The boat drifted on the water as fireflies gradually retreated into the dense forest.

The young woman fell asleep leaning against the young man’s shoulder. The boatman stood at the bow, about to speak, but Xiao Jue imperceptibly shook his head. Understanding, the boatman didn’t wake her and stopped rowing, letting the boat drift.

Xiao Jue sat still, gazing at the water’s surface. It was calm, occasionally rippling when touched by the wind. He turned to look at the young woman sleeping soundly on his shoulder. Unlike most young ladies concerned with appearances, she slept without grace, with what appeared to be a glistening trace of drool at the corner of her mouth.

He turned away in slight disgust, looking back toward the distant water. After a while, he looked down again and smiled helplessly.

In the end, he didn’t push her away.

…

He You’an enjoyed a rare good sleep and seemed to have had a pleasant dream, though upon waking, she couldn’t remember what it was about.

Opening her eyes, she found herself lying on the boat’s soft couch, covered with a thin quilt. She sat up and saw Xiao Jue sitting at the bow, so she called out, “Young Master!”

He turned to look at her briefly and said, “Freshen up, it’s time to return.”

He You’an was startled to realize they had spent the entire night at Luoying Spring. All the firefly boats had dispersed, leaving only theirs. While yawning, she used the clean water on the boat to wash up. Without Cuijiao and Hongqiao by her side to help with her hair, she casually tied it in a male-style topknot.

When she finished grooming and went to the bow, she heard the boatman speaking to Xiao Jue, “Young Master, head straight to the spring’s edge, walk forward about fifty steps, and you’ll find a post station. Next to it, you can hire a carriage. Young Master and Miss can take that back. The river doesn’t allow firefly boats during daytime.”

Xiao Jue paid the boatman and walked toward the shore, saying to He You’an, “Let’s go.”

He You’an thanked the boatman and hurried ashore.

It was early morning, and crystalline dewdrops rolled off the broad leaves of plants and trees, bringing a chill of morning dew. He You’an yawned again and asked Xiao Jue, “Commander, did I fall asleep last night? Why didn’t you wake me up? We stayed here all night.”

Xiao Jue coldly laughed, “Someone was snoring so loudly last night they couldn’t be woken up.”

“Really?” He You’an was quite skeptical, “Are you trying to fool me?”

“I’m not like you.”

As they talked, they hadn’t walked far before they saw the post station just as the boatman had described. Next to it was a noodle shop where the proprietress was cooking noodles in a large iron pot, releasing appetizing aromas.

Having not eaten anything in the morning, He You’an was already feeling hungry and said, “Let’s eat something before taking the carriage.” Without waiting for Xiao Jue’s response, she waved to the proprietress, “Two bowls of noodles and a basket of buns.”

She had quite an appetite. She pulled Xiao Jue to sit at a table outside the thatched shelter. The freshly steamed buns were letting off wisps of steam and were too hot to hold. He You’an held them in her hands, puffing her cheeks to blow them cool.

Xiao Jue wasn’t as impatient as her. When the noodles arrived, he ate slowly, watching with amusement as He You’an ate with oil glistening around her mouth.

“Stop laughing at me,” He You’an said, “As if I’m embarrassing myself.”

He replied unhurriedly, “You are embarrassing yourself. Look around, how many others eat as ungracefully as you?”

He You’an furtively glanced around. Being early, most people eating here were either about to set out on journeys or taking a rest stop during their travels.

Sitting beside her was a grandmother and granddaughter pair. The elderly woman had graying hair and a kind face. Next to her was a young girl about eleven or twelve years old, wearing a dirty cloak with half her face buried in it, eating silently with her head down.

Both were dressed simply, probably travelers who hadn’t had time to tidy up properly. Noticing He You’an’s gaze, the elderly woman paused before asking with a smile, “Miss?”

“It’s nothing,” He You’an smiled back.

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, “Even the little one eats more elegantly than you.”

That was true. Though the young girl appeared dirty, her eating manners were extremely refined and elegant, unlike common folk. He You’an reflected that even when she was He Rufei or Madam Xu, she wouldn’t have managed better etiquette than this girl. No wonder Xiao Jue was mocking her… but were all people in Jiyang this extraordinary? The elderly woman certainly didn’t give off such an impression.

