At this moment there were enemies in the water and enemies on shore, with the fire behind her. Tie Ci gritted her teeth, about to try leaping once more.

Suddenly a familiar cry came from nearby—it was Feiyu.

Tie Ci’s heart tightened.

The courtesan had also come? How did she charge into the fire? Had she also been attacked?

Without thinking, Tie Ci tucked the child tighter in her arms and flashed forward.

The next moment she crashed into an embrace carrying both fragrance and smoke. She vaguely saw a black shadow emerging from behind that embrace, cold light glinting from blade in hand. She reached around from under Feiyu’s arm and with a crack, crushed the person’s wrist.

With a splash, something wet covered them from above, water droplets splashing all over her face. The suffocating heat immediately lessened considerably. Then Feiyu grabbed her hand, saying, “Follow me!”

Tie Ci only felt that hand was slightly cool yet extremely strong. She didn’t think much, just ran wildly alongside her. After a few steps, she vaguely felt the ground beneath her feet was soft. Feiyu lifted her hand, she borrowed the momentum to leap forward, and the next instant landed with a thud on wooden planks. The surface swayed beneath her—clearly she’d boarded a small boat.

Feiyu released her hand. Water sounds rang all around, as if things were surfacing. In Tie Ci’s blurred vision, she vaguely saw that person take up an oar and strike with a crisp bang.

A scream of agony.

Tie Ci’s eyes narrowed—she understood what that crisp sound had been.

Perhaps because that sound was so sharp, everything fell silent for a moment.

The small boat beneath them glided swiftly across the water. Feiyu’s rowing technique was like that of a true boat woman.

But Tie Ci didn’t relax, listening intently with pricked ears. Suddenly she flashed her hand into the water like lightning, and when she raised it again, she was holding a living head.

That person had originally been diving underwater, silently approaching Feiyu’s side, planning to slash her hamstrings while she was off guard. He never expected to suddenly be grabbed by the neck and lifted from the water. Terrified and pale-faced, he wildly stabbed with a three-edged spike in his hand. Tie Ci frowned, pressed her other hand on his head, and with a twist and a snap—

Crack.

Also very crisp.

Silence fell again on all sides.

Splash—Tie Ci threw the person back into the water.

This move was also quite intimidating. When the small boat rowed away again, the water was calm—the pursuers seemed to have stopped chasing.

She didn’t know that this was the main lake of Comb Lake. On the other side of the water, on a small boat, stood Murong Duan with a cold expression, watching that small boat row away. His subordinate behind him said, “Your Highness, those two strike ruthlessly—we’ve lost two more men. Perhaps we should let this go…”

Though the fire was large, once they entered the water they’d be safe. Their side didn’t have many skilled fighters left. If they lost too many, how would they face all those brothers when they returned to Liaodong?

“Who is that boat woman?” Murong Duan didn’t respond to his suggestion, only staring at the person rowing.

The subordinate said, “Unknown. We had arranged everything perfectly, hiding in the surrounding ditches and lake water. We casually killed Old Liu and his son, but don’t know where this boat woman appeared from. Unless she was originally hiding in the reeds, right near us, but…”

But they hadn’t noticed at all.

Murong Duan’s voice carried a chill, “Don’t you think that figure looks somewhat familiar?”

Everyone looked at him blankly. Honestly, who could see clearly in the water earlier?

But Murong Duan had been observing the battle from afar the whole time, grinding his teeth hatefully.

He couldn’t see the face clearly, and the clothing was unfamiliar, but the movements and figure were vaguely familiar—wasn’t this the woman who had negotiated with him at the tower, then later intercepted forty percent of his weapons!

Just that height—how many women could have it?

Murong Duan hated this woman even more than Tie Ci. After all, Tie Ci was an enemy—it was natural for them to oppose each other, and she’d been harmed by his people plenty of times. But this woman was clearly from Liaodong, yet she’d taken advantage of the chaos. In the end, he’d worked for nothing and couldn’t return home, while she could effortlessly escape with her gains. How could he bear this?

