Feng Jiu’er knew that Jian Yi would never be willing to leave them, that he was bound to wake.

So she no longer let herself worry.

“Jian Yi, we’re still in the middle of a war, so don’t you dare slack off.”

“Miss Jiu’er.” Yu Jingfeng couldn’t make sense of what Feng Jiu’er meant right now, and his expression darkened a few shades.

“Jian Yi, hurry up and wake for me.” Feng Jiu’er wiped the sweat from him again.

“You said your life belongs to me, so how could you hand it over to that old demon of Black Mountain?”

“Hurry up and wake for me. If you don’t wake soon, I’ll throw you up on the mountain.”

“By then, even if you do wake, you might not be able to find us.”

“Miss Jiu’er, Jian Yi… he’s all right, isn’t he?” Yu Jingfeng was far more anxious now than he had been a moment ago.

He shouldn’t be feeling anything else.

Jian Yi—was he truly not going to make it?

Yu Jingfeng knew nothing of medicine, and his heart had no ground to stand on.

He knew the prince was deeply wary of Jian Yi, who treated Miss Jiu’er exceptionally well. But after so long fighting side by side, risking their lives together, Yu Jingfeng had long since come to think of Jian Yi as his own brother.

“He’s fine.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together. “He’ll wake up.”

When Feng Jiu’er lifted her eyes, a carriage had arrived at the foot of the mountain not far away.

She supported Jian Yi, about to rise.

Seeing this, Yu Jingfeng stepped forward to help.

After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the carriage carried them away from the mountain forest.

The battle for Lei Family Town had finally broken out, and nearly all the civilians inside had fled in every direction to escape the chaos.

Among the guards Yang Sheng had brought, some had already infiltrated Lei Family Town earlier. They had gone in not to gather information for Feng Jiu’er, but to spread the truth among the people: Lei Shenbao was no man at all—for his own selfish gain, he had poisoned the entire hundred thousand guards under his name.

On the surface, Lei Family Town appeared prosperous, but in truth it was nothing more than one of Lei Shenbao’s hideouts.

Among the guards Lei Shenbao had brought along, quite a few still bore the Lei surname—many of them had once left Lei Family Town to follow him. Their words were far easier for the townspeople to believe. They were fellow villagers of the same surname; even if the blood ties looked thin by now, who didn’t know that a few hundred years ago they had all been one family?

The crucial thing was that Lei Shenbao’s arrival had truly been a disaster for Lei Family Town. The people had gradually grown disillusioned with him—keeping themselves alive mattered more, so why not flee?

Everything Yang Sheng had done, Feng Jiu’er already knew, and Yang Sheng made no secret of it—he now belonged to Longying. It was only for the safety of the people he had sent in that he hadn’t let them bring word back out to those waiting outside.

Feng Yi’nan, carrying the three people inside the carriage, made it back without the slightest difficulty, taking a mere five hours to return to the other side of the battle line, to where their army was stationed.

The front line was still fighting when Feng Jiu’er and the others returned to camp; it was already past the Hour of the Pig.

Xiao Yingtao, on hearing word that Feng Jiu’er was bringing Jian Yi back, brought her brothers and rode out at once to meet them. Beside her walked Yue Qinchun as well.

Yue Qinchun, seeing Feng Yi’nan returning with the carriage, felt a tangle of emotions surge in her chest. Ever since she’d heard that he had quietly left with Jiu’er, her heart had been knotted tight. Only now, seeing him again, did the stone in her chest finally settle.

“Yi’nan, how did it go? Where’s Jiu’er? Is Jian Yi really back?” Xiao Yingtao looked at Feng Yi’nan and asked anxiously.

“Brother Feng.” Yue Qinchun called out softly as well.

Feng Yi’nan glanced at the two figures walking ahead and gave a nod.

“Everyone’s back. But Jian Yi is still unconscious—let’s talk once we’re inside.”

…

“All right.” Xiao Yingtao didn’t hesitate, turning her horse around at once.

She and the twenty-odd soldiers she and Yue Qinchun had brought surrounded the carriage at its center.

The group walked a while before stopping at a fairly large tent. Today was only the first day of the offensive; the front line was still fighting with everything it had, and the camp itself had only advanced once.

For now, they weren’t very far from the mountain range to the rear.

Xiao Yingtao had always been in charge of the aftermath of battle, and she hadn’t left the camp for even a moment. The instant a wounded brother was brought back, she and the others sprang into action again.

Jian Yi was settled inside the tent, still showing no sign of waking. Feng Jiu’er checked on him once more before stepping out of the tent. Yu Jingfeng walked in carrying Jian Yi’s clothes.

“Jiu’er, what exactly is going on with Jian Yi?” Xiao Yingtao came over herself, carrying medicine.

She handed the medicine in her hands to Feng Yi’nan. Feng Yi’nan took it and lifted the curtain to walk inside.

“He was struck by a spell Chen Hong cast on him. For now, his life isn’t in danger.”

“A spell?” Xiao Yingtao frowned. “Where did you find Jian Yi?”

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath. “At Lei Shenbao’s residence.”

“By the time we got there, Chen Hong was setting up a formation and casting a spell on Jian Yi.”

“Perhaps she wanted to control him—and I’m afraid she’s succeeded.”

“Jiu’er, are you saying Jian Yi is under Chen Hong’s control now?” Xiao Yingtao looked at the tent flap, her face full of unease.

“More likely than not.” Feng Jiu’er’s expression was heavy, her small fist clenched tight.

“At the time, there were plenty of guards in the Lei residence, but Chen Hong didn’t lift a finger—she let us leave just like that.”

“And on the entire way back, we ran into no obstruction at all. I think Jian Yi must really be under her control.”

Feng Jiu’er drew another deep breath and let her clenched fist relax.

“What’s the situation at the front? Has Xing Zizhou come back at all?”

At such a critical moment, choosing to leave first had truly been something she couldn’t avoid.

“He came back briefly at the third quarter of the Hour of the Goat—he personally escorted the wounded brothers back.” Xiao Yingtao answered softly.

“He said the townspeople haven’t come out to interfere, so the situation is holding up for now.”

“How are the wounded?” Feng Jiu’er asked further.

“They’ve all been treated. Jiu’er, with Jian Yi in this state, are you still planning to go to battle?” Xiao Yingtao couldn’t help glancing at the tent flap again.

Even she wasn’t used to seeing Jian Yi fall like this. In Xiao Yingtao’s memory, no matter where Jiu’er was, Jian Yi always stood beside her like a great tree.

Jian Yi, when will you wake up? Everyone is worried about you.

“Of course.” Feng Jiu’er looked toward the front, as though she could already see her brothers caught in the thick of battle.

“Jian Yi.” Yu Jingfeng’s voice carried out from inside.

“Jiu’er, Jian Yi is awake.”

When Feng Yi’nan lifted the tent flap, Feng Jiu’er turned at the words and walked inside.

Sitting on the low bed, Jian Yi stared fixedly at Yu Jingfeng.

Yu Jingfeng held the clothes he’d just taken off Jian Yi, looking utterly at a loss.

The two of them, locked in a stare, both sensed Feng Jiu’er entering and turned their heads toward her at the same moment.

“Miss Jiu’er, Jian Yi… he’s awake.”

Yu Jingfeng blinked, then strode over and placed the clothes in his hands into Feng Jiu’er’s.

“Perhaps… you’d better help him dress.”

Yu Jingfeng could tell clearly that something was wrong with Jian Yi, but he couldn’t quite say what. What’s more, the moment Jian Yi had woken, he’d glared at him—glared until a chill crept over him—so Yu Jingfeng didn’t dare get any closer.