She turned back to the elderly woman with a smile, “Grandmother, is this your granddaughter? She’s very pretty.”

“Yes,” the elderly woman was first surprised, then smiled.

He You’an looked at the young girl, who showed no reaction and continued eating with her head down. The elderly woman explained, “Nini is shy around strangers, please don’t mind her.”

He You’an smiled, “How could I mind? She’s too adorable. Are you heading into the city?”

“No,” the elderly woman said, “There’s been a death in the family, I’m taking Nini back for the funeral.”

He You’an nodded and offered her condolences, then turned back to her meal. As she ate, something felt amiss. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but felt she had overlooked something.

Looking at Xiao Jue again, she noticed he had also stopped eating and was thoughtfully watching the grandmother and granddaughter pair beside He You’an.

He You’an leaned closer to him and whispered, “Commander, something feels wrong.”

Xiao Jue glanced at her once, then suddenly stood up and walked to the pair’s side.

He You’an’s earlier questioning had already made the elderly woman uneasy. She hurriedly finished eating and tried to leave with the young girl, but as soon as she stood up, someone blocked their path.

The handsome young man stood before them, his posture straight and expression calm. Looking at the girl under the cloak, he said flatly, “Speak, little ghost.”

The elderly woman pulled the girl to her chest protectively and said, “What are you trying to do, young sir?”

“I didn’t know Jiyang’s kidnappers had grown so bold,” Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, “Daring to abduct people in broad daylight.”

Kidnappers? He You’an was startled.

Yes, that’s what had felt wrong. There seemed to be a complete disconnect between the girl and the elderly woman, without any resemblance to a grandmother and granddaughter relationship. Throughout their meal, the woman hadn’t once asked the girl if the food was too hot or if it suited her taste, as any grandmother would. Even with the most withdrawn and aloof granddaughter, a grandmother would show some care, rather than this hands-off attitude.

She appeared kind, but her actions weren’t kind at all. She didn’t act like a grandmother, but rather like someone trying to avoid attention.

“What… what nonsense are you talking about?” The elderly woman stared at Xiao Jue, “This is my granddaughter! Don’t make false accusations!”

“Whether she’s your granddaughter or not can be easily determined,” Xiao Jue said, “Speak, little ghost.”

The young girl remained motionless.

“You!”

As the elderly woman tried to leave with the girl, He You’an’s whip suddenly moved, coiling toward the cloak. In an instant, the whip pulled the cloak away, revealing the half-hidden face of the young girl.

He You’an hefted the Purple Jade Whip in her hand – this was what she had won through Xiao Jue’s “Wind Stealing” earlier. It was fortunate she had kept it with her; it proved quite useful.

The girl revealed under the cloak had a clean, delicate beauty, with tears streaking her face. Her mouth opened silently – her mute acupoint had been sealed.

“You don’t seem to treat your granddaughter very well,” Xiao Jue smiled coldly.

Seeing the situation deteriorate, the elderly woman shouted, “Mind your own business!” She let out a sharp, high-pitched whistle from her mouth. Suddenly, from among the crowd at the post station – those feeding horses, eating breakfast, washing faces, and resting – several figures emerged, drawing swords and charging at He You’an and Xiao Jue!

“Assassins!” He You’an exclaimed. She was shocked – with so many people, these couldn’t be mere kidnappers. Kidnappers operated stealthily, fearing discovery. If discovered, their first reaction would be to flee. But this elderly woman not only stayed but had so many accomplices, showing complete confidence. Unless… she glanced at the young girl whose mute acupoint had been sealed and likely drugged… who was this girl to warrant such an operation?

Xiao Jue had come out unarmed. Seeing the group attacking, he used teacups from the table as projectiles, knocking away the swords aimed at his face.

He You’an tossed him her whip: “Use this!” She grabbed an iron rod from the ground.

