Xuegu and Qiao Mu exchanged a glance. Turning back — neither of them was willing.
Yet neither had they anticipated this: that they would end up facing a situation of such danger.
If they had traveled by way of the Southern Wilderness, given the capabilities of everyone in their group, they would surely have been able to make it through, as long as they had enough time.
But now — did they truly have to turn back?
Xuegu’s gaze drifted instinctively toward Jiuqing.
Among those present, it was perhaps only Jiuqing who could keep Feng Jiu’er in check.
“If we turn back, we will inevitably pass through Zhao Family Stronghold. What will happen when our brothers come face to face with the brothers of Zhao Family Stronghold — that, no one can say.”
Mu Mu looked at Feng Jiu’er. He, too, was naturally unwilling to turn back.
“When we came, it was the Young Master who led the way. If on the return journey the Young Master is taken back by the Zhao Family Stronghold’s people and cannot help us, that path through the Stone Forest is one we may not be able to pass.”
Everyone glanced at Zhao Yusheng. Zhao Yusheng said glumly, “I slipped out without permission. What will happen when I go back — even I cannot say.”
“And moreover, Feng Jiu’er — we are only two days’ journey by water from what lies ahead.”
Qiao Mu was reluctant to accept it. They had come so far already.
“If we endure these two days, we can reach the Feng Clan. Feng Jiu’er, do you truly not want to at least try?”
Feng Jiu’er did not speak. Of course she wanted to try — who would want to turn back now?
And yet it was for her sake alone, while the ones who would suffer the consequences were all her brothers. How could she bear that?
“You speak now of giving up — but have you considered whether the brothers agree?”
The moment Jiuqing spoke, everyone present seemed to fall quiet of their own accord, as though all were awaiting his word.
Xuegu could not help but let out a quiet sigh. The Ninth Prince truly was remarkable — even with his identity changed, his bearing remained this commanding.
Feng Jiu’er looked at him. She was still willing to listen to her Ninth Imperial Uncle.
“But right now…”
“Since what you are concerned about is dragging everyone down, then whether to go or not should be put to everyone. Ask for their opinion.”
Jiuqing looked at Qiao Mu. Qiao Mu startled, then immediately understood.
She sprang to her feet, filled with excitement. “Yes! I will go right now and get things ready for a vote!”
She hurried out the door to prepare.
But just as she stepped outside, she found herself suddenly struck by an inexplicable feeling.
Why was it that… listening to Jiuqing’s words felt exactly like receiving a command?
And even receiving such a command — having him entrust this matter to her — made her feel… honored?
How could she possibly be having such a thought?
“Jiuqing’s suggestion is an excellent one!” Xuegu finally caught up, reacting only now, and immediately smiled. “Then let us leave the decision to the brothers.”
This way, whatever the brothers chose, the final outcome would not be something Feng Jiu’er had decided alone.
There would be no question of selfishness, or of dragging others down with her.
And so, not long after, Qiao Mu had gathered everyone together on the deck.
All but those who were needed at their posts were assembled there.
“Right now, I need everyone to make a decision — do we continue forward, or do we return the way we came?”
“Return the way we came?” Long Eleven, standing among the crowd, looked entirely stunned. He blurted out, “Does this mean we are not going to the Feng Clan anymore?”
Not going to the Feng Clan — then what was the point of everyone being out here?
The crowd burst into animated murmuring at once. To them, this news was nothing short of explosive.
Feng Jiu’er stepped forward and looked at everyone, her expression grave. “Ahead, there is another extraordinarily powerful formation waiting for us.”
The brothers immediately fell silent, listening attentively as she went on.
“This formation,” Feng Jiu’er continued, “is called the Black Dragon Weeping Phoenix Formation. Even our Young Master here has never encountered it before.”
“So he may well not be able to break through it — and the consequence of failing to break through is that everyone perishes together at the bottom of the Black Abyss.”
No one spoke. Perishing at the bottom of the Black Abyss — something so terrifying, no one wanted any part of it.
And yet they had already come this far. To speak of turning back now, when they had already arrived here — that was something they were unwilling to accept as well.
Qiao Mu glanced at Feng Jiu’er, then addressed the crowd again. “So right now, everyone needs to vote anonymously. I will hand each person a slip of white paper. If you are willing to continue forward, write the numeral one.”
“If you wish to turn back right now, write the numeral two. Rest assured — the vote is fully anonymous. Whatever you choose, no one will know.”
The anonymous vote was Feng Jiu’er’s own suggestion. After all, the Ninth Imperial Uncle was here — and some of the people from the Ninth Prince’s manor certainly recognized him. Even those who did not would not dare, with General Mu present, to show any sign of shrinking away in front of him.
But with anonymity, everyone could truly write what was in their hearts.
No need to consider anyone else, no need to make a decision that went against their own wishes — simply choose what they genuinely wanted.
Qiao Mu distributed slips of paper to everyone, along with a few writing brushes, letting them find their own spots to write.
Afterward, she took a cloth sack and went around collecting the slips.
With both Mu Mu and Jiuqing present, Qiao Mu brought the slips back and began reading them aloud alongside Long Yi.
“One.”
Each time a slip was unfolded, Yanu made a tally mark with his brush, recording each result one by one.
“One.” Qiao Mu continued. “One, one, one…”
Feng Jiu’er could not help looking over at everyone. Zhao Yusheng also watched the brothers, and with each “one” Qiao Mu continued to call out, something in every heart grew a little more tender.
“One, one, one.” Qiao Mu read three more, then drew out another. “This is the last one.”
The last slip was finally unfolded.
Seeing her let out a breath of relief, everyone knew what this final slip had revealed.
“One!”
Yanu drew the last stroke of his tally mark. Aside from the helmsman and the brothers keeping watch around the ship’s perimeter, all ninety-some people assembled here had chosen “one” — every single one of them voting to press on and break through the Black Dragon Weeping Phoenix Formation!
“Miss Feng, we know you fear dragging us down with you.”
From within the crowd, one of the brothers from the Tianjitang stepped forward.
He looked at Feng Jiu’er and spoke in a clear, carrying voice. “Before we set out, Miss told each and every one of us that this journey would be fraught with danger. It is not as though we had not considered the consequences.”
“Yet we all knew — it was because Miss thought highly of us that she brought us along on this road.”
Another brother stepped out as well — also one of the Tianjitang men.
“Miss, the days we have spent following you have not been long. But were it not for Miss, were it not for the Tianjitang, we would not know where we might be now, still living days without enough to eat or clothes enough to stay warm.”
“That is right! It was Miss who did not disdain our origins, who gave us a good livelihood, and let us live good lives.”
“Yes!” One after another the brothers stepped forward, their expressions resolute and sincere. “Now that Miss is in difficulty, how could we simply walk away?”
“If we left now, would we still be worthy of calling ourselves human?”
“We want Miss to be safe. We want the Tianjitang to grow strong. We will stay by Miss’s side, and press on — forward together!”
“Stay by Miss’s side — forward together!”
“Forward together!”
Even the brothers from the Ninth Prince’s manor raised their voices together. “We will not turn back. We will stay by Miss’s side and press on — forward together!”