This thousand-zhang earth ravine was extremely dangerous. Looking at Yang Feng’s resolute face, Qing Xia felt overwhelming gratitude in her heart. She heard Yang Feng continue, “Three nights ago, I arrived at White Deer Plain and happened to encounter the Qin army camp. At the edge of the earth ravine, I met Prince Xuan of Qin. He was haggard and pale, his body extremely weak. The Qin royal family had sent over ten Nanjiang witch doctors together to White Deer Plain to treat his illness, barely saving his life. The Xichuan hunt has already ended, Eastern Qi has returned, leaving only the armies of Qin and Chu still lingering here. The King of Qin has issued thirteen golden tablets summoning Prince Xuan, all of which were refused. It’s said there’s much discussion in court with all kinds of rumors arising. Qin’s northern border region has also suffered attacks from the Xiongnu. Without the Yan Character Camp’s defense, many frontier fortresses have been plundered, causing unbearable suffering. Xichuan has also used the end of the hunt as reason to drive the Qin army back to their country. War seems imminent. Prince Xuan, under tremendous pressure, holds fast at White Deer Plain, occupying White Deer Fort. His future is worrying.”

Qing Xia stood dazedly in the corridor. Her pale cheeks grew whiter with each word Yang Feng spoke. In the blink of an eye, she was like a sheet of white paper, completely bloodless. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she grabbed Yang Feng’s body and said gravely, “Big Brother Yang, please help me. Help me beg that Lie Yunji to take me up on her bird. I can’t wait another moment.”

Yang Feng frowned and pressed Qing Xia’s shoulders, shaking his head, “If it were possible, would I have gone to such trouble climbing down here? Lie Yunji has exceptional natural gifts and has been immersed in gu poison for years. Her body is very different from ordinary people – her bones are light, and she’s learned lightness skills. Her whole body doesn’t weigh ten jin, which is why she can sit on the white eagle. People like you and me sitting on it – how could the white eagle possibly fly?”

Hearing this, Qing Xia immediately felt pain in her heart. Thinking of Qin Zhiyan standing by the earth ravine every night, waiting bitterly with his pale face, her heart felt like it was being cut by knives.

Seeing her like this, Yang Feng could only comfort her, “Don’t worry, there will be a way. Be patient and wait a little longer.”

Just then, a cold snort suddenly came. The two turned to look and saw Lie Yunji in green robes standing gracefully under the doorway, looking at them indifferently. She suddenly said sternly, “This little girl really is a sentimental type, leaving feelings everywhere, flirting with flowers and grass – how delightful!”

She herself was only a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, yet called others “little girl” so smoothly. Hearing this, Qing Xia’s expression grew stern, but she was Yang Feng’s lifesaver after all, so she didn’t want to argue with her. She turned and walked toward the courtyard.

“Xiao Xia! Where are you going?”

Qing Xia turned back, forced a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, and said softly, “I’m just taking a walk. Don’t worry.” Then she disappeared into the courtyard.

Yang Feng glared angrily at Lie Yunji and turned back into the room. Lie Yunji’s charming face suddenly became ice-cold. Looking in the direction Qing Xia had left, she suddenly snorted coldly and followed silently like the wind.

Hundreds of grasses swayed, all things were peaceful. Qing Xia walked slowly and unconsciously arrived in the direction of Tianyi Gorge. She stood at the bottom of the cliff, slowly raised her head, and saw the towering cliff wall extending beyond sight, covered with colorful clouds and mist that were obviously highly poisonous.

Heaven and earth were vast and boundless. Qing Xia couldn’t help but feel a heavy sense of powerlessness. She sighed deeply – even with Penglai’s wooden birds, they couldn’t fly that high. And with such a great distance, even if she shouted herself hoarse, he wouldn’t be able to hear.

Qin Zhiyan, Qin Zhiyan, I will definitely return to your side unharmed, so please take good care of your body and wait for me to come back.

Just then, melodious flute music suddenly rang out, the sound graceful and skillful like an oriole singing at night. Qing Xia followed the flute sound and walked for less than an incense stick’s time before seeing a purple-robed girl standing on a rock. Her clothes billowed, her long hair flew, her eyes were bright and teeth white – she looked approachable. Holding a white jade long flute, she was playing crisply while several tender yellow birds circled around her, competing in song. She looked as spiritually beautiful as a fairy, with an ethereal aura.

Qing Xia moved slightly. The girl heard the sound and turned to look. Seeing Qing Xia, her tender white face immediately turned red. She jumped down from the large stone in confusion, seemingly not knowing where to put her hands.

Qing Xia was stunned, feeling this girl looked very familiar. When she saw her blush, she remembered this was the Penglai disciple who had demonstrated “Three Inches of Time” for everyone yesterday – Zhu Yuanqing’s cousin, named Zhu Xiaodie.

“Sorry for disturbing you.”

Qing Xia nodded politely and slowly walked over.

Zhu Xiaodie was flustered for a moment, quickly hiding the flute behind her back and saying softly with a red face, “No… no, I was the one disturbing Miss Zhuang.”

Qing Xia quite liked this little girl and smiled, “Just call me Qing Xia. Keep playing – I really like listening.”

