Lord Cui's warning

Before his words had faded.

Jiang Yuechu halted, her gaze passing over Cui Yuan and settling beside him.

An old man in a gray cloth robe stood there.

He was the very man who had been inside the Martial Temple earlier.

Jiang Yuechu gathered her thoughts, not daring to presume, and cupped her hands in salute.

"Senior?"

The old man gave no answer. He merely narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on her for a long while.

Only after a long silence.

He waved a hand and said, "Since the imprint has entered your body and the matter is settled, do not linger here."

"Yes. I shall take my leave."

Jiang Yuechu was not someone who failed to recognize when to advance or retreat. Since he had told her to leave, she would simply go.

Beside her, Cui Yuan already looked as though he had been granted a pardon. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he hurriedly stepped aside to lead the way.

"Langjiang Jiang, this way, please! This way!"

He actually seemed even more eager than when they had arrived.

The two retraced their steps, hurrying toward the exit of the Imperial City.

Along the way stood red walls and yellow roof tiles, with palace willows trailing gold.

The patrolling imperial guards, once visible everywhere, had now dwindled by more than half. The few squads they encountered were also hurrying about with anxious expressions, as though something momentous had happened.

Jiang Yuechu kept her eyes straight ahead, wind beneath her feet.

Only...

She could distinctly sense that something was wrong with the way Lord Cui beside her was looking at her.

Ever since they had left the Martial Temple, Cui Yuan had not taken his eyes off her.

At last.

In the passage just before the Imperial