Within the Zhao Kingdom, the night was black as ink.
More than six hundred li from the imperial city, a narrow flying shuttle cut through the sea of clouds.
The bright moon appeared and vanished behind drifting black clouds.
"Another two hours and we'll be out of the Zhao Kingdom."
Zhang Tong of Little Green Peak let out a long breath, his taut nerves easing slightly.
The shuttle, barely large enough for five people, had flown at top speed for two hours straight.
Aboard it, the Xue sisters had awakened from the sleep Lin Shuang had cast over them, but their spiritual power was still sealed.
Frost covered Xue Ruyi's pretty face as she demanded, "Sister Lin Shuang, why did you do this? If Senior Brother Zhou finds out..."
Her voice choked before she could finish.
Xue Ruyu's eyes were red too. Biting her lip, she said, "Senior Brother Zhou will think we fled when battle was upon us."
"And we'll drag him down with us. Little Green Peak will punish him."
At the thought that Senior Brother Zhou might become a stranger to them, the sisters' noses stung and tears gathered in their eyes.
"That's enough." Lin Shuang smiled helplessly. "We've already explained everything to Senior Brother Zhou."
She had expected the sisters to worry about punishment from Mount Fangcun or Little Green Peak. Instead, what mattered most to them was that Senior Brother Zhou might misunderstand.
Just what kind of charm did Zhou Jing possess? Had he cast some sort of Soul-Fixing Curse on the Xue sisters?
Lin Shuang sighed again. "This time, it isn't just Senior Brother Zhou. I'm afraid everyone... I'm afraid things bode ill."
"Things bode ill?"
The Xue sisters froze.
"It's a long story," Lin Shuang said gravely. "I'll tell you once we're out