Jing Hengbo flashed back to Madam Yao’s courtyard, where Yélu Qi and the maid were waiting for her. As soon as he saw her, Yélu Qi tossed over a wooden plaque: “Xuanyuan Bronze Guard Squad Member Seven, catch!”

Jing Hengbo caught it. Yélu Qi tied another plaque marked “Eight” to his waist, saying: “Their personnel are already complete. They’re departing tonight, taking advantage of New Year’s Eve when everyone is too busy to pay attention, quietly infiltrating Tianhui Valley.”

He added: “I went out just now and contacted Elder Sister. She’s hidden herself well.”

Jing Hengbo nodded. She knew Yélu Xunru would definitely arrange things well for herself.

Seeing Yélu Qi about to speak again, she raised her finger and smiled with a soft “shh”: “Don’t try to persuade me not to go to Tianhui Valley. I have my own thoughts, and it’s not for you that I’m going. Of course, I won’t try to dissuade you from going either. Since we’re walking this path, let’s support each other along the way.”

Yélu Qi smiled slightly. He had originally intended to persuade her not to venture into danger, but now he dismissed the thought.

What had initially attracted him to her was precisely her unrestrained freedom, her fearless and unconstrained spirit. Now seeing that she hadn’t fallen into despair after that snowy night in the imperial city, that her former character remained intact, he should be glad.

“Very well.” He suddenly said: “Hengbo, your abilities should be more than this. Have you ever considered teleporting from non-level ground?”

Jing Hengbo was stunned, as if awakened from a dream by these words.

A master’s guidance was indeed extraordinary – one sentence opened up an entirely new realm. If she was no longer limited to teleporting from level ground, if she could achieve teleportation from any position, how much greater would her teleportation abilities become? This wasn’t as simple as one plus one. She would gain much more opportunity and convenience.

Seeing her eyes brighten, Yélu Qi smiled and reached into his robes, tossing her a thin little booklet: “Just now when I thought of this, I recorded several movement techniques I know that would suit your learning. These techniques normally require building foundation skills from childhood and practicing with internal energy cultivation methods, but since you possess teleportation abilities, you can skip the troublesome energy circulation layer. If you can grasp the principles of your teleportation, you need only practice the movement techniques. Once mastered, it wouldn’t be excessive to say you have the world’s best lightness skills.”

Jing Hengbo immediately felt sophisticated and accepted it without ceremony. Seeing his rather haggard complexion and thinking how he was still racking his brains despite serious injuries, she felt somewhat apologetic and wanted to say some words of thanks, but felt they would be too superficial.

Yélu Qi was a person who made her emotions complex. Sometimes she didn’t even know how to interact with him. He had harmed her, truly, but he also helped her, equally truly. When she hated him he would smile, when she thanked him he would also just smile, as if these loves and hatreds, rights and wrongs, were merely his own business to him. He lived in his own world of cold and warmth, seeing her as the final small Penglai on his journey – “gaining you is my fortune, not gaining you is my fate.”

With such a person, saying anything seemed superfluous.

Sure enough, he didn’t wait for her thanks at all, turning to cleanly knock out the maid and taking her away. As for how Madam Yao would manage her own situation, these two didn’t care – a concubine skilled in bedroom arts, if she couldn’t handle a lustful old man whose brain was controlled by his lower parts, then all these years would have been lived in vain.

The agreed meeting point was at the back gate of this residence. The back gate faced an uninhabited alley. When Jing Hengbo and Yélu Qi arrived, the alley was packed with people. A tent hung with bronze markings where Xuanyuan family Bronze Guard Squad members went in one by one to collect clothes and equipment, preparing on the spot.

There were several such tents, each clearly distinct. A black tent was presumably the Yélu family’s, now empty – tonight the Yélu family’s squad was almost completely wiped out in her and Yélu Qi’s hands. Fei Luo wasn’t there either; injured as she was, it would be strange if she could participate.

Besides these, there should be Kang Long’s people. Strangely, though clearly from the same army, they were also divided into two tents. One tent was crowded with people going in and out, everyone spirited and confident. The other tent gathered twenty-some people who, judging by their armor and dress, should be mid-level military officers, but each had a gloomy expression, all standing before the tent with arms crossed, coldly watching the crowd bustle about.

