“Mn.” Di Wu Ya nodded slightly, his voice hoarser than before.

In his deep-set eyes, there was one and only one small head.

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to meet his gaze, frowning slightly: “Hmm?”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I haven’t done anything wrong — why are you punishing me?”

Di Wu Ya extended his long, well-defined fingers, his hot fingertip brushing gently across Feng Jiu’er’s swollen pink lips.

“Next time we meet, the place where I leave my mark won’t just be your lips.”

His breath was very hot, spilling over Feng Jiu’er’s face, making it itch.

Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath, suppressing her wandering thoughts.

This guy — broad daylight, what was he thinking?

Well, she would miss him too. She only hoped she could find her father soon, and that the war could be settled soon.

“…We’ll talk about that when the time comes. I need to go. Take care of yourself — don’t make me worry!”

Feng Jiu’er turned and walked away, slipping off — if she didn’t leave now, she wouldn’t want to leave at all.

No! Being apart from him was never what she wanted; leaving was simply something she had no choice but to do.

Mao Zhongcai had treated the people of her city so cruelly — how could she let that go?

Feng Jiu’er’s legs weren’t long, but she could still walk very fast.

Don’t look back. If she looked back again, she’d miss him even more.

Not far away, Jian Yi stood guard to the side.

His gaze swept over Feng Jiu’er’s swollen thin lips; his expression didn’t change at all, but the hand gripping his sword tightened slightly.

Once they decided to leave, they left. Feng Jiu’er, Jian Yi, Qiaomu, and Feng Yinan each mounted a horse, packed some dry rations, and departed.

A great battle was imminent. Their task was to pass through Yue City and escort thirty thousand soldiers safely through Panlong Stronghold, into Pingyuan City.

By then, Ninth Imperial Uncle’s army should already have broken into the eastern part of Pingyuan City.

When that time came, the two armies would join forces and sweep through the whole of Pingyuan City.

Yue City belonged to Sister Hua and Brother Yue; Li City and Yongshan City were already in her hands. Next would be Pingyuan City, and beneath it, Xiang City and Heishan City.

Father, are you still at the Heitan Land Vein, or not?

But whether he was there or not, their goal had already been set.

Unify the Heitan Land Vein — by the time she saw her father again, she’d have the strength to protect him fully.

Feng Qiongcang, everything you owe my father — by then, it should be repaid too.

After three days and two nights of long travel, Feng Jiu’er and the others met up with the Longwu Army’s forces on the morning of the fourth day.

The ones leading troops south this time were Long Qi and Long Jiu. After receiving Feng Jiu’er, the two brought them back to the camp.

Twenty thousand troops of the Longwu Army and ten thousand of the Yue Family Army were stationed in a town in Yue City, relatively close to Pingyuan City.

The camp itself was one the Yue Family Army had set up on the northwest side.

It had a history of many years, and the surroundings were fairly good.

“Miss Jiu’er, I didn’t expect you to come in person.” Long Qi came over warmly, pouring tea for the four who had just arrived.

“This camp of the Yue Family Army lacks for nothing, except wine. I hear Master Yue doesn’t allow anyone to bring wine into the camp.”

“Master Yue’s approach is, one could say, identical to our Prince’s.”

“So today, we’ll use tea in place of wine to welcome all of you.”

As Long Qi poured the tea, a few brothers brought in food.

Even though it was early morning, there was no shortage of fish and meat, and even soup, and desserts.

After pouring tea for the four of them, Long Qi returned to his seat.

“Miss Jiu’er, Miss Qiao, Jian Yi, Yinan — eat up, don’t stand on ceremony! You’ve all worked hard on the road.”

He got up and brought over two bowls of dessert, placing one in front of Feng Jiu’er and one in front of Qiaomu.

“Miss Jiu’er, Miss Qiao, this is bird’s nest soup, specially brought back by a brother. Eat it after the meal.”

“Thank you!” Feng Jiu’er glanced up at Long Qi and nodded slightly.

“You’re welcome!” Long Qi nodded and returned to his seat.

“Then we won’t stand on ceremony.” Feng Jiu’er picked up her chopsticks. “I’ve really lost some weight these past few days.”

“Please, go ahead!” Long Jiu gestured.

Everyone began eating; no one said much.

After three days of hard travel, they were both tired and hungry.

Since it was morning, Long Qi and Long Jiu hadn’t eaten much themselves — just something simple.

Long Qi stood up now and then to pour tea for Feng Jiu’er and the others; he seemed quite familiar and at ease with them.

Long Jiu rarely spoke; he was a reserved person by nature.

After the meal, Long Qi and his brothers took away the leftovers, then brought in another person.

“Miss Jiu’er, this is Yue Shan — a nephew of Master Yue’s, from a side branch of the family,” Long Qi introduced.

“Yue Shan has always guarded the northwest side of Yue City. This time, Master Yue arranged for him to bring troops to assist our army.”

Feng Jiu’er stood up, looking at the tall, handsome man before her.

No wonder — he really did resemble Brother Yue somewhat, being his nephew.

“Hello! Yue Shan.” Feng Jiu’er extended her hand.

Yue Shan looked a bit bashful; he wiped his palm before reaching out to shake her hand.

“Miss Jiu’er, I’ve long heard of your name! An honor to meet you!”

Feng Jiu’er smiled slightly and waved a hand. “Sit, we’re all on the same side here, no need to stand on ceremony!”

“All right.” Yue Shan nodded and went to sit down.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the three people across from her, nodded slightly, the corner of her mouth curling into a faint smile.

“Then I’ll get straight to the point — after all, I haven’t slept in three days, and I really am exhausted.”

“Miss Jiu’er, whatever you need, just say the word. We’ve already arranged a place for you all to rest.” Long Qi said.

“Mn.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “About Panlong Stronghold — what have you all found out these past few days?”

“The battle to the north has already begun. I think it won’t be long before our army breaks into Pingyuan City.”

She had this much confidence in her man and in her brother.

“Miss Jiu’er, these past few days, we’ve asked around nearly all the local residents, but no one has ever gone inside Panlong Stronghold,” Long Qi replied.

“That’s right.” Yue Shan nodded. “I’ve been stationed in this town for six years now.”

“I still haven’t been able to learn about the affairs inside Panlong Stronghold. But the people from Panlong Stronghold do show up in town from time to time, more or less.”

“Do you know anyone from Panlong Stronghold?” Feng Jiu’er asked, looking at Yue Shan.

Yue Shan shook his head: “I don’t know any of them, and I’ve never had contact with them. I only know that people from there have shown up here.”

“Miss Jiu’er, this town of ours is close to Pingyuan City, and close to Xiang City too. Plenty of common folk come and go every day.”

“Panlong Stronghold sits at the border where Yue City, Xiang City, and Pingyuan City meet. They must come out to buy daily necessities.”

“Uncle Fei said that as long as they haven’t harmed the common people, we don’t need to interfere too much.”

“That makes sense.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

People coming to buy things also helped stimulate the local economy — beneficial with no real drawback, nothing worth interfering with.

As long as they didn’t harm the common people, it was fine.

“Do the people of Panlong Stronghold have any kind of mark?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

“Something in their clothing or appearance that’s different from us?”