"Clatter, clatter, clatter."
Five days later, on a winding yet level official road, a yellowish-brown steed galloped at full speed, kicking up clouds of dust.
On its back, a fair-skinned, beautiful woman with spring in her eyes tightened the reins and gripped the horse's flanks. She cracked her whip as her body rose and fell with the horse's stride.
"Whoa!"
She stopped by the roadside and stared into the Void before her, her pupils losing focus.
In Yi Chuanmei's vision was a map like a 3D projection. It depicted mountains, dense forests, villages, and official roads. One set of words was highlighted in red:
Divine Sword Manor!
The location of Divine Sword Manor was a permission unlocked in the Spirit Realm after she completed a side quest.
"The route is on the left. Cross that forest, and I'll be there in half an hour." Yi Chuanmei sat atop her horse and looked to the left.
At the end of her sight lay a stretch of woods, but the road leading there was full of potholes and rolling wild grass, with no compacted dirt path suitable for horses to run on.
There had originally been a road here, but Divine Sword Manor had been wiped out and left unattended for three years. The old path had long since fallen into disuse.
After pondering for a moment, Yi Chuanmei swung down from the horse and lightly tapped its forehead.
The yellow steed let out a startled neigh, then clattered off the official road and ran toward the woods.
Yi Chuanmei sprinted nimbly across the wild, overgrown wasteland, chasing after it without pause.
As they neared the woods, the galloping horse suddenly pitched forward. Foam spilled from its mouth as its limbs convulsed.
Yi Chuanmei approached cautiously and saw brightly colored venomous snakes