Give Me a Few More Days

Three months later.

Xie Xie cautiously probed the path, his steps uneven, "Damn, why is Jing Heng hiding so deep?"

Yuanen Yehui followed him, observing their surroundings. "Jing Heng is now a Class A wanted criminal by the Federation. If we don't stay far away, we'll be in trouble every day."

"Couldn't he have found a place with a road to hide?"

Xie Xie pushed aside a clump of wild vines blocking his way, his feet sinking half a foot into the decaying leaves. "How many mountains is this? If I keep walking like this, my shoes will wear out."

Yuanen Yehui ignored his complaints.

Her gaze constantly swept around, her ears twitching every now and then. The mountains were damp, and mist rose from the valley floor, enveloping half of their bodies.

The two had been traveling for two days, circling around from the south, specifically choosing small paths without official roads.

Xie Xie grew increasingly agitated as he walked, but he only muttered to himself without slowing down his pace.

"If Jing Heng can be found easily, then all his hiding will have been for nothing."

Yuanen Yehui finally replied, "The Federation's arrest warrant is still posted at the city gate. I heard someone on the black market offered 200,000 Federal Coin for a single hair of his."

"Two hundred thousand?"

Xie Xie up, "Then I'll pluck a few, and we'll have enough for food for the rest of the year!"

Yuanen Yehui turned around and glared at him.

Xie Xie immediately stopped joking and muttered softly, "I was just saying."

They continued northwards following the coordinates given by Ye Xinglan.

The coordinates only indicate the approximate area; the exact location will have to be found by the two of them.

Fortunately, Yuanen Yehui was extremely familiar with the terrain.

She determined the direction of the river, compared the slopes of several mountain valleys, and finally led Xie Xie onto a path almost completely covered by grass.

"Soon," she said.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xie stopped complaining of being tired and perked up to follow behind.

After walking for another half an hour, a very faint wisp of smoke suddenly appeared in the woods ahead.

Xie Xie's eyes lit up, and the two of them tiptoed closer.

After passing through the last cedar grove, the view suddenly opened up before us.

A river flows out from between the mountains.

A small wooden house has appeared by the river, built of cedar wood, with a very elaborate roof.

A small hearth was built with stones in front of the house, with a dark iron pot hanging above it. Something was cooking in the pot, and wisps of steam rose up.

Xie Xie opened his mouth, and after a long while, he finally said, "Damn, they're living a better life than us."

A small string of wind chimes made of wild fruits and wood chips hangs under the eaves, and when the wind blows, they gently tap out a few muffled sounds.

A pot hung above the hearth, its lid slightly agitated, simmering unknown wild mushrooms and dried vegetables, the steam carrying the scent of pine.

Ye Xinglan sat on a dark wooden chair by the fire pit.

She looked up and saw it was them, not too surprised.

Three months later, she had lost some weight.

Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui approached, and she slowly stood up, nodding to Yuanen Yehui: "You're here. Was the journey smooth?"

"Sure, the coordinates are correct, we didn't go astray," Yuanen Yehui said.

"The tea is freshly brewed. Please have a seat. I'll go down and call him."

Ye Xinglan picked up a wooden kettle from the fire pit and poured a bowl of light brown tea for each of them.

I don't know what kind of leaves were put in the tea, but it has a slightly bitter aroma.

Then she turned and walked towards the back of the cabin.

Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui then discovered that there was an extremely narrow stone staircase behind the house, leading down the mountainside, with no idea where it led.

Xie Xie didn't ask any more questions, and sat down on the empty chair by the fire pit with the bowl in his hand.

Yuanen Yehui didn't sit down; she stood beside him and slowly sipped her tea.

"This place is really great."

Xie Xie sipped his tea and looked around. "There's a house, a stove, a river, and even chairs. If I didn't have a mission, I'd want to stay here for a few months."

The tea has a slightly bitter taste upon first sip, but a very long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

He sighed contentedly and looked down at the chair he was sitting in.

The wood grain of the chair surface is purplish, with a glossy and warm texture.

He touched it, then tapped it, and his expression slowly changed.

He turned to look at Yuanen Yehui: "Look at this chair, isn't it Fragrant-Leaf Rosewood?"

Yuanen Yehui put down the bowl and looked down at it.

The chair is entirely purplish-brown with fine grain and a faint, almost imperceptible, sandalwood scent.

She reached out and touched the back of the chair, nodding, "Yes. It's in excellent condition. A piece this big could fetch a lot of money outside."

"Damn, he really knows how to enjoy himself. He uses Fragrant-Leaf Rosewood to sit on."

Xie Xie's eyes widened. "Aren't we not allowed to chop this thing?"

"That's why he can sit there so comfortably," Yuanen Yehui said.

Xie Xie clicked his tongue twice, then glanced at the wooden house and the pile of firewood next to it. Sure enough, he saw several unused pieces of sandalwood scraps, neatly stacked in the corner of the house.

