“Did I disturb you?” Feng Jiu’er turned her head to meet Mu Mu’s gaze and asked softly.

Mu Mu reached out a large hand and ruffled the top of her small, neat head.

“Go wash up — you’re dirty.”

Feng Jiu’er narrowed her eyes halfway and regarded this person who was finding fault with her.

Her gaze swept over his snow-white flowing hair, and she reached out to touch it.

“You’ve already washed?”

This fellow, sitting up so high on his perch — surely it wasn’t just to let his hair dry in the breeze? Though naturally, that wasn’t the only reason.

Mu Mu tossed his silver-white hair with a slight flourish and looked toward the stream not far off.

“Go on. I’ll keep watch here.”

Her gaze settled on the stream once more, and Feng Jiu’er stood up, stretching luxuriously.

Taking in the scene that looked like something out of a dream realm, the gloom in her heart lifted at once, and her mood brightened considerably.

And in Mu Mu’s line of sight, nothing was more beautiful than the little girl in front of him.

When she was happy, he could see sunlight.

“Alright then — could you help me…”

Both hands on the ties of her outer robe, she turned to glance back, and Feng Jiu’er’s crescent brows knitted together instinctively.

“Are you sure you won’t peek?”

“Depends on the situation.” Mu Mu looked at the small figure in the setting sun, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

“If he dares, I’ll cut him down with one sword stroke!” Qiaomu, who had woken up at some unknown point, was walking over from that direction.

“Qiaomu, join us?” Feng Jiu’er smiled at the approaching figure.

It wasn’t that Feng Jiu’er was truly worried Mu Mu might peek — this fellow just wasn’t that sort of person.

But then again, the sky hadn’t fully darkened yet, had it? In broad daylight — or close enough to it — undressing in the open was not exactly proper.

Her body had long since become unbearably grimy, and now that the thought of soaking in water had entered her mind, she couldn’t wait a single moment longer.

“Mm.” Qiaomu came to stand beside Mu Mu and looked at him with raised brows. “Mu Mu, you go keep watch from up there.”

“If you catch a glimpse of Jiu’er, I have no objections. But if you see my body, you’d better be prepared to marry me and spend your life with me. If you don’t think that’s a bad deal — look all you want.”

Having said she didn’t mind, Qiaomu turned away, lowered her head, and began untying the robe herself.

Before Feng Jiu’er could say a word, Mu Mu rose to his feet, and in the next instant was gone from their sight.

Feng Jiu’er and Qiaomu exchanged one glance, and their outer robes slipped from their shoulders at the same moment.

In a flash, the setting sun had vanished over the horizon.

From the stream came the intermittent sounds of two young women splashing and playing — a sound that brought a pleasant sense of ease and relaxation to all who heard it.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, shall we stay here for the night?” Feng Jiu’er emerged refreshed and full of energy after washing up.

“Rest here for the night. If no soldiers come upon us midway, we set out again first thing tomorrow.” Xue Gu’s voice rose from within the cave.

“The way things have been going, if we truly do encounter pursuers, we may not have the strength to shake them off.”

“I agree.” Qiaomu took a sip of sweet, clear mountain spring water and set down her water pouch without ceremony.

“Sooner or later, we’ll have to fight. Better to conserve our strength now.”

Qiaomu wasn’t addressing anyone in particular. After all, Jiu’er and Mu Mu both deferred to the Ninth Prince — she was simply expressing her opinion.

“There are mountains here, water, fish, and meat. I actually feel rather reluctant to leave.”

After this brief reflection, Qiaomu lay back down on the pile of dry grass she had arranged for herself.

Jian Yi, who never volunteered an opinion unless it was his turn to act, had filled his belly long ago and was already stretched out nearby, well into the land of dreams.

Whenever there was nothing requiring his attention, he could close his eyes and fall asleep at will.

Years of life as an assassin had long since made this manner of living second nature to him. That was precisely why Jian Yi always seemed to have more energy than anyone else.

Except for mealtimes, Feng Li had been resting throughout.

