Dawn broke as everyone finally located that cliff.

Atop the cliff, scattered broken arrows, shattered rock, and bloodstains spread in every direction — all bearing vivid testimony that a fierce battle had taken place here.

Xiao Yingtao searched without rest, and in the end collapsed at the cliff’s edge.

“Jiu’er.” She stared down into the ravine below, tears instantly blurring her eyes.

“What is it?” Qiao Mu came up behind her, face a picture of unmistakable dread.

“Jiu’er…” Xiao Yingtao choked, gazing down into the abyss, barely able to form the words. “Jiu’er, she…”

“She… she fell off the cliff. Yes, right here — she was struck down and fell. She…”

The moment Xiao Yingtao’s words left her mouth, Qiao Mu’s brow creased hard and she stepped back half a pace, nearly losing her footing.

Through the entire night, Di Wu Ya had not uttered a single sound. The cold that poured from his entire body threatened to freeze everything solid.

He too stood at the cliff’s edge. Apart from his black hair and the hem of his robe stirring in the wind, he was utterly still.

At Xiao Yingtao’s words, the others pressed closer to the edge, each face grimmer than the last.

Jian Yi moved to Xiao Yingtao’s side, crouched down, and looked into the ravine.

After half a night wandering through forest and mountain streams, his complexion had gone several shades pale.

The cliff was deep — the bottom invisible, the very sight of it making one shudder — yet he stood at its outermost edge without the faintest shadow of fear on his face.

Xiao Yingtao had fallen to the ground and wept without a sound, her gaze fixed into the chasm.

Qiao Mu stood rigid, her eyes also aimed toward the depths below.

Zhao Xiaoxiao huddled behind her elder brother, the corners of her eyes already wet.

Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan stood motionless at the cliff’s edge, their expressions heavy with grief.

Behind them all stood a great many more people.

Everything felt as though it had frozen — until Yu Jingfeng came rushing in like a gust of wind.

He came to stand behind Di Wu Ya and cupped his hands in salute.

“Your Highness, I have uncovered some leads. There were indeed a number of assassins who infiltrated Phoenix City, very likely agents of Emperor Qiwen.”

“The battle between Zhan Yuheng and Miss Jiu’er greatly enraged Emperor Qiwen. According to a report from our spy in the imperial capital, he said…”

Yu Jingfeng raised his eyes and exhaled sharply. Though he had only just arrived, he had learned enough about last night’s events along the way.

Given the present situation — could it be that Miss Jiu’er was… Yu Jingfeng could not even bring himself to finish the thought.

He cleared his throat lightly and continued: “According to the report from our spy in the imperial capital, Emperor Qiwen has personally declared that he is determined to eliminate Miss Jiu’er.”

The moment those words fell, Yu Jingfeng bent both knees and knelt.

“Your Highness, your subordinate rushed back the moment the spy’s message was received to make his report. I never imagined…”

Never imagined that Miss Jiu’er would still come to harm.

The kneeling Yu Jingfeng lifted his gaze toward that cold, desolate silhouette, and the newly rising sun just peeking over the horizon, and clenched his fist tight.

Today was supposed to have been His Highness’s day of great joy. And yet…

“Your Highness.” Yu Jingfeng cupped his hands again. “This subordinate has failed in his duty. I await Your Highness’s punishment!”

Yu Jingfeng knew that nothing short of Miss Jiu’er’s reappearance could restore His Highness’s spirit — but would Miss Jiu’er truly reappear?

Around them, a cold wind keened. After Yu Jingfeng’s voice faded, no one dared speak.

Suddenly, Jian Yi sprang lightly into the air and vanished over the cliff’s edge.

“Jian Yi!” Xiao Yingtao lurched forward in alarm, crawling two paces toward the edge.

“Xiao Yingtao.” Xing Zizhou caught her and pulled her into his arms.