If she’d hidden away, he could only let it go. But he never expected she’d dare flaunt herself under his nose!

The subordinate was still trying to persuade him when Murong Duan suddenly raised his hand, pointing toward where the small boat had disappeared, “Chase! Mobilize everyone we have in Haiyi—chase them! Even if we chase them out of Comb Lake, even if we chase them into Qingyang Mountain, we must take these two people’s heads!”

Tie Ci listened intently. No one had pursued during the latter half, so she relaxed. Then she remembered that Comb Lake was somewhat remote—going forward should lead into Qingyang Mountain.

Reaching the foot of the mountain and taking a mountain path back should lead to Ziyang, though it would be quite far.

Going west would be more rugged terrain—that was the road to Chong Prefecture.

As for crossing Qingyang Mountain, Tie Ci hadn’t figured out what was on the other side when the boat reached shore.

Tie Ci disembarked carrying the child. Her left leg went soft upon landing and she nearly fell. The person beside her didn’t support her, but fearing the child would fall, she grabbed the other’s sleeve with one hand. The person said “Ah” but didn’t pull away.

That electric-like soreness passed in an instant, somewhat like the feeling of meridian rushing in her chest earlier. Tie Ci straightened up, but her eyes still couldn’t open properly, and her throat felt like it was stuffed with heated sand—she couldn’t make a sound.

She knew this was all from smoke inhalation. Her vocal cords were injured and would need several days to recover. Her eyes had been injured in the Ruixiang Palace fire when she was young, so this smoke injury would be more severe—she didn’t know how many days it would take to heal.

Through the slight gap she could force open, she vaguely saw a tall woman in a wide skirt across from her. Though she couldn’t see the features clearly, she seemed to be smiling.

Tie Ci wiped her tears, her fingers following the woman’s sleeve she was still holding, climbing up to the other’s wrist for a quick feel.

The other person seemed not to expect her to be taking liberties at this moment and swished her hand away. But Tie Ci had already felt through the coarse black skirt to the fine, smooth inner garment fabric beneath, confirming in her heart that this was the courtesan.

She had no choice—her vision wasn’t working now, and she couldn’t be certain just from voice alone.

She rubbed her fingers, recalling the feel of touching that arm—the skin was very resilient, a beauty who’d undergone long training.

The beauty stood across from her, hands on hips, willow eyebrows raised, staring at the reminiscent expression on her tear-streaked face and her finger-rubbing motion, thinking this person appeared noble and refined but acted extremely, particularly, very… lewdly.

So once again she regretted—knowing Lao’er hated her more than this person, why had she rushed over to interfere?

The infant’s crying suddenly rang out, interrupting the strange atmosphere between them.

Tie Ci rocked the child and cooed softly. The child’s crying gradually lessened but continued whimpering, its little head burrowing toward Tie Ci’s chest. The person across from her laughed, “He wants milk!”

Tie Ci pulled the child away from her chest and held him straight out toward her, gesturing for her to take over.

The person across jumped back half a zhang as if seeing a tiger or leopard.

Tie Ci raised an eyebrow.

Miss, why be so shy? You’ll have to do this yourself eventually.

Rustling winds rose from all sides. Feiyu looked back at the lake, saying, “Don’t linger here too long—there might be pursuers.” She took Tie Ci’s hand and chose the most concealed path to head inward.

“Let’s go up the mountain. First, there are many places to hide in the mountains. Second, there’s a good spring on the mountain—if we find it, we can wash our throats.”

Feiyu’s voice was also somewhat affected by smoke, low and hoarse, making it hard to distinguish male from female.

Tie Ci couldn’t see clearly or speak now, so naturally wouldn’t object. She just quietly left marks on rocks beside the path, making it convenient for Dan Shuang and the others to follow later.

Feiyu walked ahead, holding Tie Ci’s hand, while Tie Ci carried the infant. The two walked one after another, constantly crushing dead leaves underfoot.

After walking for a while, Tie Ci stumbled on a stone and was caught by Feiyu. Feiyu turned back to find Tie Ci was still shedding tears, asking in surprise, “Your eyes were smoked? Can you still see?” She waved her hand in front of Tie Ci’s face.