Yesterday at the Ministry of Works assembly, Zhu Xiaodie was present and had seen Qing Xia’s heroic display of injuring people with finger flicks, so she was quite afraid during their last meeting. Now seeing her in white clothes like snow with beautiful features, very different from what she had seen that day, she couldn’t help relaxing. Just as she raised the flute to her lips to play, she saw Qing Xia looking up with a distracted expression. She couldn’t help asking quietly, “Miss Zhuang, are you troubled?”

Qing Xia turned back. Seeing Zhu Xiaodie’s tender face and clear eyes, she felt fond of her and smiled, “In this world, who doesn’t have troubles?”

Zhu Xiaodie was stunned, thought for a moment, nodded and said, “Miss is right. These past few days Xiao Huang has been sick, and I’ve been very sad too.”

Qing Xia frowned in confusion, “Who is Xiao Huang?”

“It’s Xiao Ying’s child.” Zhu Xiaodie suddenly smiled, pointing to the yellow birds in midair and giggling, “But I gave it medicine. It should recover in a few days.”

Seeing her childlike innocence, Qing Xia smiled gently, reached out to pat her head, and said like an elder, “What a child.”

Zhu Xiaodie wasn’t angry at all. Seeing Qing Xia constantly looking up, she asked again, “Miss Zhuang, you’re homesick, aren’t you?”

“Mm,” Qing Xia nodded lightly, saying absently, “I really want to go back.”

Zhu Xiaodie looked puzzled with wide eyes and said, “Aren’t brother and the others clearing the mud and sand from the passage? It should be ready in the next few days.”

“I know.” The pale woman sighed softly, “But I want to go back now.”

“Oh!” Zhu Xiaodie suddenly understood, “I know – it’s because someone above is waiting for you, and you’re afraid they’re worried about you, right?”

Qing Xia nodded and said softly, “Mm.”

“That’s simple then.” Zhu Xiaodie smiled brilliantly, “Miss, write a letter and I’ll have Xiao Ying deliver it up for you.”

Hearing this, Qing Xia was immediately shocked. She turned around abruptly, grabbed Zhu Xiaodie’s hand and said gravely, “Really, really possible?” In her excitement, even her voice trembled slightly.

“Of course.” Zhu Xiaodie smiled, taking out paper and brush she carried with her from her bosom and handing them to Qing Xia, “I test various herbs and grains every day, so I always carry paper and brush. No need to go back for them. Write now and I’ll have Xiao Ying send it up. Xiao Ying has wings – among all my friends, only she can often see the outside and always brings back outside herbs for me.”

Qing Xia took the paper and brush. For a moment, even her fingers were trembling. Thousands of words stuck in her throat, but she couldn’t say them. After thinking for a long time, she finally wrote: I’m fine. Within ten days, I will definitely return. Take care of your health, don’t overwork, and wait for me.

Just a few short sentences, but it took most of an hour to write. When she finished writing and addressed the envelope to give to Zhu Xiaodie, Qing Xia’s eyes were almost red with excitement.

Zhu Xiaodie summoned the small bird, tied the paper to its little leg, and said softly, “Xiao Ying, fly up above and give this letter to the soldiers. Wait for a very, very, very long reply letter before coming back, understand?”

The bird nodded its little head intelligently, spread its wings spiritually and flew up, carrying the earnest gazes of Qing Xia and Zhu Xiaodie as it rushed into the high sky.

High above in the towering sky, a snow-white eagle circled among the clouds. Suddenly seeing a tender yellow bird, it shot forward like lightning and caught it in its mouth. A green-robed girl standing on the other side of Penglai Valley patted the white eagle’s head, took the still-struggling bird from its mouth, tore off the paper strip from its little leg, raised an eyebrow with sharp light in her eyes, then leisurely returned to her room. After a while, she went to the window and released the little bird.

In the Yan Character Camp with its flying banners, inside the blue leather central command tent, Nanjiang witch doctors were gathered in one place whispering among themselves. Qin Zhiyan calmly looked through reports from Xianyang, his handsome brows gradually knitting together.

Below were the high-ranking generals of the Yan Character Camp. Everyone silently watched their commander, saying nothing, silently transmitting all their trust and hope to that frail patient.

Just then, urgent footsteps suddenly rang out outside the tent. Qin Zhiyan raised an eyebrow and lifted his head to see a lightly armored scout kneeling at the entrance, saying loudly, “Your Highness, a small bird flew up from the valley bottom with a letter tied to its foot, addressed to Your Highness.”

With a thud, the brush in Qin Zhiyan’s hand immediately fell onto the desk, his eyes instantly releasing tremendous radiance. For three days, he had been unable to sleep, living each day like a year, waiting for just such a sudden miracle. Qin Zhiyan almost staggered to his feet, rushed to the scout, and personally received the tender yellow bird. On its little leg, a white paper was clearly visible with Qin Zhiyan’s name written in ugly brush characters – clearly Qing Xia’s handwriting.

Tremendous joy and excitement swept over him like an avalanche. He almost tremblingly unfolded the paper strip and read it with complete happiness.