“Jian Yi, Jiu’er…” Xiao Yingtao glanced once into the ravine, then turned and buried herself against Xing Zizhou, weeping openly. “Xing Zizhou, Jiu’er is gone, Jian Yi is gone — what am I supposed to do now?”

Xing Zizhou held her tightly, pressing her head against his chest, his own eyes glistening.

“Wu Ya.” Di Wu Ya stirred ever so slightly, and Zhan Liyue, standing behind the crowd, called out his name in a booming voice.

The moment the call left Zhan Liyue’s lips, she was already beside him.

“The hatred of a murdered father, the agony of a lost wife — and still you will not wake? The more you retreat, the more you only invite your enemies to grow bolder!”

Had Zhan Liyue not intervened, Di Wu Ya would already have followed Jian Yi over the cliff.

“She will not die.”

After a night of near silence, Di Wu Ya’s voice was rough — but more than that, it was laced with a sorrow that made the heart ache for him.

“This is not something you can dictate. This ravine is unfathomably deep. Such recklessness — how could you face your ancestors? How could you face your father and mother?”

Zhan Liyue was thoroughly disappointed. If she had not come, was this young man truly going to throw himself off?

Seeing Di Wu Ya’s dark brows draw together in a light furrow, Zhan Liyue’s low voice rang out again: “If Jiu’er did not die, she will come back. Why must you risk yourself?”

“What is more — if you do not first pacify the realm, how can you save her for a moment, let alone a lifetime?”

“Wu Ya.” Emperor Ji steered his wheelchair closer. “The matter of Jiu’er weighs heavily on my heart as well, but the facts are what they are. Taking your own life is not something you should do.”

“Emperor Qiwen’s anger has not yet cooled — this is your best opportunity to avenge Jiu’er.”

“As the Abbess said: if the realm is not at peace, how can you protect those you hold dear?”

Emperor Ji let out a quiet sigh and shook his head slightly. “That girl truly has had a bitter fate!”

Though Emperor Ji had played his part in driving Feng Jiu’er to this point, he did genuinely carry some measure of guilt toward her.

The fault did not lie with her. Had she not been singled out by Wu Ya, this woman might have lived an entirely different life.

Di Wu Ya said nothing, still staring unblinkingly down into the ravine. That pair of deep, penetrating eyes had long since lost their luster.

Tuoba Keyan let out a cold snort and turned to leave.

Xue Gu suddenly stepped forward, drawing several paces closer to Di Wu Ya.

“Your Imperial Highness, leave the search for Jiu’er to us. If she still lives, we will not give up. Go north with your army at ease.”

“I believe Jiu’er would not wish to see you acting rashly. If the one who had fallen into the ravine had been you instead, she certainly would not be foolish enough to follow you down.”

Xue Gu lowered her gaze to the depths below, then closed her eyes.

For Di Wu Ya to remain would bring Jiu’er nothing but harm. His departure was, in fact, the better outcome.

Poor, recklessly bold Jian Yi — Xue Gu could only hope he was still safe and had not squandered all of Jiu’er’s painstaking efforts.

“Your Highness.” Yu Jingfeng looked up at Di Wu Ya. “Dowager Consort Ning is still waiting. Please reconsider!”

Yu Jingfeng did not yet know that Zhan Liyue had already reconciled with Di Wu Ya the night before.

He only knew that aside from Miss Jiu’er, the person His Highness cared for most was Dowager Consort Ning. To keep His Highness from doing something foolish, he had no choice but to invoke her name.

Di Wu Ya still said nothing, standing without moving, like a sculpture planted in the cold wind — utterly cold and resolute, without a trace of warmth.

Zhan Liyue looked at him, her own voice growing ever more subdued: “Wu Ya, have you forgotten what your mother told you?”

“I have worn this mask I cannot remove for twenty years. Did I ever once think of giving up? You have hands and feet — and yet now you have apparently lost your mind?”

She let out a cold snort, swept her robe aside, and turned back.

“If you jump down there, I will surely follow!”