Ziqing had attended plenty of military councils alongside Jun Beiyue before, and she understood just how significant such meetings were.

For a matter to warrant a council of such classification, it would have to be both urgent and of grave importance.

Still, Ziqing hadn’t remotely anticipated the meeting would drag on for so long. By the time the sky had fully brightened, everyone had already climbed into the carriages, ready to set off, and Ziqing had all the provisions prepared as well.

Yet, unexpectedly, they ended up waiting an entire day on a hillside just outside the military camp.

“Didn’t they say we’d leave this morning? Where is everyone?” Baili Weisheng asked impatiently. He’d sensed, of course, that something was off, and he knew perfectly well this “something” had to involve Xuanyuan Lige — across the entire Longyuan continent, there was only one man capable of stirring up trouble at a moment like this, and that was Xuanyuan Lige!

Still, Baili Weisheng couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it — his only real concern was the Isolated Isle.

“Something serious must have happened,” Ziqing said, her face full of worry. They only had three months left, and once those three months passed, winter would be over — and once the temperature in Flame Valley rose, entering the valley at all would become nearly impossible!

Within these same three months, they still needed to travel to West Jing’s capital to search for Yelu Qianqian and Situ Haonan’s whereabouts.

The Shadow Guards Jun Beiyue had dispatched still hadn’t found a single lead. How could two living, breathing people simply vanish into thin air?

At this critical juncture, if something else went wrong here in the Three Realms Territory too, then the trip to Flame Valley would have to be postponed until next year!

Baili Weisheng, who’d originally been rather indifferent about all this, couldn’t help but furrow his brow too, seeing Ziqing’s worried expression, growing serious himself. “Why don’t we head off first, go wait for him at Mobei town — I’ll go with you to West Jing’s capital.”

Baili Weisheng continued, lowering his voice. “We’ll dump this whole cart of the old, the young, and the wounded at Mobei town, and travel light.”

The old, the young, and the wounded…

The old one being his own mother, the young one his disciple, and the wounded one — wounded because of him.

Baili Weisheng really had the nerve to say that. Ziqing rolled her eyes repeatedly, but had to admit, his suggestion wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

She thought it over for a moment, then said flatly, “Let’s wait a little longer, and see.”

But soon enough, Yingzi came to report.

“Your Highness, His Highness says you should go on ahead, and wait for him at Mobei town.”

Ziqing was startled, asking quietly, “What’s happened?”

Yingzi hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke up. “There’s a lot of activity out of East Qin. His Highness says there might be some trouble. He insists you wait at Mobei town without fail, and under no circumstances go to Flame Valley alone.”

East Qin…

These days, the words “East Qin” were practically synonymous with Xuanyuan Lige.

A complicated flash crossed Ziqing’s eyes, and she said seriously, “Send word back — tell him not to worry.”

The moment Yingzi left, Baili Weisheng brightened, hopping down from the carriage to stretch, grinning. “Little Qingqing, let’s go! I’ll take you off to roam the martial world!”

Ziqing rolled her eyes repeatedly. “Eloping, are we?”

“As long as you’re willing!” Baili Weisheng’s smile only widened.

The remark set Madam Jinjiao off into helpless laughter nearby. “Son, aren’t you afraid Prince Yao will come and gut you the moment he finds out?”

“If little Qingqing’s willing to run off with me, I’d take ten gutting blades gladly,” Baili Weisheng continued joking.

Throughout the whole trip, this was the happiest Madam Jinjiao had seen her son — so pleased, in fact, that she’d completely forgotten about Meng Duo’er sitting beside her.

Watching Baili Weisheng’s bright, dazzling smile, Meng Duo’er felt a bittersweet ache in her chest. She didn’t quite understand what had come over her — she’d suddenly grown so fond of this man’s smile, and yet, every time she saw him smile, she could never feel that same happiness herself.

“Enough flirting, let’s get going,” Ziqing said, urging them along impatiently.