Jing Hengbo glanced over and thought these were probably the titled captains. She wasn’t very familiar with Kang Long Army. This military unit had always been special, different from Yuzhao Dragon Cavalry. The Dragon Cavalry was personally formed by Gong Yin with absolute loyalty to him, but Kang Long was more like halfway-converted direct troops. So after her intervention, it became a wrestling ground between Gong Yin and Cheng Gumo. She heard that now there were numerous internal factions with turbulent undercurrents. This situation was very dangerous for a military unit, requiring blood replacement and purging, but this matter didn’t need her worry.

Jing Hengbo collected her things from her own tent. The clothing was a gray outfit with particularly slippery material. The gray color was because Tianhui Valley was perpetually shrouded in gray mist, and wearing gray could conceal one’s form. The slippery material was for self-rescue and sliding in the omnipresent muddy swamps. Each outfit had a very hard waist with a hidden clasp – when necessary, pressing the clasp would release a thin chain with clawed tips that could hook onto objects and pull oneself out. They also distributed boots, also specially made, with bottoms that could extend horizontal plates, equivalent to modern skis, allowing increased contact area when walking in swamps to avoid sinking.

Everyone also received a face mask with gold wire mesh woven in, providing initial filtering of some toxic smoke and impurities while preventing some poisonous insects from disturbing the face. But Jing Hengbo felt the effectiveness would definitely be limited – this wasn’t a modern gas mask after all.

Additionally, there were weapon pouches hanging on the legs, mostly lightweight weapons, various throwing knives from small to large, plus grappling hooks for climbing on rocks and stones, all very refined. You could tell the Xuanyuan family had spent heavily for this operation.

All the clothes were gray. For easy identification, everyone had bronze-colored cloth strips tied to their arms as the Xuanyuan family symbol.

“Seven and Eight!” A squad leader-like person called them over to collect boots.

“Don’t our groups only have six people each? Where do Seven and Eight come from?” someone questioned.

“Second Young Master shoved them in at the last minute, Huangjin Tribe chief’s personal people. Consider them family brothers, we’re bringing them along and they’ll share some benefits.” The squad leader seemed to have received prior instructions from Xuanyuan Yu, waving his hand carelessly. “Everyone look after them.”

The crowd made acknowledging sounds and dispersed with dismissive expressions. They had no good feelings toward such parasites who squeezed in at the last minute, couldn’t contribute much effort but still wanted a share of the spoils. Someone muttered: “Share spoils from Tianhui Valley? Careful you have life to enter but no life to collect!”

Another group walked by with cold expressions, shoulders bumping and jostling as they passed. The group here muttered and immediately stepped back.

While collecting boots, Jing Hengbo quietly asked the squad leader: “Are those people also from your Xuanyuan family? They don’t seem very friendly… Hey, give me a small pair, I have small feet.”

Her first question was just to distract the squad leader’s attention to prevent him from questioning why her feet were too small. Sure enough, the squad leader casually picked the smallest pair of boots and tossed them to her, focusing only on answering her question: “We’re Second Young Master’s people, they’re First Young Master’s people. That simple.”

Jing Hengbo made an understanding sound, thinking the Xuanyuan family descendants’ competition was really intense, with a fire-and-water incompatibility between them. That old fellow Xuanyuan Jing was so obsessed with power – was it also because with too many mouths to feed, to give all his sons benefits, he had to grab more benefits?

These people had been preparing here beforehand, so it seemed news of Xuanyuan eldest son’s death hadn’t arrived yet.

“Your feet really are small!” The squad leader finally noticed her boots, laughing as he patted her chest. “Like a woman’s!”

Yélu Qi, who was changing boots nearby while paying attention to the situation here, suddenly looked up.

Jing Hengbo’s expression didn’t change.

“So what if my feet are small?” She laughed heartily and immediately slapped back at the guy’s buttocks. “Never seen a man with small feet? Haha, your butt is so perky, like a woman’s!”

“You rascal, you dare touch a tiger’s ass!” The squad leader hadn’t expected her to slap back at his buttocks, cursing with laughter as he brushed away her hand and stepped back, looking at her somewhat warily.

From his expression, he seemed afraid she might be gay.

Jing Hengbo secretly laughed. This way, never mind suspecting the earlier hand feel – he probably wouldn’t even dare come close.

Yélu Qi lowered his head, desperately suppressing his laughter.

Only our free-spirited Queen Jing could manage this kind of crisis resolution, right?