Tie Ci stared at her woodenly.

Seeing her pupils didn’t move, Feiyu said happily, “So you’ve become blind!”

Tie Ci continued staring at her. Feiyu laughed, “How blind are you? Half-blind? Completely blind? Can you see my beauty?” While speaking, she casually reached for the money pouch at Tie Ci’s waist.

Tie Ci slapped her hand away with perfect accuracy.

Feiyu withdrew her hand, laughing, “Good, good. Let’s go—that spiritual spring can also wash your eyes. Blind one, hold tight—if you lose me I won’t care about you.”

Though she said this, on the following mountain path she was more careful, trying to pick the most stable routes.

The infant kept whimpering non-stop. Tie Ci felt the little head but couldn’t determine anything, thinking they needed to quickly get the child some milk.

Feiyu looked back, glancing at the child then at her, suddenly reaching over to touch Tie Ci’s head.

It was burning hot to the touch.

She touched the child too—the same.

Only then did Tie Ci realize that what she’d thought was feeling alternately hot and cold due to post-fire reactions was actually her fever returning after the exertion following her illness. No wonder she couldn’t gauge the child’s temperature.

Feiyu above sighed and turned onto another path.

After a while, Tie Ci vaguely heard human voices, with figures coming and going, cattle lowing and chickens calling—it was a small village at the foot of the mountain. This place was quite remote, and the people coming and going moved with agile steps.

Seeing such a combination enter the village, everyone looked somewhat puzzled. Tie Ci could feel vigilant gazes constantly directed at them.

Tie Ci remembered her master saying that villages in deep mountains with no contact with the outside world often had questionable origins.

Either they were bandits avoiding officials, or perhaps people fleeing taxes who’d banded together to enter the mountains. Cut off from the outside world, they were full of wariness toward strangers.

In this vigilant, wary atmosphere, Feiyu seemed completely oblivious as she walked forward, constantly greeting people who looked less fierce.

“Auntie, my husband and I crossed the mountain looking for relatives and got lost. What place is this?”

“Spiritual Spring Village? Is there a spiritual spring nearby? Since we’ve encountered it, let’s also soak.”

“Yes, we encountered a mountain fire and nearly burned to death, just over that mountain.”

“Ah, you’re asking why the man is holding the child? That’s my son-in-law—if he doesn’t hold it, who will!”

Tie Ci: “…”

She touched her hair—it had been burned short by more than half, all raggedy, and her face was covered in black soot. She did indeed look more like a man now.

While the exquisite GIRL ahead, though she’d also been through the fire, was still neat and tidy, her hair like black satin and face like peach blossoms—completely the aura of a female lead.

“…Does our village have any nursing women? Otherwise, if there are hunters, help me find nursing deer—I have silver to pay.”

“Ah, asking about my milk? Didn’t we just escape from fire? I was frightened and my milk dried up!”

Incredible—this one even understood about milk drying up.

“Ah, Auntie, this is too heavy—let me carry it for you.” Feiyu, holding Tie Ci’s hand with one hand, shouldered a large bundle of firewood with the other.

Also a strong GIRL.

Feiyu carried the firewood all the way to the courtyard for the family, stacked it neatly, chopped the large pieces for them, and was about to help with the fire. While busying herself, she praised how clean the courtyard was, how neat all the implements were, saying the auntie must be a capable homemaker, until the woman felt embarrassed and finally said, “You must be tired—sit down and have some water.”

Feiyu quickly thanked her. The auntie boiled water and handed it over. She first gave it to Tie Ci. Tie Ci’s throat really couldn’t take it, so she drank a few sips then gave the child some water, but the child wouldn’t drink and cried even more heartbreakingly.

Tie Ci tugged on Feiyu’s skirt, gesturing for her to find a way to get milk. The auntie, seeing Tie Ci say nothing, commented, “Your son-in-law is quite properly behaved.”