As soon as she entered the cave, Feng Jiu’er found a spot deeper inside, gathered some dry grass together, and made a proper sleeping place so her father could rest in comfort.

“Good. We rest here tonight and set out again tomorrow.” Zhan Qingcheng’s measured, composed voice came from within.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and rose to her feet. “I’ll keep watch outside, and come back in later to relieve someone.”

Not far away, Mu Mu — who had been sitting quietly with eyes closed — opened them.

Zhan Qingcheng swept a glance in his direction, and Mu Mu’s handsome, shapely brows drew together slightly before his eyes fell shut once more.

As Feng Jiu’er stepped toward the cave entrance, Zhan Qingcheng’s tall figure rose without a sound and followed her.

With him out there, the rest could rest easy.

Under the night sky, Feng Jiu’er surveyed the area around her, then used her lightness skill to scale a flat outcrop of rock in a few quick movements.

She glanced down at herself and sat down in faint disbelief.

Then — unexpectedly — that tall figure appeared in her field of vision.

He was looking up at her.

The soft, gentle moonlight fell upon Zhan Qingcheng’s extraordinary face, and Feng Jiu’er was instantly transfixed.

While she was still reluctant to look away, a light breeze swept toward her, carrying a familiar scent that wrapped all around her — and the man had already settled himself at her side.

Feng Jiu’er tilted her head up, looking at Zhan Qingcheng, still not quite having come back to her senses.

Zhan Qingcheng swept out a large hand, pulled the girl beside him close, and the two lay back together on the grass.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle.” The girl nestled in the man’s arms called out softly.

“Close your eyes.” Zhan Qingcheng said lightly.

Feng Jiu’er blinked several times, but in the end she lowered her eyelids.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I feel like my inner power is growing stronger by the day. If I could learn to control that current of energy and make it fully my own — would I be unrivaled under the heavens?”

Even Feng Jiu’er herself felt that in front of the Ninth Imperial Uncle, she might as well have been lacking in wit — even speaking came out tangled.

The man offered no response, so she shifted slightly, adjusting herself into a more comfortable position within his arms.

“Are you about to say that beyond the sky there are higher skies, and beyond each person there is always someone stronger? I know that, of course. Still — thinking about having a chance to defeat you someday… somehow, that feels rather wonderful.”

“Why must you necessarily defeat me?” Zhan Qingcheng’s voice, softer now, drifted down onto the top of Feng Jiu’er’s head.

Hearing a voice capable of making one’s heart flutter, breathing in the air permeated with his singular presence, Feng Jiu’er felt that the most wonderful thing in this world could not be more than this.

“That way, you won’t always be able to bully me.”

A faint flush spread across her small face. Feng Jiu’er turned on her side and wrapped both arms around Zhan Qingcheng’s arm, her cheek pressing against it without her even realising.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I’m going to rest now. You keep watch.”

Zhan Qingcheng turned onto his side, drew her close, and enveloped her small frame entirely within his embrace.

Bending slightly at the waist, he rested his chin against the top of her head, and then he closed his eyes.

“Sleep.”

The man’s voice came softly, like a mountain breeze — light and gentle.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er gave a small nod, the corners of her mouth curving into a blissful smile.

She loved his voice. She loved his scent. She loved the warmth of his arms. She loved the air that surrounded him. She loved his domineering ways…

Whatever was his — she loved it, loved it dearly, every last bit of it.

Her heart was beating fast, and Feng Jiu’er was almost reluctant to fall asleep. She only wanted to fully savour every beautiful thing about this moment.

Yet once her eyes had closed again, the tumult in her heart settled before long.

Cradled in the rhythm of the man’s strong, steady heartbeat, the girl in his arms gradually breathed into a slow, even slumber.

In the moonlight, two silhouettes lay entwined — the man powerful and imposing, the girl small and delicate, yet each equally transcendent in their beauty.

Wherever they were, even the greenest mountain, the clearest water, and the loveliest flower seemed to lose its colour by comparison.