“I said I don’t want it.” Xiao Yingtao pouted. “Jiu’er said everyone has to eat one every day — I already have my own.”

She glanced at the large peach in Xing Zizhou’s hand, then looked away.

Xing Zizhou smiled faintly, reached out, and took the half-eaten fruit from Xiao Yingtao’s hand, pressing his own peach into her grasp instead.

Before Xiao Yingtao had the chance to refuse, Xing Zizhou raised the half-eaten fruit to his lips and took a bite.

He smiled faintly and said, “I like pears.”

Xiao Yingtao blinked her big round eyes at him, unable to react for a moment.

But Xing Zizhou kept on eating — one bite, two bites, three — finishing off the pear she had already taken bites from.

“Eat up.” He glanced at the large peach in her hand, then his gaze returned to her face.

Xiao Yingtao looked down at the peach in her hand and pressed her lips together.

“There they go, flaunting their affection again.” Qiao Mu shook her head and looked away.

Xiao Yingtao glanced sideways at Qiao Mu, then turned back to look at Xing Zizhou again.

In the end, she couldn’t help herself and took a bite of the peach.

“Xing Zizhou, where did you find such a big peach? Our ship ran out of peaches ages ago.”

She looked down at the peach again and took another satisfied bite.

“One of the brothers saved it for me. I don’t like peaches.” Seeing how happily Xiao Yingtao ate, Xing Zizhou couldn’t hide the delight on his face.

Qiao Mu’s brow furrowed slightly; she glanced back at them, then looked away again.

Xiao Yingtao knew perfectly well that Xing Zizhou had saved the peach for her — everyone knew she loved peaches, and there was no way Xing Zizhou didn’t know it too.

She gave Xing Zizhou a faint smile, then turned and gently patted Qiao Mu’s shoulder.

“Qiao Mu, don’t worry, we’ll reach the Feng Clan soon — you’ll get to see him before long.”

As Qiao Mu turned to look, Xing Zizhou stood up. “You two take your time talking, I still have a lot to attend to.”

“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao looked up at him and waved her hand. “Go on then, be careful!”

“Alright.” Xing Zizhou left behind a pleased smile and turned to walk away.

Xiao Yingtao looked back at Qiao Mu, the corners of her mouth still curved in a smile.

“Don’t be so anxious, you’ll see him soon.”

Qiao Mu met Xiao Yingtao’s gaze, her eyes flickering slightly. “Who? Why would I be anxious about anything?”

Xiao Yingtao drew her knees up, looking at Qiao Mu, and blinked.

“You know who — if you miss him, just say so. There’s no need to be shy about it.”

“Who? Don’t talk nonsense!” Qiao Mu shot Xiao Yingtao a look.

“The one you think about every single night — don’t think I don’t know.” Xiao Yingtao went on in a low voice.

“Who would I be thinking about? Xiao Yingtao, don’t—”

“Jiu’er, of course.” Xiao Yingtao cut Qiao Mu off, blinking her eyes innocently.

Qiao Mu’s anger eased somewhat the moment she was interrupted.

Her brow relaxed, as though she’d let out a breath of relief.

The corners of Xiao Yingtao’s mouth curled up high, her eyes nearly disappearing as she grinned.

“Hahaha… Qiao Mu, why are you so tense? Did you think I meant him — that person? Hahaha…”

“That’s your secret — that you like the Third Prince of the Feng Clan. I won’t tell anyone else, don’t worry. Hahaha…”

The frown Qiao Mu had just smoothed away knit back together at once.

She glanced around, and when her gaze returned to Xiao Yingtao, it carried a murderous edge.

Xiao Yingtao’s voice just now had been far too loud — nothing at all like someone trying to keep a secret.

Flustered, Qiao Mu reached out and snatched the peach from Xiao Yingtao’s hand, biting off nearly half of it in one go.

“Qiao Mu, why are you eating my peach?” Xiao Yingtao lunged forward in a panic, trying to get her peach back.

Qiao Mu turned to the side, keeping Xiao Yingtao at bay behind her.

In just a few bites she devoured most of the peach, then stood up and walked toward the bow.

“Qiao Mu, give my peach back, that’s the peach Xing Zizhou saved for me, Qiao Mu!” Xiao Yingtao stood up and chased after her.

Not far off, Xing Zizhou, who was talking with the other brothers, heard Xiao Yingtao’s words and glanced back.

He smiled faintly, turned back, and continued his conversation with the brothers.

Xiao Yingtao wasn’t as tall as Qiao Mu, so even after catching up to her, she still couldn’t reach her own peach.

And by the time she reached the bow, Qiao Mu had already gnawed the peach down to almost nothing.

In the end, Xiao Yingtao could only watch helplessly as Qiao Mu tossed the peach pit into the Black Lake.

Xiao Yingtao reached out a hand, staring at the Black Lake, lips trembling in a pout. “Waah… my peach.”

“Qiao Mu, you owe me a peach, you owe me a peach!”

After this little scuffle between Xiao Yingtao and Qiao Mu, the mood aboard the ship grew even livelier.

After noon passed, those who needed rest went to rest.

The weather was clear, and all around was very quiet.

But unexpectedly, sometime after three in the afternoon, the sky began to darken once more.

Sensing something was wrong, the brothers hurried in at once to tell Zhao Yusheng.

As Zhao Yusheng went out, Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao also hurried out from another cabin.

“Zhao Yusheng, what’s the situation?” Xiao Yingtao asked anxiously, looking at him.

“Unknown.” Zhao Yusheng left behind just that one word and followed the brother off.

Xiao Yingtao turned back to look at Qiao Mu, her expression a little flustered.

Qiao Mu patted her on the shoulder, comforting her. “Don’t worry, you can do this.”

Xiao Yingtao nodded gravely, then turned and followed after the others ahead.

Before long, the once-quiet deck filled with brothers gathering once more.

“Zhao Yusheng, we’re not far now from the landmark Jiu’er specified — at our current speed, it should be a little over two hours.”

Xing Zizhou glanced into the distance, then turned back to Zhao Yusheng. “Look at the sky — does something seem off to you?”

Zhao Yusheng held his compass, gazing at the distant sky.

Everyone’s eyes were either fixed on him or on the sky; all stayed silent, no one daring to disturb him.

Zhao Yusheng calculated for a good while, then let out a soft sigh.

“Well?” Xiao Yingtao asked at once, seeing him sigh.

“Something is wrong.” Zhao Yusheng replied softly. “This formation is even more dangerous than the Linked Formation, and more importantly, for now I have no way to break it.”

The moment Zhao Yusheng spoke, Xiao Yingtao’s brow knit tightly. “Then what are we supposed to do?”

Zhao Yusheng said nothing. Xing Zizhou walked over and took Xiao Yingtao’s hand, saying nothing either.

Everyone watched the few people standing at the front and center; as they stayed silent, the brothers didn’t say a word either.

Qiao Mu turned to look at the sky, took a deep breath, and said evenly, “If there’s truly no way through, then let’s halt the voyage.”

“Halt the voyage?” Xiao Yingtao pulled her hand free from Xing Zizhou’s grasp and stepped toward Qiao Mu.

“Halt the voyage — how could we do that? Jiu’er and the others might be waiting for us on the other side.”

“Qiao Mu, we’re not far from the Feng Clan now. What if Feng Qiongcang finds out we’ve been held back, and brings people out to deal with Jiu’er?”

“Besides, if we keep stalling here, the food on the ships won’t last either. Either we press forward, or we turn back.”