Feiyu said, “Naturally! Being a son-in-law, how would he dare disobey his wife’s words? Naturally he must follow the three obediences and four virtues, treating his wife as heaven. If I tell him to go east, he wouldn’t dare go west!”

Tie Ci smiled, her hand tugging on the skirt grabbed Feiyu’s leg flesh and twisted hard.

Feiyu caught her hand, wrapping the offending hand in both her palms, rubbing it affectionately while saying to the auntie, “Auntie, about the milk…”

“Dongde’s wife just gave birth to her fourth son a few days ago. How about I speak to her and you can take the child over to nurse together?”

The woman hurried away. Once she left, Feiyu stood up and looked around, seeming to search for something. Finding the place really bare, she took down a string of whole garlic heads from the wall, cut off a small portion horizontally, stole a few drops from their oil bottle, then searched through the pile of firewood she’d brought back earlier, found something, squeezed out some juice and fragments to cover it, then pulled out a dagger hidden at her waist, placed the garlic on it, and set it on their stove fire.

Tie Ci couldn’t see clearly, only felt this series of movements was smooth and quick. She didn’t understand the purpose—roasted garlic? Was it edible?

The other’s series of actions left her somewhat speechless—the courtesan stealing garlic, not taking several from one string, but from the seven or eight strings of various lengths hanging on the wall, taking only one or two from each string. This way, unless the auntie counted her garlic heads daily, she’d never notice.

Stealing their oil, then adding some water after stealing it. Though oil and water separated, with oil on top it wasn’t easily noticed—this showed understanding that farmers valued oil highly. Missing garlic wouldn’t be noticed, but missing oil would be.

Finally using a dagger to roast garlic—Tie Ci didn’t want to comment. If her senior brother who’d taught her martial arts saw this, he’d definitely start with martial spirit and go on to the consequences of not following martial ethics, spraying criticism for three days and nights.

Soon, a slightly spicy, charred fragrance emerged, the aroma extremely penetrating. Only when Tie Ci smelled it did she realize she was hungry.

She rubbed her stomach, squinting to see Feiyu seeming to remove the garlic and put it in a small cloth bag. Tie Ci watched eagerly while thinking how could such a smelly thing be eaten? Opening one’s mouth would hardly smell human. Even if she were hungrier, she’d definitely politely refuse…

Feiyu suddenly pulled a garlic bulb from the bag and handed it over steaming hot. Tie Ci vaguely saw the outer skin was roasted golden-brown, the pale yellow cloves inside glistening with oil, that spicy fragrance increasingly aggressive… it actually didn’t look inedible…

If it were anything else, even frogs or hedgehogs, Tie Ci would eat them—she wasn’t delicate. But garlic and chives, such strong-smelling things, didn’t befit noble royal status. They never entered the palace, and palace staff spoke of garlic with dread. Growing up, Tie Ci had never actually eaten any, so she instinctively slowed.

With just this hesitation, Feiyu noticed, sneered, withdrew her hand, and took out her universal knife, spearing a garlic clove. In the sunlight, the oil-soaked garlic was like yellow jade, lustrous and fragrant. Tie Ci instinctively swallowed, then watched Feiyu put the clove in her own mouth.

Tie Ci: “…”

Feiyu chewed, her eyes slightly curved, expression satisfied.

Tie Ci swallowed again.

Feiyu quickly finished the garlic clove, then picked some dried orange peel from under the window, chewed it, and came over. Seeing Tie Ci’s expression, she suddenly bent down and breathed on her, laughing, “Smelly?”

Hot breath touched her cheek. Tie Ci instinctively turned away, then caught a faint orange fragrance—surprisingly not smelly at all.

The two were extremely close—Tie Ci could even feel the other’s long lashes brushing her cheek.

A light yet somehow rich strange fragrance came over, like peonies blooming under pines.

Tie Ci was momentarily dazed, wanting to reach out and pinch those long lashes.

But her stomach rumbled even more insistently.

But Feiyu had already tied up the little pouch, and the auntie was slowly returning. She said she’d arranged things and told them to hurry over, not to delay the woman’s card game. Tie Ci could only tighten her belt and follow to Dongde’s house.