After this incident, the rest indeed intentionally or unintentionally avoided Jing Hengbo, afraid this thin little rabbit would ambush their rear ends.

Everyone finished preparing, also noticing that the Yélu family tent remained empty and the Xuanyuan eldest young master was long overdue, causing some unease and agitation.

Suddenly someone said: “They’re coming!”

Jing Hengbo looked up to see several people approaching through the wind and snow ahead. Leading was the Huangjin Tribe chief, beside him Xuanyuan Jing and a handsome young man.

The three had different expressions. The Huangjin Tribe chief looked unnatural, as if still immersed in the earlier stunning assassination. Xuanyuan Jing seemed to have suddenly aged ten years, his face ashen and even his back bent by three degrees. Among the three, only the young man, though forcing a sad expression, had bright eyes that couldn’t hide his high spirits.

Jing Hengbo could guess with her toes that was Xuanyuan Yu. When the eldest brother dies, the second brother generally gets quite happy.

No matter, he wouldn’t be happy for long.

Before departure, the leaders came to boost morale. The Huangjin Tribe chief had no good mood at the moment, reluctantly saying a few words about how the Yélu family had temporarily withdrawn due to business, the Xuanyuan family eldest son was temporarily absent due to business, and the original beast master had gone ahead to Tianhui Valley to await the main force. Now they were drawing a hundred elite from Beixing City’s guard to supplement the team, and so forth.

The Huangjin Tribe chief didn’t mention that Fei Luo also couldn’t come, to avoid unsettling the troops, but the Yélu family and Xuanyuan eldest son’s absence already made everyone show uneasy expressions, with whispered conversations rippling through the crowd.

The Huangjin Tribe chief looked up at the dark sky, thinking of the Yélu family’s inexplicable total annihilation and Xuanyuan eldest son’s bizarre death, a vague sense of foreboding flashed through his heart – starting off badly, could subsequent matters proceed smoothly?

But now the arrow was on the string and had to be released.

He sighed softly, thinking if not for the urgent internal situation and external pressure from Gong Yin’s harsh suppression, why would he need to charge left and right, trying to seek miraculous treasures in Tianhui Valley for victory?

Beside him, Xuanyuan Jing was pulling Xuanyuan Yu aside for detailed instructions – he had to stay behind to handle his eldest son’s funeral and deal with questioning from family elders who would soon arrive at the Huangjin tribe. The Tianhui Valley expedition could only be entrusted to this unreliable second son, which hardly put his mind at ease. He could only repeat precautions again and again, even saying things like “Safety first, if things don’t work out, rather return empty-handed than not return at all.”

“Father, don’t boost others’ spirits while destroying our own prestige! This trip, your son will definitely return fully loaded for our Xuanyuan family!” Xuanyuan Yu disagreed, taking on everything and thumping his chest boldly.

Watching his son’s ignorant, self-satisfied attitude as if he might fly away, Xuanyuan Jing felt only bitter taste in his mouth, as if it might seep into his heart.

His painstakingly cultivated eldest son had died in one day, his second son was ambitious but lacking in talent. Soon his sons would begin fighting over family property. Once he lost control of the Xuanyuan family carriage, those covetous branch family members would certainly swarm to devour them. When that carriage lost control, where would it crash into? What kind of ending would it meet?

Suddenly the scene from that day in the imperial plaza flashed before his eyes – Sang Dong’s fire carriage shattering into pieces before Yuzhao Palace walls.

He shivered violently.

“You must carefully investigate the people around you, absolutely cannot let outsiders infiltrate. The family guards I selected for you are all absolutely loyal veterans. Besides them, no other allies can be trusted.” He instructed Xuanyuan Yu again.

The last three words Jing Hengbo said before disappearing still made his heart cold when he remembered them, afraid that in the blink of an eye, his second son would also fall into her trap.

Queen Jing’s supernatural abilities and her bold, unrestrained way of acting had always made him deeply wary.

There was a type of person in this world who, even if powerless as a chicken, merely by existing and smiling could make others know with a raised hand that future storms would originate from her hands.

He dared not test his son’s life again, really didn’t dare.

“How could there be outsiders!” Xuanyuan Yu’s eyes rolled as he pushed his father around. “Your son swears to only trust the people you selected! You should return early, elder brother’s funeral arrangements are still waiting for you to handle…” He sobbed twice, but produced no tears.

Xuanyuan Jing really couldn’t bear seeing him like this and had to step back, watching the troops slowly march out, silently heading toward the city outskirts in the wind and snow.