The noodle shop proprietress had already hidden under a table in fear. The sounds of combat filled the air. As soon as He You’an engaged them, she knew these were no ordinary kidnappers – their skills were too refined, their attacks lethal, clearly aiming to silence them permanently. The young girl remained motionless. Seeing He You’an and Xiao Jue occupied with the others, the elderly woman’s eyes flickered. She grabbed the girl and leaped onto a horse at the post station’s entrance, moving with agility unbefitting her age. With a crack of the whip, the horse galloped forward.

“No!” He You’an shouted, “She’s escaping!”

She looked back at Xiao Jue, who was surrounded – being male and skilled, all attention had shifted to him, ignoring He You’an. She called out, “Young Master, hold them off! I’ll pursue!”

The post station had no shortage of horses. He You’an mounted one and chased after the elderly woman’s escape route.

Instead of taking the main road out of the city, the elderly woman chose a rough path. As He You’an pursued, she pondered – during the fight, the girl hadn’t moved at all, suggesting she was either drugged or had her pressure points sealed. The fact they were willing to engage Xiao Jue to take the girl showed how important she was to them.

He You’an’s horsemanship was exceptional. Though the elderly woman tried using her knowledge of the paths to shake her off, she couldn’t lose He You’an’s pursuit. Growing desperate, she cursed, “Foolish girl, stop seeking death!”

“Put her down and I might spare your life,” He You’an showed no fear, “Don’t refuse the easy way only to face the hard way!”

The elderly woman snorted and whipped her horse harder. Seeing this, He You’an stood on her horse’s back and spurred it on. Her horse leaped forward, nearly drawing level with the elderly woman’s mount. He You’an quickly wrapped her whip around the other horse’s head. With the horses at their limit, the startled mount reared up. He You’an seized the moment to leap from her horse, wresting the girl from the elderly woman’s grasp. They both rolled on the ground.

Upon landing, He You’an confirmed the girl had indeed been drugged, capable of only the slightest movements. No wonder she hadn’t responded at all in the noodle shop.

He You’an only managed to unseal the girl’s mute acupoint. Before she could ask the girl’s name or origin, the elderly woman laughed coldly, drawing a flexible sword from her waist, saying “Nosy pest!” as she thrust at He You’an.

He You’an quickly pushed the girl aside and faced the attack. Unarmed, having lost the iron rod in the chaos, she could only rely on her agility to dodge the sword.

“Who are you people?” He You’an asked while evading, secretly alarmed at the woman’s skill. “Why did you take this girl?”

The woman gave a cold smile and swung her sword, “Too many questions! Ask the King of Hell when you see him!”

He You’an raised an eyebrow: “That level of skill won’t be enough to send me to hell – you’re overestimating yourself.” She suddenly rolled up from the ground, ducking under the sword while moving behind the woman, striking her back and seizing the sword.

“Curse you!” the woman raged.

With the sword in hand, though inferior to Qinglang, it would suffice. With no one else around, He You’an could display her true skill – besides military tactics, swordsmanship was her greatest strength. Soon she had the woman retreating steadily, clearly outmatched.

He You’an said, “Surrender now and you might still have a chance.”

“Nuisance!” the woman shouted, suddenly pulling a silver hairpin from her bun. The hairpin contained some mechanism that extended it by three inches into a dagger when exposed to air. Rather than attacking He You’an, she charged toward her sword while throwing the dagger at the girl on the ground.

The drugged girl could only watch helplessly as the dagger flew toward her chest. He You’an couldn’t withdraw her sword in time to save her!

A loud “bang” rang out.

Just before the dagger could pierce the girl’s heart, something struck it, deflecting the blade and causing it to lose its lethal force, rolling harmlessly to the ground.

At the same moment, He You’an’s sword pierced the elderly woman’s chest. The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief that someone had deflected her dagger. She coughed up dark blood and died.

From the dense forest, a man emerged. He was a slim man in his forties but carried himself with extraordinary grace. Dressed in white, his long hair tied with white silk, he resembled both a swordsman and a musician. His features were distinguished, his long beard adding an air of romantic wanderlust rather than appearing unkempt.

He You’an froze upon seeing him. The white-robed man approached, helping up the trembling girl before turning to He You’an.

He You’an murmured: “…Master.”

His face showed no surprise, only slight wonderment: “Ahe?”