The auntie indeed hadn’t noticed her instant burglary. Flattered by Feiyu’s compliments, she was beaming and even packed them several steamed buns before they left. Tie Ci watched Feiyu accept them without any guilt despite her stream of flattery, marveling at her thick skin.

Arriving at Dongde’s house, the family was eating dinner—just husband and wife with four children, the youngest nursing. On the table were only pancakes, steamed buns, thin porridge with garlic, corn cakes, and pickled vegetables. The husband was short and stocky, the wife tall and thin. Seeing Feiyu arrive, their expressions were also indifferent. But Feiyu was very familiar, sitting down and first offering the roasted garlic from her little bag, saying she’d brought a couple dishes for big brother. Tie Ci was wondering where the “couple” came from when Feiyu turned and went out, returning shortly with several bird eggs. She borrowed their stove, cut slices from the steamed buns the auntie had given them, beat the eggs and mixed them, wrapped the bun slices in egg, put a little oil in the pan, and fried them one by one. The fragrant result was placed on the table along with the roasted garlic cloves and completely devoured by the three children.

Tie Ci sat aside, watching the courtesan’s empty-handed maneuvering, once again marveling.

With Feiyu being so diligent and capable, their attitude improved considerably. They invited Tie Ci to eat at the table, and the wife took the child inside to nurse. Taking advantage of their good mood, Feiyu suggested whether they could stay a few days to help her son-in-law recover, naturally repaying them with labor or silver.

The other party looked Feiyu up and down, probably seeing this three-person group with an infant couldn’t be government officials, and Feiyu’s demonstrated cooking skills were reassuring, so they agreed.

They cleaned out a side room with no bed. Feiyu went to the back woods and cut some branches, thickly laying a floor bed. The family’s wife brought coarse cloth bedding, seeing the floor bed laid neatly, and said to Tie Ci with feeling, “You didn’t marry wrong—your wife is capable and responsible.”

Tie Ci smiled awkwardly.

The child was brought back, much better after being fed. Feiyu brought in a small basin with warm water already prepared, saying the wife had mentioned that for a child’s fever, medicine shouldn’t be used—they should give him a warm bath to reduce temperature.

Tie Ci handed the child to her, as her eyes weren’t working and she couldn’t unwrap the swaddling. Feiyu took him but couldn’t figure out how to unwrap him after a long time. Tie Ci had to take him back, bending down to feel her way through unwrapping the child.

Dongde’s wife happened to bring water in and saw this scene, laughing, “This son-in-law also married well—he’s virtuous.”

Tie Ci smiled awkwardly again.

When bathing the child, another problem arose. Feiyu held the child crouched by the basin, but she didn’t know how to hold children. Grasping him under the arms and sending him into the tub, the child’s head drooped softly backward hitting the basin edge, immediately about to cry again. Tie Ci quickly took over, one hand supporting the child’s bottom, one supporting his head, carefully placing him in the basin. Warm water covered the tiny body and the child immediately stopped crying.

Tie Ci let the child lie in the basin, her arm cushioning under his head to prevent his head from going underwater, her other hand using a cloth to wash his body. Feiyu watched, clicking her tongue in amazement, “You’re a man, yet you know how to hold children!”

Tie Ci ignored her. Only after finishing washing, drying, and rewrapping the child did she gesture to Feiyu, “You’re a woman, yet you can’t even hold a child!”

Feiyu put her hands behind her head against the pillow, laughing, “What kind of ghostly scribbling gestures are those?” Then she added, “Oh, cursing me—a woman who can’t even hold a child?”

Tie Ci nodded smilingly. Feiyu sat up, threw her a flirtatious glance, then suddenly crouched down to remove Tie Ci’s shoes.

Tie Ci quickly pulled back her feet. Feiyu laughed, “Called you a son-in-law and you really started acting like a woman. This village isn’t far from that spring—water isn’t precious, but firewood is hard to come by. You have to go up the mountain to gather it, carry it down—every family counts theirs. This water is still hot, and you won’t wash your feet while it’s warm? You’d rather have the embarrassment of asking people to waste more firewood burning you another basin?”

