Ruan Xilu wore an impatient expression. Seeing this, Xiao Dan immediately understood and burst out, "Where is everyone? It's been ages, and not one of them has come back to report!"
"It's the middle of the night, and the dew is heavy. Are they really going to leave Her Ladyship waiting out here in the wilderness?"
"Even His Majesty has never treated Her Ladyship so harshly. You people have some nerve!"
Outside, all was quiet. No one answered.
Xiao Dan flew into a rage and leaned out, yanking the curtain open.
But all she saw beyond the palanquin was pitch-black darkness. The stars and moonlight had vanished at some point, and she couldn't see her hand in front of her face.
The mountains, trees, and grass whose outlines she could just make out moments ago had now all melted into this seemingly endless darkness.
Xiao Dan froze, unable to utter a word.
Sensing that something was wrong, Ruan Xilu asked, "Xiao Dan, what is it?"
Xiao Dan's face was full of fear. After a pause, she stammered, "E-Everyone's gone!"
Ruan Xilu furrowed her brows and immediately stood up, heading out of the palanquin.
The moment she stepped outside, a chill swept over her. She looked around, but saw only a vast sea of darkness. Everything was silent; the chirping of insects and birds had disappeared without a trace. The Imperial Guards carrying the palanquin and Pang Chongdeng, who had been keeping close beside them, had all vanished without leaving a trace. Only their palanquin remained, alone in the wilderness.
Ruan Xilu felt the hairs on her body stand on end. There had been no sign of anything amiss outside, yet the Imperial Guard bearers and Pang Chongdeng, a renowned top-tier expert, had all mysteriously disappeared!
Xiao Dan asked in a