He and the Huangjin Tribe chief stood in the snow, watching the crowd’s silhouettes become blurred and buried in wind and snow, feeling as if their hearts were also smeared with a layer of unclear snowy mud, cooling inch by inch, no longer able to fathom the exquisite seven apertures of this human world.

…

Tianhui Valley was located in mountains thirty li outside Beixing City, with few inhabitants along the way. The city lord’s guard brought large numbers of gold-seeking beasts to be used for path-finding.

While walking, Jing Hengbo left markers for Qi Sha and the others. After all, she had no martial arts and Yélu Qi was seriously injured. Entering Tianhui Valley was risky. Yélu Qi’s poison injury from the swamp only had a three-day relief period, and now one day had already passed. He had to personally go to Tianhui Valley to find medicine. She couldn’t fire signals to summon Qi Sha, only hoping they might think to come to Beixing City to search.

Jing Hengbo didn’t hold much hope for this – those seven comedians not causing trouble would be fortunate enough.

Acting on a snowy night could conceal their movements, but such weather also facilitated fishing in troubled waters. With many people, heavy snow, and blurred vision making identification difficult, in such an environment she was confident that as long as she wished, she could make them come but not return.

Yélu Qi was chatting and laughing with the squad leader. In such a short time, he seemed to have already gained the other’s trust. Wind and snow made his sleeves flutter. Even wearing the same ordinary clothes as everyone else, his natural bearing couldn’t be erased. Jing Hengbo noticed Xuanyuan Second Young Master’s gaze was rather strange, probably taking Yélu Qi for one of Madam Yao’s bedroom companions.

Jing Hengbo felt Yélu Qi didn’t seem like a great family’s adopted son. His bearing far exceeded the wealthy family descendants she had seen. Yélu Qi said when he was adopted by his foster parents at age three, he already vaguely remembered things, only recalling his original family also had tall buildings and memorial arches with continuous residences, presumably also from a high-ranking family. But how he came to be adopted, and why his previous circumstances were unclear, he had searched for the truth for many years without answers. Dahuang’s situation was complex with numerous forces, countless visible and hidden wealthy families. If someone had deliberately severed the clues, it would indeed be very difficult to reach the truth.

When Yélu Qi returned, he told her this expedition’s main goal was finding secret gold mines hidden deep in Tianhui Valley. The Huangjin tribe’s gold mines were nearly exhausted from over-mining. Only the legendary Tianhui Valley with its rich mineral deposits remained an undeveloped virgin land. Additionally, the valley might contain legendary deposits of soft iron, black wood, black iron, black steel and other precious materials – important raw materials for manufacturing precision lethal weapons. Soft iron was crucial material for making close-fitting soft swords and thin soft armor, important equipment for assassins, large army elite scouts, and various secret department members. The combination of soft iron and black wood was the classic pairing for the current war’s most important “Seven-Pearl Crossbow.” Everyone knew that in warfare, having an elite assassination squad and advanced scout team meant nearly half the advantage. The “Spider Web” and “Bee Sting” units, nominally belonging to Kang Long Army but actually completely independent and controlled by State Preceptor Gong Yin, reportedly used exactly such equipment. Even with Gong Yin’s national power, material limitations prevented further expansion of “Spider Web” and “Bee Sting” personnel, showing how precious these things were.

Black iron, black steel and such were precious materials for manufacturing heavy weapons. Large ballista arrowheads, battering ram tips, and even the military’s strongmen who could fight ten thousand, heavy cavalry’s favorites. Battering rams made with black steel could smash through three-foot-thick gates like breaking paper.

Not to mention the valley’s abundant rare flowers and exotic plants, usable for poison, medicine, healing, or creating biochemical crises. Generally such enclosed mountain valleys would form independent small ecosystems, producing exotic plants unseen by the world, their effects and precious value immeasurable.

After hearing all this, Jing Hengbo had only one thought – was war coming?

The naturally rebellious Huangjin tribe had always been Di Ge’s most vigilant concern. Di Ge used Yuzhao Dragon Cavalry for border patrols, often penetrating deep into Huangjin tribe territory. According to agreements reached after the Huangjin tribe’s last failed rebellion, a Yuzhao Dragon Cavalry unit was directly stationed at the strategic Yanzu Pass in Huangjin territory. For years the Huangjin tribe had been suppressed into silence. Was this finally their attempt to raise the dragon’s head?