Tie Ci paused. Being of noble status, she inevitably hadn’t considered these rural hardships. She had some cleanliness obsessions and didn’t want to wash in others’ leftover water, so she gestured that she wouldn’t wash.

“Won’t wash? You’ll stay dirty?” Feiyu came over to smell her, “You stink!”

Tie Ci’s expression changed. She smelled her sleeve and had to give up being particular, gesturing for Feiyu to step aside so she could wash alone.

But Feiyu didn’t step aside, laughing, “I’m your wife—are you embarrassed?”

But Tie Ci didn’t dare expose her feet in front of Feiyu. Though men could have small feet too, it would still be a suspicious point.

She laughed dryly, gesturing for Feiyu to wash first, bending to lift her skirt. This time it was Feiyu who pulled back her feet, saying, “I won’t wash others’ leftover water!” and turned to leave.

Tie Ci glared.

Double standard dog!

Tie Ci simply washed and wiped with the water, deliberately leaving the soot on her face unwashed. Feeling extremely tired, she lay down beside the infant and fell asleep. This sleep was surprisingly peaceful. When she opened her eyes again, seeing the mottled gray-black walls, hearing voices faintly coming through the non-soundproof mud walls and a bit of yellow candlelight, she felt inexplicably peaceful inside.

In the past at Ruixiang Palace, everywhere she looked were brocade curtains and embroidered hangings, golden tripods and jade walls, splendor everywhere. But her heart felt empty, floating, rootless like drifting clouds. There were drums in the dark night, urging time to rush forward, and crickets in corners, straining to make sound while worrying about fate’s end when the next cold wind came.

No fixed place, no peace.

Now in this deep mountain village, humble room with stove fire, the fragrance from the kitchen was spicy and bustling—this was human atmosphere.

This fragrance…

Tie Ci couldn’t sleep anymore. She got up and walked to the outer room, indeed seeing Feiyu personally cooking. From the steamer basket on the stove came an unusual fragrance, different from usual. Dongde’s three children pressed against the stove edge, drooling desperately.

At dinner, besides Dongde’s family’s usual food, there was a large plate of elongated steamed buns with extraordinary fragrance. Tie Ci took one and bit into it—first the chewy wheat fragrance of flour, then tender, fresh meat. Looking closer, there was actually meat wrapped inside. Dongde’s wife said, “Your wife is really capable—spent half an afternoon with a winnowing basket and half a net, caught many yellow sparrows right at the courtyard gate, made these yellow sparrow steamed buns. So fragrant!”

Great Qian people enjoyed bird meat. There were dishes like stuffed yellow sparrows and honey-glazed yellow sparrows to accompany wine in the markets. This was her first time eating yellow sparrow steamed buns. Feiyu had made them surprisingly delightful—the sparrow meat was deboned and seasoned with unknown spices, completely free of gamey taste. The meat was extremely tender, melting in the mouth, contrasting with the chewy, resilient steamed bun wrapper to create layered textures.

Even Tie Ci, accustomed to imperial cuisine, had to admit this cooking skill wasn’t much inferior.

On the table was also a pile of bamboo shoots, outer skin unpeeled, with some heated chaff stuck to them. Peeled open, they were hollow inside, stuffed with wild game meat and mountain mushrooms and shoots. The rich meat fragrance combined with the fresh fragrance of shoots and mushrooms, bringing mountain forest freshness to the mouth.

Tie Ci preferred this, but when reaching for a second one, Feiyu’s chopsticks tapped her hand, “Eat less—if you get fat I won’t want you!”

Tie Ci paused, but seeing the eager expressions of everyone at the table, she understood. With rare delicacies before them, those dependent on others’ kindness should be polite.

As long as the other party was reasonable, she wouldn’t be angry. She smiled and didn’t reach for more dishes, just lowered her head to eat coarse steamed buns since she couldn’t see clearly. Suddenly a bamboo shoot rolled over, landing right by her hand. Tie Ci turned her head, vaguely seeing Feiyu’s chopsticks quickly withdraw, then heard Feiyu say, “Oops, dropped one—then you eat it.”

