The old village chief had warmly invited them to stay. That was certainly meant as a show of gratitude to her, but he was also relying on the two "flying" martial artists to keep the village safe for a little while.
Unfortunately, she, too, carried the burden of her lineage's mission. Though she wanted to help, she could not linger outside the city.
Hardening her heart, she pretended not to see the pleading look in the village chief's eyes. Then mistress and servant climbed onto the White Jade Gourd once more and rose into the sky.
Dusk was settling over the mountains and fields, and a faint fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted through the green woods.
The maid seemed to sense something. She looked over, and an excited flush appeared on her pretty face.
"Miss, Miss, look over there! Is that the Amber Lotus we came to find?" the maid exclaimed, pointing in a direction.
The white-clad woman's eyes lit up. "That's the scent of the Amber Lotus! Father's injury can be healed!"
The White Jade Gourd plunged downward, and the two figures appeared in an instant amid the shadowy forest.
As soon as the maid landed, she took out a palm-sized White Jade Sickle, bent down, and carefully began cutting the Amber Lotus's stem.
"Wait!"
"Come back!"
Just as the maid was about to succeed, the white-clad woman furrowed her brows and abruptly called out to stop her.
The mountain wind swept through the bamboo grove, stirring a soft rustling.
Spring's late-night dew dampened the hems of their skirts. In the dense forest, not even a pin could be heard dropping.
The white-clad woman stopped dead, her brows knitting together.
Quiet—far too quiet!
In the damp forest, even the summer insects had fallen silent.
"Careful!"
The maid's cry rang