(Thanks to Buddhist-Minded 3 for the Alliance Leader)

Deep within Red Mountain Forest near Qinghe Temple, a small squad of gaunt soldiers clad in ragged leather armor and padded clothing silently spread out.

Like ants crawling soundlessly over the forest floor, there were twenty of them in all.

Each carried a machete, dagger, or even a short axe—every weapon rusted, neglected, and battered beyond repair.

There were two leaders.

One was tall and powerfully built, with a scar on his chin. He was Huang Jude, commander of this Rebel Army that had turned into Mountain Bandits.

He was thirty-two this year. Having practiced the Iron Tiger Skill bitterly since childhood, he had reached the limit of martial arts. Dissatisfied with Ling Ting's oppression, he and several dozen fellow townsmen had raised the banner of revolt, gathering impoverished military households and Villagers into an army.

Unfortunately, Ling Ting's military strength was incomparably formidable at the time.

They were simply no match for half-baked men like them, lacking weapons and equipment. After one clash, the Rebel Army scattered in defeat.

Fleeing all the way, Huang Jude had led his men across the territory of an entire Lu Mansion before arriving here on Pingyu Road.

Beside Huang Jude stood Sima Guangtu, the Second Leader of this remnant army.

Sima Guangtu was over fifty, with a pale face and long beard, blue eyes, thick brows, and a high nose bridge. He was entirely of overseas Hu Xi People blood.

In truth, he was indeed one of the Hu Xi People.

When Ling Ting had previously waged war in every direction, it had seized all Artisans wherever it went and taken them back to its territory. He had been one of them.

Seeing Huang Jude rise in revolt, Sima Guangtu had thought he could use the chance to escape the sea of misery. He had never expected that—"Sima, you're old, experienced, and full of ideas. Keep a close eye on things for me these next few days. This job may only succeed; it must not fail!" Huang Jude said, rubbing his palms and breathing warm air onto them.

"As long as the people inside the Dao Palace cooperate properly, this won't be difficult. We only need to guard against a Sneak Attack by Officers from other directions," Sima Guangtu said with considerable familiarity.

"Fine. We had a small fight with the Officers last time, and the last of our good stuff got ruined. We absolutely can't slip up again this time," Huang Jude said.

This time, among the twenty men he had deployed, there was one Fourth Grade fighter—himself—two Second Grade fighters, five First Grade fighters, while the rest were ordinary Soldiers.

Moreover, although their grades had all been assessed in the past, after enduring hunger, cold, exhaustion, and starvation for so long, everyone's physique had declined considerably.

Still, surrounding and dealing with a few little brats would not be a problem.

The main focus was Xiao Rong, that Third Grade fighter. It all depended on whether Xiao Rong's Eldest Disciple could pull his weight.

As long as the Sneak Attack succeeded and they pressed forward together, Xiao Rong would definitely be unable to escape.

"Alright. Leave markers around here, then head back and find somewhere to rest. We'll come again tonight." After confirming the location, Huang Jude turned and led the group back.

***Rumble.

Rolling thunder spread through the evening Night Sky, leaping from near to far in an instant, crossing Qinghe Temple and rushing into the distance.

The slowly gathering clouds made it impossible to tell whether the dimness came from nightfall or from the clouds piling overhead.

Xiao Qingying sat before the window in her room, gazing at the peach tree winding its way up beside the corridor outside. Her pretty face was faintly melancholy.

Ever since her Attendant had Disappeared the day before yesterday, her Father had kept her confined indoors and forbidden her from going anywhere.

Outside the door was her new Follower, Zhang Rongfang, while farther out, Senior Sister Zhao Dacong kept watch.

With her martial arts only at Tendon Forging, it was simply impossible for her to force her way out.

"Ah... I wonder how Xiao Ran is doing now?"

Xiao Ran was the pet name of her former Attendant. Though Xiao Qingying could be somewhat willful at times, she could still distinguish right from wrong.

Xiao Ran had most likely met with trouble because of her, and she knew that perfectly well.

A Cool Breeze drifted through the window and into the room.

Suddenly, a Withered Yellow leaf fluttered through the Windowsill and landed on the table before her.

"Hm?" Xiao Qingying focused her eyes and saw that it was no leaf at all, but a slip of paper folded to resemble one.

She gently pinched the paper slip, carefully looked left and right, then rose and shut the window.

By the faint bit of Heavenly Light filtering through the remaining window membrane, Xiao Qingying unfolded the paper.

