It wasn’t that Qiao Mu hadn’t heard what Feng Jiu’er said, but she didn’t make a sound.

After a while, the corner of her mouth curved up slightly, and her breathing gradually evened out.

The surroundings grew quieter and quieter; many of the brothers, having eaten their fill, began to rest.

The fire in the forest burned almost the entire night.

……

Three days later, a disguised Feng Jiu’er rode Zhuiyue, appearing at the gates of Yue City.

By her side was only Jian Yi.

To avoid arousing suspicion, the brothers entered the city at staggered times.

Fortunately, Yu Jingfeng had made preparations in advance, and after Feng Jiu’er and the others entered the city, everything went smoothly.

Just as Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi arrived at the designated spot, they saw Yu Jingfeng waiting not far away.

Yu Jingfeng looked at Feng Jiu’er, urged his horse forward, and rode up to meet her.

“Miss Jiu’er.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded and followed Yu Jingfeng onward.

Soon, the three of them arrived at a residence.

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at the plaque above the entrance, knitted her brows slightly, and turned back to look at Yu Jingfeng: “Longying?”

“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze and nodded. “Longying is our organization. By now, it’s nearly spread across the entire Feng Clan territory.”

“Miss Jiu’er, let’s talk further once we’re inside.” Yu Jingfeng waved a hand.

Feng Jiu’er nodded, urged her horse forward, and rode through the main gate.

The two brothers standing guard at the entrance merely nodded to those entering, without saying a word.

The three rode together into the residence, and Yu Jingfeng continued, “Miss Jiu’er, our Longying is an organization newly established these past few months.”

“Although it’s only been a few short months, we already have bases in many parts of the Feng Clan territory. But our numbers are very few — this is something the world doesn’t know.”

“To make the world believe that Longying has a large number of members, the brothers who stayed behind in the Feng Clan territory have endured no small amount of hardship these past months.”

“Longying — was that name proposed by the Ninth Imperial Uncle?” Feng Jiu’er asked, her moth brows knitting slightly.

“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng nodded. “The Prince’s intention was that all of this be prepared for you, so he used the name of General Long’s sect in the Bei Mu Kingdom.”

“Only, no one expected that General Long herself would…”

Yu Jingfeng shook his head and let out a soft sigh.

Feng Jiu’er thought of her own mother, and her heart felt heavy as well.

Even now, she still hadn’t seen her mother’s remains — whether it was because she didn’t want to face it, or for some other reason, even Feng Jiu’er herself wasn’t sure.

Perhaps it was because she trusted Aunt Xue so much. With Aunt Xue there, she wouldn’t let Aunt Xue suffer any wrong.

Feng Jiu’er had originally thought that once she found her father, she would return with him to bring her mother along, so the family would never be separated again.

She hadn’t expected that now even her father had gone missing.

“What does our Longying rely on for its livelihood?” Feng Jiu’er composed herself and asked.

“Medicinal herbs.” Yu Jingfeng saw through Feng Jiu’er’s question and waved a hand. “Miss Jiu’er, the main hall is this way, please!”

Feng Jiu’er nodded and followed Yu Jingfeng down another path.

“The Prince said that Miss Jiu’er is most skilled in medicine and herbs, so he had the brothers work hard to study knowledge of medicinal materials.”

“However, they’re short-handed and lack experience, and we’re still constantly expanding our scale and recruiting talent — these past months, expenses have outpaced income, one could say.”

“Now that Miss Jiu’er has arrived, our Longying is sure to grow stronger much faster.” Yu Jingfeng said, his face full of delight.

Having clearly just arrived in the Feng Clan territory, with everything needing to be built from scratch, yet there wasn’t a trace of weariness or reluctance on Yu Jingfeng’s face, nor on the faces of the other brothers.

She looked at Yu Jingfeng and smiled faintly.

“Is the Ninth Imperial Uncle a fortune-teller? To have prepared all this so long ago — if I hadn’t returned to the Feng Clan territory, wouldn’t all his effort have gone to waste?”

“Miss Jiu’er, don’t mind me speaking out of turn.” Yu Jingfeng reached out and scratched his head.

“Given Miss Jiu’er’s temperament, how could you ever let your own father remain beneath others for the rest of his life? Coming back was only a matter of time, wasn’t it?”

“Yu Jingfeng, since when have you understood me so well?” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Yu Jingfeng, withdrew her gaze, and quickened her pace.

Yu Jingfeng tugged the reins and quickly caught up.

“Miss Jiu’er is teasing me. I don’t understand you so well — it’s the Prince who understands Miss Jiu’er.”

Feng Jiu’er paid Yu Jingfeng no mind and arrived at the main hall, dismounting from her horse.

“Jiu’er, you’ve finally arrived.” Xiao Yingtao hurried out from within the hall. “This place is huge, and beautiful — you’re sure to love it.”

Xiao Yingtao came to Feng Jiu’er’s side and looped an arm through hers. “I’ve already tidied up everything in your heart for you.”

“Come, let me show you your room. Yu Jingfeng said that since you’re the Sect Master of Longying, you should have the largest room.”

Feng Jiu’er turned back to glance at Yu Jingfeng, her brows knitting slightly.

If she was the Sect Master, then what was the Ninth Imperial Uncle?

No, that wouldn’t do! The position of Sect Master should belong to the Ninth Imperial Uncle — she could simply be the lady of the house. She was just a young woman; she couldn’t overshadow the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s standing.

Yu Jingfeng scratched his scalp and followed them in.

After Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, and Jian Yi went together to view the side chambers, they returned to the main hall.

Yu Jingfeng hadn’t left; he had been waiting in the main hall the whole time.

“Miss Jiu’er.” Seeing Feng Jiu’er enter, he stood up.

“Sit.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand and walked straight to the main seat, sitting down in the position above.

“Yu Jingfeng.” Feng Jiu’er, now seated, looked at him. “Tell me in detail about our current situation.”

“Very well.” Yu Jingfeng stood, pulled a map from his sleeve, and came to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

He spread the map out on the table. “Miss Jiu’er, this is a relatively simple map of the Feng Clan territory.”

“It marks in detail our bases in every city across the territory, as well as the approximate number of brothers and the location and number of herb shops at each point.”

“Although our brothers still have no idea what happened to the Night Prince’s disappearance, there is one strange matter.”

“What is it?” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at Yu Jingfeng, her moth brows furrowing slightly.

“According to news gathered from the common people, Feng Qiongcang has been searching for the Night Prince, and this has been going on for more than a day or two.” Yu Jingfeng replied.

“But whether this is really the case is hard to say.”

“Our Longying has reach in many cities, but not in the capital. Combined with our limited numbers, we still can’t confirm whether the news is true or false for now.”

Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze and took a deep breath. “Before we reached Yue City, we went ashore to handle some matters, and we heard this news as well.”

“It’s probably something that can only be confirmed once the Prince reaches the capital.” Yu Jingfeng nodded.

“By the way, Miss Jiu’er, we may need to see someone.”

“Who?” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes again, meeting Yu Jingfeng’s gaze.

“The Lord of Yue City, Yue Jianfei.” Yu Jingfeng replied softly. “Perhaps he can offer us some help as well.”