Tie Ci slowly peeled the shoot shell, pursing her lips.

Really think I’m blind!

At night the three naturally squeezed into one bed. The floor bed was small, two pairs of long legs cramped awkwardly. The child, full of milk, slept with a flushed little face, emanating sweet milk fragrance. Tie Ci remembered her male identity and refused to hold the child while sleeping, pushing him to Feiyu. Feiyu didn’t mind, taking him and placing him on her stomach in a very straight-man posture. Tie Ci couldn’t see clearly at first, but later felt around and, fearing this person would roll over in sleep and drop the baby, placed him between them.

Feiyu then rolled over, pinching the infant’s nose tip, smiling as she asked, “Ah, don’t we look like a family of three?”

Tie Ci stretched, her hand accidentally slapping Feiyu’s face, “Yes—three generations: me grandpa, you wet nurse, him grandson.”

The night in the deep mountains ran like a flying horse, just at the mountain head a moment ago, now at their toes in a blink. Rain had started at some point, making the small village seem even quieter. Tie Ci had originally been alert and didn’t want to sleep, but somehow felt her eyelids growing heavier. In dark sweetness she seemed to be walking a night road when suddenly a great flood rushed over… She jerked awake to find her arm somehow wet. Just thinking the roof was leaking, the child beside her began whimpering and crying—he’d wet himself.

Wetting was fine, but Feiyu still slept sprawled out. Like a lazy wife, she picked up the child and shoved him into Tie Ci’s arms, saying, “Change the diaper!”

Tie Ci instantly felt like a corporate slave husband struggling with childcare in the middle of the night.

But the diaper had to be changed since the lazy wife beside her didn’t know how. Tie Ci comforted herself that this was advance practice, took the diaper Dongde’s wife had prepared, fumbled through changing it, then threw the dirty diaper, landing it precisely on Feiyu’s face.

Feiyu pulled down the diaper, her eyes burning bright in the darkness. Tie Ci sensed this person wasn’t sleepy and prepared for verbal sparring, but Feiyu just rolled over and slept.

Tie Ci, now awake, couldn’t fall back asleep. Sitting on the bed listening to the surrounding sounds, she suddenly frowned.

The rain was getting heavier, water falling from the eaves with rushing sounds. But with Tie Ci’s hearing, she still vaguely caught some subtle unusual sounds in the wind and rain.

She went to push Feiyu, gesturing toward the door. Feiyu understood, got up and walked to the door, opened a crack to look for a long time, then hurriedly returned, whispering, “A group of people entered the village!”

By the time she looked, Tie Ci had already dressed. Though her vision was temporarily poor, when undressing she’d laid her clothes neatly over herself, so when needed she could just pick them up and put them on.

Those entering the village at this time came with ill intent. Tie Ci held the child tight and headed toward the room where Dongde and his wife lived, planning to warn them, but was grabbed by Feiyu.

“We leave first!”

Tie Ci hesitantly pointed to the opposite room. Feiyu said, “They know—I saw them already hiding. Don’t worry, follow me. Today when I got bird eggs, I found an excellent hiding place.”

Tie Ci relaxed. Feiyu pulled down oilcloth from the wall, held it over their heads, and the two crouched low climbing out the back window. Behind Dongde’s back window was the mountain. In heavy rain the mountain path was slippery. The two walked unsteadily all the way when Feiyu suddenly lifted aside vines, saying, “We’re here.”

Only then did Tie Ci discover a spring ahead, with a small cave above the spring water. She stood still and looked back toward the foot of the mountain, seeing scattered lights kindling in the small village—clearly the intruders had been discovered.

In the storm, someone’s back flashed with cold light—obviously carrying blades. Those appearing here with weapons were likely Murong Duan’s people.

Dongde’s house also lit up. Tie Ci spun around to stare at Feiyu—Dongde and his wife hadn’t hidden at all!

Feiyu had been giving false information!

Wouldn’t this harm Dongde’s family, harm the whole village?!