'To Xiao Ying: I have been investigating Xiao Ran's Disappearance outside these past few days, and I have already found a few clues. Be sure to watch out for those around you.

There is another urgent matter that cannot conveniently be written in a letter. At the third quarter of the Hour of the Pig tonight, come meet me at Ascension Bridge by the Mountain Gate.'

"It's Brother Wuyou's handwriting!" Xiao Qingying's face brightened with delight when she saw the letter.

She did not believe Chen Wuyou harbored any intention of harming her. All those tender embraces before, all those sweet promises—if he did not truly like her, why would he have spent so much time and Heart Force on her? "The third quarter of the Hour of the Pig?" Xiao Qingying had always felt that Brother Wuyou had been wronged. The true villain lurking behind the scenes was very likely someone else.

She did not continue thinking about it.

Looking at the Letter Paper on the table, Xiao Qingying carefully picked it up and tucked it into the pouch inside her clothes.

Without even looking, she folded it into a smaller bundle.

It all depends on tonight's opportunity.

Brother Wuyou must have uncovered something crucial, which was why he had sought her out to relay it conveniently.

Rumble.

The sky grew ever thicker and darker. A crack of lightning illuminated the entire bedroom.

Time slowly passed. No one knew how long had gone by.

Late at night, during the Hour of the Pig.

Xiao Qingying, who had clearly been lying on her back in bed resting, slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the window.

Lightning flashed outside, and thunder rolled.

It's about time. I should leave.

Xiao Qingying slowly got out of bed, swiftly put on various clothes, and finally picked up a small bundle she had prepared long ago.

Crack.

Lightning and thunder sounded again.

Xiao Qingying changed into long boots and quietly came to the door.

Outside the room was a semi-open-air corridor.

At this moment, large raindrops poured down over the corridor, smashing down with the wind.

Seeing the weather, Xiao Qingying felt somewhat uneasy, but her admiration and trust for Brother Wuyou suppressed the fear in her heart.

With a creak, the tiny sound was completely swallowed by the thunder.

Leaving the room, Xiao Qingying moved lightly and quickly jogged into the corridor.

Following the corridor forward, she soon reached the ordinary Disciple Rooms where the Servant Disciples lived.

Before long, after passing through one Alleyway after another, Xiao Qingying arrived alone at the front section of the Dao Palace.

Ascension Bridge was located here as well.

Chen Wuyou was waiting here quietly at this moment, awaiting Xiao Qingying's arrival.

At night, the wind was fierce and the raindrops were heavy. The gale whipped the trees and branches within the Dao Palace into violent swaying, like demons laughing madly.

The light spilling from the Profound Heart Hall, the Main Hall, cast shifting patterns of light and shadow over the surrounding smaller buildings.

Xiao Qingying jogged swiftly along, running toward Ascension Bridge near the Mountain Gate.

She had to see Brother Wuyou as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the people watching over her discovered her, things would turn bad.

If Father discovered that she had secretly met Brother Wuyou again, the time she would be confined afterward might become even longer.

After running all the way to Ascension Bridge, Xiao Qingying stood by the bridge opening. Seeing that there seemed to be no one on guard and that the dark bridge deck was empty, she felt somewhat afraid.

"Brother Wuyou?"

She called softly.

Unfortunately, the wind was too loud, and heavy raindrops smashed against the ground with cracking sounds, so her voice could not carry far at all.

Apart from her, there was only the Greeting Daoist on duty in the distance on Ascension Bridge, and the swaying lamplight in the Mountain Gate gatehouse.

"Brother? Where are you? I'm out here?" Xiao Qingying called softly.

She looked around, but there was not a single person in sight.

The wind and rain gradually worsened, the thunder grew louder and louder, and the moonlight of the night was completely obscured.

As Xiao Qingying looked around, she suddenly spotted a person leaning askew in the darkness beneath the bridge.

"Brother Wuyou." She hurried toward it.

Pfft.

That person suddenly swayed slightly in the wind.

When she ran closer and looked, she found that it was merely a ragged straw cape propped up by a wooden stick.

Disappointment appeared on Xiao Qingying's face, and she was about to turn back.

"Slip quietly out through the Mountain Gate. I'm waiting for you outside the gate. Hurry, don't let anyone discover you. Bad people are watching you!" Chen Wuyou's voice suddenly entered her ears.

