It was only then that Feng Jin snapped back to his senses, turning his attention away from the direction the venomous creatures had come from.

“Pursue them! Don’t let them get away!”

Hearing the order, the guards present also quickly gathered their wits, readied their gear, and those who could find their horses mounted up to give chase.

The injured brothers had all been taken away by Zhao Yusheng, and those who remained didn’t move with too much urgency. Zhan Qingcheng and Feng Jiu’er still rode together on the same horse, with Qiao Mu and the remaining dozen or so brothers flanking them on either side, ready for battle at any moment.

Just as Feng Jin was about to give chase, Feng Jiang blocked his way.

“Eldest imperial brother, let Jiu’er go.”

“Third brother, have you lost your mind!” Feng Jin spat out the words and charged forward, spear in hand.

“No!” Feng Jiang refused to give him any opening to pass. “Jiu’er and the others must leave today!”

With a clang, Feng Jiang’s sword clashed against Feng Jin’s spear. The two of them leapt up together, facing off standing on their horses’ backs.

The guards giving chase were knocked from their horses one by one by Qiao Mu and the brothers. The group’s pace of retreat steadily quickened.

Had it not been for the certainty that the man behind her would never agree to leave ahead of the others, Feng Jiu’er would have urged him to go on alone long ago. Everyone else, even Long Yi and Long Shiyi, might listen to her—but getting her ninth imperial uncle to obey was never an easy task. So even with Jian Yi and Mu Mu’s fates still uncertain behind her, Feng Jiu’er couldn’t bring herself to keep waiting.

After Feng Jiang and Feng Jin had fought for a while, the two of them returned once more to their horses’ backs. Feng Jiang turned to look back at the venomous creatures closing in, and at the group approaching from the other side, his eyes filled with anxiety.

“Eldest imperial brother, if you don’t want our soldiers harmed by the poison, have them retreat!”

“Today, I will protect Jiu’er no matter what. You still have time to decide—otherwise, what we lose won’t be as simple as a few horses.”

Feng Jin looked back, clenching his fists tightly.

“Third brother, you really have lost your mind. Pull those creatures back! Now!”

For a man who had led troops into battle for years, his soldiers were like his own brothers—Feng Jin’s anxiety was plain to see.

Feng Jiang was gambling too—gambling that his eldest brother wouldn’t bear to sacrifice the Feng Clan’s soldiers needlessly.

When Feng Jin turned his gaze back, he met Feng Jiang’s stubborn eyes, his expression turning icy cold. Having grown up alongside him, Feng Jin knew exactly what kind of person Feng Jiang was. He raised his broad palm and swung it hard toward Feng Jiang’s face.

Even from some distance away, Feng Jiang made no move to dodge and still took the full force of Feng Jin’s palm strike. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he watched Feng Jin wheel his horse around and ride off in another direction, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.

“Jiu’er, Jian Yi and Mu Mu have caught up with us, but there’s no sign of Feng Jiang,” Qiao Mu reported, riding up beside Feng Jiu’er.

“He won’t be coming with us. Let it be—tell everyone to pick up the pace,” Feng Jiu’er said, her eyes full of regret, though she had no choice but to accept this reality.

She could only hope that the next time she returned to the Feng Clan, she would still get to see the man she once called third imperial brother, alive and well, walking toward her with a smile on his face.

Qiao Mu felt a similar pang of melancholy, but quickly composed herself.

“Understood.” She nodded, then turned to look at the brothers behind her. “Jiu’er’s orders—pick up the pace, no more waiting.”

Leading the brothers away, Zhao Yusheng searched as they went for the markers Tuoba Keyan had left behind, their retreat not particularly fast.

Less than a quarter hour later, those chasing from behind caught up as well. The brothers exchanged glances, their expressions lifting with a touch of relief.

No one said much of anything; they simply continued forward. With the pursuers behind them not yet dealt with, there was no room for letting their guard down.

To avoid Feng Qiongcang’s spies, Tuoba Keyan’s ship never stayed in one fixed location, so even Zhao Yusheng didn’t have an exact position for it.

As they neared Black Pool, the group entered a forest, and before long found themselves moving through a mountain ravine once more.

“Jiu’er, just two more ridges and we’ll reach Black Pool. Brothers, hold on a little longer—once we’re on the ship, there’ll be good food and drink waiting.”

Zhao Yusheng’s words lifted the brothers’ spirits even further. After such a long, grueling journey, they could finally see hope ahead.

Turning to glance up at her man, Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly and looked away again. Zhan Qingcheng returned the girl in his arms a smile and, holding the reins, continued onward.

As they crossed the first ridge, Feng Jiu’er pressed her legs against the horse, urging it to quicken its pace.

At a bend in the path, two horses came walking slowly into view. Seeing the figure she had missed for over two days, Feng Jiu’er was overcome with excitement.

“Father.”

Feng Jiu’er’s voice rang out clearer than the occasional song of a lark echoing through the ravine. Her joy seemed to spread to everyone present.

Zhan Qingcheng wrapped one arm around her while holding the reins tight with the other, urging the horse to move even faster. Just as they were about to reach Feng Li, Feng Jiu’er leapt from Zhan Qingcheng’s arms, soaring through the air to land before Feng Li’s horse.

Feng Li smiled, swung his legs over, and dismounted.

“Father.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and rushed forward, throwing her arms around Feng Li. “Father, do you know how worried I’ve been these past two days!”

“So worried, so very worried, and I had no one to talk to about it—it was unbearable.”

These weren’t just words spoken for effect; sending them ahead had been a necessity, not a choice.

“Thank goodness you’re alright.” Feng Jiu’er’s brows drooped as she looked up at him. “Thank goodness that lady is fond of you, Father, or else—”

With Hanying’s skill, even Aunt Xue and Long Shiyi together might not have been a match for her.

Thank heavens! Heaven be praised! She was so grateful to the heavens above! Feng Jiu’er didn’t even know what else to say—she was simply overjoyed, and finally able to set down the heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart.

“What lady?” Feng Li asked gently, gently embracing the girl in his arms, his eyes meeting hers.

“Never mind!” Feng Jiu’er shook her head, smiling faintly. “As long as you’re alright, Father, that’s all that matters.”

Pulling back from Feng Li’s embrace, Feng Jiu’er supported his arm and helped him back onto his horse.

“Let’s go—they’ll catch up to us soon.”

She turned her gaze and looked at Aunt Xue. “Aunt Xue, where’s Long Shiyi?”

“He went ahead to scout the path,” Aunt Xue replied quietly, her expression as cold and detached as ever, betraying no extra emotion.

Feng Jiu’er nodded and didn’t linger any longer, turning to walk back to Zhan Qingcheng. She took his hand, and with a single leap, returned to his arms.

“Let’s go—we’ll talk more once we’re on the ship!” Feng Jiu’er’s bright voice echoed through the ravine.

“Yes,” the brothers responded, their voices noticeably more spirited than before.

The group pressed onward, moving with a hint of urgency. But just as they entered the next ravine, Jian Yi, who was leading at the front of the group, suddenly came to a halt. In an instant, everyone stopped.

Sensing a strange presence sweeping in from directly behind them, Feng Jiu’er wheeled her horse around to face all the brothers.

“Zhao Yusheng, take the brothers and go—now!”