Tang Xiaohua watched Feng Jiu’er’s profile, the corners of her lips curving slightly upward.

The group of them observed for a while longer before descending the mountain. The brothers assigned to guard the post remained behind while the rest made their way toward Point Two.

By the time they arrived at Point Two, it was already deep into the night.

After Feng Jiu’er and her group joined up with the brothers stationed on the mountain, they sat together to rest.

Zhao Yusheng walked over from the direction of the tents to address everyone.

“It’s late into the night — not ideal for observation. Jiu’er, rest well for the night. Whatever needs to be discussed can wait until dawn.”

“Go attend to your affairs. Hua-jie and I will take another look at the situation shortly.”

Feng Jiu’er lifted her gaze to glance at him.

“Has anyone among the brothers reported anything unusual?”

Zhao Yusheng came to Feng Jiu’er’s side, drew up his knees, and settled down to sit, his arms resting atop them.

“Nothing so far. Looking out from here, there are only two villages. The brothers have been watching all day and still haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.”

Zhao Yusheng peeled half a sweet potato, stripped away its skin, and handed it to Feng Jiu’er.

“Tonight there isn’t even any moonlight, so observation will likely be difficult anyway. Eat something and rest for a while.”

“All right.”

Feng Jiu’er accepted the sweet potato and gave a small nod.

“Hua-jie, you should eat something too, and rest early.”

“I’m about done.”

Tang Xiaohua wiped her hands, picked up the binoculars, and rose to her feet.

Since she was about done, Yu Jingfeng had no choice but to be about done as well. He stood, and followed after her.

Miss Jiu’er had given her instructions — he was to guard Yue Furen. As long as Miss Jiu’er remained within his line of sight, Yu Jingfeng could still do his duty.

After all, the Prince had left him behind to watch over Miss Jiu’er specifically, not anyone else.

With those four departing, Miss Jiu’er would have Jian Yi to protect her, and the task of guarding Yue Furen fell to him.

Feng Jiu’er glanced back, then hastily finished the remaining half of the sweet potato in her hand.

She wiped her slender fingers, stood, turned, and headed in the direction Tang Xiaohua had gone.

Tang Xiaohua found a suitable vantage point and trained the binoculars on the village below.

She stood there without moving, as though examining something with great care.

Before long, another person came to stand at her side.

Feng Jiu’er raised her own binoculars and gazed intently at the distant specks of light.

The ancient world was different from the modern one — people of old would retire for the night once darkness fell, with little in the way of a nighttime life.

The sky tonight was overcast, making it truly difficult to make anything out.

Feng Jiu’er observed for a time, then lowered her binoculars, closed her eyes, and drew a slow, deep breath.

She composed herself, then turned to look at Tang Xiaohua.

Tang Xiaohua said nothing, and no one else opened their mouth to disturb her either.

In truth, Point Two and Point Three were the most ideal positions for launching an attack.

Lei Family Town stretched narrow and long in its terrain; the further toward either end one stood, the farther away the town center became.

Conversely, the closer one was to the middle, the nearer the approach to the town center.

Lei Shenbao had led tens of thousands of troops inside, and in all likelihood had headed toward the town center.

And because this place was so peculiar, Feng Jiu’er had not yet sent any brothers in to scout the situation.

Tang Xiaohua watched a while longer, then lowered her binoculars.

Feng Jiu’er noticed her rubbing her eyes and walked over.

“Hua-jie, rest first. Once dawn comes and you’re well-rested, everything will go twice as smoothly.”

Whatever the circumstances, Hua-jie was older than her and had always lived under Yue-dage’s protection.

Comparatively speaking, she would tire more easily.

“The situation is still unclear. Let us speak of it tomorrow.”

Tang Xiaohua turned back and gave a faint nod.

Under Zhao Yusheng’s guidance, Feng Jiu’er and Tang Xiaohua entered the tents to rest.

They had been traveling all day, and with Feng Jiu’er’s handmade incense filling the air with its fragrance, both women fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.

Early the next morning, Tang Xiaohua and Feng Jiu’er appeared once again on the clifftop from the night before.

The sun had just crested the horizon, and the surroundings quickly brightened with light.

The two women each held a steamed bun in one hand and binoculars in the other, sitting amid the grass as they gazed toward the distance.

Sunlight spilled across the village, sending shimmers of silver rippling outward.

The village covered a considerable area, and at its far end ran a river.

“Hua-jie, do you see that river?”

Feng Jiu’er’s voice rose.

“Mm.”

Tang Xiaohua gave a nod in reply.

“Past that river is another village. From Point Three, we can see the village on the other bank.”

Feng Jiu’er maintained her gaze toward the distance.

“That river divides Lei Family Town into two halves. The villages along its banks are said to be the most prosperous in all of Lei Family Town.”

“If at all possible, this stretch is the most ideal position for our attack.”

“Mm.”

Tang Xiaohua nodded again.

The grassland returned to its quiet stillness.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, Tang Xiaohua stood and moved to another spot to continue her survey.

She shifted between several positions in turn, and Feng Jiu’er could not discern anything amiss — she could only keep close to her side throughout.

At last, Tang Xiaohua came to a stop.

“Jiu’er, I’ve noticed something wrong.”

The moment Tang Xiaohua’s voice fell, Feng Jiu’er was already at her side.

She raised her binoculars and looked out in the direction Tang Xiaohua was facing.

“Where?”

“Take a look yourself.”

Tang Xiaohua extended a long finger toward a spot not far from the foot of the mountain.

“That plum blossom grove — if we move in from this direction, wouldn’t we inevitably have to pass through it?”

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze from the distance and looked at the plum blossom grove Tang Xiaohua was indicating.

She studied the terrain carefully, then gave a nod. “If I’m not mistaken, that is an unavoidable passage.”

“There is a formation laid within the grove.”

Tang Xiaohua said it lightly. “Jiu’er, if you look carefully, you should be able to see it too.”

“There is wind up on the mountain — why would there be no wind at all in the valley below?”

“Yet the plum blossoms we can see are hardly moving, and even when they do, the direction is wrong.”

Feng Jiu’er fixed her gaze unblinkingly on the plum blossom grove, and before long she gave a nod.

“You’re right.”

“Jiu’er, I’ve noticed it too.”

Zhao Yusheng, who had followed them over, spoke in a low voice.

“This type of formation is called the Barrier Formation.”

Zhao Yusheng withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Tang Xiaohua.

“Yue Furen, would you say that what I have described is accurate?”

“Mm.”

Tang Xiaohua gave a nod. “Go on.”

Having received confirmation from a formation master’s own disciple, Zhao Yusheng’s mood lifted noticeably.

“Yes.”

He clasped his hands with a degree of solemnity. “The Barrier Formation is designed to create a false impression for the enemy.”

“Looking at it right now, we would never think there was anything wrong with the plum blossom grove — yet in reality, what we are seeing is only its still, quiet face.”

“It is said that the Barrier Formation uses the principles of mirrors and light to deceive the eye.”

“In truth, quite a number of guards are very likely lying in ambush within the grove at this very moment.”

“If we assume it is safe and walk in without thinking, we may find ourselves caught completely off guard.”

“Yue Furen.”

Zhao Yusheng’s respectful gaze returned to Tang Xiaohua. “May I ask whether what I have said is correct?”

The Feng Clan had a highly renowned formation master, someone Zhao Yusheng had heard of long before.

What he did not know was that the formation master had died over three years ago.

Nor could Zhao Yusheng have imagined that not long after Jiu’er arrived with the Feng Clan, she would come to know that formation master’s very own disciple.