The temporary palace had been destroyed, and the hilltop on which it stood had collapsed deep into the earth.
Hearing that thunderous boom, the people of Fan City gazed toward the distant hill. The enormous columns of smoke rising like flood dragons left them trembling with fear.
The guards at the Fan City County Office had failed to find the magistrate, but the commander of the Prefectural Soldiers still sent a squad up the mountain to investigate.
After all, the Late Emperor's temporary palace stood on that mountain. Though long abandoned, it was not something they could afford to neglect.
Yet when the squad reached the summit, the enormous crater that suddenly confronted them left them gaping in shock.
A pungent sulfur smell still hung in the air, filling everyone's nostrils.
"This..." Several Prefectural Soldiers exchanged bewildered looks, at a loss for what to do.
Someone had destroyed the temporary palace—and in such a devastating fashion!
They exchanged a few more glances, each seeing sheer terror in the others' eyes.
After a moment's hesitation, they snapped awake as though from a dream and scattered like birds and beasts. They tore down the mountain as fast as their legs could carry them, as if some strange thing would trap them there if they ran too slowly.
Only after they had left did Yang Qing and Bu Er slowly emerge from behind the scattered rocks.
"Young Master, where should we go now?" Bu Er asked, still shaken.
"Back to Fan City," Yang Qing replied calmly.
Back to Fan City? Bu Er's brow twitched, and he nearly shouted, "Young Master, Prince Ding has eyes everywhere in Fan City, inside and out! Wouldn't going back now play right into his hands?"
That man had already betrayed them once. They had finally escaped the trap—would