On the third afternoon after Zhao Xiaoxiao and Zhao Yusheng’s departure, Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, and Jian Yi led their brothers up a high mountain.

As they had done every day across the past two full months, the moment they reached the summit, Feng Jiu’er took out her spyglass and began scanning in every direction.

The sun was harsh that day. The faces of their brothers had all been burned a deep red — and Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu were no exception.

Qiao Mu found a stone not far behind Feng Jiu’er and sat down.

Looking toward two tall peaks in the distance, she pressed her lips together lightly and said, “Once we’re past those two mountains, that’s Zhao Family Stronghold.”

“Jiu’er, do you think we’ve been going in the wrong direction? What if this place isn’t in the Black Gorge at all? Or what if it has nothing to do with Zhao Family Stronghold?”

Feng Jiu’er paid her no mind. Qiao Mu, rarely one to sit still and ramble, had started talking and could not seem to stop.

“What if the treasure is inside Zhao Family Stronghold itself? What would we do then? We can’t exactly go to war with them — and honestly, we’d probably lose anyway.”

“But if we don’t fight, who’s going to let it go willingly? We’ve spent two months baking under this sun. We can’t go home empty-handed.”

Qiao Mu’s brow creased. She stood, turned, and walked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Feng Jiu’er, can’t you spare a moment to talk to me? It wouldn’t take that long, would it?”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. If I go even a single day without talking, my whole body feels wrong. I just…”

Without warning, Feng Jiu’er — who had not said a word throughout — turned and handed the spyglass to Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu glanced at her, then tilted her head to look in the direction Feng Jiu’er had been watching.

She could faintly make out the pattern she had been dreaming of, and her eyes went wide. The hands holding the spyglass trembled slightly.

“Jiu’er — it’s really, really here. Really, no mistake, this is the place.” Qiao Mu rarely behaved like this — giddy as a little child.

Regardless of whether they could actually find the treasure in this range of mountains, they had been searching for two months, and at last they had seen what they had been hoping to see. How could she not be excited?

Hearing Qiao Mu’s words, the nearby brothers came rushing over one after another.

Many of them picked up spyglasses and fixed their eyes without blinking on a certain spot in the distance.

Within moments, every brother on the summit erupted in cheers.

“Jiu’er, what do we do now — go straight there?” Qiao Mu was still quite worked up, though at least she was steadier than a moment ago.

“Send word to Zhao Yusheng. And get a message to my mother and Xue Gu — tell them to come back immediately.” Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly, turning her head to gaze at the distant mountain range.

“That area is too vast. Without them, we won’t know where to begin.”

She had two maps in her possession, and the jade pendant — but the maps gave no clear indication of where, exactly, the treasure lay.

“Understood. I’ll make the arrangements right away.” Qiao Mu nodded and turned to leave.

“Qiao Mu.” Feng Jiu’er looked at this person who was even more excited than she was, her smile deepening.

“What is it?” Qiao Mu turned back to look at her.

“We’re not in a rush — there’s no need to hurry over this one moment. Let’s get down the mountain first.” Feng Jiu’er said with a smile.

She hadn’t smiled this freely in a very long time. Feng Jiu’er herself may not have noticed — but those around her always had.

Since parting from Di Wu Ya, this was the most genuinely at ease Feng Jiu’er had smiled.

Beneath the sunlight, her small face flushed from the sun was enough to make those around her ache with tenderness.

Not only Jian Yi — the brothers felt it too. Who among them didn’t want their Miss Jiu’er to be happy every single day?

“Right.” Qiao Mu nodded, as though she had only just remembered they were all still standing on a mountaintop.

Confirming that the mountain range they sought belonged neither to the Black Depths Clan nor to Zhao Family Stronghold — that was the outcome Feng Jiu’er had wanted most of all.

She truly had not expected it. This stretch of land turned out to be completely unclaimed territory. That way, there was no risk of anyone accusing them of taking what belonged to others.

Feng Jiu’er led all her brothers down to the foot of the mountain range and found a suitable spot at the base of the hills to make camp.

Not long after nightfall, Zhao Yusheng arrived with his own brothers.

He asked no questions, and went directly into Feng Jiu’er’s tent.

Inside the tent, besides Feng Jiu’er, Jian Yi and Qiao Mu were also present.

“Come here.” Seeing Zhao Yusheng enter, Feng Jiu’er waved him over, her gaze dropping back to the table.

When Zhao Yusheng approached, he saw two charts spread out on the table.

He only needed a single glance before he recognized them. “Jiu’er, when did you…”

“Shh.” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes and shot him a look.

Zhao Yusheng immediately fell silent and sat down in the chair beside her.

Feng Jiu’er picked up the chart in her left hand and said quietly, “This pattern — all of you have seen it before.”

She then picked up the chart in her right hand, her brow creasing slightly.

“And this one — I obtained it later. When fitted together, they form a single complete treasure map.”

Placing both charts together side by side, Feng Jiu’er took the jade pendant that lay nearby and set it at a certain point on the map.

In the candlelight, the jade pendant cast a reflection onto the map’s surface, and from it, a mountain range appeared.

“So that is how you determined the location of the treasure.” Zhao Yusheng stared at everything on the table, his expression one of disbelief.

“You already knew this was a treasure map. I merely found the missing half.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, her eyes not leaving the charts.

“The key question now is whether any of you can tell — where exactly is this treasure hidden?”

“We’ve made a pass through the surrounding area. In this stretch, there are six mountains in total.”

“Our brothers are already posted at several key points. If anything stirs, I’ll receive word quickly.”

“Jiu’er suspects there’s a traitor among us,” Qiao Mu said, looking at Zhao Yusheng. “She had Yan Dong give permission for you to enter. Don’t let her down.”

Now that they were drawing so close to the treasure, Qiao Mu found herself growing anxious about something going wrong.

Her gaze returned to the table, her voice dropping a little. “This treasure has been rumored for so long — who knows what’s actually inside.”

“If word got out that you have these things, it could bring a death sentence down on your head.”

“That’s why, for the past two months, I said nothing to any of you about how I came by the maps. I hope you don’t hold that against me.” Feng Jiu’er gave a slight nod.

Everyone had worked themselves to exhaustion for this, and she had kept things from them. It had not been right of her.

“How many people currently know about these two treasure maps?” Zhao Yusheng looked at Feng Jiu’er and asked in a measured tone.

“For now — only the four of you, plus my mother and Xue Gu. The maps were copied from Di Wu Ya’s person, so he knows as well.” Feng Jiu’er replied.

Zhao Yusheng nodded and reached out to shift the two charts slightly.

“I think Jiu’er’s suspicion is correct. There must be a traitor among us.”

On this point, Zhao Yusheng had already felt a quiet unease — and now that unease deepened into genuine worry.

Qiao Mu was right. If this matter became known, Jiu’er’s life would truly be at risk. He had to act.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the person beside her, a faint crease forming between her brows.

“What makes you say that? Have you found who abducted Xiaoxiao?”