The imperial city was huge, and finding a group of people who had arrived three days earlier was not easy.

Most importantly, there were no vehicles, no way to communicate — nothing at all.

Imagine trying to find a few people without a single phone on them, somewhere in a massive modern city. That’s how difficult it was.

Night fell, and after more than two hours of searching with no leads, Ji Mingyu and Qin Fei found a place, and A’Ke set up camp.

The place looked like it had once been the courtyard of a large, wealthy household.

A’Ke swung his two power sickles and quickly cleared out the main hall.

The tents were pitched inside the hall — at least there was a solid roof overhead to keep out the wind and rain.

Once things were settled, Jiu’er ate a little something and then began giving Lu Beicheng acupuncture.

She seemed to be in quite a hurry.

After finishing the treatment, Jiu’er returned to her own tent and didn’t come out again.

Although everyone was in the same hall, the hall was large. Jiu’er’s tent was set up in one corner, Lu Beicheng’s tent in another, and the two didn’t interfere with each other.

Ji Mingyu and Qin Fei took the other two corners, not daring to disturb the two people who clearly had a lot on their minds.

At nine thirty, Ji Mingyu went to Lu Beicheng’s tent.

“We’ve now confirmed the location of this ancient city. Some of the information needs to be sent back somehow, to notify the Archaeology Bureau.”

Although their archaeological team had received official documents in advance allowing them to survey the site first, any new findings still had to be reported to the Bureau.

They were only authorized to survey — though, of course, if necessary, they could carry out some excavation work, since they did have the paperwork for it.

But even excavation required a written notice to the Bureau.

“Ninth Master, that’s just procedure,” Ji Mingyu explained.

Lu Beicheng nodded. “Write up a report. The moment the signal tower is finished, send it back immediately.”

“Understood.” Ji Mingyu thought for a moment, then added, “The new flight route probably hasn’t been opened yet, Ninth Master. Should we wait here tomorrow, or keep going in to search for people?”

After all, this was a massive walled city — practically the size of a small modern city.

The area was simply too vast; finding anyone here was no easy task.

If the new route were opened and a helicopter could fly in, then searching by helicopter would make things far more convenient.

“No one knows when the new route will be ready. Do you want us to just sit here drinking tea and chatting?”

Lu Beicheng’s cold gaze settled on his face.

A chill immediately ran down Ji Mingyu’s neck. “Then… then we’ll continue tomorrow. I’ll go get things ready.”

Doing nothing after arriving somewhere really wasn’t Ninth Master’s style.

But after Ji Mingyu finished speaking, he still didn’t move.

Lu Beicheng glanced at him.

Ji Mingyu hesitated for a good while before finally saying quietly, “Ninth Master, Miss Jiu’er seems to have gone out. Should we go look for her?”

It was so late, and she was a young woman alone — it wasn’t entirely safe.

After all, the footprints they’d seen today belonged to three different groups.

There was no telling who else might be out there besides the archaeological team.

Lu Beicheng’s fingertips twitched slightly.

“Understood.” Ji Mingyu immediately turned to go find Qin Fei, planning to have him follow and keep an eye on Zhen Jiu’er.

But just as he stepped out through the tent flap, he heard Ninth Master’s voice, cold as ever, drift out behind him:

“She’s an adult. Wherever she wants to go is none of our business.”

Ji Mingyu was instantly baffled.

Ninth Master had clearly cared, just a moment ago!

After all these years by his side, how could Ji Mingyu not recognize that subtle little movement?

So why had he suddenly changed his mind?

“Anything else?” Lu Beicheng’s voice sounded somewhat heavy.

Startled, Ji Mingyu quickly replied, “No, nothing. I’ll… I’ll get going, then!”