“There are still some matters here I need to deal with.” Lu Beicheng’s tone was flat, giving nothing away.

Lu Feifan couldn’t help glancing at Zhen Jiu’er again. “Because of her? Young Uncle, you could take her back with you. Whatever needs handling here, I’ll take care of it for you.”

This time, Lu Beicheng didn’t speak.

When he went silent like this, Lu Feifan always felt the atmosphere grow heavier.

His lips moved slightly, as if there was a great deal he wanted to say, but in the end he only looked at Zhen Jiu’er, unsure where to even begin.

“Why were you with her tonight?” Lu Beicheng suddenly asked.

Lu Feifan was startled for a moment before answering, “It was a coincidence — we happened to run into each other.”

“There’s no such coincidence in this world.” Lu Beicheng’s index finger flicked absently.

Lu Feifan watched his long, slender finger and understood — there was very little he could hide from Young Uncle.

But Young Uncle himself understood too, that there were many things even he couldn’t control.

“In any case, I still advise Young Uncle to return to Jiangzhou sooner rather than later.”

“Would going back to Jiangzhou really mean I’d be safe?” Lu Beicheng’s cool, indifferent gaze fell on him. “Don’t forget — my leg has ‘healed.'”

“Young Uncle!” Lu Feifan’s heart jolted, something surging inside his chest, leaving him with a heavy, uncomfortable weight in his heart.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere turned strange again.

When no one spoke, the air pressed down heavily — truly unbearable.

“Forget it. Since you refuse to go back, then I… I’ll just stay and keep you company.”

He turned to leave.

Lu Beicheng watched his tall, retreating figure, his tone as coldly detached as ever: “Acting like this — won’t he get angry?”

Lu Feifan clenched his palm but in the end said nothing more, only walked out of the tent.

Once outside, Lu Feifan didn’t go far. From somewhere he found a chair and sat down not far from the tent, keeping watch.

Tonight, he’d said he would protect Young Uncle and Zhen Jiu’er.

Though he knew perfectly well that with Young Uncle there, Zhen Jiu’er would be in no real danger.

Still, something in his heart remained uneasy.

Especially now, having gotten a clear look once more at the chain around Zhen Jiu’er’s wrist.

A small key…

The wind blew gently past — not exactly cold, but with a certain chill to it all the same.

Lu Feifan simply sat there in the chair, and without quite knowing when, sleep overtook him.

In his hazy dream, he seemed to arrive at that place again.

All around, a vast expanse of white.

At the center of that white light, there was unmistakably a figure — a girl.

She was calling to him.

But he could never quite make out what she was calling.

“Why did you make me come to Bei Mu City? Who exactly are you?”

Lu Feifan wanted to move closer, but his feet felt weighed down as if by a thousand pounds, unable to take even half a step.

“Do you want me to go to the Northern Emperor’s Tomb? What exactly do you want me to find? There’s nothing there!”

He had already been to the Northern Emperor’s Tomb — but aside from a few artifacts, there truly was nothing there worth his attention or concern.

What exactly did she want him to find?

The girl called out to him again.

This time, he seemed to catch it a little more clearly:

…Mu? Or Tomb? What exactly was she calling?

“Who are you? Who exactly are you?”

This time, Lu Feifan made up his mind — he had to get closer and see her clearly.

He forced his legs forward, straining with everything he had, one step at a time, until at last, he broke free of whatever bound his feet.

Just as he was about to rush forward and get a clear look at the girl, suddenly, a burst of white light struck him, a sharp pain stabbing through his eyes.

The girl turned — she seemed about to leave!

Don’t go! You still haven’t told him what exactly he’s supposed to do here!

The Northern Emperor’s Tomb — what secret did it hold?