“How is that possible?” Zhao Yusheng stared at the Fortress Master, his voice low.

“Since you’ve already brought two or three hundred people in, we can see to their food and lodging for these few days—but the rest of your people outside, they’d best not come in.”

“Otherwise, my Southern Barbarian Fortress would truly have no secrets left to speak of. Miss Feng, tell me, is my request reasonable or not?”

The Fortress Master looked at Feng Jiu’er, the smile never leaving his lips, completely ignoring what Zhao Yusheng had said.

“Jiu’er, I won’t—” Zhao Yusheng turned his gaze to her.

Before he could finish, Feng Jiu’er turned and gave him a reassuring look.

“A man disliking another man is never about ability—it’s always about looks. That this accomplished, civil-and-martial Fortress Master dislikes you is, frankly, your good fortune.”

Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly, then turned back to the Fortress Master.

“Rest assured, Fortress Master—someone you dislike, I won’t keep dragging around in front of you to offend your eyes.”

“Miss Feng, you flatter me,” the Fortress Master said with a chuckle. “I simply happen not to like him, that’s all.”

“No matter—then let’s go meet up with my people.” Feng Jiu’er stood and bowed with clasped hands.

“I wonder where the Fortress Master plans to make room for my two hundred-some brothers to camp? So as not to trouble everyone, we can manage our own food and lodging.”

“Over these coming days, there may be other small matters that require the Fortress Master’s help, but truly, these little things needn’t trouble you all.”

“Good.” The Fortress Master rose as well and stepped toward Feng Jiu’er. “Miss Feng truly is extraordinary—straightforward and quick-spoken, I like that!”

Before the Fortress Master could draw near, Jian Yi stepped forward, blocking the way in front of Feng Jiu’er.

Seeing the Fortress Master’s expression shift, Feng Jiu’er said softly, “Don’t mind it, Fortress Master—my man won’t allow anyone to come within a few feet of me.”

Having offered that brief explanation, Feng Jiu’er gave a wave of her hand.

“Fortress Master, please, lead the way.”

The Fortress Master glanced once more at the masked Jian Yi, then returned his gaze to Feng Jiu’er.

“Very well, this way.”

The Fortress Master led the way out, and everyone else followed him out of the hall.

Jian Yi and Zhao Yusheng still flanked Feng Jiu’er on either side, making sure no one came within a few feet of her.

The ones leading the group inside were Long Feiyan and Qiao Mu—both women, which only brightened the Fortress Master’s expression further.

“Truly, the people around Miss Feng are out of the ordinary. As the saying goes, women need not yield to men—not bad, not bad at all!”

Qiao Mu had fine, well-balanced features and an even more striking figure; her beauty differed from Feng Jiu’er’s, but the blend of strength and grace was no less captivating.

Long Feiyan, veiled, could not hide her stunning beauty either.

But the chill radiating from her entire being was impossible to ignore—even the Fortress Master dared not draw too close to her.

“Jiu’er.” Qiao Mu stepped forward to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

After a whole night of worry, having finally met again, how could she not feel anxious?

“It’s fine.” Feng Jiu’er gave both her and Long Feiyan a reassuring look. “The Fortress Master has already agreed to let us stay and look around his territory properly.”

“As for the brothers who came in, the Fortress Master will arrange for them; those outside can simply wait at ease.”

“The Fortress Master of the Southern Barbarian Fortress is quite easygoing—he’s said it’s fine, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Good.” Qiao Mu nodded, glancing sideways at the Fortress Master.

After just that one glance, she pulled her gaze away. It seemed clear she wasn’t particularly fond of this Fortress Master, though she said nothing of it openly.

“Fortress Master, please.” Feng Jiu’er looked at him and waved a hand.

“Yes, yes.” The Fortress Master, smile brimming as he pulled his gaze from the several women, continued onward.

Aunt Xue waited outside with the brothers, with Tuoba Keyan standing guard beside her.

The Fortress Master glanced at the brothers who had come in, still smiling, and gave a nod before continuing forward.

Feng Jiu’er followed not far behind him, with Qiao Mu, Jian Yi, and Zhao Yusheng guarding her sides.

They walked on for the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn before the Fortress Master and his men finally stopped.

The Fortress Master glanced into the distance, then turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er.

“Miss Feng, take a look at the houses around here—do you think your brothers could make do staying here for a while?”

Feng Jiu’er looked in the direction he indicated and could see a row of thatched cottages ahead, with some children playing and women working the fields nearby.

“Fortress Master.” Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved slightly as she pulled her gaze back. “There’s truly no need to trouble everyone—my people can simply camp in this area.”

“That way it’s convenient for us and doesn’t bother your people either. What do you think, would that work?”

The Fortress Master met her eyes, narrowing his own slightly.

After a moment, he said evenly, “Very well, as long as it pleases Miss Feng.”

“However, Miss Feng, I must insist on receiving you with the courtesy due an honored guest—on this, you cannot refuse me!”

Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly, bowed with clasped hands, and nodded. “Then I shall respectfully comply.”

“Hahaha…” The Fortress Master threw his head back and laughed. “Wonderful! I like that very much.”

After his hearty laugh, he turned back to Zhao Yusheng, his thick brows lifting.

Zhao Yusheng glared at him, feeling almost murderous. Had he known this so-called Fortress Master would be so petty, he would never have revealed his identity.

“Zhao Yusheng.” Feng Jiu’er also turned, looking at the man still glaring at the Fortress Master. “Go keep an eye on the brothers outside.”

Zhao Yusheng’s gaze shifted, and when it landed on Feng Jiu’er, it softened considerably.

Just as he was about to object, Feng Jiu’er arched a brow and gave him a look.

In the end, Zhao Yusheng could only nod.

“Fine.” Before turning away, he glanced once more at Jian Yi.

Jian Yi, still masked, gave no response of any kind.

Feng Jiu’er turned back to meet Long Feiyan’s gaze and nodded slightly.

“You all set up camp here with the brothers—I’ll go take a turn with the Fortress Master first, then come back to check on everyone.”

Long Feiyan nodded, not having said a single word the entire time.

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze landed on Qiao Mu next. “The Fortress Master says he’d like only three of us touring his place—Qiao Mu, come with me.”

“All right.” Qiao Mu nodded readily.

“And now there’s one more beauty added to the group—excellent, excellent!” the Fortress Master laughed loudly.

His laughter, to put it plainly, was thoroughly unpleasant—not only did Feng Jiu’er think so, but Qiao Mu, too, felt the urge to strike him just from looking at him.

Unfortunately, since they now had to depend on him for the time being, Qiao Mu could only bear with it.

“Jiu’er, let’s go.” Qiao Mu tossed off the words and refused to so much as glance at the Fortress Master again.

“Hahaha… let’s go.” The Fortress Master waved a hand and turned to leave.

Feng Jiu’er glanced back once, then turned and followed.

Jian Yi stayed practically glued to her side, and Qiao Mu kept close to her as well.

The rest of the group watched the three of them leave.

Only once their figures were completely out of sight did Long Feiyan turn and wave a hand.

“Tell the brothers to prepare for camp. Everyone else, stay sharp at all times—on someone else’s territory, we can’t afford the slightest carelessness.”

“Understood.” Tuoba Keyan nodded and turned to go find the others.

Aunt Xue came to stand beside Long Feiyan, and the two stood together, staring off into the distance, lost in thought.