Baili Weisheng was about to say more, but suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Puzzled, he turned around, only to find himself staring straight into Xiong Xiaobao’s ice-cold eyes. For a dazed instant, he thought he’d locked eyes with Jun Beiyue himself, and couldn’t help but shudder.

“I’m telling my daddy!” Xiong Xiaobao said, word by word, gritting his teeth.

When it came to his father’s interests, he didn’t care who was involved — he wouldn’t back down an inch.

Baili Weisheng’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself — the moment they reached Mobei town, this little brat was going to be the very first one left behind!

With Jun Beiyue absent, the group continued west, and aside from the occasional run-in with a few clueless, ill-fated bandits, the journey went smoothly enough!

Still, Ziqing had originally expected Jun Beiyue to be delayed no more than three or four days — but ten days later, by the time they reached Mobei town, he still hadn’t arrived.

Once they’d arrived at Mobei town and gotten settled, Yingzi brought a young man to see Ziqing.

The young man looked to be about the same age as Meng Duo’er, fifteen or sixteen, with fine, clear features and a clean, composed bearing.

“Do you know the way to Flame Mountain?” Ziqing asked, getting straight to the point.

“Yes. My family’s ancestors migrated from Flame Mountain in West Jing to Mobei town generations ago. My family’s ancestral graves are still there — we go back every year in the twelfth month to pay our respects,” the young man answered honestly.

“What exactly is that place, and why is it named for flame?” Ziqing asked flatly.

“West Liang’s climate is scorching hot, so much so that not a blade of grass grows anywhere in its territory. Flame Mountain is the hottest place in all of West Liang — the mountain itself sits low, but the valley within it runs extraordinarily deep…”

“The mountain is low, but the valley runs deep?” Ziqing asked, confused.

“That’s right — Flame Mountain itself is quite low, but the valley within it is incredibly deep. To this day, no one has ever managed to reach the bottom. Legend says a fire dragon lives at the bottom of the valley, capable of breathing fire — the deeper you go, the hotter it gets,” the young man answered earnestly.

A fire dragon, and a low mountain with a deep valley?

Ziqing grew suspicious. Without having seen Flame Mountain herself, she couldn’t be certain based on the description alone — but she had a faint sense that this place might actually be a volcano.

Keeping her expression neutral, she gestured for the young man to continue.

“There are several paths leading into the valley, all worn by those who went before.”

At this point, Baili Weisheng couldn’t help but cut in. “And people actually want to go to a godforsaken place like that?”

The young man couldn’t help but laugh, thinking to himself — this older brother was rather odd; weren’t they planning to go there too?

“It’s because there are so many legends about Flame Mountain and Flame Valley within West Liang. Wherever there’s a dragon, there’s said to be treasure — legend has it the fire dragon guards a massive treasure vault, and whoever obtains it can claim the whole realm. Even the West Liang royal family once tried digging a path into the valley, but the heat down there was simply too extreme, and even the royal family eventually gave up halfway.”

Hearing this, not only was Ziqing intrigued, but Baili Weisheng and Xiong Xiaobao’s eyes lit up too, gleaming with excitement.

Such a mysterious, wondrous place, so full of challenge — they loved it!

Meng Duo’er listened, utterly absorbed too, her hands clenching involuntarily.

She was nervous!

This was only the second time she’d ever left the Dream Clan’s island, and the very first time she’d ever traveled without her father by her side, entirely on her own.

She’d never expected that her very first trip out would land her somewhere this “formidable.” She felt a mix of fear and anticipation, and couldn’t wait to set out right away.

“Mommy, let’s leave tonight! I want that fire dragon!” Xiong Xiaobao was the first to speak up!

Ziqing clapped a hand over his mouth at once, pressing his little head against her side, pretending he’d said nothing at all.

Baili Weisheng, however, was delighted, seizing the chance for revenge. “I’m telling your daddy!”