Qiaomu rode up beside Feng Jiu’er. “Why didn’t we just charge straight in?”

“They were never going to let us through so easily. A fight is inevitable sooner or later—why wait?”

Feng Jiu’er let the faint smile on her face fade, fixing her gaze on the ravine where only firelight remained.

“We came in with such a massive show of force—they must have already noticed us. They clearly know our numbers aren’t small, yet they only sent out so few men. Why?”

“You mean they were already prepared?” Qiaomu asked softly.

Feng Jiu’er turned her head to look at Qiaomu, her crescent brows furrowing slightly.

“Many things don’t happen without reason. Everyone says the Southern Barbarian Fort is mysterious—right now, we can’t rule out that possibility. Better to be careful.”

Feng Jiu’er turned back to look at Zhao Yusheng and said softly, “Tonight, Zhao Yusheng and I will go in first to scout the way.”

“Good.” Zhao Yusheng nodded in response.

Jian Yi had wanted to say something, but seeing Feng Jiu’er turn and head back, he mounted his horse and followed.

“Mother, go rest for a while.” Feng Jiu’er returned to Long Feiyan’s side and said softly.

“Alright.” Long Feiyan nodded and turned her horse back.

Seeing this, everyone else followed suit, turning their horses back as well.

At the entrance to the Southern Barbarian Fort, in the end only Qiaomu and Xing Zizhou remained, along with several dozen brothers left to keep watch.

After the delayed evening meal, Feng Jiu’er went back to change into night-travel clothes. When she came out, Jian Yi, also dressed in night-travel clothes, was waiting outside her door.

“Jian Yi, what are you doing?” Feng Jiu’er looked at his face, frowning slightly.

Jian Yi picked up a black cloth and tied it over his face, leaving only a pair of deep, spirited eyes exposed.

Feng Jiu’er took Jian Yi’s arm and pushed him toward his own tent.

“You haven’t fully recovered yet. If you…”

But before she could finish, Jian Yi cut her off. “I’m perfectly fine. Do you want me to prove it to you?”

Feng Jiu’er let go of this stubborn fellow and rolled her eyes at him.

“No! Forget it. I won’t stop you from going, but I have one condition.”

“What condition?” Jian Yi lowered his eyes to look at the woman before him.

“If you haven’t fully recovered within a month, you won’t follow me around anymore—I don’t want you slowing me down.”

Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow, pulled out a black cloth, wrapped it over her own face, and turned to leave.

“If you don’t take better care of yourself, I really won’t let you follow me. I, Feng Jiu’er, mean what I say!”

Jian Yi watched her small figure walk away and then stepped forward to catch up.

“Jiu’er, are you worried about me?”

“Who has time to worry about you?” Feng Jiu’er muttered. “I don’t keep useless people around! This isn’t news to you, is it?”

“How could I be useless?” Jian Yi’s thick brows furrowed slightly. “Don’t worry. In a month, I’ll give you back a handsome face.”

“Who cares about your face?” Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath, but still couldn’t help glancing sideways at him.

This fellow—even the way he talked was starting to copy her own. Truly, thoroughly aggravating.

But there was no denying it—this aggravating number-one assassin of the Bei Mu Kingdom was also rather endearing.

“You don’t care? It’s easy on the eyes, isn’t it?” Jian Yi met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, raising an eyebrow in response.

Feng Jiu’er furrowed her crescent brows, swept a glance at Jian Yi, and looked away.

“Easy on the eyes—you understand that too? You’re learning fast. You should spend more time studying strange arts and formations with Zhao Yusheng. Out in the world of martial arts, good swordsmanship alone isn’t enough.”

“Fine, as long as Jiu’er wants me to learn, I’ll learn well.” Jian Yi looked at the woman beside him and took her hand.

“Jian Yi, what are you doing?” Feng Jiu’er stopped walking and stared at him.

Jian Yi held Feng Jiu’er’s small hand tightly, his furrowed brow relaxing into a curve, and said softly, “Including how to become a proper husband.”

Feng Jiu’er narrowed her eyes and pulled her hand free from his grasp.

“Talk nonsense again and I’ll pull your tongue out.” Feng Jiu’er gave a cold snort and left Jian Yi looking at nothing but her retreating back.

She’d only just managed to convince Zhao Yusheng to stop talking nonsense, and now there was Jian Yi too.

Were men from ancient times all this stubborn?

A bow before the heavens and they were husband and wife? And she’d clearly used a fake name.

Marrying her just to repay a life debt? She’d saved so many lives over the years—who couldn’t she end up married to at this rate?

She used to think that after a hero saved a beauty, the woman saying she had nothing to repay him with but herself made for a lovely story.

Now that it was actually happening to her, it didn’t seem nearly as wonderful as she’d imagined.

At the very least, shouldn’t there be love between the two people involved?

“You can’t bear to part with me.” Jian Yi smiled faintly and caught up with her.

Feng Jiu’er clenched her fists tightly. She wanted to turn back, but in the end she only lifted her head and gazed up at the bright moon in the sky.

Heavens, please give her back a cold-blooded assassin. This current version of Jian Yi was just too…

Even Feng Jiu’er found it hard to describe what Jian Yi the great hero had become now. He was supposed to be cold, even somewhat merciless.

But now, all Feng Jiu’er could think was that he was simply aggravating—and that was that.

“Jiu’er.” Zhao Yusheng walked over from the other side.

Feng Jiu’er turned her gaze away and looked at him.

“Yes, getting ready to head out.”

“I’m ready.” Zhao Yusheng nodded in response to Feng Jiu’er’s words, glancing once at Jian Yi.

But he didn’t ask anything further.

“Good, let’s go. We’ll head in and take a look first.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

Soon, three figures disappeared into the forest.

No one knew how strict the Southern Barbarian Fort’s defenses normally were, but tonight they seemed quite tight—even the mountainside was lined with ambush troops.

Then again, with several thousand soldiers suddenly camped right outside someone’s gate, it would be strange if they weren’t on edge.

Slipping past layer after layer of guards, Feng Jiu’er, Zhao Yusheng, and Jian Yi successfully made their way into the Southern Barbarian Fort’s grounds on the far side of the mountain range.

Looking at the chaotic stone forest before them, the three stopped at the same moment.

Zhao Yusheng stepped forward, shielding Feng Jiu’er behind him.

“Jiu’er, it’s a stone forest formation.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the formation, brows furrowing slightly. “If it isn’t a formation you’re familiar with, let’s look it over carefully before going in.”

“Right.” Zhao Yusheng nodded, his gaze sweeping continuously through the stone forest.

“What’s the trick to breaking a stone forest formation?” Jian Yi, standing on Feng Jiu’er’s other side, asked softly.

“Find the key point.” Zhao Yusheng replied softly. “Once you find the crucial spot and destroy it, breaking the formation isn’t hard.”

The three stood on a mountainside, the stone forest in the valley spread out before their eyes.

Unfortunately, the moonlight tonight wasn’t bright, and getting a clear view of what lay inside wasn’t an easy task.