Oh my, should she steal those things or not?

If she stole them, maybe the war wouldn’t happen. So disappointing.

If she didn’t steal them, so many good things – what a waste.

Seeing her eyes rolling around, Yélu Qi immediately guessed her little schemes and laughed quietly: “Don’t be too greedy. This team has quite a few masters, especially that batch from Kang Long Army – they’re quite formidable. You should be more careful.”

Jing Hengbo glanced over there, thinking was Cheng Gumo sending these military elites to their deaths? Had his brain been flooded?

Around midnight, the wind and snow gradually lessened. Jing Hengbo looked up at the sky, then suddenly turned to smile at Yélu Qi: “Happy New Year, congratulations to both of us on aging another year.”

The hour of midnight had passed – it was a new year. This year’s New Year’s Eve was spent trudging through wind and snow.

Yélu Qi smiled slightly: “May you and I successfully live through another year, understand more worldly affairs, know more about the world’s feelings. The road ahead continues, and long days lie before us.”

…

In the snowy Di Ge, snow rustled down covering the quiet, still courtyard. Continuous snowflakes made the tall, solitary figure inside the red-curtained window appear blurred.

The hourglass on the table had run out with a rustle – another year had passed.

Someone gently knocked the door ring. His brow was calm, and he didn’t turn around.

“Come in.”

Meng Hu’s footsteps were light as he entered the room without any warmth.

The man in snow-white thin robes held a wine cup but showed no intention of drinking. His gaze cast far into the distance – whether looking at the nine-arched long bridge over the frozen river or somewhere even more distant was unclear.

When a person is at the edge of the world, that edge becomes the endpoint of their gaze.

Only after a long while did he speak.

“How are things progressing?”

“Waiting for news. Everything should be going smoothly.”

“Handle that woman properly.”

“This subordinate will have her hide her identity and flee far to the Liuli tribe.”

Gong Yin nodded. Those who didn’t know the true inside story needn’t be killed.

She was merely a medium, after all.

“Following your instructions, we leaked a copy of the contract we switched out to Governor Cheng.” Meng Hu’s eyes held slight amusement.

Gong Yin nodded, weariness showing in his eyes.

The wind roared like the heavy footsteps of war beasts gradually approaching.

“It’s difficult to make arrangements inside Tianhui Valley.” Meng Hu continued. “The Huangjin tribe has blocked information tightly. We had to arrange the contract matter first, and by the time Bee Sting could be freed up, Tianhui Valley was already remotely blockaded by Huangjin tribe forces. Breaking in risked alerting the enemy, so…”

“No matter.” Gong Yin said softly. “Those accustomed to smooth paths fall more easily. The wind and snow of this world must be faced personally.”

Meng Hu quietly withdrew.

He stood by the window, facing the flying snow everywhere, quietly raising his wine cup toward a certain direction.

“In the new year, may you be safe. The road ahead continues, and the future is just beginning.”

…

When dawn approached, they reached Tianhui Valley. There really was a beast master waiting there – not Fei Luo, of course, but probably someone the Huangjin chief had urgently hired with heavy payment. This person put on great airs, standing alone with a gold-seeking beast, disdaining to acknowledge anyone. Jing Hengbo noticed his gold-seeking beast was extremely large, ten times bigger than ordinary ones. Moreover, its claws were exceptionally long and thin, growing longer and thinner until they resembled a tangle of black threads coiled in its palm. Only then did she understand that the beast Fei Luo had originally controlled was exactly this type of giant gold-seeking beast – a king among gold-seeking beasts. Those poisonous black threads were this type of beast’s claw nails.

After a brief rest, the officials from Beixing City and Xuanyuan Yu began assigning tasks.

The titled captains from Kang Long Army were indeed assigned to enter the valley first. They would go with the beast master and the gold-seeking beast, and after finding gold mines or other important mineral deposits, send out signals for the others to enter in batches to assist.

The titled captains from Kang Long Army excitedly accepted the mission. Those entering the valley each swallowed a pre-prepared antidote pill. Xuanyuan Yu said these antidote pills could counter the valley’s poisonous mist. However, Yélu Qi quietly told Jing Hengbo that if these pills lasted an hour, that would be impressive.

Jing Hengbo propped her chin watching, touching the papers in her chest and giving a cold laugh.

