“Jiu’er, you slept a full twelve hours.”

Jian Yi’s words made Feng Jiu’er’s anxiety spike.

So it was true—her old condition had flared up again.

Feng Jiu’er glanced outside and stood up.

“Jian Yi, what’s happening out there right now? Has the battle started?”

Jian Yi stood as well, shaking his head.

“I don’t know the situation myself. But the battle hasn’t started yet.”

Feng Jiu’er let out a small breath of relief, pulled on her long boots, and headed outside. Jian Yi, just as before, draped a cloak over her shoulders right on time.

When Feng Jiu’er stepped outside, she noticed that even Yu Jingfeng wasn’t there, and a sense of unease crept over her. A full twelve hours of sleep meant the next three days she could go without rest entirely.

Lei Shenbao—we’ll be meeting soon enough.

Feng Jiu’er headed toward the largest tent at the center of camp, Jian Yi following behind her. As she neared the tent, she could already hear people discussing something inside.

The brothers standing guard outside came forward, about to speak. Feng Jiu’er raised a long finger to her lips, signaling for silence. The two brothers said nothing, stepping aside.

Feng Jiu’er moved a few steps forward and stood just outside the tent.

“I don’t agree with letting Yingtao take that risk,” Xing Zizhou’s voice came from inside.

“I think Zhao Yusheng’s plan is solid,” Xiao Yingtao countered. “I’m willing to go and meet Lei Shenbao.”

“But you’re not Jiu’er, and your skill in combat is nowhere near hers,” Xing Zizhou said, still unwilling to let it go.

“Besides Yingtao, there’s no one here whose height and build are close enough to Jiu’er’s,” Zhao Yusheng said helplessly as well.

“I’ll go.” Xiao Yingtao shot Xing Zizhou a look. “One cannot catch the tiger’s cub without entering its den.”

“Besides, Zhao Yusheng’s plan is thorough enough—nothing’s going to happen to me.”

“I can’t bear to let you risk yourself again either,” Xing Zizhou said, his voice thick with anguish.

“Xing Zizhou!” Xiao Yingtao’s anger flared further.

“I don’t agree, and that’s final!” Xing Zizhou would have given anything to be the one taking the risk instead. He even found himself resenting the fact that he was a man, and that he stood so tall.

“I’ve already decided to go. The two of you keep planning,” Xiao Yingtao said firmly.

Xing Zizhou gave a cold snort, stood, and strode out. But the moment he threw back the tent flap, he found himself face to face with Feng Jiu’er herself.

“Jiu’er.” Xing Zizhou called out softly.

Everyone inside rose to their feet. Feng Jiu’er gave a slight nod and stepped inside.

Xing Zizhou turned and went back in as well.

“What were you discussing?” Feng Jiu’er found a seat. “Sorry—my old condition flared up, and I overslept.”

It wasn’t actually Feng Jiu’er’s old condition, nor had Qiao Mu acted on her own. This was a method Granny Xue had once taught Qiao Mu. Knowing Feng Jiu’er’s old condition, and worried that once she threw herself into work she wouldn’t rest at all, Granny Xue had told Qiao Mu this method just in case.

Granny Xue had said that whenever Jiu’er was utterly worn out, sending true qi into the center of her brow would let her sleep soundly. This was the first time Qiao Mu had ever used it, and to her surprise, it had actually worked.

Qiao Mu said nothing, and Feng Jiu’er’s gaze moved to Zhao Yusheng.

“Jiu’er, Lei Shenbao sent word—he wants to meet with you,” Zhao Yusheng said softly.

“He says that if you’re willing to go meet him, he has a way to undo the curse on Jian Yi.”

“Is it really a curse, as he claims?” Feng Jiu’er’s moth-wing brows furrowed slightly.

Zhao Yusheng stood and brought the letter Lei Shenbao had sent over, placing it before Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er opened the letter, glanced over it, closed her eyes, and drew in a sharp breath.

“Jiu’er, I think it’s necessary for us to go meet Lei Shenbao,” Zhao Yusheng’s voice continued.

“He says Jian Yi is under a curse, and that if he ever crosses paths with Chen Hong again, he’ll be far too easily controlled—putting Jiu’er’s safety at risk.”

“Jiu’er, what is a curse?” Jian Yi looked at Feng Jiu’er, his expression grave.

“It’s a kind of formation,” Feng Jiu’er said, holding the letter and lifting her eyes to meet Jian Yi’s.

“Jian Yi, it’s my fault you fell under Chen Hong’s control. Don’t worry—I’ll find a way.”

“No!” Jian Yi shook his head, turning to look at Qiao Mu. “Chain me up. I can’t be allowed to hurt Jiu’er.”

“Quick! Chain me up!”

Jian Yi, who only a moment ago had been perfectly calm, suddenly turned fierce and unsteady.

“Jian Yi.” Feng Jiu’er stood at once, going over to take hold of two of his fingers. She drew him down, making him sit back in his seat.

“Jian Yi, listen to me. You can’t let yourself grow angry right now—anger leads to chaos, do you understand?”

She looked into his eyes, deadly serious.

“If you really do run into Chen Hong, you absolutely cannot lose control.”

“If you lose yourself even a little, she really will be able to control you. You don’t want to hurt me, or our brothers, do you?”

Jian Yi met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, gradually growing calm. Only once the dark mist had fully cleared from his eyes did he speak softly. “Jiu’er, I’m afraid. I can’t let you get hurt.”

“I trust you won’t,” Feng Jiu’er said, giving him a smile and sitting down beside him.

She glanced around at everyone present and said, “Since Lei Shenbao wants to see me, I’ll go meet him.”

“Tell me what plans you have so far.”

Zhao Yusheng nodded. “Lei Shenbao has set the meeting place at Hetang Village—the location borders our eastern zone.”

“Word from the brothers says things are going well on Yang Xiansheng’s side, and the eastern zone should fall soon.”

“The spot Lei Shenbao chose sits right at the border between the central zone and the eastern zone—a small mountain valley.”

Zhao Yusheng stood, walking over to Feng Jiu’er’s side and spreading out a rolled map on the table beside her.

“Jiu’er, this is the terrain map of that valley.”

“It’s surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the space is small—not well suited for hiding soldiers.”

“Lei Shenbao also said in his letter that he only wants to meet with you, which is why he specifically chose this location. Let’s assume, for now, that he has no other scheme—at the very least, this place really isn’t easy to hide men in.”

“Most importantly, the five thousand guards Yang Sheng is leading happen to be spread out across these mountain peaks. Word came back that they found the herbs and are now gathering them on a large scale. I’ve already sent word telling them to stay stationed on the mountain, ready at any moment.”

Zhao Yusheng pointed to the edges of the small valley and continued, “We all know Lei Shenbao can’t possibly want anything as simple as just seeing Jiu’er.”

“We expect their men to be lying in ambush at a few of these spots, but no matter how you look at it, these places can hold at most a thousand men.”

“So our plan is to have Yingtao disguise herself as you and enter the valley to assassinate Lei Shenbao.”

“From now on, no more foolish plans like that!” Feng Jiu’er shot Zhao Yusheng a look.

She knew full well this idea had to have been his suggestion.

“Jiu’er…” Zhao Yusheng pressed his lips together, looking a little guilty.

“I’ll go in myself,” Feng Jiu’er said, picking up the map from the table.

“Let’s plan this through properly. This time, we can’t let Lei Shenbao slip away again!”