Rongguo Immortal Estate—on the small, fully equipped floating island with several courtyards that belonged to Daiyu.
It was late at night.
The moon hung high in the sky, its cool silver light spilling over the tranquil floating island. The only sounds were the rustling of the night breeze through the garden foliage and the faint chirps of insects and birds.
After a full day of nerve-racking "live-fire drills" and a long journey, the medium-sized cloudship carrying Daiyu, Tanchun, Xueyan, Zijuan, and Annie finally landed silently at the private dock of Rongguo Mansion.
Soon after, by the time they returned without pause to the small, separate floating island beside Grandmother Jia's main residence, it was already a little past ten at night.
All was silent, and most of the people in Rongguo Immortal Estate had already retired for the night. Their return, therefore, didn't disturb many people.
Grandmother Jia was surely concerned and had questions about the two sheltered young ladies, Daiyu and Tanchun, coming home so late. Fortunately, she might already have gone to bed. She didn't come in person or immediately send anyone to investigate. She merely dispatched Yuanyang, the most trusted senior maid at her side, to wait in Daiyu's courtyard.
After Yuanyang personally confirmed that both young ladies were safe and sound, with no obvious injuries or anything out of the ordinary, she gently asked a few everyday questions, such as whether they had eaten dinner and whether they were tired. She didn't press them about where they had been that day.
Daiyu assured Yuanyang that everything was fine and told her to thank her maternal grandmother for worrying. Yuanyang saw that the two young ladies looked tired, but their eyes were sharper and more commanding than usual. She found it a little strange, but felt reassured.