Hu Xiaotian widened the crack in no time. Although the Lone Moon Slash was not as comfortable to wield as the Lightsaber, its power was no less formidable. He soon carved out an opening large enough for an adult to pass through.
While Hu Xiaotian worked on the opening, Qin Yutong kept watching behind them, afraid that Meizhuang might be lurking somewhere, waiting for a chance to ambush them. Fortunately, no such attack came. They crawled out one after the other into a deep, dark night and torrential rain. Luckily, the downpour gave them ample cover.
Although Hu Xiaotian's vision was obstructed, his hearing was largely unaffected. He heard voices in the distance-the craftsmen were still draining the Jade Pool in the rain. People stood all around the pool, and several secret passages that had previously led into it had been exposed by the falling water level. Hu Xiaotian pointed upward, and Qin Yutong immediately understood. They climbed along the rocks until they reached the summit of Misty Peak. Its artificial waterfall had also been stopped. Although voices clamored around the Jade Pool below, no one was stationed on Misty Peak itself.
To the outside world, this remained a forbidden area of the Imperial Palace. Qiqi had spread word that the Old Emperor, Long Xuan'en, was spending his declining years here. In truth, Long Xuan'en had long since died, and apart from two old eunuchs responsible for cleaning, there was no one else on Misty Peak.
Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong reached the summit one after the other. The rain was growing heavier. Qin Yutong leaned close to his ear and said, "It looks like we're trapped here. How do we get out?"
Hu Xiaotian could not help laughing. He motioned for Qin Yutong to hold him tightly, unfolded the