June Snow!

"I might... have to send you back."

The moment he said it, the air seemed to freeze. Only the crackling from the pan remained.

Zhuge Qing could not go out, but she did not sit idle at the inn, either.

She tried cooking a few dishes, scrubbing the floors, and doing whatever she could.

Although she knew Ning Que was a rebel and had saved her only to use her, she had never thought of running away.

The world outside was more dangerous. She was better off staying at the inn.

Sometimes, not running away was an answer in itself.

Zhuge Qing stared blankly, then abruptly came to her senses and hurriedly pulled the pan, its contents long since burned, away from the fire.

Her tranquil, autumn-water eyes gazed quietly at Ning Que as she asked, "Why?"

"Because we're leaving."

"Leaving Qingzhou City."

Ning Que added that clarification.

Zhuge Qing's red lips parted as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

Instead, a smile rose on her enchanting face. "All right. I'll go pack."

Though her body trembled with fear, she still smiled as best she could, trying not to let Ning Que notice anything amiss.

But Ning Que saw it all. With a heavy sigh in his heart, he left the room.

"Scrape! Scrape..."

He entered Yin Jiuyou's room and found him sharpening his saber.

On the smooth whetstone, the black saber, as tall as a man, had been honed to a gleaming finish.

It shone brightly enough to reflect a blurred silhouette.

"Did you tell her?"

Yin Jiuyou did not look up, continuing to sharpen his saber.

"I did..."

Ning Que slowly exhaled a stale breath and said, "If we send her back, aren't we sending a lamb into a tiger's jaws?"

"..."

Yin Jiuyou fell silent, and his sharpening hand stopped as well.

The escorts and hired blades from every Escort Guild in Qingzhou City and the Cave of No Worries had all been hired by the Provincial Governor of Qingzhou to kill her.

All because Zhuge Qing was not his biological daughter, but the child of his wife and a rebel.

She must have learned of this beforehand, which was why she had fled time and again, only to be brought back each time.

That was also why she would rather stay with rebels like them than return to the luxury of the Provincial Governor's Mansion.

"Little Juzi, those who accomplish great things don't quibble over trifles. We can't stay here."

A moment later, Yin Jiuyou resumed sharpening his saber, his voice rising softly.

Qi Shanhe and Mu Yuwei were drinking and grooming themselves, respectively.

These were things they always did on the eve of a great battle.

Wine emboldened the brave, and the beauty adorned herself, each preparing to meet the coming battle at their best.

"Little Juzi, are you ready? The coming battle may be a fight to the death."

"Our hundred-odd brothers may suffer casualties, or find themselves surrounded."

"But the one thing we can guarantee is that we'll get you safely out of the city, Little Juzi."

The road home was long. From the moment he finished editing Flowing Sand's background, Ning Que had known this day would come sooner or later.

This was also the background progression the system needed to complete.

Now, everything was over.

Ning Que smiled. "You won't die. You'll all rendezvous safely with headquarters."

Ning Que drew his saber as well. Its cold gleam reflected in his eyes, while wind and rain swept through the city.

"This saber's a little rusty..."

Ning Que hefted the Gold-Backed Broadsword in his hand.

It was adequate for the skilled fighters of the Qingzhou Branch, but a little shabby for his own use.

Exchanging Karma Points for one was not worth it, so he went to the largest and most famous escort agency in the Escort Guild.

The Dragon Gate Escort Agency!

"What would you like to buy, sir?"

Tong Chengkun, the head of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, received him personally.

"A saber. One for killing."

At that, Tong Chengkun grinned. "I have sabers here, but they may be a little expensive."

Ning Que shook his head. "I'm only borrowing, not buying."

Borrow a saber?

Tong Chengkun's expression changed at once.

He looked Ning Que over again. His appearance was ordinary, yet every movement carried an unfathomable air.

It was like standing before a towering mountain or a vast sea.

Tong Chengkun's expression shifted again, and his attitude became considerably friendlier. "You must be new to Qingzhou City, sir. Lending you a saber isn't out of the question. As long as you do me a favor, you may take your pick of every weapon in the agency!"

Tong Chengkun had a keen eye and could tell at a glance that this man was not to be trifled with. Wouldn't it be splendid to have him work for him in exchange for borrowing a saber?

"You have my word."

Ning Que looked around the escort agency, showing no interest in its many renowned sabers.

Finally, his gaze settled on a saber hanging on the wall.

"This saber is..."

Its blade was longer and slimmer than that of an ordinary saber, curved like a willow leaf. Its edge was so keen that Ning Que felt a peculiar chill merely by approaching it.

At the very tip, a faint, misty haze seemed ready to surge out.

This further convinced Tong Chengkun that his judgment had been correct. A fine horse deserved a fine saddle, and a true expert had an equally discerning eye for weapons!

"You have an excellent eye, sir. This saber is called 'Dawn Breeze, Waning Moon'!

"Swift as the dawn breeze, its edge like a waning moon. It isn't a weapon of our Great Li, but was forged in another dynasty. It kills without leaving a trace!"

"Ting..."

Ning Que took it down and flicked it with a finger. The blade immediately gave a long, trembling hum.

"A fine saber..."

Ning Que could not help praising it.

Tong Chengkun smiled faintly. "This saber is our agency's prized treasure, and ordinarily, we never lend it out. But if you like it, sir, I'll make an exception!"

"All you need to do is fight once for our agency tonight."

Tong Chengkun stated his condition.

Ning Que nodded with a smile. "Chief Tong, you'll see me tonight."

And so Ning Que returned to the inn with a saber called Dawn Breeze, Waning Moon.

By then, Yin Jiuyou, Qi Shanhe, and the others were fully equipped.

The innkeeper greeted him warmly. "Leaving already? Won't you stay a few more days?"

For the past two days, this group had practically booked the entire inn, which had never been full before.

It had left the innkeeper beaming like a flower in bloom, wishing they would stay a few days longer.

"We're leaving..."

Ning Que breathed out a plume of warm air.

The night in Qingzhou City was especially cold today...

"Move out!"

The group marched out in force.

Among them, Zhuge Qing had also put on a thick cloak, its hood concealing her face and covering her long hair.

But as she passed the innkeeper, he still caught sight of her face.

His eyes instantly widened into circles, his face filled with terror.

"Y-y-y-you... you're the commandery princess?!"

"You're..."

As though he had realized something, the innkeeper collapsed to the floor with a thump, trembling violently.

Looking at Ning Que at the head of the group, Zhuge Qing quickened her pace and caught up to him.

Walking beside him, she asked, "Back at the Flower Delight House, why did you save me?"

"I wanted to, so I did. Why do there have to be so many reasons?"

Ning Que kept walking.

Zhuge Qing tightened her hands and opened her mouth again, but still could not get the words out.

Suddenly, Ning Que stopped.

He tilted his head back to look at the sky.

"It's snowing."

Ning Que reached out to catch it, and sure enough, a snowflake drifted slowly down.

It landed in his palm and melted at his touch, icy cold.

As though he had witnessed some marvel, Ning Que's eyes shone with wonder. "Snow at this time of year? Haha, June Snow!"