“I’m going too.” She said to Yélu Qi. “Wait for my good news.”

Among everyone present, only she had teleportation abilities, allowing her to flash out in time if something went wrong. So only she could freely enter and exit Tianhui Valley.

Yélu Qi didn’t stubbornly insist on accompanying her, only saying leisurely: “Go then. When you return, this place will be clean.”

Jing Hengbo wondered if he meant he would slaughter all the remaining people here. Was that possible?

What bragging.

She laughed quietly and her figure flashed away.

“Eight!” After Xuanyuan Yu finished giving a series of orders, he walked over and condescendingly tossed over a wine jug: “Drink a few cups with this young master! It’s cold! Eh, where’s Seven? How did he disappear in the blink of an eye?”

“He has stomach trouble, went to relieve himself.” Yélu Qi smiled as he caught the wine jug, attentively spreading out a seat cushion for Xuanyuan Yu and smiling as he drank with him. His broad knowledge and extensive experience, combined with his considerate way of speaking that always hit people’s soft spots, quickly made Xuanyuan Yu’s faint hostility toward this “romantic rival” dissipate. He put down his airs and was soon patting shoulders and calling him brother.

Yélu Qi held the wine jug, circulating his energy slightly. The wine’s aroma dispersed, and people waiting on all sides looked over with envious expressions. Only the Seven-Color Battalion soldiers from Kang Long Army who remained behind looked displeased.

Yélu Qi glanced at them, clinking wine jugs with Xuanyuan Yu while laughing quietly: “Second Young Master, while we drink, let’s not let our wine fumes affect those military gentlemen from Kang Long Army. I hear they hate the smell of alcohol when on missions.”

“Heh, why bother with them?” Xuanyuan Yu was already somewhat drunk, waving dismissively. “Kang Long Army! They’re all about to die anyway!”

His voice was rather loud with these words. Nearby, a soldier suddenly walked over and said sternly: “What did you say?”

…

The sky over Tianhui Valley was indeed gray.

Even stranger, there wasn’t a speck of snow in the valley. From sky to earth, everything was shrouded in chaotic gray mist. Jing Hengbo looked up to see snow falling continuously from the horizon, but upon touching the mist at the valley’s top, it suddenly disappeared.

Overhead seemed covered by a gray pot lid. The ground and rocks were all gray. At first glance there seemed no sign of life. Jing Hengbo felt that even without poisonous mist, staying here long enough would drive one mad from depression.

As soon as the beast master entered the valley, he drove his giant gold-seeking beast straight into the valley depths. Reportedly, the giant gold-seeking beast’s breath could resist Tianhui Valley’s poisonous mist, but this breath could at most benefit him alone. Naturally he didn’t want to be with others, hindering his chance to claim first credit.

Jing Hengbo was glad he wasn’t around. She discovered the poisonous mist was thinner at mid-mountain height and flashed there.

She wasn’t in a hurry to act now. Tianhui Valley’s good things were all in areas with the thickest poisonous mist. The Kang Long Army elites were fine for now – only when they reached the valley depths would they experience others’ sinister intentions.

Many plants grew in the mountain crevices. Whether she recognized them or not, she took the shovel from the cloth bag behind her and began digging. But after digging quite a bit, she hadn’t found the herbs Fei Luo mentioned that could cure Yélu Qi’s poison. Growing somewhat anxious, she climbed higher. Inadvertently looking back, she saw a small flower with thick, dark green leaves growing on the mountain wall, and her heart leaped with joy.

Found it!

This type of dark green flower only grew on sky-blue moon stone. Beneath it, a clump of sky-blue soil was exactly what could detoxify Yélu Qi.

The mountain wall was very steep, almost vertical, but she needn’t risk climbing to pick it. With a wave of her hand, her dagger flew up to cut away the hard soil beneath the flower.

Since eating those miscellaneous pills, she noticed her breathing had become very long and steady. Sometimes when exhausted, she could recover after resting briefly. Though poison still vaguely lurked in her body’s depths, it no longer flared up randomly due to emotional agitation or physical exhaustion.

The dagger neatly dug out the soil beneath the flower, but simultaneously loosened the mountain wall. With a crack, a piece of rubble fell!

Below were the searching Kang Long Army titled captains!

Jing Hengbo quickly waved her hand, trying to stop the stone from falling on the people below, but her hand suddenly froze as her eyes slowly widened.

