After leaving Phoenix Eye Gorge, everyone mounted their horses. Hu Xiaotian looked around but could find no trace of Sumeru Heaven, which struck him as strange. Had she really been playing a prank, deliberately leading him astray? But he could only keep such thoughts to himself, unable to mention them to anyone else.
Zhan Peng had also noticed how oddly Hu Xiaotian was behaving that day. He whispered, "My lord, are you looking for someone?"
"No. Let's keep moving," Hu Xiaotian said. "This place feels eerie. The sooner we leave, the better."
Liang Yinghao slowed his horse to ride beside Hu Xiaotian. Now that they had left Phoenix Eye Gorge and the wind and sand had died down, he was visibly more relaxed. He smiled and said, "Rest assured, my lord. The sandstorm has stopped, and the sky has cleared. Although we're still inside Peak Forest Gorge, the road ahead is broad and level. We only need to follow it to the end to get out safely."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. Whether Sumeru Heaven was deliberately making a fool of him or not, taking a needless detour would cost them nothing more than some extra strength. All that mattered was passing through safely, without incident. But on second thought, Sumeru Heaven was not someone who joked lightly. Everything she did had a clear purpose; surely she would not be so idle as to deceive him for amusement. Was that woman plotting something again?
Just then, Tang Qingxuan rode up beside Hu Xiaotian and said softly, "Lord Hu!"
"Do you need something, Miss Tang?" Hu Xiaotian asked.
Tang Qingxuan lowered her voice. "The princess is ill!"
Startled, Hu Xiaotian hurried with her to the princess's carriage. He pulled open the door and climbed inside, only to find Princess Anping lying in Zijuan's