“Yes, yes, yes.” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow. “But, Xiao Xiao, I’m afraid he didn’t come because of you.”

Who didn’t know that Zhao Xiao Xiao had feelings for Jian Yi?

“That also means I’m exceptional enough to have so many outstanding people around me.” Feng Jiu’er replied smugly, urging her horse forward.

Qiao Mu watched Feng Jiu’er’s retreating figure, the corners of her lips curving upward.

Qiao Mu didn’t disagree with Feng Jiu’er’s words — she simply wanted to give her a good beating. If Feng Jiu’er weren’t exceptional, why would she herself be following her?

The woman on horseback lightly raised an eyebrow, tugged the reins, and rode after her.

Even Xiao Yingtao, coming up from behind, urged her horse forward and caught up cheerfully.

Tuoba Keyan sat motionless on his horse, staring straight ahead. No one noticed the flash of wickedness that had flickered through his eyes just moments before.

“Big Brother, Jiu’er, I’m here.” Zhao Xiao Xiao rode up to the front, leading the way.

Of course, the two people she had just called out were not the ones she was most eager to see.

As Feng Jiu’er rode ahead, Jian Yi followed after her.

The moment Zhao Xiao Xiao caught sight of Jian Yi’s face, the smile on her own face bloomed like wildflowers across the meadow, like the first sunrise breaking over the horizon — brilliant, radiant, impossible to look away from.

The two groups converged, and by all appearances, everyone was in good spirits.

Zhao Yusheng studied the young girl before him for a moment, then finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Didn’t Father personally come to take you home? How do you dare show up again?”

Zhao Xiao Xiao pulled her gaze away from Jian Yi and looked at Zhao Yusheng with a smile.

“Big Brother, how did you know Father came in person?”

Zhao Yusheng glanced at the group trailing behind Zhao Xiao Xiao and said nothing in response to her question.

Before they had entered the Southern Barbarian Fortress, a group of men had arrived at Zhao Family Village to escort Zhao Xiao Xiao back. She had ultimately relented and gone with them. Zhao Yusheng had suspected the people who came were no ordinary folk.

“What brings you here this time?” Zhao Yusheng’s voice carried a note of gravity. “And with so many men in tow — if Father finds out, he’ll…”

“Father already knows.” Zhao Xiao Xiao cut him off with a satisfied grin. “It was Father who told me to bring men here to help.”

“The head of the family sent you here to support us?” Zhao Xiao Xiao’s words visibly surprised Feng Jiu’er.

“That’s right.” Zhao Xiao Xiao nodded at Feng Jiu’er. “And on top of that, Father has reached an agreement with the Black Abyss Gang.”

“Father reached an agreement with the Black Abyss Gang? What kind of agreement?” Zhao Yusheng frowned and asked.

“I told Father that you all were searching for a mountain range and would be passing through the Black Abyss Gang. Though honestly, I didn’t even need to tell him — he’d already known for a while.” Zhao Xiao Xiao raised her eyebrows and looked at Zhao Yusheng.

“Big Brother, do you really think Father had no idea what your men were up to at Zhao Family Village? He simply didn’t want to disappoint you, so he turned a blind eye.”

“I told him you were searching for a mountain range and would soon be heading to the Black Abyss Gang before returning to Zhao Family Village.”

“Father knew there were very long mountain ranges behind the Black Abyss Gang’s territory. To make it easier for you to search, he went to negotiate with the Black Abyss Gang’s leader.”

“Father ceded Qingzhou Valley?” Zhao Yusheng’s brow furrowed even deeper.

He turned his head toward Feng Jiu’er and explained, “Qingzhou Valley is an extraordinarily fertile valley — whatever you plant there grows. The Black Abyss Gang has had their eye on it for a long time.”

“Big Brother, only now does it ache?” Zhao Xiao Xiao shot Zhao Yusheng a sideways glance.

“But Father isn’t that foolish. He only gave up the strip of land south of Qingzhou Mountain that borders the Black Abyss side.”

“Father said the Black Abyss waters have been rising all these years. In less than a decade, half that land will likely be submerged anyway, so giving it away is no great loss.”

Watching Zhao Yusheng’s obvious alarm, Feng Jiu’er understood just how valuable Qingzhou Valley must be. Fortunately, the family head was shrewd enough not to surrender the finest land — otherwise, no matter how thick her own skin, she would have felt deeply ashamed.

“The Black Abyss Gang was reluctant at first.” Zhao Xiao Xiao continued. “Father also sent them some silver on top of that — I don’t know exactly how much.”

“But as it stands, the Black Abyss Gang has agreed to open a path for us, letting us enter from their flank and pass through the mountain ranges along the edge of the black abyss.”

“As for the mountain ranges deeper inside, Father said you’ll have to figure that out on your own.”

“Xiao Xiao, you mean we can go straight in now?” Xiao Yingtao asked, barely containing her excitement.

“Yes.” Zhao Xiao Xiao gave Xiao Yingtao a gentle smile. “I even brought people along to help.”

“That’s wonderful!” Xiao Yingtao smiled and nodded.

They had come so far, through battles large and small, through scheme after scheme and plot after plot, and at last they had arrived here. The brothers had all braced themselves for a fierce clash with the Black Abyss Gang — none of them had imagined that the head of Zhao Family Village would have already smoothed things over.

Now, things looked at least halfway easier than they had expected.

“Xiao Xiao, please convey my gratitude to your father.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Zhao Xiao Xiao and said sincerely.

Zhao Xiao Xiao met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze and waved her hand.

“Jiu’er, don’t be so polite! Father actually understands us young people quite well — he’s no stubborn old man.”

“It’s just that now that Big Brother has left, he’s the sole head of Zhao Family Village. His most important duty, above all else, is protecting his own people.”

Zhao Xiao Xiao’s words left Zhao Yusheng filled with guilt, yet he had no regrets about leaving Zhao Family Village to pursue his own path.

“Why didn’t you mention any of this in your letters?” Zhao Yusheng composed himself and asked.

“Big Brother is always so caught up in his own affairs and never pays me any attention. Why would I want to tell you the good news so quickly?” Zhao Xiao Xiao replied, pouting.

She shifted her gaze back toward Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi, urged her horse forward, and rode over to join them.

“Anyway, I made it just in time, Jiu’er — isn’t that right?”

“It is.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the woman who had come to her side and tilted up the corners of her mouth.

“The news Xiao Xiao brought is the best news I’ve heard in the past month and more.”

These recent days, if not for a single conviction driving her forward, even Feng Jiu’er would have grown weary. It was only with the support of her brothers and sisters that she had found the confidence to keep going.

“That’s right — Xiao Xiao, you’re absolutely remarkable!” Qiao Mu looked at Zhao Xiao Xiao with undisguised admiration.

Zhao Xiao Xiao glanced around at everyone, and her gaze drifted, deliberately or not, over Jian Yi’s face several times.

Seeing that his face had fully healed, her heart felt as though it had been dipped in honey — sweet through and through.

Zhao Yusheng rode back to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

“Since the situation has changed, let’s settle down and talk things through. Jiu’er, what do you think?”

“Agreed.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “We’ve been riding through the night. Let’s rest first.”

“Xiao Xiao, let’s go.” Qiao Mu waved her hand and turned her horse around. “Sister, today I’m going to treat you properly.”

“Perfect.” Zhao Xiao Xiao followed along with a cheerful expression. “I’ve been starving for an entire night.”

Once they departed, Zhao Yusheng led the brothers toward the camp.