From the mountain wall, just three feet below her, a gray arm suddenly extended and caught that stone!

Where did this thing come from?

Was it human? Beast? Ghost?

The arm emerged too quickly to distinguish clearly. More alarming was that she had climbed all along this mountain wall without discovering any caves. Where had this thing emerged from? If that arm had grabbed and pulled her in or down just now…

Jing Hengbo’s hair stood on end, suddenly feeling this valley was extremely eerie.

The arm that caught the stone didn’t immediately withdraw. Suddenly it swung very forcefully toward the valley below!

Jing Hengbo’s heart jumped. She immediately leaned down to look and indeed saw gray shadows flashing like phantoms through the gray mist below, pouncing straight at the group of Kang Long Army titled captains!

From her commanding view above, she could see these shadows moved extremely quickly and stealthily, truly like wisps of gray poisonous mist, flowing mysteriously and coming and going in flashes. When Jing Hengbo saw them they were still ten zhang away from Kang Long Army, but in the blink of an eye they were behind them. Some even slid fish-like behind the titled captains, yet none of these military elites noticed!

Jing Hengbo immediately decided to go down the mountain!

She still had plans for these titled captains – she couldn’t let them die silently in the valley like this!

Just as she stood straight, she suddenly heard wind above and a great force struck. Her body tilted and she tumbled down!

In the instant of falling, lightning flashed through her mind, suddenly recalling a movement technique she had seen before.

It was the first technique from the booklet Yélu Qi had given her – a lightness skill method for maintaining form while tumbling, requiring qi assistance. She had looked at it for a long time without grasping the essentials, planning to study it properly after finishing business. But in this instant, as that technique flashed through her mind, she suddenly felt qi stir within her body. She could feel a stream of qi quickly complete a full circulation, and her body nimbly flipped over.

“Whoosh.” The chain claw in her hand immediately shot out, its tip hooking onto a rock.

Her body felt especially light then. She landed on the rock like a feather. Before standing steady, she reached out and yanked hard. With a whoosh, a gray human figure was pulled down!

That gray shadow flipped over her head like a thin sheet. She heard a soft “eh” as the person deflected with their hand. The next instant, the hook she was using for support suddenly trembled and slipped away, causing her to fall again!

She had been waiting for this moment!

In the instant of falling, qi surged and a familiar feeling flowed through her entire body. She flipped again, this time faster than before. Her toes touched down on a protruding rock. Before standing steady, without thinking, her arm yanked again. With a whoosh, the gray figure was pulled down again, tumbling over her head.

In the instant of pulling down, she caught a glimpse of a pair of distinct black and white eyes, like black obsidian against white snow, clear and transparent as flowing moonlight.

The moment passed instantly. That fellow also seemed to become interested. Just as his body brushed past her, his arm swept and pulled her down again.

She immediately spun back like a windmill, even faster, and with a raise of her hand, pulled him down again.

What followed was an endless cycle of you-pull-me-down and I-pull-you-down – along the long ninety-degree mountain wall, two human figures pulled each other down, tumbling and rolling alternately downward, spinning into huge phantoms in the gray mist.

Jing Hengbo found the tumbling quite enjoyable.

This series of cliff-face tumbling in direct combat had the feeling of extreme life-or-death quick completion. Her movements became more fluid and rapid with each tumble, the qi within her body flowing more smoothly, until she finally understood the patterns and could control them.

Indeed, life-and-death situations best stimulated human potential. Under normal circumstances, it might take a year or more to comprehend this, given that she was a complete martial arts novice.

At this moment her heart was full of gratitude toward Yélu Qi. She felt no fear, only excitement, feeling as if the blood throughout her body was boiling, awaiting the next battle. Jing Hengbo was quite surprised by her own state. Previously she disliked fighting and killing, thinking it was something crude people like Taishi Lan enjoyed doing. Elegant and beautiful Bobo should be lying on a chaise lounge painting her nails. However, now she felt that poking people to death with her sharp nails was also quite interesting.

Life-and-death tempering and actual combat best stimulated one’s fighting spirit and bloodthirsty nature.

“Whoosh.” Finally, like a pair of wrestling feathers, the two descended to the valley floor.

Almost simultaneously their feet touched ground, and almost simultaneously, they drew weapons!

“Swish” – Jing Hengbo’s dagger stabbed straight at his throat.

“Chih” – a thin, sharp stone fragment shot toward Jing Hengbo’s forehead!