He was about to say something when he heard footsteps behind him.

Yun Jingheng walked up the stone steps.

He was wearing an old short-sleeved T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up high, and his hands were covered in silver-gray metallic powder.

I haven't seen you for three months, and you've gotten quite a bit stronger.

Seeing them, he chuckled, his voice rumbling from his throat. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming? I could have washed my hands."

"Why wash your hands?"

Xie Xie jumped up, walked over and patted him on the shoulder, "You've been hiding here, living a happier life than anyone else. The two of us wandered around in the mountains for two days, our legs are almost broken."

Yun Jingheng was slapped so hard he took a half step back, but didn't flinch, replying with a smile, "You guys found yourselves. I don't have a sign here."

Ye Xinglan walked over from the side and handed the freshly heated tea to Yun Jingheng.

He took the drink and drank a couple of sips before looking seriously at Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui: "Something happened?"

Something's happened.

Yuanen Yehui said, "That's why the Sea God Pavilion sent us."

Yun Jingheng nodded, picked up his tea, and sat down by the fire pit.

Xie Xie sat back down in the rosewood chair.

Ye Xinglan did not sit down, but stood half a step behind Yun Jingheng.

"The Federation and Star Luo Empire have gone to war."

Yun Jingheng's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

He looked up at Yuanen Yehui, his eyes showing little surprise.

After that night in Heaven Dou City, he knew that the Federation wouldn't just target Shrek.

Traitors, the Holy Spirit Cult, and the Star Luo Empire —all the threads will become increasingly entangled.

"When did this happen?" he asked.

Eight days ago.

Xie Xie said, "Star Luo Empire suddenly reinforced its troops in the east, and when the Federation's eastern garrison was being redeployed, Star Luo Empire got caught up in the situation."

"The two sides have already clashed along the East Sea coast. Before we left, the Sea God Pavilion received information that Star Luo Empire had already occupied two ports on the eastern side of the Federation."

Yuanen Yehui chimed in, "Right now, the news outside is all about the war. Things have actually loosened up a bit in Heaven Dou City. The Federation doesn't have time to search anymore."

She paused, glanced at Yun Jingheng, and said, "Your outburst made the Federation very nervous, but Star Luo Empire's move has made them even more nervous."

"So, they want to find us."

Yun Jingheng slowly put down his teacup, the light in his eyes dimming. "The Federation is incapable of fighting Star Luo Empire while simultaneously suppressing the Holy Spirit Cult. The name Shrek is no longer just a remnant of their former allies to them."

"Right."

Yuanen Yehui said, "A month ago, the mole in the Federation who had been passing messages to the Holy Spirit Cult was exposed. This person was very well hidden; he was a member of the Federation Parliament Security Committee."

"The Tang Sect and the War God Temple laid the groundwork together. He couldn't hold back, thinking he could take over after Heaven Dou City, but he ended up slipping up."

"As a result, the Federal Parliament has undergone a major reshuffle. At least three people in the new parliament have already publicly mentioned 're-engaging with Shrek.' Although no resolution has been reached yet, the word has already been spread."

"The wind has changed," Ye Xinglan said softly.

"Yes. Things have changed. At least they're no longer openly threatening violence."

Xie Xie said, kicking a small stone into the river, "Along the way here, the wanted posters at several city gates are still up, but there are obviously fewer people we can check."

"Many places have lost troops to the war, and some people say that if Shrek were still around, the Federation's biggest wish right now would be to bring him back to use as a weapon."

"They've got a good idea," Yun Jingheng chuckled.

He got up and walked to the fire pit, poked at the flames, then turned back to Yuanen Yehui: "Where's Xiao Yan? Where was she before you came?"

"Xiao Yan went north."

Yuanen Yehui said, "She went directly to the Far North and should have already met up with Wulin. They are both in the Blood God Legion now."

Yun Jingheng hummed in agreement. Tang Wulin was in the Far North, Xu Xiaoyan had also gone there.

Although the Blood God Legion's location is harsh, it's actually the most stable place right now.

He sat down again, picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it; he just slowly turned it around.

"What does 'Sea God Pavilion' mean?" he asked.

"Let us come find you first."

Yuanen Yehui looked at him. "The Yun Ming Pavilion Master said it's time for you to come out of the mountains."

"Let's meet up with Wulin first. We need someone who can keep things in check in the Far North."

"The situation in the Far North is dire; the Federation has withdrawn a large number of reinforcements."

Yun Jingheng did not respond.

He looked towards the cedar forest opposite the fire pit.

Ye Xinglan stepped forward and gently placed her hand on the back of his hand.

Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke.

The firewood in the hearth crackled once, sending a few sparks flying before settling back into the ashes.

Give me a few more days.

Yun Jingheng said in a low voice, "Finish off the rest of the work."

"What is it now?" Xie Xie asked instinctively.

Yun Jingheng didn't answer, only smiled, "I'll tell you when we get to the Far North."