After Miss Hong and the others withdrew to camp, she was well aware that though their side had gained a slight advantage in this first encounter, since Yu Konghou and Gui Mudan had discovered her siege strategy, they would certainly have countermeasures. It would inevitably be much more difficult to infiltrate the enemy camp and kill people in the next attempt and the one after that.

“He… has there been any movement?” Miss Hong quickly entered the camp tent of Biluo Palace, asking in a low voice.

Meeting her was the maid Zi Yun, who whispered, “A flock of pigeons just flew in from outside the mountains.”

“Pigeons?” Miss Hong’s brow furrowed slightly.

“A flock landed in the forests around here,” Zi Yun said quietly. “I saw some land in our camp, and some flew to the other side of the mountain.”

The other side of the mountain—that was the direction of Piaoli Mei Garden.

Someone had sent messages by pigeon, not only to Yu Konghou but also to Gui Mudan?

Miss Hong was quite surprised—whose handiwork was this?

Or perhaps these were just wild pigeons, unrelated to Yu Konghou?

After all, there weren’t many people in the world who believed Yu Konghou and Gui Mudan were in cahoots, much less possessed carrier pigeons capable of sending messages to both—unless the message sender’s pigeons were originally raised at Piaoli Mei Garden.

This was an unexpected yet expected variable.

Miss Hong looked north, hoping this variable wasn’t… him.

The tent curtain stirred, and Bi Lianyi and Cheng Yunpao both entered. Yu Konghou wore a powder-purple dress today, followed by Zhang Hemo, Qi Xing, Zheng Yue, and others, who also entered the tent. Yu Konghou smiled at Miss Hong, “Today’s first battle was victorious. Miss Hong’s brilliant strategy was indispensable. I wonder, what does the young lady plan to do next?”

Both Bi Lianyi and Cheng Yunpao raised their guard to the highest level, not knowing what Yu Konghou truly intended. Tang Lici had pushed Miss Hong into the game, breaking Yu Konghou’s calculations. Yu Konghou must have a backup plan.

Miss Hong slightly raised her eyelashes, looking at Yu Konghou with an expression between sorrow and not-sorrow. If Snow Fairy had seen this glance, she could have composed a poem. Yu Konghou’s almond-shaped eyes gazed at Miss Hong. He had changed his face to resemble Xue Tao’s appearance, and those eyes were no less beautiful than Miss Hong’s. As these two pairs of beautiful eyes met, no one knew what each was thinking in their hearts.

“Today’s sneak attack succeeded, so Gui Mudan will certainly be prepared,” Miss Hong said calmly. “Tomorrow the poisonous smoke and fire will continue. Miss Tao…” She suddenly called Yu Konghou by name, staring into his eyes, “You didn’t fight today. Tomorrow Miss Tao will lead the team to dig holes at these locations.”

She walked to a crude wooden table set up in the tent. On the table lay a sketch drawn on white thick cotton cloth with charcoal, executed with exquisite and delicate technique, depicting the entire mountain forest where Piaoli Mei Garden was located in great detail. Miss Hong circled several points beside a pond and said to Yu Konghou, “There’s an underground river here. I want to open waterways and channel water to flood the underground palace of Piaoli Mei Garden.”

Yu Konghou was startled. This plan was no less vicious than the siege, and once the waterway was opened, flooding would have immediate effect, much faster than the siege strategy. Naturally, this waterway couldn’t be opened. Miss Hong was actually entrusting such an important task to him—was this plan a trap, or was she certain he wouldn’t dare act rashly and expose his identity?

Miss Hong remained composed, saying quietly, “The hole-digging must be done secretly. Miss Tao’s martial arts are superb. Little Hong humbly requests your assistance.”

Yu Konghou agreed, unable to fathom her intentions for the moment. Zhang Hemo, Qi Xing, Zheng Yue, and others behind him became excited, all thinking this plan was excellent. If the flood could drown most of the villains in the Romantic House, wouldn’t that be acting on Heaven’s behalf, ridding the world of many scourges?

After Yu Konghou left, Bi Lianyi frowned slightly, and Cheng Yunpao directly asked, “You never mentioned this flooding plan before. Entrusting ‘him’ with it—what if he leaks information…”

Miss Hong shook her head, saying quietly, “The lake is too far from Piaoli Mei Garden. Digging holes won’t be easy…” She looked thoughtful. “This map was hand-drawn by Young Master Tang. According to what’s recorded on it, the lake is far away in the mountain valley, and the water surface is still lower than Piaoli Mei Garden’s underground palace. The water channeling is merely a diversion tactic.”

“If it’s a diversion,” Cheng Yunpao said coldly, “he’ll know immediately upon reaching the lake. What will you do then?”

“So someone is waiting for him by the lake,” Miss Hong said calmly. “After all, evil demons and heretics don’t need any reason to kill righteous people.”

Cheng Yunpao was startled. He didn’t even know what person Miss Hong had arranged to wait for Yu Konghou.

What kind of “evil demon and heretic” could actually ambush Miss Tao of the Central Plains Sword Society?

The sky was vast and the forest broad, mountain mist drifted ethereally, and another flock of pigeons gracefully arrived, landing in the forest.

Liu Yan drove the carriage, which swayed and jolted as it traveled through Funiu Mountain.

Behind his carriage was another carriage. Both carriages had torn and tattered canopies, in terrible condition, with bloodstains in many places. The horses pulling the carriages also walked unsteadily, as if they might collapse at any moment.

They had finally entered Funiu Mountain. Along the way, they had been attacked countless times, but relying on Tang Lici’s supernatural methods, the group had managed to survive all dangers with their lives intact.

This was related to the fact that most of their attackers were from the righteous Central Plains sects.

After all, they came to eliminate demons and uphold justice. Facing children and women, they couldn’t bring themselves to kill mercilessly.

Though Tang Lici was certainly utterly evil, what did the children and women beside him have to do with it? It was just that this demon was too cunning, actually using a group of old, weak, sick, disabled, children, and women as shields, causing the attackers to have many concerns and ultimately allowing him to escape repeatedly.

In this wind and rain, Liu Yan drove the carriage deep into Funiu Mountain.

He wore no bamboo hat or veil—those had been damaged in previous fights. No matter how much gold, silver, and jewels Tang Lici possessed, they were useless in these desolate mountains, leaving their carriages in terrible condition. Though they weren’t exactly disheveled, they looked quite wretched.

In the past, Tang Lici couldn’t have endured this.

He would have had to display his supernatural abilities, troubling others or himself, presenting a complete set of luxurious clothes, fine food, and magnificent splendor, like the soft fur of a white fox spirit—though unnecessary, it was the fox spirit’s dignity.

But throughout this journey, he had said nothing.

Ever since A’Shui had said “Binding grass and holding rings, going through fire and water, sparing no effort… is that enough?” he hadn’t spoken much. Liu Yan once suspected he had fallen into that night’s nightmare again and couldn’t wake up, still in self-loathing and despair, but Tang Lici’s gaze was different.

He seemed truly entranced, yet also seemed not to be.

After that day, A’Shui fell seriously ill. Liu Yan moved her into his own carriage, and Yu Tuan’er cared for her for over ten days before she gradually recovered. However, after recovering from the serious illness, her naturally soul-stirring grace seemed to have faded considerably, something even Yu Tuan’er could see.

A’Shui was no longer so beautiful.

Scattered and fallen, ground to dust in mud.

In this life, neither fragrant nor meaningful.

A handful of barren earth watching yellow butterflies.

Flowers not yet fully bloomed, dreams not yet bitter.