"Brother Wuyou!?" Xiao Qingying was instantly overjoyed, knowing that the Brother Wuyou she liked truly was waiting for her here.

Without hesitation, she ran toward the Mountain Gate.

Outside the Mountain Gate, four or five dark figures hid silently in the dense Woodland on both sides, waiting for Chen Wuyou ahead to give the signal.

Chen Wuyou had already moved to the side of the Mountain Gate gatehouse. Holding a Black Umbrella, he glanced at the Greeting Daoist, who had already fallen asleep.

Everything was ready.

Watching Xiao Qingying jog swiftly toward him through the rain.

A faint, relieved smile appeared on his face.

The figure in the wind and rain was like a black Little Butterfly, fluttering toward him—when suddenly, a Shadow lunged diagonally out from behind and struck Little Butterfly squarely.

Pfft.

Little Butterfly's wings broke midway through flight, and she fell to the ground.

"Hm??"

Chen Wuyou froze slightly, then saw that person scoop up Xiao Qingying and flee.

Alarm rose in his heart, and he was about to give chase, but more than twenty meters separated him from Xiao Qingying. There was simply no way he could make it in time.

Xiao Qingying herself had been struck into a daze, dizzy and disoriented.

Just then, she had suddenly felt something trip beneath her feet, and she had passed out.

No one knew how long passed before she came to herself.

She was leaning against a warm, solid embrace.

"Senior Sister Xiao? Are you alright?" A familiar voice entered her ears.

Xiao Qingying's entire body trembled, and she nearly cried out.

But she suddenly realized that this voice belonged to none other than Zhang Rongfang, who had been following outside her room all along.

Enduring the pain in the back of her neck and head, she wiped rainwater and strands of hair from her face, then looked closely.

Sure enough, the one carrying her back at this moment was Zhang Rongfang, whom Father had sent to protect her.

"Why did you suddenly appear like that?? You scared me to death!?" Xiao Qingying's chest rose and fell rapidly, her pretty face pale.

"What happened to me just now?" Her face was full of confusion.

Zhang Rongfang shook his head without speaking.

He had noticed that something was wrong earlier. Only after carefully observing did he discover that Xiao Qingying had actually slipped out in secret.

He had originally thought that in such awful weather—cold, pouring rain, and fierce wind—he ought to be able to get a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, this Senior Sister Xiao truly gave people no peace of mind.

"Senior Sister Xiao, what are you trying to do by wandering around so late at night?" Zhang Rongfang looked around. Apart from them, there was not another person within several dozen meters.

Could this little girl have been trying to Escaped in secret just now?

His gaze grew slightly dangerous.

Before he found a way to free himself from Xiao Rong and Daughter, even if he was unwilling, once Xiao Rong gave the order, he had no choice but to protect Xiao Qingying.

If anything happened to Xiao Qingying now, he would absolutely be held jointly responsible.

At that point, unless he was willing to abandon his Daoist Registry, injure the people around him, flee Qinghe Temple alone, and become wanted, he had to protect this girl properly. "Can't I come out for some fresh air?! Why do you care!?" Xiao Qingying had been frightened, and her pretty face immediately turned pale as she said angrily.

"Senior Sister, please be understanding. If anything happens to you, Master might beat me to death. For the safety of both of us, Rong Fang has no choice but to stay a little closer. My apologies," Zhang Rongfang explained earnestly.

"You don't actually need to do this. If Father asks, I can tell him myself that I wanted to come out and rest for a while. I guarantee I won't drag you into it," Xiao Qingying replied just as seriously.

"My apologies, Senior Sister." Zhang Rongfang remained unmoved.

This little girl had nearly rushed out through the Mountain Gate just now. Anyone who believed such words would be a fool.

"Also, Senior Sister, you were lying on the ground for quite a while just now. I only found you on the ground after noticing something was wrong and following you here. Otherwise, in weather this cold, with wind and rain like this, it would be troublesome if the chill entered your body."

Zhang Rongfang sighed.

"I think someone hit me just now?" Xiao Qingying touched the back of her head. The weather was too cold, so the spot only ached faintly now.

"Ah?? Who would dare to run wild with a Sneak Attack in Qinghe Temple? No, we need to hurry back and check whether there's any serious injury."

Zhang Rongfang immediately said with "concern."

"Senior Sister, did you see clearly who struck you??"

"No... I... My head feels a little dizzy..." Xiao Qingying groaned softly.