Hearing this, Chu Li’s brows grew cold as he pondered for a moment, then looked at Mu Yunjin with deep eyes. “Then let Huang Yan go with you, and Song Chun will stay.”

“Don’t refuse. That’s how it will be,” Chu Li added, his tone firm.

Letting her go to Northern Ming already made him uneasy. A few days ago, they had quarreled over some matters and talked through many things. He wanted to hide this from her, but couldn’t do so with a clear conscience.

Having Huang Yan along meant that at least someone could send him news at any time.

“Alright then, I’ll go pack my things and leave shortly.” Mu Yunjin understood the urgency of the situation, glanced at Chu Li, and walked out of the study.

After Mu Yunjin left, Chu Li turned to Qu Xinyao, his eyes cold and stern. “Tomorrow at court, Yan Qiuhuai will submit a memorial impeaching me.”

“These old dogs truly can’t restrain themselves anymore.” Qu Xinyao laughed coldly, her eyes showing disdain. Then she raised her eyebrows. “They won’t be impeaching just you alone, will they?”

Chu Li nodded.

……

…

…

Mu Yunjin quickly packed her belongings. She had changed from her brocade dress into lightweight attire, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking refreshingly neat.

After leaving her room, Chu Li was just entering with Huang Yan. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, he walked over, slightly frowning. “Your travel route, I’ve already explained to Huang Yan. Follow him on this journey and don’t act independently under any circumstances.”

“Mm, I understand.” Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and nodded, then glanced at Huang Yan beside Chu Li. Though this fellow didn’t look very reliable, his ability to handle matters was quite strong.

Chu Li reached out to caress her cheek, his eyes showing reluctance. Regardless of others present, he bent down and kissed Mu Yunjin’s lips. “Be good.”

Mu Yunjin licked her lips and nodded.

“Ahem, ahem, it’s getting late. Shouldn’t we be setting off?” Huang Yan coughed to interrupt as he saw the couple’s reluctance to part.

Chu Li turned to glance at Huang Yan, who immediately covered his mouth.

“Well, I’m off. I’ll go and return quickly, and bring you some specialties from Northern Ming.” Remembering how she had teased Chu Li a few days ago, Mu Yunjin curved her lips, her eyes smiling into crescents.

Chu Li smiled faintly and led her and Huang Yan toward his bedroom. “You’ll leave through the secret passage.”

Secret passage?

Mu Yunjin truly didn’t know there was a secret passage in the mansion.

Soon, by the hot spring pool, Chu Li bent down to press a mechanism. Then Mu Yunjin felt the ground suddenly move. The floor paved with pebbles slowly opened to reveal an underground passage.

“Follow Huang Yan.” Chu Li once again instructed Mu Yunjin, his brows tightly knit.

Mu Yunjin responded with a sound, walked to Chu Li’s side, and reached out to tap his forehead with her finger. “I’m just going for fun. Why do you look so worried?”

“I’m reluctant to part with you.” Chu Li smiled at her softly.

“Hmph, who would believe you? I’m off!” Mu Yunjin naturally believed Chu Li’s words, but in this atmosphere, she could only bring up lighthearted topics.

With that, she gave Huang Yan a look. “Lead the way!”

Huang Yan immediately nodded and walked down into the underground passage. Mu Yunjin didn’t look at Chu Li again—the more she looked, the more reluctant she would be to leave. Lowering her eyes, she followed Huang Yan into the underground passage.

After their figures disappeared, Chu Li’s previously smiling eyes filled with heavy, gloomy clouds.

……

Inside the underground passage.

Mu Yunjin descended the last step, stood on level ground, and looked at the pitch-black, seemingly endless path ahead. She turned to Huang Yan. “Where does this secret passage lead to?”

“Shuiyun Temple.” Huang Yan had already lit the prepared torch in the secret passage.

“Shuiyun Temple?” Mu Yunjin thought she had misheard.

Huang Yan held up the torch and walked a few steps forward. “Shuiyun Temple has four secret passages. Didn’t the young master tell you?”

Four secret passages…

Mu Yunjin thought for a moment and recalled the book pavilion at Anxin Hall.

“I only know of two: one leading to the waterfall on the outskirts, and one from the rockery behind Shuiyun Temple leading to Anxin Hall. I don’t know the other two.” Mu Yunjin walked behind Huang Yan with her hands behind her back.

“There’s one from Prince Ning’s mansion to Shuiyun Temple, and one from Shuiyun Temple to outside the city.” Huang Yan explained to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin understood in her heart.

“Walking is too slow and tiring. Let’s use our lightness skill.” Huang Yan spoke up.

“Good.” Mu Yunjin agreed.

After reaching an agreement, they used their lightness skill, quickly flying toward the dark depths ahead.

Soon, their figures appeared in the dilapidated book pavilion of Anxin Hall.

“Master, you’ve arrived.” Mu Yunjin had activated the Phoenix Feather Pavilion’s spirit signal halfway, and Qiqi and the others were already waiting in the book pavilion.

Mu Yunjin looked to the side at Qiqi, Xiumei, and the lion spirit Lei Yan and snake spirit Hua Ying, whom she had met before.

“Sorry to trouble you all to come with me again.” Mu Yunjin smiled at them.

“It’s no trouble at all. Master, you don’t know how bored we are staying in the pavilion all day. Many subordinates in the pavilion heard we were going out with you and begged me to take them along.” Qiqi grinned.

