Jiu’er was in an exceptionally good mood tonight — anyone could tell at a glance. It seemed her conversation with the master of Lanyue Manor had ended to her satisfaction.

Qiao Mu had packed up a large pile of food to bring along on the road.

Xiao Yingtao, however, was not pleased. “Why am I the one being left behind when Qiao Mu gets to go with you?”

“Aren’t you and Xing Zizhou a perfect pair? Of course I need you two to stay and help expand my business.”

Xiao Yingtao’s ability to manage affairs was genuinely impressive — meticulous above all else — so who else would she leave in charge if not her?

“Husband and wife working together never tires — now go and earn me some money!”

“Who’s his wife? Stop talking nonsense!” Xiao Yingtao’s face flushed red, and she shot her a resentful glare.

“You’re all going off on an adventure while leaving me behind — have you even thought about how I feel?”

“I’ve thought about it thoroughly, of course — that’s precisely why I’m leaving you here.” Feng Jiu’er took hold of her by the shoulders and pressed her back down into the chair.

She said earnestly, “Besides, Yi’nan needs your care. I wouldn’t trust him to anyone else — you know that.”

On that point, Xiao Yingtao couldn’t find a single word to argue with.

Given Feng Yi’nan’s current condition — Jiu’er had said his life was not in danger, but there was no telling when he might not wake up at all — it was impossible for him to travel with Jiu’er. Someone had to stay behind and look after him.

And as Jiu’er had said, Xiao Yingtao wouldn’t feel at ease leaving him in anyone else’s hands either.

In short, there were countless reasons she had no choice but to stay — to guard Tianji Hall’s doors!

“See how much I trust you? I’m leaving everything in your hands. Don’t cause me any trouble.” Jiu’er laughed.

Xiao Yingtao rolled her eyes and glared at her. “You just think my martial arts aren’t as good as theirs, and you’re afraid I’ll drag you all down if I come along to that place.”

“Good — you already know.”

“Feng Jiu’er!” This infuriating girl — was she asking to be smacked?

“Oh, I haven’t left the imperial capital yet. Are you really in such a rush to expose my identity?”

Despite those words, Feng Jiu’er’s tone carried not a trace of reproach.

She was genuinely in a wonderful mood tonight. It hadn’t been easy persuading her uncle, but now she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.

Xiao Yingtao let out a breath. Though Feng Jiu’er’s words were truly disheartening, even she had to admit — it was the truth.

“Hmph, I’m furious — I really am! I’ll spend every last coin of your money — hmph!”

And with that, she stormed off in a huff, because she could already tell someone else was coming to see Jiu’er.

This time, it was Yanu. Jiu’er felt a headache coming on. She had known that the moment she set out, Yanu would want to come along.

But Yanu had no martial arts training — going to the Feng Clan would put him at a serious disadvantage.

When Yanu arrived, he already had a bundled pack in hand. He looked at Jiu’er and said nothing, but his gaze was unwavering and resolute.

“Are you trying to tell me that even if I don’t take you, you’ll follow on your own?”

“Mm, mm!” Yanu’s eyes shone with a bright and clear light as he nodded vigorously.

“But I truly cannot bring you along. You have no martial arts — it will be dangerous for you there.”

Yanu shook his head urgently. Jiu’er still refused. “You must stay behind—”

“Take care of…”

“You…” Jiu’er froze, eyes snapping to him. “Yanu, you…”

Had that truly been Yanu speaking just now? Had that truly been his voice?

“Take care of… Jiu’er…” Yanu’s voice was hoarse and ragged, as though his throat had been scorched by fire — yet this time, Feng Jiu’er heard him clearly.

Yanu could speak. Yanu could actually, truly speak.

His throat had only just begun to heal the smallest fraction, so he couldn’t say much, and even what little he said came out terribly hoarse — as though his throat were lined with sand.

But at the very least, he could speak. And she could hear him.

Even so, what Yanu was asking of her — she truly hadn’t expected it.

“Yanu, I don’t need you to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”

She was not that delicate. Day-to-day living was one thing — having someone to look after her made it easy to grow lazy, but she wouldn’t die without it.

She was perfectly fine — uninjured, unwell.

That place was genuinely dangerous. She herself didn’t know just how great the danger would be, so she could not bring Yanu along.

But then Yanu gripped her sleeve, his gaze fixed upon her without wavering. “Where you are… I am.”

Feng Jiu’er’s heart lurched. Though Yanu had spoken those words very softly, they landed with tremendous weight upon her heart.

She had never really thought about what Yanu sought in this life. Perhaps the question had crossed her mind fleetingly once or twice, but after that passing thought, she had never returned to it.

Yet every time she caught Yanu looking at her, his eyes held a certain quality — as though she were his entire existence.

Feng Jiu’er was, after all, a person of the modern world. She could not fully fathom the ancient notion of hierarchy and station — that way of thinking where, once you had devoted yourself to a master, that master became the whole of your world.

But she had witnessed it many times.

Take Xue Gu’s devotion to her own mother, Long Feiyan — she would wager that if Long Feiyan told Xue Gu to die, Xue Gu would have plunged a blade into herself without a moment’s hesitation. Even ten times over. A hundred times over. Until she left this world entirely.

Yanu tightened his grip on her sleeve, his beautiful eyes filled with absolute resolve.

“I waited for you… half a year. I knew… you would definitely come back. And now…”

His throat was too uncomfortable; he could say no more. Each word he forced out made his throat burn with pain.

Sweat beaded at his temples, and a faint furrow appeared between his brows. “Never again… will I—”

“Don’t speak.” Feng Jiu’er let out a breath, helpless. “Your throat hasn’t fully healed. If you force yourself to speak now, you’ll reinjure it.”

“Jiu…”

“Whatever you want to say — I understand it all.” She truly did. She simply couldn’t bear it.

“The Feng Clan is dangerous, and I’ve lost all my martial arts. I can’t protect you.”

“I can—”

“You cannot!” But arguing the point now seemed rather futile. The real problem was that even if she forbade him to go, this person would sneak after her on his own.

She had already seen that determination in his eyes.

So what was there to do?

“You truly cannot — so having you come along would be a burden to me.”

Yanu stopped pressing his case. He simply lowered his head and looked at her, gradually growing calm.

He would not be her burden. He would not, no matter what.

Feng Jiu’er said nothing either. She looked at him quietly for a long, long while before finally saying, “I can’t argue you out of it.”

She turned and walked out the door. Yanu immediately returned to his room to finish packing.

The beautiful eyes that followed her retreating figure were filled to the brim with undisguised delight — one could plainly see that his mood had lifted considerably.

That night, as darkness fell, the party stood ready to depart.

Feng Jiu’er held the Ninth Prince’s command token, and they encountered no obstruction whatsoever at the city gates.

A group of several dozen people set out just like that, under the cover of night.