Deception

They headed north from Suzhou, crossed the Yangtze River, and entered Huainan Circuit.

They passed through the bustle of Yangzhou, crossed the plains of Henan Circuit, and traveled west toward the Inner Passes.

That was the route Jiang Yuechu and You Wujiang took back to Chang'an.

Chang'an lay far ahead.

The road stretched three thousand li.

For ordinary folk, it would be an arduous journey of nearly half a year.

For Jiang Yuechu and You Wujiang, it would take only a few months.

Huainan Circuit.

A roadside teahouse stood in the wilderness, with no village or inn for miles.

A thatched roof rested on a few bamboo poles. Steam billowed from the stove.

"Your plain noodles, honored guests! Two fried eggs and a generous handful of chopped scallions!"

The proprietor, a stooped old man, deftly set a bowl of hot noodles on the table.

Jiang Yuechu paid no mind to the greasy tabletop. She drew a pair of bamboo chopsticks from the holder and tapped them against the table.

She lifted a mouthful of noodles, blew on them, and ate.

The hot broth drove away the late-autumn chill.

She ate neatly, but not slowly.

Across from her,

You Wujiang sat bolt upright, hands on his knees and eyes fixed straight ahead.

There was nothing in front of him.

Halfway through her meal, Jiang Yuechu set down her chopsticks and looked up.

"Not eating?"

You Wujiang dragged his gaze away from her bowl and looked toward the distant wilderness.

"I'm not hungry."

Grrr—

"..."

Those in the Four Hall-Entering Realms might have transcended mortal flesh, but that did not mean they never got hungry.

The higher their cultivation, the more vital energy their powerful bodies needed—even sitting still, they required dozens of times more than an ordinary person.

Even a mighty