Since entering the book pavilion, Huang Yan’s gaze had not left Hua Ying. He had heard that when he fought with Rong Min, it was this snake woman who had poisoned Rong Min, forcing him to provide the antidote. Otherwise, he might have perished long ago.

Thinking of this, Huang Yan clasped his hands and bowed to Hua Ying. “Thank you, miss, for your righteous help last time. Huang is deeply grateful.”

“You’re welcome.” Hua Ying glanced at Huang Yan coldly, then looked away.

Huang Yan felt quite hurt by Hua Ying’s cold attitude.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s set off.” Mu Yunjin looked at Huang Yan, noticed his gaze constantly drifting toward Hua Ying, and frowned as she tapped his arm.

Huang Yan came to his senses, lowered his head to look at the floor, and noticed the floorboard Hua Ying was standing on. His heart lifted as he looked at Hua Ying. “Excuse me, miss, could you step aside?”

Hua Ying moved two steps to the side without saying a word.

Huang Yan felt hurt again. This snake woman was so cold, not friendly at all, though she was quite beautiful.

After lamenting, Huang Yan bent down to open the wooden board on the floor. “You go down first.”

Mu Yunjin nodded and walked down into the secret passage. Qiqi and the others lined up behind Mu Yunjin. After the last person went down, Huang Yan also descended and closed the entrance.

“How far are we from the exit?” After descending the stairs, Mu Yunjin asked Huang Yan.

“Shuiyun Temple is already outside Diehua City. The exit isn’t far from here. The young master has arranged everything at the exit. Follow me.” After Huang Yan finished speaking, he tapped his toes and flew toward the direction of the exit.

Those behind all followed Huang Yan.

Along the way, Mu Yunjin felt her heart beating very fast. She didn’t know if this journey to Northern Ming would go smoothly.

……

Half an hour later, just as Mu Yunjin felt she could hardly catch her breath, Huang Yan stopped in front of her. “We’ve arrived.”

Mu Yunjin let out a long sigh and glanced to the side. The others seemed unaffected, their breathing steady, without any panting.

It seemed her skills were still lacking.

When Huang Yan led them out of the secret passage, Mu Yunjin was momentarily blinded by the bright light outside. After rubbing her eyes, she looked around.

It appeared to be an abandoned village.

“This is near Heyue City, but the young master has given me a new route. We won’t be passing through Heyue City.” As Huang Yan spoke, he entered an abandoned house.

Soon, Huang Yan came out again, carrying a bundle in his hands, which he handed to Hua Ying. “Your appearances are unusual. It’s better to disguise yourselves.”

Hua Ying took the bundle and opened it. Inside were several black cloaks and some hats. Hua Ying took one for herself and passed the bundle to Qiqi.

After the four of them were disguised and stood together, Mu Yunjin gave Huang Yan a strange look. “Are you sure they don’t look strange like this?”

All four were wrapped in large black cloaks, wearing bamboo hats with black gauze flowing down from the brim, covering their faces. They looked like assassins no matter how you looked at them.

“It’s fine. It’s getting dark. No one will see.” Huang Yan pointed to the sky, then, without further words, led everyone to an open space ahead.

In the open space, six black horses were lowering their heads to graze.

After each person selected a horse, Huang Yan’s expression became unusually serious. “This journey is of great importance. You must stay close to me. If we move quickly enough, we can reach Northern Ming by tomorrow evening.”

“Mm.” Everyone responded in unison.

Huang Yan lifted his lips in satisfaction. It was truly rare to meet people who listened to him so well. Usually, those around the young master never took him seriously.

……

Riding on horseback, Mu Yunjin discovered that Huang Yan was taking mostly remote, small paths. Along the way, there were few signs of human habitation, only the sound of hoofbeats and the rustling of leaves.

After an unknown amount of time, the sky had completely darkened. Huang Yan, leading the way, held a torch to light the path. Mu Yunjin, following behind, yawned drowsily.

Riding for so long was also tiring.

As her eyes inadvertently glanced to the side, Mu Yunjin’s body suddenly stiffened. Her lips twitched as her exploratory gaze surveyed the people beside her.

Qiqi had revealed her cat nature. She was now lying flat on the horse’s back, her hands cushioning her chin, eyes closed, sleeping sweetly with a pair of sharp cat teeth exposed.

Xiumei was lying on the horse’s back, her gaze fixed on the night sky, appearing full of thoughts.

Lei Yan, being a lion spirit with a body structure similar to a horse, didn’t like riding. He was now standing on the horse’s back, hands on his hips, overlooking the road ahead.

Looking at Hua Ying, her entire body was like a nimble water snake, lying horizontally across the horse’s back, her waist curved around the horse’s back, head and feet hanging down.

After looking at these people, Mu Yunjin could only marvel inwardly at how they enjoyed themselves. If she were to sleep in a posture like Hua Ying’s on horseback, she’d probably vomit bile.

Those black horses seemed to have been trained, closely following Huang Yan in front.

“Huang Yan, do you want to stop and rest for a while?” Mu Yunjin saw him spurring his horse forward, constantly holding the torch, and figured he must be tired as well.

Huang Yan heard Mu Yunjin behind him and wanted to turn back to look at her. At the moment he turned, his gaze happened to catch the horizontally lying Hua Ying, and his eyes widened in surprise.

“What’s going on here?”